Just Recurring

Year the Sixth

"It's quiet out here," said Sirius.

"I know." James stared out at the Black Lake, not sure what he was waiting for. The Giant Squid, maybe.

"He's getting stronger."

"I know." James looked down. "How's Reg?"

Sirius laughed bitterly. "Other than joining Lord Voldemort? Just peachy."

"Is that why you ran away?"

"No. I ran away because my Mum was so proud of him for doing it. Seems to think that being pure-blooded means being Dark, too; and I expect she's taken me off the family tree for disagreeing."

James snorted. "Who wants their face on an ugly old tapestry, anyway?"

Sirius shrugged and raised his wand. "Wingardium Leviosa." A fish, flopping, its gills stretching for breath, rose out of the lake. Sirius whipped his wand to the side, tossing it across the grassy area. It landed awkwardly in the front of a girl's blouse.

"Aiiee!"

James roared with laughter as the unfortunate girl shook her blouse to rid herself of the victimized fish. Sirius cracked up as well, his quiet attitude dissolving into a giddy one.

"Come on, mate," he said. "Let's get to class before McGonagall catches us."

Lily hefted her book bag over her shoulder, stepping down the hallway. The end of fall was always her favorite time of year – crisp, cool, lively – but she was certain to stay inside today.

This year would be the most important of her school career – it was important to prepare for her N.E.W.T.s. So once again, classes stretched her schedule, making it difficult to find an ounce of free time.

"Evans, wait up!"

"Yeah, Evans, wait!"

The snide voices belonged to Avery and Mulciber, unpleasant Slytherins who had far too much time on their hands.

"Guess what your boyfriend did this summer?"

"What did you say?" She whipped around, eyes flashing.

"I said," Avery smirked, "Guess what Snape did this summer?"

"No, thank you." She set off a brisk pace, only to be trailed by the boys.

"He got himself a pretty mark, that's what," Mulciber told her, casting a smirk in Avery's direction.

Lily paused.

Sev…I told you not to do it…

"Why should I care?" she said softly. "Lord Voldemort –"

"Don't you say his name, you filthy Mudblood –"

"– will fail, because a Dark wizard is doomed to fail." She stared at them for a moment, then turned the corner into her class.

James Potter sat at his desk, looking bored. Beside him was Sirius Black, equally unoccupied – which, if that had been professed aloud, would've made around half the girls in class very excited (in the case of James, three-quarters).

The lesson on Apparition would've been more interesting – if they had been learning anything. However, the wizard brought in to educate them on how to Apparate was busier droning on about the dangers of eating and Apparating at the same time.

"Who cares how many stomach aches he's got, honestly?" Sirius rolled his eyes, speaking under his breath so as not to disturb Remus, who had fallen asleep at the next table. Peter was looking at him with worry, upset at not having someone to talk to.

James remembered his experience in third year and said nothing; his bout of pneumonia had brought on stomach pains of the worst kind, shaking chills, and a high fever. He'd only barely managed to get through the following Quidditch game, and even now he had a tendency to breathe shakily.

"Sorry, mate. This old bag is just talking about nausea." Sirius shrugged. "When you had pneumonia – I can understand hurting from that."

"Coughing up blood can do that to people," James joked. "Hey, are you going to Hogsmeade weekend after next?"

"Blimey, Prongs. I don't exactly have permission."

"Did you tell anyone yet?"

"You. Moony and Wormtail."

"I'll sign it for you, then. Give it here."

Sirius passed over the permission slip, on which James wrote Walburga Black in girlish handwriting. He passed it back, looking smug.

Sirius examined the forgery for a minute before exclaiming, "Gee, thanks, Mum!"

"Mysterious disappearances attributed to the recent surge of dragon-pox," Lily read. "Investigators believe that a mutation in dragon-pox may be making wizards and witches Apparate out of control – really! This is rubbish!" She tossed the newspaper face-down, more willing to see an ad for Acid Pops than Fudge's incriminating mug shot. "Why can't he just admit what's going on?"

Alice shrugged. She was a very soft spoken person with a very opinionated mother; lily knew, however, that the girl was a true Gryffindor with views similar to her own: that was why Lily immediately befriended the girl.

"Easy," said James, making the girls jump. Lily had not seen him sit beside her in the Three Broomsticks: he had a funny habit of appearing out of nowhere.

