A/N: To sum96, I wanted to reply to your question about more Lily/James action (and don't hate me for my answer). More will come in later chapters but, since I'm trying to portray a realistic view of how their relationship progressed, things are going to be slower in nature. If it gives you some solace, though, they will become friends in sixth year!

Who's To Say?

Chapter 8

The following night brought the Gryffindor sixth years their first set of rounds for the year, and Lily and Remus left to begin them at nine o'clock. Peter and James sat in their dormitory completing some homework and Sirius was missing in action; in actuality, he was roaming the castle with Fiona Etherton for the second evening in a row. Two minutes before curfew (which was ten o'clock), he came strolling into the room with his hands in his pockets and whistling.

"Saw Moony and Evans after dropping Fiona to her common room." Sirius remarked.

"You were in the Ravenclaw common room?" Peter questioned.

"No—it's too soon to go there."

They all knew, however, that the eldest Black son had been in that room before when he had been seeing a Ravenclaw girl for about five weeks during the start of fifth year. Sirius had also seen the Hufflepuff common room, compliments of fourth year.

"So have you snogged her yet?" James pondered, scratching out something with his quill.

"Of course not! I'm still getting to know her. I have integrity!" his best friend insisted, placing a hand on his chest dramatically. He was answered by a dubious snort.

"Besides, third time's a charm!," Sirius added quickly, smiling a bit, "We're meeting again Saturday!" He kicked his shoes off and one of them hit Frank's bottle of ink that James was currently borrowing.

"Oy!" he exclaimed, watching the liquid begin to stain his blanket.

"That's why you shouldn't do homework in bed, Jamesy!" Sirius noted happily.

"Clean it or I'll clean you the way I did Snivelly down at the lake." James demanded, wand pointed.

"Ho ho! Yes sir!"

"I'm surprised the Slytherins haven't tried to get us back for the Welcoming stunt," Peter stated thoughtfully, watching their interaction, "They always try to make sure they repay us and they knew it was us."

"Of course they did," Sirius responded, flicking his wand and the ink stain disappearing, "So they haven't retaliated? It's better for them they haven't."

"I personally think the pus improved their appearance and odor!" James offered. Their door was then pushed open and Frank walked in, smiling at them.

"What's going on in here?" he asked, crossing the room.

"James owes you a new bottle of ink," revealed Sirius as he made his way to the bathroom.

"Wanker!" the Potter boy shouted, half amused and half angry.

At breakfast on Friday morning, Dorcas sat closer to the boys so she could talk about rumored Quidditch potentials with James. When she mentioned Mitchell McKinnon he seemed a little surprised but also eager to see him fly. Lily watched their conversation for a short while and was quite pleased—Potter had not truly spoken to or approached her since the first day of the term and it was a welcomed reprieve from his normal behavior. She wondered how long it would last and if he had taken their last meeting to heart that much.

"Don't forget our bet, Potter." Sirius commented as they walked into their first class: Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"I haven't." James replied confidently, though in all honesty he had for the most part.

"All right. Though, I mean, the week is over and you have no detentions yet."

"Neither do you." Remus pointed out, sitting down besides James at a table.

"Don't I?" Sirius smirked, plopping down in front of them and next to Peter. The latter looked back at his two friends questioningly.

"Do you?" Peter inquired. Sirius merely chuckled in return.

"Okay students!," their professor proclaimed when the class had begun, "We're going to quickly finish up our review of dark creatures before turning completely to nonverbal spells." There was a small amount of murmurs of anticipation, though a couple of the pupils, like Snape, looked unimpressed; they had taught themselves nonverbal spells.

"Let's see… right. Last two, then," Professor Thorne started, consulting her notes. She was quite young (in her late twenties) and their sixth Defense teacher, though she seemed competent, "A kelpie. Can anyone tell me what it is?" Several hands shot into the air.

"Okay—Ms. Evans?" she prompted.

"A water demon, found in British waters. They're carnivores." Lily stated. James found that his body constricted momentarily at the sound of her voice. He had to keep himself from turning to look at her. If getting over her was going to work, he had to be committed.

"Correct. What else? Ms. McKinnon?"

"Muggles view one of them as, they call it, the Loch Ness Monster. They actually look like horses but can shape shift." Marlene said.

"Very good." Thorne told her.

