*** The Marauder Chronicles is a fan fiction. It isn' 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.***

THE SEVENTH YEAR:

Part One: From the Platform

"Some things will never be forgotten."

"Sirius, have you seen my broom!?!"

"No! Have you seen my wand? I don't know where I put it!"

"Have you tried your closet? I'll bet money it's in there."

"There's nothing in my closet cause I threw it all out looking for my wand!"

"Damn it, my cloak's not in my trunk, have you seen it?"

"No. What time is it?"

"Um...Oh no, it's ten!"

"I told you we should have packed last night, but no, you just wouldn't listen."

"Sirius, shut up!"

"Don't tell me to shut up! You're the one who forgot to set the alarm, even though you told me you would set it!"

"Hey, you're the one who told me to set it."

"Why are we yelling across the house?"

"I don't know!"

"I'm coming down the hall, James, just stay there."

"We're going to miss the train, I just know it."

"We're not going to miss the train, James, I just know we won't. Now, let's switch roles, you look for my wand, I'll look for the cloak," Sirius said to James as he entered his room.

"And my broom. Where did you last see your wand?" James asked.

"I don't know, if I knew that I would probably have it."

"Alright, I'll go look for it."

"Wait," Sirius said, holding James back, "How do I look?" Sirius smiled.

James rolled his eyes, "I can't believe you're asking me this when we have no time."

"And your answer?"

"You look fine, now go find my cloak and my broom while I look for your wand, you egocentric fiend."

"Ok, Head Boy!" he said laughing. Sirius did nothing but make fun of James and his making of Head Boy ever since he got the letter.

James proceeded to rummage through all of Sirius stuff which was spread randomly all over his very messy room.

"Sirius, how do you sleep in this room?" he yelled. James picked up a pile of clothes and threw it in a box, then another handful, and another, till he could see the floor.

"James, I found your cloak!" Sirius yelled from down the hall.

"Where was it?"

"On a shelf, under your broom," he said, James could hear him sniggering.

James moved a dirty sweater from Sirius dresser and found his wand laying on top of it. "I found your wand! It was on your messy dresser under a dirty sweater!" he yelled. Sirius ran into the room smiling.

"Good, we can relax now. Is that all we were missing? I've got the map in my trunk, my robes, cauldron, spell books, quills, ink, parchment, and everything else I need. You?"

"Yes, yes, yes," he said as he ticked off items in his mind. "And you have the map?"

"I have the map. Do you have your goodie, goodie badge?" he asked smiling.

"Do you think they'll make me wear it? Won't this put a crimp in my style?"

"Don't you know it. Ah well, your parents would be very proud. If they were still alive, they would die of shock that you made it. It'll be good for you not to get into so much trouble though, won't it?" Sirius asked.

"I suppose, but not as much fun. Can they take it away and give it to someone else?"

"Who would they give it to? Snape?" he said sarcastically.

"Good point. Let's put our stuff in the car, shall we?" James and Sirius took their trunks down the stairs and loaded them into the car waiting in the road. Jen and Mitch Black sat in the front seat waiting for the two boys to finally get their act together. Once Sirius and James got in the back seat, Mitch said, "And you're sure this time?"

"Yes, Dad, we've got everything, just go." Mitch started the engine and drove down the street, passing many houses, some of them wizard others muggle. The muggles didn't know that half of Godric's Hollow was home to wizards, the largest group in all of Great Britain.

"Oh bloody hell!" Sirius said.

"What did you forget this time?" Mitch said exasperated as he put his foot on the break.

"Just kidding, nothing dad," Mitch didn't laugh, though Sirius did. "I'm going to get a motorcycle one day," he said randomly.

"Well that was out of the blue," James said, "Why do you want a motorcycle?"

"They're so cool. You just wait, I'm going to get one. I saw this guy driving one after I left that restaurant in Norfolk. I just laid eyes on it and said to myself, 'Sirius, you'd look good on one of those.'"

"Do you think of anything else besides how you look?" James asked smiling.

"Yes, I think of women, and motorcycles, and making fun of you and your Head Boy badge, what it would be like to see Snape fall off a 100 story building, the best ways to make money..."

"Ok, I get the point," James said holding up his hand. "Do you realize that this is our last first day of school?"

"Scary isn't it?" Sirius said. "We'll be adults having to fend for ourselves, Apparating all over the country just because we can. Working in boring offices where they talk about stupid laws that no one needs or wants, but their making them just because there is nothing else to do."

"Way to be an optimist," James said smirking and looking out the window. Buildings whipped past the window, cars passed them by as the drove on to the Tiverton Train Station, which was just a few miles away.

"Oh, what's this?" Mitch said as he looked at the traffic accident on the freeway. Two cars were overturned, three were in fender-benders and there was no way to get around it. "We're going to be late," Mitch said.

"Dad," Sirius panicked, "We can't be late, it's the Seventh year! James has to lead all the cheerleaders through the great hall because he's Head Boy," he laughed.

"Ha, ha," James said, "very funny. How are we going to get there, now?"

"Can't we just magic our way through all of this?" Sirius asked.

"We could," Mitch said thoughtfully, "But there are so many muggles around. Let's just wait for it."

It took half an hour for the mess to clear up. James and Sirius were stressing in the back seat, constantly looking at their watches, sighing as the time ticked by. It was 10:55 by the time they came to the parking lot of the station. James and Sirius ran with their trunks on carts, owls hooting madly, to platform Nine and Three Quarters. There were at least ten different platforms, the most used and most well known was King's Cross station in London. But only one third of the student's came from London, the rest from all over Great Britain. All platforms led to the same destination, which was some magic place that none of them knew, but met every year.

James ran through the platform first, followed by Sirius, and his parents. They were all out of breath, and stopped the flow of traffic of eager students as they stopped buckled over in the middle of the platform.

"We.....made....it," Sirius said in between breaths.

"All Aboard!" The conductor yelled in just a few minutes time.

"You two better get going," Jen said to them, though they were still catching their breath.

