Tuesday 1st June 1976

Gryffindor Common Room, 19:00

"Why on earth aren't you revising?" Remus demanded. "Don't you know that our OWLs start in less than two weeks? You need to revise!"

James and Sirius exchanged eye rolls which did not help Remus. He was actually panicking for them because apparently, they refused to do any themselves. They couldn't just do their effortless thing for OWLs like they did with other tests and exams. It just wasn't possible.

"Why on earth do you think you can revise in here?" James asked, making a sweeping motion around the room.

It was like everyone was in the Common Room this evening and the noise level proved it.

Okay, he had a fair point, Remus had to admit. The Common Room really was the worst place to revise. Or even do homework most of the time. But that didn't mean he could stop stressing about his friends! They had literally not started any revision.

"Do you realise how important these exams are? Do you?"

They were so, so, important! They affected the career you could do! Not doing well could ruin your whole life.

"They aren't as important as NEWTs," James dismissed.

'Snap' went the quill in his hand. Bits of it drifted down to the floor.

"You aren't going to be able to do your NEWTs if you don't get good OWLs!"

"You need to calm down," Sirius tried.

"Calm down? CALM DOWN?"

"Please," Peter added, as if that would help the situation.

It didn't. But it was a nice try. Yes, that was him being sarcastic.

"You're drawing attention to yourself," James pointed out.

Now that was something that would get him to calm down and James knew it. Remis hated being the centre of attention. Really hated it. So, he sat down. He hadn't even realised he was standing up in his frustration.

"And anyway, we'll be able to do them, we won't fail," Sirius said with a dismissive shrug.

"It's five years' worth of knowledge, Padfoot."

Sirius grinned at the use of the nickname but then dismissed his concerns again!

"We'll be fine."

Why did he even bother? It wasn't like his friends were just going to change. But he could.

Standing up, Remus started shoving all his books and parchment back into his bag. Yes. He could change. Change location that was.

"Where are you going?" Sirius called after him.

"To actually pass my exams," Remus said over his shoulder.

Saturday 5th June 1976

Library, 19:00

"What do you want?" Lily snapped.

Chryssie took a step back and put her hands in the air.

"Just wanted to ask you a question about my homework."

But maybe she wouldn't anymore, not if Lily was going to jump down her throat like that. She could do without that.

"I really don't have the time, right now."

"That's okay."

Chryssie started backing away. She didn't really want to be around Lily if she was going to be like that anyway. She could probably find her answer in a textbook somewhere anyway. Even books in the Restricted Section wouldn't bite as much as Lily would.

"I'm sorry," she said sincerely. "I'm just stressing about OWLs."

"You're stressing me out and I'm not doing them until next year."

"Lucky."

Lily looked like she really meant that too. This was a bit much even for her. Sure, Lily, like everyone else, always got a bit stressed around exams but she never freaked out like this. She normally had a "Let's get this done" attitude about exams. Seeing her basically panic over them was quite worrying.

"Oh, what did you need?" Lily asked, actually turning around to look at her properly.

Chryssie shook her head and started to back away. "No, it's okay, I can figure it out for myself."

"Don't be silly," Lily told her, closing her textbook. "I'm sorry for snapping. I can help. I really can."

"Are you sure?"

Maybe it wasn't such a good idea. Chryssie wasn't sure how much help Lily would be when she was like this. Could she really help with something that wasn't to do with Charms? Or OWLs. She supposed they would see...

Lily patted the table and Chryssie perched on it. She gathered from the roll of her eyes that Lily had probably meant for her to dump her stuff there and then use the seat opposite her but, hey, this would do just as well.

"I can't seem to understand what Professor Sprout means by this. "

She thrust the parchment she had scribbled down her homework question on. Chryssie hated Herbology essays, she really hated them. How were you supposed to write so much on plants?

Lily looked it over a frowned. Maybe Chryssie didn't think this through, the last thing Lily needed to do was more studying. She did not want to be the reason for her older sister having a mental breakdown of some kind. That really wouldn't be good.

She made as if to take it back but Lily moved it out of her reach.

"Oh! I literally just revised this!" she exclaimed excitedly, only to be hushed by several people around them. "Sorry!" then she turned to Chryssie with a triumphant smile on her face and whispered, "I know what you need for this."

"You do?"

That was a relief because Chryssie didn't even know where to start.

"Yeah," came the eager reply. "Actually, I know exactly what book will help."

Chryssie found herself being unceremoniously dragged through the stacks of books. Okay then, it looked like she was getting this book.

Wednesday 9th June 1976

Hogwarts Grounds, 16:30

Remus was trailing exasperatedly behind his friends. He knew he should be putting stop to this sort of nonsense; he just didn't know how. When was the last time this lot listened to sense? Especially James and Sirius. Never, that's when. That's why they have so many detentions between them. And that number was only going to go up after this. With him and Peter included this time.

