Disclaimer: I own nothing…
A/N: Thank you guys for reviewing! My loving reviewers from UL and my new ones! Hope you guys like this chapter!! Btw, if anyone has any plot ideas, you know, not major plot points, just a Marauder's prank or one of their moon adventure-things, put it in your review or email me at Cajun_Rogue@hotmail.com
One night in late September, our favorite group of teenagers sat in the full Gryffindor common room, supposedly doing homework. Lily, Ava, and their dorm mates—Marie Grey and Eliza Noel—sat in the large, comfortable chairs, talking and looking down at their homework every few minutes to jot something down. Across the room, the Marauders sat, James was staring at Lily, Sirius was looking pensive, and Remus was trying to help Peter with his homework.
"Lily, he's staring again," Marie said, gesturing across the common room to James. Marie was medium height, medium sized, brown haired, brown eyed girl who was a bit stuck-up. Lily and Ava weren't very fond of her. Lily and Ava really thought she had a crush on James or one of the other Marauders. She was always looking at them or talking about them or laughing at their stupid jokes. She may have even liked all four of them.
"Watch when we graduate, he'll stalk you," Ava said with a smile. Lily glared at her. It was only the first month of school and Ava had already made countless insinuations about Lily and James and their non-existent relationship with each other.
"Hopefully, by then, he and Sirius will have declared their love for each other," Lily said, rolling her eyes. Lily had always claimed that James and Sirius were a bit too close for comfort. She didn't really think so, but it was funny to watch people's reactions when she said they were. The girls would gasp and get flabbergasted and the guys would swear it was impossible.
"That's not funny. Sirius is hot," Eliza, a very short, very slender, hazel eyed, black haired girl argued. Eliza and Sirius had dated for a week during fifth year. Sirius broke up with her. Why? He claimed that her hair was too dark. Ava and Lily always thought it reminded him too much of his cousin Bellatrix's hair.
"Eliza," Lily said with a sigh. "Don't even go anywhere near him, he'll make out with you, cheat on you, and drop you. I'm going to bed" She said, getting up and walking towards the girls' dormitories. Why was everyone so obsessed with those idiots. Sure, she was friends with them--Sirius could be very funny at time—if immature, it was fun to compete with James for the top grades, Remus was a really good friend, and Peter was… Squeaky. Just because she was friends with them didn't mean she'd be caught dead fawning over them like all the other girls. Except Ava, Ava never fawned over anyone. It just wasn't her style.
"Look, you don't have to worry about tripping, she's coming to you," Sirius said. "They always come." Sirius said with a wink. It was true. In Sirius' world, girls always came. "Don't worry, she's going to come and you're going to be the charming little Prongs that I taught you to be."
"That's disgusting," Remus said, looking at Sirus as though he were some sort of barbarian. Sirius could be so egotistical at times and he was now passing it onto James. Remus sure did not need two of Sirius. One was great, but definitely plenty enough.
Lily was halfway to them by now.
"I think my throat is closing," James squeaked. He didn't know what had happened. He started to get nervous about talking to Lily. Then, all of a sudden, he was having a tiny bit trouble breathing and tons of trouble speaking. Why now?
"That can't be good," Remus said, looking at James. James then started coughing. Remus briefly wondered how he had ever gotten into this mess then remembered it was when he had befriended Sirius and James. They were great guys, but trouble followed them. James had a slight tendency to be the clumsiest person alive and Sirius had a tendency to get into trouble no matter where or what he did.
Sirius just kept looking around with what he thought of as his 'sexiest' look. He had gone far too long without a girlfriend. He didn't even notice poor James choking to death.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked again starting to worry. James appeared to be choking on something. Remus did NOT know the Heimlich.
"I-I---I'm choking---" James managed to get out between coughs. He felt his face turning red. Lily was only a few feet away. Choking to death did not go along with his plan to play it cool. "On my—my own s—spit," James sputtered. Lily was almost there, but had stopped to say something to a fifth year.
"That wasn't in the plan," Sirius said, as though it was James' fault he swallowed at that exact moment and didn't swallow correctly. Sirius stood up and started slapping James on the back, repeatedly. James was now a bright shade of red and still choking on his own spit.
By now, everyone in the common room had turned around to see what all the fuss was about. When they turned around, they saw James nearly choking to death, Sirius beating on James' back going on about plans, Remus on his way to get water, and Peter looking a bit scared. By this point in time, Lily was very close.