"Exactly, so be careful, Rosier, because I think you're sitting next to one and he looks positively ravenous!" Sirius interjected audibly. Snape, who was Rosier's desk partner, clenched his jaw tightly and glared hatefully as much of the class laughed.

"Thank you, Mr. Black!" the professor testily said, frowning disapprovingly at him. He shrugged, smiling, "Moving on to the last creature: a jarvey." Hands rose into the air once again.

"Mr. Dawes?"

"They're found in Britain and North America and live underground," a Hufflepuff responded.

"You forgot what they are, genius," sneered Snape, "A large, talking ferret, essentially." Dawes blushed as Alice peered at Snape reproachfully.

"Not very dark, though, are they, Professor?" Avery smugly pondered, leaning back in his seat with crossed arms. Thorne gazed back at him and answered, unflinchingly:

"There are more dangerous creatures, yes, but they are covered nonetheless."

"Professor? Do they look something like this?" Sirius asked, pointing his wand at Avery evenly. In the next moment, the Slytherin's human head had been replaced with a furry ferret's head, and the animal appeared stunned.

It only took a second before the young wizards and witches began roaring with deafening laughter. The Slytherins all jumped up, outraged and with poised wands, and Thorne ran from behind her desk as Avery squeaked shrilly.

"Black!," she yelled, sharply, "Change him BACK!"

"Fine!" Sirius sighed over the noise, throwing his hands up. He raised his wand and did a complicated wrist flick. Avery's head went back to normal, though he was frantically feeling it with his hands and his eyes were round.

"You four—sit down!," Thorne ordered, pointing to the Slytherins. There was still a lot of laughter as she rounded on Sirius, "You! Black! Detention, Sunday, all day! Nine AM!"

The wide smirk on Sirius' face faltered for just a moment. He had achieved his goal of getting detention but he had not woken on a Sunday morning before ten o'clock since second year. James, who was trying to regain his breath from laughing so much, looked at his best friend shrewdly. So he had done it just to ensure a detention!...

"Time for today's lesson! The start of nonverbal spells! Pair up with the person you're sitting next to! Wait for my instructions!" the professor commanded roughly, staring at Sirius with apparent anger. The students did as they were told, quieting down since they could detect the bite in Thorne's voice.

When the class ended, the professor watched all of them go with appraising eyes.

"You really know how to put a show on Sirius!" Dorcas congratulated when they were in the halls, headed for Transfiguration with McGonagall.

"If I ever needed a camera that was the time!" Frank lamented. James nodded in agreement, grinning.

"You don't think it was excessive?" Mary pondered.

"Nope!" Sirius grinned.

"It was great," snorted Peter, chuckling. Remus smiled.

"McGonagall's sure to hear about this from Thorne." Marlene observed, looking at Sirius.

"Probably. But McGonagall secretly loves me! She'll go easy on me if anything." Sirius asserted.

"And if she doesn't?"

"It will have been worth it." Marlene gave a small smile in response to his large, disarming one.

"I hope it was, Sirius Black!" a female voice interposed. It belonged to Fiona Etherton and her best friend Michelle was by her side. (They had been in the classroom as well).

"I mean, yes—it was funny to see that prat as a ferret. Better suited him, I think," Fiona confessed, walking towards them briskly and gesturing with her hand, "But detention all day Sunday? And what if she would have said Saturday?"

"But she didn't!" Sirius said nonchalantly, smiling arrogantly as if this would be enough for her. When she threw him a look and continued walking, he trotted after her after winking at his friends.

"You can't deny the excellent Transfiguration work!" he contended, arms out.

Marlene had stopped walking when Fiona first appeared, surprised by her presence. However, after glancing briefly at Lily, she commenced walking once more ahead of the others in order to get to Transfiguration. Alice and Mary sped their pace up to keep up with her.

"So what do you think of Thorne?" another female voice chirped at James' right. He started slightly, stopping and turning. It was Michelle Parks. Of course—her friend had gone, hadn't she? The blonde was smiling pleasantly, holding her book to her lower chest.

"Michelle—hey," he greeted, right hand going subconsciously to his black hair. He caught Remus' eye, letting him know he was not going to walk with the retinue.

"Black knows how to keep things lively, doesn't he?" she noted.

"That he does." James chuckled. They began walking slowly.

