Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I've been watching anime and reading manga and going to school. Truthfully, I didn't feel like doing work on this or any other stories.

Thanks for reviewing!

The Marauders Year 3

Chapter 7: Craziness of Returning

Peter rushed up the stairs. "James, have you seen Dusk?"

The black haired boy poked his head out of his room. "Your cat? No, why?"

"I can't find him. And we have to leave." Peter shouted in a panic.

Shrugging, James dragged his trunk from his room. "Under you bed?" He suggested. His friend nodded his head and disappeared into his room while James began dragging his heavy trunk down the stairs. Before he even reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw a smug and amused looking Remus, leaning against the wall. "You could help."

"Why?" Remus drawled, looking away with a smirk. "You guys are the ones who waited until the last minute to get your packing done, so it is your problem that you have to rush to get everything now."

"Yes," James growled out through clenched teeth as he reached the last step and dropped his trunk. "But if we don't get out of here soon, you're going to miss the train along with the rest of us. So I think it would be wise for you to help."

Laughing (though James would like to point out that it looked like it caused his friend pain), Remus grabbed James's trunk and helped the boy carry the trunk into the living room where Charlus and Maria were waiting with Remus's trunk, broom, and owl. He was just getting ready to set the trunk down when James yelled that he forgot to grab his broom, dropped the trunk (resulting in Remus falling over at the sudden weight he was holding), and run back to his room. As he was running up the stairs, he ran into Sirius dragging his own trunk and broom down the stairs. Both boys rolled down the stairs and landed into a heap at the bottom with a broom and trunk sliding down and stopping next to them. James heard Remus giggle at them, but decided to wait until later to get revenge.

Peter rushed down the stairs a few seconds after James got to his room. A cage was in his arms with a small kitten inside it.

"Anything else?" Charlus asked amused when James rushed into the living room.

Remus, staring at the moon pendant that he was turning over in his fingers, looked at his friends with an amused smirk. James shot him an annoyed glare while the other two acted like they didn't see it. "Nope, I think we are good." Remus said for his friends.

"I'll Apparate James and Sirius and Maria will take Remus and Peter." Charlus decided. With a quick couple flicks of his wand, all the boys' stuff (excluding the animals and their cages) was shrunk and he put them in his pocket.

"Are we sure we got everything now?" Maria asked, looking at the boys with a frown. "Because we aren't coming back if you have forgotten anything."

"Yes Mom. You can just mail anything we forgot." James replied exasperated. "The train leaves in fifteen minutes, we have to go."

"Alright. No need to worry, James. You'll get there in good time." Maria replied, taking Remus's and Peter's hand.

When their feet slammed into the ground of Platform nine and three-quarters, James felt the need to retch and fall over, seeing as Apparating was a new experience for him. Thankfully his father kept him from falling over, but he still had the queasy feeling in his stomach. Sirius and Peter looked dizzy and queasy just like him. When he looked at Remus, he saw the boy looked much greener than he ever saw him before. He looked around to see adults all around, some with little kids too young to go to Hogwarts, saying their last good-byes to their kids. Next to him, his father enlarged his stuff along with his friends' stuff.

"Thanks Dad, Mom." James said, giving each of his parents a hug.

"Oh, Jamesy, I'm going to miss you so much." Maria said, brushing a gentle hand over her son's face. She brushed his bangs out of the way and kissed his forehead.

"Mom." James whined.

Maria chuckled. "Oh, right, you're no longer my little boy anymore. You are now my little man."

James wiggled away from her, allowing Sirius to take his place and feel like a child being loved by his parents. "Thanks for letting me escape my family at your house." Sirius said with a huge grin, hugging the Potters. "I love your house."

"We have to have you over more often then." Charlus said, shaking the boy's hand after hugging him. "I hope you and James don't cause too much chaos this year. I don't think I could handle another letter from Minerva."

Laughing, Sirius gave him a mischievous grin.

"I had fun as well, Mr. Potter. Thanks for having me." Peter said, hugging Maria.

Maria smiled. "It was our pleasure, Peter."

"Thank for having me over." Remus said politely, but wearily, as if all this was taking a lot out of him.