"He's afraid," he continued, hand in his pocket. "A Dark wizard on the loose? It'll be just like with Grindelwald and the last Minister."

"I didn't ask you," Lily said irritably. "Why must you always butt into other people's conversations?"

"Maybe your conversations butt into me," he said smoothly.

"Hilarious. Now, if you don't mind, Alice and I would like to return to our private discussion." She looked at him expectantly.

James didn't move. "Don't fuss over me. Go ahead and talk," said he, stretching out his legs lazily.

As if she could talk normally with that prat listening to her every word. Honestly, what did he believe he'd get out of it? Something woo her with? Hoping he'd find out her favorite color, perhaps?

"I really don't trust the Daily Prophet," she told Alice, keeping her tone guarded. "Their stories are sometimes so exaggerated."

"It used to be a good newspaper," Alice agreed.

"Blimey, Prongs," exclaimed Sirius, making his way from across the room. "What are you doing with a couple of girls?"

"Prongs?" repeated Lily. "That's going a bit far even for you, isn't it?"

James flushed. "As if you would know," he snapped. "Really, what people assume nowadays."

Sirius glanced at the two girls, eyes passing right over Lily. "Alice. Lily."

"Sirius." Lily nodded in acknowledgement.

"Hey." James nudged Sirius, apparently unable to maintain his attention for longer than a few minutes. "Watch this."

He carefully balanced an open bottle of Butterbeer on his head, looking more pleased with himself as he balanced another on top of that.

"Brilliant," said Sirius. "Put another one –"

It was too late. The bottles tipped and feel, splashing James with Butterbeer. Lily giggled, unable to restrain herself. James looked too funny, his normally wild hair sopping wet.

"Let's go," James growled, obviously feeling foolish. He seized Sirius by the sleeve and started to make his escape, but not before being interrupted.

"See you, Prongs!"

He paused in his footsteps, then slowly turned back to the girls; Sirius had an odd expression – like he knew what was coming.

"You want to see why I'm called Prongs, Evans?"

Lily flushed. "Not particularly."

"C'mon, Evans," he taunted. "Afraid to see a bit of magic you can't grasp?"

The prefect had to take a moment to decide whether he was being dirty, or honestly wanted to show her something. Finally, she decided on the latter.

"Fine," said Lily, "but I'm warning you, if this is a trick –"

"Why would I waste a perfectly good prank on you, Evans?"

She pursed her lips and trailed after him as he left. "See you at Zonko's later, Alice."

"Where exactly are you two going?" Lily demanded. "It's going to take ages to get back to the castle at this rate.

"Well, we had to get away from other people," James said with a half-amused expression. His hair was by now flecked with snow, and Lily had no idea where they were. Somewhere in the hills.

Maybe this was a ploy to get back at her for breaking James's nose. If it was, it was a nasty one – two against one. She suddenly wished Severus was there to defend her – no. No, she didn't want any of his stupid, Dark –

James was gone.

Lily blinked and looked around, only seeing Sirius and a –

stag.

"You're an Animagus!" she cried.

"We," corrected Sirius. "We are Animagi." And he changed into a dog.

The staged dipped his head once, shaking snow off his pointed antlers. He took a few steps towards Lily, extending his nose to nudge her hand.

"Stop it, both of you!" cried Lily, snatching her hand away. "Go back to being humans, now." She said it with such force that, without further persuasion – they did.

"I can't believe you two," she hissed, looking between the two of them – James looking triumphant, Sirius nonchalant. "Not only is that highly dangerous to do on your own –"

"As if," cut in James. "We've been doing it since third year –"

"– it's illegal to do it without registering with the Ministry of Magic first!"

James smirked at her, still where he stood only a few feet away. She stepped back immediately, realizing this. "But you aren't going to tell anyone, right, Evans?"

"Who says I won't?"

"The same person who says you wrote me a lengthy love letter this summer."

"What?" Lily clenched her fists. Was he off his rocker?

"Got it right here," said James, taking a folded sheet of parchment from his pocket. He waved it in proof – Sirius snorted in delight behind him – and opened it, looking at Lily over the edge as he began to read in a girlish voice. "Dear James, we can't keep this a secret any longer –"

"How dare you!" Lily screeched, grabbing for the "letter" – which James held just out of reach. "That is bloody blackmail! I never said such a thing in my life!"

