Friday 1st March 1974

Gryffindor Table, Great Hall, 08:15

"Why do you keep looking over at Evans?"

James looked back to his suspicious friend and quickly said, "I'm not looking at Evans!"

Sirius gave him a sceptical look.

"I'm not!"

"Uh huh."

"What's James claiming to not do which he most certainly is doing?" Peter asked, sitting next to James.

"Staring at Evans," Sirius said before James could even open his mouth.

"Ah. That again."

"What do you mean again?" James asked in an injured tone.

"You're always staring at Evans," Peter said airily, reaching for the blackcurrant jam.

"I am not!"

He didn't. That was just silly. Of course, he didn't stare at her all the time. They didn't have the same Electives and he used the boy's bathroom. See? There were plenty of times when he didn't even have the opportunity to stare at her. James pointed this out to his so-called friends but they just laughed at him. He kicked out, hitting Peter in the shin and making him yelp loudly. Loud enough for people to turn around and stare.

"Stop laughing!"

That didn't make them stop laughing, which wasn't very nice.

Remus caught the look that was on James' face as he rubbed tears from his eyes. Uh oh, they had gone too far. He elbowed Sirius and gave Peter a kick. Both of them yelped and glared at him but that stopped when he looked pointedly at James. Unfortunately, their faces twisted into amused looks but at least they weren't laughing anymore. Either way, it looked like they weren't going to be much help.

"Why are you staring at Evans?" he patiently asked his messy haired friend.

Carefully staying away from the fact that it was nearly a constant thing with James. There was no need to get his back up again. And, to be honest, Remus could see why James would stare at Lily. She was pretty with her pale skin and red hair. And a fiery personality to match.

"Um, well..."

Remus smiled kindly at his now stuttering friend. And that was more than enough proof that he liked her and didn't just think she was pretty.

"Come on," Sirius whined impatiently.

Remus wondered if he should elbow him again. It wasn't like Sirius had appeared to learn anything from any previous elbowings.

He settled for hissing, "Sirius!" instead.

"What? He's taking forever."

"You don't rush this sort of thing!"

"What even is this thing?"

Thankfully, James spoke up before their argument could go any further.

James sighed. "It's just, well, do you think she got the Valentine I sent her?"

He had purposefully done it in a way to surprise her and not to embarrass her, having heard her tell Marlene how embarrassing it must be for someone to give you a card.

Sirius let out a snort of laughter.

"You sent her a Valentine?"

Remus sent him a warning look before turning to James who was looking uncomfortable about the whole thing.

"Yeah, on Valentine's Day..."

"That's normally when you send Valentine's Day cards."

"Enough, Sirius."

Remus had really had enough of him. James was trying to tell them something important to him and all Sirius was doing was making fun of him. Thankfully, Sirius actually seemed to take it to heart this time and looked suitably chastised. How long that would last, Remus didn't know but he was certainly going to take advantage of it.

"So, you sent her a Valentine's Day card," Remus said encouragingly. "And then what happened?"

"Nothing."

"She didn't say anything to you? Nothing at all?"

James shook his head. "Nothing."

Remus frowned. That was odd. Surely Lily would have had a reaction of some sort to it? Embarrassment? Pleased? Amused? Annoyed? Happy? Something. Lily could be quite vocal with her feelings. Or maybe that was just when she was feeling exasperated. Particularly at some of their pranks. Which was a lot of the time now that he thought about it. And surely, she would say something if someone gave her a card? Even if it was just a polite thank you?

Suddenly, a thought struck him. It was a long shot and it almost definitely would be false but he had to check anyway because this was James Potter they were talking about. But surely even he wouldn't be that stupid...

"James, did you sign the card?"

"Uh."

Remus surmised from the look on James' face that that was definitely not something he remembered doing. Oops.

'THUNK' was the sound of his head meeting the table while Sirius howled with laughter.

Apparently, he could be that stupid.

Monday 4th March 1974

Hufflepuff Table, Great Hall, 08:20

Elsie frowned as she read the letter from one of her sisters. Well, it could only be from one of them, Karen, because Faye really wasn't much of a letter writer. To any of them. You'd think that for someone that basically tackled the three of them who went to Hogwarts every time they went home from the holidays that she'd write more. But nope. Not a chance.

