I'll Never Join You
"Turn off that TV boy. You won't be keeping it anymore. Get downstairs and make breakfa...," James' Uncle started but stopped when he saw there was no blood on James' face and no bruises. "What happened to all the bruises. You used magic! No you'll be expelled and I'll have to see you all year," roared James' Uncle. "I'm sorry Uncle. I won't get expelled though I prevented my wand from informing the Ministry so I can heal the bruises so no one suspects anything," choked James in fear.
"Well that works out perfectly now doesn't it. Every time I beat you, you will only hide the bruises and I will take your wand so you cannot defend yourself," said his Uncle evilly and with that he snatched the wand on the dresser. James was horrified at this. Now his Uncle could hurt him and never get caught.
"Get down stairs and cook breakfast and then get started on the list of chores. If there not done by the time I get back from work I'm gonna make you wish you were never born," said James' Uncle threateningly. "Yes sir," said James as he followed his Uncle to the kitchen. James cooked the meal but got nothing from it.
Soon it was September first and James was walking to King's Cross station. It was only a mile from his Uncles house but with his trunk broomstick and cage it was alot harder. His Uncle had given him his wand back but if anyone noticed he used magic to make them lighter he would have to explain to them how he got his wand to preform magic outside of school without warning the Ministry.
As he walked through the barrier to platform nine and three quarters he saw his three best friends sitting on a nearby bench waiting for him. As soon as Sirius saw him he rushed forwards "James are you okay do you have everything including your wand," asked Sirius in a concerned whisper. "Yes I do he gave it back to me and I'm fine you haven't told anyone right," asked James suspiciously. James had written to Sirius over the summer talking about how he was only allowed to use his wand when he needed to clean blood out of carpets or hide his many bruises.
"No I haven't," muttered Sirus darkly. He hated how he couldn't tell anyone because he was scared for his best friend. "Thanks mate," said James fondly. The two boys headed over to Remus and Peter who were both reading. "Hello geeky chums," said James mockingly. "Hello James," said Remus happily.
"You know how to take insults well," said Sirius. "Hello Sirius," said Remus not looking up from his book. "I think he's gone insane," said James worried. "No I got this book on how to turn a werewolf into a human again," said Remus excitedly. James and Sirius frowned at this. Remus always found books that said that but they never worked. "Remus its not going to work," said Sirius softly. "I have to try."
So with that they all headed to the train to find their compartment. They found an empty compartment at the end of the train and started a game of exploding snap. James and Sirius ended up laughing with no eyebrows. Remus was reading his book and Peter was staring out the window. (AN:I hope Peter falls out of the window!) Then as James and Sirius are planning pranks to pull on Snape the train stops and they are finally in Hogsmeade. "Well my friends now it is time to start our fourth year of Hogwarts," announced Sirius grandly. The four best friends got a carriage and were soon in there seats in the Great Hall.
Luckily Lily Evans had no where else to sit except for across James and his friends which made James perk up from his sore body because he had fancied Lily since they met in their first year on the train. "Hello Lily," said James cheerfully. "Hello Potter," snapped Lily and started to talk to her two best friends Elizabeth and Marry. Sirius laughed at this. James glared at him and started to eat his food. Soon dinner was over and the four houses made their ways to their dormitories.
James' months at Hogwarts went like this he played pranks on Snape, asked Lily out only to be rejected again, and played Quidditch. It was now Halloween and James just woke up from Remus yelling at him. "Relax Mooney its Saturday," muttered James sleepily. "You nit its Friday get up or you'll be late to Transfiguration," snapped Remus. James got up. "Anyone can mistake the days Mooney. Besides there's seven of them its hard to keep track," whined James. Remus rolled his eyes and started to wake Peter and Sirius up.
They all got up and rolled their ways through the classes and pretty soon it was dinner time and the four were making there way to the Great Hall. "I'm starving," complained Sirius. "Well if you hurried up then we'd get there faster," snapped Remus. "Your tone hurts Mooney it really hurts," mocked Sirius. Then they all were seated at the tables and the feast began with lives bat swooping around everywhere.
Half-way through dinner a silver light exploded in through the doors and rushed over to Dumbeldore. James saw that it was a Patronous and it was a tiger. "Dumbeldore You-Know-Who attacking Hogsmeade," boomed the Patronous. Everyone in the Great Hall heard this. Fear went into James at the thought of Voldemort coming to the castle to make him a deatheater and kidnap him. Like Dumbeldore read James thoughts he looked over to James and motioned for him to come with him. James got up and was followed by his three friends.
The whole hall watched this wondering why James was getting up. The four walked silently behind Dumbeldore and headed up to his office. Then they were all in his office. "James I want you to stay here for the night just in case Voldemort trys to take you. I have a guest room through there and can add extra beds if your friends would like to stay with you," explained Dumbeldore gravely. James' friends quickly agreed and they all piled into the room where Dumbeldore expanded and added three more beds too.
