Living A Legend
Book 2- The Price of Glory
Chapter 6- Songs and Lunatics
When the train finally came to a stop, and all students were in their uniforms, James felt a wave of excitement surge through his body. He was home.
Sirius however, was not so easily appeased. As soon as he exited the train he began to beg and barter with Ogg, the Hogwarts Caretaker. Sirius desperately wanted to be allowed to accompany the first years across the lake. He and Nymphadora had concocted a plan to tip Bellatrix's boat.
"For the last time," Ogg finally yelled impatiently, "only first years get to make the trip across the lake! You have to go with the rest of the returners."
Sirius finally stomped up and down and stuck out his tongue. Then he collapsed dramatically on the ground. "You are killing me Ogg! You are killing me! It will all be your fault when I die. I must… travel across the lake. I will kill myself… I'll do it. That is a promise."
James rolled his eyes as Sirius proceeded to roll around on the ground with his hands affixed to his throat as if to strangle himself. He was making loud over exaggerated gagging sounds and many of the first years looked downright terrified of him.
"Who is that crazy boy?" One first year girl asked James timidly, pointing towards Sirius.
"Him? Oh he's a legend around here. His name is Sirius Black. They say that he ate a whole owl once, alive. Yup, he traded his own kidney for a new broomstick. Crazy as they come old Sirius Black. He chopped off some red head's hair back on the train. But his favorite hobby is drowning first years in the Lake. That's why he's so eager to get on a boat," James explained in an earnest tone.
The girl's already wide eyes grew even wider. She glanced at Sirius again with a horrified look on her face, before running over to whisper frantically to another group of first years.
Sirius, noticing the looks of the intimidated first years, began to moan even louder, and suddenly jumped to his feet and sprinted full speed towards the small group of first years. They shrieked and quickly dispersed.
"Iggidy biggety bah!" Sirius screamed, waving his wand wildly. "Rrrrrr!"
Ogg shot Sirius a dirty look, and began to gather up the first years, who were all in various states of panic.
While Ogg and his assistant Hagrid were busy trying to calm the first years, Sirius wrapped his cloak around his head and inconspicuously crept towards the boats, motioning for James, Remus and Peter to follow.
James sighed, he knew that he would follow Sirius. Part of him just wanted to enter the hall like a normal second year, but then again, he knew that whatever Sirius and Nymphadora had planned would be a lot more fun than what would be in store for him in the other route.
So James and the other two Marauders crept to the bushes to hide with Sirius. Being careful to hide their faces, James and the others subtly climbed into boats as the first years were boarding. They were not noticed.
James and Sirius boarded with Nymphadora, and the two boys managed to stay discreet under her guidance. Peter wasn't exactly well known, so he boarded with strangers and was not recognized. Remus kept his head down and managed to avoid Ogg's gaze.
The fleet was halfway across the lake when Sirius and Nymphadora met eyes and exchanged a meaningful nod.
Sirius nudged James, and James caught Remus's attention. The first to stand was Sirius, but the others followed quickly.
Before Bellatrix, and her innocent boat companions could react, three separate spells were headed her way. Remus, however looked a bit puzzled and Peter leapt up a moment to late, and managed to tip his own vessel in the process.
Bellatrix's boat not only tipped, but shot straight up in the air about ten feet and landed upside down. James thought that this beat last year's fiasco ten to one. While it was fun to torture Lily Evans, Bellatrix scored much higher on the evil scale, and James would rather see her suffer than Lily any day.
Of course, the tipping of Bellatrix's boat had quite an amusing effect on the rest of the frightened first years. Many leapt up themselves, and those in boats nearest to the Marauders, screamed and two more of the small boats were tipped.
Ogg was furious and several prefects were even more so, embarrassed by their failure to spot the Marauders among the first years. Peter and the rest of the fallen students emerged fairly quickly, pushed up by a mysteriously large tentacle. Most looked wet, but in fairly good spirits. However, a moment later, Bellatrix surface, sopping wet and furious. Sirius applauded loudly as she climbed pathetically into a boat next to Tad Whelblock, one of the new Gryffindor prefects.
"Way to go Bella!" he called after a loud whistle.
James added a quick, "Lookin' good! I hear the wet dog look is very popular this year."
A few first years began to giggle and James noticed a few of the girls batting their eyelashes in his direction. He smiled back in a cocky manner, glad for the attention. Sirius too, was attracting his share of attention. The difference was that Sirius could care less, he was too focused on hating Bellatrix to even notice the cute first year girls who were looking his way.
