It wasn't until after Remus climbed all the way to the tower to get his stuff and all the way down to the library that he realized he was still in the bloody shirt and muddy jeans. The thought of returning to his dorm was too much so he just marched into the library, not really caring. He wanted to find books to help him work on the essay list Prewett had given him... until he realized that he was supposed to be meeting up with his study group after lunch. He glanced at the clock. It was nearly two. Were they still there? He wasn't sure exactly what time, just that Lily said after lunch. He was also supposed to have talked to Silverlocke and hadn't. He couldn't believe he had forgotten everything, however between the fight and Prewett...

He crept towards the table, immediately relieved to see Silverlocke there. Everyone else was there too. Florence Buckling of Ravenclaw was the first to notice him standing off to the side. "Oh, hullo Lupin," she said, and everyone looked up.

"Hi. Er, s—sorry I'm l-late." He slid into his usual seat next to Lily, ignoring the stares his bloody shirt was being given. "How much d-did I miss?"

"We've been going over the assignments for the summer," said Raven Craft, also a Ravenclaw and one of the snobbiest people Remus had ever met.

"We're almost done with them," chimed in Matilda Twycross, a Gryffindor, one of the other snobbiest people Remus had ever met. There was also something about her that rubbed him the wrong way, he just didn't know exactly what it was.

"We were just about to discuss when we should meet," put in Simon Bones, a Hufflepuff who always seemed to have a smile. Remus liked him.

"We were thinking about Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, just to make it simple," said Kyra Pierce, also a Hufflepuff as well as the only other Muggleborn besides Lily in the group. "After supper," she added.

"That w—would work out for me," Remus mumbled. He wanted to apologize to Lily and Silverlocke for not seeking him out the evening before, however didn't want to get into that sort of thing in front of the others. Or rather, in front of Craft.

"I have something else I'd like to bring up," Lily said in an Important sort of voice. "The matter of other students joining our group."

Pierce raised her eyebrows. "Anyone's welcome," she said. "That's pretty obvious, isn't it?"

Remus knew she was meaning Silverlocke, the Slytherin. Craft and Twycross both held bitterness over the fact a Slytherin joined them, even though Silverlocke was very intelligent, and very nice.

"She's a first year," Lily said.

That got surprised looks. They had never once discussed the possibility of students from other years joining them. Last year it had only been them, first years. Remus had sorta expected it to remain merely students in their own year. He didn't like the idea of older students joining—they made him extra nervous—though younger students might not be too bad.

Craft folded his hands on the table. "I don't think that's a good idea. A first year can't help us. It wouldn't be fair."

"I disagree," Silverlocke said softly. Craft glowered at him. "Just because we're second years doesn't mean we should forget everything we've learned in our first. Going over these lessons with a first year can only assist in furthering our education."

"That's true," Remus agreed, garnering Craft's angry gaze. "Wh—when I go over things with m-my friends, it helps me s-see things I might not have thought about in the—the first place."

"But they're the same year as you," Twycross pointed out. "Plus I really don't see how going over Pettigrew's homework helps you in any way, he's an idiot."

"He's n-nnn-not an idiot!" Remus snapped. He's nicer than you in any case, but Remus didn't say that out loud.

Twycross opened her mouth however it was Buckling who spoke, interrupting before Twycross could rant about Peter. "Who were you thinking about asking?"

Lily brushed her hair back. "Her name is Mary Macdonald. She's Muggleborn. And really overwhelmed by everything. I thought it'd be nice to offer a helping hand. She—well, it's like—um..." Lily suddenly blushed a little, quickly stopping then saying, "In any case, I thought it would be good."

Remus, Silverlocke, Pierce, Bones, and Buckling all agreed. Craft and Twycross didn't seem pleased however they were clearly outvoted. On the way back to the tower (Remus with a bag full of books he checked out for his essays) he inquired about what she hadn't said when she mentioned Macdonald, that made her blush.

Lily glanced ahead at Twycross then slowed down a bit, to make sure the other girl couldn't hear them. "She went through a similar thing I did," she explained. "Being called names. Teased. Bullied. Called weird. A—a freak..." Remus knew that word in particular hurt her since it was what her sister sometimes used. "I heard crying last night, in the first years' bathroom, and went in. She was so scared of everything. Very... overwhelmed, like I said. I chatted with her to try to calm her down and we just ended up comparing our lives. How similar they were, with how we were treated by our Muggle peers. Afterwards she just... felt so happy, is what she said. Like she wasn't alone. It probably doesn't make much sense."

"No, it does," Remus promised. "I'm glad she has someone like you around. I mean, you had—had Snape so when you came here you weren't all alone."

