Christmas holidays passed in a flurry of Marauder based activity with brief bouts of schoolwork thrown in. The tension between James and Lily had vanished once James knew about the pregnancy to Sirius's relief. There was still an underlying nervousness and worry between them, but it didn't look like Lily wanted to break up with James anymore, which Sirius was immensely grateful for. James was difficult before he started dating Lily; if she dumped him, he would be absolutely unbearable. Sirius didn't want to kill his best mate, but he would to keep his sanity. The couple was nervous, but Sirius could still see the slight excitement they felt. Even if they were pretty young, having a baby with the person you loved wasn't too bad of a situation.

Before they knew it, New Years had passed and students were returning back to school. Sirius was almost sad to see them return. Things had been so relaxing with just the Marauders and Lily staying in the Gryffindor Tower. He enjoyed waking up late, listening to the Marauders and Lily chat from their beds in the boys dormitory before they went down to breakfast. He loved staying up late at night with them, laughing and talking.

It was also easier to keep Lily's secret when there was no one around to hear you slip up. She still wasn't ready for anyone to know and James hadn't written his mum yet to tell her. But if there was one thing the Marauders knew how to do, it was how to keep a secret; they had some pretty big secrets themselves. Of course, that didn't mean there weren't changes when it came to them being around Lily.


Classes had been back in session for almost two weeks when Lily first commented on it.

"You know I don't need an escort to class," Lily commented as Sirius draped his arm across her shoulders as they walked through the packed corridor. She leaned against him slightly, her textbook held against her chest.

"Of course not, Lilyflower," he replied easily, nudging a group of rowdy fifth year boys out of the way before they ran into Lily. As they turned to glare at him, he shot them an equally nasty look, smirking as they hurried away. "You're the brightest witch in our year; you can out-hex anyone in our class. Maybe I just wanted to keep you company."

She snorted in disbelief. "And when James runs from Care of Magical Creatures to be outside my Ancient Runes class before I get out?"

"That bloke's been running after you since you first step foot on the Hogwarts Express in first year. I'd be more surprised if he wasn't outside of your classroom."

"And Remus walking me to the common room when he has to do rounds in the opposite direction?"

Sirius grinned, "He enjoys your company. Don't tell James or he'll murder him. He nearly had a stroke when you and Remus started prefect patrols in fifth year."

Lily raised an eyebrow, turning to face Sirius. "Peter was up early the other morning to go to breakfast with me."

"Peter's always hungry," he replied easily.

"He fell asleep at the table!" she laughed as they stopped outside of the Potions classroom. "Honestly you're all impossible. Don't think I don't know what you lot are doing."

"What could you possibly mean, Lilyflower?" Sirius asked innocently.

She rolled her eyes playfully, "You're all playing bodyguard. I know I have a...condition, but I can take care of myself."

Sirius laughed loudly, shaking his head. "Is that what we're going to call it?"

"Until I think of something better, yes," Lily replied. "I can take care of myself."

"It's not that we don't think you can, Lil," he answered seriously. "But we already told you, Marauders take care of our own. Whether you like it or not, you're our own now."

Lily's green eyes shone as she stretched up, pecking his cheek as she hugged him. "Thank you, Padfoot."

"Just make sure to make me godfather of little James, yeah?" he whispered as he hugged her back.

"Oye, making moves on my girl, Padfoot?" James called as he approached them. "Is there no honor left in the world?"

Lily laughed, turning toward him. "Maybe you shouldn't leave your girlfriend with good looking bodyguards, Potter," she teased. "I'm on to you lot."

James grinned sheepishly as they entered the classroom, taking Lily's hand in his. "There's been a few attacks against muggleborns this year; we've gotta look after you. You can never be too careful."

"You're all a bunch of softies," Lily laughed, smiling affectionately at them as class began.


After years of confrontations with Slytherins and faculty members, Sirius had developed a bit of a sixth sense for when things were going to go bad. He didn't know how, but he always got a sinking feeling before things would go south.

Potions class was nearing its end when Sirius felt as if a brick had dropped into his stomach. Looking around the classroom, everything seemed alright to him. Slughorn had wandered to the back of the room to tend to a student's smoking cauldron and Sirius was almost positive their potion shouldn't be doing that. Remus stood next to him, stirring in the last few ingredients while mumbling to himself. Peter stood two tables away, smiling shyly at the Hufflepuff girl he had been paired with. 'Atta boy,' he thought proudly. Turning toward Lily and James, he immediately knew why he had felt the sinking feeling and knew it was too late to stop anything. Merlin, he hated being right sometimes.

A Slytherin boy was walking behind the pair, heading to the supply closet near them. James had turned toward their table as Lily observed their potion. A quick shove from behind sent Lily stumbling toward the cauldron, her hands flailing as she tried to regain her balance. Sirius's eyes widened in horror as he watched; he knew exactly how hot that cauldron and potion was. The instructions demanded that it be brewed at a specific temperature. He also knew there was nothing to stop Lily's forward motion, nothing for her to grab onto for her to regain her balance; she was going to get burned, badly.

James's hand shot forward at Lily's startled gasp, creating a barrier between the hot cauldron and Lily's stomach. Sirius winced as he heard James's skin sizzle, his eyes still wide as James yanked Lily away from the cauldron. He knew James had to be in a lot of pain, but his best friend only had eyes for Lily.

"Are you alright? Are you alright?" he asked frantically, his hand smoothing over her stomach as he locked eyes with her.

"Oh Merlin, James, your hand," Lily gasped loudly, looking down at his injured hand. "Let me take care of it; I can-"

"Lily!" James said firmly, shaking her from her panicked muttering. "Answer me, are you okay? Did you get burned?"

Lily shook her head quickly, her hand resting lightly on his as it covered her stomach. "I'm okay, I didn't get burned," she murmured. "My stomach didn't get burned."

James's shoulders slumped with relief, his free hand cupping her cheek as he kissed her. "Thank Merlin."

Sirius felt himself sigh with relief before his anger flared up again. Everything was over in less than a minute, but he still felt as if he had lost a year on his lifespan. And someone was going to pay for it. He looked around the classroom for the Slytherin who shoved Lily, but his eyes landed on Snape instead. Snape watched Lily and James intently, a look of horror and disbelief on his face. Glancing back at the pair, he watched as they spoke quietly, James's hand still not moving from Lily's stomach. Once they ceased speaking, Lily pulled James's hand away from her stomach, holding it carefully as she healed it. Nothing had really happened to give their secret away, but Sirius couldn't help the worry he felt from Snape's scrutiny.


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