*** The Marauder Chronicles is a fan fiction. It isn't to be sold, reproduced, or taken as true. The main characters and most locations belong to J.K. Rowling, as do all publishing rights. No copyright infringement is intended.***

Part Two: The Angel

"Never let love pass you by."

"These test scores are atrocious," Professor Sprout exclaimed on Tuesday morning as she handed out last Friday's exam. "I thought we had covered the uses of the Transforming Red Tulips thoroughly, but according to these tests..." she said as she dropped a D in front of Kyle Mathews. He almost fell over backwards when he learned his result. "I can't remember having a class that tested so poorly. It is the beginning of the year, for crying out loud." She walked over and placed a F paper in front of a hysterical Britney Carlson. "But some of you," she continued moving over to the four Marauders, "did exceptionally well."

"What do you think?" Sirius whispered to James.

"Even," he replied.

"Five galleons says James beat you," Remus said. Peter nodded.

"So the bet is five galleons," Sirius said to James. "What do you think?"

"I don't know, even maybe." They didn't have to wait long. Professor Sprout walked over and placed James and Sirius's test papers in front of them. She smiled brightly. "Nice job boys."

"Damn," Sirius mumbled, looking over his test. He had an A; a single red mark was on the very last page marking off one point.

"Yep," Remus said looking at their two papers, "just as I suspected. That'll be five galleons."

James looked over his test; no marks rested on any sheet of paper, save a large "A+" on the top of the cover. He casually laid the test down in front of him and sighed.

"How did you fair, Peter?" James asked, looking down the table at his short and chubby friend.

"I got a C, as usual. I guess I didn't study hard enough." He put the test face down and shook his head.

"Don't worry, Peter," James told him. "I'm sure you'll get it right one day."

"No I won't. I'm not that smart."

"I can't believe I missed this question!" Sirius nearly yelled having completely ignored the conversation around him. "How could I miss a question about the breeding season of the West Indian Snapdragon?"

"How did you do?" James asked Remus, ignoring Sirius.

"Pretty good. B+, better than many people in the class," he said looking around at his classmates.

James turned around and leaned back in his chair, as if trying to get a glimpse of someone, when the back legs slipped and he started to fall backwards.

Sirius didn't need to raise his eyes from his test; he put out his hand and caught James's chair.

"We're still in class, Prongs. Try not to kill yourself," he said casually setting the chair upright.

"Thanks," he replied sarcastically.

"Don't mention it," Sirius said with a grin. Moments later the bell rang, which couldn't have come sooner for most of the students in Green House five.

Peter stood up first and made his way over to James, who raised himself up, straitened his robes, and observed the flooded doorway.

"Well," James said, looking at the door, "I guess people are hungry."

"Or depressed that they failed the test. Either way..." Remus said, as he took his place next to James and followed the mass flow of students back up to the castle.

"Sirius," James started, turning around to see him, but there was no one there.

"James," Remus said, pointing behind him, "he seems to have found a lady friend." James whirled around and saw Sirius talking to a very gigglesome blonde girl.

"Oh for goodness sake, not again," James groaned. "Lets just leave him to it, shall we?" He motioned for the three of them to go and in no time they were heading through the doors of Hogwarts.

"How long do you think this one will last?" Remus asked.

"Oh, lets see..." James said in mock concentration. "Well, by the look on her face and the instant attraction on his part, I hypothesize that he'll have a date with her this weekend, then he'll smother her in charm... Couple of weeks tops."

Sirius came running after them down the main corridor that lead to the Gryffindor tower. He was grinning like a fool.

"Guess who has a date this weekend?" he asked enthusiastically, clapping James on the back.

"Oh don't tell me this one, I really want to figure it out for myself," James said sarcastically, glancing at Sirius. "What's her name?"

"Hannah. Same backwards and forwards," he said.

"How original of you. I have a question for you, Sirius," James said. "Where does one go on a date at Hogwarts. I mean there is no where to go...so what do you do on these countless dates?"