For a Prefect Remus did find himself in quite a large number of detentions. But he couldn't help it, it was hard to say no to James and Sirius and their ideas were always fun. And he didn't always get caught. He was quite good at that. That's why he enjoyed the planning and leaving James and Sirius to do most of the executing, though he did that too.

But what they had planned now was just ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. And stupid. No one was going to enjoy this.

"I'm still saying that this is a bad idea," Remus said for what must have been the hundredth time.

Because it really was a bad idea. Nothing good would come of this, that he was certain.

"Yet, you're still doing it with us."

"Because if I don't, something is going to go wrong!"

"Look who thinks highly of himself."

Remus shot a glare at Sirius for that comment. It wasn't that he thought highly of himself, just that he thought lowly of his friends' abilities to think things through!

"No one, and I mean no one is going to appreciate this. It's too close to exams!"

"That's exactly why we need to do this," James said astonishingly stupidly.

"No," Remus said slowly in the hope that would make them understand better. "It's why we shouldn't do it."

"But everyone's being all bored and snappy," Sirius complained. "This will cheer everyone up."

"No one needs to cheer up. They need to pass their exams."

"This isn't going to make everyone fail, Moony."

"But it is going to distract them!"

"Exactly!"

Remus flung his hands up in the air in defeat. Argh! He was never going to convince them, was he? No. No he wasn't.

"People loved our little light show earlier in the year..."

"Because it was dark, James and nothing was going on."

"And that's why we're enchanting kites this time."

"And the fireworks? What's the point of those if you have the kites?"

Sirius gave him an exasperated look. "To make it more exciting, duh."

Remus tried to make him see sense, "Padfoot, the kites are paper..."

This was going to go horribly, horribly wrong.

Professor McGonagall's Office, 17:00

It didn't take long at all for things to go horribly, horribly wrong.

Remus knew this was going to happen, he just knew it. Granted, the kites did explode in a rather spectacular manner but that wasn't exactly a good thing! Especially when they flew in some open windows. They were damn lucky that they had exploded a way up in the ceiling and not near anyone.

Definitely not the distraction they had been going for. More like inspire fear into the general populus.

Of course, they sprinted back inside to the scene of destruction. And it really was destruction. Fallen over suits of armour and bits of charred kites were scattered across the floor.

What on earth were they supposed to do?

"Potter! Black! Lupin! Pettigrew!"

Professor McGonagall came storming towards them, her face like thunder.

"You would think that she would just say 'Marauders' by now," Sirius whispered conversationally.

"Not the time, Padfoot," Remus hissed.

It didn't take them long to all be dragged into their Head of House's office - a very familiar sight to them.

"Just what did you think you were thinking?" she demanded.

Did that even make sense? Remus felt like that sentence shouldn't make grammatical sense.

Thankfully, she replied for them - ensuring that James or Sirius very much didn't put their feet in their mouths.

"I'll tell you what you were thinking! You weren't thinking at all, were you?"

"Um-" Peter started to raise his hand but Remis tugged it back down.

"Of all the idiotic and downright stupid things, you have done, this really takes the cake -"

"Hey!" James said in an injured tone.

Remus began looking for an adequate hard surface to bash his head off. There was no way they were going to get through this without them all landing them in more trouble. Why could none of them control their mouths?

Thankfully, except for shooting them a glare, McGonagall ignored them to continue her scolding.

"Setting things on fire? Are you really delinquents?"

Yep, it was definitely better for them to just stay quiet and let her run out of steam.

"I thought you would at least know better, Remus," she chided.

"He told us it wasn't a good idea," James jumped to his defence.

That didn't impress McGonagall at all. She peered over her glasses at him.

"And you failed to listen."

That wasn't a question but James nodded shakily anyway.

They were soundly scolded for several more minutes. So much so that Peter actually began shaking. Finally, McGonagall got to the bit that they had all been waiting for. Punishment.

"Detention." she stated. "Three weeks."

Remus winced. That was the worst they'd ever had but then again, this stunt had been incredibly dangerous.

"There's not three weeks of term left," Sirius said in confusion.

"And exams. We have our OWLs," Remus added, panic suddenly coming over him.

He couldn't waste time in detention when their OWLs were so close! Literally days away! Why, oh why, did they do this? Why did he do this? A moment of madness must have come over him, that was the only explanation.

McGonagall let out a long breath and looked at them. Coming to a decision, she sighed.

"You'll start serving your detentions when your exams are over," she announced. "And then they will carry over into next year."

Well, that would not be a fun way to start off sixth year. But it was better than being in detention when they should be revision so Remus was extremely grateful.

"Thank you," he said fervently and then trod quite deliberately on Sirius' foot.

