Disclaimer- Hah! Do I even need to tell you that I'm not J.K. Rowling, and therefore own nothing of this, save the plot? I don't believe so, but in case you do, there you are. ;)

A/N: Sorry this took a little longer than usual to get up. I've been kinda busy, and mostly scribbling in my notebook ideas for my original story- which I'm becoming rather fond of. Anyway, here's chapter six!

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Chapter 6- The Marauder's Cave

James casually leaned against the old wall of the Three Broomsticks, butterbeer clutched in one hand, the other hand half in his pocket. He looked the picture of a good-for-nothing, which is probably what he was going for. Unperturbedly, he glanced around the small pub, his dark eyes scanning and weighing the people inside.

The door banged open suddenly, and his eyes followed the boys who walked in. Remus and Sirius' eyes ran over the room and, spotting James, they trudged over.

"How long have you been here?" Remus asked, rather loudly in order to be heard over the other noise that engulfed the pub.

"Dunno." James shrugged the question off, playing the role of uninterested.

"Sorry we're late." Sirius added. "We had a run-in with Snape and his gang."

"Again?" James raised one eyebrow. "He'll never learn, will he?" he shook his head and took another swig of butterbeer. "He's such a little wimp who doesn't know crap about real life. He's still attached to his mother's apron strings."

"And I suppose you know all about real life, you know, in the real world?" Sirius said, a little sarcastically with a faint grin. However, he didn't receive the expected reaction. James just looked down into his butterbeer, his expression sober and unmoving. This was one of the times when Sirius and Remus felt like James was hiding something, but didn't dare ask after it. James could be, er, fierce if you inquired something of him he didn't appreciate. He would never hurt anybody, if he could help it, but he could be quite intimidating either way.

"So," Remus decided it was past time to change the subject. "Are we going to the cave tonight?"

Sirius shrugged. "Why not?"

James glanced around, just then realizing that someone was missing. "Where's Peter?"

"He stayed back at school. Wasn't feeling well or something." Remus answered. "Well, if we are going, then let's get some butterbeer and head out."

And so they did. Arms full of sweets and butterbeer, they made their way to the well-known cave in the distance.

They walked straight to the foot of the mountain, panting as they made their way through numerous rocks and boulders. When they reached a steep, stony path, they followed it, winding up higher and higher onto the mountain. They walked for around half an hour, before finally they spotted a familiar narrow fissure in the wall, and squeezing inside one at a time.

Each of them blinked, adjusting their eyes to the dim lighting. It was the same cave as always, cool, comfortable, and probably known only to them. This was where the Marauders came to discuss everything from boys' gossip to their newest prank idea. Although they had their outings with Remus and all each month, they didn't have much time where they could talk undisturbed, and so, almost once a week, they found themselves once more sitting inside the cave.

It had been during their second year that they first discovered it. James had dared Sirius to climb to the top of the mountain, and, by chance, he had instead discovered the small crack in the stone and led the other boys to it. Since then, they had come back frequently. Though usually, all four Marauders were present.

James broke the silence with a casual voice, tugging his leather jacket around himself. "I wonder just what Peter is doing tonight that he couldn't come."

"I dunno. But he's been acting a little strange lately." Remus said, settling himself on the floor and leaning against the wall. His two friends followed his example, and sat down as well.

"Yeah, I've noticed it too. Though, Peter has always been a little, er, weird." Sirius said, his lips curling into a small grin. The others laughed quietly, remembering just when they had learned that of Peter.

(flashback)

James, Sirius, and Remus stood before the Hogwarts Express. It was gleaming; the sunlight bouncing off it like a ball would bounce on the floor. This train was the one they would see twice a year for the next seven years of their lives, and so they gazed at it wonderingly. Each of them clutched their trunks tightly, so they wouldn't be lost in the bustling crowd.

The three of them had been friends for as long as any could remember. They lived in the same neighborhood, and their parents were friends. Actually, they had first met as infants. Though then, they had not even supposed that one day they would become best friends and pranksters together. Now they were inseparable.