"Oh, Remus," Maria hugged the small boy tightly, which surprised him greatly. When she released him, her hand ran gently through Remus's hair. "Take care of yourself this year. I don't want to have to hear that you've greatly injured yourself and have to go to St. Mungo's again. I don't think your friends, mom, or me could handle that stress again."

Remus smiled, but James noticed that it wasn't his usual smile. It was a tired and seemingly more forced smile. "I'll be fine. I'm used to the full moons by now, Mrs. Potter."

"Oh, this is just not fair. I still remember the day you were brought into St. Mungo's after your attack." Maria said quietly.

Remus grimaced.

"Take care of my boys, Remus, and do try to keep the three of them out of trouble." Maria said softly, brushing his bangs away and kissing his forehead as she finished. She frowned a second when she touched her forehead, but didn't get a chance to say anything because Sirius interrupted.

"OI!" Sirius said affronted. "Where is my kiss?"

Laughing, Maria kissed Sirius's forehead, then Peter's. "Happy now, boys?"

Sirius gave a grin, while Peter blushed.

Rolling his eyes, but with a soft smile, James ordered his friends to get on the train because it was leaving in five minutes. Once Charlus had helped the boys get their trunks on the train, Maria pulled James aside.

"Mom, the train…." James whined.

"I know, I know. I just want to tell you to watch out for Remus, alright? As he gets older, the transformations will become more painful and the days before and after the full moon will be worst. It is going to be especially bad now because he'll be entering puberty and after this stage he'll be a full grown werewolf. He'll need his friends more than anything at this stage." Maria explained quickly. She wanted to explain more, but the train whistling meant she didn't have time.

James glanced at the train. He jumped onto the train, poking his hand out the door window. "Mom, I'm never going to leave Remus. He's like my brother. I'll keep him safe. Don't you worry!"

"I know, dear." Maria said with a worried frown. "Dear, I think the stress from the full moons is getting to him because he felt a little warm to me today."

James nodded his head.

"We actually made it." A laughing Sirius said behind him as the train started to move. "What did your mom want?"

"Tell you later." James hissed to him quietly when he saw Remus looking at him curiously as well. "We need to find a compartment."

James trudged down the train, peaking into compartments as he went. Most of the compartments were full of students, which made sense seeing as the train just left the station. It wasn't until they got to the end of the train did they find an empty compartment.

"Finally," Sirius shouted, pushing passed James into the compartment. "Hey James, help me out here." He pointed at his trunk.

Rolling his eyes, James picked up one end of the trunk and with Sirius, heaved it into the rack above them. Grunting, he pushed up hard on it. "What….do you…have…in here?" He huffed out.

"The Butterbeer!" Sirius said, rolling his eyes at James's stupid question.

Smacking his forehead, James grumbled about idiotic friends as Sirius helped him get his trunk on the rack above them. Looking over his shoulder he saw Remus just kicked his trunk under the seat along with Peter doing the same. With his trunk out of the way, Remus plopped down on the seat, head resting against the window as he watched the scenery flying by.

James sat across Remus and watched him for a few minutes. He saw Remus's eyes move to him for the briefest moment when he felt eyes on him before they turned back to the window. He watched as his friend shifted in his seat and brought his arms around his chest with a shuddering breath. A frown formed on James's face. After a few minutes of silence, in which Sirius and Peter stared at James, confused as to why he was staring at Remus, James turned to his other friends. "You guys, I have a feeling this year is going to be great."

"And why is that?" Sirius asked surprised by the sudden statement that broke the silence of the compartment.

"He thinks Evans will say yes to him this year?" Peter suggested with a smirk.

James threw him a nasty look. "No."

"Finally given up on that bird?" Sirius asked with a raised brow.

"No." James shouted, whacking him. "She will go out with me one of these times. This is going to be a great year because Malfoy and your cousin are gone, I've got great prank ideas, and so much more!"

A sudden grin spread across Sirius's face. "I forgot that they were gone this year! Thank Merlin, I no longer have to deal with them except when I go home for summer. And even then, I barely have to deal with them because I'm locked in my room or doing chores around the house."