"Exactly." Lily gave him a brilliant smile which quickly faded. "Oh. You—you didn't... did you... I mean, you knew a lot about magic but you weren't used to people..." She trailed off, flinching. "I'm just making a mess of things."

Remus gave her a tentative smile. "It's all right. And you're right. I didn't have anyone, and I was absolutely terrified."

"You could barely even speak. Except in class, answering questions." Lily stopped walking altogether. "You hardly even stutter anymore, except when you're around people you don't know too well. You don't stutter at all around me and those idiots except when you get mad or upset."

"Even after a year at school it makes me nervous being around people..."

They began walking again then after another flight of stairs Lily said, "So Gryffindor's down fifty-five points already." Remus closed his eyes, wishing she hadn't brought this up. "Your friends have anything to do with that?"

"Y... yes..." He tugged at the strap of his satchel, hoping she wouldn't press. Course, she'd find out eventually. The moment she met up with Snape he'd probably tell her how he was set on fire. "I did too," he said, not wanting to confess, not wanting her to know.

"You?! What did you do?"

Remus sighed. "Got into a—a fight. They started it."

"They who?"

"Does it matter?"

Lily's eyes narrowed. "They who, Remus?" she demanded.

Another sigh. "Slytherins," he mumbled, tugging at the strap now. "Wicket. Fox. Um."

"Um?" Lily stopped walking once more, grabbing Remus's arm, spinning him around to face him. "Tell me."

"Snape," he said, meeting her stare. "Snape started it. He used the knockback jinx on James. Knocking him out, I might add. Then the rest of us got into a duel. That's why Slytherin and Gryffindor lost points today."

"Potter probably deserved it. Don't look at me like that, he's a total git!" Lily released his arm and began rubbing her shoulder, eyes flickering away from his. "Who started the duel?"

"I told you. Snape. He threw James back."

She didn't look entirely convinced. "Is the duel how you got blood on you?"

Remus looked down at his arm. "Yeah. Snape cut me."

Her face paled at that. "He—he didn't." She bit her bottom lip, shifting her weight to her other foot. "Did he?"

"He did." He told her about the fight, the spells used including him setting Snape on fire which made her go red now, with anger. He did not tell her why Snape had thrown James back... that he hadn't wanted his Slytherin pals to know how close to Lily he was. Not to defend Snape, but to protect Lily. It would only hurt her. He also told her about the punishments they received.

Lily pursed her lips, remaining silent during the entire explanation. Once he finished, she began grumbling. "Potter and Black deserve worse. Potter probably started it." Then she stopped, looking a little awkward. "Oh dear, I'm doing it again, aren't I?"

"Yes," Remus said. The previous year they had had a big row about Snape, and Lily had said she'd stop automatically assuming he was the victim all the time. Although to be fair she had said she'd merely stop when it was between Snape and Remus, she never said anything about when it involved the other Marauders. "He started it, he knocked James unconscious, he cut my arm open. Perhaps I shouldn't have set him on fire but frankly the git deserved it." He hesitated then added, "I know James and Sirius do a lot of things, I'm not trying to say they're always innocent because they're not. But neither is he."

She nodded, head ducked a little as she looked quite guilty. "You really set him on fire, though?"

They began walking again. "I did. I was so mad he cut me. It was really painful! But still, I shouldn't have. I deserve the det—errr..." He began panicking as she took his arm, pushing back his sleeve. "Pomfrey healed it," he explained.

"You still have dried blood all over you," she said, seeing the red on his arm. "You never even took a shower?"

"I-I w-was tired..."

"For Pete's sake!" She began pushing at him gently. "Come on, tower, shower, now. Clean clothes."

He allowed himself to be taken up to the common room where she gave him another light shove towards the boys' stair. He gave her a smile then went up the stairs to get cleaned up, at least that was his intention. When he got to the dorm he put his bag down and took the books out intending to stack them on his desk for after his shower. But he got very distracted, remembering something in one of the books so he sat down and flipped through. After reading ten or so minutes he got parchment out to begin his first essay, forgetting entirely about the shower.

/\/\/\/\/\

Professor Prewett was introduced at supper. As soon as the four Marauders went into the Great Hall they began whispering at the sight of the redheaded man at the table. Then Sirius dropped a bombshell as they took their seats.

"That's my cousin."

"What?!"

Remus stared in shock at Sirius then up at Professor Prewett. How on earth could they be cousins?! They looked nothing alike! And if they were cousins how come Sirius didn't know about his appointment of Professor?

