Disclaimer – we do not own any of the characters or settings that you
recognise in this story they are from the 'Harry Potter' series by J.K
Rowling.
A.N. This is our first fan fiction and we hope that you'll enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed writing it. We are sure that you will realise this when you are reading it but we are in complete awe of the marauders – well all except Pettigrew! Most of all James! We do also have a soft spot for good old Padfoot! Enjoy and please review with any ideas!
'Maraudering' About
"Shhh!"
"Ouch, you just stood on my foot"
"Well, walk in a straight line then!"
"It wasn't my..."
"SHUT UP! Someone will hear us!" Three grumbling voices broke the silence of the tranquil school grounds. The voices drifted until they reached the large willow tree on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The tree was thrashing its branches wildly, daring any trespasses to come near them. Until suddenly a small white rat appeared and ran to the bottom of the trees trunk. The branches stopped still as a dog and stag appeared from thin air, they moved to the bottom of the tree and disappeared with a last cry of: "Remus will have been waiting for ages!" A last swish of a black tail and all was still until the branches began to move threateningly, once again.
* * * * *
The castle was bustling with people as they hurried to their lessons on Monday morning. Among these were three very tired friends, trudging to History of Magic with the hope of sleeping through the entire lesson.
"Hey James, Sirius, Peter! Hold on!" shouted a sandy haired boy running towards the group.
"Hi Frank! Where are you off to in a hurry?" James asked chuckling at him, as he tried to catch his breath.
"Defence... against the... da...da...Dark Arts!" he spluttered breathing heavily. "Where's Remus?" James looked at Peter, Peter looked at Sirius and Sirius looked at James.
"His grandma's ill," they answered in unison.
"So why are you rushing to lessons?" Sirius asked, hurrying to change the subject.
"Trying to get a seat next to Alice," Frank muttered, blushing.
"Oh yeh!" Sirius smile, cheekily, "So how's it going? You getting any further?"
"Well, she asked if she could borrow one of my lacewings in Potions the other day, so I think she knows I exist now at least!" he beamed proudly.
"Well done!" Sirius answered, sarcastically, "Before we know it you'll be married!"
"You really think so?" Frank asked excitedly, oblivious to the sarcastic tone in Sirius' voice. The three boys laughed and carried on to class.
* * * * *
Lily sat staring at her food. She wasn't hungry but she thought she'd come to the Great Hall with her friends anyway. Well, that and the fact that he might be there. He wasn't yet but she could wait, she knew it would be worth it even for a glimpse of him.
* * * * *
The Marauders entered the Great Hall for lunch, as usual everyone turned to stare, mostly the girls of course. Sirius winked at a group of blondes on the Ravenclaw table, they all exploded into a fit of giggles. As he sat down James saw her sitting a little further down the Gryffindor table. Her green eyes glowing with laughter, he felt his stomach flip and his face burn.
"Oi, loverboy!" Sirius yelled, hitting James over the head with a breadstick.
"Ouch, what was that for?" James turned to his friend, tearing his eyes away from the red haired girl.
"What do you think it was for?" Sirius laughed, "You were practically drooling into your soup!"
"I was not!" James protested.
"If you say so," Sirius said, holding his arms up in surrender. He continued to smirk much to James' annoyance. James was so busy trying to flick peas into Sirius' hair that he didn't notice that his stare was being returned. Lily's stomach fluttered.
* * * * *
"Earth to Lily...Lily...LILY!" yelled Samantha; Lily's impatient blonde haired friend.
"What?" retorted Lily.
"You're doing it again! Why don't you just go and talk to him – he's only human you know?!"
"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm not looking at anybody" and with that Lily grabbed her book bag and said a hasty goodbye to her small group of close friends and exited the Hall, alone, with every contour of her mind, filled with James Potter.
* * * * *
"I'll meet you back in the common room Padfoot, See you in a bit," James said walking out of the Great Hall.
"Ok Prongs, be there in a bit!" Sirius answered to James' retreating back. James' feet wondered aimlessly through the halls while his mind was in a different place all together. If Sirius had noticed that he kept staring at Lily, then maybe others had too. Especially as the only thing Sirius usually noticed was his own reflection. He had hardly ever spoken to her; she probably didn't even want to know. He had never known this kind of feeling, was it nerves? James Potter never got nervous, or at least not until he had met Lily!
"Ooof!" James ran into a figure as he turned the corner, knocking them flying. He snapped out of his daydreaming, or had he? As sat on the floor in front of him was a very flustered looking ...