"So you're not going home for Christmas or Easter?" Peter asked.

Sirius shook his head. "Not even if they order me to. I'm not having a repeat of last year."

"Awesome! We all have to stay this year for Christmas." James said excitedly, looking over at Remus. "You staying this year, Remus? You haven't once stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas. You're really missing something great."

"I don't know." Remus replied quietly. "It's too far ahead for me to know what is going to happen then. I really do want to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas at least once."

"Then make sure you aren't busy this year." James said, frowning slightly when he saw his friend squeeze his eyes shut.

Sirius noticed it to, but didn't want to bring attention to it because he knew Remus would hate it. As far as he knew, it was probably nothing or just a small headache. Nothing that needed attention brought to. "Jamesy, do you remember last year when we were hid in the Entrance Hall at the beginning of the feast?"

"How could I forget?" James replied with a laugh. "Remus scared the first years greatly. It was one of the funniest things ever! Why?"

"Well, I was just remembering that the speech was exactly the same as when we were first years. I wanted to see if it was the same this year." Sirius said with a shrug.

James snorted. "You want to spy on the first years again just to see if the speech is the same."

"What? Do you think that McGonagall has a new speech? I don't think she is that original." Sirius argued.

Rolling his eyes, James agreed. "Fine, we'll spy on the first years again. Mostly because I think it would be fun. Spying is always fun."

"YES!" Sirius shouted, pumping a fist in the air.

This resulted in a groan from Remus and him pressing his head harder against the cool window.

Sighing, James got off the seat and leaned over Remus. He gently cupped Remus's chin and turned his head to him. "Remus," He said, brushing his hand to his friend's forehead. Heat suddenly flooded into his hand. "Remus, you have a fever and a headache, I'm guessing since you are wincing at all noise. Is there anything else that is wrong?"

"I'm fine, James." Remus tried to say normally, but a grimace at the sound of his own voice ruined it.

"How bad is your headache?" Sirius asked quietly with a tone of worry.

"Oh, honestly!" Remus shouted, pushing James back into his seat. "I'm fine, I swear."

"No, you aren't." James hissed quietly. "My mom told me that your transformations get worse as you get older and it's going to be especially bad as soon as you enter puberty. The stress of your lycanthropy is getting to you, and stress, really bad stress, can cause one to make oneself sick. Remus, why didn't you tell us sooner that you were stressed about all this?"

Remus shook his head. "I'm fine, James. It's nothing I can't handle."

"We know you're strong, Remus, but the strongest of us have to fall at some point. You're not falling yet, but if you keep pushing us out and not telling us when something is wrong, we won't be there when you fall so we won't be able to help you." Peter said, laying a hand on his friend's shoulder and looking at him with soft, caring eyes.

"Being rather deep today, aren't you?" Remus said sarcastically.

"Take a nap." James offered. "That usually helps my headaches. Hopefully you'll feel better for the feast tonight."

Remus gave him a grateful smile. "Okay, but don't let me ruin your fun train ride."

James waved him off. Peter jumped to the opposite bench and sat next to Sirius so Remus could lie down on the bench. The bespectacled boy took his jacket off and bunched it up. He slid it under Remus's head, got a grunt from the boy as thanks, and sat back down to talk quietly with his friends.

"My mom told me about the transformations becoming worse for Remus as he gets older." James told Sirius and Peter with a frown. "The time before and after the full moon is also going to get much worse. I'm not a hundred percent sure what she means by that. I'll have to find a book or something. She asked me to watch over him more around that time."

Sirius snickered. "I'm sure he'll really like that. He already yells at us for caring too much and now we have to keep a closer eye on him? He'll bite our heads off. It's been nice knowing you blokes. May we all rest in peace!"

Laughing, James shoved Sirius. "Which is why we going to have to try to be more subtle about it, Sirius. That's why I wanted to wait when he wouldn't be listening to us. He can't know about this."

"So the stress from the previous full moon and him dealing with it on his own is what made him sick?" Peter concluded.