As it was, Bellatrix's introduction to Hogwarts, was almost as traumatic as Lily's had been the previous year.
James and the other Marauders were escorted to the Great Hall by Ogg.
"When I get through with the four of you, you are going to wish you had never come to this school! With antics like that, I will make sure you are expelled, and then some!" Ogg bellowed angrily as he lead the four Marauders into the hall, and forced them to sit next to on the teacher's bench.
Already stories were going around about the escort of the first years across the lake. Peter looked faintly ill, looking around in horror at the crowd of people glancing at him and the other Marauders. Remus looked a bit guilty, but both James and Sirius were enjoying the attention. James was casually ruffling his already messy hair, and Sirius was shooting menacing glares at the nervous looking first years lining up near the door.
James smiled as the timid procession was escorted inwards by Dumbledore. He remembered exactly what it had felt like the first time he had entered Hogwarts, the feeling of terror, mixed with elation of the prospect of being singled out to try on the hat.
This year the hat was sitting on the same stool, looking exactly the same. So naturally, James was a little surprised when it belted out a completely different song.
First years come and gather 'round
It's time to hear a remarkable sound
For at Hogwarts, it is true
This is something you must do
Listen to the Sorting Hat
Pay attention and do not chat
For I will tell you where you shall go
And which house you shall know
Through thick and thin,
Your house will be your kin,
Stick together and you will succeed
Whether you follow or you lead
Each house has a different tone
Which one will you call your own?
Gryffindors are sure to lead
They specialize in noble deeds
Brave and loyal, just and true
This is what Gryffindors do
Ravenclaws use their minds
Digging up intellectual finds
Wisdom and truth are their gifts
Ravenclaws cause no rifts
Hufflepuffs are workers true
They will always see things through
Always fair and always kind
Even when in a bind
Slytherins will do anything to win
For them, ambitions never run thin
Sly and cunning, these people are
Their skills will always take them far
Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin
No matter which house you are in
Every house and every scholar
Will leave this school just a little bit taller
So line on up, the time is here
First years, there is nothing to fear
Try me on, I'll have a look
At every cranny and every nook
Inside your mind
Until I can find
The thing that lets me know
Just where you ought to go.
When the hat concluded it's song, the hall was filled with the noise of furious applause and cat calls. Sirius was among the loudest catcallers.
"The sorting hat is sexy!" Sirius cried, and James began to seriously doubt his friends sanity.
Perhaps the show that Sirius had been putting on was not so much a show as James had thought. The first years were still shooting him slightly terrified glances, but so were several older students as well. It seemed very much as if Sirius had lost his marbles. Still, James didn't much care. Sirius was his best friend, crazy or not.
"Alouise, Marci!" the sorting hat called.
A very small and very pretty blond first year stepped forward, her pale blue eyes wide with anticipation. She seemed to flinch when the hat touched her head, and when it called out "Gryffindor!" she fell off the stool looking a bit surprised.
James watched her as she walked shakily over to the Gryffindor table. The terms brave and bold did not seem to fit her very well from first glance. Still, he was happy that such a girl was joining Gryffindor, his house could always use more pretty girls. All of the Marauders clapped loudly along with the Gryffindor table, although they were seated apart.
Several more names were called, and James found himself growing bored. He watched Nymphadora and Bellatrix with curiosity. They were the only two first years he knew so far, and he already had strong ideas of where they would end up. Bellatrix belonged in Slytherin, no doubt, anything else would be unfathomable. Nymphadora, James hoped, would become a Gryffindor. Of course, the incident between her and Lily had been unfortunate, but it had just been a misunderstanding, Nymphadora was only doing what she had to do. He finally decided that Nymphadora would be the one to keep his sympathy.
Finally Bellatrix was called forward, and to no one's surprise, except perhaps Lily and Brittany's, she became a Slytherin. Sirius's dark haired cousin slinked off assuredly, her heavy lidded eyes shining in the light. James saw Bella flash Lily Evans a small smile and a disappointed shrug as she passed by their table, but distinctly saw Bellatrix roll her eyes when Lily was out of sight.
James felt a burning desire to stand up and curse her but restrained himself, he could see that Sirius was experiencing a similar sentiment. It was going to be infuriating having Bellatrix at Hogwarts. She was so manipulative, and sly, and there was very little that could be done against her.