"And I thought I was in excellent shape," Sirius sighed, James nodded in agreement. Jen went up to Sirius and kissed his cheeks, though he resisted, then she kissed James and they waved goodbye. James and Sirius had to run to throw their heavy trunks into the caboose of the train, then had to grab the conductors hand so he could heave them on board.

"Ah," Sirius said, once safely on the train, "I wonder where everyone else is."

"You can look on the left, I'll take the right," James suggested. They walked up the train for several moments not seeing anyone they knew, until someone unpleasant crossed their path.

"Why it's Black and Potter," Snape said in his cold sneering voice, "Lost?"

"Look, ugly, just step aside," James said casually. He really wasn't in the mood for a long drawn out battle of words. But Snape just stood where he was.

"What did you do to win your new acquisition, Potter?" Snape asked, the corner of his lip beginning to curl. "Did you put Dumbledore under some spell so that you could steal the right to be 'head' of the school?"

"I don't think like you do Snape, so no I didn't put him under a spell. Just move aside, will you!" James said, but Snape still didn't move.

"What is your problem?" Sirius asked, losing his temper. Snape smiled.

"Clearly, the two of you."

"Well," James said unaffected, "just move to the left, or the right, cause I don't care, and we will gladly get out of your way!"

"You never answered my question," Snape said.

"You really want to know? Fine, I'll tell you. Because I am a hell of a lot smarter than you, I have leadership skills, maybe not the best record, but Dumbledore seems to think that saving your ugly ass counted for something. There, you happy?"

"Favoritism: the only way you are still enrolled," Snape sneered.

"If you don't move now, Severus, I will set your hair on fire. You know I can," James closed his eyes in frustration as he said this.

"Snape," Sirius started, "Just how did you get into this school anyway? Why aren't you going to Drumstrang with all of your other Dark Arts worshipers. You know, I always found you and your 'friends' to be quite cowardly, roaming around under guise of a black cloak. You run around spouting dark magic and doing it in secret. You're just a bunch of cowards!"

Snape didn't like being called a coward, not one little bit. He moved forward, advancing on Sirius. James and Sirius didn't back down, but also advanced. They were almost touching, they could hear each other breathing.

"At least I am not afraid to go somewhere alone. You both think you're so tough yet neither of you go any place by yourselves. The last time I took you on, Potter, I beat you."

"Ha!" James said silently, "You could have been ripped apart. You want to take me? Fine, let's do it here and now. Sirius will just chuck your body off the train, he won't help me. Do you want to use wands, or fists? Either way, you'll lose."

Snape smiled, "Wands," he said.

James drew his wand from his jacket pocket, and backed up ten paces. Snape did the same. People in the compartments came out, and stood in the door ways, oohing and ahing at what they were about to see.

"Just don't kill each other. That goes for both of you," Sirius said. James smirked, bowed appropriately, then raised his wand and shouted "Forcetrium!" A large ball, gold in color, erupted from James' wand and flew at Snape, hitting him fast in the stomach. Snape flew back at least ten feet and landed with a thud on the floor. People applauded.

Snape rose, and pointed his wand at James, yelling "Fracturius!" a stream of what looked an awful lot like spaghetti noodles, shot out of Snape's wand. But James, recognizing the spell and being faster than Snape, pointed his wand right back mumbling, "Refracto." The two spells collided in mid air, making a large explosion in the middle of the train car. Then the spell traveled back to Snape, and hit him in the nose. James lowered his wand to look at Snape.

"That was very fast, James," Sirius whispered to himself.

Snape's nose was getting bigger and more disfigured and hooked each second. Sirius, James and the audience laughed at the large anomaly that was taking shape on the center of Snape's ugly face.

Snape had to cross his eyes to look at his new nose, and when he saw it, he ran down the train, leaving James as the victor. James smiled widely, Sirius lifted James' right arm high in the air as the student's cheered for him.

"I give you, James Potter, your new Head Boy!" Sirius shouted. The students, who all seemed to be 5th year and below, cheered loudly and enthusiastically. "Do you want to touch him?" Sirius asked playfully, "Do you want to touch him?"

"There you are!" Remus said as he came around the corner and saw the two standing there. "I've been looking for the both of you."

"We've been looking for you," Sirius said.

"Hey, did you guys see Snape? His nose is huge!"

James smiled and laughed, "Yeah I saw him, I did that."

"You lucky fool. We're not even at school yet and you have already managed to get into trouble. That is very admirable."

"Thanks. So where is everyone?" James asked.

"Near the very front of the train. For a while we thought you weren't going to make it." Remus led them down past many compartments, some of which the occupants were first years. They looked so small.

"I was never that short," Sirius said, as they passed some eleven year olds.

"No, you were shorter," James said, "They look tall for their age."

"Here we are," Remus said, pointing with his hand to a compartment with Peter looking outside the window. He looked up at them and smiled.

"Where's Lily?" James asked.

"They're in the next compartment over, I think. They were traveling up and down the train, though, as if campaigning for Lily's re-election."

"I see," James said, as he crashed opposite Peter and looked out the window. "This is the very last time. Do you realize that? Our last first day. Gosh this feels weird."

"So what are you going to do first as Head Boy?" Remus asked.

"You guys make it sound like I've been crowned King of England. Nothing really important happens. They take your picture, plaster it on a plaque and put it up in the trophy room. Other than that, nothing."

"There you are," Lily said as she looked in the compartment and saw James. She smiled, went in and sat next to him.

"Hi," he said, smiling. "Where have you been?"

"Just going around, saying hello. I always do that on the way to school.." James noticed that her Head Girl badge was pinned on her sweater, shining brightly. James smiled.

"Where's yours?" she asked, noticing that he was looking at hers.

"I think it's in the trunk. I don't know. Are they going to make me wear it, because I don't know that I really want to," James said. Lily frowned at him.

"Why not?" she asked.

"I don't know, it just doesn't seem like me. Lily you even admitted that you were shocked over this."

"He doesn't want to be called a goodie, goodie," Sirius said as he sat down next to Lily.

"You're not a 'goodie goodie,' James. Do I look like a one?" she asked sincerely.