"Goodnight I have to go now but you'll be safe here. In the morning you may go back to your dormotries," said Dumbeldore and headed out of the room. "Do you think Voldemort's going to get into the castle," asked James as his three freinds layed down on their beds. "Nah Dumbedlores way to powerful for old Voldy to even make it past the gates," reassured Sirius. Then the four fell asleep.
The next morning they woke up and headed out of the Dumbeldore's office to Gryffindor Tower at 9:00 am. Once they got in they saw some people already up and talking or reading. James saw Lily and her friends sitting by the fire talking so he and the other marauders headed over there. "Hi Lily and friends," greeted James perkily. "Potter when will you realize that I will not go out with you," said Lily wearily. "Never Lilykins," replied James sweetly. Lily rolled her eyes. "So what happened after we left did Voldmeort try to break in," asked Sirius.
"Yeah he tried but Dumbedore's wards were to strong so he just gave up I guess," answered Elizabeth. "Do you think he was looking for you," asked Mary to James. "Probably Dumbeldore had us sleep in his guest room in case Voldmeort did break in," said James gravely. He hated being hunted by Voldmeort. Elizabeth and Mary shot him pitying looks. "That must really suck to be hunted down by him," said Mary sympathetically. James nodded sadly.
"I'm hungry," interrupted Sirius happily. "Big surprise," muttered Remus. "Well we didn't finish dinner so lets go get BREAKFAST," sang Sirius irritatingly. The Marauders agreed and headed down to breakfast where Sirius shoveled food down his throat like they would be interrupted again.
The months flew by with nothing interesting happening unless you count James and Sirius enlarging Snapes nose bigger then it was. Soon it was the day before the Hogwarts feats and James and Sirius were in the common room arguing. No one was in there because everyone else was at dinner. "You cannot go back there! It's not safe," shouted Sirius annoyed. He was trying to convince James to not go back to his uncles.
Neither of them noticed Lily slipping in through the portrait. She had left dinner early because she remembered some library books she needed to turn in but then she saw them arguing she was about to go break it up when she heard what they were arguing about. "James you uncle is abusing you! You can't go back there! I won't let you he might hurt you more then he did last summer," shouted Sirius. Lily gasped quietly at this and stood in the shadows listening.
"No Sirius I have to go back there and telling will only make it worse. If you tell Dumbedlore I will not be able to go live anywhere else because of the wards my uncle's house has. I need the blood protection from stop Voldmeort getting to me so if you tell Dumbeldore about it he'll go threaten my uncle and then leave me there since I have to stay there. My uncle will get pissed and beat me even more if he gets threatened by Dumbeldore. Got it you cannot tell anyone or it just ends up hurting me!"
"Yeah but I don't want to see you get hurt by him," said Sirius softly. "He's not going to kill me but Voldemort will so please for the sake of my health don't tell!" Pleaded James desperately. Lily came out of the shadows in clear view. James and Sirius gasped at this. "Lily were you eavesdropping," demanded James. "No I was coming back to get my books to turn them in when I heard what you two were arguing about," said Lily defensively.
"Well maybe Lily can make you see reason," said Sirius cheerfully. "Lily you can't tell anyone please. If someone threatens my uncle he's just going to hurt me more," pleaded James. "James being abused is serious! You can't not tell anyone," shouted Lily. "Please Lily like I said to Sirius if you tell someone they'll tell Dumbedlore and he'll threaten my uncle, I'll have to be left there and then my uncle would get mad at me for telling someone! Please don't tell," pleaded James desperately.
Lily thought this over. "Are you sure you couldn't live anywhere else," asked Lily. She didn't like Potter but definitely wasn't going to let this drop. "Yes he's my only living relative and I need the blood wards so Voldmeort doesn't kidnap me," explained James. "Ok, ok but I don't like this," snapped Lily. "Sirius can you keep your fat mouth shut also," asked James pleadingly. "Fine," snarled Sirius. James smiled. "Thank you! I'll be okay its only for three months," reassured James. When he said three months he noticed how long it really would be.
He had to put up with the belt and punches and kicks for one week how was he going to survive three whole months. James and Sirius headed down to the Great Hall. Sirius was still in a bad mood about losing the argument. After James started to pack his things. Remus and Peter were luckily out returning there books because there was a knock on the door. James opened it to find Lily with a bag. "Here I snuck these out of the hospital wing," said Lily and shoved the bag at James. It was fulll of healing protects. "Why do you care? I got the impression you hated me," asked James suspiciously.
"My friend is abused also no not Elizabeth or Mary but still I helped him out also and I don't hate you I hate how you are so arrogant and show off all the time," explained Lily and turned away. "Thanks," James said softly. As he put the healing protects in his trunk he wondered who Lily's friend was. She had a lot of guy friends so James gave up guessing and went to sleep thinking of the fun train ride back tomorrow had in store for him.