Sunday 31st March 1974

Gryffindor Third Year Boys Dorm, 20:30

"I still don't like how this needs us to be all split up," Remus said, frowning at the plan James had sketched out.

It was less of a plan and more of a map of each House Quarters with lines all over it and sketches around the outside illustrating what should be done there. Okay, maybe it actually was a plan.

"We won't have enough time if we do each House together," James argued.

"What about if we did it in pairs?" Peter timidly suggested.

Remus knew that Peter was trying not to sound like he was scared of wandering around Hogwarts alone in the dark.

"That's probably doable," Remus backed him up.

James frowned at his plan and tapped it with his wand, making some of the lines shift.

"That means there's more chance of Filch catching us. We're going to end up crossing his patrol path."

Now Remus was frowning at the map as well. It was true, if anyone went from Gryffindor to Hufflepuff or Hufflepuff to Slytherin they'd definitely come across Filch's black line that indicated his patrol route.

"What about if whatever pair is doing Hufflepuff does Ravenclaw?"

James shook his head. "That means the mighty cross Mrs Norris. She's about that area tonight."

Argh, so she was. Remus hadn't taken into account the silver shading. There were so many things to consider when doing a school wide prank.

"Though whoever it was can use my Cloak," he continued.

"That leaves the other pair wide open," Sirius pointed out unnecessarily.

James shrugged. "They'll just have to be sneakier then, won't they?"

Maybe doing a House each was the better idea. It was easier for one person to hide. They were still small enough that a suit of armour almost completely hid them.

Remus was about to say just that when Sirius interrupted him.

"Look, we're going to have to do this soon or else we'll get no sleep," Sirius said after checking his watch.

"Not all of us need beauty sleep," Peter teased.

"That's because it wouldn't help any of you!"

Ignoring their bickering, James looked up from the plan.

"So, in pairs or separate?"

Monday 1st April 1974

Gryffindor Tower, 07:30

"Oh, wow!" Lily gasped from behind her and then she started giggling.

That was definitely not a good sign, especially since they had just left the Common Room.

"What?"

"Look!"

Marlene turned around to see... nothing. Except for Lily's confused face.

"Well? What's so funny?"

"Behind you!"

Marlene turned around again only to still she nothing. Turning back to Lily, she frowned and crossed her arms.

"Is this your idea of a joke, Lily Evans?"

If it was, it wasn't a very funny one.

"I don't pull pranks or jokes," Lily said in a tone bordering on snotty.

"Uh huh."

Honestly, Marlene loved Lily but she could be a bit of a stick in the mud at times. Playing pranks was funny! At least Lily wasn't so stuffy to not enjoy the results of pranks. Good ones did make her laugh. She just didn't consider a lot of them good. Which was a shame. Though, Marlene suspected that it was more to do with the fact that it was James Potter that pulled a lot of the pranks. And Lily Evans did not like James Potter.

"Seriously, they're right behind you!" Lily insisted which just got Marlene even more confused.

"Who exactly is behind me?"

She hadn't heard any footsteps or anything but silencing charms did exist.

"No one!"

What in Merlin's name was that supposed to mean?

"Something not someone," Lily corrected. "And, oh, just turn around!"

"I can't see anything!"

"That's because they move when you do."

"What do?"

This was really getting annoying. Why couldn't Lily just tell her?

"I don't know, I only got a glimpse of them from behind until you moved!"

Great. Just great. This was incredibly annoying.

"Wait!" Lily said, interrupting her grumbling. "Why don't you put your back to me without moving so I can see what it is."

Marlene almost slapped her head in exasperation. Yes! Of course, that's what they should do. Why on earth hadn't they figured that out before? She blamed her lack of coffee. She wasn't fully functional before her coffee.

She nodded at Lily and slowly started to turn around. Lily gasped again, right as she had her back right to her.

"Well?" Marlene asked when Lily made no other noises.

"Aw! It's little lions!"

"What?"

Marlene spun around again only to be met with nothing.

"There's little lions prowling behind you."

"Real ones?"

Lily shook her head. "An image. They flicker every now and then."

Now that was pretty cool. This had the Marauders written all over it. No one else was capable of this sort of thing. Or had the guts to.