James hesitated, "Do you really want me to answer that?"

"You should be proud, it's a great accomplishment, James. You deserve it," she said.

"But then I know people are looking up to me, and I'd feel bad about sneaking out at night, and talking back. It's too much pressure on me," James said. Lily laughed at him, then Jade came in the compartment. She blushed as she saw Sirius, and looked away from him quickly.

"James, did you just duel Snape?" Jade asked him.

Lily turned and looked at James shocked. James felt the temperature rise in the room, Lily didn't like the fact that James and Snape were always at each others throats. James had never mentioned to her, however, that Snape wanted to poison her with a love potion just before Christmas.

Everyone looked at James, but he didn't say anything.

"Sorry, what was the question?" he asked.

"Did you duel with Severus?" Lily asked, an angry tone in her voice.

James started to sweat as he smiled into her eyes. "Define, 'dueling.'"

Lily rolled her head, "Define dueling? How about this: taking out your wand, and spewing spells at another person, who is also taking out his wand and throwing spells at you. That's dueling. So, now that we got that out of the way, were you dueling with Severus?" James was silent for a while as he looked at his audience.

"Well..." he mumbled, "When you put it that way...yes. But he started it, Lily, didn't he Sirius?"

"Yes, he did. We asked him to move about a hundred times, but he just didn't move."

"So you fought him? Way to be mature," Lily said.

"You should see his nose," Jade said smirking, "they're still trying to fix it."

"What did you do to his nose?" Lily asked.

"Ok, he tried to put that spell on me, Lily, but I reversed it. I just gave him a taste of his own medicine. So if I hadn't reversed it, then I would have that schnauze for a nose. Would you like for me to have that?"

"You couldn't have just talked to him?" she asked.

"We tried that Lily," Sirius said, coming to his friends aid. "Don't worry about it, he'll be his usual ugly self in no time flat. His friends will fix him up good as new. I still don't get how anyone can be as good as new. Has anyone else figured that one out, because I was thinking about it all summer and it just get's me.."

"Sirius, would you shut up?" James said.

"Any thing off the trolley?" the old lady asked as she wheeled her cart in front of their compartment.

"Do you want anything?" James asked Lily, as he put his arm on her shoulders, and kissed her gently on the cheek..

"Don't even try to kiss up to me, because it won't work," she said. But he continued on. He started to whisper into her ear, and put his arms around her waist. She started to smile. "James," she said giggling, "we're not alone." James looked up at all of them watching as they watched him.

"We should be," he said, "Let's go someplace," he stood up, took her by the hand and led her out of the compartment.

"It starts," Sirius said nodding his head and smirking, "we haven't even gotten there and they are already off snogging. It's good to have things back to normal, isn't it?"

They arrived at Hogsmeade train station when night had already fallen. All seven of them had changed into their black Hogwarts robes, Gryffindor ties and grey vests. When they stepped off the train with the other students they saw that the sky was perfectly black, but dotted with sparkling diamonds.

"Firs yeas, follow me!" they heard Hagrid yell over the sea of students. Many of the very small children walked over nervously to him, apprehension in their eyes. Everyone else walked up a small hill to carriages drawn by invisible horses, and jumped inside to be carried to the castle. Lily sat next to James, reached into his cloak pocket, which he objected to, and pulled out his Head Boy badge. She looked into his eyes as she pinned it on his chest. He sighed, but didn't say anything in protest.

"You know you want to wear it. You can't fool me, James Potter," she whispered.

"Yeah, James, you know you want to," Sirius whispered.

"Would you shut up?" James said to him.

"Why do you keep saying that to me? I'm starting to feel unappreciated around here," Sirius said jovially.

"Because you keep yapping nonsense, that's why," James said.

"I am not yapping nonsense. Everyone here is thinking the same thing, I'm just brave enough to say it."

"I was thinking it, too," Jade said, trying to start a conversation with Sirius. The carriage stopped, the door swung open, and the brilliant Hogwarts entrance welcomed them with warmth and a saffron glow of light. Remus and Liz stepped out first, followed by Peter, then Sirius helped Jade down with his hand, and finally James and Lily emerged. They all walked with their classmates in the Great Hall, the ceiling filled with thousands of floating candles against the beautiful night sky.

It was a great feeling to be back at school, the mere smell of it was comforting. The seven of them sat down in the middle of the Gryffindor table and waited for the great doors to be opened, letting the nervous first years stream through the crowd.

It wasn't till all of them were seated that McGonnagal led them down the center of the hall.

"They're so little!" Lily said, smiling at all of them. McGonnagal picked up a three legged stool, put it in the center of the room, and then placed the very old sorting hat on top of it. The brim of the hat opened, started to sing.

Fairy Tales begin the same

Epics never end,

Legends are more than fame

But Wizards will never bend.

I ask not questions nor riddles hence

But gaze into your mind

To learn of you and who you are

But more than intelligence do I find.

The noble and the pure of heart

Are not so easily seen,

Twas Gryffindor who sought them out

And thought they were quite keen.

The loyal and hardworking

Who value time and grace

Were collected up by Hufflepuff

For they could win her race.

The wisest and the cleverest

Who delve in books and wits

Were taken by wise Ravenclaw

For they were her perfect fit.

And then there are the cunning

Ambitious and the sly

Who went to old Slytherin

Never asking why.

So wonder not, my little friends

There is a place for you.

Just fit me tight around your head,

And we will see how you do.

Everyone applauded, but the first years still looked deathly nervous.

"Now," McGonnagal started, "When I call your name, you will come forward and I will place the sorting hat on your head. Then you will be sorted into your houses.

"Acrome, Michael," she called. A young boy with brown hair walked forward, and put the hat nervously on his head. "Hufflepuff!" the hat shouted. The Hufflepuff table burst with applause.

"Adrian, Loren," this time it was a small black boy, who ran up to the hat, smiling, thrust it on his head and awaited it's answer. "Gryffindor!" it shouted. Everyone stood and applauded loudly, Lily shook his hand and welcomed him. It was seven years ago, a very fast seven years ago, that the seven of them were sorted. It seemed like yesterday to all of them, as they watched a small girl with curly hair made the next Hufflepuff, they all thought the same thing: their very own sorting....

