A/N: Sorry for not updating for awhile, I was on holiday. Enjoy!

Chapter 14: Unpredictable Choices

James's POV

The weekend passed surprisingly quickly, with most days spent either in the Marauder dorm (after smuggling Severus and Lily in) or in the Room of Requirements. By the time the day dawned on Monday I was fully healed, after the help of Lily's spells and Severus's potions, unfortunately that meant I had to go to classes.

As usual the Marauders and Lily sat together at the Gryffindor table for breakfast and Severus went to the Slytherin table. We often invited him to sit with us for meals since there was nothing in the rules against it, but he'd always refused.

Taking a piece of toast from the plate in front of me and spreading a light layer of butter on it, I glanced over at Severus, frowning when I saw Bartemius Crouch Jr had sat next to him and seemed to be talking quite heatedly with him.

Eventually, Severus said something back, his face creased into a frown. Nearly all the students in hearing range from the Slytherin table turned to stare at him as whatever Severus had said sunk in.

Raising his eyes, he noticed me watching him and stood up, ignoring Crouch's gob smacked expression. The rest of the Marauders, Lily included, looked up as Severus walked up to our table and took the spare seat between Peter and Sirius.

The whole of the Great Hall seemed to hold its breath while waiting for our reaction. Even though word of our friendship had spread around school, it seemed no one really believed it.

"It's about time you decided to sit with us," Peter grinned, handing him a plate.

Severus took the plate and began eating a slice of toast, he seemed distracted and I couldn't help but wonder what it was that Crouch had said to get that sort of reaction.

The teachers seemed just as shocked as the students, gaping in disbelief as the rest of the Gryffindor's reluctantly welcomed Severus to their table when they saw the glares coming from the Marauders; no one really wanted to be next on our prank list. Dumbledore looked like he was going to burst with happiness, his eyes sparkling so much they might as well have been leaking glitter.

I didn't get chance to ask Severus what was wrong before we had to go to class, unfortunately it was the class we were all separated. I headed to Divination with Peter but my head wasn't in it; too busy worrying. Severus never showed emotion around those he didn't trust, which meant whatever Crouch had said had to have been important for him to take such a drastic move.

Finally, we met up with everyone outside the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Thinking quickly, I stopped our group from going in; checking to make sure Professor Redburn hadn't noticed us yet.

"Let's skip this lesson," I suggested. "We can go to the Room of Requirements."

Lily opened her mouth, most likely to protest if the frown on her face was anything to go by, but then closed it again when I shot a quick glance at Severus. Whether they noticed something was wrong as well, or just didn't want to go to class, the rest of the Marauders agreed.

The Room transformed into our Animagi training room that had quickly become the new Marauder Room since it was an easier place to meet up than sneaking Lily and Severus into the dorms, plus it had more room.

"What's wrong then?" I asked Severus once everyone had sat down.

"What do you mean?" Remus looked up, turning towards Severus for answers.

"Crouch said something to him during breakfast," I explained.

"Apparently not just me," Severus grimaced. "He's approached most of the Slytherin's in Seventh and Sixth year if what he told me is true. That includes your brother, Sirius."

"What did he want?" Sirius asked harshly, his brotherly instincts coming out even if he hadn't spoken to his brother since leaving home and declaring none of them as family.

"He was recruiting," Severus said softly. "You know from the Prophet that there's someone called Lord Voldemort trying to take control."

"I read about him," Lily interrupted. "He wants to get rid of all the Muggle-borns and Half-bloods. He believes Pure-bloods are better than everyone and anyone else is unworthy of magic."

"He's evil," Sirius said shortly. "Worse than my family."

I winced at his tone, but turned back to look at Severus, realizing what it was that made him leave his House table.

"Crouch is already one of his followers and has instructions to find other followers from 'pure' families and convince them to join him," Severus said, confirming my suspicions. "I told I wasn't now, nor would I ever be interested."