Struggling to control himself, James turned his attention to the procession of first years. Lars Levin became a Ravenclaw and Scarlet Lummox a Hufflepuff.
The four Marauders waited impatiently until the familiar and well loved name of Nymphadora Tonks was called out, and a now blue haired girl skipped forward happily and tripped over her own feet. Nymphadora landed on her face and jumped up quickly to a twittering of laughter, not looking in the least phased. She plopped down on the stool and fastened the hat to her head. A moment later the hat called out "Gryffindor", and James and Sirius erupted into wild shrieks.
Nymphadora leapt up, knocking over the stool in the process, and ran over to the Gyffindor table, only once she had arrived realizing that she was still wearing the hat. Flushing red, she hurriedly returned it to it's stool.
"Good old Tonks," Sirius commented amiably, slapping James on the back with glee.
Ogg, quickly commanded them to contain themselves, and the Maruaders sat complacently once more to wait out the rest of the ceremonies.
However, after all of the first years had been sorted into houses and the students began to turn to Dumbledore, the hat called out another name, "Charles, Roderick."
A gasp went through the Great Hall when a tall boy emerged from the doorway. Roderick was tall and well built, obviously no first year. Many were surprised by the appearance of such a large and unorthodox character. However, James and Sirius gasped for another reason altogether.
The two Marauders, along with a great deal of others recognized Roderick, as the keeper from the Guatemalan Goblins Quidditch team. He was known as one of the best Quidditch players in the league.
"What is he doing here?" Sirius questioned excitedly.
"He must be a transfer," Remus answered sensibly.
James only gazed up at Roderick in awe. He had never imagined that there were Quidditch players who were still in school. Even more strange, was the fact that Roderick Charles played for Guatemala, yet he was here, in Hogwarts.
The Quidditch player walked confidently up to the sorting hat and placed it at an angle atop his head.
James could hear many of the girls giggling and commenting on Roderick's good looks. The word was quickly circulating to those who did not follow Quidditch, who exactly was sitting on the stool. Everyone grew quiet when the hat called out "Gryffindor!" Then a hysteric cheering began and James and the other Marauders joined in loudly.
However, James was quickly distracted when Dumbledore announced that it was time to eat.
Unfortunately, the four Marauders were denied the right to take part in the feast. Ogg insisted that he escort the four boys to professor Lacy's room.
Being denied access to the feast put the four boys in much damper spirits, but still they were happy to have returned to Hogwarts, faced with a whole year full of mayhem and Quidditch. James and Sirius were happy about the Quidditch part in particular, for this year they were second years, and allowed to try out for the team. Though the beater positions were already occupied, both boys aspired to overthrow the current two occupants. Their happiness, at least, could not be daunted at the prospect of being lectured by Professor Lacy.
Peter however, kept whining nervously about being expelled, and Remus simply stayed quiet. He hadn't really done anything in the first place, James reckoned, yet Remus had been there just the same.
"What will my parents say," Peter whined miserably, "If I am expelled? I'll have to live just like a squib. It will be horrible!"
Peter looked on the verge of tears, and Sirius looked incredibly annoyed.
"Shut up, will you? We're not going to be expelled!" He hissed.
James nodded. "Peter, stop being a baby."
Peter continued to whimper loudly, and finally Sirius moved forward about to clock him on the head, when Remus stopped him.
"It's alright Pete, we won't be expelled. Don't worry about it a bit. It's just Professor Lacy we are dealing with, she probably won't even give us detentions," Remus said tactfully.
That calmed Peter down a bit, and appeased Sirius.
When Professor Lacy finally arrived, she found Remus calmly reading a book entitled 100 Draughts to Befuddle Your Enemies, Peter twitching nervously in a corner, and Sirius and James playing catch with a Remembrall which they had extracted from Peter's person.
No one stopped what they were doing until she cleared her throat loudly.
Sirius jumped, and failed to the catch the Remembrall, which instead resounded off of his head with a clunk, before falling to the ground.
"No!" James called out and dove forward, catching the ball a centimeter from the floor, and then tossing it haphazardly back to Peter, who barely managed to catch it.
Professor Lacy cleared her throat loudly and the boys turned towards her sheepishly.
"Hello Professor," Remus greeted amiably.
The other boys followed his example.
