The Boys are Back in Town:
"Guess who just got back today
Them wild-eyed boys that had been away
Haven't changed that much to say
But man, I still think them cats are crazy
They were askin' if you were around
How you was, where you could be found
Told 'em you were livin' downtown
Drivin' all the old men crazy
The boys are back in town
(The boys are back in town)"
The Maurader's stepped down on to Hogsmeade Platform and made their way to the waiting thestral pulled carriages. The lads got in and the carriage pulled away. Lily's flame coloured hair caught James is eye. Snape had accosted her and had hold of her wrist. James frowned and pulled his wand from his school robes. The carriage lurched around a corner removing the scene from view.
"That utter bastard." He glowered.
"What's up, Prongs?" Asked Peter.
"That wanker, Snivellus, had hold of Lily."
"She won't thank you for fighting her battles for her." Said the group's voice of reason, Lupin.
"Too right, Moony. Never try and second guess women. Try to defend her and you'll be in the wrong, best just leave her to sort her own dramas, mate." Added Sirius.
"I pity anyone who ends up being your girlfriend" retorted James
"If that was my girlfriend, I wouldn't be in the carriage. I'd have jumped out and be cursing the wanker from here to oblivion. However, she isn't my girlfriend, and more importantly she isn't yours."
"Also, she had Hestia, Marley and Alice with her." Chipped in Peter.
"If he crosses the line Hes is lightning fast with her hex's. He won't stand a chance." Lupin tried to mollify him.
James flopped back into the carriage with a huff.
"We have our welcome back treat to plan for tonight..." Sirius prompted
Meanwhile, the girls stand off with Snape by the carriages is getting heated. Lily pulled her hand from his grasp.
"Don't touch me!" Lily instantly felt teary from the confrontation with Sev. She had missed her best friend over the summer, she had felt lonely with out him. Lily had considered forgiving him, but she would never have treated him as such no matter what the circumstances.
"Lilly, didn't you get my letters?" Snape said softly, he always spoke quietly.
"I did. I read them but I chose to ignore them. I don't want to talk to you about this. You made your feelings perfectly clear when you called me a mudblood."
"I was under duress, I was being humiliated by your housemates."
"We were best friends. Best friends don't do that to one another." Lily's friends had arrived by this point.
"Are you okay, Lily?" Asked Hestia placing a reassuring hand on the redhead's back.
"I'm fine, Severus was just leaving."
"I was trying to have a private conversation, with my friend."
It was at that point Rufus Avery, and Emmeric Mulciber approached.
"Having trouble with the birds, Snape?" Asked Mulciber leering at Marley.
"I wouldn't touch a bunch of mudbloods and half-breeds if they were giving it away."
"You would know, Avery, the only way you could get a woman to shag you is if you pay for it." Spat Marley, fully recovered from her come down.
"Lily was just telling your mate to fuck off." Said Alice with a look of loathing in her eyes.
"I think I could convince you otherwise" Leched Mulciber reaching a hand forward he brushed Marley's cheek.
"Taranta-" Began Hestia, in defence of her friend.
Crack. Marley decked Mulciber's chin, then kneed him for good measure. Hestia barged past Snape pushing Lily in front of her into the waiting carriage. Alice grabbed Marley and dragged her into the carriage. In the kafuffle it appeared one of the girls had used the Toe Nail Growing Curse on Avery as he hopped about screaming, the nails of his toes beginning to protrude through his shoes. The carriage began to move away from the Slytherin's. Snape looked longingly at Lily as she and her friends moved into the Forest surrounding Hogwarts.
"I think I broke my knuckle." Lamented Marley cradling her hand to her chest.
"I think you broke the twats jaw. Go you!" Said Hestia.
"Here let me fix that for you" Alice reached out to gently take Marley's hand. "Episkey"
"Thank you. Much better. Who did the toe nail thing?"
"Me" Said Lily, sadly looking at her lap. "I cast it silently. I was practicing before we left in the summer, knowing it would come up this year." She looked up at her friends, tears falling.
"I'm sorry things have turned to shit with Severus, Lils." Alice hugged her friend. "It's not easy to loose someone you care about. However, that was a top bit of magic"
"I know you lot don't understand but he was always a really ace bloke to me. He's just got in with the wrong crowd, and has been listening to some shocking ideas on how the world aught to be." It didn't help that Severus lived in an abusive home situation that made him feel powerless, that would skew anyone's world view. Lily sighed. This was not the way she imagined starting her sixth year.
"Look there's Hogwarts. We're nearly there." The girls turned to look. The castle shone ethereally in the moonlight on it's cliff above the forest. It never ceased to amaze Marley, it never would. Finding out she was a witch and all the strange shit that kept happening around her was magic had been amazing. Her brother ,Toby, had been sent a letter just like hers four years ago, he ended up being sorted into Hufflepuff. Her muggle mum and dad were chuffed to bits having a witch and wizard in the family. Arriving at Hogwarts for the first time, seeing her brother sorted and receiving the Hogwarts letter were some of her favourite memories.
