Author's Notes: Now that I'm back, I'm going to be updating every three days once again – barring real life getting in the way. I can't thank the people that have reviewed or even just read my story enough.

I have two questions though. I'm rather worried about something. I would like to know if you think my story is cliché. I've tried really hard not to be terribly clichéd but I'm afraid I might have done it inadvertently.

Also, what I've written on the trip but not yet put up amounts to around a 100,000 words. I'm a bit concerned that I'm getting overly wordy and long. Do you think I should end this fic at the end of sixth year and start another one for seventh year? I promise that if I did do that, there would be (at most) only a week or so between the stop of one and the start of the next fic.

I would truly appreciate feedback on what you think.

Thank you all so much!


The next week passed with no incidents, unless you counted a girl accidentally turning herself and her entire class into badgers. The days passed, growing steadily colder. Students huddled next to fireplaces whenever they could and shivered in lessons. Everyone hated Potions, as they had to spend hours in the dungeons, which were already normally cold. Now they were positively frigid.

The Quidditch match, Gryffindor against Slytherin, ended in an exciting catch from the Gryffindor seeker when the Slytherin seeker apparently lost his head completely and dive-bombed the stands. The resulting party in Gryffindor common room took five hours to break up completely.

For a while, James was happy. No one was quoting the article at him, at least not more than once. Sirius, Peter, and Remus seemed to have made it their personal duty to protect James and they surrounded him in the corridors, sending menacing glares at all who dared approach.

Lily shot occasional bracing smiles at him and Marlene clapped him on the back whenever they passed. Mary seemed to have lost some of her fear about Mulciber and spent lunch ignoring his glare and chatting unconcernedly to her friends, though James spotted her shivering at times when it was quite warm.

For a while, things were just about perfect.

The morning on Tuesday, James woke up and tried to remember why he had such a feeling of foreboding. He'd had a dream… something about his father and Lily, who seemed to be arguing… or maybe they were laughing… it was all blurry now. His mother had definitely been there…

He rolled over and sat up, rubbing his eyes. He shoved his glasses on and wandered out to breakfast, wondering where his friends were. They were no longer in the dormitory. Breakfast in the Great Hall was excellent as usual, and James had just reached for another plate of eggs when with a rustling sound, hundreds of owls swooped in.

He saw Lily catching a small owl that zoomed excitedly around her before falling into a pitcher of orange juice. She fished it out, looking as unconcerned as if it were a normal event, chatting to her friends. A massive Great Horned Owl circled the ceiling once before swooping down to land next to James, who looked at it in surprise.

"Hi," he said to it, offering it a bit of bacon. It apparently preferred the taste of fingers, however, and nipped him before flying off. "Blood bird," he said, watching it go. A bit of smoke drifted past him and he turned to see a scarlet envelope lying on the table. He blanched.

He had only seconds to grab it, crumple it up, and sprint out of the Great Hall, where it promptly exploded.


"JAMES POTTER, I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO ASHAMED OF YOU IN MY LIFE!"

Lily winced as James's mother's shrill voice drifted in through the doors. The Slytherins were laughing, but most of the others weren't. They listened with interest as James's mother screamed at him for a while before finally her voice faded into the distance as James ran for it.

"Whooore," said Lily's owl, swooping around her and nipping her ear.

"The same to you," Lily said, feeding it a dusty Owl Treat she found in her pocket. She yawned and checked her schedule. "Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Transfiguration," she read. "Brilliant."

"Ooh," Mary said suddenly from beside her. "Look."

Lily turned. A handsome, curly-haired boy was standing from the Ravenclaw table and walking over to her with an engaging smile.

"Shove off," Marlene muttered under her breath, but the boy didn't hear her. He approached Lily, smiling at her.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," she returned, looking at him interestedly. The corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled. It was a pleasant smile.

"I was just wondering whether you'd like to go to Hogsmeade next weekend," said the boy, smiling at her. Marlene muttered something under her breath but Lily ignored her.

"Whooore," said Lily's owl.

"Shut up," Lily hissed at it as the boy blinked in surprise.

"Did your owl just…"

"Yes and yes," she said. The boy beamed at her, then turned and returned to the Ravenclaw table. Lily turned away from her friends with a small and rather happy smile. Marlene looked as though she had just been hit over the head.


James did not return until midway through Defense Against the Dark Arts, when he burst through the door, panting.

"Mister Potter," said Professor Vane in surprise, lowering his wand. "So kind of you to join us."

"Sorry," gasped James. "I got delayed."