"Hello boys," Lacy said with a slight smile. "I'm sorry we had to greet each other under such bad terms. That being said, I am very disappointed in your behavior towards those poor first years! As if last year's fiasco wasn't bad enough. Half of the new students were out of their minds with fear! I would have thought that as second years you would have been more responsible towards these new students. I'm afraid I must assign you each detentions with me, after tomorrow's lessons, to help teach you about the importance of being kind to first years."
"All right professor, we will be there," Remus assured her, as the others left gleefully.
"See, I told you we would get off easy!" Sirius exclaimed. "One detention a piece, with Lacy! She has got to be the nicest teacher, her detentions can't be too bad!"
"It's a good thing she's our head of house. If we had Snape we would have been expelled by now for sure," James commented sagely.
Happy, though a bit hungry, the boys finally arrived in Gryffindor tower, where students seemed to be celebrating Roderick's addition to the house. The majority of the Gryffindors seemed to be crowded around him, asking him questions. Several girls were holding out pieces of parchment adorned with Roderick's autograph, and excitedly showing off to their friends. James rolled his eyes, and led his friends away from the mayhem, but secretly, he too was tempted to approach him.
"Good thing he's not a beater, huh?" Sirius nudged James with a grin.
"Do you think he'll actually play for Gryffindor?" Peter asked hopefully.
"Of course he will." James said assuredly.
James smiled and turned around, surprised to run smack into Lily Evans.
Her face was bruised, and her scarf was slipping, revealing her choppy red hair. James winced involuntarily at the sight of her. Nymphadora had certainly done a number to Lily's face.
"What exactly happened to your hair Lily?" James blurted out without thinking, and then instantly realized that it might not have been the wisest question to ask.
Lily's already puffy face grew redder and her green eyes gleamed warningly. "Leave me alone Potter! It's your fault, but I'm sure you will not care!"
James inadvertently took a step back, running a hand through his messy hair. "Hey, I did not do a thing to your hair."
"Well, Petunia would not have chopped my hair off if you hadn't tried to kill her boyfriend!" Lily screamed.
Several of Roderick Charles' fans turned their heads to watch the commotion.
"I didn't try to kill him," James said as quietly as he could manage, a bit embarrassed at the attention they were receiving.
"You could have killed him all the same! Dropping him like that from the ceiling…"
"Hey! I wouldn't have dropped him if you hadn't taken my wand!" James screamed back, beginning to get angry.
"You are such an idiot James!" Lily yelled. "With your messy hair and your geeky glasses!"
James took a step forward, "Oh yeah, well look at you! Your hair looks like a flaming pile of garbage, and at least my face doesn't look like a pound of hamburger! You know what? I am glad that Petunia chopped your hair off and you deserved what Nymphadora did to you. I don't even care if it's my fault, I'd do it again! In fact, I would do worse. I you weren't a girl…"
James would have kept going but Remus was tugging on his sleeve, and finally the tugging grew so urgent that James was forced to catch his breath. He pushed Remus away lightly and turned back to Lily. When his eyes met hers he froze, instantly regretting everything that he had just said.
In all the time he had known Lily Evans, she had always been quick to lose her temper. Never had she failed to be furious at James for even the most innocent offenses. So when James looked at Lily, he was expecting yelling, slapping even throwing things. He was not expecting her to cry.
But Lily stood before him, not moving, just staring with her swollen lip quivering, her eyes growing moist. He watched in horror as the first tear fell down her cheek and instantly began to stutter out the beginnings of an apology.
All around him, people were staring. Even Roderick Charles had stopped signing autographs to watch the scene unfold.
"Lily… I… I … it wasn't… wait!" James called remorsefully.
Lily didn't stay to listen, she turned quickly and darted up the stairs.
Eyebrows were raised, and students muttered. Many remembered past incidents involving James in the past, and rolled their eyes, dismissing it as typical. He heard some girls talking in loud whispers about the time when James had shoved Lily, after hearing his brother had died.
Brittany, Dora and Jackie stayed long enough to shoot James evil looks before dashing up the stairs after their friend.
"He's abusive! I told you last year. I don't understand why that girl stays with him, they fight so much," one fourth year was saying a bit loudly.
James broke out of his stupor and approached the girls, who instantly ceased their gossiping. "She's not my girlfriend by the way. And yeah, you know I feel great about what just happened, I am a terrible person. I get it."
Feeling incredibly immature and peevish, James hurried up the stairs to his own dorm room, where he sulked in as much privacy as he could. Many of his fellow second years were trying to get through to him, but fortunately Sirius and Remus managed to hold them at bay.