Sirius gave him a funny sort of smile. Remus and Peter turned all of their attention onto him. James continued. "Well, Sirius, where do you go? It's a reasonable question that deserves a reasonable answer."

"It's a secret," he replied with a knowing smirk.

"Where do you go?" Remus asked. "I have always wondered. You would never take her out of the school through one of the tunnels, so you must stay here, but we never see you."

"And you never will," he retorted. "Once the three of you meet up to my standards, then I will consider letting you in on my secrets of dating success."

"Hannah, huh? She smart?" James asked, eyebrow raised.

"She's of average intelligence," Sirius said with a hint of defensiveness.

"How did she do on the Herbology exam?"

"Fair."

"Fair? Sirius, you're a smart person-- you should see someone who's smart, maybe then your relationships would last longer than three weeks," James said seriously.

But Sirius just laughed. "I know you're jealous, but please don't advise me on something that you have no experience with, all right?"

"You hurt my feelings," James said insincerely.

"Sorry," Sirius replied flippantly.

"You really did, I'm looking after your happiness and you take my head off. Honestly." But he didn't mean it. "Did you study history last night like you said you were going to do?" James asked, changing the subject.

"Nah. I talked to Michelle instead. Do you know that Muggles can fly from one country to another in a jet? Do you know how much money it costs to run that thing? The stuff they do to avoid magic..."

"Well I studied," James said, not acknowledging what Sirius had said. "Binns might have a pop quiz, you know."

"If you were studying, then I'm the Queen mother," Remus added.

"No kidding," Sirius said with a smirk. "You were not studying. I saw you last night; just glanced at you every now and again."

"I was too," James replied defensively. "Go on, ask me anything."

"Fine." Remus contemplated then came up with a question. "Who battled Sheena in the Great Goblin War of the sixteenth century?"

James looked at the three of them for a while, but said nothing.

"Ha!" they exclaimed. "We knew it!"

"Oh shut up. So I don't know one question, big deal. Ask me something else."

"This one is far simpler," Remus said, trying to keep in a smile. "What color are her eyes?"

Sirius gave him a high five and chortled. Peter sniggered a bit.

"Laugh it up," James said, nodding his head. "Very funny. Ho, ho, ho."

"You were studying, but it wasn't history," Sirius said. The four of them went up to Gryffindor tower to get there history books and drop off their Herbology ones. Then they went back downstairs and headed for the Great Hall.

"Hello, Michele," Sirius said, waving to a blushing blonde girl who started giggling with her friends as soon as they passed Sirius.

"Why do they all do that?" Peter asked James quietly so Sirius could not hear them.

"They don't all do that. And I have no idea as to why some of them do."

"It's because I'm handsome, Peter," Sirius said confidently, as he smoothed his hair back with his hands. "They look at me and melt. The secret is to smile... a lot. Girls love that. You should really try it some time."

"Don't listen to him. He knows as much about a woman's mind as the rest of us do," Remus told Peter. James nodded in agreement.

"Sirius," an energetic girl said, running over to greet him. "I researched the Bohemia Demon potion for you yesterday. Only I think I could do better if next time you did it with me." She flipped her hair casually and beamed, revealing every single shiny white tooth.

"Sirius," James said loudly. "Sorry to interrupt, but we do have lunch to attend. You see, it only comes once a day."

"You three go on without me. I'll be there in just a second." And without even looking at them again, he started walking in the opposite direction with the young girl.

"He's amazing," James said sarcastically. "He makes a date with one girl, but has dozens of others on hold."

"I wish I could do that," Peter said.

"No you don't. He'll tire of it eventually," James replied, looking back to see Sirius and his adoring admirer.

"And he'll probably regret it some day when it all catches up with him and knocks him in the conk," Remus said, a small smirk appearing on his face.

"You're probably right," James said laughing a little. He could hear a running footfall coming behind him.

"Too many women and not enough time," Sirius said once he caught them. He hit James on the back and started to walk beside him. "I'll be studying with Tina tomorrow evening. She is something else."

"What happened to Hannah?" Remus asked. James and Peter looked to see Sirius's face.