"Turn around," Marlene ordered, wanting to see these for herself.

"I might not have them," Lily warned but did as she was told.

She did have them. Three of them to be in fact. All lionesses. Marlene could see what she meant about them flickering.

"They're kind of cute," Marlene stated, cautiously moving closer to Lily's lions.

They looked like they were watching her with their unblinking eyes. She got close enough to touch them but it wasn't to be. As soon as she reached out her hand they started moving again. Playing would be a better word, like the way cats did.

"Yeah," Lily agreed, looking over Marlene's shoulder.

"Come on, let's see if anyone else has them!" Marlene said eagerly, taking off down the corridor.

Maybe she could get some coffee into her too.

Wednesday 3rd April 1974

Slytherin Common Room, 19:30

Severus tried to resist the urge to go and pester Mulciber and company for news of his potion. It had only been a little over a week since he had given them it. There was no way that an answer would have come through already. No matter how much he wanted it. He hated all this waiting. He had done too much of it this year in his opinion. And it looked like he was going to have to do a bit more, which was unfair. But necessary. This whole situation was put of his hands. Again.

Lestrange was watching him. Had been doing so for the last twenty minutes. Severus hadn't acknowledged him or anything, not wanting to draw the older boy's attention even more to him. If he had this mysterious patron's response, he would tell him, wouldn't he? Surely, he wouldn't expect Severus to go over and ask?

Actually, that sounded exactly like something Lestrange would make him do. Have the poor half-blood approach the mighty pureblood and beg for answers. They all did have a superiority complex after all. But Severus wasn't going to do it. He wasn't. That would just be pathetic and he was definitely not pathetic.

Even if he did really want to know. Oh, this was all so annoying. He didn't know the protocol for this sort of thing or what the purebloods expected of him. Or what he was supposed to do. Argh, this was all so frustrating and annoying. He should just be able to walk right up to the older boy and just ask him if he had heard any word back yet.

But he wasn't going to. That was social suicide, even for a mere half-blood like him. No. He couldn't do that.

This would be so much easier if he was actually a Prince. He would have got much more respect from people if that was the case. Respect that he should have now. Respect he was fighting to earn. He shouldn't have to fight for it.

So, no. He wasn't going to go up and ask anyone about his potion. His pride wouldn't allow it. If he was good enough (or better!) then surely, they would seek him out?

He let out a loud sigh. Interaction with people was hard! Potions were far easier to understand.

Friday 5th April 1974

Gryffindor Common Room, 19:00

Marlene rolled her eyes as she listened to McDonald tell Smith that her family was going to the Alps for the Easter hols. Whatever. Marlene wouldn't pretend to understand why toffs wanted to go somewhere cold just as the weather was starting to heat up. She knew that she had just about had enough of the snow and ice.

"What's got you scowling?" Lily asked, appearing beside her with a flushed face.

Marlene quickly rearranged her face and smiled.

"Nothing." She then took in her friend's appearance. "What's got you all hot bothered?"

Lily shook her head, "Not bothered. Hot. I ran from the Entrance Hall to here."

Now that got Marlene confused. Last she checked; Lily was going to Ravenclaw Tower to remind her sister that they were to meet in McGonagall's Office to go home. And it was nowhere near curfew so why was she running? And why was she down in the Entrance Hall? You didn't need to go all the way down there to get back to Gryffindor Tower.

As if she read her mind, Lily answered the last question, "Was triple checking that Sev didn't want to join me for Easter."

"Again?"

Seriously, Lily had asked the bloke six times. And those where the ones she heard!

"I just wanted to make sure!"

"Look, if he doesn't want to go home, be doesn't want to go home."

It really was as easy as that in Marlene's mind.

"I'd thought that he would at least like to see his mum," Lily mumbled.

Marlene shook her head; she didn't know what was going on in Snape's home life and she didn't want to know.

"That explains why you were in the Entrance Hall but why were you running?" Marlene asked.

"Filch. Potter and his friends caused an explosion of paint or ink or something and Filch caught them," she explained. "But not before some people walked through it."