There was silence for a bit as we all took in the news and what it meant. We'd all heard of the war going on outside of the school walls, it just seemed unreal that it had finally become a reality.

"The war has finally reached us," Remus said sadly. "It's our time to choose a side."

There was silence for a bit as we thought about what everything meant and how things would change. Remus's words seemed to echo around the room. I looked around and saw determination on every face, but fear in their eyes. Sirius had sadness clashing with fear in his eyes and I knew he was thinking of his brother.

"I'll stand in the light," I stood up out of my chair and pulled my wand out. "On my word as a Marauder and as a member of this pack I swear to stand against the darkness."

The end of my wand glowed, surprising me, but I didn't put down my wand. Sirius stood up next to me, pointing his wand at mine. He repeated my words, smiling as a light began to glow at the end of his wand too.

Remus stood up and joined us, his wand glowing brightly like ours. Lily had no hesitation standing up and declaring on her word as part of the pack, but stopped before swearing on her word as a Marauder, checking to make sure she was part of the group before continuing.

"I'll stand in the light," Severus stood up. "On my word as the first Slytherin Marauder and member of this pack I swear to stand against the darkness."

"What happens if we loose?" Peter asked, he was stood with his wand pointed at ours, but hadn't sworn anything yet.

"Then we keep trying," I said stubbornly.

Slowly and nervously, Peter made the oath, his wand lighting up like ours had done. Once all the wands were lighted, they seemed to glow brighter.

Somehow we all knew that there was no breaking our oath. Remus had said that once part of the pack it was for life and there was no getting out of it. Everyone knew we'd sworn on our lives, but we felt lighter and more confident, even Peter seemed to stand taller. We had something to aim for.

The wands glow faded and we all sat back down, feeling closer than we ever had before. Grinning, I pulled the Marauders Map out of my pocket and opened it, spreading it across the table that had just appeared.

"It seems this now needs editing," I announced, pointing at the writing at the top of the map.

"That means we need Marauder names for Severus and Lily," Sirius said.

It was amazing how quickly the mood went from serious to joking as we all began to think of names for the two new official members of the Marauders.

"Let's start with Severus," Peter decided.

"Hunter?" I suggested, imagining his Animagus form.

"Chase?" Peter guessed.

"Midnight?" Remus offered.

"None of them fit," Severus rejected them all.

"Kitten?" Sirius grinned.

I burst out laughing while Severus glared at Sirius, even Lily was laughing.

"How about Whisper?" Lily asked.

"That one's good, let's put it to vote, those who like it raise your hand," I put my hand up, and laughed as everyone else did too except Severus.

"I don't like it," he muttered.

"Tough," Sirius patted him on the back. "You were over-ruled."

"Yeah, if I have to be Wormtail you can be Whisper," Peter said. "I think you got it lucky."

Realizing his name could have been much worse, Severus accepted the name. "What about for Lily?" He asked.

"Bambi?" Peter recommended, making the rest of us snort as we'd found that name when thinking of one for me.

"Fawn?" Remus proposed.

"Hart," I said, not even realizing I'd said it until everyone turned to look at me.

"Heart?" Lily repeated.

"It's spelt H-A-R-T," I explained. "It means Deer and I just thought it fit."

The original Marauders gave me a knowing look as it was put up to vote and everybody, even Lily, accepted it. Admittedly, one of the reasons I'd suggested the name was because I thought Lily had a lot of heart and was really accepting. Of course another reason was that she'd stolen mine.

Knowing we didn't have much time left before our next lesson began, we edited the Map:

Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs, Whisper, and Ms Hart

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers

Are proud to present

THE MARAUDERS MAP

A/N: Hope you liked this chapter, I think I should have made it two separate chapters, but they'd have been really short.

IMPORTANT: I'm doing a 'Re-vote' of my poll; I've chosen the top three most voted choices and put them up on a poll that's on my profile. Please go to my profile and vote, it doesn't matter if you've already voted; this is a new poll and if you don't vote on it your choice will not be counted.

Please review! :)