"Lily! Oh my God, I am so sorry!" James said, all the time worrying about what a fool she must think he was.
"No my fault, wasn't watching where I was going," Lily smiled, taking James' outstretched hand. His hand was warm and soft; Lily blushed as he pulled her to her feet.
"Thanks," she muttered, remembering to breathe. Lily started to pick up the books she had dropped, that were scattered over the floor. James bent down to help her, they both reached for her Transfiguration book and James felt her hand beneath his. For a second, they were knelt staring lost in each other's eyes.
"Hey James!" Remus appeared round the corner, making the two jump. James scrambled to his feet handing Lily's books to her.
"Hey Remus! You feeling better?" James asked hurriedly.
"I'll see you around," Lily stammered, before rushing away.
"Yeh bye," James sighed.
"Sorry Prongs, did I interrupt something then?" Remus nudged James cheekily.
"I don't know," James answered, and he really didn't.
* * * * * Lily, Sam and Estelle were on their way to the library on Saturday afternoon, hoping to get on top of their never ending workload. As they were walking down the corridor they could her sniggering coming from around the corner. The girls turned the corner, to find the Marauders crouched behind the statue of Wendelin the Weird waiting with baited breath.
"What are you lot up to?" Sam asked them curiously.
"Quick!" Remus mouthed, pulling the girls behind the statue next to them. Before they could ask what on earth was happening . . .
"BANG!" The door of the nearest toilets flew out of its frame and water gushed out of the room. The Marauders burst into laughter and the girls followed suit. They were all sprawled on the floor roaring with laughter.
"What...what...?" Estelle couldn't breath, she tried to get her words out through her laughter, "...What did you do?" She finally breathed.
"Wet...Filibuster...Wet Start...Firework," Sirius tried.
"Down...toilet!" James finished, wiping tears of laughter off his rosy cheeks. The group finally started to contain themselves, when out of the toilet appeared a grubby, slimy, wet and very angry Severus Snape. The Marauders, Lily, Sam and Estelle took one look at Snape and then back at each other and burst out laughing all over again. Snape gave them a disgusted stare and squelched off down the corridor to fits of laughter.
"Aww, poor Severus," Lily said after she had caught her breath, her stomach aching.
"We didn't think they was anybody in there!" Peter said, fresh tears pouring from his eyes. As they were standing up to make a move...
"BLACK, POTTER, LUPIN, PETTIGREW!" came the roar from someone who certainly wasn't in the laughing mood.
"Shit, McGonagall!" they all muttered panicking.
"Quick run!" Remus yelled. The group went running up the stairs, Sirius yelled "Scourgify" over his shoulder, the water cleared and the door flew back into place.
"When I catch you four, you will be in detention for life, and at the rate you're going that life won't be lasting very long!" McGonagall's voice echoed up the stairs after them.
"We're going to have to split up," Sirius yelled, pulling Sam into a nearby classroom. Remus, Estelle and Peter ran down another corridor.
"This way!" James said, taking Lily's hand and pulling her to a nearby statue. "Semarum," he whispered pointing his wand at the statue. The statue jumped out of its place revealing a large hole in the wall.
"Down here," James said dragging a bewildered Lily behind the statue, as it jumped back into place.
"What...how...what?!" Lily stammered pointing at the closing gap. James laughed at Lily's expression.
"Long story!" After a five minute walk they clambered out from behind a suit of armour, just next to the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"I don't know how you four do it but, you're good!" Lily laughed. "Gillyweed!" The two entered the common room and just as the fell onto the sofa the portrait door swung open again and McGonagall stormed in.
"YOU!" she yelled, pointing her finger at James.
"Hey Miner...Professor!" James said, luckily remembering not to push his look.
"I don't know what you have been up to!" she shouted, her lips pursed into a paper-thin line.
"I haven't done anything Professor, honest. I've..." James tried
"He's been here with me since lunch, Professor," Lily interrupted.
"He...Miss Evan's...I...very well," she said in defeat. "You are very lucky Mr. Potter, funny that, how you're here and the rest of your friends have been in the library since lunch with Sam and Estelle. I didn't think you four knew where the library was, but as I have no proof except for a very wet Severus Snape, I have no option but to not pursue this. But be warned potter, I'm watching you!" It was all Lily could do to stifle a snigger, next to her she heard James turn a snigger into a very loud coughing fit.
