A/N: Sorry this chapter is in bold, but it kinda had to be. Oh, and in case you haven't figured it out yet, italics are James and non-italics are Lily. Whenever it's bold as well, it means it isn't deep inside their mind. Just on their side of things. If that makes sense… yeah. And thanks to the people who are giving me credit for this story. I know it isn't the usual run of things, I know it's all so out of character and doesn't relate to what book 5 said about the marauders and everyone, and I know it's a little weird and that Lily was damn annoying in the last chapter, but – I'm just trying out something new, ok? So bear with me! And please, keep reviewing. Cheers. ~rowanx

2

On The Outside

"Hey, Jamesie! Get over here now!"

James looked up and smiled faintly. "What now?" he muttered, standing up and walking over to where Sirius sat, looking eagerly at the chess board.

"I think I've found a move I can make!" Sirius said, sounding like an excited little puppy. James smiled as Sirius made hand gestures to where he could move his knight. After a few seconds of contemplation, James shook his head and pointed to the white castle. Sirius stared at it for a while and then made a few grunting noises and stood up, stomping away.

James laughed quietly to himself. Right, well that's Sirius in a bad mood for the rest of the day, he thought. The chess game between Sirius and Remus had started three months ago. Remus was better than Sirius, everyone knew that, but it seemed Sirius wasn't going to let this was go without a very long fight.

"Ready, James?" Remus came up and clapped his mate on the back.

"Hey, wait for me," muttered Sirius, walking down the stairs with his wand in his hand.

James sighed. "Must you bring that? It just makes me feel nervous."

"Look, Sirius, nothing is going to happen, right?" Remus said, giving Sirius a very deep and meaningful look that James wished he hadn't seen.

Sirius nodded but pocketed his wand anyway. With Sirius marching in front of him and Remus steering him to the portrait hole, James took in a deep breath and walked to his doom.

Lily turned the page of her book. She could hear Anna chewing loudly on her gum, and she wondered if she was ever going to stop. Slamming her book shut, she gave up and said, "Ok, what is it?"

"What?" Anna said innocently, looking up from her homework.

"What's wrong?" asked Lily. "Whenever there's something on your mind, you always chew really loudly on your gum, and it's annoying me now, so tell me, what's wrong?"

Anna looked shifty. "Nothing…"

Lily edged forward. "Anna, tell me. I'm your best friend. I won't laugh or anything, I promise."

"Oh you definitely won't laugh…"

Lily raised an eyebrow. "So tell me."

"I can't." Anna looked extremely uncomfortable and Lily started to feel genuinely worried. Anna usually told her everything. What was different about this time?

"Ok, Anna, this thing, it isn't about you is it?" Anna shook her head. Lily sat in silence and just waited. Whatever it was, Anna would tell her if she had to. When the silence reached a minute, Anna burst out. "I heard about a fight. Well, a duel, maybe."

"Who's it between?" Lily asked urgently. As a prefect for Gryffindor, she felt it was her duty to know everything that was going on – so she could stop it.

Anna took in a deep breath. "Peter and James."

Lily's mouth practically dropped open. James…? "But, those two are best friends! And they're both so harmless, why would they…"

"I don't know what happened, I just heard about this fight and I'm really worried…" Anna and Peter had been going out for a few weeks now. Lily knew Anna really cared about him.

Lily stood up. "Did you hear where?"

"I think they're going to McGonagall's classroom to do it. No one's in there this time."

"Let's go."