At least Karen's letter was long and filled to the brim with gossip she'd overheard while she had been tidying around the shop or doing basic hemming. That was one of the things she missed about working in her Grandmother's shop, the things that people talked about with no filter because they were just talking to a seamstress. You got to learn about so much and often knew what was going to be in the newspaper before it even came out.

Elsie quickly scanned through the untidily written letter. It was probably written in parts in between customers. She hoped so anyway or Karen was really going to have to sort out her handwriting before she came to Hogwarts. Nothing new really to report from the looks of things. Gran was still grumbling (when did she not) and business was still good. Faye had somehow managed to upend the box of threads, making at least a dozen spools unravel. Elsie winced, that would not have been fun to tidy up. And Gran certainly would not have been pleased. She barely had time for the seven-year-old as it was, never mind when she was messing things up.

The letter then went on to say that people were whispering a lot more to each other as they got measured. Which meant less gossip for her to report. Huh. That was odd. People rarely paid any attention to whoever was fitting their robes and just chatted like they were invisible. Which they may as well be. Honestly. People could be so rude. Or maybe not if they were now keeping their conversations to themselves.

And that seemed to be the end of the letter. Karen had scrawled her name along the bottom in her usual messy handwriting. Somewhat put out by the lack of gossip, Elsie set it to one side, making a mental note to send a reply this evening.

Saturday 9th March 1974

Potions Lab, 09:30

Severus knew that he was eager, of course he was eager, but he had to try and hold back a bit more. He didn't want to attract any untoward attention. Or, any attention for that matter. He just wanted to get on with his brewing. Which he couldn't do right now because Slughorn wasn't here to unlock the labs. Oh, how he wished that je was as trusted as the upper years, then he could go into the labs alone and unsupervised. Without even any other students around him! Slughorn had two or three small rooms if the NEWT students needed complete silence for their work. But it was strictly for NEWT students, no junior students allowed. Even if he also needed silence and no distractions to work.

"Ah, young Mr Snape," Professor Slughorn greeted him cheerfully as he walked past. "Eager to get started today, are we?"

"Yes, Professor," he murmured, watching as his Head of House removed the locking charms on the door.

There seemed to be a great number of them. Almost enough to think the man paranoid.

"Brilliant!" Slughorn looked genuinely pleased for him. "I trust you have everything in order?"

Severus nodded sharply and made a beeline for the bench at the back of the room. The one in the far corner. He wanted to discourage any of the conversations that seemed to happen when multiple people were brewing together. There was to be no distractions, no pausing. It was just going to be him and his potion.

He took a deep breath to gather his thoughts and calm himself now. He had got this far and he didn't need it ruined by him being needlessly clumsy like that shape-shifter in the year below.

Slowly, he took all the jars and packages of ingredients out of his cauldron. All the herbs he'd picked from the treeline of the forest, all the specially ordered ingredients as well as the extras from the Potions Store.

It was such a satisfying line up to look at. It was almost a shame to ruin it by cutting and slicing them. But he was going to have to do it. For the potion. That he was finally going to brew. Right now! Severus didn't think that he'd ever prepared his area so fast before.

He reread the instructions for what must have been the thousandth time. The parchment was getting rather raggedy from his constant handling of it and the crease lines cut through some sentences. No matter, he knew it by heart anyway.

With that in mind, Severus got started. He lit his fire and poured the water in. It made a satisfying 'splash' noise. This was it.

He spent the next hour and a half chopping and dicing and pouring and measuring. Not to mention all the stirring. But it was all worth it because everything was coming together. Severus eyed the bubbles on the surface of his potion, quite literally in fact.

"Good shade of green there," Professor Slughorn said approvingly as he walked past on one of his many rounds around the room.

Severus sighed in response and then thanked him politely through gritted teeth.

It wasn't green, it was verdant. Completely different. Honestly, he would have that that Professor Slughorn would have known that.

Not that it mattered. He didn't need Professor Slughorn's opinion on this. It was that mysteriously benefactor's that did.