"It's ok," Sirius whispered, "Just nod along with whatever she says. You can be all charming next time." Sirius assured him, wondering momentarily how someone who was supposedly the smartest lad in their year could manage to screw up something so simple. Forget being the smartest guy in the year. How could ANYONE screw it up?
James nodded, having just finished choking and now feeling a bit like he needed a nap. If someone would ask James where he wanted to be when he choked to death on his own spit, he would have picked anywhere that Lily Evans was not.
Lily looked at them in bewilderment on the way to her dorm room. They were immature gits. Why was Sirius beating James to death? Why was Peter semi-hyperventilating in the corner? Why did Remus want water so badly? Last, but not least, what the hell was James choking on?
"Ok, well," Sirius began, "That wasn't in the plan either." James glared at him. Sirius tried to figure out a way to do damage control. James secretly promised himself to never again go along with one of Sirius' brilliant ideas… Atleast not the ones that had to do with Lily…
"We're sitting right next to the stairs leading up to the girl's common room," Peter squeaked. The people around him looked at him in surprise. How had Peter figured this out when the three of them hadn't? James continued to glare at Sirius and Sirius glared at Peter.
"Are you still alive?" Ava asked, walking up to the Marauders. She hadn't missed James' spazzing and she doubted Lily had missed it.
James glared at her. Ava was, unfortunately, like a sister to him. While this could sometimes be a good thing, it could also be a bad thing. She was such a smart-ass.
"Ok then, I have to say James, smooth, real smooth." James glared at her and Sirius at the same time; it was a talent of his. He had spent years perfecting it. When he had perfected it, he had discovered that there were not very many times when the opportunity came to glare at two people. He was glad to have this chance.
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"Look, Sirius, it's Snivellus," James said that weekend when he and the Marauders were sitting underneath their favorite tree. James tossed aside the snitch he had been playing with. He liked to keep up his reflexes for quidditch, but torturing Snape was so much more fun.
Sirius looked up with a mischievous glint in his eye. Almost a month into school and they still hadn't had the chance to torture the greasy headed prat.
"Well, well, well," Sirius called out as Severus passed by them.
Severus "Snivelly" Snape was the Marauder's favorite torture-target. He was a greasy-haired Slytherin who was obsessed with dark magic. James and Sirius hated no one alive more than James and Sirius. The feeling was mutual.
"Look who decided to come out during daylight. I wasn't aware that vampires could do that, were you James?"
"I had no idea," James said, raising an eyebrow at Snape who was now looking at them. James was in the mood to duel and Snape was the perfect victim. And, as an added plus, Lily was not around to witness it.
"Potter," Snape began, his voice dripping with disdain. James smirked at him.
Snape hated James more than anyone else alive. Most thought it was because James was everything Severus wanted to be: good looking, talented, popular, and smart. All at the same time. Also, James had revealed Snape's underwear the previous year and that had not helped their relationship. The person Snape hated the second most was Sirius Black. He sure had a reason though. An even better reason than the one he had for hating James. The previous year, Sirius had arranged a prank that would have resulted in Snape's death if James had not intervened at the last moment, saving Snape's life. The event had been kept quiet and Sirius was still allowed to attend school. The event had just added to Snape's hatred for both of them. Sirius for obvious reasons and James because Snape now owed him his life.
"You, see, I'm really not in the mood to talk to a little grease-ball like yourself, are you Sirius?" James asked in a teasing voice.
By this point, everyone had turned around to watch. Peter looked excited and Remus was pretending that nothing was wrong. Remus liked to not get in the middle of their fights. He rarely corrected James and Sirius. He was a bit scared to.
"No, not in the mood at all," Sirius said lazily as he flicked at the grass. James and Sirius loved nothing more than getting under Snivelly's skin.
"Potter, why don't you just—" Snape began in a menacing voice. James briefly laughed at the idea of Snape making a hurtful comment. If he did, he would have hell to pay. Even if James didn't care, it would just add to the amount that Sirius tormented him.
"Jinx you?" James asked. Fortunately, Lily was not around to see this. Very immature. James knew it, but he didn't care. He was just taking his bad mood out on the first person to get in his way. Sure, Snape hadn't gotten n his way, but just his existence was enough to annoy James today. "I'd be glad to. What do you suggest, Sirius?"
"Perhaps something to make it look like he's washed his hair this century?" Sirius suggested. No one really knew why Snape's hair looked so oily, but it was one of the Marauders favorite reasons to torture him.