Marlene tutted and shook her head. She didn't like Filch or anything (who did?) but seriously, people could be so oblivious. How did you not know if you walked through something?

"So, you ran not to get involved?" Marlene guessed.

Filch wasn't exactly choosy on who he blamed for messes.

"Uh huh."

"You do know that you didn't have to run the whole way up here?" Marlene told her with a laugh. "Just one floor would have done."

Lily stared at her, mouth open, like that thought had never occurred to her. A d Lily was supposed to be the smart one out of the pair of them.

"Shut up," Lily said, pouting and giving her a shove.

Sunday 7th April 1974

Hogwarts Grounds, 11:45

"Kingsley, Kingsley Kingsley!"

There were only two people that said his name that enthusiastically and this time it wasn't from the girl next to him. Which could only mean...

"Hi, Hayden," Kingsley greeted his overexcited little brother.

Hayden was always grinning every time Kingsley saw him around the school. Which wasn't much, if he was being honest. Their paths rarely crossed. Which wasn't good because he was meant to be looking out for his little brother. Not that he seemed to need much looking out for. He was always happy and seemed to have made a good group of friends. No need for him to interfere with that.

That didn't mean that he didn't want to hang out with him. He was his little brother, of course he wanted to muck around with him sometimes. It was just hard to.

"Did you know that the Giant Squid sometimes stays at the surface of the Lake and splashes people?" Hayden said all in one breath.

That was his brother's news? The Giant Squid? Kingsley shook his head. Kids, honestly. But he looked at his brother's grinning face, Kingsley remembered how excited he had been over everything for the first year or two. Literally everything had been exciting. Until it became normal. He didn't, however, remember getting excited over the Giant Squid.

"If you get a ball it will also play catch with you," Kingsley told him.

Hayden's eyes widened in excitement.

"Cool!"

Then his expression fell.

"Where are we supposed to get a ball?"

Kingsley frowned and tapped the end of his wand that was in his pocket. Where indeed was he meant to get a ball? Conjuring was an option but that was sixth and seventh year stuff. Stuff that Kingsley was uninterested in and therefore hadn't looked into. Which meant that the only other option he could see was transfiguration. Which he wasn't particular skilled at. Certainly not enough to turn a stone into a decent sized ball.

Kingsley looked around to see who hadn't left for Easter break yet. There was always more for this holiday than at Christmas due to closeness of exams and stuff. Not that je was staying at Hogwarts. No way. He and Hayden were going home this evening. Mum had been staying at a Great-aunt's house, looking after her after she had a nasty fall or something and she was only returning this afternoon. So, Professor McGonagall had organised them to go home after dinner. But never mind that, the more pressing matter was finding someone who could help!

And there was just the person!

"Julian!" he shouted, waving an arm about to get the Gryffindor's attention.

He was pretty sure that Julian was the McRae triplet who was good at Transfiguration. It certainly wasn't Josie. She more often than not made things explode.

"Yeah?" he asked, jogging over.

"How good is your Transfiguration?"

Hayden looked between the two of them curiously, head tilted to one side.

"Oh, this is Hayden, my brother," Kingsley added carelessly.

"Nice to meet you," Julian said, holding out his hand for Hayden to shake. "In case you didn't hear your brother's bellowing tones, I'm Julian."

That got a giggle from Hayden and an eyeroll from Kingsley.

"Hi."

"Yeah, yeah, how's your transfiguration, McRae?"

"Better than yours."

Kingsley put his hands on his hips.

"Can you transfigure something into a ball."

"Depends on the size and if there's something comparable around here."

Kingsley smirked and turned to Hayden.

"Told you he couldn't do it," he said in a loud tone.

Hayden gave him a confused look but hopefully Julian would take the bait. Which he did.

"I never said that!" the older Gryffindor snapped, yanking his wand out. "Get me a rock and I'll show you transfiguration!"

Okay, that was just too easy. Gryffindors really were stupid sometimes.

"Will a this do?" Hayden asked, breathless from running around as he looked and holding out a rock about the size of his fist.

Julian inspected it, turning it over in his hands before nodding.

"This an okay size for the ball? I can make it a little bigger but not by much"

"Uh huh."

"Cool."