Book 2- The Price of Glory
Chapter 6- Songs and Lunatics
When the train finally came to a stop, and all students were in their uniforms, James felt a wave of excitement surge through his body. He was home.
Sirius however, was not so easily appeased. As soon as he exited the train he began to beg and barter with Ogg, the Hogwarts Caretaker. Sirius desperately wanted to be allowed to accompany the first years across the lake. He and Nymphadora had concocted a plan to tip Bellatrix's boat.
"For the last time," Ogg finally yelled impatiently, "only first years get to make the trip across the lake! You have to go with the rest of the returners."
Sirius finally stomped up and down and stuck out his tongue. Then he collapsed dramatically on the ground. "You are killing me Ogg! You are killing me! It will all be your fault when I die. I must… travel across the lake. I will kill myself… I'll do it. That is a promise."
James rolled his eyes as Sirius proceeded to roll around on the ground with his hands affixed to his throat as if to strangle himself. He was making loud over exaggerated gagging sounds and many of the first years looked downright terrified of him.
"Who is that crazy boy?" One first year girl asked James timidly, pointing towards Sirius.
"Him? Oh he's a legend around here. His name is Sirius Black. They say that he ate a whole owl once, alive. Yup, he traded his own kidney for a new broomstick. Crazy as they come old Sirius Black. He chopped off some red head's hair back on the train. But his favorite hobby is drowning first years in the Lake. That's why he's so eager to get on a boat," James explained in an earnest tone.
The girl's already wide eyes grew even wider. She glanced at Sirius again with a horrified look on her face, before running over to whisper frantically to another group of first years.
Sirius, noticing the looks of the intimidated first years, began to moan even louder, and suddenly jumped to his feet and sprinted full speed towards the small group of first years. They shrieked and quickly dispersed.
"Iggidy biggety bah!" Sirius screamed, waving his wand wildly. "Rrrrrr!"
Ogg shot Sirius a dirty look, and began to gather up the first years, who were all in various states of panic.
While Ogg and his assistant Hagrid were busy trying to calm the first years, Sirius wrapped his cloak around his head and inconspicuously crept towards the boats, motioning for James, Remus and Peter to follow.
James sighed, he knew that he would follow Sirius. Part of him just wanted to enter the hall like a normal second year, but then again, he knew that whatever Sirius and Nymphadora had planned would be a lot more fun than what would be in store for him in the other route.
So James and the other two Marauders crept to the bushes to hide with Sirius. Being careful to hide their faces, James and the others subtly climbed into boats as the first years were boarding. They were not noticed.
James and Sirius boarded with Nymphadora, and the two boys managed to stay discreet under her guidance. Peter wasn't exactly well known, so he boarded with strangers and was not recognized. Remus kept his head down and managed to avoid Ogg's gaze.
The fleet was halfway across the lake when Sirius and Nymphadora met eyes and exchanged a meaningful nod.
Sirius nudged James, and James caught Remus's attention. The first to stand was Sirius, but the others followed quickly.
Before Bellatrix, and her innocent boat companions could react, three separate spells were headed her way. Remus, however looked a bit puzzled and Peter leapt up a moment to late, and managed to tip his own vessel in the process.
Bellatrix's boat not only tipped, but shot straight up in the air about ten feet and landed upside down. James thought that this beat last year's fiasco ten to one. While it was fun to torture Lily Evans, Bellatrix scored much higher on the evil scale, and James would rather see her suffer than Lily any day.
Of course, the tipping of Bellatrix's boat had quite an amusing effect on the rest of the frightened first years. Many leapt up themselves, and those in boats nearest to the Marauders, screamed and two more of the small boats were tipped.
Ogg was furious and several prefects were even more so, embarrassed by their failure to spot the Marauders among the first years. Peter and the rest of the fallen students emerged fairly quickly, pushed up by a mysteriously large tentacle. Most looked wet, but in fairly good spirits. However, a moment later, Bellatrix surface, sopping wet and furious. Sirius applauded loudly as she climbed pathetically into a boat next to Tad Whelblock, one of the new Gryffindor prefects.
"Way to go Bella!" he called after a loud whistle.
James added a quick, "Lookin' good! I hear the wet dog look is very popular this year."
A few first years began to giggle and James noticed a few of the girls batting their eyelashes in his direction. He smiled back in a cocky manner, glad for the attention. Sirius too, was attracting his share of attention. The difference was that Sirius could care less, he was too focused on hating Bellatrix to even notice the cute first year girls who were looking his way.