"Ow! I mean, yes, thank you," he said begrudgingly and Peter and James echoed him.

Monday 14th June 1976

Library, 18:30

Regulus looked around him in dismay. There were so many people in here. Too many. Tables were crammed with people sitting basically shoulder to shoulder. All with books and parchment around them. Too much parchment, in his opinion but people didn't think about their parchment use when they were cramming for exams.

Exams. Exams. Exams.

He really did hate exam season, his sanctuary got invaded and he no longer her had anywhere to relax. At least he was somewhat older now and wasn't turfed out of his seat by some older student. Most of the time anyway. But that requires him to actually have a seat, which he definitely didn't right now. And he wasn't about to pull rank on any of the younger students either. That just wasn't fair.

It looked like he wasn't going to be able to stay. Which sucked, excuse the poor language. Regulus liked the library. No, he loved it.

The library was one of the few places he could be alone. Well, that and that spot down by the Lake where the wind always seemed to blow really cold. No one bothered him in those places. He had no need to put on a show, so to speak. He could just be... well, Regulus. Not even Regulus Black. Just Regulus.

He quite liked being 'just Regulus'. There was no pressure. No expectations. No masks. He also used to like being 'Reggie' but he hadn't been him in a while. Years even. So 'just Regulus' it was. And 'just Regulus' did have to worry about anything. He liked not worrying.

But it looked like he wouldn't be able to do that today. Well, not inside. He glanced out the window. And maybe not outside either. It was raining.

Friday 18th June 1976

Hogwarts Grounds, 15:30

James rubbed at his eyes as they walked outside, unused to the sunlight after spending the last hour and a half sitting an exam. Only the practical for it on Monday and it would be all over. Finally. These past two weeks had just been constant studying and revising and talking about the exams. He couldn't hack it anymore!

And he wouldn't have to because exams were basically over! James wasn't worried about that practical, he knew his stuff for Defence. He would be fine. Stressing over the thought of it would just mess him up anyway so he may as well just enjoy the day.

"Did you like question ten, Moony?" asked Sirius as they left the entrance hall behind them.

"Loved it," said Remus briskly but there was an air of amusement about him. "'Give five signs that identify the

werewolf.' Excellent question."

"D'you, think you managed to get all the signs?" said James in tones

of mock concern.

"Think I did," said Lupin seriously, as they joined the crowd thronging around the front doors eager to get the best spot on the sunlit grounds.

"One: He's sitting on my chair. Two: He's wearing my clothes. Three:

His name's Remus Lupin . . ."

James and Sirius laughed loudly at that. Oh, how James wished Remus could have answered like that. It would have been perfect! He let out a big sigh and couldn't stop himself from smiling even if he tried.

It was sunny! And warm! And they were outside! And Peter was worrying about his answers about werewolves of all things.

"Wormtail, we hang out with one once a month, you -"

James couldn't help but be a little but impatient with him. There really was no excuse for not knowing about werewolves in his opinion.

"Shhh!" Remus scolded but there was a smile on his face.

"I'm bored," Sirius said loudly, talking over Remus and Peter.

"Would you rather be bored or have exams?" Remus asked.

"Neither. I want to do something."

"Well, then. Go do something. No one's stopping you."

"But doing something is too hard."

"You just want someone to do something for you," Remus told him. "You're lazy."

Sirius didn't deny it. Just grinned at him and aid claim to a spot underneath "their" tree.

"Wish it was full moon."

"You might," said Remus darkly from behind his book. "We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored you could test me. Here ..." and he held out his book.

Oh yeah, James had forgotten about that exam. Oh well, it was nothing to worry about. He did know all that stuff.

But Sirius snorted. "I don't need to look at that rubbish, I know it all."

Remus shrugged and too his book back to study. Sirius stared around at the students milling over the grass. James played with the Snitch he got to improve his reflexes, all of the famous Chaser did it. It was fun too; letting it zoom further and further away, almost escaping but always grabbing it at the last second. Wormtail was watching him with his mouth open. Every time James made a particularly difficult catch, Wormtail gasped and applauded. Which was kind of nice. At least someone recognised his efforts.

"Put that away, will you," said Sirius finally, as James made a fine catch, if he said so himself, and Wormtail let out a cheer, "before Wormtail wets himself with excitement."

Wormtail turned slightly pink, but James grinned.

"If it bothers you," he said, stuffing the Snitch back in his pocket.

"It bores me," he was corrected.

James looked around, wanting to find something to entertain Sirius. And himself, if he was being honest. Something funny. Something that would get them all laughing and shedding the nerves and anxiousness that had settled over them the last month or so. But what to do, what to do?

Something that wouldn't take too much effort but still packing quite a punch...