Monday 11th March 1974

Entrance Hall, 08:30

"Sev! Severus!"

Severus jumped as he heard Lily's voice. He hadn't been expecting it due to how late it was. Classes were going to start soon but he was just running into the Great Hall now. Lily was just leaving it.

"Morning," he mumbled in greeting, not fully awake yet.

Coffee. He needed coffee. With an unholy amount of sugar preferably. How can you feel worse when you slept in more? It just didn't make any sense.

"I didn't see you at breakfast," she said in far too loud a voice.

They were inside, why was she shouting?

"Slept in," he mumbled, rubbing at his eyes for emphasis.

As if she was just noticing his rather dishevelled state, Lily shot him a worried look.

"Are you okay?"

"Tired. Coffee."

Ignoring that, Lily continued.

"Avery said you were in the Potions labs all weekend," she said disapprovingly.

He wasn't sure whether that disapproval was because she wasn't a big fan of Avery (few were) or because he spent the weekend squirreled away. Either way, Severus shrugged.

"Had a potion to brew."

"All weekend?"

"I brewed it twice."

Well, three times. And had decided that the second one was the one that Lestrange was going to get. The first one had, quite frankly, been a disaster. You didn't mess with the temperature settings of a potion. You just didn't. Especially if you thought it would bind things together better. It did not. Or rather, it did just far too quickly. Thankfully, it hadn't caused an explosion but it had ruined his brew. Such a waste of ingredients. At least none of the more expensive ingredients had been put in at that point but it wasn't like he was rolling in money!

"You shouldn't spend all your time in the Potions labs."

"You should spend more," he snapped back.

Oh, he didn't mean to. He was tired and hungry and both of those things made him irritable. But he was still right. Slughorn was always saying that Lily had a real talent in Potions but she had only independently brewed once every month or so. It was frustrating. She should be using that talent of hers!

"I spend enough!" Lily retorted, eyes flashing as she started to get worked up. "I like to do other things as well."

Severus deflated. He was too tired for this and he really didn't want to fight. Lily's eyes softened and she shook her head.

"Go get something to eat," she instructed.

It was too late for that. Classes were about to start. But he nodded obediently, not wanting to fight again.

"Come on, Lily!" a Gryffindor girl shouted as she went up the staircase.

"Coming!" she replied but turned around to bite her lips at him.

"Go on," he instructed. "I'll be quick. Promise."

He could see that she was conflicted over wanting to press him but also not wanting to be late.

"At least eat some toast," she told him before walking quickly away.

She didn't even wait for him to nod, which was a good thing because there was no way he was going to be able to eat and be on time. And being late to Transfiguration was not an option. It really wasn't.

Severus pulled his bag back up to his shoulder and went against the crowd for the Great Hall, yawning widely.

Now, about that coffee...

Sunday 17th March 1974

Gryffindor Third Year Girls Dorm, 10:30

"You can't be seriously going down to breakfast like that?" Lily's voice came across the dorm.

"What's wrong with it?" Marlene asked, twisting slightly in front of the mirror so she could get a proper look at what she was wearing.

An Ireland team jersey with green skirt and green tights. Perfect! She had even managed to hunt down green clips to hold back her hair. The only thing that was out of place were her trainers. Those were white. Glaringly so in comparison. But she wasn't about to paint those green (as much as she wanted to). They were her only pair that still fit and mum would murder her if she wrecked them. And that was definitely something that she did not want to experience.

"Uh..." Lily tried to come up with a response.

"Too much green?" Marlene asked, looking at herself in the mirror.

Personally, she didn't think she had enough green.

"Are you trying to pass for a Slytherin?" Lily teased.

Marlene shot her a dark look before looking at herself in the mirror again. It was a lot of green but there had to be! It was St Patrick's Day, after all, and, unfortunately, green was his colour. At least she looked good in it. Better than the Slytherins anyway.

"I'm not done yet," Marlene told her.

"Of course, you're not."

Marlene didn't know if Lily was being sarcastic or not but it didn't matter. This St Patrick's Day stuff was serious business after all. And her outfit needed that finishing touch. That piece de resistance. Marlene produced a massive leprechaun hat and jammed it on her head.