"My guess." James muttered. "Any ideas for a prank during the feast? I kind of forgot about our opening prank and haven't planned anything!"

"Jamesy!" Sirius shouted dismayed. "If you didn't bring it up while we were at your house, and we didn't bring it up, what makes you think any us remembered the prank that none of us planned or thought about!"

James threw him a look that would cause Voldemort to shy away. "Remus is sleeping. Don't yell."

"Sorry." Sirius said, not sounding all that sorry, with a shrug. "Any ideas, Pete?"

"We could just not do a prank today." Peter said with a shrug as he dug around his pocket. "We don't have the time or equipment for a prank. Aha!" He pulled a chocolate frog from pocket and ripped it open.

"We're Marauders!" Sirius replied excitedly, waving a hand around. "We can't not do a prank."

"Then why don't you come up with something." Peter retorted around the chocolate frog head in his mouth.

"I will!" Sirius said stubbornly.

Smirking, James gave a small laugh at the serious look that Sirius adapted to think of a prank. His friend shot him an annoyed look that James expertly ignored as he pulled Remus's trunk out from under the bench. He shifted his friend's stuff around until he found the old wizard chess set that he had. He stood Remus's trunk up in front of Peter and set the board up. When the board was set up, he sat on the bench Remus was on by putting his friend's legs on his lap. "You can go first, Pete."

"Checkmate!" Peter announced half an hour later.

"WHAT?" James shouted, leaning forward to look at the board. "You cheated!"

"No, I didn't." Peter replied with a smirk. He pointed at his pieces cheering while his queen kicked James's king off the board.

"Fine, I concede." James grumbled. He looked at Sirius, who was now lounging with his back against the window. "Stealing my seat, are you?"

"You have a seat." Sirius said.

James rolled his eyes and threw one of his pawns at Sirius. "It may not have crossed your mind, Sirius, but I don't want to spend the whole ride with Remus's legs on me. They are rather bony. Boy really needs to put some fat on."

"Not my fault." Remus mumbled, surprising the boys. But he didn't say anymore. He just rolled over so he was facing the back of the seat. His left arm wrapped around his head and a few minutes later his breathing was evened out.

"Riiiight." Sirius muttered.

"Sirius, think of an idea for a prank yet?" James asked.

Sirius had the audacity to look sheepish and mutter something about forgetting that he was supposed to be thinking of a prank because he was hungry and waiting for the trolley to show up.

"You are unbelievable." James said, shaking his head.

"I'll think of something yet." Sirius retorted.

*Y*E*A*R*3*

"I cannot believe that he slept the entire train ride." James said as he tightened his tie. He looked at his sleeping friend, who really looked way too peaceful for someone who turned into a monster one night a month.

"Not true." Peter argued as he tied his shoe. "He woke up after our game of chess, even if it was only for a few seconds, but technically, he was awake."

James rolled his eyes. "Fine, I concede to you again!"

Sirius gave a bark like laugh. "How many times are you going to lose to Peter today?"

James glared at him. "Shut up, you…..you….damn it."

"HA! Now you lose to me!" Sirius and Peter fell into fits of laughter.

"Damn, I am off my game today. What is wrong with me?" James muttered, running a hand through his messy hair.

"Today?" Remus snorted, looking up at his friend from his position on the bench with a mischievous look. "James, I hate to be the one to point it out, not really, but there has always been something wrong with you. It's not just today."

The boy in question stomped his foot childishly. "Is it pick-on-James day?" He complained. When the person who is supposed to be the nice one and support him nodded his head, James narrowed his eyes at his friend. Anyone who didn't know James would miss the playful glint in his eyes and truly think that the boy was furious. "How are you feeling?" James asked with a somewhat creepy smile, though it did seem a little caring.

"Um…fine. My headache is gone at least." Remus replied worriedly.

"GOOD!" James shouted. He jumped on the bench, straddling his friend, and started to attack his ribs mercilessly.

Remus shouted with laughter and his limbs flung around, trying to dislodge his friend. It didn't go well since James grabbed his wrists in one hand and pinned them against the window. Loud laughter continued to bubble from Remus's mouth as he looked desperately and pleadingly at Sirius and Peter, who both decided to sit back in their seats and enjoy the show.