"Do you think Thorne will make it past the year mark?" Michelle wondered.

"Definitely not. The post's cursed!"

"I expect she'll have it out for Sirius now. She's young but doesn't seem to be the type to cross."

"I expect," he half smiled, "She seems decent. Too bad she doesn't really give out House points though, otherwise Gryffindor would make a killing!"

"The last time I checked, Ravenclaw was the wisest House!" quipped Michelle. He gave a short, robust laugh.

"Not too modest though, is it?"

"I think that's Hufflepuff," she giggled.

"So, erm, Michelle?," James started, glancing at her, "We've never really… spoken, in the past five years."

"Oh! Well, n-no! We haven't…," the Ravenclaw acknowledged, cheeks turning a bit pink, "But, well, everyone knows who you are, and your friends. You lot are like legends in the making!"

"That is the goal!" he joked.

"And, well… I've always wanted to talk to you, since like fourth year." Michelle announced, the pink becoming more evident.

"Why didn't you just do it then?" James marveled, smiling at her.

"I didn't think you would've noticed me, honestly," she admitted, grinning and fiddling with her book, "James Potter, Mr. Cool…."

He looked ahead at the backs of his friends and the remaining girls, a phantom grin on his face. He shrugged.

After lunch the sixth year students had a round of double Potions, but since Peter, Dorcas, Remus, and Mary were not enrolled in the class, they got to avoid the dungeons. Mary trounced off to Arithmancy as Peter and Dorcas had to deal with double Divination; Remus got two free periods in a row.

"Sodding git." Sirius muttered when Remus waved goodbye to them merrily.

In Potions, Slughorn revealed that they would initiate creating a Euphoria Elixir that session.

"You will turn to page 109 in your books to find the directions and necessary ingredients, which are in the back like usual. It will take you two sessions to complete, though some of you I'm sure may finish earlier!," the professor explained, beaming at Lily and a distracted Snape, "When they are done, I will determine the most accurately concocted and that person will receive a prize! You may begin!"

The students began to move about the room in order to collect the ingredients. The Slytherins, minus Mulciber, sat in a cluster whispering mutinously amongst themselves, quite oblivious, or indifferent, to the others. It had been clear since Defense that they were absolutely livid with Sirius (and thereby all four Marauders by association), but they had yet to retaliate.

"We're bottling some of this when it's done," Sirius remarked to James, standing up, "Slip it in Moony's drink, get Happy Remus. He never comes around enough."

"Oh, I concur, Padfoot!" came the reply.

"I'll get everything, then."

"Right. Thanks."

Sirius followed Frank and Alice to the storage closets as James flipped to page 109 and placed his cauldron in front of him.

"Now, now boys—let's get started! Can't have my students behind!" Slughorn jovially told the Slytherin males, waving them apart with his hands.

They broke up and Severus, who was already turned to the correct page, was the first out of his chair to get the materials, or so it seemed.

"You really think you can do just anything you please." Snape told James in a low voice, approaching his desk and playing lazily with his wand. He was not looking at the captain and hung back in the ingredient line so that it was obvious he was waiting, but so he could also speak without appearing suspicious.

"Excuse me?" said James, glowering at him.

"The jarvey. Avery."

"I'm sorry, but I had no part in that wonderful display," the Gryffindor laughed harshly, eyes on his book once more.

"No, just that prank on my House the first day!" Snape spat, now glaring at his foe. James returned the intense gaze full of loathing but said nothing, though he wanted to hex the Slytherin very much. His hazel eyes were beginning to darken.

"But… you will get everything you deserve, Potter, some of it sooner than anticipated," the other teenager assured, his voice becoming low and dangerous again.

"Your threats are meaningless Snape!" James snapped.

"Oh, they're not threats—they're promises!"

Snape then noticed that Lily and Marlene, deep in conversation, were strolling towards him to join the line of students. He glanced at James one last time, smirking eerily, before moving up and past the Quidditch captain's desk.

"Overgrown bat," mumbled James, scowling at his book.

Slughorn had been right in that no one finished the elixir, but Snape had made the most progress and was seen reading and writing in his book profusely. When it was time for dinner the Gryffindor boys left Peter in the common room to complete a letter to his mother; he would rejoin them when he had gone to the Owlery.

