"I forgot to ask: Do we have Care of Magical Creatures homework?" Sirius asked.

"You mean the homework that was due today?" Remus said.

"It was due today?" Sirius said.

"Yeah. Eighteen inches."

"Does anyone have a spare piece of parchment?"

The other three shook their heads.

"Evans!" Sirius called down the table. "Do you have any blank parchment?"

Lily shook her head. "Not any that you're using."

Sirius swore. "Why couldn't you three have mentioned this before we came down here? Now I've got to head up to the tower again."

"You should have had the essay done last night," Remus pointed out.

Sirius groaned, grabbed a piece of toast, then left to find some parchment.

"Does he realize that we don't have that until after lunch?" James asked.

"Probably not," Remus said, "despite the fact that we've been been following this schedule since the beginning of the school year."

Sirius met up with the others as History of Magic started. "What was the essay about again?"

"It's about creatures that you would commonly find in Africa," Peter said.

"Right, got it. So I write about fwoopers and stuff," Sirius said. He pulled out his quill, ink, and parchment, then began scribbling down the essay, oblivious to Binns' droning.

The rest of the week passed in a similar fashion, with Sirius and James alternately not having their work done. There had been a definite increase in homework, and in all honesty, no one was enjoying it.

It lasted through the rest of February. Only when March was ushered in did the work subside. The Marauders weren't any less busy, however. They had to begin preparing for April Fools Day.

Along with this, James' Quidditch practices had resumed the moment the grass could be seen through the snow. He was out preparing for the upcoming match against Slytherin four days out of the week.

Rundown and tired, he returned to the Common Room the night before the match to find Sirius and Remus talking to Frank Longbottom, a fourth year.

"-for the game," Remus was saying.

"Right. Yeah, I've been hoping to find someone to sub for me for that, but I'll have to talk to McGonagall and get you cleared by her before you can do it," Frank replied, looking to Sirius.

"Minnie should let me," Sirius said, "as long as I don't have too many missing assignments. Or detention."

"Minnie?"

"Yeah, she and I have a special bond."

"More like you have a delusion," Remus snorted.

"Remus, I am offended!" Sirius said, pretending to look affronted. "Minnie and I have a relationship!"

Remus shook his head.

"Anyway," Frank said, "whether you and McGonagall are best mates or not isn't all that relevant. Unless she's positive you'll do well, she won't let you run the commentary."

"Commentary?" James asked. He came up behind the group.

"Yeah," Frank said. "I've got other obligations during the next game, so I'm not able to do commentary."

"So you want to commentate the match?" James said.

"Yeah," Sirius said.

"It's not a bad idea, Hogwarts'll need a new person to do commentary when I leave," Frank said.

"You've still got three years here after this one," James said.

Frank shrugged. "Never too early to be prepared."

"Well," Sirius said, "It was great to talk to you, but we've got to get some stuff done."

"Alright. I'll talk to McGonagall, let you know what she says."

"Brilliant. See you around."

Frank walked off, heading for the portrait hole.

"Wonder where he's going," James commented, watching him leave.

"Probably to talk to McGonagall, the match is tomorrow," Remus said.

"Right now it doesn't matter, Sirius said.

"Quidditch always matters," James protested.

"Of course it does, but where he's going doesn't matter. We have planning to do. James, you get Peter, he's probably fretting about exams already or something."

"Peter doesn't fret about exams, that's Remus," James said.

"I don't fret about exams, I prepare for them," Remus said. "They're only a few months away-"

"Not now, Remus," Sirius said. "They're in June and we don't need to have the mood dampened by thinking about them."

Remus sighed. "They're just exams-"

"And therefore have no importance," Sirius said knowingly. "James, get Peter."

James hurried off, returning quickly with Peter in tow.

"Now, Messrs, it's time for some plotting," Sirius grinned.

The next morning dawned brightly with a damp, chilly feel to it. There was excitement in the air as only a Quidditch match could bring.

At breakfast, Frank came up to the Marauders to tell Sirius that he had been given approval, and was to report to the topmost box twenty minutes before the match. Directly afterward, Frank wished James luck, then hurried off to do whatever his obligation was.

Slowly, the Great Hall's crowd began to disperse, starting first with the players.

"Good luck," Sirius said.

"You'll do brilliantly," Peter said.

Remus simply passed him a well-sized slab of chocolate.

"Do I get any-?" Sirius started.

"James is the one playing, not you," Remus said.

Sirius huffed, but didn't argue.