"Perfect," James said with a smile. He then picked up his wand, lit it on fire, and Snape's hair caught fire. He knew it was a mean thing to do, but he didn't care at this point.
Snape was desperately attempting to put it out and everyone else on the grounds was laughing. Everyone else in school hated Snape. Not as much as Sirius and James did, but they still hated him.
"James," Remus warned, finally acknowledging the situation. He didn't like to intervene, but it seemed necessary. Remus didn't think that Dumbledore would tolerate much more from Sirius and James.
For some reason, no matter what they did, Dumbledore would not kick them out. No one knew why.
James shrugged and put out the flame. When the flame went out, Snape was muttering a slew of curse words. Fire did burn after all and burns did hurt like—er—hell.
"Snivelly, I don't think you want me to have to wash your mouth out again? I don't think Evans will save you this time," James threatened referring to an incident the previous year when James and Sirius had been cursing Snape, but Lily had put a stop to it. She didn't think they should torture anyone. She didn't understand the fine art that was pranking.
Snape reached for his wand, but James was too quick, he stunned him when Snape was halfway for his wand. James then laughed. Like Severus Snape would ever have anything on him.
"Stupid bloke," Sirius muttered, laughing. No one was quicker than James. It was just a fact of life. Five years as a seeker had given James very fast reflexes.
"Did you really think you would beat me?" James asked calmly when Snape began to come around. Snape started sputtering and James glared at him in an amused way.
"Potter," Snape said, he then started to curse James. James was too busy laughing to notice and even if he would have, his wand wasn't in his hands. Sirius quickly stunned Snape again. Sneaking up on your opponent when they were unarmed was not fair play. Then again, attacking someone who had done nothing was not fair either.
"Quit it!" Remus said in a sharp tone. He had had enough. He was not letting James and Sirius continue to make a fool of someone in a place of disadvantage. He knew how it felt, and was not allowing his best friends to do it. "Let's go inside."
"But Moony," Sirius began. He was just starting to have fun. He understood why Moony wanted it to stop before it got out of hand, but…
"No. Come on," Remus said, getting up. He simply refused to allow this to go on any longer. They were in sixth year. They were far too old. "Come on before I have to stun you and drag you along." Sirius, James, and Peter got up and followed begrudgingly. Very begrudgingly.
"That little git is lucky 'Crucio' is illegal," Sirius said as the four of them walked up the stairs and towards the dormitory. Sirius wanted to inflict as much pain as possible upon the little prat.
"You know, I'm starting to think that Lily might be right about you two," Remus said, leaving James and Sirius with their mouths wide open. Lily? Right? Of course she was, but Remus was not supposed to agree with her!
"Oi, it's Cassandra," Sirius said, strutting off towards a pretty, fourth year Ravenclaw. Sirius was yet to date her. He was planning on a week with her halfway through next month.
"Well, there's Sirius' next victim," James muttered. He wished Sirius would grow up and quit toying with girls' minds. Then, her remembered what Remus had just said. "Lily said something about me? What? Does she love me?" He asked, getting excited.
"She said—and I quote—'he's an immature git who curses anyone who crosses his path." Remus said. Scary thing was, Remus was starting to wonder if Lily was right. James' face fell.
"Hey, I've quit cursing everyone. Slytherins are just a special case," James argued. It's true, he had cut back since last year, but Slytherins just ticked him off so much. It's not like he couldn't not curse him.
"Well, if you want to date her, looks like you're going to have to choose between her and cursing Slytherins," Remus said as they stood in front of the Fat Lady painting that led into their dorm. Peter said the password and they walked in.
Lily stepped away from the window where she had been watching Snape and James go at it. She had hoped he had started to grow up over the summer. It had seemed like it when they had both been at Ava's house. It was now painfully obvious that she was wrong.
"Lily, it's not like—" Ava began. She wanted to defend James. She wanted he and Lily to be together. James was making it pretty hard for either of those things to happen.
"Like he's completely cruel and self absorbed?" Lily asked. Lily was getting pretty sick of Ava always jumping to his defense. Who's friend was she supposed to be?
"He's really not that bad of a guy," Ava swore. He wasn't really a bad guy. He was actually a very good guy. He was Ava's best guy friend and Ava knew that James would never have jinxed Snape if he knew Lily was watching.
"You would never guess it by the way he treats others," Lily said with a sigh. She could never date someone so inconsiderate of other's feelings.