"First weekend of the term!," sighed James, satisfied, as he sat down, "I'm flying tomorrow, first chance."

"Let's go into Hogsmeade as well, in the evening. Butterbeer sounds great," added Sirius.

"What about homework? McGonagall gave us that essay to do before Monday." Remus mentioned.

"That's what Sunday is for!" James noted, putting shepherd's pie on his plate.

"Well, then when are you going to do it, Sirius? You have detention Sunday."

"I'll manage fine," he responded, picking up corn on the cob, "I've done so up to this point."

Halfway through the meal, Frank asked the three of them where their fourth member was. They stopped mid-laugh, suddenly peering around for Peter. He was still gone? They knew it did not take that long to finish and send a letter.

"Maybe it came out longer than he expected." James postulated when they were done eating and preparing to depart the hall.

"He's lucky we know where the kitchens are," remarked Sirius, "Missing whole dinners… the nerve."

Outside the Great Hall, a significantly large group of kids was buzzing around the staircase and blocking all ways to ascend it.

"They're called stairs. You climb them!" Sirius shouted when they were halted by the crowd, irritated.

"Up there!" a nearby third year instructed, pointing to a high spot above. They looked to it and all gasped loudly.

"Merlin!" cried Remus as Sirius swore. Peter was suspended in the air with arms and legs pointed out like a star, and his face was covered with so many hideous boils it was hard to discern where his nose and eyes were.

"What? You lot can't go for help?!" James barked as they forced their way through their peers hurriedly.

"Prefect! Prefect coming through—move!" Remus demanded.

"Some have tried to get him down. They couldn't!" a fifth year clarified.

When they had gotten to the bottom of the staircase, all three pointed their wands and attempted to perform the countercurse for the levitation spell. After a few tries they were unsuccessful; Peter's entire frame seemed to be immobile, including his eyes and mouth.

"Shite! What's the countercurse! What's got him up there?" Sirius pondered. He shook his wand, frustrated, as if it were not working properly.

"I'm getting a professor." Remus alerted, shaking his head and veering off to the left.

Cruel laughter was then heard from a cluster to the right of them, and when James and Sirius looked they saw Regulus at the forefront of some younger Slytherins. He was mimicking the look on Peter's face and the others were laughing.

"How do you get him down?" Sirius asked gruffly, advancing on his brother. Regulus halted his impression and stared at his sibling, an icy fire in his eyes.

"How the hell would I know?" he responded curtly.

"What's the countercurse, Regulus?!"

"I don't know! I didn't put him up there!," Regulus shot back, fists balled. However, in the next instance he was leering gladly, "Pettigrew's your friend—you figure it out."

"Oh heavens!" came McGonagall's voice. Everyone turned and saw the professor approaching alongside Remus and Flitwick.

"How long has he been like this?" the Animagus questioned.

"We don't know. Awhile," someone told her, "He was found like this."

"Filius?"

"Of course, Minerva." Flitwick said. He raised his wand at Peter and moved his hand. Nothing happened. His moustache bristled and he tried another silent spell; this time Peter came down slowly. Some of the students cheered.

"Hospital Wing, boys." McGonagall told the Marauders. They nodded, knowing that was the case. James and Remus aided their friend in walking, even though his legs were functioning; it was his face that continued to be oddly still. Sirius brought up the rear and gave his brother one last warning, dirty look. Regulus returned it.

Madam Pomfrey did not allow them to stay for any time, really. The dropped him off to the shocked nurse and she shooed them out so she could figure out what to do. She told them they could come back in the morning.

"Is Peter going to be all right? Could he talk?," Marlene inquired worriedly, when they trudged into the Gryffindor common room later, "Did he say what happened?"

"Yeah, who did it?" Dorcas added, looking at them.

"No idea! He couldn't move anything, really, including his mouth. He should be fine by morning." James explained, sliding into an armchair.

"Oh, that's good!" said Alice, leaning against Frank.

"I'll tell you who did it," Sirius offered sourly, "Bloody Slytherins. Who else?"

No one said anything because they all knew he was most likely right. Lily briefly studied the three Marauders from her position next to Mary on a semi-distant sofa, feeling badly for the absent one. That had undoubtedly been the work of snakes.