"Ah, but even if it weren't blackmail, Evans, you would feel guilty for inconveniencing us." James grinned heartily at this and turned his back, not prepared for –

Wham. She tackled him into the snow, pounding his back with snowy fists as she yelled, "Potter! Give me the bloody parchment! I swear I'll –"

"Get off him!" protested Sirius, looking alarmed as he wrestled one arm away from James. The other boy was face down in the snow, shouting muffled curses and trying to wriggle out from under Lily.

"You're late," said Professor McGonagall. She looked stern and unhappy. "Do you three have an explanation, or should I attribute it to Madam Rosmerta?"

Lily, James, and Sirius were lined up in the Entrance Hall, all damp and cold. Mud and frost had seeped into Lily's purple scarf – she had removed it – and Filch stood behind them with a mop, muttering about filthy students, tracking in snow as usual.

"You see, Professor –"

McGonagall turned an eye on Lily, who immediately closed her mouth. "From Potter or Black, maybe, but I didn't expect this kind of behavior from you, Miss Evans. What kind of example is set by a Prefect who returns to the school an hour tardy?"

None of them said anything, though James had the courage to put on a little smirk.

"Detention for all three of you," added McGonagall. "You may meet Hagrid tomorrow night at seven-o-clock. Don't be late." She strode away, presumably to her office – leaving the three Gryffindors to navigate their way back – alone – to the common room.

"This is your entire fault," Lily told James.

"My fault?" James looked offended. "It's –"

"It's not his fault, you're the one who attacked him," said Sirius crossly.

"And you two are the ones who insisted on taking me out to the middle of the hills! And on blackmailing me!"

This was responded to by the ever-popular conversation-ender: "Hn."

They finally made it back to the common room – and not a minute too soon: it was nine-o-clock, curfew.

"I'm going to bed," declared Lily, looking quite exhausted. The day had been long and not very pleasant. Strikingly she remembered that she was meant to meet Alice in Zonko's earlier – poor girl. She would have to apologize later.

Sirius had already made a quick retreat for the boys' dormitory, leaving James alone with Lily. "Suit yourself," he huffed, feeling particularly haughty: his pride was hurting from being overpowered earlier.

As she started up the steps to her dormitory, he heard her mutter, "And now my scarf is completely ruined. Lovely."

James caught and released the Golden Snitch, letting it buzz forward a few feet before catching it again. It had become sort of a habit for him: that and it made him look like a skilled Seeker (he was).

"Would you stop that?" Sirius asked irritably. He had his hands in his pockets, shivering in the chill air.

James shoved the Snitch in his pocket as they strode towards Hagrid's hut. He wasn't really against putting it away. No doubt the gamekeeper would know Madame Hooch was missing a Snitch, and that would mean yet another detention for him.

Sirius knocked on the door hesitantly.

"In a minute," said a gruff voice.

James tapped his foot, grinning slightly when Hagrid opened the door.

"Hello, Hagrid," he said, trailing the eight-foot man into the hut. He smirked at the sight of Lily, already waiting over a cup of tea. "Hey, Evans."

She sipped her tea, looking straight ahead. "Potter. Sirius."

Hagrid cleared his throat. "Best get started now, you don't want ter be late."

"Er…Hagrid?" Lily looked up at him, unsure. "What exactly are we doing?"

They stood in Hagrid's yard, apparently the only open place on the grounds where Hagrid could keep an eye on them. The snow blanketed the ground thickly and the only sound to slice open the frigid air was Sirius's exclaims.

"We're cleaning Quidditch equipment?"

"Now, yer supplies are in this box, here," said Hagrid, nodding towards a crate, "And yeh have six sets to get through before eight. Watch out for the Bludgers, they tend to be harder. I'll be in me hut if yeh need anything."

James opened the first trunk, revealing a set of Quidditch equipment. "Right," he said, looking grim. "Padfoot and I will take care of the Bludgers – they're probably all bloody – and you can polish the bats or something, Evans."

Give me the easy job, Lily thought bitterly.

"It's coming back, grab it!"