"Ta da!"

Lily just gaped at her. Probably because she couldn't imagine such greatness. Marlene did a little strut between the beds, pulling ridiculous faces.

"What do you think?"

"Um," Lily was visibly trying to come up with something good to say without it being a blatant lie. "You are very in the spirit of the day."

Marlene beamed at her. That was very true and what she had been going for. As long as she one upped Ciaran, how good she looked didn't matter. There were two galleons resting on this, after all. Two galleons that she didn't exactly have...

"Come on," she said, grabbing Lily by the wrist and dragging her out the door. "I need to show Ciaran."

Entrance Hall, 10:50

"Okay, fine! You win!" McKinnon grumbled as he passed something over to his younger sister.

Normally Kingsley wouldn't take notice of antics like this (the McKinnons were rather odd) but this was happening right in front of him, McKinnon having left the Common Room just before him. And, well, you couldn't exactly help but take notice of the McKinnons today as they were decked, quite literally, head to toe in green. And not Slytherin green. Bright green. Bright green that could possibly been from space. Why? Kingsley wasn't sure and wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to know. It was bound to be something weird that he did not want to even get a hint of being involved in. It was safer that way.

"Ah, your McKinnon is in green too," Frank's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Huh?" Kingsley blinked owlishly at him.

Frank waved a hand at the sibling pair in front of them.

"Ciaran and Marlene. They're both in green."

"It is St Patrick's Day."

Some people liked to celebrate it by wearing green. Said it brought them luck. Kingsley scoffed, that would never catch on.

"I don't understand why they do it. Neither of them is a Slytherin."

Kingsley shrugged. Who knew why the McKinnons did anything? They could be an odd bunch. They weren't hurting anyone so there was no harm to what they were doing.

"They could at least use the same shade of green," Frank tutted.

Kingsley raised an eyebrow and nodded towards them. "You want to tell them that?"

"And get hexed? No thank you."

Gryffindor Common Room, 15:30

Frank groaned as he sat back in the chair, he had beat a first year to (though why a first year thought he earned a spot by the fire was beyond him). But the groan wasn't over the first year. No, it was over something far worse. He was pretty sure he had stated earlier that he did not want to be hexed. Of course, that jinxed it and he was now very much hexed. Him and the rest of the school.

Josie grinned at him as she sat next to him, keeping her lips firmly shut. Unfortunately, Frank's upbringing kicked in and he couldn't stop himself from greeting her. The only problem was that it wasn't his usual polite greeting.

"Top o'the morning to you, lass," he said in the most horrendous fake Irish accent he had ever heard. It was awful.

"Top o'the morning to you too," Josie automatically greeted and then sighed. "It's not even morning anymore!" she complained.

Frank snorted. That was the least of their worries. Oh, this prank of the Marauders was very clever. Took a fair bit of skill too. They had managed to get something in the food this morning that made everyone use awful, stereotypical, "leprechaun" phrases when they started talking. The rest of your conversation would be fine - maybe a few sprinkled "that's the luck of the Irish for you" sprinkled in - it was just the greeting. Always the same one. Even if you tried not to say hello and just launch into your conversation it would force that horrible greeting past your lips. In almost a shout too. It was embarrassing.

"I'm going to kill them," he declared, running hand over his face.

"It's kind of funny," Josie said. "And I think Professor McGonagall might beat you to it."

Frank snorted at that. Hearing their Head of House's normal Scottish brogue being replaced with an awful Irish accent mixed with her Scottish was equal parts hilarious and horrendous.

They were interrupted by a crowd of second years coming in and greeting each other. Unable to stand hearing that phrase one more time, Frank stood up and left the Common Room. Maybe he would be able to walk around long enough for it to wear off.

He was just a floor above the Entrance Hall when he literally ran into the Headmaster. How he managed that when the man was wearing lime green robes with dark green shamrocks all over them, he didn't know.

"Top o'the morning to you!" Professor Dumbledore greeting cheerfully, eyes twinkling.