"Who?" Sirius asked, looking confused. "Oh, yeah," he said suddenly remembering. "She's this weekend."

"You're sick," said James shaking his head, but grinning nevertheless. "How can you do that? One of these days you're really going to mess up. You'll kiss one girl, call her the wrong name, and she'll deck you. Then you'll come running to me with your sorry excuses telling me that I was right, and you know what?"

"You'll shut up?" Sirius suggested.

"No. I'll say 'I told you so.'"

"I have difficulty seeing you saying something like that," Sirius said.

"Neither can I," Remus agreed. "It's not you."

Sirius turned his head again to see a pretty brown-haired girl walk past him. He kept staring at her until she turned the corner.

"Would you cut that out?" James nagged.

"What?" Sirius asked confused.

"You look like a stupid Neanderthal when you stare at a girl as she walks by. Can't you just look where you're going? You're making all of us sick with your games, Sirius."

"Fine. I will look straight ahead of me for the rest of the break. I promise."

"Thank you," James said, sighing.

"So what should we do the last Friday night of September?" Remus asked, trying to change the subject.

"Whatever," Sirius responded. "I don't really care. Maybe we should go to the village, see what kind of Ministry officials are up for the weekend."

"I think the Minister of Magic himself is going to be in town on that weekend," Peter added.

"Really?" Remus chimed in. "We must check that out."

"What do you think, James," Sirius asked, but James hadn't heard a word that was said.

He was looking directly ahead of him; eyes locked on one position, his mouth open slightly. Sirius, Peter, and Remus all looked simultaneously to the spot James was fixated on.

"Figures," Remus said routinely.

Walking on an intersect path was the most beautiful girl in the entire school. She moved toward them gracefully; her long, dark red hair waving like a dance. She smiled and laughed with her two friends, who were also attractive, but nothing compared to her. She looked in James's direction, so that all four of the Marauders could see her brilliant, bright, green eyes, sparkling amongst the black cloud of Hogwarts cloaks.

Nothing could have distracted James from her face. He had even stopped breathing as he watched her draw nearer to him.

Sirius, Remus, and Peter, as if rehearsed, rolled their eyes at the same exact moment as they watched a truly goofy smile spread all over James's face.

The two friends of Lily stopped talking and nudged her, motioning to her to look at James. She set her emerald eyes on his blue ones and smiled greatly.

James finally took a breath and chanced a smile. "Hello," he said to her as she passed him. The two girls she was walking with giggled, but Lily did not.

"Hello, James," she said smiling more greatly if possible. She passed by him with eloquent grace, like a goddess in the breeze. She never took her eyes off of him as she sailed on through the corridor, nor did he take his eyes off of her. He turned around, walking backwards, and watched her watch him as she went for Gryffindor tower. She laughed and waved to him as she turned the corner.

James sighed and spun around to face the direction he was walking, only...

SMACK!

He hit a large stone statue of a gargoyle which apparently was directly in his path. He saw the mildly concerned faces of Remus and Sirius, then the corner where the wall and ceiling met, then he just saw the ceiling. There was a loud thud as his back hit the hard castle floor.

Sirius, Remus and Peter stopped dead in their tracks and huddled around James, looking down at him.

"Is he dead?" Peter asked stupidly.

James's eyes were wide open, staring straight up at the stone ceiling, his mouth open. He was breathing but shallowly.

Laughter started to sound through the hall. People were starting to get the word that the Gryffindor Quidditch team captain had collided head on with a statue.

"James," Sirius said, trying to contain the laughter in his voice, "are you all right?"

James sat up very quickly, putting his hand on his forehead. "Fine," he said with effort.

"You know," Sirius said, smiling at him, "you should really pay attention to where you're going. And you make all of us sick with your games, James."

Remus and Peter let out a little chuckle, but James was not so amused.

"Shut up. I think I have a concussion."

"Let me see it," Sirius said, moving James's hand out of the way. "No you're fine. It'll just bruise up a bit. Nothing to worry about; your hair will cover it anyway."

He helped James up then they started to walk to the Great Hall again. The three of them kept smiling, but James ignored them.