"Yes well, after Miss Pomfrey dried him up, wet through he was poor thing, even his shoes were squelching." She finished turning, with a last stern look and climbed through the portrait hole. When the door had closed firmly behind her the two collapsed back on to the couch laughing uncontrollably.
"Sirius...in the library!" James laughed, "Thanks for that by the way."
"Squelching shoes!" Lily said, and they both roared with laughter once more, neither realising how happy the other was at that precise moment. * * * * *
"Hey you two!" Sirius said as he clambered through the portrait door, followed by Sam, Peter, Remus and Estelle.
"Hi, you lot get away with it too then?" James grinned from his very comfortable position on the couch next to Lily.
"Just!" Remus laughed, "Sirius and Sam just got to the library before McGonagall. You cut it short Padfoot, took you a long time to get there from the third floor didn't it?"
"Ahem, well we... err... got slightly distracted!" Sirius grinned at Sam who smirked back. James shook his head in despair, what was he going to do with his best friend and his wandering hands?!
* * * * *
It was about midnight and Lily and her friends had been sat chatting animatedly to the Marauders for hours. Lily was sat on the couch with Estelle on one side of her and James on the other. She was sat so close to him she could feel the heat radiating from his body and his arm kept brushing hers, sending shivers down her spine; making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Lily was grinning like a Cheshire cat- she couldn't help it. She was really getting to know James and the Marauders, they didn't hold anything back, they loved talking about themselves and Lily loved to listen.
* * * * *
James didn't hear a word of the conversations flying between the group he was in. Everyone's words were just going right over his head. All he could see was Lily's hair glowing by the light of the fire, and the intense look in her green eyes as she listened closely to what everyone had to say. She took an interest in everyone, even when Sirius was chatting on about different types of dungbombs, her eyes lit up. Slowly but surely everyone began to make their way up to bed. Lily was just about to say goodnight, as her and James were the only people left, when James put his hand on hers,
"I wanted to thank you for giving me an 'alibi' to McGonagall before," James mumbled feeling a blush creeping up his next. He gave her hand a squeeze and a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Night, Lil," James said walking up the dormitory stairs, grinning from ear to ear.
"No problem," Lily whispered, her hand on her cheek where he had just planted a kiss, staring at the stairs James had walked up, a feeling of utter disbelief.
A.N. This is our first fan fiction and we hope that you'll enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed writing it. We are sure that you will realise this when you are reading it but we are in complete awe of the marauders – well all except Pettigrew! Most of all James! We do also have a soft spot for good old Padfoot! Enjoy and please review with any ideas!
'Maraudering' About
"Shhh!"
"Ouch, you just stood on my foot"
"Well, walk in a straight line then!"
"It wasn't my..."
"SHUT UP! Someone will hear us!" Three grumbling voices broke the silence of the tranquil school grounds. The voices drifted until they reached the large willow tree on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The tree was thrashing its branches wildly, daring any trespasses to come near them. Until suddenly a small white rat appeared and ran to the bottom of the trees trunk. The branches stopped still as a dog and stag appeared from thin air, they moved to the bottom of the tree and disappeared with a last cry of: "Remus will have been waiting for ages!" A last swish of a black tail and all was still until the branches began to move threateningly, once again.
* * * * *
The castle was bustling with people as they hurried to their lessons on Monday morning. Among these were three very tired friends, trudging to History of Magic with the hope of sleeping through the entire lesson.
"Hey James, Sirius, Peter! Hold on!" shouted a sandy haired boy running towards the group.
"Hi Frank! Where are you off to in a hurry?" James asked chuckling at him, as he tried to catch his breath.
"Defence... against the... da...da...Dark Arts!" he spluttered breathing heavily. "Where's Remus?" James looked at Peter, Peter looked at Sirius and Sirius looked at James.
"His grandma's ill," they answered in unison.
"So why are you rushing to lessons?" Sirius asked, hurrying to change the subject.
"Trying to get a seat next to Alice," Frank muttered, blushing.
"Oh yeh!" Sirius smile, cheekily, "So how's it going? You getting any further?"
"Well, she asked if she could borrow one of my lacewings in Potions the other day, so I think she knows I exist now at least!" he beamed proudly.
"Well done!" Sirius answered, sarcastically, "Before we know it you'll be married!"
"You really think so?" Frank asked excitedly, oblivious to the sarcastic tone in Sirius' voice. The three boys laughed and carried on to class.