And then Julian cast the spell. This sort of thing was always fun to watch in Kingsley's opinion. It felt like the spells and magic he read about in storybooks when he was little. Soon enough, there was a red and yellow striped ball where the rock used to be in Julian's hand.

"There you go," his friend said, tossing it to an over the moon Julian.

"Thank you so much!"

"Get out of here, kid," Julian said with a chuckle.

Kingsley watched as Hayden went running off with his newly transfigured ball held aloft, cheering all the way, and shook his head. Had he mentioned how ridiculous his brother was?

"Remember to have your trunk packed for Easter!" he bellowed across the grounds, fulfilling his brotherly duty.

Julian sniffed and frowned.

"Do you smell burning?"

Kingsley yelped as he felt heat hit the top of his leg and smoke rose up in front of him.

His robe pocket was burning!

Monday 8th April 1974

Potter Manor, 11:00

James ran his hand through his hair and frowned at his Potions essay. Not because it was hard or anything but because he suddenly didn't really want to do it. It was boring. Boring. Boring. Boring. And James hated being bored.

It wasn't like there was anything else to do, it was raining in true April showers fashion. He had books he wanted to read but he wasn't going to read those until he finished his homework. Which he didn't want to do. And unending cycle. He sighed and absentmindedly tapped his quill on his desk. A splotch of ink appeared, forming a puddle and seeping into the edge of his parchment. Whoops.

Inexplicably, he seized another piece of parchment to soak it up. Oh well, it did the job. Even if there was blotting paper right there.

"You know you can take a break."

James jumped at the sudden appearance of his dad. How had he managed to open his door without James knowing?

"But I need to get it done," James argued half-heartedly.

Fleamont shook his head. "I'm pretty sure you've not got much further than an hour and a half ago when I first walked past."

"Well..."

James looked back down at his essay. He had written at least one more sentence than last time so dad was exaggerating.

"See? You're not going to suddenly get it done. Go take a break and clear your head," Fleamont urged. "The essay will be easier to write."

"It's not hard," James grumbled but he put down his quill. "I know what I need to write. I just don't want to."

It was a real problem of his. Like, he knew that it needed to be down. It wasn't hard to get done. But...he just... couldn't. It was like there was a mental block on him picking up his quill and writing the three paragraphs he needed. Which was stupid.

"Taking a break will make you want to do you work more," his dad said knowingly. "That's what I'm doing right now."

That's right. It was a Monday which meant dad should down in his Potions Lab brewing. On that note, James looked at him properly, he looked a bit singed.

"Something go wrong?" he asked knowingly.

Fleamont shot his son a grin.

"Just a minor setback. Word to the wise, don't crush beetles when you're pairing them with valerian root. Not potent enough to offset the reaction between flobberworms and pickled toads."

"Good to know."

"Now, I better get out of these robes before your mother sees me walking about the house in them."

"I don't think she'll appreciate the smell of smoke."

His dad grinned at him before leaving to get changed. He'd probably go back down to his lab after that. Which meant James was alone and bored. Again.

He slammed his text book shut with a 'BANG'.

You know what? He was going to take a break.

Thursday 11th April 1974

McKinnon Farm, 14:30

Marlene breathed in deeply and smiled. The smell of freshly cut grass was the best smell in the world. Sweet and fresh and clean... simply perfect. She rolled onto her back and stretched out, revelling in the feel of the grass on her skin. Ciaran thought her nuts for wearing shorts this early in the year but it was officially Spring which meant she didn't wear trousers or tights. Bare knees and socks were the name of the game. It was warm enough for it, no matter what anyone else said. She'd have to dig out her school socks before she went back. No way was she wearing scratchy, woollen tights if she didn't have to.

She idly played with the daisies in the lawn. They'd be gone by this evening, once her dad brought the push-mower around here. She'd have to remember to scarper or else she'd get roped into doing it.

In a grand turn of events, she was bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Did she mention she was bored? She had absolutely nothing to do. Nothing. Mum and dad were doing farm work, she had already done her morning jobs and there was ages until lunch.