"Not immediate cousins," he explained, noticing the surprised expressions on Remus and Peter's face. "I never see him. But his uncle married my aunt. So, cousin by marriage, and I never really see those cousins." He shrugged, as if it didn't really matter. "Uncle Ignatius is welcome around the family dinners, but not the rest of the family."

Dumbledore introduced him a little bit later after most the students arrived, and everyone was talking about him, wondering who he was, why he hadn't shown up till today.

"He's probably an Auror," James theorized. "Is he?"

"He does work in the Ministry but I'm not really sure what he does," Sirius replied. "He's got a brother, and they both work at the Ministry. One of them is an auror. It's probably him then," he added, nodding up to Professor Prewett.

Remus bit back the comment that no, he was a detective. He didn't want to tell them he already met Prewett. That he was nice. That he knew what Remus was and shook his hand—twice!—and was giving him the opportunity to make up for the abysmal grades Dedenne gave him the previous year.

"He looks pretty young," James noted.

"He's in his twenties, that's about all I know," replied Sirius, obviously not caring to talk about his cousin. He seemed a little disappointed that the mysterious teacher was a relative of his.

"Not as young as that professor," Peter said, indicating a young witch who really couldn't be older than twenty.

"I want to take her class," Sirius said, gazing rather adoringly at the witch. "Which one does she teach?"

"Her name is Vector. She's an assistant in Arithmancy," Remus said, vaguely recalling what Cassandra Inkwood had told him a couple months ago.

"Arithmancy?" Sirius frowned. "Ew. That's gonna take a lot of thought, whether or not to take it. Just an assistant? Not the actual professor? So we might get a different teacher?"

"Plenty of time," James said, shoveling food into his mouth. "We don't have to decide for ages. So anyway, I was thinking, detention on the second day isn't good enough. I think next year we should aim to getting detention as soon as possible, like, the first night! How epic would that be? We'd have to do something big to—Sirius? Hey, Sirius? Are you even paying attention?"

Professor(?) Vector was talking animatedly with Professor Prewett while Sirius and Peter both were looking at her with expressions that Remus personally thought was better reserved for Honeydukes Finest chocolate, or a really good book.

James nudged at Remus, making a face. Remus grinned back. James scooped some mashed potatoes onto his spoon, aiming for Sirius, raising his eyebrows at Remus who nodded. The potatoes flew, squishing into Sirius's beloved hair. He yelped, hand flying to the back of his head. "J-James!" he gasped out while James and Remus laughed, along with a few other Gryffindors who had seen. "Why'd'you do that?!"

James shrugged, scooping up some more potatoes but this he put in his mouth. "You weren't listening to me."

Sirius blinked twice then, without breaking his stare on James, scooped up a handful of peas and lobbed them at James. They went everywhere. Most went into James's clothes but several went rolling across the table and floor, some on other students. James stared open-mouthed at Sirius then grabbed a small plate with butter on it.

"Don't," Sirius said.

It hit him right in the face.

All around them students had gone quiet as they waited to see what happened next; Remus hesitated then dove under the table just as the food began flying. He heard shrieks, laughs, screams, protests; he heard the splattering of food, the clash of dishes. The food fight spread from the Gryffindors across the hall until everyone was involved ans the teachers were yelling, trying to get things calmed down. Remus wasn't alone under the table. A few others had taken haven there. Remus glanced around seeing under the other tables. Snape was hiding under the Slytherin table, watching with wide eyes. Not seeing Remus.

Remus slowly took his wand out. "Locomotor tureen," he hissed out, flicking his wand at a tureen of gravy that still sat on the Slytherin table. It wriggled then slid off the table, tipping over right onto Snape who shouted, flailing. Remus only half-hoped it wasn't too hot. Snickering, he tucked his wand back into his pocket just as someone grabbed him by the back of his shirt (which still had blood on it). He yelled as he was hauled out by Sirius.

"Not getting out of it that easily, Remy," Sirius said then poured a pitcher of pumpkin juice over his head.

Remus gasped in shock as the cold liquid covered him. He stared open-mouthed up at Sirius then closed his mouth so suddenly his teeth clacked loudly together. "You—YOU!" Remus grabbed a cottage pie off the Hufflepuff table, chucking it at Sirius's face or trying to. He missed, however got a great glob of it on Sirius's shoulder. Someone shoved something cold down the back of Remus's shirt and he spun around to see Peter giggling. He went after Peter who slipped in some food trying to get away, crashing to the ground. Remus took a bottle of ketchup, twisting off the cap to splatter it all over Pete who rolled on the floor trying to get up. Then he slipped as well, going down, laughing. He and Peter held onto each other, trying to get up.