* * * * *
Lily sat staring at her food. She wasn't hungry but she thought she'd come to the Great Hall with her friends anyway. Well, that and the fact that he might be there. He wasn't yet but she could wait, she knew it would be worth it even for a glimpse of him.
* * * * *
The Marauders entered the Great Hall for lunch, as usual everyone turned to stare, mostly the girls of course. Sirius winked at a group of blondes on the Ravenclaw table, they all exploded into a fit of giggles. As he sat down James saw her sitting a little further down the Gryffindor table. Her green eyes glowing with laughter, he felt his stomach flip and his face burn.
"Oi, loverboy!" Sirius yelled, hitting James over the head with a breadstick.
"Ouch, what was that for?" James turned to his friend, tearing his eyes away from the red haired girl.
"What do you think it was for?" Sirius laughed, "You were practically drooling into your soup!"
"I was not!" James protested.
"If you say so," Sirius said, holding his arms up in surrender. He continued to smirk much to James' annoyance. James was so busy trying to flick peas into Sirius' hair that he didn't notice that his stare was being returned. Lily's stomach fluttered.
* * * * *
"Earth to Lily...Lily...LILY!" yelled Samantha; Lily's impatient blonde haired friend.
"What?" retorted Lily.
"You're doing it again! Why don't you just go and talk to him – he's only human you know?!"
"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm not looking at anybody" and with that Lily grabbed her book bag and said a hasty goodbye to her small group of close friends and exited the Hall, alone, with every contour of her mind, filled with James Potter.
* * * * *
"I'll meet you back in the common room Padfoot, See you in a bit," James said walking out of the Great Hall.
"Ok Prongs, be there in a bit!" Sirius answered to James' retreating back. James' feet wondered aimlessly through the halls while his mind was in a different place all together. If Sirius had noticed that he kept staring at Lily, then maybe others had too. Especially as the only thing Sirius usually noticed was his own reflection. He had hardly ever spoken to her; she probably didn't even want to know. He had never known this kind of feeling, was it nerves? James Potter never got nervous, or at least not until he had met Lily!
"Ooof!" James ran into a figure as he turned the corner, knocking them flying. He snapped out of his daydreaming, or had he? As sat on the floor in front of him was a very flustered looking ...
"Lily! Oh my God, I am so sorry!" James said, all the time worrying about what a fool she must think he was.
"No my fault, wasn't watching where I was going," Lily smiled, taking James' outstretched hand. His hand was warm and soft; Lily blushed as he pulled her to her feet.
"Thanks," she muttered, remembering to breathe. Lily started to pick up the books she had dropped, that were scattered over the floor. James bent down to help her, they both reached for her Transfiguration book and James felt her hand beneath his. For a second, they were knelt staring lost in each other's eyes.
"Hey James!" Remus appeared round the corner, making the two jump. James scrambled to his feet handing Lily's books to her.
"Hey Remus! You feeling better?" James asked hurriedly.
"I'll see you around," Lily stammered, before rushing away.
"Yeh bye," James sighed.
"Sorry Prongs, did I interrupt something then?" Remus nudged James cheekily.
"I don't know," James answered, and he really didn't.
* * * * * Lily, Sam and Estelle were on their way to the library on Saturday afternoon, hoping to get on top of their never ending workload. As they were walking down the corridor they could her sniggering coming from around the corner. The girls turned the corner, to find the Marauders crouched behind the statue of Wendelin the Weird waiting with baited breath.
"What are you lot up to?" Sam asked them curiously.
"Quick!" Remus mouthed, pulling the girls behind the statue next to them. Before they could ask what on earth was happening . . .
"BANG!" The door of the nearest toilets flew out of its frame and water gushed out of the room. The Marauders burst into laughter and the girls followed suit. They were all sprawled on the floor roaring with laughter.
"What...what...?" Estelle couldn't breath, she tried to get her words out through her laughter, "...What did you do?" She finally breathed.
"Wet...Filibuster...Wet Start...Firework," Sirius tried.
"Down...toilet!" James finished, wiping tears of laughter off his rosy cheeks. The group finally started to contain themselves, when out of the toilet appeared a grubby, slimy, wet and very angry Severus Snape. The Marauders, Lily, Sam and Estelle took one look at Snape and then back at each other and burst out laughing all over again. Snape gave them a disgusted stare and squelched off down the corridor to fits of laughter.
"Aww, poor Severus," Lily said after she had caught her breath, her stomach aching.