"PLEASE JAMES!" Remus shouted, kicking legs around to try to dislodge his friend. "I-I….GYAH! HAHAHA!...I'M SORRY!"

"What the hell is going on in here?"

James raised his hand away from Remus's rib. The pale boy collapsed into heavy breathing and was silently praying to anyone who was listening that he was grateful for whoever walked into their compartment at that moment. While he did that, the other three boys were looking at the compartment door with amused looks.

"Frank! Alice! You guys are Prefects?" James asked.

Frank nodded his head. "What are you doing to Remus?"

"Oh, nothing much." James said with an innocent grin.

"FRANK! ALICE!" Remus shouted. "Hel-mmph!"

Sirius had to hold back a laugh when James slammed his hand over Remus's mouth. He looked at the Prefects and saw them looking just as amused at him. "As you can see, Jamesy here is just torturing Remus. Nothing you two need to worry about….unless he decides to start using curses….would you do that to poor Remy, mate?"

James adapted a serious look. "I don't know, mate. I probably should. He could be a traitor after all."

"Traitor?" Peter shouted in shock.

"Oh yes, our little Remy is acting more and more like a Prefect as each day goes on." James said gravely.

Remus tried to talk but it all came out muffled.

"Well, as long as they aren't any curses flying around…." Frank said, trailing off as he left the compartment.

Giggling, Alice looked at each boy. "Just so you know, Angel is Head Girl this year. Oh, and we will be arriving in Hogsmeade in two minutes. You might want to get changed, Remus." Then she was gone as well.

Some muffled shouts came from Remus but they were ignored as James turned back to him with an evil grin. Remus internally groaned. How dare those Prefects just abandon me like this? He thought as he once again howled with laughter.

Outside in the hallway, Alice shook her head with an amused smile and looked at her friend who was laughing at the third year boy's torture. It didn't seem likely that Remus was going to get into his uniform in time at this rate.

"I must thank you, you great prats." Remus grumbled, rubbing at his sore ribs. He looked at his friends in the carriage with a stubborn frown. "I really do enjoy having my ribs viciously attacked by four-eyed, messy hair, arrogant toerags."

"Oh, hahaha." James replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "You're just upset that you didn't get your uniform on.

Rolling his eyes, Remus smiled. "So, how do you guys plan to spy on the first years? I doubt that all four of us will fit under the cloak anymore. We're not the little first years we were when James first got it."

"I don't know, Rems." Sirius said gravely, looking at his other two friends sadly. "I think you could fit right in with the first years. I don't think you've grown at all."

Remus glowered at him. "Prat."

"Oh, he wouldn't fit in all that well. McGonagall would notice him right away. His physical features are way too unique." James added with a smirk.

"Cept his hair. He changed that over the summer." Peter said.

"ARGH! I concede yet again, Peter. Stop doing this to me." James shouted, before falling into a pout and muttering about losing to a pudgy git who was enjoying this way too much and that he was off his game so something was seriously wrong, especially when it was Peter he was losing to.

Sirius snickered at him.

"Nutters." Remus said, shaking his head, but with a fond smile.

*Y*E*A*R*3*

Walking slowly, the Marauders made sure they were the last ones in the Entrance Hall. The moment he saw the last student enter the Great Hall, James whipped out his cloak and ushered his friends into the Chamber of Reception. Remus grabbed the cloak from him and threw it over his three friends when they were clustered in a corner. He kneeled down to make sure their feet weren't showing, and instead saw three pairs of shoes.

"Guys, crouch a little or something. Your feet are showing." Remus whispered.

A moment later the shoes were gone and Remus was staring at the door that led to the Entrance Hall. He shifted his eyes to where his friends were hidden. "McGonagall is coming with the first years."

"What are you going to do?" James's voice asked.

"Maybe I'll just stand here and wait for her to come through the door and see me and yell at me to get out of here." Remus muttered.

"Do you really want another detention?" Sirius asked. Remus could practically hear the smirk he was wearing.

"Hide behind a suit of armor?" Peter suggested.