Remus, Sirius and James all got off the train together. Their confident attitudes were exchanged for over active nerves. They stood there for a while, not exactly knowing what to do next.

"First years!" A large man, almost a giant, yelled over the mass crowd of people, "First years, follow me!" The three of them followed him, with the rest of their classmates to a great lake where dozens of small boats with lanterns were waiting to be boarded. The three of them got into one of the boats, then watched all of the other student's get into theirs. The great giant of a man was in the lead boat, and when he saw that all of them were in their places, he waved them on and the boats began to move across the glass lake.

"Whoa," Sirius said smiling from ear to ear as he looked at all the other boats. "Do you guys see all of those girls!"

James and Remus laughed at him. "Sirius, your eleven. Girls? Get real," James said. The boats turned a small corner, a small mound of rocks on the lake, and then they saw it. Everyone in the boats said the exact same thing, "Wow!" The Castle of Hogwarts, which they were all staring at, was purely and simply magnificent, there was no other way to describe it. The towers and turrets shot strait into the sky, and the many windows were aglow with golden light. They all stared up at it, anxious to get inside, and then they went under it, inside a cave, then got off on the shore. The large man gathered all of them in a group, then knocked three times on a great door.

The door opened magically, and they all walked in. The giant held the door open for them and told them to follow the stair case and wait for Professor McGonnagal. Sirius and James were the first ones to walk through the door, followed by Remus, then the rest of the year. Sirius kept looking back at all of the girls, which made James scoff loudly.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," McGonnagal said to them when they met her in a very large room, with thick round pillars and a very tall ceiling. "In just a few moments you will walk through these doors and be sorted into the four houses. They are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Your house will be like your family now. You can gain points and lose points for your house. At the end of the year, the points will be tallied; the house with the most points will win the house cup, a great honor. Now," she said, "I will come for you when we are ready. Just wait here." McGonnagal left them waiting, which gave time for Sirius to meet some people.

"James, come on," Sirius said, pulling on his robes.

"I don't want to," James said, "I'm going to stay here with Remus, you go."

"Fine," Sirius said, "your loss." Sirius went back to a group of girls of five or six and introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Sirius," he said to each of them as he shook their hands. They each smiled in return, some of them blushed. Then he moved to another group of three, and they were all very pretty. "I've hit the gold mine," Sirius thought. "Hi, I'm Sirius," he said. Each of them smiled.

"I'm Jade," the one of Asian descent said. She smiled brightly at him.

"Who's your friend," one of them asked, looking forward at Remus and James, who were laughing about something. She had red hair and green eyes.

"Why do you want to know?" Sirius asked smirking.

"We're ready for you now," McGonnagal said, as she came back into the room, "Follow me."

Sirius ran back up to the front with James and Remus and followed McGonnagal into what must be the Great Hall. Hundreds of students of all years were seated at four long tables, and candles were floating above their heads.

"Whoa," they said. Then McGonnagal pulled out a stool, and a hat, which began to sing. James and Sirius watched it with their mouths wide open. When it finished, McGonnagal started to call names to go forward.

"Albertson, Carl," she called out. A nervous boy with blonde hair stepped forward. McGonnagal put the hat on his head. All the first years waited with bated breath. "Slytherin!" it called out. The table to the far left clapped for him as he joined their ranks.

"UGRH," Sirius said more loudly than he intended, "They're so ugly!"

"I'll say," James replied. James, Sirius and Remus watched more students going forward, but forgot they're names. Every once in a while they saw someone they remembered. Especially when they got to the B's and Sirius started to sweat.

"Banks, Elizabeth!" she said.

"That's one of the girls that I met," Sirius said, elbowing Remus and James. She put the hat on and in just seconds it shouted, "Gryffindor!"

"About time," James said, "She's the first new Gryffindor. I wonder how many of them make Gryffindor."

"Black, Sirius!" she yelled out.

"Oh man, here it goes," Sirius said, "Cross your fingers, mates," Sirius said as he walked up to the stool. He kept mumbling to himself, "Gryffindor, Gryffindor, you can do it, Sirius, you can do it." He sat on the stool, clenched his fists and said to McGonnagal, "I'm ready!" she smiled and placed the hat on his head. In not more than two seconds it shouted, "Gryffindor!" Sirius smiled with great relief and headed over to the cheering table. James caught his eye and gave him a smile and a thumbs up.

"What if they put me in Hufflepuff," Remus asked nervously, "I'll be all alone."

"Don't worry about it," James said, reassuringly, "Just think Gryffindor, plead with the hat if you must. You'll get in."

Five more people were called, two put in Ravenclaw, on Hufflepuff, and two Slytherins. James looked on at Sirius and wanted to be at that table now, he didn't want to wait. Sirius was talking with some older student's making them laugh even, and James wanted to be there.

"Evans, Lily," McGonnagal shouted. Sirius looked at James and winked at him as he pointed to his new classmates.

"Excuse me," a girl said politely, as she put her hand on James shoulder.

"Oh, sorry," he said, moving out of her way. She smiled when he let her by, and James could have swore he heard his heart beat faster. She walked up to the stool, sat down and McGonnagal put the hat on her head.

James closed his eyes and crossed his fingers, "Gryffindor, please God, let her be in Gryffindor, oh please, Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor," he whispered, concentrating very hard, ignoring Remus tugging on his robe.

"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted.

"YES!" James yelled, jumping in the air, punching it with his fist. The entire Hall fell silent. All of the first years looked at James, and Lily stared at him strangely. Sirius was trying hard not to laugh at James, whose face was quickly turning red. He just wanted for McGonnagal to call some more people so they would all forget about it. James looked over at Sirius in the corner of his eye and saw that he was talking to Lily now.

"What is he doing?" James asked, grinding his teeth. Then he saw that Sirius pointed at James, and Lily looked at him. James looked the other direction and felt his face go even hotter with embarrassment. Remus was also laughing.