James felt something hit his back suddenly, and hard. He turned slowly, trying to make it apparent that he was not one to mess with. But his face softened, as much as it possibly could, when he saw the boy lying on the ground before him. He was slightly chubby, though not enough to be called fat, and his cheeks were flushed. He scrambled up, grabbing his trunk hastily. He looked up and saw the three other boys standing there, and his face turned completely red. Chewing his lip and gazing at James in apprehension, he stuttered, "I-I'm sorry. I was just running through the barrier, but after I got through I didn't know, and I kept on running with my eyes closed- until I ran into you." He looked a little nervous. "I'll just, er, be leaving now..." he turned away from them quickly.

"Wait." Remus reached out to stop him from leaving. "Why don't you share a compartment with us? You're a first year too, right?"

The boy turned around in excitement. "Uh-hu-" he started, but soon slipped on the freshly waxed floor and fell at three boys' feet in a frenzy of limbs.

James looked down at him, raising an amused eyebrow. He laughed, and so did the other two, as the boy rose to a sitting position. Sirius held a hand out, and pulled the boy to his feet once more.

"Welcome to the Marauders." he said, and they all turned back to the train, smiling to themselves.

(end flashback)

Yes, Peter had been a clutz, though a few years time had allowed him to grow out of it. He was no longer chubby either. As he had grown taller, it had all evened out.

In the midst of their thoughts, Sirius decided that it was time to start talking. "So, what's new?" he said, leaning the back of his head against the cave wall.

"Why do you ask that every week? You've been with us the whole time. What could possibly be new that you wouldn't already know about?" James said coolly, shaking his head slightly as the brown-haired boy grinned.

"Funny you should mention it James. I do believe that you have been keeping your relationship with a red-head away from us for awhile now. Time to tell all, I say." Remus said, grinning mischievously and glancing at James out of the corner of his eye.

James sighed, and smiled slightly. "It's not so easy to tell. She's so...complex. I can't even begin to guess what she thinks about anything. She's hard to read. But yes, we're going out now. She said 'let's give it a try', so that's what we're doing." he smiled widely. "I'll show her the time of her life."

Sirius grinned impishly. "What exactly do you mean by 'the time of her life'?"

James looked at him with narrowed eyes, and reached a hand over to swat him. "I wasn't even thinking about that. I really care about this one, Padfoot."

Sirius continued to grin, and replied, "Oh, alright." He fell silent, and James had a far-off look in his eye.

Remus was sitting quietly, deep in thought. He looked up after awhile, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"So is our next prank still on?" he asked loudly, causing James and Sirius to jump slightly.

They looked to each other in turn, grinning like fools.

"Of course it is. Who's ever heard of a Marauder who backed out of one?" Sirius said, at the same time James said, "By the way, Padfoot, did you get everything ready yet?"

"Uh-huh." was the reply.

The conversation stopped short. Normally they had quite a bit to say, but nothing much had happened that week. So James jumped to his feet, causing the other two to follow him.

"I wanted to see Lily before she goes to bed." James said softly, heading towards the exit.

"Yes, of course you do, Prongs." Remus said. "I'm sure you two will have much fun tonight." he emphasized the word 'fun' and grinned.

James shook his head and pushed the werewolf out the fissure. Whatever his friends said, he was certainly looking forward to talking to Lily. It would be the first time they had properly talked, since they had decided to 'give it a try'.

So as they walked back, James had but one thing floating through his mind, and it was a person with red hair and brilliant green eyes, a person which he was coming to care about more and more lately, which surprised him to no end. He was sort of the player, and he never committed to one person for long, so he was a little afraid of his feelings for Lily. He couldn't understand them, and didn't know what he was doing, or where this was going. But, if he was sure of anything, he knew that he wanted to spend more time with her, to get to know her, and....possibly attain something more, something he couldn't describe.

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A/N: Thank you a million times for the reviews. You make me happy, telling me you're enjoying the story ;) Anyway, thanks (midnightlily) for reminding me of the disclaimer- I, er, forgot...(oops). Oh, and Red, I put a little more Marauder interaction in this chapter, I hope you liked it =). Thanks for a longer review, they're even better than short ones, and I enjoyed reading your comments, as I always do. Well, thanks again to those who reviewed, I love you guys!!! Any more comments or requests for this chapter, anyone? Is this story keeping your attention, or do I need to make it more interesting?