Author's Note: I like this chapter!!! Thanks to all who reviewed last time! Sorry about the Quidditch game in this chapter. It's not exciting. I don't describe it at all hardly. I'm just not good at that kind of stuff so I skipped it.

Chapter 19: The Marauders

The next day Rose gave me thumbs up when she saw me with Matt. I smiled. Somehow, impossibly, we'd grown closer from last night. I'd realized just how much he loved me when he forgave me. Matt realized that I wouldn't keep things from him, that we had an honest relationship. I also realized that I just might be in love with him.

Because all my predictions had been coming true I was prepared when Chandler started stalking me. I took a secret passage way to every class and made sure that I was never alone. At lunch he finally caught up to me.

Matt, Imee, and I were in the library. I was looking for a book to help Imee and I with our Transfiguration essay. Chandler suddenly leapt out of a row of shelves.

"Silenco," he hissed when I tried to scream.

He gripped my shoulders. "Just listen my silly Lily. Please? I'm sorry alright! I want you back!"

Chandler tried to prove it with a kiss right as Matt walked around the corner. My boyfriend took one look at me cowering against the bookshelves, my face turned away, the seventh year boy leaning in.

"Get your bloody hands off her!" he exploded.

I was able to whip out my want and get my voice back as Matt and Chandler knocked over bookshelves fighting. In the end Matt had a broken nose, Chandler was knocked out cold, and they both had detention.

We'd just left the hospital wing when I stopped Matt and looked him in the eyes. "Matt Wood, have I ever told you that I love you?"

He thought for a minute. "No."

"Well I do." I kissed him shortly on the mouth and started to walk again.

Matt didn't move. I tugged on his hand. A large smile spread over his face. Without warning he picked me up and spun me around.

"Matty!" I laughed.

"What class do you have next?" he asked.

"Charms," I answered in confusion.

He grinned. "What do you say we skip?"

I hesitated. "Fine."

With a grin Matt picked me up bridal style and started to walk. When I joined Jilli, Tiffany, and Imee heading to Divination they all stared at me.

"Where were you?" Jilli asked.

"Doing stuff," I told her.

"Did that 'stuff' include Matt?" Imee smirked.

"Maybe," I grinned.

"I'm ashamed of you Lily! Skiving off class for your boyfriend?!" Tiffany mock scolded.

I snorted. "Cuz you're so innocent. It isn't like you haven't skipped to run off with Jaxon."

She giggled and shrugged.

I was glad when Saturday came. No classes! Imee and I leaned against a tree outside while Albus and Matt played wizard chess next to us. Jilli was inside doing some homework the rest of us had finished and Tiffany had disappeared with Jaxon.

"Today I'll agree to something illegal," I remembered.

"My guess is it'll have something to do with James or Fred," Imee giggled.

I laughed too. Matt watched us. "What's this about doing illegal things?"

Imee explained about my predictions coming true.

"Weird," said Albus.

"Cool." Matt grinned.

"Speaking of illegal," Albus pointed.

James was sprinting towards us with his new best mate, Bryson Jordan, at his side.

"Ah, my knight in shining armor," Imee sighed.

"More like escaped convict in shining chains," I joked.

"James certainly did look like he was running from authorities. He and Bryson skidded to a stop in front of us. I knew Bryson pretty well. He'd visited us a lot over the summers too. Not as much as Chandler, but still, a lot.

"I have an idea!" James announced.

"Let me guess, there's a law against whatever you're about to suggest," I said.

James looked at me in shock. "Well, yah."

"Wow Imee you were right," I smiled at her.

She groaned. "I'd rather not have been. What's your plan James?"

He and Bryson sat down. "Look what my dad gave me before school started."

James pulled out a worn piece of parchment. Matt and Imee looked confused but Albus and I gasped.

"Is that really…" Albus whispered reverently.

"Could it be…" I murmured.

"The Marauders Map," we both said in awe.

"What's that?" Imee asked.

"Watch and you'll see," Bryson replied.

He tapped the map with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good."

Inky lines began to spider web across the page along with little labeled dots. We leaned over in amazement. I couldn't believe dad had given it to James! This was awesome!

"Is that Hogwarts?" Imee cried excitedly.

"And there's us," Matt pointed.

"How is this illegal?" Albus wondered.

"The map itself isn't," James said.

"It's how we use the map that is," Bryson grinned.

I groaned in defeat. "What's the plan?"

"We become the new Marauders," James said proudly.

"I still don't see how it's illegal," Albus commented.

"I mean we really become the new Marauders. We six become secret animagus." James looked pleased with his plan.

"Do you even know how?" Imee asked.

Bryson nodded. "James and I have been working on figuring it out all year. It's a combination of a potion and spells that need to be exactly right. One mistake could be disastrous which is why not everybody's one. The potion shouldn't be ready until the week before Christmas though."

"Dangerous, risky, exciting, I'm in!" Matt exclaimed.

"I guess," Albus reluctantly agreed.

"I've always wanted to be a bunny," Imee sighed.

Everyone looked at me. I rolled my eyes. "Someone has to make sure you don't all kill yourselves. I'm in."

"Wow that was a lot easier then I expected," James remarked. "Now don't tell a soul, any of you."

We agreed.

Sunday at the Quidditch game I shattered half the bones in my body when I fell from a great height off my broom. It nearly killed me. The stupid Slythering beater hit me on the side of the head with a bludger and suddenly I was plunging towards the ground. I caught the snitch though. Somehow. Still not sure how I managed that but I did. We beat Slytherine's slimy butt. So James was both pleased and upset. I spent a week in the hospital wing recovering.

I waited impatiently for the day to come that the animagus potion would be ready. The more we discussed it the more excited I got. As Christmas brake grew closer I badgered James and Bryson every day until…

"Yes Lily! At last it's ready!" Bryson exclaimed triumphantly.

Let the adventures begin.