Shrugging, Remus disappeared behind a nearby suit of armor just as the door to the chamber opened and McGonagall was seen ushering the frightened first years into the room. One of them stumbled a little on his robe. James watched as Remus's hand darted out and grabbed the back of his robe before the boy could fall on his face and pulled him back up. In all the chaos of the first years stumbling around and being nervous, his hand went unnoticed. Someone would probably think it was just another first year. James knew better because he saw the white scars lining the hand.

McGonagall swept her eyes over her new students, her stern exterior was making some of the students shake even more, before beginning her speech. "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."

"This is sounding exactly like her speech for the last two years. Can't she come up with anything new?" Sirius whispered.

"Well, I'm guessing from the looks of it, no she can't." James retorted.

"No need to be snappy." Sirius replied.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points." At this point, McGonagall had a frustrated look, which caused each of the Marauders to stifle a laugh. They knew exactly why she was frustrated. "At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

James waited until he was sure McGonagall was gone before he whipped the cloak off and stuffed it under his shirt. He smirked at Sirius when the boy stared at him in shock. All the first years were nervously looking around and talking to their classmates so they didn't notice three boys appear out of thin air.

"What do you think the sorting method is?"

"My older brother told me we have to duel an older student."

"OH, REMUS!" James said in a sing-song as he pulled the boy out from behind the suit of armor. "What'cha say to us getting sorted for a second time?"

Remus snorted and pushed his friend off him. He saw the first year students looking at the four older students in fear and sighed. "You can't be sorted again. McGonagall isn't going to call your name since we aren't even supposed to be here."

"Awww." Sirius whined. "This isn't fair."

Rolling his eyes, Remus pushed Sirius's shoulder. "Oh, shut up. Life isn't fair. We should get out of here before–"

"Before what, Mr. Lupin?"

A groan escaped Remus's throat as he turned around to see McGonagall looking at him with a steely glare that only she could pull off. He gave her an innocent smile. Really, what else was to be expected? He's been friends with Sirius and James for two years. Telling the truth right off the bat just wouldn't be very Marauderish of him at this point. "Well, Professor, I missed watching the Sorting last year because you didn't let us go to the feast. Honestly, I still wonder why we couldn't go to the feast. It was just a silly prank. I just want to get to the Great Hall before the sorting was to begin so I may see it this year."

"Is that so?" McGonagall said, looking at her student with suspicious eyes. "Where is your uniform, Mr. Lupin?"

James planted a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter, but Sirius showed no restraint and started laughing loudly. Remus shot them a glare over his shoulder. "Professor, a uniform seems like such a trivial thing. I mean they make school so bland and boring. Being able to dress freely and in whatever you want is a good way to express yourself." He blinked and tilted his head to the side as he looked at her with a sudden frown. "YOU! How dare you? You are trying to destroy our creative minds and turn us into mindless zombies who cannot think for themselves. That is despicable. You lowly, evil, foul, wick–"

With a flick of her wand, sound stopped coming out of Remus's mouth. "Really, Mr. Lupin, I think you are spending way too much time with Mr. Black. You are becoming more and more dramatic like him."

Remus flashed his professor a grin since he couldn't talk anymore.

"Now, I will remove the charm, but when I do, I want straight answers. Understood?" McGonagall asked.

Remus nodded his head and the charm was lifted. "Okay, well, I was sleeping on the train and I woke up near the end of the ride to hear James, Sirius, and Peter talking so naturally I jumped right into the conversation. James, the big great jerk that he is, didn't like my input so he jumped me and started to mercilessly attack me….."

"It was just tickling!" James intervened when McGonagall glared at him. He shot his friend a look that promised revenge if he didn't tell the story truthfully.

"Fine, fine." Remus said, waving his hand at James. "He started to tickle me mercilessly. Then he stopped and it was because our new Gryffindor Prefects, Frank and Alice, came in. I thought I was finally going to be saved from the evil James," He shot James an impish grin. "But alas, it was not meant to be. They left me to the four-eyed monster after a few minutes and he continued his ruthless attack. And by the time I was set free, we had to disembark from the train. So you see, this is all James's fault, but we could also say it is Frank and Alice's fault as well since they didn't help me escape."

McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose and took a few deep breathes. "Forget I asked, forget I asked, forget I asked…And why are you four in….forget it, I don't want to know. In the Great Hall now. We have to get the Sorting underway."

"Prat." James mumbled to Remus as they led the first years to the Great Hall. "You made me out to be the villain in your story." He spun to Remus, took him by the shoulders, and shook him violently. "I am not a villain, man!"

Remus laughed and shoved James off him. "Jamesy, you're just proving my point that you are the villain here."

"I don't need this! I'm a Seeker! How could I be evil?" James shouted and shoved the Great Hall doors open and stomped away with Peter following.

Remus and Sirius shared a look and burst out laughing. The latter fell against Remus's side from laughing so much. That was until McGonagall's tapping foot behind them brought them back to their senses. They immediately sobered up, Sirius gave her an I'm-an-Angel grin, and they ran into the Great Hall after their friends.

"I hope we didn't scar the first years this year. McGonagall would not like that." Remus muttered as he slowed to a walk.

"We didn't even do anything to scar them. No prank or nothing." Sirius pointed out.

"I don't know. Seeing your face can give me a right scare. Think about those poor first years who had to see it even before they were sorted." Remus said solemnly. He shoved his hands in his pockets and bowed his head with slouched shoulders.

Sirius shot him a glare. "I'll have you know that my face is a perfect face. Those firsties should be honored that they got to see such a perfect face as mine. They don't come along often."

Remus snorted. "I see modesty is lacking in your family."

"Where were you guys?" Lily asked when the sorting was over and the feast had begun.

Remus gave her a grin. "Oh, just on a little adventure."

"You guys weren't out trying to lose house points and get detention before the term even begins again, were you?" Lily asked suspiciously, eyes narrowed as she looked at each Marauder in turn before focusing them on Remus.

The boy shook his head. "No Lily. That was not the plan. McGonagall didn't even do anything when she did catch us. She just told us to get in here."

"What? Has she just decided to give up on giving you four detentions now because she saw how utterly pointless it is?" Lily asked, raising a slim red eyebrow elegantly.

"I wouldn't know." Remus said with a shrug. "Maybe she decided to just ignore us today."

Lily nodded her head. "I would hope so. You, well not you Remus, mostly your friends, need detention. Even if it doesn't teach you a lesson, it is good because it keeps you from spending all your time plotting, which will give all the students and teachers some relief." She said with a teasing smile at Remus.

"Ooooh, my dear Lily-tiger, you wound me." Remus replied dramatically, clutching at his heart. He fell against her shoulder with his eyes wide and not blinking. Neither of the two noticed the angry and jealous look that James sent Remus.

Giggling, Lily shoved Remus off her. "My claws could never hurt you, Remus. You are my knight in shining armor. How could I ever hurt thee?"

"Oh, my Princess! You have made me feel honored." Remus replied, grabbing her petite hand and planting a small kiss on it. "Allow me to escort you to the tower tonight, Princess. I shall protect thee from anything that comes our way as par the Knight Code."

"Why thank you, my good Knight." Lily replied politely with a smile.

"Remus," James hissed.

Remus gave Lily a little nod of his head and turned to James with a frown when he saw the boy glaring at him. "I know what you are thinking." He said as he lowered his voice so Lily couldn't hear him. "But James, I only like Lily as a friend. I would hope you would know that I would never date a girl that one of my friends liked. She and I are just friends."

The black haired boy blinked. "You sure, Rem?"

"Of course I'm sure." Remus said blandly and with an eye roll. "They're my feelings. I think I know how I feel about someone. And what I feel for Lily is nothing but platonic. So stop worrying your knickers off about it. Like I'm about to betray my best friend's trust for a girl."

"Sorry Rems." James muttered.

Remus shrugged. "Whatever, James. I was expecting something from you if you saw that I was Lily's friend once more."

*Y*E*A*R*3*

"You know, I was surprised." Lily said as she and Remus walked through the corridors of Hogwarts.

