During Potions the next day, James was the only one in Gryffindor whom paid attention. He shoved the snoozing Sirius irritably.

"Come on, pay attention, you idiot," he whispered, shoving him again.

"Hmm. Where's the food?" Sirius yawned sleepily, shaking his shaggy black head.

"You're in the middle of class!" James replied.

"Shut up," Sirius groaned, burying his face back in his arms. James rolled his eyes indifferently, and turned back to observe the elaborate potion that was being demonstrated at the front of the room.

"What the hell is your problem?" Sirius asked after class, his dark eyes flashing resentfully.

"What's your problem?" James snapped back. "You should respect the teacher!"

"What, what's this? You're the one who sleeps in Binns' class!" Sirius bellowed, jostling his best friend roughly.

"I don't anymore!" James retorted, his cheeks flushing. As people filed out of the dungeon, they glanced nervously at the normally inseparable boys.

"Who do you think you are? Some sort of angel?" Sirius lashed out.

"No, but I'm not as immature as you!"

"Me, immature? I have had fifty three girlfriends-"

"Sirius, is that what really matters?"

"Hell yeah. You're so stupid James. You think Evans is gonna like you just because you suck up to the teacher?" Sirius scoffed.

"I don't care what Evans thinks of me. She hates me anyway," James said bitterly. "Maybe I'm just trying to stop acting like I'm still in my first year."

"Grow up? James, hell, you have one more year of school and you want to waste it on 'growing up?'"

"Yeah, Sirius," James said, suddenly quiet. "Maybe you should too." Sirius stared at his best friend in disbelief. James quickly threw everything into his bag, and walked away, eyes fixated on the ground.

Dinner was an uncomfortable affair among the Marauders. Remus had his arm around his newest girlfriend, Alizabeth, and they were talking non-stop the entire time about their classes. James and Sirius ignored each other, while Peter attempted to engage them both in a conversation, and failed miserably. Many of their fellow Gryffindors noticed the boys' silence, and were worried, including Lily Evans.

Potions a few days later was tense. The Slytherins were silent save for a few whispers, and a cough or two. James stirred his brew angrily, watching the liquid boil.

"Congratulations James," Agontis said, patting him on the back. "You and Severus were the only ones to get perform the recipe correctly."

"Thanks Professor," James said quietly. Severus gave him a nasty look from across the room, clearly angered.

"Class, I will be back in a moment," Agontis said loudly, and left the room with a swish of his black cape.

"Whew, he's gone," Frank Longbottom, sighed in relief, wiping the sweat from his brow. A few Gryffindors laughed nervously, seeing Frank's poorly done potion.

"Now that the teacher's gone, let's party," Sirius swaggered. James shot his best friend a warning look, but Sirius did not refrain, and he and a few others continued to laugh noisily.

"Shut up, traitor," Kyran Zola, a Slytherin, growled loudly. Sirius ignored him. Suddenly, Severus walked over, his black stringy hair falling in his glinting dark eyes.

"So, Potter, did you get the mud-bloods help in making your potion?" he jeered. James frowned angrily.

"For you information, Lily is not "mud-blood." And second of all, she did not help me," James snarled, mixing his concoction violently. Severus laughed obnoxiously, sounding amazingly like a weasel.

"Well then, you must have had help, because, you're definitely not smart enough to perform such a complex potion." James ignored his arch-nemesis, struggling to keep from socking the Slytherin in the jaw.

"Perhaps, it was that traitor that helped you," Severus mused evilly.

"Shut up Snivellus," James said, his hands shaking slightly.

"That mud-blood-" Severus started.

With a fierce cry, James launched himself at the greasy idiot. Severus screamed in fear as James pounded him.

"Take that!" James screamed, shoving his knee into Severus groin. Severus shrieked in pain, doubling over.

"James! Stop! Stop!" someone screamed. James didn't hear, and continued to sock the boy whom he had hated since his first year at Hogwarts.

"James, cut it out, the teacher!"

James jumped to his feet, just as Agontis pushed his way into the tight circle that had surrounded the fighting.

"James Potter! I am ashamed of you!" Agontis cried, eyebrows diving in surprise.

"Sorry Professor," James murmured.

"Sorry won't do it this time," Agontis said curtly. "Go to Professor Dumbledore's office."

"Yes Professor," James sighed, grabbing his bag.

"Lemon Drops," James told the gargoyle sadly. He didn't think he'd be back here so soon.

"...And it looks as if Mr. Potter is here to see me once again..." Dumbledore's voice came from up the stairs. James trooped up, slowly, passing ghostly Professor Binns on the way.

"Hello Professor," James said to Binns quietly.

"Good morning James," Binns said, blinking, and floating down.

"James, James..." Dumbledore sighed, stroking his temples.

"I'm sorry Professor," James said gloomily. He wasn't sorry for practically killing Severus; he deserved that, but was sorry that he had caused Dumbledore trouble.

"What have you done?"

"I attacked Severus Snape..." James trailed off. Dumbledore glowered at his pupil.

"James, I thought you had learned your lesson."

"I did-"

"James. Do not make excuses. You should respect your peers. Instead I find the son of some of the best Aurors being a bully."

"Professor-"

"James. You know better, and you still do this. I am afraid that you shall have to be expelled this time."

"Yes Professor," James whispered, looking at his feet. His parents would never forgive him, and would probably insist on home-schooling him.

"I shall make arrangements-" Suddenly, the Headmaster's door swung open, and Lily Evans barged in panting heavily.

"Professor," she gasped.

"Lily, I am busy with another student," Dumbledore said sternly, motioning for her to leave.

"You can't expel James! It's all Snape's fault!" she cried, her green eyes fixed on James' blue ones.