"We didn't think they was anybody in there!" Peter said, fresh tears pouring from his eyes. As they were standing up to make a move...
"BLACK, POTTER, LUPIN, PETTIGREW!" came the roar from someone who certainly wasn't in the laughing mood.
"Shit, McGonagall!" they all muttered panicking.
"Quick run!" Remus yelled. The group went running up the stairs, Sirius yelled "Scourgify" over his shoulder, the water cleared and the door flew back into place.
"When I catch you four, you will be in detention for life, and at the rate you're going that life won't be lasting very long!" McGonagall's voice echoed up the stairs after them.
"We're going to have to split up," Sirius yelled, pulling Sam into a nearby classroom. Remus, Estelle and Peter ran down another corridor.
"This way!" James said, taking Lily's hand and pulling her to a nearby statue. "Semarum," he whispered pointing his wand at the statue. The statue jumped out of its place revealing a large hole in the wall.
"Down here," James said dragging a bewildered Lily behind the statue, as it jumped back into place.
"What...how...what?!" Lily stammered pointing at the closing gap. James laughed at Lily's expression.
"Long story!" After a five minute walk they clambered out from behind a suit of armour, just next to the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"I don't know how you four do it but, you're good!" Lily laughed. "Gillyweed!" The two entered the common room and just as the fell onto the sofa the portrait door swung open again and McGonagall stormed in.
"YOU!" she yelled, pointing her finger at James.
"Hey Miner...Professor!" James said, luckily remembering not to push his look.
"I don't know what you have been up to!" she shouted, her lips pursed into a paper-thin line.
"I haven't done anything Professor, honest. I've..." James tried
"He's been here with me since lunch, Professor," Lily interrupted.
"He...Miss Evan's...I...very well," she said in defeat. "You are very lucky Mr. Potter, funny that, how you're here and the rest of your friends have been in the library since lunch with Sam and Estelle. I didn't think you four knew where the library was, but as I have no proof except for a very wet Severus Snape, I have no option but to not pursue this. But be warned potter, I'm watching you!" It was all Lily could do to stifle a snigger, next to her she heard James turn a snigger into a very loud coughing fit.
"Yes well, after Miss Pomfrey dried him up, wet through he was poor thing, even his shoes were squelching." She finished turning, with a last stern look and climbed through the portrait hole. When the door had closed firmly behind her the two collapsed back on to the couch laughing uncontrollably.
"Sirius...in the library!" James laughed, "Thanks for that by the way."
"Squelching shoes!" Lily said, and they both roared with laughter once more, neither realising how happy the other was at that precise moment. * * * * *
"Hey you two!" Sirius said as he clambered through the portrait door, followed by Sam, Peter, Remus and Estelle.
"Hi, you lot get away with it too then?" James grinned from his very comfortable position on the couch next to Lily.
"Just!" Remus laughed, "Sirius and Sam just got to the library before McGonagall. You cut it short Padfoot, took you a long time to get there from the third floor didn't it?"
"Ahem, well we... err... got slightly distracted!" Sirius grinned at Sam who smirked back. James shook his head in despair, what was he going to do with his best friend and his wandering hands?!
* * * * *
It was about midnight and Lily and her friends had been sat chatting animatedly to the Marauders for hours. Lily was sat on the couch with Estelle on one side of her and James on the other. She was sat so close to him she could feel the heat radiating from his body and his arm kept brushing hers, sending shivers down her spine; making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Lily was grinning like a Cheshire cat- she couldn't help it. She was really getting to know James and the Marauders, they didn't hold anything back, they loved talking about themselves and Lily loved to listen.
* * * * *
James didn't hear a word of the conversations flying between the group he was in. Everyone's words were just going right over his head. All he could see was Lily's hair glowing by the light of the fire, and the intense look in her green eyes as she listened closely to what everyone had to say. She took an interest in everyone, even when Sirius was chatting on about different types of dungbombs, her eyes lit up. Slowly but surely everyone began to make their way up to bed. Lily was just about to say goodnight, as her and James were the only people left, when James put his hand on hers,
"I wanted to thank you for giving me an 'alibi' to McGonagall before," James mumbled feeling a blush creeping up his next. He gave her hand a squeeze and a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Night, Lil," James said walking up the dormitory stairs, grinning from ear to ear.
"No problem," Lily whispered, her hand on her cheek where he had just planted a kiss, staring at the stairs James had walked up, a feeling of utter disbelief.