"Noooo!" Peter cried out.

Remus looked up to see a large bowl of pudding hovering over them. His eyes went down, seeing sparkling green eyes. Lily grinned at him, flicked her wand, and the bowl turned over, dumping the whole lot over the two of them. Remus scooped up a handful and squidged about in the food as he tried to get to Lily who yelped and skid as she tried to escape. Remus dove at her, grabbing hold of her, shoving the pudding the back of her shirt just as a voice shouted out a spell which froze everyone on the spot. It was extremely awkward for Remus, his hand in Lily's shirt.

"Now that I have your undivided attention," Dumbledore said, wand raised, "I bid you all a speedy return to your dorms."

He lowered his arm which removed the spell so everyone could move again. A few people fell to the floor. Remus quickly yanked his hand out of Lily's shirt, blushing a bit, mumbling an apology.

"Least he let us have a food fight for several minutes," Lily said, wiping some sticky red substance off her face. "I expected him to stop it immediately."

Remus thought that was true. The food fight had gone on for a good ten minutes before Dumbledore ended it. He looked up at the High Table and even from there could see the twinkle in the Headmaster's eyes. McGonagall was making her way through the mess with a pinched face. She caught up to the Gryffindors easily enough, hands grabbing Sirius and James's collars.

"Not you two," she said, pulling them back. "You two will come with me. I'm not blind, I saw exactly how this started. You just had points removed only a few hours ago! You already have detention! Already getting more, I swear you two are purposely trying to ruin Gryffindor's chances of ever winning the House Cup again..." Her voice was still going on as she dragged the two out of the Great Hall.

Lily, her friends Colgate and Inkwood, Peter, and Remus all trudged up to the tower together, leaving a trail of food behind them that Remus knew would give Filch a heart attack. He didn't particularly care, to be honest. He was too busy giggling over the whole thing with the others. Colgate had a whole carrot stuck in her hair which they all found to be tremendously funny. She pulled it out then stood on tiptoes to stick it in the mouth of a suit of armor like a cigar, which nearly sent the entire group to the floor with laughter.

/\/\/\/\/\

James and Sirius lost another ten points bringing the total loss in a few hours to 65 points. Most the table on Monday morning was glaring at the Marauders. James and Sirius didn't seem to notice, or care. They were too busy complaining about having to deal with the Slytherins right after breakfast ("Puts me right off my appetite," Sirius grumbled). Remus wasn't happy about Potions being first for an entirely different reason which was the fact he sucked at Potions. He hoped it would just be reviewing, he didn't want to deal with stinky ingredients.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a mix of both. After a quick roll call, Professor Slughorn wrote down Forgetfulness Potion, which had been part of their final exam, one Remus had totally messed up. A lot of the ingredients smelled rather awful so mixed together it was an assault on his sense of smell. Luckily, though, they were able to partner up. He figured he'd be with one of the Marauders though it took a few minutes of quiet whispering to decide who would be stuck with Remus. Ultimately Sirius went with him, as he cared less about his Potion grades than James and Peter (especially Peter, who was actually fairly decent in this class).

"We should sneak some of this into some Slytherin food," Sirius said as he began working. Remus read the instructions, helping out with some of the ingredients. He focused on making sure things were chopped up evenly however for the life of him he couldn't get things right. "Speaking of Slytherins, we need the perfect prank to pull on them. Their common room, I mean, since we got their password. Something good. You can think of something, right?"

"Maybe." Remus carefully added some mistletoe berries into the mortar and then began crushing them.

"The spiderweb thing would be great."

"It would, however it links back to us," Remus pointed out. "At least, it links to a Gryffindor."

Sirius pulled a face. "Right. Friday night. Common room. Drat. We really can't repeat anything. Not that I'd want to. We need something new." Sirius stirred the potion, barely paying any kind of attention. Remus tipped the crushed berries in, wincing when he realized they hadn't all been crushed well enough. The potion turned a rather ugly sort of grey color. It was supposed to be orange. "D'you think we should we target the common room? Or do you think we should we just target a dorm?"

"I think we should stop talking about it in the middle of the class with the Slytherins, and the Head of Slytherin," Remus said, shooting Sirius a dark look.

Sirius stared at him now then grinned sheepishly. "You're right. Whoops."

"Idiot. How you get away with anything is beyond me."

Sirius gave Remus a big wink. "My good looks," he said with quite a charismatic smile as he bumped his shoulder gently against Remus's.

Remus rolled his eyes then ducked his head, feeling even hotter all of a sudden as well as a weird twisty sort of feeling inside of him... though that was probably just from all the smells affecting him. That was it.