As it was, Bellatrix's introduction to Hogwarts, was almost as traumatic as Lily's had been the previous year.
James and the other Marauders were escorted to the Great Hall by Ogg.
"When I get through with the four of you, you are going to wish you had never come to this school! With antics like that, I will make sure you are expelled, and then some!" Ogg bellowed angrily as he lead the four Marauders into the hall, and forced them to sit next to on the teacher's bench.
Already stories were going around about the escort of the first years across the lake. Peter looked faintly ill, looking around in horror at the crowd of people glancing at him and the other Marauders. Remus looked a bit guilty, but both James and Sirius were enjoying the attention. James was casually ruffling his already messy hair, and Sirius was shooting menacing glares at the nervous looking first years lining up near the door.
James smiled as the timid procession was escorted inwards by Dumbledore. He remembered exactly what it had felt like the first time he had entered Hogwarts, the feeling of terror, mixed with elation of the prospect of being singled out to try on the hat.
This year the hat was sitting on the same stool, looking exactly the same. So naturally, James was a little surprised when it belted out a completely different song.
First years come and gather 'round
It's time to hear a remarkable sound
For at Hogwarts, it is true
This is something you must do
Listen to the Sorting Hat
Pay attention and do not chat
For I will tell you where you shall go
And which house you shall know
Through thick and thin,
Your house will be your kin,
Stick together and you will succeed
Whether you follow or you lead
Each house has a different tone
Which one will you call your own?
Gryffindors are sure to lead
They specialize in noble deeds
Brave and loyal, just and true
This is what Gryffindors do
Ravenclaws use their minds
Digging up intellectual finds
Wisdom and truth are their gifts
Ravenclaws cause no rifts
Hufflepuffs are workers true
They will always see things through
Always fair and always kind
Even when in a bind
Slytherins will do anything to win
For them, ambitions never run thin
Sly and cunning, these people are
Their skills will always take them far
Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin
No matter which house you are in
Every house and every scholar
Will leave this school just a little bit taller
So line on up, the time is here
First years, there is nothing to fear
Try me on, I'll have a look
At every cranny and every nook
Inside your mind
Until I can find
The thing that lets me know
Just where you ought to go.
When the hat concluded it's song, the hall was filled with the noise of furious applause and cat calls. Sirius was among the loudest catcallers.
"The sorting hat is sexy!" Sirius cried, and James began to seriously doubt his friends sanity.
Perhaps the show that Sirius had been putting on was not so much a show as James had thought. The first years were still shooting him slightly terrified glances, but so were several older students as well. It seemed very much as if Sirius had lost his marbles. Still, James didn't much care. Sirius was his best friend, crazy or not.
"Alouise, Marci!" the sorting hat called.
A very small and very pretty blond first year stepped forward, her pale blue eyes wide with anticipation. She seemed to flinch when the hat touched her head, and when it called out "Gryffindor!" she fell off the stool looking a bit surprised.
James watched her as she walked shakily over to the Gryffindor table. The terms brave and bold did not seem to fit her very well from first glance. Still, he was happy that such a girl was joining Gryffindor, his house could always use more pretty girls. All of the Marauders clapped loudly along with the Gryffindor table, although they were seated apart.
Several more names were called, and James found himself growing bored. He watched Nymphadora and Bellatrix with curiosity. They were the only two first years he knew so far, and he already had strong ideas of where they would end up. Bellatrix belonged in Slytherin, no doubt, anything else would be unfathomable. Nymphadora, James hoped, would become a Gryffindor. Of course, the incident between her and Lily had been unfortunate, but it had just been a misunderstanding, Nymphadora was only doing what she had to do. He finally decided that Nymphadora would be the one to keep his sympathy.
Finally Bellatrix was called forward, and to no one's surprise, except perhaps Lily and Brittany's, she became a Slytherin. Sirius's dark haired cousin slinked off assuredly, her heavy lidded eyes shining in the light. James saw Bella flash Lily Evans a small smile and a disappointed shrug as she passed by their table, but distinctly saw Bellatrix roll her eyes when Lily was out of sight.
James felt a burning desire to stand up and curse her but restrained himself, he could see that Sirius was experiencing a similar sentiment. It was going to be infuriating having Bellatrix at Hogwarts. She was so manipulative, and sly, and there was very little that could be done against her.