It wouldn't have been so bad if she had someone to commiserate with but no, she had four siblings but somehow each and every one of them were busy. Ciaran, her normal partner in crime, was doing O.W.L work (Merlin help him), Teagan was working her job down at the bakery in the village, Patrick was doing Merlin knows what with Jackie (somehow, they had managed to get even more soppy with each other after their engagement announcement) and Kevin was in the fields with dad.

She would have gone into the village and bothered Teagan for a bit but she had been banned from doing that after last time. Which was just no fun. And it hadn't even been her fault! Well, not completely. She missed getting her free baps. The perks of a sister working in a bakery was that she got to bring home the food that would have otherwise gone stale overnight. Not that the bakery ever had much of that, it was very popular. Still, no one was going to turn down buns with jam in them and hundreds and thousands on top.

Which, again, left her with absolutely nothing to do.

Oh, how she wished she was old enough to drive one of the tractors but her dad was adamant that he wasn't going to even think about teaching her until she was fourteen! That was a way in the middle of summer! Marlene supposed that she should be glad that her dad was going to teach her well before she eligible for her license but still! Everyone else knew how to drive a tractor! It sucked being the youngest. You did everything last.

She sighed heavily and looked up at the clouds. That one looked like a niffler. With a broken snout. Or maybe it was a salamander. Whatever.

Bored.

Sunday 14th April 1974

Cokeworth, North of England, 15:00

Lily breathed a sigh of relief as they left the church. Oh, she enjoyed going to church. Loved the songs, the service. Especially during the holidays were it all just seemed to mean something more. Or, she used to like going to church. Because of Hogwarts she just wasn't used to it anymore. Especially the length of the Easter Service. And it was such a lovely day, a real shame to be inside. If it hadn't been Easter they probably wouldn't have gone. The Evans' weren't the most regular or churchgoers. Holidays, always but every Sunday? No. Only if they weren't busy. Or could be bothered to.

The problem with that was it meant that her parents always had plenty to catch up on after the service. Easter was the worst because everyone was in the mood to socialise. And the weather was good so it was going to be even longer.

It would have been okay if she had someone to talk to but, well, it wasn't like Petunia was really talking to her much these days and Chryssie had been roped in with a bunch of other kids to set up some stalls for the fair.

Which left her without her family and with the girls who were all freshly minted teenagers, like herself. Personally, Lily felt a bit awkward around the girls her age. She hadn't really spoke with them since before Hogwarts so she barely knew them anymore. Which meant that she didn't really feel like standing around and trying to make painful conversation with them. Not that she could relate to them at all, everyone her age was choosing their O-Levels and she didn't have to do that. Her OWLs were already chosen, not that they got any choice in the matter once they chose their electives.

She sighed and scuffed her toes in the grass, getting mud on them and spoiling the shine. They would have to be polished again. She looked over to her still happily chatting parents. Not that that was going to happen for a while.

Wednesday 17th April 1974

Smith Sett, 11:00

Alice let out a sigh and stretched her fingers, her quill dropping to the table. She was doing her Easter work, as instructed. Which was annoying. One of these days she was going to be deemed old enough to sort her homework out herself but this day wasn't one of them. No. Her parents had chivvied her back upstairs an hour ago with the instruction to do her homework until she was called for lunch, which was going to be in another hour. It was the same thing every day this week. The only good thing was that she hadn't been made to wear her old uniform that she had had to wear for her pre-Hogwarts tutoring. That pinafore was simply horrid and the shoes far too clunky.

At least last week, when they had gone to Italy, she hadn't had to do anything of it. She couldn't have anyway, their days had been filled with the sights and the fashions, oh, the fashions. Father had got them into a design studio tour and a runway show. It had simply been marvellous and she couldn't wait to tell Mary.

It was memories of that that was slowing her homework down. Alice looked down at her Herbology essay. It was about the effects of certain soils on mandrakes. Not exactly the nicest of topics.

"Is Miss Alice not doing herses homeworks?" came an annoyingly squeaky voice.

"I am, Mittens," she grumbled, not bothering to look around at the House Elf.

"That is good."

Mittens busied herself with tiding Alice's room as she grabbed her quill to at least pretend to do work. She wouldn't put it past Mittens to report any slothfulness to her mother.