Sirius, Remus, and James went to visit Peter at ten o'clock in the morning on Saturday, sneaking three éclairs for him. They found him awake and disgruntled, able to move all of his body parts but with traces of the boils.

"I can't leave until the evening. She wants all of the marks on my face gone before she releases me," was the first thing out of his mouth.

"Oh, tough luck, mate! We were going to go to Hogsmeade." Sirius noted.

"You can wait 'til I get out!" Peter reasoned, sitting straight up and looking at them imploringly.

" 'Course we will," James said, "Here—we brought you something from breakfast." He furtively presented the éclairs to Peter who took them happily, replying:

"Thanks mates! I'll sneak them when Pomfrey's in her office."

"So what happened, Wormtail?" Remus asked, studying him.

"I was attacked," he answered, grimacing astutely, "Compliments of the Slytherins." The last part of his sentence had come out sounding notably sad.

"Surprise surprise." Sirius dryly stated.

"Snape and Mulciber did most of the work. Rosier and Avery stood back laughing, and the other sixth year—Gates—was the lookout. They got me from behind while I was walking to dinner."

"Their favorite way to fight." James grumbled, shaking his head.

"It's obviously low of them and we have the right to be angry, but you all know what I think, right?" Remus questioned, sounding reticent.

"No hitting them back, of course." Sirius resentfully noted.

"Only because we got them first, technically."

They left Peter after twenty minutes and discussed what to do next on their way back to Gryffindor Tower.

"Flying." James bluntly said.

"Can we get some homework done today? Two hours, maximum—that's all I ask!," Remus inquired, "I don't want to drown in homework all weekend."

"You can do two hours worth!" Sirius pointed out.

"You two agreed to it last night!"

"When?!"

"Right before we went to sleep! I brought up going to the library for a little while to get some of it out of the way and you both consented." Remus argued.

"We were horribly distraught over Peter, deeply concerned about his well being! You could've gotten a 'yes' for practically any question. No, Moony—our minds weren't in the correct state!" James announced.

"We were worried, yes. But let's not take it there," the prefect flatly remarked, staring at him.

"Okay, okay!," Sirius began, chuckling slightly, "So we go to the library to shut Remus up and get done a little before one. Then we go flying—"

"For two hours as well!" James added.

"And which I will count myself out." Remus stated.

"You forfeit flying, I forfeit homework."
"Do that for a couple of hours," Sirius continued, smiling, "Eat dinner, Peter had better be out by then, take a nice trip to Hogsmeade, come back, and I am set to meet Fiona!"

"Very good, Mr. Black! Everyone is happy," grinned James.

Madam Pince was certainly less than happy to see the three Gryffindor boys waltz into her library, school bags hanging on their shoulders.

"You'd better behave yourselves!," she hissed at them, fingers clutching a book, "One slip up and I'll have the headmaster in here faster than a hungry basilisk!"

"Of course! No problems from us." James promised, winking at her as they walked by.

"She's probably related to a whole clan of basilisks." Sirius muttered.

They found a table near one of the long, large windows of the room and claimed it, taking out their Transfiguration essays. They kept their word and did nothing distracting, loud, or magical, which was rather unusual of them. Of course, they were reminded by Remus of a very possible lifetime library ban posited by Pince during their last visit. At a quarter to one, Sirius and James hastily threw their belongings back into their bags and announced that homework time was over.

"I'll leave here at one." Remus told them, quill scratching away.

"If you're trying to skive out on this…" started Sirius.

"No, I'm not. I just want to finish a little more."

"Fine. We'll see you in a bit, werewolf." James said, sounding a bit skeptical.

"Yes you will, James." Remus half smiled.

The two best friends retrieved their broomsticks from their dormitory and then headed out on the green, empty Quidditch pitch. Students were milling about on the grounds but no one was inhabiting the field, for which James was grateful.

"I've missed you!" he exclaimed, dropping to his knees and speaking to the grass.

"You start snogging the ground, Prongs, and I'm gone. Reminds me way too much of Kreacher!" Sirius shuddered. James stood up, a combination of a smirk and a grin on his thin face.

"Yeah, I'll spare you, I think," he snickered, "Race around the goals?"

"Sounds lovely," the other responded, twirling his broom before mounting it.

More than twenty minutes had passed and noises from the Quidditch pitch could not be ignored, though it was mainly whooping and laughing.