Theirs was one of the last carriages to arrive at the huge oak doors that lead into the castle. Unusually there was a lot of students hanging around the doors laughing and pointing into the entrance hall. Lily stood down from the carriage, shaking her fiery hair form her face and throwing her shoulders back she pushed her way to the front. Her friends trailed after her.
"Excuse me, pardon me, I'm Prefect, let me through." Hestia called from behind Lily as she navigated the excited crowd. She could hear music coming from inside, it sounded like Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Lily frowned in confusion. She peered over the heads of her fellow students. Her mouth fell open as the scene before her came into view.
The suits of armour that normally quietly (and more importantly unmovingly) guarded the entrance hall were singing and dancing in a well choreographed performance. The song came to an end and they started Step in Time.
"Do you think the Marauder's went for Mary Poppins because Mary's blatantly a witch and Bert's a squib?" Mused Marley at her elbow.
"It's a fucking fantastic bit of magic, that." Said Alice as she barged her way to where the other girls were standing.
"Don't let them hear you say that, Allie. Their heads are big enough as it is. They might explode... Actually, that might be a good thing." Lily snorted.
"More importantly, what do you mean Bert's a squib?" Asked Hestia "He has control of the painting world and makes all the chimney sweeps fit down those tiny chimney's..." Professor McGonagall had come into the hallway and spritely moved through the dancing suits of armour. She came to the front of the hall and waved her wand with a flourish. The clanking of armour ceased, then the suits move back to their original positions, guarding the hallway once more.
"That quite enough. Make your way to the Great Hall and be seated for the sorting ceremony. Spit spot." Said Professor McGonagall once order had been restored.
The students went to their respective house tables. The Marauder's filtered in mingling with the others, trying for nonchalance. Sirius got to the table first, sitting next to Lily earning him a huff from James as he sat by him. Remus and Peter squeezed in next to Hestia. Shortly after the Sorting Ceremony began.
"So... who's the Mary Poppins fan?" Murmured Hestia to Remus. Remus swallows, Hestia's proximity always made him slightly nervous.
"Um, that would be Pete. He thought it was appropriate seeing it's a film about a witch."
"I told you so." Marley whispered loudly from across the table. Lily and Alice roll their eyes in unison.
"Personally, I think it comes with the territory. You know, loving musical etc.." Implied Black.
Peter reddened, then says in a hushed tone. "You would know, Padfoot, you've snogged enough blokes."
"You say it like it's a bad thing, Wormy. I just don't limit myself, I'm selfless that way." He gave Marley a wicked grin. Remus snorted.
"You sound like Marley, she's not fussy either." Chipped in Lily softly.
"I beg your pardon! I am certainly fussy, fuck you very much. I have standards you know. I don't care about the sex someone is as long as their hot!" Defended Marley in a mock angry hiss. Sirius looked at her love struck.
James nudges him. "Your tongue belongs in your mouth not on the table. The fact that she hasn't eaten your face yet probably means you aren't up to her standards."
"Please, I'm too hot for her to handle, and you know it." Responded Sirius. James shook his head, sometimes there was no talking to Black.
McGonagall coughed loudly looking in their direction. The Ceremony came to it's end as the final Ravenclaw joined their table. McGonagall took the stool and Hat away as Dumbledore stood to make his speech.
"Now that you have had plenty of time to empty your brains over the summer. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you all that outside of these walls members of the magical community seek to divide us with hate and animosity for what is different. Within Hogwarts we must work together to be united as one against those that think love is not the strongest bond of all.
Now, enough of all this seriousness-"
"Hehe, Sirius-ness." Whispered Black elbowing James who gave him a withering look.
"It is time to fill our stomachs, for our minds cannot learn with out sustenance." Dumbledore flourished his hands and the plates filled with the students favourite food. "Enjoy."
Sirius reached for a steak and then asked Remus to pass the mashed potatoes, before covering his plate in gravy.
"I'm miss Hogwarts cooking when I'm not here." He sighed with happiness as he began to eat his meal with gusto. Lily wrinkled her nose at the sight.
"You know that house elves cook at my house, right Padfoot?" Asked James
"Yeh, but it's just not the same." He said around mouthfuls. The others helped themselves to food as Sirius began his second helping. Once the pudding course was done Dumbledore stood.
"Now we have filled our belly's it is time to take part in another important piece of the learning journey. Sleep, good night and happy dreaming to you all."
"First Years Follow myself and Remus" Called Hestia standing at the table, waiting for them to gather around them before heading in the direction of the Gryffindor common room. On reaching the portrait the Fat Lady asked her for the password
"Felix Culpa" The portrait swung open revealing a hole through which Hestia and Remus step through trailed by first years. The common room is comfy, cosy with it's roaring fire and squashy arm chairs, and mostly empty other than a few straggling students. Remus showed the new first year boys to their dorms, Hestia the girls, before retiring to her own dorm room.
Remus finds the Marauder's lounging on his bed setting off some of Filibuster's finest. He rolls is eyes. "Why, Why does it always have to be my bed?" He asks exasperated.
"Because you're the only one who cares how their bed looks?" Replies Peter
"It's nearest the door?" Suggests Sirius
"Because we know how much it pisses you off." Answers James. Remus scowls but joins them anyway. They never slept much the first night back. If you can't beat them join them.