"It's not funny," James whispered to him.

"Yes it is," Remus answered back. In what seemed like hours, Remus was finally called forward. James just wanted to go sit down so people would stop giving him strange looks. Remus walked forward, put the hat on his head. It was there for ten seconds or so before it declared him Gryffindor, and he went to sit with Sirius and Lily, and Elizabeth Banks. He would be called shortly, very shortly, and the entire school would laugh at him as he went up there. This was unbelievable, he hadn't even been sorted into his house, and people would already think of him as a freak.

"Pettigrew, Peter," a small stout boy stumbled as he walked up to the hat. James would be next, he knew he would. In just a matter of time, he would try on the hat. The words that Remus had said on the train started to get to him. What if he didn't get into Gryffindor? What if the hat put him into Hufflepuff? All of his friends were in Gryffindor, this could be a disaster. Could you transfer out of a house into another? This Pettigrew character had been sitting on the stool forever, it seemed. James kept sweating, waiting for his name to be called, but the short squat boy was still on the stool. After three minutes, the hat shouted Gryffindor, and he walked thankfully over to the table.

"Potter, James," she said. Ok, this is good. You're cool, James, you'll get into Gryffindor. If that Peter guy can get in, then you sure as hell can. Remember, James, your entire family has been in Gryffindor, you have to get in. He thought this to himself over and over, and also of the pretty red haired girl, Lily. James sat on the stool, and saw the entire school watching him. What if he sneezed and a huge ball of snot shot out of his nose, and the hat fell off of his head? That would be embarrassing. James gripped the seat, and took a deep breath. McGonnagal lowered that hat, he could feel the shadow that it cast.

But then something strange happened, the hat never even touched his head, but still shouted his answer: "GRYFFINDOR!" it yelled, louder than it yelled for any other students. James heaved a sigh of relief, and got off the stool. But he was most interested in the rest of the schools reaction. They were clapping, but also appeared mesmerized by how quickly he was made a Gryffindor. James didn't care what they thought, he had done it. Now he could relax, the worst was over....

"James!" Sirius jabbed him in the side, "Where did you go too?" James looked up, the sorting was over. He had missed the whole thing as he remembered his own. They had about 30 new Gryffindors at the end of the table, all looking quite relieved.

"I have just a few words to say," Dumbledore said, as he stood up and looked down at them all. "First, I would like to welcome our new class, and would like to inform you of the rules. The Dark forest is out of bounds for all students, even the new seventh years," he said, looking over in James and Sirius, direction. "Magic is not to be preformed in the hall ways or the corridors. Nor are dungbombs to be set off. I am looking to our new Head Boy and Girl to keep things in order," James tried to look small, Lily smiled and waved. "Also, Professor Chambers, our former Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, has gotten married and left us to be with his new wife. Our new Professor, Professor Gellar, will be joining us tomorrow from the Salem Institute of America. Now that all of that is in order, let the feast begin!" The golden plates in front of them filled with the best smelling food: roast beef, steak, ham, pork, all kinds of chicken, potatoes, peas, beans, and the most wonderful pies.

"A new teacher from America," Sirius said, "That'll be interesting. I wonder what he's like."

"Probably just as boring as Chambers was," Remus said, "He'll have us asleep in a matter of minutes."

"Don't say that," Lily said, "He's probably a good teacher. Just give him the benefit of the doubt."

"You really are taking this Head Girl thing seriously, aren't you?" Sirius asked her with a grin.

"Do you have a problem with that?" she asked trying to sound intimidating, but actually sounded funny.

"No, Lily. I think you're perfect for the job."

"Thank you."

Just then, Nearly Headless Nick appeared from the middle of the table, scaring the first years out of their minds. He floated over to James and Lily and smiled.

"So you are the new Head Boy and Girl, I hear. Very admirable."

Lily smiled, "Thank you, Sir Nicholas. We're very proud."

"Speak for yourself," James whispered to her.

"So, Mr. Potter," Nick said, "What's the plan for Quidditch? Can't break our winning streak. The Bloody Baron has been telling me that the remaining Slytherin Quidditch team is already in planning for the next season. They're even talking about new captains."

"Are they?" James asked with interest, "Who are they suggesting?"

"Oh I don't know that, as soon as they saw me they ceased their conversation when I went up to them. The Bloody Baron is very protective of his team. Do you have anything planned."

"No," James said, "No, not yet. Nick, I need you to spy on them," Lily grunted with displeasure, "so that we can get an extra edge. I will not see Slytherin take the cup this year, not my last year. I have to leave some kind of legacy behind at this school, other than my picture plastered to some plaque for being Head Boy because no one else could have done it."

"I will spy on them for you, Captain," he said, then left.

"So, Slytherin's planning something are they? They need a new beater, and a new captain. I wonder who they'll choose," James said thoughtfully.

"You don't think Snape will go out for it, do you?" Sirius asked.

"I have had the misfortune to see Snape on a broom, he's terrible. It's a sin for him to be riding it, if you ask me," James said.

"Are the two of you going to talk about Quidditch the entire evening?" Lily asked perturbed.

"Do you have a problem with Quidditch?" James asked, more snidely than he had wanted it to sound. Lily took offense to his tone, and he noticed it.

"I didn't mean for it to come out that way," he said hurriedly, "sorry." Lily turned the other way to talk to Jade, completely ignoring James. He rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Sirius.

"I think we should spy on them," Sirius said, "use the you know what."

"I agree, spying is the only option."

"For crying out loud," Lily said as she whipped back around, "It's just a stupid game! I can't believe you are going to spy on another team just so you can win. That's low and immature."

"It's not a stupid game!" James said back, defensively, "And we're not being immature. We're just trying to find out who the new captain's going to be so we can work harder. And it's none of your business what we do for Quidditch."

"It's my business if you're spying on people," she said. People were beginning to look at them.

"Would you keep it down," he said in a hushed voice to her.

"No, I won't. I know what you plan on doing and it's wrong James. It was one thing to do it last year, but you have responsibilities now. People look up to you, and doing wrong is a bad impression."