Lily had already finished her part – repairing the cracked wooden Beaters' bats and wiping off the six Quaffles had been easy; the Snitches, James told her, she shouldn't touch – something about skin memory. She'd ignored him and done it anyway, polishing them off as the hour passed. She had spent the last ten minutes sitting on a rock and watching the boys wrestle with their second Bludger.

"Wouldn't it be easier," said she, "to keep them in the cases?"

James glanced at her. "Evans, as much as I hate to admit this, you do have a brain. Padfoot! Put it back in the trunk!"

Sirius struggled with it, gasping as it flew out of his grip and slammed into James's stomach. He kneeled, winded, for a moment, coughing.

"Are you alright, Potter?" Lily kneeled beside him and put a hand on his shoulder, concerned.

James grimaced. "Not really…"

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Kiss me better?"

Lily rocked back on her heels, scowling. "Your big ego seems to be fine, so don't count on it." She turned to the Bludger, which Sirius had managed to lock back in place. "Scourgify."

"We're not supposed to use magic," Sirius pointed out.

"Yeah, well, who's going to know?"

The three were headed back up to the castle when –

"Dementors."

Lily froze in her footsteps, as did the boys. "They're not supposed to be here – they're supposed to…keep off the grounds…" She felt herself growing colder, unhappy. Life wasn't fair to her, not when it came to friends. The two closest friends she had ever had – Sev and Petunia…gone…Petunia, her own sister…despised her.

Sirius and James were frozen beside her, both with odd expressions on their faces as the dementors drew nearer. Briefly, Lily had to wonder what the pampered only-child, most popular in the school, could've ever suffered – but she filled herself up with memories, the memory of the visitor from Hogwarts, making certain – proving – that what Sev had said was true.

That there was a school for her. A place.

"Expecto Patronum!" she cried, reacting before the others reacted (thought they should've by now), and a white doe, brilliant, bounded out of her wand and away.

Then the darkness cleared, and the stunned Sirius and James stumbled, and they went inside.

Lily lay in her four-poster bed, staring at the ceiling. Neither James nor Sirius had said anything, other than "Goodnight", and she was still at a loss as to what either of them ever suffered.

Sirius, maybe, could've been hurt at the expense of cousins Narcissa and Bellatrix; however, James seem perfectly adored by his parents and friends from what she'd seen – and she knew he must have a splendid Patronus, so why the paralysis upon encountering a dementor?

It was something that would likely bother her for a long time.

"Prongs! Prongs! Wake up!"

James blinked once, twice. It was early, he could tell, because he woke at the same time each morning. "What is it?" he mumbled, turning over onto his stomach. He had to get back to that dream –

Christmas!

Quick as a flash, he was out of bed and dressed; his friends weren't even surprised as he dashed down the stairs. It had become a sort of yearly routine.

Only a few other students – mostly first-years – had stayed behind on Christmas vacation, taking advantage of the early morning quiet to open gifts. Decorations had gone fairly unnoticed to James this year, but he couldn't resist opening his present – and watching the other three Marauders struggle with theirs.

Unsure where to begin – a great number were devoted to him – James watched as Sirius opened his gift, a simple box reading, "Padfoot. From Prongs."

Sirius, looking grimly suspicious, opened the box facing away from him, as if it might bite. Inside was another box, inside of which was another, and another inside that.

The content of the final box was met with a dry grin.

"Toilet paper," said Sirius, clutching the roll to his chest in sarcastic appreciation. "What I always wanted."

"That goes with the other one," James told him. Sirius's face took on a worried expression and he immediately passed the small box, which he had been on the verge of opening, to Remus.

The Marauders didn't offer a single helping hand as James mercilessly tore through wrapping paper – he didn't need help. A sweater from his mum, a broom care kit from his dad, and a couple stink-bombs from Sirius were sorted into the "treasured" pile; meanwhile, a collection of various suspicious candies and drinks – probably spiked with love potion – were discarded.

"Merry Christmas, Lily."

"Happy Christmas."

The voices made James look up in excitement: he could barely contain himself when she was around, her red hair, her beautiful almond eyes –

"What's this?" Lily held up a scarf knitted in red and gold, reading: Potter Rules. She threw James a sideways glance and he replied with a cocky grin, happy with his work.

"He doesn't think I'll actually wear that, does he?" Lily laughed quietly to herself while reading in the Great Hall.