"Very well, get your wand out," said the professor, raising his wand again. "We're practicing Patroni again."

"Oh, excellent," James said enthusiastically. He managed to stand next to Lily, who was attempting to perfect the movement of her wrist.

"It's less of a jab," Professor Vane told her. Lily nodded and tried it again. "Perfect!" he said. He turned to James. "Mister Potter?"

James tried, he really did. Years later, he still couldn't explain exactly how he managed to simultaneously set Professor Vane's hair on fire, vanish Lily's robes, and also turn Marlene into a very angry cat that immediately sprung at him, claws outstretched.


An hour later, James was still sitting in the hospital wing, wincing as Madam Pomfrey applied a stinging potion to the cuts Marlene had inflicted.

"Ouch!" he said, wincing as she dabbed potion on a particularly large cut. Madam Pomfrey tutted.

"Mister Potter, I haven't the faintest idea what you've been up to, but I advise you not to do it again."

"It was Marlene," he tried to explain. "She was a cat and she clawed at my face while-"

"Mister Potter!" Madam Pomfrey looked quite alarmed. "I don't want to hear about your… exploits."

For a minute, James sat, feeling rather confused, then he realised. "Oh Merlin, no, that's not what I meant – I mean, that did happen, but-"

"Mister Potter, please. I deal with enough… strange injuries already; I have no need of a detailed story of how the injuries came to be. Students will try anything," she muttered, reaching into a container for some cooling salve.

Feeling distinctly disturbed and slightly ill, James exited the hospital wing with a thick coat of salve plastered to his face, neck, and arms. Marlene had been merciless.

"Looks painful," she said unrepentantly once he had entered Herbology, wincing frequently and touching his cheek. He gave her an evil look. Lily elbowed Marlene in the ribs, face working to conceal her laughter. She gave up as a plant reached out a tendril and yanked on his hair hard. He let out a shrill yelp and clawed furiously at it.

"Mister Potter, that is a very precious plant," cried Professor Sprout as the plant fought hard to strangle him and he fought equally hard to beat it to a pulp. The Gryffindors left an hour later, James covered in bite marks, scratches, cuts, smudges of dirt, and thin red lines around his neck from where the plant had tried to throttle him.

"Don't laugh," he hissed to Remus as he sat down next to him in the Great Hall.

"I wasn't going to," Remus said calmly as Sirius sat down beside James, laughing about something.

"I just hexed Snivelly's hair off," he crowed. James laughed and looked over at the Slytherin table where Snape was skulking, apparently trying hard not to be seen. A discrete flick of his wand and a spotlight glowed down on him, illuminating him. Curious students turned to look at the source of the light. Another flick and Snape began waltzing with an invisible partner while his robes started to split at the seams, threatening to fall.

"Oh dear Merlin, don't do that," said Sirius in alarm. "No one needs the sight of Snivelly's skinny legs."

James laughed and flicked his wand once more. Snape leapt on the table and began to do a provocative dance.

"Eurgh," said Peter, who was watching in fascinated disgust. Students were laughing and pointing at Snape. James felt quite glad that Lily wasn't there. Somehow, he thought she might object to this. Sirius waved his wand and Snape began do a series of high kicks that left him wincing in pain. Even as his legs moved, his mouth was working furiously, spewing out a mixture of spells and Muggle curses in equal measure.

"What a filthy mouth," said James, watching in amusement. "I think he needs his mouth cleaned out again. Apparently he hasn't learned his lesson. Scourgify," he said and Snape began to froth at the mouth, pink bubbles sliding down his chin and mouth as he choked. Sirius laughed cruelly.

The teachers were working furiously on removing Snape from the table, but he seemed almost glued to table. He had begun to waltz again and he nearly fell off the table. Students were laughing still even as Snape screamed with fury and embarrassment.

"Honestly, Snivelly," James muttered, turning away from Snape. "You scream like a girl."


"Glisseo!"

As Snape climbed the staircase several hours later, still wincing every time he took a step, it dissolved into a slide and he went tumbling back, landing in a crumpled heap at the bottom. Sirius sniggered unpleasantly while Peter doubled over, pressing his hand to his mouth to stop from bursting out laughing. Remus managed to look disapproving even as he flicked his wand again. The stairs returned to normal and Snape sat up, staring at them cautiously.

He tested it, putting one foot on the bottom step, then another. Soon he was climbing the stairs with renewed confidence, apparently convinced that it had been a onetime occurrence.