Struggling to control himself, James turned his attention to the procession of first years. Lars Levin became a Ravenclaw and Scarlet Lummox a Hufflepuff.
The four Marauders waited impatiently until the familiar and well loved name of Nymphadora Tonks was called out, and a now blue haired girl skipped forward happily and tripped over her own feet. Nymphadora landed on her face and jumped up quickly to a twittering of laughter, not looking in the least phased. She plopped down on the stool and fastened the hat to her head. A moment later the hat called out "Gryffindor", and James and Sirius erupted into wild shrieks.
Nymphadora leapt up, knocking over the stool in the process, and ran over to the Gyffindor table, only once she had arrived realizing that she was still wearing the hat. Flushing red, she hurriedly returned it to it's stool.
"Good old Tonks," Sirius commented amiably, slapping James on the back with glee.
Ogg, quickly commanded them to contain themselves, and the Maruaders sat complacently once more to wait out the rest of the ceremonies.
However, after all of the first years had been sorted into houses and the students began to turn to Dumbledore, the hat called out another name, "Charles, Roderick."
A gasp went through the Great Hall when a tall boy emerged from the doorway. Roderick was tall and well built, obviously no first year. Many were surprised by the appearance of such a large and unorthodox character. However, James and Sirius gasped for another reason altogether.
The two Marauders, along with a great deal of others recognized Roderick, as the keeper from the Guatemalan Goblins Quidditch team. He was known as one of the best Quidditch players in the league.
"What is he doing here?" Sirius questioned excitedly.
"He must be a transfer," Remus answered sensibly.
James only gazed up at Roderick in awe. He had never imagined that there were Quidditch players who were still in school. Even more strange, was the fact that Roderick Charles played for Guatemala, yet he was here, in Hogwarts.
The Quidditch player walked confidently up to the sorting hat and placed it at an angle atop his head.
James could hear many of the girls giggling and commenting on Roderick's good looks. The word was quickly circulating to those who did not follow Quidditch, who exactly was sitting on the stool. Everyone grew quiet when the hat called out "Gryffindor!" Then a hysteric cheering began and James and the other Marauders joined in loudly.
However, James was quickly distracted when Dumbledore announced that it was time to eat.
Unfortunately, the four Marauders were denied the right to take part in the feast. Ogg insisted that he escort the four boys to professor Lacy's room.
Being denied access to the feast put the four boys in much damper spirits, but still they were happy to have returned to Hogwarts, faced with a whole year full of mayhem and Quidditch. James and Sirius were happy about the Quidditch part in particular, for this year they were second years, and allowed to try out for the team. Though the beater positions were already occupied, both boys aspired to overthrow the current two occupants. Their happiness, at least, could not be daunted at the prospect of being lectured by Professor Lacy.
Peter however, kept whining nervously about being expelled, and Remus simply stayed quiet. He hadn't really done anything in the first place, James reckoned, yet Remus had been there just the same.
"What will my parents say," Peter whined miserably, "If I am expelled? I'll have to live just like a squib. It will be horrible!"
Peter looked on the verge of tears, and Sirius looked incredibly annoyed.
"Shut up, will you? We're not going to be expelled!" He hissed.
James nodded. "Peter, stop being a baby."
Peter continued to whimper loudly, and finally Sirius moved forward about to clock him on the head, when Remus stopped him.
"It's alright Pete, we won't be expelled. Don't worry about it a bit. It's just Professor Lacy we are dealing with, she probably won't even give us detentions," Remus said tactfully.
That calmed Peter down a bit, and appeased Sirius.
When Professor Lacy finally arrived, she found Remus calmly reading a book entitled 100 Draughts to Befuddle Your Enemies, Peter twitching nervously in a corner, and Sirius and James playing catch with a Remembrall which they had extracted from Peter's person.
No one stopped what they were doing until she cleared her throat loudly.
Sirius jumped, and failed to the catch the Remembrall, which instead resounded off of his head with a clunk, before falling to the ground.
"No!" James called out and dove forward, catching the ball a centimeter from the floor, and then tossing it haphazardly back to Peter, who barely managed to catch it.
Professor Lacy cleared her throat loudly and the boys turned towards her sheepishly.
"Hello Professor," Remus greeted amiably.
The other boys followed his example.