"Maybe he does," someone responded, settlings across from her.

"Potter," she acknowledged, nodding. She could hardly be unfriendly, even to him, on Christmas morning, but she was curious. "Why aren't you at home this Christmas?"

"My mum and dad went to France," he told her. "They want to visit some distant cousin there, I guess. And Sirius lives with me, so he can't go, either. You?"

"Oh," said Lily, flushing. "I – just didn't want to go, I suppose."

"If you're bored, you can help me clean up my broom. Trim the twigs and all that."

She laughed. "Clean your broom? No, thanks, Potter."

He frowned. "What's funny about that?"

"I just find it funny how much some people think about Quidditch."

"Quidditch is the best sport ever," he asserted. "Why wouldn't people think about it?"

"What about rugby? And basketball – basketball is a brilliant sport."

James blinked. "What's basketball?"

"Er – never mind." Lily tried not to crack a grin. "I'm just saying, Potter, there was better games than Quidditch."

"You obviously haven't watched enough Quidditch, then," James told her.

"That's what you think about everyone, mate," said Sirius, passing by. He paused. "Get your cloak, I want to go to the kitchens."

Lily laughed. "You're sneaking in? Why would you need a cloak to –"

– but they were already gone.

The ground was soft and muddy, the skies a pale grey. Lily took a moment to breathe in the fresh, chilled air. It was refreshing, sitting in the courtyard on a Saturday morning. So quiet, so peaceful…

"Lily?"

She stiffened, glancing to the side. "Hello."

Severus sat beside her, looking less awkward in his sixteen years. "We haven't talked for awhile."

"I wonder why." Her tone was bitter. Hadn't he gotten her point? She didn't want to talk to him.

"Lily, I want to be friends. You can't stay mad forever –"

"Yes, I can," she snapped. "I can't stand it, Severus. You're a Dark wizard and I can't be friends with that."

Severus's face flushed. "You don't know why I did it –"

"Yes, I do!" Lily stood. "You did it for power! You did it because you hate Muggle-borns like me!" She glared at him before turning and making her exit.

Remus was sitting in the library, gazing at an Arithmancy book. He hadn't really let on he liked the subject – he didn't even take the class – but he found time in the afternoons to study.

"Hey, look. It's little half-blood Lupin." He turned to see a pair of Slytherins – Severus being one of them.

"That's not all he is," said Severus coldly. "He's a werewolf, that's what he is."

Remus flushed, standing. "You don't know what you're talking about, Snivellus."

"You filthy half-breed mongrel," snarled Severus, drawing his wand. "I'll teach you to –"

"Put it down."

"Lily?" Severus turned with a confused expression to stare at his former friend. She stood with her wand drawn and pointed directly at him, her brow furrowed in anger. Madam Pince was nowhere in sight.

"I'll do it," she told him, looking past Severus to see Remus take out his wand. "You utter one curse and I swear I'll send it right back to you, you prejudiced berk."

Severus looked stricken and unsure, like he was battling himself over whether to choose his pride or his devotion.

Then he slipped the wand into his pocket, and walked away. His companion looked utterly bemused, trailing him with exclaims of "What are you doing?"

Lily didn't even spare them a glance. "Are you alright, Remus?"

"I…yeah." Remus looked down, then back up at Lily, pocketing his wand. "I could've handled it alone."

"I know."

"Thanks."

"Is that true, what Severus said?" Lily felt a pang of curiosity: the suspicious conversation between Sirius and James that she'd overheard in second year, coupled with Severus's constant theories, had done little to quell her personal doubts about Remus Lupin.

"It's true," he said; Lily didn't say a word, only patted him on the shoulder.

A/n: Interesting, my first author's note of the story.

I'd like to apologize for the wait. I was traveling through Seattle and Portland this entire week, for the Mariners Cup and Pacific Northwest Championship baseball tournaments. No, I wasn't playing. Just watching. ;)

I do not know when you can expect the seventh chapter of Just Recurring. It's proving to be the longest and most fruitful chapter I've ever written. (It's over 55 pages long [handwritten and still not finished!) Depending on the length/what happens, I might split it in two. I'd really hate to, but it's crazy long right now.

Thanks for all the reviews, favorites, alerts, and support I've gotten so far!