"Are you telling me what to do?" James asked, getting angry.

"No, I'm telling you my opinion about this."

"Well for your information," James said, "I don't want it." Lily glared at him, and he glared back.

"Fine," she said. She pushed away from the table, got up and left. Jade and Liz followed her out of the hall.

"You just had a fight," Sirius said, sounding surprised. People lining the table looked at James, shocked at what they just witnessed.

"People have fights. You and I have fights," James said, trying to justify himself.

"No we don't," Sirius said.

"She's not the boss of me. So what if I talk about Quidditch? I don't know why she has such a problem with it all of a sudden. I didn't do anything wrong, did I?" he asked. But his three friends just looked at him and didn't respond. "Did I, Sirius?" he asked again.

"Well, you were a bit short with her. Maybe you should apologize."

"Why do I have to apologize? Why shouldn't she? She was the one that was butting in to our conversation."

"Do what you want then," Sirius said, "I was just giving you my opinion because you asked for it."

"What are you all looking at?" James yelled at the countless people staring at him. They all looked at their plates, and resumed conversations with each other. James sighed and picked at his food with his fork. His friends were still looking at him. "I'll talk to her," he mumbled, "OK?" he asked, irritated.

"Ok," Sirius said, "Are you going to do it, now or later?"

"Why?" James asked, a note of irritation still lingering in his voice.

"Because you seem upset, and I think it would be better if you straitened this out now so you won't take everyone else's head off."

James looked at Sirius then at Remus, who nodded in agreement, Peter just stared at him. James let out a sigh, pushed away from the table, and stood.

"So you think that I should apologize?"

"Yes," the three of them said in unison. James walked out of the hall, and started for the tower, but didn't know if she was there. He kept thinking in his mind how stupid all of this was, how stupid the fight was, if you want to call it that, and how stupid it is to apologize when he didn't do anything wrong. How was it that she was always calling the shots in their relationship? Why didn't he ever have a say in anything?

Lily was standing by the portrait of the Fat Lady, with her cronies, Liz and Jade. All three glared at him when they saw him come near. He smiled weakly, but not out of friendliness.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked her.

"Yes," she said cooly, but didn't move. Liz and Jade crossed their arms.

"Alone, please," James insisted. The two sighed and walked back to the Great Hall, mumbling to themselves, and looking back at James occasionally. James turned back and looked at Lily. He really didn't want to apologize, maybe she would first. He waited.

"What?" Lily asked, "What did you want to say that was so important that you stopped talking about your stupid sport?"

"It's not stupid," James said, "Why are you so mad at me?"

She laughed shortly, "You have to ask?"

She was probably doing this just to make him feel stupid, he thought, and it's working. "Yes, I have to ask. I don't think I have done anything wrong, but you seem to hate me."

"I don't hate you," she said. She sighed and brushed her hair out of her eyes.

"Then what did I say that was so wrong?"

"It just seems like you have become really obsessive about Quidditch. I mean, it seems like that's the only thing that interests you lately. It's the first day back, James, and you are already yapping about it. Class hasn't even started yet."

"I did this last year, you just weren't sitting with me," he said.

"No, James, it's more than that. I'm honestly worried that you will spend more time talking and playing Quidditch than you'll spend time with me. There, I said it. That's what's bothering me."

James smiled, "That's ridiculous."

"Is it?"

"Yes it is, Lily. I would never spend more time with Quidditch than I would with you," he explained, smiling at her.

Lily looked down at her feet, then back up at him, "You promise?"

"I promise," He took her hands in his and kept smiling at her. She sighed once more and smiled back at him.

"Alright, if you promise, I guess that's good with me."

"Excellent, now let's go enjoy our first day back, shall we?" he asked as he started for the Great Hall. But Lily didn't move.

"Do we have to go right away?" she asked, smiling like a pirate. James turned and walked back to her.

"Isn't there some rule about the Head Girl and Boy spending just a few minutes alone on their first day back in the castle?" he put his hands around her waist and grinned.

"Hmmm...," she said, "I don't remember reading that part. Perhaps I missed it. Perhaps it isn't even in the book."

"It is now."

* * * * *

"New schedules," Sirius said, passing the new itinerary down to the others at the table during breakfast. "Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Lunch, and Herbology. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?" he asked sarcastically.

"At least we don't start the term with Potions," James pointed out, Sirius nodded.

"And we'll get to see this Professor Gaphen, at least. I wonder if he's as ugly as Chambers," Sirius said.

"Sirius, it's Professor Gellar, not 'Gaphen,' and Professor Chambers wasn't that bad looking," Lily said as she joined the table and examined the new schedule.

"Why must we always have Potions with the Slytherins? Don't they ever change things at this place? Why can't we have Transfiguration with the Slytherins? At least I'm good at that, and Snape isn't. Or charms, Snape is bad at Charms, everyone knows that. Why can't we have a class where we are better than him?" Sirius rambled on.

"We don't need a class to be better than Snape," Remus pointed out.

"Very true, Moony, very true," Sirius agreed. Just then Peter ran up to the table, looking very shaken, and red in the face.

"Peter," Remus said, "Are you alright?"

Peter nodded quickly, "I need to talk to you," he said to James, "It's urgent."

James looked puzzled. "What's it about?" he asked.

"Something," Peter said, though still looking quite impatient.

"Something?" James asked. He looked at his watch, the bell was to ring at any second for them to go to class. "Well is it really important, or can it wait, because class is about to start."

"It's important. It's about..."

They all leaned forward waiting for the answer, but it didn't come.

"It's about.....?" James said, "It's about what?"

Peter started to chew his nails, "It's about Fran," he whispered. James smiled at him.

"You want to ask for some advice about Fran, yes?" James asked. Peter nodded.

"What about me?" Sirius asked, shocked. "I've had a hell of a lot more relationships than this guy. Why didn't you ask me?"

Lily laughed, "Sirius, quality not quantity." Sirius gave her a fake smile and a rather good imitation of her voice, "Quality, not quantity, Sirius," he said mockingly. "Go polish your Head Goodie, Goodie Badge why don't you."