Of course, Frank had to reply. You couldn't just not reply to the Headmaster. Even if what came out of your mouth was stupid stuff. He winced as he heard that awful accent come out of his mouth.

Professor Dumbledore just grinned and declared, "Marvellous little spell, isn't it?" before walking away.

Frank gave the back of the man a look of confusion. He would never understand him, he didn't think anyone did.

Wednesday 20th March 1974

Slytherin Common Room, 20:00

Mulciber had a crowd of second and first years around him again. They were looking particularly in awe this time. Regulus sighed and rolled his eyes. Seriously, what was so interesting about Mulciber? He had the intelligence of a sheep and the conversational skills to match. That was probably why he was holding court with a bunch of kids instead of anyone older. They didn't have time for him. Not even his own brother, who was in fourth year. So stupid. Regulus didn't have time for such stupidity.

Mulciber looked over at him and smirked superiorly. Regulus raised an eyebrow. He had no idea what the other boy was talking about so it was pointless for Mulciber to smirk at him. Regulus made sure to pointedly look away to show just how disinterested in him he was. The boy wasn't important at all.

Disgruntled, Mulciber took a deep breath and started talking louder.

"Yeah, my father was talking with him again. For a long time too. Really important and all."

"Did you hear about what they were talking about?" a particularly awestruck first year asked.

"Of course," Mulciber said self-importantly. "I was right there, wasn't I?"

Regulus very much doubted that but it wouldn't be bragging without some measure of untruth, would it? Not that the other students seemed to mind. There were actually some gasps from them. Idiots.

He continued on like that, very obviously stretching the truth and lying as it suited him. Regulus kept half am ear on him, just in case something came up. He was a Slytherin, after all.

Suddenly, Regulus realised what, or more exactly, who Mulciber was talking about. Riddle. The man who had been to dinner. He snorted when he realised the Mulciber was bragging about his father talking to him. That wasn't very impressive at all. He couldn't help himself. He snorted.

Loud enough to garner their attention it seemed. Suddenly, multiple eyes were on him.

"What's so funny, Black?" Mulciber sneered.

He was trying to be a "big man", so to speak, but Regulus knew that he was nervous with the way his fingers twitched.

He at least knew his place.

"Oh, nothing." but Regulus made sure to add a smirk.

Now, as daft as the other boy was, he at least had the braincells to realise there were things being left unsaid. He moved closer to Regulus in an attempt to tower over him. It was only effective if that made you look intimidating, which, in this case, it very much didn't.

"Tell me," Mulciber demanded.

Regulus really hoped that that wasn't supposed to be an intimidating tone because that would just be sad if that was the case.

"Black."

Oh, now he was trying to do threatening. How sweet. See, this is when knowing how and when to speak paid off. It was very amusing to watch his classmate get more and more worked up. That was a rather interesting shade of red he was turning. Even his little posse thought so. There were some giggles and nudges getting exchanged between them. But he supposed he should get things moving. He did not want to have to bring Mulciber down to the Hospital Wing for an exploding head.

"It's not appropriate to brag about such things," Regulus said in a frosty tone.

That silenced all the first and second years. It even attracted the attention of some of the upper years but they didn't say anything.

"Am I hearing jealousy, Black?"

Regulus snorted again and scoffed, "Hardly."

Why on earth would he be jealous of a Mulciber of all things? Really? Mulciber had the audacity to poke him in the chest.

"I think you are jealous."

Carefully, Regulus grabbed the still protruding finger and pushed it away from him.

"Why would I be jealous of your father talking to him when he has been in my house for tea?"

That got a gasp from the surrounding students. Regulus rolled his eyes. Idiots, all of them.

"Well, I, my father, you-" Mulciber spluttered.

Regulus' mouth curled into a smirk. That took the wind right out of his sails, didn't it?

Thursday 21st March 1974

Entrance Hall, 08:00

"Hi, Tonks!"

Tonks looked up with a start at the sound of her name being called. She had completely been in her own little world.

"Tonks!"

Oh yeah, she hadn't replied. Oops. She grinned as she saw her cousin wave at her like some sort of maniac.