"You're going to kill yourself over her, you know that?" Remus said to him.

"I think it's funny," Sirius said. "I mean, you act as though you haven't seen and talked to her everyday for the past six years."

"No I don't," James said, frowning slightly.

"Yes you do. You just ran into a perfectly stationary object because you were drooling all over her. Just face the facts, James: you're obsessed," Sirius told him formally, Remus nodding in agreement.

"I am not obsessed," James said slowly and seriously.

The three of them couldn't contain the laughter inside of them. James rolled his eyes and smirked just a bit.

"Yeah, yeah," James said, "very funny."

When they finally entered the Great Hall, students stood up to point and laugh at James, who nodded and smiled to lessen the greater embarrasment.

"News travels fast at Hogwarts," Remus said, taking his seat across from James and Sirius.

"I don't see what the big deal is," James said. "Don't people bump into things?"

"James," Sirius said smirking, "you bumped into the statue because your eyes were falling out of your head and rolling on the floor."

"Sorry I brought it up," James replied.

"Hey, Potter," said a cocky young third year boy who approached James rather quickly. "Tried walking through walls, too?"

He laughed bravely, as did his young friends. James smiled again.

"Was it you who wanted to play Seeker next year, Jackson? I mean after Penny graduates?" he asked. Jackson stopped smiling.

"Yeah," he said slowly and quietly.

"And do you know who chooses players?"

"You do," Jackson said.

"That's right," James replied. "I do, because I was elected team captain. I suggest that you try to show a little respect. I like a joke as well as the next guy, but I only really like for my friends to do it, and Jackson, you're not quite there yet. Got me?"

"Yes sir," he said, clearly intimidated.

"Good. Enjoy your lunch," James turned back to his friends, who were trying to keep the laughter to a minimum.

"You scared the poor kid," Remus said.

"Nah," James said shaking his head. "He's not very good anyway. I would never judge him on his personality, but he's almost blind. He would never find the snitch. No harm done."

"Who is going to play Seeker, anyway?" Sirius asked.

"Well," James said thoughtfully, "I don't really know. He's been the only one to come up to me and ask about it, but no one else. I would really like to start training whoever it is, though. Get them ready for next year. Have you ever thought of it, Remus?"

"Me? Seeker? No way, too much pressure. You've seen me on a broom. I almost slip off the front. I could never play Seeker."

"Have you asked anyone? Posted anything on the message board?" Sirius asked.

"Nope."

"Not even her?"

"Ha! No, not even her," James told him, with a twinkle in his eye.

"So when are you going to tell her, James?" Remus asked.

"Tell her what?"

"Oh don't pretend you don't know what we're on about," Sirius said. "When are you going to tell Lily that you love her?"

"What?" James asked. "You can't just go up to somebody and say that. It's a little sudden."

"It's not like she doesn't know that you fawn over her," Remus said. "The whole school knows you worship the very ground she walks on. It is a tad bit obvious."

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Sirius said, taking a sip from his goblet. "James, you need to say something to her. You are not the only one that likes her, you know. She is rather dishy."

"Dishy?" James asked questionably. "You think she's dishy?" He looked at the three of them with a scowl.

"No!" Sirius said, laughing. "No," he repeated slapping James on the back, who still looked upset. "I personally think she's an ugly hag. You think she's...well...you know."

"She's truly hideous," Remus added.

"Revolting," Peter chimed in.

"Nice save," James replied with a smile.

"All right, but in all seriousness James, you don't have eternity," Sirius said.

"And what do you suggest, King-of-the-long-lasting-and-successful-relationships?" James asked, the right corner of his mouth raised.

"Well there's certainly no need for insults, mate. I think you shouldn't really prepare what to say, 'cause it's you. You always do better under pressure. Just wing it and see what happens."

"Wing it, huh?" James questioned, glancing towards the entrance of the Great Hall.

"Yeah. You could say, and this is just a suggestion, 'Lily, from the moment I saw you I wanted to be the man who serves you and..."