James left for the locker room, nibbling on the chocolate.

When he arrived, Andrew, Justin, and Hallie were already waiting, changed into their scarlet robes.

"Brilliant, you're here," Justin said. "Have you seen Mitchel and the others?"

"I think he's on his way," James said. "As for the others, I'm pretty sure Maria is just finishing with her breakfast, and Lucas…. Well, I'm not sure where he is, but I don't think he'd miss the game."

It took some time, but eventually the whole team was gathered, dressed, and had been given the pregame talk.

"We'll play clean today, alright?" Hallie looked around the group.

"And on that note, dear captain," Andrew said, "It's time for the match to start."

Hallie nodded. "Play hard," she reminded the team.

Meanwhile in the top box, Sirius was welcoming the crowd.

"Welcome to our fifth Quidditch match this season!" Sirius' voice boomed.

"Mr. Black, that is not how we number our games," McGonagall said, glancing at him.

Sirius shrugged. "I get the 'If it's not broken, don't bother fixing it,' but we honestly should, don't you think, Minnie?"

"The match, Mr. Black," McGonagall sighed.

"Right. Anyway, for Slytherin house, there's Nott, Rosier, Bulstrode, Cox, Lestrange, Highland, and Donningson. For Gryffindor house, we have Klosse, Potter, Liecht, Albatram, Finley, Rowsey, and Ominer!"

Down on the pitch, the teams had met.

James looked around the pitch briefly.

Roughly two thirds of the stadium was wearing red and gold and cheering wildly. The other third of the stadium was also cheering, though they donned green and silver.

"Shake hands, captains," Sirius said. "Klosse, break Lestrange's hand for me- No, Minnie, I'm just kidding! Even though I wouldn't mind if she did actually do it. Now that the captains have shaken hands, Lestrange's unfortunately unscathed, we'll begin the game by releasing the Quaffle…!"

The Quaffle went shooting up into the air. Following directly after it was the players.

James shot upwards, making a grab at the maroon ball. He wasn't quite fast enough; A dark haired, Slytherin fifth year had snatched the ball and was speeding towards Maria at the Gryffindor goalposts.

"Nott has stolen the Quaffle and is going for the Gryffindor goalposts, backed by Bulstrode and Highland. Highland with the Quaffle- no! Bludger expertly hit by Finley, straight to the back! Highland drops the Quaffle, right into Liecht's hands! Liecht with the Quaffle, now Klosse, back to Liecht, and to Potter! Potter is closing in on the goalposts, come on James!"

James threw the Quaffle diagonally, sending it soaring through the left hoop.

"Yes! Brilliant, mate, that's ten points to Gryffindor!" Sirius crowed. "Now we've got Slytherin with the Quaffle, Bulstrode to Highland, back to Bulstrode- Merlin, what was that?"

Cox, the blonde Slytherin Beater had attempted to send a bludger towards James.

James looped it easily.

The bludger missed, heading straight into the path of where the Slytherin Chasers we're heading. It rocketed into the outstretched hand of Nott, who had been reaching out to catch the Quaffle.

"Well, it looks like Cox hit a bludger into his own teammate. Not unexpected for someone who doesn't show up to practice and chooses to go off snogging Hufflepuffs instead."

Cox went bright red and began stuttering something unintelligible at Sirius, finally giving up and simply sending a rather rude gesture at the box.

"Yeah, I saw you and what's-her-name outside the Potions room. You might want to try behind Greenhouse Two, that's a good place. Anyway, Klosse grabs the Quaffle, throws it to Liecht, Liecht back to Klosse, Liecht, Potter, Klosse, Klosse throws- and it's blocked by Lestrange. I think he might have had a hand through the hoop, which would make that a penalty-"

"His hand was not through the hoop," McGonagall interrupted.

"Apparently it wasn't through the hoop, so Lestrange is off. Gryffindor is still in possession, Liecht with the Quaffle, he shoots- and it goes through! Twenty to nothing for Gryffindor! Slytherin now in possession with Nott down a hand and Bulstrode with the Quaffle. Passable bludger work by Rosier, who nicks Liecht's elbow. Liecht is fine, though, so Rosier hasn't done much damage- That bloody git!"

James had only seen it out of the corner of his eye. A bludger had gone whizzing towards him. He attempted to swerve out of its way.

There was a crack as the bludger collided with his shoulder.

James suppressed a yelp of pain, broom dropping in altitude by a few feet.