"Hello boys," Lacy said with a slight smile. "I'm sorry we had to greet each other under such bad terms. That being said, I am very disappointed in your behavior towards those poor first years! As if last year's fiasco wasn't bad enough. Half of the new students were out of their minds with fear! I would have thought that as second years you would have been more responsible towards these new students. I'm afraid I must assign you each detentions with me, after tomorrow's lessons, to help teach you about the importance of being kind to first years."
"All right professor, we will be there," Remus assured her, as the others left gleefully.
"See, I told you we would get off easy!" Sirius exclaimed. "One detention a piece, with Lacy! She has got to be the nicest teacher, her detentions can't be too bad!"
"It's a good thing she's our head of house. If we had Snape we would have been expelled by now for sure," James commented sagely.
Happy, though a bit hungry, the boys finally arrived in Gryffindor tower, where students seemed to be celebrating Roderick's addition to the house. The majority of the Gryffindors seemed to be crowded around him, asking him questions. Several girls were holding out pieces of parchment adorned with Roderick's autograph, and excitedly showing off to their friends. James rolled his eyes, and led his friends away from the mayhem, but secretly, he too was tempted to approach him.
"Good thing he's not a beater, huh?" Sirius nudged James with a grin.
"Do you think he'll actually play for Gryffindor?" Peter asked hopefully.
"Of course he will." James said assuredly.
James smiled and turned around, surprised to run smack into Lily Evans.
Her face was bruised, and her scarf was slipping, revealing her choppy red hair. James winced involuntarily at the sight of her. Nymphadora had certainly done a number to Lily's face.
"What exactly happened to your hair Lily?" James blurted out without thinking, and then instantly realized that it might not have been the wisest question to ask.
Lily's already puffy face grew redder and her green eyes gleamed warningly. "Leave me alone Potter! It's your fault, but I'm sure you will not care!"
James inadvertently took a step back, running a hand through his messy hair. "Hey, I did not do a thing to your hair."
"Well, Petunia would not have chopped my hair off if you hadn't tried to kill her boyfriend!" Lily screamed.
Several of Roderick Charles' fans turned their heads to watch the commotion.
"I didn't try to kill him," James said as quietly as he could manage, a bit embarrassed at the attention they were receiving.
"You could have killed him all the same! Dropping him like that from the ceiling…"
"Hey! I wouldn't have dropped him if you hadn't taken my wand!" James screamed back, beginning to get angry.
"You are such an idiot James!" Lily yelled. "With your messy hair and your geeky glasses!"
James took a step forward, "Oh yeah, well look at you! Your hair looks like a flaming pile of garbage, and at least my face doesn't look like a pound of hamburger! You know what? I am glad that Petunia chopped your hair off and you deserved what Nymphadora did to you. I don't even care if it's my fault, I'd do it again! In fact, I would do worse. I you weren't a girl…"
James would have kept going but Remus was tugging on his sleeve, and finally the tugging grew so urgent that James was forced to catch his breath. He pushed Remus away lightly and turned back to Lily. When his eyes met hers he froze, instantly regretting everything that he had just said.
In all the time he had known Lily Evans, she had always been quick to lose her temper. Never had she failed to be furious at James for even the most innocent offenses. So when James looked at Lily, he was expecting yelling, slapping even throwing things. He was not expecting her to cry.
But Lily stood before him, not moving, just staring with her swollen lip quivering, her eyes growing moist. He watched in horror as the first tear fell down her cheek and instantly began to stutter out the beginnings of an apology.
All around him, people were staring. Even Roderick Charles had stopped signing autographs to watch the scene unfold.
"Lily… I… I … it wasn't… wait!" James called remorsefully.
Lily didn't stay to listen, she turned quickly and darted up the stairs.
Eyebrows were raised, and students muttered. Many remembered past incidents involving James in the past, and rolled their eyes, dismissing it as typical. He heard some girls talking in loud whispers about the time when James had shoved Lily, after hearing his brother had died.
Brittany, Dora and Jackie stayed long enough to shoot James evil looks before dashing up the stairs after their friend.
"He's abusive! I told you last year. I don't understand why that girl stays with him, they fight so much," one fourth year was saying a bit loudly.
James broke out of his stupor and approached the girls, who instantly ceased their gossiping. "She's not my girlfriend by the way. And yeah, you know I feel great about what just happened, I am a terrible person. I get it."
Feeling incredibly immature and peevish, James hurried up the stairs to his own dorm room, where he sulked in as much privacy as he could. Many of his fellow second years were trying to get through to him, but fortunately Sirius and Remus managed to hold them at bay.