Remus raised a brow in confusion. "Surprised? About what?" He shoved his hands in his pockets and slouched his shoulders as he walked. In his right pocket, his hand was running over the smooth handle of his wand.

Lily looked at her friend skeptically. "Well, there was no prank during the feast. I even noticed the professors looked surprise. Are you guys finally stopping that?"

"Oh, that." Remus replied with a laugh. "No, I don't think they are done. We didn't do one because they forgot to plan one and didn't remember until we were on the train. I guess they tried to think of one but we didn't really have any supplies ready and I couldn't help them because I was sleeping since I didn't feel well earlier."

"Are you alright now?" Lily asked with genuine concern in her voice.

"Absolutely peachy." Remus said with a grin. "That nap on the train really did it for me."

"Well, I'm glad there was no prank. It means we all got one more day of rest before the Marauders' craziness starts again." Lily decided after a few minutes of silence.

Remus nodded his head. "Understandable. Even I can't stand all of it and I'm their friend. It's nice to escape from it once in a while."

Lily murmured her agreement, flipping her head to the side to get her wavy hair out of her face. "How was the rest of your summer?"

"Not normal. I was at James's for the last month of it with Sirius and Peter. So you see, I have to deal with them much more than anyone else in this school. I still don't know what I did to deserve this." Remus replied, eyes shining with mirth. "Oh, woe is me!"

"Shakespeare." Lily said, eyes brightening up even more than they were.

"Point to Ms. Evans!" Remus replied in his announcer voice. "So you read his stories as well?"

Lily nodded her head, red hair bouncing behind her. "My favorite by him is Romeo and Juliet. They do so much for love, even go against their families. I hope I can someday find someone who would want to die for me like Romeo does for Juliet. It's so tragic but so beautiful."

"I personally like Julius Caesar." Remus replied.

"Makes sense. There is more fighting in that and less romance." Lily replied with a smirk. "Just like a boy."

Remus stuck his tongue out at her. "Sorry for my gender being all wrong for you."

Lily laughed and shoved Remus's shoulder.

Smiling, Remus came to a stop in front of the Fat Lady. "Hello."

"Hello." The Fat Lady replied. "Password?"

"Seven Little Dwarfs." Remus replied, stifling a laugh. "Who chose that as the password?"

"Head Girl and Boy choose the passwords." Lily pointed out as she smacked his arm. "And our Head Girl is a Gryffindor so you might want to shut it."

"Fine, fine." Remus said, holding his hands up in defense. "It is the most wonderful password ever."

Lily nodded with an evil grin. "Good doggy."

"I'm not a doggy." Remus argued.

Giving a quick laugh, Lily sobered up and looked at her friend in a fake serious manner that was obviously fake by the amusement shining brightly in her eyes. "Well, my dear Knight, you did a wonderful job of getting me here safely. And for that," She stood up tiptoe and gave Remus a small peck on his cheek.

"Hmm, this is just like when we were at your house." Remus said with a grin. "As long as James doesn't see me, I think I shall not get killed. Good thing he isn't down here."

"Oh," Lily huffed irritably. "Does he still have that silly crush?"

Remus nodded his head. "Oh, yes he does. So we must make sure I don't get killed."

"You're the Knight here, so I think you should handle that on your own." Lily replied impishly.

Remus hung his head with a tired sigh. "Oh, such an evil little witch you are."

Laughing, Lily bid her friend good night and went up to her dorm where she was ambushed by her friends who demanded to know what happened and if anything was going on between her and Remus. Oh, the rumors were going to be flying around if anyone saw her kiss Remus in the common room, even if it was only on the cheek! Damn the Hogwarts rumor train!

A/N: I can't seem to help myself. Every time I have a headache and write, I have to make one of my characters feel miserable with me. It is true after all, misery enjoys company.

Stress does make one sick, though it being a cold I don't know. I only made myself sick from stress once and that was when I was thirteen. Doesn't really seem possible for a thirteen year old to be that stressed. Anyhow when I did that I got strep throat, so I'm only assuming that getting a cold from stress is a lot easier than strep throat…or whatever.

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