"Rosier, I'm going to hex you off that broom!" Sirius said angrily.

"Mr. Black-" McGonagall started.

"Oh. That wasn't a threat, Minnie, dear," Sirius assured her, though his hand was in the pocket where he kept his wand.

Back on the field, Hallie had signaled for a timeout.

"James, are you alright?" she asked.

"I'll be fine," James said, grimacing.

"You're not fine," Andrew said. "We need Madam Pomfrey over here…."

Madam Pomfrey was nowhere in sight.

"She'll be taking care of whoever's in the Hospital Wing," James said. "I can manage until the game is over-"

"You could head up there quickly and come back down when it's mended," Andrew suggested.

"Then we'll be short a Chaser, I've got to keep playing."

"That's one iron will that you've got," Hallie noted.

"We've at least got to Ferula you," Justin said.

"You've got to what me?" James said.

"Here, I'll do it," Maria said. "I just need a wand.

"I think that we're short on those," James said.

"Oi! Do any of you have a wand we can borrow?" Hallie called to the crowd.

"Yeah, here!" someone said. There was a flurry of movement, and soon enough Maria was holding a dark ebony wand.

"Ferula," she said.

A set of stiff bandages wound themselves around James' arm and shoulder.

"There, that's Ferula," Maria said.

"Brilliant, thanks," James said. He still looked uncomfortable and pained, but less so than he had when he was up in the air.

"Andrew, we're counting on you to catch the snitch as soon as possible," Hallie said, stressing the last part.

"I'm doing my best," Andrew said.

"You lot finished yet?" one of the Slytherin players shouted from across the pitch.

The Gryffindor team clambered back onto their brooms, and the match continued.

It took about five minutes for James to get used to playing with only his left arm. With him discombobulated, Slytherin had the advantage, regardless of any injuries their team had gotten.

"And the Slytherins are up by twenty points," Sirius told the crowd unhappily. "Let's all note that this is due to three reasons: The first is Rosier's luck with that bat- luck, not talent- and the next is because Ominer can't get anywhere near the snitch without having Donningson was tail him with his top-of-the-notch broomstick. The last is because James Potter of Gryffindor is having some problems with his shoulder. Speaking of James, who'll probably have to spend some time in the Hospital Wing, I'm sure he'd be happy if one Lily Evans would find time in her schedule to visit him-" He ducked as a jinx was sent his way.

"The match, Mr. Black, " McGonagall reminded him, then turned towards the direction the jinx had come from and said loudly above the din, "Detention for that, Ms. Evans!"

"Alright. So, we've got the Quaffle with Klosse, to Liecht, to Klosse… back to Liecht, now to Potter, he tries to throw to Klosse, but it's short by only a few feet. The Quaffle is falling-! Klosse has the Quaffle, she's heading for the hoops, she's going to score- yes! Brilliant throw by Klosse, Gryffindor's now only down by ten. Slytherin in possession, Bulstrode to Nott to Bulstrode to Highland- nevermind, Gryffindor is still behind by twenty. Gryffindor Back in possession, Liecht narrowly dodges a bludger, Potter has the Quaffle."

James was figuring out how to play Quidditch one handed. He forcefully threw the Quaffle to Hallie, who caught it readily.

Hallie gained a few yards, then passed it back to him.

James sped forward, clinging both to the ball and his broom. He turned and passed the ball to Lucas.

Lucas continued the surge forward, almost making a goal.

"Blocked by Lestrange, now it's Slytherin in possession, Nott to Bulstrode, Bulstrode to Highland- no, another well-aimed bludger from Finley! See, Cox, if you have dedication to your team, that's what you can do. I'm not complaining about your bad aim-"

"Keep the criticizing to the minimum, please," McGonagall said.

"Right. Anyway, brilliant move by Finley, leaving Gryffindor in possession of the Quaffle. Klosse to- wait! Ominer and Donningson are neck and neck, they've seen the snitch-!"

The crowd's attention turned instantly to the far end of the pitch, where the two Seekers were almost on top of each other.

Andrew stretched out his hand, his fingers were about to close around the golden ball-

Donningson shoved his arm out of the way and snatched the ball for himself.

James groaned on the pitch in harmony with the rest of the Gryffindor supporters. Sirius swore loudly, though he was barely heard above the crowd.

The Slytherin supporters erupted in cheers.

"And I guess Slytherin wins," Sirius said, definitely sounding much more downcast. "Two hundred and thirty Slytherin, sixty Gryffindor."