Disclaimer- Obviously, everything you recognise belongs to the incomparable J. K Rowling but the new stuff is mine. Sorry if there are some inconsistencies with the Harry Potter series but I tried to make it match as much as possible.
Thanks for visiting and please read on! Chapter Three- Back with a BangThe first lesson of the year, much to Sirius's dismay, was Herbology. Grumbling noisily, the Gryffindor seventh years slowly made their way out onto the grounds, and towards the greenhouses. The Hufflepuffs, who were sharing the subject with the Gryffindors this year, were perhaps a little more enthusiastic. Remus however, strongly believed that this was because Professor Sprout, who was head of Hufflepuff, consistently gave her students good marks. This was, Remus declared, to prove that the 'ruddy house was alright in at least one subject'. The air was cold and chilly, and this did nothing to improve anyone's mood.
The pupils made their way across the ice cold grass, their breath puffing out before them in great clouds. Pulling his cloaks closer around himself, James pulled open the frosty door of Green House Three, and immediately seated himself in his usual back row seat. Even Remus looked grouchy, and as wisps of his sandy brown hair fell across his grey eyes, he pushed them away angrily. The Marauders felt it was best to leave Remus alone when he was in this mood.
Slowly, the classroom began to fill with drowsy students, most looking unaccustomed to the early school hours. Sirius pointed out quickly, that Sophie Miller had dressed herself rather peculiarly- her cloak was on backwards and a beanie was jammed on her head, to hide her unkempt blonde hair. Charlotte perhaps would have said something, had she managed to keep her eyes open for more than two seconds. James had to wonder how the ditz had managed to make her way down to the greenhouses in such a state. Without realising it, he began to look for Lily's vibrant red hair and beautiful green eyes. He soon spotted her- the girl's attractive head was hard to miss. James noted, happily, that she (like himself) was wide awake, dressed perfectly normally and that her cheeks were a rosy red from the chilly morning weather. Rose, was also looking happy to be back at school- a sentiment James couldn't help but share (he was in the same room as Lily!) Priya, however, didn't seem to be faring as well. Her black hair looked almost wild, as if it had been pulled into a ponytail, but the strands were trying desperately to arrange themselves into an afro. Priya muttered something in Rose's ear, then placing her arms on the table, laid her head down, and fell asleep. James smiled. Chris, noticing James's intent staring, tried to hide a smirk.
"Think I might follow suit," he grinned, "if anything interesting pops up, you know, someone dying from a killer plant, just let me know." He then assumed a position identical to Priya's, and promptly fell asleep.
It was then that Professor Sprout made her grand arrival. Managing to keep a happy face despite her class's obvious lack of enthusiasm, she began the lesson.
"Now, boys and girls, I think that before we get down and dirty"- here, Sirius couldn't help but laugh, but was ignored by the rest of the sleepy class- "we will be revising some general properties of plants we have studied throughout your years at Hogwarts. Take out your quills and parchments- copious notes will be required today, if you plan to receive an Outstanding Newt for Herbology."
Sirius, who was sitting on James's left, scribbled his mate a note.
No good lesson ever follows if a teacher begins like that.
James, sighing, hastily replied- Tell me about it. Remind me again why we took this stupid subject?
Well, it was supposed to be a bludge, and we needed one last subject to complete our Newt course. I also seem to recall that a primary factor for your decision was that Lily decided to take Herbology. I have no idea why, but maybe because Rose enjoys learning about properties of Fig leaf trees so very much that she convinced her friends to learn with her, unwittingly deciding our fates as well, coz you follow whatever the Great Lily does.
I'll just disregard that statement and go off on a ramble…Aargh, think I might just go to sleep like Chris. This is stupid. As if I'm going to be stopped by a guy like Voldemort, and asked to recite the ingredients of a Mandrake Restorative Draught before I'm hit with the Avada Kedavra. groans. This is ridiculous. No Auror has ever bothered with a gay subject like Herbology.
For once, your ramble holds some shred of truth. Wake me up if someone proposes to me. yawns.
That should be a while, take your time mate.