"How could two people make all that noise on their own?" Mary pondered, sitting cross legged on the grass below the deserted bench. She and all of the others were on the ground, either lying down or sitting, albeit one: Dorcas. She was standing and staring off in the direction of the pitch and had been for about two minutes.

"They have the right idea! I could go for a good fly right now," she commented.

"If you want to join them, Dorcas, just go get your broom! Standing won't help much." Lily lightly laughed.

"I'm trying to see who they are!," the Meadowes girl reported airily, "Oh! That one just did a—oh! Hello Dorcas! You couldn't see it sooner?!"

"Uh…" Marlene chuckled uncertainly, looking at the petite witch.

"It's James and Sirius!" Dorcas said amused, rolling her eyes and plopping down finally.

"That explains the noise!"

"Couldn't help but notice, Lily, but Potter has left you alone these past few days!" Mary said.

"Yes, he's never done this," the red head confirmed, "It's refreshing!"

"Did you scare him off in any way?" Dorcas asked, giving a sly smile.

"No!" Lily laughed, squinting her eyes. Potter had in fact ceased any form of communication with her after Charms on the first day of classes, but it was not because she had said anything harsh or "scary" to him during that interlude. Nothing she had ever said before had fazed him so there would be no difference now! There was another reason to explain his behavior, totally unrelated to her, and she had no right to question it if it was doing her good.

"Maybe he'll stick with it, as I'm sure you hope he will." Marlene observed, looking at her Housemates fly.

"That would be wonderful," nodded the Muggleborn, looking at the grass.

"Lupin lied," Sirius announced, back in the sky, "It's been thirty minutes and he has yet to show his face!"

"Should I fly by the library and see if he's still there?" offered James, checking his watch.

"Sure."

The Chaser then sped off as his best friend hovered in the air, entertaining himself with the picture of James flying by the library's windows looking for Remus to the amusement of the students studying. He came back shortly afterward with the report that their friend was not in there, and they very reluctantly returned to the ground to go search for him.

"Maybe he's in the Room. Locked himself away so he can do all the homework he wants without us interfering." Sirius hypothesized as they began their walk back to the castle.

"All I know is he's getting a Sticking Charm to the broom." James threatened.

Consequently, they did not have to go very far before they found Remus: he was hurrying towards them near the Herbology greenhouses.

"Before you say anything, I had a run in with the Slytherins!" he clarified, looking very perturbed.

"You too?!" exclaimed James.

"Yeah, all but Rosier."

"Did they—" commenced Sirius.

"They didn't do anything. Tried to intimidate me, I guess. Said nasty things, that's all," Remus explained, shaking his head, "Mentioned the prank."

"So this is about that, then." James noted.

"Yep."

"That just means we humiliated them more than we thought!" Sirius proclaimed, satisfied, as they went back to the pitch.

On their way to dinner later that day, Rosier and Gates "accidentally" bumped into Remus.

"So sorry Lupin! Our fault!" Rosier apologized, eyes shining with dim delight and not a trace of remorse in his voice. The Marauders watched the two Slytherins stroll into the Great Hall ahead of them, Gates laughing.

"Whatever," sighed Remus.

When the three entered the dining hall, shouts of laughter erupted from the snake table at their presence. As the other tables peered at them curiously, the Ravenclaws were next to begin laughing loudly as well.

"What?" Sirius wondered as the three whirled around to gawk at the two chortling Houses. The badgers then began shouting in mirth, realizing what the source of the humor was; the Marauders, on the other hand, were at a complete loss as to what was so funny about them. As James swiftly turned to his House, expecting the lions to complete the laugh fest, he noticed something wildly out of place that was undeniably the cause of all the attention: Remus had a tail. It was furry, brown, not very long, and unbeknownst to the owner.

"Remus," James steely stated, gripping his upper arm, "You have a tail."

"What?!" he responded, looking at James with utter confusion. Sirius quickly surveyed the situation at the odd claim and saw that it was indeed true, and jetting out of his jeans.

"Yeah, can't argue with that. It's certainly there!" Sirius agreed.

"What the hell!" a growing incensed Remus hissed, eyes flashing.

"I'm betting that 'bump' with Rosier was more intentional than we thought!"