Sunday 20th April 1974

Second Floor Corridor, 14:30

"Yeurk!" was the embarrassing noise Severus made as he was unceremoniously yanked into an abandoned classroom. Well, Severus hopes that none of the Professors liked this many spiderwebs in their classroom.

"Shhh!" he got scolded before he could even open his mouth.

It looked like everyone was back from their Easter holidays if the appearance of Avery, Mulciber and Lestrange was anything to go by. He glared at them, not exactly appreciating their kidnapping technique.

"What do you want?" he spat out, forgetting to watch his tone with them.

Hey, he had just been yanked into a dark and dusty classroom, cut him a little slack. Even if these were the last people who would cut him some slack.

"Careful, Snape, or we'll start to think that you don't want to talk to us."

He didn't, he really didn't. All three of them gave him the creeps. Well, not Mulciber. Mulciber just annoyed him, either way, Snape didn't like his company either.

"You think he would with the news we have," Avery said with a smirk.

That made Severus' eyes widened as he looked between the three boys.

"You heard back?"

A hand landed heavily on his shoulder. Lestrange's to be exact.

"Patience, Snape."

Tuesday 22nd April 1974

Gryffindor Common Room, 20:00

Alice smiled as she held out the magazine 'Witch's Weekly' for Mary to see the picture that stretched across two pages. It was a particularly handsome young wizard. Bachelor of the Month, in fact.

"Oh, definitely a nine." Mary told her.

"Really?" Alice turned the magazine back to her. "I thought he'd be a ten."

Mary shook her head. "He doesn't beat last month's."

Huh, Alice guessed she could see her friend's point. He was still very handsome, though.

"Did you see the skin cream on page twelve?" Mary asked.

"No."

That sounded intriguing. Alice flipped through to the appropriate page. Oh! It was on sale too! She settled in to read the article.

This was the most relaxed she'd felt in months. Okay, Ancient Runes homework was still niggling at the back of her mind but that's where it was! At the back of her mind. Not the front. Because she had promised to give Mary her full attention and she kept her promises. A lady always kept her word. Mostly, anyway. And she was glad she did. Alice hadn't realised how much she just missed being with Mary. The only time they had sat next to each other was meals or whenever Mary was doing her homework (as Alice had just been constantly doing work). Which was kind of sad, now that she thought about it. She supposed that that's what Mary had been getting at all this time. Well, no more! From now on Alice was going to make time for her friends. Or, at least her very best one. Even if she should really go over the last chapter in her Ancient Runes textbook...

"You're thinking about them again," Mary's voice broke through her thoughts.

"What? No!" Alice spluttered.

Mary peered over her magazine and raised an eyebrow, looking pointedly unconvinced.

"I'm not! I'm, I'm-" Alice looked around her for an excuse to give and then spied the page she had open. "I'm thinking about this cream," she said, triumphantly holding up her magazine.

"That's the shortlist for the Best Smile of the Year."

Alice gave her a confused look and turned her magazine back towards her, blushing when she realised her friend was right. Whoops.

"Told you, you were thinking about Runes."

Before Alice could deny that (again) she was rudely interrupted.

"High and Mighty," Marlene acknowledged as she and Lily walked past. "Miss Priss."

Alice flushed at the nicknames. She couldn't believe Marlene still used them after first year. They were embarrassing! Which, of course made her use them more.

"Shut up, McKinnon," Mary snapped at the Irish girl's retreating back.

She got a two figured salute in return which made Alice gasp. Really? How could someone be so crass and rude? Did her parents not bring her up properly at all?

"McKinnons," Mary sniffed. "They are actually worse than the Weasleys."

"No class whatsoever," Alice agreed, shaking her head.

"And so crass," Mary added. "At least the Weasleys have some manners."

And even those were minimal but, even so, they were still better than the McKinnons. The McKinnons just didn't seem to care about their actions or other people's feelings. And their youngest was definitely the worst in Alice's opinion. She was loud and crass and just... well, just awful. And Marlene didn't seem to care!

"They don't matter," Mary told her, holding open yet another page for her to see. "This does."

Alice pulled the magazine closer to her.

"Oh, look at the embroidery on the sleeves!"