Oh shut up. Am. Too. Tired…
With that, James found himself seated next to two guys, both fast asleep, Chris snoring slightly. Telling himself fervently that he had nothing better to do, James proceeded to stare at Lily Evans's head, with an idea of copying Moony's 'copious notes' later. Before he knew it, he was daydreaming about their first date...kiss...
"Yes, of course sir, if you wish it," Chris was muttering in his sleep. James, jerked out of his daydreams, prodded his new friend with his finger, in an attempt to break him out of his dream. However, before he could successfully do so, Professor Sprout interrupted-
"And that concludes our lesson for today, dears. Your homework is simple, just hand in your notes from today, in to me next lesson- I would like to make sure you have not copied down any errors- for those pieces of paper will act as a study guide for your exams. Have a great day," Professor Sprout said brightly. As soon as she had finished her last word, the class raced to the doors, in a frantic attempt to escape the stuffy greenhouse.
Much to James's delight, the Marauders found themselves walking beside Lily and her friends after class. He decided now was the perfect opportunity to start a conversation with Lily. Sirius noticed this, and elbowed Remus, indicating for him to follow James. Remus smiled, and followed.
"Evans, could I just say something?" James began. Even Sirius could tell from Lily's expression that this was not going to go down well.
"I'm not stopping you."
James, continued, in an abrupt manner, "I reckon you should sit behind me in future. That'll stop me from staring at your pretty little head!" he ordered. Remus sighed, how thick could James get? How did he expect Lily to like him if he acted like this?
Sirius however, saw an opportunity to create trouble. "Yeah, Lils, James told me how you were totally coming onto him. You know, flicking your hair, twirling strands of it around your face, turning around every once in a while to smile flirtatiously…" Rose watched Lily explode (metaphorically speaking), and grabbled a hold of her wrist.
"Don't give into them," she whispered frantically.
Priya walked up angrily beside Sirius and spoke, her voice dangerously soft- "Black, you've just successfully created the events which set the World Wizarding & Witch War Three into motion! You idiot!"
Remus, seeing Lily's eyes flash dangerously, and her lips part in order to prepare for a shouting rampage, acted quickly to save his own skin. A showdown of wits (a rather loud showdown to be precise) was not on his top priority list to witness. Grabbing a part of Wormtail's cloak, he said quickly, "we're going to the library to refine our notes. See you guys round, okay." And with that, the two of them sped quickly away, towards the castle. Chris looked preoccupied and vague, but also decided to make a quick exit-"I've gotta go, think a bit. Be back at lunch…"
"Hey, you guys, come back! What about History of Magic?" Rose questioned, as the group dispersed quickly.
"Hah, after that torturing experience, do you honestly think anyone is going to go listen to Binns ramble on about Goblin rebellions for the fiftieth time? I think not sweetie," Sirius laughed, and then turned to Priya, "I think our work here is done. Arise, good lady, and let us take a pleasant stroll."
"Our work?" Priya said incredulously, weakly punching Sirius's arm. Still, she took his hand, and the two of them began to walk quickly along the path. Unfortunately, they were not quick enough, and were distinctly able to make out James's yells, Lily's shrieks and Rose's attempts at peace making.
"Excuse me? Excuse me? What on earth do you expect me to say to that, you dickhead. I'd prefer it if you didn't stalk me in the future!" Lily was screeching.
"Stalk you? Who the hell do you take me for, Peter?"
"Aww, come on guys, you're just mucking around…forget about it, this is ridiculous."
"Shut up, for once in your life!" James and Lily shouted together, agreeing on something for the first time ever. Hurt, Rose walked off in a temper, but was unnoticed by the arguing pair.
"Wow, what a great way to treat your best friend, Evans. Now I know why you don't have a boyfriend! You've got no loyalty whatsoever- you're a crappy mate."
"Me? A crappy friend? You just compared Peter Pettigrew to a stalker."
"Who told you he was my friend? Padfoot and Moony are. That useless pile of fat just follows us around. And I'd never yell at my mates like that."
Lily snorted. "Oh yea, what about…"
"Urgh, let's get back to the common room Priya. I don't know how much of this pointless bickering I can stand," Sirius moaned.