"Forgo dinner, shall we?" James commented, glancing around at the other students. Remus then rapidly turned around and sped out of the Great Hall, his face reddening, and was followed by his two friends amid louder laughter at their departure.

They sought isolation in their dormitory and tried every relevant spell to make the tail disappear, but all to no avail.

"What kind of sodding magic are they using?!," demanded Sirius, exasperated, "They clearly don't want us fixing anything!"

"You probably need a potion, mate." James mentioned.

"I think so too." Remus answered, frowning immensely and peering back at it. He then let out a very frustrated sigh.

"This is war." Sirius darkly said.

"They'll have a hell of a time getting you and me, Padfoot." James remarked, sounding ready for it.

"Let's just go to the Hospital Wing! There's no way around it," the Lupin boy told them, grumbling the last statement and snatching up his wand.

Needless to say, Peter was thoroughly shocked to see his best friends arrive and tell him that Remus would be taking his place. He then saw the tail and received the news that it had been their rivals' doing.

"Do I have to stay overnight? Can't I just have a quick potion?" Remus half begged the nurse after she had inspected his condition.

"Mmm… perhaps. We'll see what I can whip up, what works," Pomfrey starkly said, "But honestly—the things you kids do to one another! And I see you four more than is necessary!" She continued harping about the Hogwarts students as she bustled away.

"See you later, then, hopefully before the morning comes." Remus hailed wearily. They bid him farewell and left the infirmary with Peter.

"I'm assuming Hogsmeade is postponed," he noted.

"Definitely," relayed James, knowing the desire to go had been distinguished in light of the tail.

"Kitchens for food, I suggest. Don't exactly feel like going back to the Great Hall." Sirius verbalized.

"Too right."

"Maybe I should have the elves make something special for Fiona, get her to believe I'm this charmingly considerate bloke."

"Yeah, I'm sure that will last for… two weeks." Peter joked. James snorted with appreciative pleasure.

"You know Wormy, for a recently repaired man, you're oddly brave!" Sirius warned, grinning nonetheless.

Remus got his wish and did not have to stay in the Hospital Wing. He returned shortly after Sirius had gone to meet Fiona (who planned on walking the moonlit grounds), tail-free, and was questioned about what had occurred by his Housemates. He replied that the Slytherins had been behind it and there was not much more to say.

Sirius was absent until midnight and had borrowed the Invisibility Cloak to get back in without consequence, in case he were to come across forces such as Filch and his cat. He found his friends lounging in the common room with three other seventh years on the other side of the room.

"Not tired?" he asked vivaciously.

"Nah. And Frank is sleeping—didn't want to wake him." James responded, taking up space on an entire sofa.

"Well, my night was smashing!"

"Oh yeah?" the Potter boy grinned.

"Yes. And she loved the sweet!" This was directed at Peter.

"So was the third time a charm?" Remus pondered.

"That it was!," Sirius smiled wickedly, "For 15 minutes in the Astronomy Tower!"

"Your needs have been met."

"So is that it with her, then?" Peter inquired, smiling faintly.

"No." Sirius said.

"But with other girls—"

"It was in the past; they have nothing to do with Etherton! Fiona's cool, and hey, I can talk Quidditch with her!"

"Could she possibly be the first girlfriend of Sirius Black?!" James marveled.

"Whoa! Let's not jump to such rash conclusions!" Sirius ordered, holding his hands up. The other three laughed.

"Um, excuse me!" a voice piped in, sounding strangely timid. The four teenagers turned to see Marlene standing behind Sirius in her pajamas, arms behind her back. How long had she been there? They surely had not noticed her.

"Oh, Marlene!" Remus greeted.

"What's up McKinnon?" James added, taken aback.

"I, er, I-I left a book down here. I came to get it! It's… it's under your chair, Peter," she revealed.

"Oh—right!" Peter said, ducking down to retrieve it.

"All right, Marlene?" Sirius asked. She glanced at him then watched Peter, giving a faulty smile.

"Yes. Just… want my book." Marlene mentioned. Peter handed the book over and the witch thanked him.

"Well g'night!" she hailed. Her ponytail flew as she quickly turned to go to the girls' dormitories. James had a fleeting impulse to shout after her 'Tell Evans I said sweet dreams!', but stifled it.

