Chapter 1 – New Man, New Approach

Disclaimer: I'm still not JK Rowling. Wouldn't it be cool if she posted a something on here? Oh wow, that would be so sly! I'd do it. But I'm not her. Still.

"I see them, James. Come on," Sirius called out. James jumped as though startled and quickly followed him over to the other half of the marauders.

Peter and Remus had apparently seen them too, because they started walking toward them. "Hey," Remus called, slightly out of breath. "Sorry. I was waiting for Wormtail and couldn't find him."

"It's not my fault!" Peter interjected. "If it wasn't for my stupid cousin Cole I would've been on time."

The other three traded dark looks. "He's been bothering you again?" Sirius asked, sounding angry. He had been on edge about anything and anyone to do with the dark arts since running away from home.

"He was just asking how my summer was. Actually, it seemed more like an interrogation. I just got the impression he was kind of... spying."

"Well, you'd be the one to know, eh Wormtail?" Peter grinned mischievously. "He was probably just making sure you weren't going to get in the way of him joining Voldemort's forces." Peter visibly flinched, though the other three didn't.

"So, Prongs," Remus taunted, "We saw Evans back along the platform. She was looking for you."

"She – what!?" James suddenly started looking around frantically for her while the other three burst out laughing. James began to look sheepish and said indignantly, "You know, one day that phrase won't be so funny," which just caused the laughter to increase.

"Sure, Jim. And just how are you planning to manage that?" Sirius asked dubiously, trying not to laugh while Remus and Peter smirked.

"You just watch. This is going to be the year. I'm a new man with a new approach." Unable to hold it in any longer, the others laughed.

"You coin that phrase yourself, James?" Peter giggled, causing more laughs and a frown from James.

"You laugh now, but this plan is foolproof."

"Good, because that's just what it needs," Sirius goaded.

James' frown deepened. "You know-" but he was interrupted by Remus.

"Here's your chance, Prongs: Evans is coming this way. Let's see this 'new approach' of yours."

The response from James was immediate. His frown completely disappeared, covered up by a suave look. He raked a nervous hand through his hair, making it, amazingly enough, even messier than it was already. As the girl in question walked by, he said in a strong, mature voice, "Alright there, Lily?"

Lily Evans naturally smiled at the sound of someone greeting her, but her looked darkened when she saw who had voiced it. She looked at James with something like revulsion and continued along her path toward the train.

James glared at her back and shouted out "Yeah, I had a GREAT summer too!" Lily's ears turned red, though whether from anger or embarrassment, James couldn't tell. He immediately regretted his words. For some reason he just couldn't control what came out of his mouth or what his body did when that girl was around. He brought his concentration back to those around him at the sound of his friends hysterically laughing.

"So much for the new approach, huh Prongs?" Remus laughed, while holding his stomach.

James glared at the boys making fools of themselves. "Yeah... well... next time. That was just practice." At what sounded like a louder and more violent flood of laughter, he added "Lets just get on the train already."

As the group of four walked toward the train, Sirius put is arm around James and said consolingly, "It's just a bout of bad luck, Prongs. Don't let Evans get you down. She'll come around eventually. How could she possibly resist?" he added as he flashed a handsome grin to a giggling group of fourth years.

James smiled weakly, completely missing the attention the girls were now giving him. "Yeah... I mean, this new plan. She won't be able to withstand my charm, I'm telling you. You're right, she'll come around." He nodded once, though it seemed to be directed more toward assuring himself, rather than Sirius or the others.

By this point they had reached the train, and Remus turned around and announced he had to head to the prefects' compartment, to which Peter replied, "Want some dungbombs to take with you? I think I've got a few extra that we're not using during the feast..."

Remus flashed him a grin and began to walk toward the other end of the train. "Nah, don't think it would look very prefect of me to be setting off dungbombs during the meeting. Good idea though. See you later!" With that he waved, turning just ever so slightly as to convince the same group of fourth years that he was waving to them.

"Come on, let's get on the train. We've got things to plan," announced James.

Sirius gave him an amused, but knowing, look. "More like pranks, you mean. Come on, Wormtail, let's find an empty compartment."

They spent about five minutes searching for a free compartment, all the time chatting with other students. Sirius, not surprisingly, held up the search due to apparent need to flirt with every girl who passed his way.

They met Frank Longbottom, their other dorm mate, and discussed what O.W.L.s they had gotten and what classes they were taking this year. With him were Lily's three friends: Marlene McKinnon, Alice Prewett, and Adele Meadowes. They didn't linger long however, because while Marlene was a friend of James' and Alice was nice to everyone, Adele seemed to have some menacing resentment toward the marauders.