"Peter," James said, "What would you like to know?"

Peter looked around at the rest of them watching him, then back at James. "Can you come with me?" he asked.

"Sure," James said, getting up and following Peter out of the Great Hall to talk in private.

"How is it that jittery Peter has a girlfriend, and I don't?" Sirius asked, banging his fist on his fork, which shot eggs into his eyes.

Lily and Remus both laughed. "Are you serious, Sirius?" Lily asked, still laughing at the egg residue still lingering on his eyelashes.

"Ha, ha, ha," he said, "You've been with James for far too long if you're asking me that question. And other than the fact that I just shot my breakfast into my eyes, yes. Why can't I find my match?"

Lily rolled her eyes, as did Remus.

"What?"

"Sirius," Lily said, "For some one as smart as you, it's surprising how dumb you can be."

"Excuse me?" he asked defensively, "Dumb? I asked a legitimate question and you bit my head off. I know you know someone, Lily. Why don't you tell me?"

"I promised her I wouldn't say anything. It's not hard to see who it is, though. Remus even knows, don't you?" she asked, looking over at Remus. Sirius looked at him quickly and with some resentment.

"Is this true, Remus my friend whom I would do anything for if you asked?" he said, his eyes wide. Remus smirked.

"My lips are sealed."

"Now that all of that is taken care of," James said, coming back to the table and picking up his bag, "shall we?" The bell rang just as he said it.

"James, do you know who likes me?"

"Uh huh," he said casually, taking Lily's hand as he started for the doors.

"And who is it?" Sirius asked.

"I'm not telling you."

"James! You're my best friend! You have to tell me this, you're killing me, man! I told you about Lily, you have to help me out!"

"Sirius, be reasonable here. Lily wanted me to know, didn't you?" he double checked.

"Yes," she said, "She is concerned that you'll make her one of your bimbos that you date, and break her heart."

"Who is she?" he asked again.

"We're not telling!" They all said.

"You're all mean!" he told them as he walked down the corridor to Transfiguration. When they got into the class they noticed that McGonnagal was not seated at her desk. Actually, McGonnagal wasn't even there. There was an old man, with very thick glasses, sitting there instead.

"Whoa," Sirius said, "McGonnagal isn't here. When has that ever happened? Do you think she's ill?"

"I don't know," James said, grinning, "You do know what this means, don't you?"

"No seating chart," Sirius replied sinisterly.

"That's right. Let's sit in the back, shall we?" Lily rolled her eyes disapproving, but let James go and sit with Sirius in the back. She went and sat with Jade in the middle of the class. Once everyone was seated, the old man rose and cleared his throat.

"Professor McGonnagal went away for a short business affair. I will be here until she returns. I was once a student here-

"Yeah, when they used oil paintings instead of photographs," Sirius whispered, James sniggered. The substitute didn't seem to notice.

"I was in Hufflepuff myself, played keeper on our Quidditch team. It was a different game back then-

"Yeah, everything was different back then," James whispered. "But he did play Quidditch, you have to give him that."

"He has some credibility. So who has a thing for me?"

"Nice try."

"So," the sub continued, "Let's get down to it. First off, where is," he squinted through his glasses and put a paper almost to his nose to read what McGonnagal had written. "Ah, where is Mr. Potter?" Everyone turned to look at James, who rose his hand.

"Thank you. New Head Boy, it says here. Um, next then. Where is Mr. Black?" But Sirius and James knew what he was up to. Sirius pulled out his wand, and shot it at Peter, whose hand rose immediately.

"You're Sirius Black?" he asked Peter, moving closer to him. Sirius and James both nodded subtly to Peter.

"Yes, that's me," Peter said. The sub moved closer to Peter and examined him, as the entire class watched with a smile.

"It says here, in your professor's note, that Mr. Black is taller, with black hair and a very cocky smile. You my boy, don't seem to match that description," the class giggled when he said 'cocky smile.' "But you, my dear sir," he said moving over to Sirius, who tried to look very interested at the blank chalk board, "fit the description perfectly. Are you Mr. Black?" he asked Sirius.

"Okay, you got me," Sirius admitted.

"Yes, well, Professor McGonnagal has left specific instructions that Black and Potter are not to sit next to each other, so if one of you will trade seats with one of your classmates." James and Sirius looked at one another and rolled their eyes.

"I'll move," James said, getting up, "Jade, trade with me," he said. Jade nodded and headed over to sit next to Sirius. James picked up his bag and moved to the seat next to Lily.

"Alright," the sub continued, moving back to the front of the classroom, and examining the note left for him. "Oh, just one more thing." He turned around and faced the class, "Where is our new Head Girl?" Lily smiled and raised her hand proudly.

"So you're Lily Evans. My congratulations to you."

"Thank you," she said smiling, James winked at her.

"But, your professor has left a note saying, 'The new Head Boy and Girl are not to sit next to one another' she sites a bathroom incident." The entire class laughed at them.

James stood up with a disgruntled look, "Are we ever going to live that down?" he asked. Lily was red, and didn't move. James took his bag, loudly, took his books and traded seats with Liz who was sitting with Remus. "Before I sit, can I sit with him?"

"Yes, those were the only two exceptions."

"Thank you," he said, as he threw his books on the desk, making a very loud smacking sound.

"I don't like him," James told Remus as he sat down, "not one iota."

Remus was smirking, however. "It is a bit funny though, isn't it?" Remus asked James.

"No. McGonnagal hates me, with every fiber of her being. And I thought some how she actually liked me on some level."

"Mr. Potter," the sub said, loudly.

"Yes?" James asked, growing more and more irritated by the second.

"Are you going to talk through-out the entire lesson?"

"Are you going to dance on my head to the point of my insanity the entire lesson?" James asked boldly, the others in the class were shocked at his statement.

"Excuse me?" he asked, apparently insulted, and not knowing entirely how to handle James. "I think you need a lesson in respect, young man."

"Me?" James asked, now standing up, the entire class extremely entertained with their classroom drama. "You're the one that needs a lesson in respect. You've been dogging me since I stepped through this door, and I don't appreciate it."