"Glisseo," James whispered, waving his wand. Snape let out an undignified screech and fell back, sliding and skidding around. The Marauders collapsed with laughter once more as Snape limped off, his teeth gritted.

He couldn't go anywhere without ascending a staircase and it was with extreme caution that he tested the next one. He sprinted up the stairs as fast as he could, but James was faster.

"Glisseo!"

Snape went flying back the stairs, legs wiggling in the air absurdly as he toppled. He heaved himself to his feet, hissing curses under his breath. The four boys followed him as Snape limped off, head turning this way and that so fast it looked as though he had a crick in his neck. This time he didn't bother testing the stairs; he just ran as fast as he could up the steps, but Peter was quick and a whispered spell sent him tumbling back down.

The Marauders cackled as Snape limped away, hissing curses at everything he saw.


"POTTER!"

James and his three friends turned around slowly, each of smiling widely and innocently so that they looked even more guilty than ever. Lily was standing at the top of a staircase, her hands on her hips. She approached, face red with fury.

"Potter, what's this I've been hearing about dancing Slytherins and collapsing staircases? This has something to do with you, I know it! Tell the truth, Potter!" Lily ranted, her fists clenched. James grinned at her.

"Well, if the Slytherins have the sudden inclination to dance, that's not my-"

"Don't lie, Potter!" Lily said furiously. Sirius, Peter, and Remus began to sidle back but Lily, who was focused on James, didn't notice. She poked a finger at him.

"You've been cursing them, haven't you? You go on about how mature you are and days later you're back to cursing random people again. I don't know why I bother, Potter, I really don't." Lily gave him one last glare and strode off.

"Thanks, mates," James said furiously a half hour later when he had walked back to Gryffindor Tower alone. Sirius grinned unrepentantly at him, shoveling Chocolate Frogs into his mouth by the dozen.

"Sorry," he said, looking quite as though he weren't. "But I thought you could deal with her-"

"Liar," said James, flopping down on his bed and burying his face in his pillow, breathing hard. "She almost took my head off."


The lunch that day was particularly good, in James's opinion, probably owing to the fact that Snape was sulking somewhere and hadn't come down. He sat with a group of Gryffindors, relaying the story of how Snape looked when he fell down the staircase to uproarious laughter. They departed for lessons in high spirits.

Herbology was particularly miserable. They were still learning how to deal with Venomous Tentaculas and the young plants were teething. James's plant managed to grab a chunk of hair and pull so that he was dragged across the table, scattering dirt and trowels everywhere, sending students flying out of the way. The plant only released him when Professor Sprout managed to slice off the tip of the tendril. The plant retreated, strands of black hair still clutched in its tendril. James could have sworn it waved mockingly at him as he retreated, still glaring at the plant.

Divination was little better. Professor Cassandra misted around the room, staring out the windows and occasionally informing the students about the weather patterns while they yawned and covertly checked their watches. They spent the hour bored, in pain (in James's case), and feeling rather stupid with the fumes from the fire.

James spent most of the History of Magic lesson bored and sleepy in equal measures. Lily was looking attentively at Professor Binns and scribbling notes; but every few minutes she turned to glare at him. He spent the lesson gazing at the back of her head, admiring the way the sun reflected off her dark-red hair. She caught him staring several times and made rude gestures whenever she did.

Potions class was terrible. James managed to melt his cauldron, accidently trip a girl and send her and her cauldron flying across the room, set Sirius's hair on fire, much to his horror, and accidently fall into his own cauldron. He spent the rest of the lesson with bright blue spots as Lily glowed with pride. Professor Slughorn had been most pleased with her antidote.

Defense Against the Dark Arts class was the best out of the lot. They were still practicing Patronus Charms. Professor Vane was determined to do so until most of the class could perform the highly advanced charm.

"Now remember, happy memories," he called over the head of the chattering crowd. Wisps of silver shot around the room and a small rabbit darted around the room, only half complete, before fading into mist.

"Excellent!" Professor Vane cried enthusiastically, clapping the back of the student who had done it. "Concentrate on happy memories!"

James fidgeted, eyes closed. Happy memories… he thought back to a few days ago. The image of Snape doing a series of high kicks while screeching made the corners of his lips curl. He raised his wand, his eyes still closed.

"Expecto Patronum!" he shouted, opening his eyes. This time, it wasn't just silvery sparks or wisps of smoke that shot from his wand. A massive form erupted from it, cantering on slender legs. Students paused what they were doing to stare silently at the animal as it darted through the air. James couldn't make out what it was. He caught glimpses of horns, large eyes, hooves…

The animal slowed to a walk and moved toward him on legs that made no sound on the marble floor. Wide, expressive eyes focused on his own eyes. The animal snorted softly, tossing its rack of antlers. The stag closed its silvery eyes as he reached out a hand. It dissolved before he could touch it.