Peter had just announced that he'd found an empty compartment, and James and Sirius were heading toward him, when they suddenly collided with someone going the opposite way.

"Sorry-" James started, looking up, then cutting himself short when he realized who it was he had bumped into.

Severus Snape jumped up quickly, pulling out his wand and pointing it at the two boys still on the floor as he did so. James and Sirius, not wanting to be vulnerable to any curses, immediately followed suit.

"Snivellus," Sirius spit out.

"Black. Potter. Enjoying yourselves on the floor?"

"Just trying to wipe off the grease you left," James said harshly.

All three simultaneously raised their wands, about to curse each other, when an angry voice rang out.

"What do you think you're doing!?" At the sound of Lily's voice, James immediately put his wand down and put a hand through his hair. He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach, as though all his chances with Lily were dashed away all at once. He tried to look as though he wasn't part of the situation, but he was failing miserably.

"Deciding the best way to clean Snape's hair, what does it look like?" replied Sirius, not lowering his wand nor taking his eyes off Snape.

"This train isn't a dueling platform! Put away your wands!"

"Who asked you to order us around, Mudblood?" Snape growled.

"Professor Dumbledore did, when he made me a prefect, Snape," Lily said coolly. "As for you two," she continued, turning to Sirius and James, who, for his part, looked stricken, "I thought over the summer you would've at least learned the definition of maturity!"

Sirius was still watching Snape, completely ignoring Lily by this time. "So, Snape, how does it feel to have a girl defend you?"

Snape was about to let out a scathing reply when James grabbed his arm and said quietly, "Come on, Padfoot. He's not worth it." James pulled Sirius into the compartment and, with a last guilty glance at Lily, closed the door.

Inside, Sirius was seething and Peter was looking at him fearfully. "What the hell was that about, Prongs!?" Sirius yelled.

"What do you mean?" James asked, wondering why he was being yelled at again for the second time that day.

"'He's not worth it, Padfoot.' What are you playing at? Since when have you ever backed down from Snivellus?!"

"Look, I just... there are more important things," James replied, implying Voldemort, but thinking about not only Voldemort, but also Lily.

"Like Lily Evans?" Sirius said spitefully.

"What exactly are you implying?" James asked, his own temper rising, knowing, but too embarrassed to admit, that Sirius was right.

"Oh come on! I saw the way you looked at her. You didn't mean Snape isn't worth our time, you meant he's not worth being on bad terms with Evans! Why can't you just get over her?"

"You wouldn't understand. It's more than what you think."

"Wha-"

"Isn't one of her friends on the quidditch team?" Peter interjected tactfully. As James and Sirius turned to goggle at him, their anger seemed to dissipate and they sat down.

"Yeah... yeah, Marlene McKinnon, our keeper."

"She's good. I think we've got a right good chance at keeping the cup this year." Sirius and James shared a look, a silent agreement that they'd let the squabble go. They both knew it was pointless and that they shouldn't threaten their friendship with petty spats like this one.

"Who do you think will be captain this year?" Peter asked, more concerned with distracting them with conversation than what was actually said.

"We all know it's old Prongsie here. McGonagall wouldn't choose anyone else."

"Aww, well, we don't know that for sure..." James said, trailing off.

"Please. Minnie loves you! Every time you touch the quaffle her eyes bug out!" The three of them laughed at the picture of Professor McGonagall in love with James.

All thoughts of a squabble were forgotten as they chatted about the quidditch lineup this season, the current girl Sirius was interested in, and whether or not Peter was currently cheating at Exploding Snap (which he denied).

After an hour or so, Remus finally returned from the meeting and making the rounds. As soon as the door was closed, the mood of the compartment switched from easy-going to a covert excitement.

"Alright Moony, now that you're here, lets go over the plans for the feast one more time..."

A/N: You are all mystified by my abilities to update. Don't count on it happening this often. With any luck, however, my beta, the lovely Meliara, will keep me in an updating frenzy. Hope you like it, and just so you know, this is the style that the entire fanfic will be in (third-person James). And Adele is Dorcas' sister. I refuse to make a person named Dorcas a main character. It's just not happening. In other news, Jackie, I worship and I'll see you in...22 hours!

Meliara: Yes, as you can see I fixed your name. You are so anal. OMG how cool would it be if everyone knew who I was and was all "Oh man check out her cool canon LJ fanfic!!!!" Oh it's going to happen, I can feel it. This is our big break, Mel. Screw the band, it's all about the fanfiction!!!

Kelliethehottie: Thanks!! I'm glad you liked the summary. Thank goodness it is actually catching people's attention. TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS!!! Thank you for the favorite add too! 3