"You listen to me, young man, I don't know who you think you are, but I am the teacher here, and I will tell you what to do. Now sit down and keep your mouth shut."

"You didn't just tell me what to do, you insulted me, and Lily who didn't need to be humiliated. She's done nothing wrong. Ever!"

"I think it very sentimental of you to stand up for her, but this isn't about her, it's about you. Now sit down." Reluctantly, James took his seat, but glared at the substitute constantly.

"Why do you always have to be so confrontational?" Remus whispered to James.

"I was standing up for myself, Remus. I don't like being disrespected by some nin-come- poop with glasses so thick he can't even see the sun shine."

Remus smiled then faced forward to hear what words of wisdom this professor had to offer. Then it occurred to James that he didn't even know his name. James raised his hand as the sub was in the middle of an explanation about the art of human transfiguration.

"Yes, Mr. Potter? Question already?"

"Yes, what's your name, Professor? Because it just occurred to me, maybe you're a murderer on the run and you don't want to tell us your name because you're afraid that we might snitch on you. So what is it, Professor?" The professor looked sternly down on James, and frowned. The entire class also looked at James, truly at a loss for words.

"Mr. Potter, you have received a detention, and have lost Gryffindor ten points. Frankly I am shocked that the staff of this school selected you, above all the other seventh year boys, to lead. Report to me after your last class, I will have thought of something creative for you to do."

"So what is it?" James persisted. Sirius laughed loudly at this, James smirked.

"Professor Molesburge. I will be leaving a note for Professor McGonnagal regarding your behavior and your detention which will prove extensive."

"Professor Molesalot?" Sirius said, standing up and purposely mispronouncing his name, "I will take Mr. Potter's detention. I'll serve it for him, I mean."

"Well, that's very kind of you, but he can serve his own."

"No, it's not that I'm being kind, it's that James is already two detentions up on me, and if you make him serve this detention then he will be three ahead. You see, until last year, James and I always got detention together, it was our legacy, but he got two to my zero last year, and I don't think it's fair that he gets one today. So if you would let me serve it for him, then I would be much obliged."

Professor Molesburge was at a loss. He stood there and looked at Sirius, then at James. He shook his head and mumbled to himself. "NO! You may not take detention for your friend, he will serve it himself, and you will not interfere! And the two of you will sit down and keep your mouths shut!"

Sirius sat down and tried very hard to fight against the giggles but snorted with laughter in the end. James kept grinning from ear to ear as was Remus, and most of the class, with some few exceptions. Lily turned just enough to face James, and frowned at him, no look of amusement in her eyes.

"Potter!" Molesburge shouted, "Come up here, and sit down. I want to keep a close watch on you. And you, Black, you sit down in that far corner."

James got up once more and walked over to the seat that the Sub was pointing to, and Sirius got up and walked to the seat in the far corner. James sat down, took out his parchment and ink and looked like a young school boy very eager to learn.

"Now," the professor said, "Human transfiguration is very difficult."

"Duh," James said under his breath. James didn't think that he actually had to listen to what he was going to say, he was an expert in human transfiguration. And it was approaching that time of month again, when he would go out and explore with his three friends. Hopefully this time, he thought, Hagrid wouldn't touch the liquor. Seeing as how the sub was droning on ceaselessly about the warnings and dangers of transfiguration, James started to write words. Various words, some where how he felt, others, just words. It was extremely boring, of course, but it would go against his value system to listen to the professor.

Sirius, on the far other end of the room, was also writing like James, only his content was much more constructive. He was writing a letter to James asking about this girl that they all kept talking about. They promised not to tell who it was, but perhaps he could write it down instead. Sirius finished his letter, signed it, and crinkled it up into a tight ball. Then he preformed a spell on it to make it heavier so that it would travel farther.

Sirius looked at the sub, who was now droning on and on about the different methods of human transfiguration. In any moment he would turn to write something he thought important on the black board. Sirius coughed three times, the signal for James to look back at him. It was a very convincing cough, so the professor thought nothing of it. James pretended to yawn, and looked back at Sirius as he was commanded to do.

Sirius showed him the note in the paper ball, James nodded.

"So, class," Molesburge said, "Becoming a legal anamagi can take from two to five years depending on the skill and intelligence of the wizard at hand. In 1523," he turned around to write on the board. Very quickly, James stood up in his seat, turned to face Sirius, who also stood and chucked the paper ball across the room and into James hands, who sat down just as the professor turned back to face the class. There were some small giggles from people, which made Molesburge look at James and Sirius very closely. But both of them were still seated and appeared to be taking notes.

He continued to ramble on. James slowly and very silently opened the letter that Sirius wrote.

"James,

So who is she? I know that you can't tell me, but maybe you can write it down. Come on, you have to tell me something about her, just give me a small hint if you don't tell me her name. Is she in our house, our year, etc. etc. etc.? From Sirius, duh, who else would it be from."

James smirked and shook his head, then turned to look at Sirius and shook his head again.

"Why not?" Sirius mouthed to James. James took his quill and a new sheet of parchment and wrote a letter back.

"Sirius, what are you taking? You know I won't tell you, or write it out. But because you are my friend, I will give you a hint in form of a riddle. I know how much you hate riddles, so this will be fun. Here it is.

I come in three.

I play in five.

In the same house I dwell.

Listen to me carefully,

for my love will be revealed.

Have fun cracking that one!" James crumpled it up, and smirked at his own cleverness. He preformed the same spell that Sirius used to make it heavier, then watched the professor.

"It wasn't until 1524 that wizarding law set an age limit on this, and made laws according to it. It is the spell of Vuluptions which carries this out," he turned to write it on the board. James jumped up out of his seat, and chucked the note to Sirius, who caught it and sat down.

He opened it quickly and read the riddle inside; he almost threw up.

"What the hell is this?" he mouthed at James, who laughed at his confused facial expression.

"The answer!" James mouthed back, then faced the front of the class and wrote all the famous Quidditch players, and moves he could think of for the remainder of the class.