But James wasn't listening this time, either. Not at all. He knew that Sirius was saying words, words addressed to him, but he couldn't really make them out... As a matter of fact, the conversations going on in the Great Hall all seemed to integrate and merge into one drone which became quieter and softer. He knew it was silly, he knew his friends were right, but he couldn't help his reactions to her.

Lily walked in the Hall, looking as radiant as ever. She was accompanied by Liz Banks, a strawberry blonde girl with many freckles, and Jade Yang, a very attractive girl of Asian descent. The three of them were conversing then sat down at the end of the long Gryffindor table.

James sighed heavily and leaned his chin on his perched arm, watching her in a ceaseless wonder. She was smiling; he loved it when she smiled. She ran her fingers through her thick, dark hair and laughed. Someone made a joke, James thought. It didn't take a long while for her to notice that he was staring at her. She glanced at him and blushed slightly, her lips moving instantly for a smile.

He smiled back and sighed again.

"Dear God that's disgusting," Sirius groaned. "What are we going to do with him? He can't even hear us. A bomb could explode in his face and he wouldn't even blink, he is so obsessed."

"It is rather routine. You'd think we would have gotten used to it by now," Remus replied calmly. "I think you should go on with the plan, but don't tell him, he wouldn't approve."

"Remus, you're right. It's about time we took matters into our own hands. We should be able to sit down for lunch and eat without getting sick. It's a common student right! Excellent idea."

"So we're gonna do it?" Peter asked excitedly.

Sirius nodded at him. "James," he said, but there was no response. "James," he said again, result the same as the first time. "Jimmy boy, pay attention!" Sirius almost yelled, while snapping his fingers in James's face.

"Don't call me Jimmy and don't snap at me. I am not a dog," he answered.

"So sorry," Sirius responded sarcastically, "I must have been confused with all of the drool that's dripping out of your wide open mouth! Are you going to say anything to her? Do you realize what you're putting the rest of us through? You have liked her for six years, since we were sorted. Do you remember what you said to me when you sat down at this very table that night? You looked at her and told me, 'God Sirius, she looks like an angel' and ever since then you two have flirted across classrooms and tables and it's making all of us nauseous!"

"I second that," Remus said.

"Well I'm real sorry. But I can't just walk up to her and say something," James said.

"Why not?" Sirius asked.

"I just can't. I am waiting for the perfect moment."

"Six years is a long time to wait for the perfect moment. I am sorry I have to do this to you, but it's for your own good. I am doing this because you are my best friend and I am friends with Remus and Peter, and they hate this too."

"Sirius, what are you going to do?" James asked.

Sirius picked up his spoon and chimed his glass goblet. "If I could have everyone's attention please," he said standing up. All the Gryffindors looked at him.

James pulled his arm. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked whispered fearfully.

Sirius ignored him and shook him off. "Please if everyone could look up here, I will only do this once." Sirius then did something you might see a coach doing at a Muggle baseball game. He took his right index finger and touched his left shoulder, then he crossed it over his chest, pulled his right ear, coughed, passed his hand through his thick dark hair, grinned, and sat down. "Did you get all of that?" he asked.

Sixth years lining the table nodded. James looked dumbfounded down to Lily's end of the table and saw that she too had a similar expression on her face. Something was going on and neither of them knew what. Jade, who sat to the right of Lily, nodded to Sirius, got up, and went over to the Hufflepuff table where she whispered something into the ear of Thomas Lynn; who upon hearing the news passed it on to his fellow classmates.

"What is all of this about?" James asked. Nobody said anything. "Peter?" sooner or later Peter would crack with the answer, but to his amazement, he kept his mouth shut. "Sirius, what are you going to do?"

"James, just relax, nothing bad is going to happen...I don't think." He then took a casual drink as if this was completely normal. James looked deeply concerned.
"You're crazy. I'll find out. I told you, I want to do this on my own, without you. That really bothers you, doesn't it?"

"Oh you're really flattering me." And so was the end to lunch, as the bell rang shortly thereafter. "So, Remus, how about next Friday we see the sites?"