Sunday brought Sirius' detention with Thorne and he was unwillingly roused at 8:30 by an extremely persistent alarm clock (bewitched by Remus) to ensure he was not late. He left four slumbering roommates and promised James, who did not truly comprehend his voice, that he was going to have the longest running detention in the school's history. The others rolled out of bed roughly an hour later and had homework to look forward to, which did not exactly have them thrilled. Peter suggested they go visit Hagrid before being sucked into school work and Remus and James agreed, though they had to endure Peeve's taunts about Remus' tail on their way there.

Homework seemed to be the theme for Gryffindor students fifth year and up, which left the younger wizards to dread the workload of the impending years. The Marauders took up a table and began diligently working, having no idea they would be there until Sirius was done serving his detention. Peter needed help on a few assignments and the other two took the time out to do so, though by four o'clock their patience and will to do homework was virtually gone. They trudged on, however, and when it was time for dinner they all but ran for the portrait hole, desperate for a reprieve. Conversely, they were back in an hour and faced with a few more hours of work.

At half past seven, Sirius arrived. His friends rejoiced, seeing it as another chance for a break, and hastily stood up to go meet him. The first thing James prepared to ask the Black boy was how long his punishment had turned out to be, and it was on the verge of his tongue until he took in Sirius' appearance.

"Bloody hell, Sirius!" James yelled, eyes widening. Peter and Remus gasped.

From his eyes it was clear that Sirius was furious, in addition to his physical state. He had one, long gash on his left cheek and many smaller cuts covering the rest of his face; there was also a browning bruise on his lower right arm and he was gripping his wand.

"Did you duel Thorne?!" Peter stupidly questioned. Sirius glared at him then moved further into the room, attracting multiple stares and murmurs. His friends, bewildered, followed.

"Sirius—mate—what happened?" Remus tried as they traveled back to their table. He gave a harsh bark of laughter then answered, ceasing walking:

"Our friends the Slytherins!" There were cries of outrage and from more than just the Marauders: a group of their Housemates had discretely followed and it included the other sixth years and Sirius' female admirers.

"You're joking," said James staring at him, though he knew full well it was the truth.

"Oh no! They decided to pay me a visit right when I had finished my detention, knowing I'd be coming from it. Four on one—I suppose Rosier didn't want to lose his badge!" Sirius explained with false cheer.

"Four on one?!" shouted an angry Dorcas, next to a Marlene covering her mouth with a hand.

"Sounds like them." Mary mumbled, frowning. Lily put a hand on her shoulder, knowing she was thinking of when they had attacked her.

"They made it terribly clear they did not appreciate being embarrassed in front of all of Hogwarts, and wanted to 'teach me where my place is'. They didn't bother with any theatrics like they did for Remus and Peter; they basically meant for me to crawl to the Hospital Wing." Sirius relayed.

"They're targeting us individually." Peter commented, looking at Remus.

"Yes, they are. I think I gave them more than they expected, though, for being one wizard. Gates was on the floor when they ran from hearing Filch's footsteps, Mulciber was bleeding, and Snivelly was cradling the side of his greasy head!"

"They ran?" Frank wondered.

"Yeah. Filch heard all the noise and came to investigate. I was past Thorne's office when they found me so she didn't show up." Sirius noted.

"They really are cowards." James growled.

"What'd you tell Filch?" Remus asked, looking worried.

"That I fell down a flight of steps. He didn't believe me but I didn't give a niffler's fluffy arse."

"This is out of line! They mean to hurt you four. All you did was pour slug pus on them!" Dorcas raged.

"Exactly," added Alice. Remus nodded as others vocally agreed. Lily gazed around at all of them, the memory of what she had told James flashing quickly in her mind. She had to admit her friend was right- even though the Marauders' prank had been immature, it had not been dangerous.

"That's it! I can't take anymore. I don't care." James announced, moving forward.

"Whoa, James—what do you mean?" Frank inquired, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Dorcas is right! They've taken this to another level! I've had all three of my best mates ganged up on in a few days and—!"

"Trust me Prongs, I know you're right pissed. So am I!," interjected Sirius, stepping up, "But they haven't been caught for what they've done to us so there's no point in you getting in trouble for getting them, because you know they will narc."

"Well said, Sirius," acknowledged Remus.

"You'll want to be on your guard anyway, James. You're next!" Peter fretfully pointed out.