"Hi, Sirius!" she replied, waving equally as vigorously.

Who needed coffee (a habit that her mother completely disapproved of) to wake up when you had silly cousins who never failed to put a smile on your face?

"Oh, Merlin, there's two of them," James groaned as the group of boys approached her.

"It's what happens to you when you have brought disgrace to the House of Black," Sirius said in a mock solemn tone.

"I'm not a Black," Tonks felt like she had to point out.

Sirius waved her argument away. "Your mum was and disgrace is inherited."

"Really, Sirius?" Remus said with an arched eyebrow.

"What? It's true!"

Remus just shook his head and Tonks giggled.

"Finally, some sensible conversation," he declared.

"Hey, we're sensible, " Sirius tried to say, er, well seriously.

He couldn't hold it for long and soon he and James were busting out into giggles.

The five of them walked as a clump to the Great Hall, all five stomachs grumbling at the scents of freshly baked bread wafting out. Tonks, unfortunately, was paying too much attention to her nose and stomach and not enough to her feet. This, of course, meant she tripped.

Bracing herself for a collision with the stone floor she was surprised that it never came. Instead, she was sort of hanging in mid-air, a hand grabbing her arm. Remus' hand on her arm. Blushing, she looked away from him.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Nice catch, Moony!" James congratulated him. "She didn't get anywhere near the floor this time."

Which Tonks was eternally grateful for. She did enough of that and she didn't need any new bruises on her knees.

They were all even nice enough to not tease her on her clumsiness. Something she'd really had enough of. It wasn't funny after the twentieth time.

She walked into the Great Hall with them, Remus refusing to unhook his arm from hers, claiming "that it just wasn't gentlemanly to risk a young lady falling splat on her face". Which made her blush right to the ends of her hair but Tonks wasn't going to argue. She probably would end up smacking her face off the floor if she did anyway.

They parted at the head of the Hufflepuff Table, all three boys saying they hoped she had a good day. Immediately, she missed Remus' heat. That had been a rather nice way to start the day.

Monday 25th March 1974

Professor McGonagall's Office, 15:30

Sirius watched as Professor McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose as she sat in her chair. Leaving him and James standing, of course. You always had to stand if you were in trouble. No comfort for the wicked and all that. Sirius shifted nervously on his feet and tried to grin at her. Tried to because she gave them both such a disapproving look that he faltered. She was scary, you know?

"Let me get this straight," she began in a long-suffering tone. "You and Mr Potter-"

James gave a hesitant wave.

"- decided that it would be a fantastic idea to hex Mr Beckett so that his feet were five times their normal size?"

Sirius grinned as he remembered what had happened. That had been really funny. Hilarious even. The guy couldn't walk properly! Served him right. Not that Sirius said that, he wasn't stupid. Not when that particular scowl was on McGonagall's face. The one that promised untold suffering if they said something that wasn't "Sorry". He should really start ranking her glares...

"I want to know what on earth you were thinking when you thought that this was a good idea?"

"He was being mean!"

"That's not for you to decide, Mr Potter."

Sirius smothered his snort. No one else was doing anything about it. Anyway, it spiced things up a bit. Everyone always got so serious around this time of year with exams and coursework. This sort of thing cheered people up. Just not Beckett, of course. It was still funny. And it hadn't lasted that long! Granted, that was because Beckett went running like a cry baby to Flitwick who undid it.

"No, ma'am," James agreed, not wanting to get into more trouble.

And, Sirius eyed Professor McGonagall, they were in quite a bit of trouble. Not the worst trouble - steam wasn't threatening to come out of her ears - but still trouble. Trouble that really didn't bode well for them.

"No, Professor," he echoed when McGonagall's attention turned to him.

She gave the pair of them a long look which made them squirm uncomfortably. Then she sighed heavily.

"Detention. Both of you. A week. Potter, you'll be with Filch and, Black, you'll be with Madam Pomfrey. They'll keep you busy."

"We're being separated?" James asked incredulously.

"Indeed, Mr Potter. Maybe you will actually learn from the experience. Run along now."

With that clear dismal, Sirius and James looked at each other in dismay.