"I second that, oh valiant knight. Onward to the castle we go, and escape the fiery dragons thither," Priya said with a smile.
"That, my friend, does not even make sense," Sirius teased.
"Who said it had to? I adore speaking nonsense."
Rose, not willing to return to the castle, and run the risk of running onto James and her 'supposed friend' Lily, chose to wander around the grounds aimlessly. The nerve of Lily, what right did she have to shout at her like that? And she'd just been trying to help. Stupid idiots and they were fighting over such a ridiculous topic anyway. By the end of the day, they wouldn't even be able to remember why it started. It was absolutely crazy. Absorbed in her thoughts, Rose did not notice that her meandering had taken her to the lakeside, until a few moments had passed. She peered across the glassy water, and noticed a figure sitting beneath one of the willow trees. Curious to see who else had come to the lake to think, Rose walked around the water's edge quickly. As she neared the figure, she realised it was Chris. Heart fluttering, she froze, not sure whether to strike up a conversation, or to turn and head back towards the castle. Chris had left, after all, in pursuit of some time alone. However, she was saved from making the difficult decision as Chris's voice broke into her thoughts.
"Jedding, isn't it? Come on, sit down. The lake looks beautiful from here; you can see mist shrouding it like a blanket. Besides, I could use some company."
Rose hoped she wasn't blushing, and quickly sat down beside him. "Are you alright?" she asked, "You looked a little vague and dreamy before."
"Oh no, I fell asleep in Herbology you know, I must have still been feeling a little disorientated when you saw me." Even though this didn't explain the boy's need to be alone, Rose did not question him further. Some things should be left alone. Instead she began on a new thread of conversation-"You're lucky you left when you did. James and Lily are at it again. I tried to intervene, but only succeeded in getting my head bitten off. The rest of the gang managed to disappear as soon as the fighting started."
Chris smiled, and Rose noticed a beautiful sparkling in his piercing green eyes. "Those two are so pathetic. When Lily's not around, James is constantly pining after her, and when she is, he acts like such an arse…and the rest is history, I guess. I think it's insane- they sound like an old married couple. In fact, they sound like my parents used to."
"Used to?" Rose questioned curiously, not sure whether it was polite to inquire.
"Yeah, used to. They were brutally killed during the War of the Shadows a few months ago," Chris said softly, almost to himself. Rose's muscles grew tense- the majority of lives which had been lost during that war were Dark Wizards. Surely Chris was not the type to be involved in the Dark Arts? The boy read her thoughts correctly and continued quickly-"Oh no, they were never Dark Wizards. They were Aurors, the best there were. Well, perhaps I'm a bit biased-the Potters could give them a run for their money…but they were still damn good."
"I'm sure they were," Rose said softly.
"It's kinda ironic really; they were killed in the line of fire- by one of their own. I saw it happen. I'll never forget the looks of shock on their faces…Every time I think I've gotten over it…their faces return to my dreams, screaming. They're always screaming." Chris drifted off into a haze of nostalgic dreams…
"Your parents died, trying to fight it… but you cannot. The only way you will ever accomplish your revenge is by completing your duty at Hogwarts…Remember boy…" a cold voice in Chris's head spoke.
Rose could tell that the boy was upset, but knew that he would rather die than admit it- some kind of perverse macho quality that she'd had plenty of experience dealing with (she did have two very peculiar brothers, after all). Trying to lighten the mood, she ignored Chris brushing something from his eye and said quickly, "Parents aren't really all that they're advertised to be, really. They're bloody annoying most of the time. I know Black's parents only write to him to ask about his grades- and mine are exactly the same. You're lucky, really, in a strange kind of a way. You've got the kind of freedom most of us dream of."
"Not really. After my parents' death, I was sent to live with my Aunt Victoria- and she has some pretty high expectations. She was the one who enrolled me here, rather than at my old school back home. But whenever times get rough, I chuck the 'you're not my mum so don't act like you are' line at her. It works every, single time," Chris explained, his dazzling smile returning. Glad her comment had had the effect she had wished, Rose answered, "Gees you're evil."
"You have no idea," Chris rejoined.
"Come on, even James and Lily should have stopped their fighting by now. I'm kinda cold, let's head back to the Common Room," Rose responded.