"He's nice to others. He just hates Slytherins and dark magic and likes rubbing it in their faces that he is more talented than they are," Ava said. It was true. Or atleast she was pretty sure it was. Even if it wasn't, it seemed like the right thing to say.
"He needs to grow the hell up," Lily said, throwing herself into a chair and sighing. James caused her way to much stress.
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"Wait! You're dating that evil—" Sirius began to ask later that evening. Sirius and James were sitting in the common room, talking to Frank Longbottom. Sirius couldn't believe what Frank had just told him. It was impossible.
Frank was a rosy cheeked seventh year. He was one of the Marauders closest non-Marauder friend.
"She's hot," Frank said with a smile. Sirius looked at him in disgust. Frank could NOT be dating her. It was simply impossible. No one so nice and non-evil could ever be dating her.
"That's disgusting. She's pure evil as are the rest of them," Sirius said bitterly. It was true. She was evil. Just like the rest of the family that had disowned him.
"You act like she's a Slytherin," Frank said. Sirius laughed in his head. She should have been. Just like the rest of them.
"The only reason that Bellatrix isn't a Slytherin is that her brains outweigh her evil," Sirius said sharply. Frank's girlfriend—Bellatrix Black—was Sirius' first cousin. The two of them hated each other. As a matter of fact, Sirius hated his entire family. They were all obsessed with being pureblooded and Slytherin. Since Sirius was a Gryffindor, they thought he was the family disappointment. Sirius despised the group of them.
"She's hot," Frank said again as though he could hardly believe his great fortune of meeting a 'hot' girl that could stand to be in the same room as him.
"She's pure evil," James threw in. He felt the same way about Sirius' family as Sirius did. Well, not quite as strongly, but that's just because he had never lived there.
"She's hot," Frank said with a dazed look on his face.
Sirius grunted with annoyance. How could someone be so blind? Are there not more important things in this world than looks?
"She's evil," James argued. Sirius was currently looking as though he needed to vomit. Frank looked as though he didn't know what they were talking about.
"She's actually pretty nice. Plus she's hot," Frank said, looking dazed. "As a matter of fact, I'm going find her now," Frank said, getting up and walking towards the door.
"And you say me being in love with Lily is bad," James said with a sigh as he watched Frank leave.
"No matter what I have told you in the past, James, Lily Evans is a much better person than Bellatrix Black." Bellatrix? Nice? Yeah, when she wanted something or… Someone she could be very fake-ly nice.
~~Well, that's about it… I hope this chapter is good, I'm not sure if it is or not… Stay tuned for the next chapter… Lily and James argue… Very interesting… The Sirius we all know and love will be coming out in future chapters… Yes, I know what y'all are going to say, I know that it was evil of me to make Frank and Bellatrix date… I know, I know… I'm sorry if the encounter between James and Snape sucked… It was just to give proof of the reason Lily thought James was immature… Try and guess who's point of view this story is being told from. I'll give you a hint, it's not someone involved in the action and the person is simply telling what they know of the story. They're also the person who overheard the prophecy. If you guess right, you can be… I dunno, Sirius' next victim or something… Now, if you want more, go REVIEW!!~~
LimeJuiceTub~It's a little bit similar to the other one, but not too much… Does that mean that you don't like this one? *Tear*
MetallicVerb~Thank you for pointing out my mistakes. I went back and fixed them and I went back and explained about Ava in the first chapter. Her dad is French and her mum is British. She wouldn't hit on James because they were raised together and they're like brother and sister…
MintyToothPick~I'm glad you thought it was funny! I like to add humorus bits from time to time… I hope you like James' spazzing in this chapter.
PotterChick1~You're such a sweetie!! Lol! Thank you sooo much! I'm glad you like! The prophecy thing isn't from UL…
Shh2010~Sorry to confuse you! James is smart, Lily saying that she wouldn't start liking him until he started acting his age, not his IQ is an expression that basically says he's really immature…
Lililvr~I'm glad you thought it was funny! I liked that line! Thanks!
MaggieDB~Thank you for adding it to your favs!
~~People who reviewed since original posting~~
Chiquita-3~Thanks for telling me ur favorite part! *Hugz* Ava's like Eden, only better! Lol!
~~People who reviewed the rewrite~~
Lynn Angel~I'm glad you took the time the review. The setting is not supposed to be described too much, I decided to have the emotions and dialogue take front seat.