Ah ha! There was Snape. He had been particularly annoying recently. Making comments towards them that were completely unnecessarily. And just all round being a pain in the arse with Mulciber and Avery. Pity those two weren't about, it would be more fun to go up against three people instead of just one. Not that they would be going up against him exactly when there was four of them and one of him. But Snape was pretty quick with his hexes and he did know some nasty ones if they weren't careful.

He just needed to make it that Snape was completely taken by surprise and he knew just how to do that...

Sirius watched in absolute glee as Snape was dragged into the air by his ankle. Wow, the guy knew a lot of curse words. Who would have thought? He was usually so controlled.

He couldn't help but laugh loudly at the Slytherin's predicament. Maybe now he would feel just as embarrassed as he made Sirius feel when he kept making those snide comments about the Black family and his position in it. He had no business in saying things like that to him!

"How'd the exam go, Snivelly?" said James in a mocking tone.

"I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment," said Sirius viciously. "There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be able to read a word."

Several people watching laughed; Snape was clearly very unpopular. Good.

"You-wait," he panted, staring down at James with an expression of purest loathing, "you- wait!"

"Wait for what?" said Sirius coolly. "What're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?"

Snape let out a stream of mixed swear words and hexes, but with his wand ten feet away nothing happened.

"Wash out your mouth," said James coldly. "Scourgify!"

Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once; the froth was covering his lips, making him gag, choking him-

"Leave him ALONE!"

James and Sirius looked round. James's free hand immediately jumped to his hair.

"All right, Evans?" said James, and the tone of his voice was suddenly pleasant, deeper, more mature.

He sounded ridiculous. Something Sirius was definitely going to tease him about later.

"Leave him alone," Lily repeated. She was looking at James with every sign of great dislike. "What's he done to you?"

Sirius froze, really hoping that James wouldn't blurted out all his business with his family. Normally, James would never think of such a thing. He always took what Sirius confided in him seriously but he didn't exactly think when it came to Evans.

"Well," said James, appearing to deliberate the point, "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean ..."

"You think you're funny," she said coldly. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone."

Oh. Sirius winced. That was harsh.

"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James quickly. "Go on ... go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."

"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid," said Evans.

'Bad luck, Prongs,' said Sirius briskly, and turned back to Snape. "OI!"

None of them had realised that, in their distraction, James had actually been lowering Snape towards the ground again. And now he had his wand back.

But too late; Snape had directed his wand straight at James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face, spattering his robes with blood. James whirled about: a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside-down in the air again.

Many people in the small crowd that now surrounded them cheered; Sirius, James and Wormtail roared with laughter.

Evans, whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile, said, "Let him down!"

"Certainly," said James and he jerked his wand upwards; Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes he got quickly to his feet, wand up, but Sirius said, "Petrificus Totalus!" and Snape keeled over again, rigid as a board.

Apparently, that crossed a line for Evans.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Evans shouted. She had her own wand out now. James and Sirius eyed it warily.

For good reason. She was top in their year and was quick and accurate with her spells.

"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," said James earnestly.

Sirius tried not to snort. As if James would ever do that. Not to a female.

"Take the curse off him, then!"

James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the counter-curse.

"There you go,' he said, as Snape struggled to his feet. 'You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus-"

"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"

Sirius gaped, as did everyone else in the surrounding vicinity. He did not just say that.

Evans blinked, a weirdly calm look coming over her face.

"Fine," she said coolly. "I won't bother in future."

"Apologise to Evans!" James roared at Snape; his wand pointed threateningly at him.

Sirius was half tempted to do it as well. That had to be the most vile thing Snape could ever say.

"I don't want you to make him apologise," Evans shouted, rounding on James. "You're as bad as he is."

"What?" yelped James. "I'd NEVER call you a-you-know-what!"

He really wouldn't. Sirius doubted if the word had even ever crossed James' mind before.

"No. You wouldn't." she said shortly. "And that's vile and horrible and downright wrong."

Snape seemed to sag in despair at that. Good.

"But you," Evans swung around to point her finger at James, looking more than slightly hysterical. "You think you're so clever and funny but you aren't! That was the action of a bully, Potter! You've turned into a bully!"

"Bully?"

"Yes! A bully! I knew you were childish and immature and arrogant but I never thought you would stoop so low to be a bully, James Potter!"

She stopped talking but was in no way silent as she breathed heavily, eyes flashing. She still looked like she would blow up if given half the chance so no one said anything. An angry Lily Evans was a terrifying Lily Evans.

She had a hot temper that flared and flashed but usually burnt itself out pretty quickly. But this time looked different. This wasn't going to be over quickly.

"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can-I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK."

She turned on her heel and hurried away.

"Evans!" James shouted after her. "Hey, EVANS!"

But she didn't even look back. The little crowd around them slowly drifted away, their fun now over.

"Bully?" James repeated to no one in particular.