Upon their return to the Portrait of the Fat Lady, both Rose and Chris were astounded to see Priya and Sirius pacing the hallway, arms linked and expressions cloudy. From within the Common Room, sounds of freakish fighting could be heard. It sounded like James was venting his anger by smashing anything and everything in his sight.
"Oh my goodness, you have no idea how horrible it's been," Priya gushed, when she saw the pair arrive.
"For once, the girl does not exaggerate. I mean, things are getting out of hand! Lily has already slapped James twice, but he's trying extremely hard not to hit her back. So instead, he's breaking everything he sees."
"Ssh, listen," Priya implored, her dark brown eyes brimming with tears.
"Shut up James, it's not as if I asked you to like me. I couldn't give a dam about you! You could go drown in a hole for all I care."
"Look, it's not as if I want to be in love with you, you, you, you, thick brick!" James replied, sounding extremely exasperated.
"Thick brick?" Chris asked Sirius, his eyebrows in great danger of disappearing into his hair.
"Ok, the time has come for serious intervention," Sirius began.
"Tell me about it!" Priya agreed, "My best quill is in there…if James lays a hand on it, he is dead meat."
"Well then," Sirius ordered, "we better act quickly. A quill is it stake, dudes." The boy then began to make queer symbols with his fingers and hands- first he tapped his nose, then his head, and then made a peculiar swimming stroke motion. "Those clear?"
"Black, what the hell are you on about?" Rose asked, rolling her eyes.
"I thought it was apparent, we'll go in together- you girls take Lily, while Chris and I take Prongs."
"Aaah yes, it was crystal clear," Chris said sarcastically.
"If you ask me, I thought you were doing a remix of the Chicken Dance," Priya rejoined.
"Chicken Dance? Hurrlo, that was sooo last century," Sirius explained, with such an uncanny resemblance to Sophie Miller, that the other three had to smile.
"We'll enter on the count of three then?" Rose instructed, "One, two THREE-"
"INTERVENTION!" they all yelled, running into the Common Room. Chris and Sirius immediately grabbed one of James's arms each. Priya yelled Accio Wand, as Rose tried to hug Lily in an attempt to calm her. But Priya, who had never been very good at things like duelling, was too late. There was a blinding flash of light, and suddenly, James began to sing uncontrollably.
"Evans!" he trilled, to the tune of 'Mary had a little lamb', "if you don't take this charm off me, I will hex you! I will, seriously! Take it off! You know I'm abysmal at counter-charms."
"No," Lily answered stubbornly, not even considering whether she would reverse the spell. Meanwhile, Chris and Sirius were nearly wetting themselves with laughter, while Rose and Priya tried hard to maintain straight faces.
"Well, I'll see you tonight then," James sang, clambering out of the portrait hole, with Sirius following quickly.
"What was that, some kind of seductive way to get me into bed?" Lily asked savagely.
"No, you idiot, you've got a meeting with him and Dumbledore tonight!" Rose snapped; still a little mad at Lily for her earlier rudeness.
"Shit!" Lily yelled, "And don't any of you dare say, I tried to warn you, else I will hex you too."
Standing in front of the portrait hole, Chris cleared his throat. "I'll see you guys round then- Evans, D'souza. Bye Rose!" He turned and clambered out of the Common Room.
"Did you hear that? He called me Rose! And he called you guys by your last names!" Rose shrieked.
Priya grinned a smile, identical to the one she had given Lily (when teasing her about Potter) that very morning. "Ooh, someone's got the hots for Rose! Charlotte's going to be ever so disappointed."
"Sorry to be a killjoy, but I think I have priority here," Lily interrupted, while Priya and Rose sat down, exchanging knowing glances. "My life is coming to an end," Lily said dramatically, "and there's absolutely nothing anyone can do about it."
A/N Argh Lily sounds a bit bitchy, doesn't she? Oh well, she's just mad, don't flame her or anything. Gosh I love Sirius, he is so cool, he cracks me up in other stories, so I am trying to make him comical. Please let me know what you think. Please read and review- this is my first ever story and I need all the encouragement I can get! J