Suddenly, a strange noise pierced the air. James whirled, wand held out, before he realised what it was. Professor Vane was leading the students in a round of applause. James caught the eye of Lily and winked.

She looked simply furious.


Days later, James was still boasting about the fact that he was the first to successfully manage the Patronus Charm, though several other people had managed it, including Lily.

"He thinks he's so special," Lily muttered one day in Defense Against the Dark Arts, eyeing James in disgust. He was crowing to his friends while his stag cantered around the room. Mary was standing next to her, face screwed up as she tried to think. She whacked her wand on the desk and it promptly set the desk on fire.

"I mean, even Stebbins has managed it," Lily said, still eyeing James resentfully. He winked at her and she turned away in disgust. "No offense meant," she added with a wince to Mary, realising how rude it had sounded.

"None – taken," Mary said through gritted teeth, alternately trying to put out the fire and stomp her smoldering robes.

Lily's silver lynx prowled around her as she glared at James, her arms crossed over her chest. A bear charged past her and dissipated into mist before reaching the wall.

"I can't do this," Mary puffed in frustration.

"Happy memories, Mary," Lily said sarcastically. Mary gave her a nasty look and muttered the spell again, looking hopeful. A jet of mist shot from her wand, whirling through the air before disappearing. Mary let out a hiss of frustration.

"That was better," Lily offered. Mary sighed. James's stag ambled over to Lily, sniffing at her lynx before peering at her.

"Oh go away," Lily snapped, waving the stag away. Nothing of James Potter's was going to get near her. The stag snorted softly then cantered around the room once more. "It's as arrogant as he is," Lily muttered mutinously.

Mary was whispering very fast under her breath. Lily turned to look at her. Mary's face was no longer screwed up in misery and confusion; instead, her eyes were closed, her face concentrating. She raised her wand slowly and Lily held her breath as if it might help.

"Expecto Patronum!"

In a burst of stunning silvery magnificence, her Patronus flew forth in all its glory.

Mary opened her eyes and stared down at the silver fish currently flopping around on the ground.

"I demand a refund," she said.


"This lesson's fun, isn't it?" Marlene said cheerily about a half hour later, crossing the room to Lily's side.

"No it's not," moaned Mary, thumping her head against her desk. "I hate this lesson."

Lily patted Mary comfortingly.

"Her Patronus was a fish," she whispered as an aside to Marlene, who choked.

"Are you serious?" she hissed back. "Well… mine was too, but… a fish?"

"It's not that bad," Lily said defensively. "Once it got off the ground it was nice enough."

Marlene tried valiantly to conceal her smirk but eventually she just turned around and snorted uncontrollably for a second. Mary moaned and thumped her head against the desk again.

"Why?" she said piteously. Lily patted her comfortingly again.

"What was your Patronus?" Marlene asked Lily interestedly as the bell rang. Lily bent over to pick up her bag, swung it over her shoulder, and walked out of the room, Marlene and Mary following her.

"A lynx," said Lily with a hint of pride.

"A pretty one at that," Mary said gloomily. Marlene sniggered and Lily shot her a reproving look.

"Mine was a barracuda," said Marlene, beaming. "Here, I'll show you," she added, pulling out her wand.

"Marlene," Lily started, alarmed, but it was too late.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Screaming students dived out of the way as an immense barracuda barreled down the narrow hallway, huge jaws snapping viciously. A little first year screamed shrilly as the barracuda's slashing teeth came within inches of him.

"Miss McKinnon!"

The three of them turned to see Professor McGonagall advancing down the hallway. Lily and Mary immediately tried to look innocent, which was difficult as Marlene was sniggering and staring after her Patronus.

"No magic in the corridors! Five points from Gryffindor!"

"But Professor," Marlene protested, but the older woman had already strode away. Marlene muttered rude things about Professor McGonagall under her breath the entire way to History of Magic, where they all promptly fell asleep once again.


Author's Notes: Just in case you're (understandably) a bit confused that Lily's Patronus is a lynx now, it's because she's not in love with James and it hasn't changed yet. Sorry; I thought I should clear that up.

I'm really sorry about stopping at such a terrible point but my inspiration had run out. I couldn't think of how else to end it.

Thanks to everyone!