"What do you mean?" he asked in confusion.
"Expand a bit, go beyond Hogwarts, see Hogsmeade, you know, explore. We have done the mundane forest a thousand times." Sirius said. He, Peter, and Remus picked up their things and began to leave when they noticed that James was still around the table.

"Have you guys seen my wand? I lost my wand. I don't know where it is." James said, searching every pocket he had, which was quite a lot. He got out of his seat and began searching under the table, on the table, and around his fellow Gryffindors.

"Looking for the Gargoyle, Potter?" It was an all too familiar voice; cold, deep, and monotone. One that only Snape could possess. James looked up from his search.

"Looking for the toilet, Snape? It seems you've had an accident. Get a little excited did you?" Snape looked horrified. Sirius got the hint and the right spell. At that moment, he drew out his wand, kept it inside the sleeve of his robe so that Snape could not see it, and whispered, "Percipitum" and a wetness appeared on Snape's trousers.

"Ah that's too bad!" James said with an evil grin. "You'll have to be careful in the future, Severus, you won't always have me around to tell you about your, well, issues." The entire Gryffindor table exploded with laughter. Ravenclaw got the word soon enough and started in. Hufflepuff didn't take a minute too soon to chant in with the insults.

"I'll get you for this, Potter!" said a furious Snape, as he turned an left amidst gales of insults and giggles.

"Sure you will," James mumbled.

Sirius laughed a little himself then said, "Your wand."

"Where?"

"No, I think I saw it in Sprout's."

"Why didn't you say something before?" James asked.
"I just remembered. Sorry, what's a guy to do? You'd better hurry or you'll be late for Binns class." With that, Sirius, Remus, and Peter gathered all of their things and headed towards History of Magic, while James ran as fast as he could to Green House five. He was really pretty fast, though he did not look it. He ran down staircases, out of the castle, and across the grounds all in the September heat. How could he forget his wand? He never had before. He could distinctly remember putting it in the outside robe pocket before he left. Finally he got to the green house, thrust open the door, and nearly knocking out a small third year.

"Mr. Potter, back so soon?" she asked, trimming a wailing plant.

"Yeah," James said, trying to catch his breath. "I forgot my wand." He went over to his table and sure enough under his chair was his wand. "That's strange" he said to himself. He picked it up, pocketed it, and made his way for the tower door.

"I thought I saw one of your friends take your wand," said the professor. And then it hit him. He did remember his wand. Peter must have taken it out of his pocket and dropped it under his chair. That was the trick. So what was going on in the History of Magic classroom when he was not there?

He ran as fast as he could out of the classroom and as a result almost slipped on some bobotrauter pus that a third year spilled. "Excuse me, coming through, watch it!" He ran up to the castle, through the big doors, down the hall, and just made it through the door to the History of Magic as the bell rang. Binns would be coming through the wall momentarily. He would have to take his seat, only…

Jackie McDermont of Hufflepuff was in his seat, and Sirius, whom he always sat next to, was way up in the front sitting next to Jade. As he kept looking around he noticed everyone was sitting in different seats. Peter and Remus were spread out and it appeared as though all of the seats were taken. Sirius turned to the back of the class and saw James's confused expression. James raised his hands shoulder length and mouthed, "What's going on?" Sirius just shrugged and looked lost himself. Professor Binns made his ghostly entrance and without even peering at the class, began his lecture. "In 1259 the goblins of Prussia…excuse me, Mr. Porter, please sit down."

"It's Potter and my seat is taken." James said pointing to where Jackie was sitting. Binns did not seem to care.

"Mr. Parker, there is a seat available just there." And he pointed to an empty seat, the only empty seat, in the far back corner of the room. The other person seated there pointed to it. James could not believe it. It had to take days of planning, he thought. He gazed to the front of the room as he made his way toward his seat; Sirius gave him the thumbs-up. Other students, both Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, had a "good luck" sort of face for him. James could not help but smile at his friend. He was very lucky to have Sirius; he had the greatest friend in the world. He pulled out his chair, sat down, looked to his left, and smiled at Lily.