Disclaimer: It's not mine, so please don't sue me
A/N: Well I've finally had time to write this chapter, after finals are over. I'm pretty happy with the chapter, but I haven't been able to proofread it over as many times as I would like, but I'm going to be away the next few days and I wanted to updates. So please forgive any grammar mistakes.
And I was very excited to hear that JK Rowling has finished the sixth book and we will be able to have it in our possession July 16th 2005. Very exciting and she couldn't have given us a better holiday gift.
Happy Holidays to all!!
"Go Go Gryffindor! Go Go Gryffindor!"
The crowd of gold and red chanted loudly as one of the Gryffindor chaser's threw the quaffle through the hoop scoring the first point of the game. The whole school was packed into the stands around the pitch.
The excitement and anticipation in the air was nothing Sirius had ever experienced before. Beside him James and Peter stood up yelling crazily as one of their beaters hit a bludger stopping the Slytherin chaser from scoring a goal.
Sirius was unaccustomed to such outright display of emotion in public. Even in the privacy of their home, his parents had instructed him that the single most important thing he had to learn was to master his emotions. It was a harsh lesson he was forced to learn early in his life. When Sirius scraped a knee or banged a toe, there was never a hug or comforting words to ease the pain. And if he dared shed a tear, he was sent to his room until he could compose himself.
Compared to the Gryffindor side, the Slytherin side was more reserved. It was a rival game, so the Slytherins cheered, clapped and yelled insults but in a dignified way. Because he had grown up learning to hide his emotions, even when he started clapping along with whatever had gotten his house riled up again, he couldn't help but feel self conscious.
"It's a bit overwhelming at first, isn't it," Remus remarked. His voice a bit muffled from the scarf around his neck.
"Yes, it is," Sirius said marveling on how perceptive Remus could be at times. He wanted to explain to Remus that rowdy Quidditch games were not part of an upbringing of a pureblood heir, but it was too personal. His father for business reasons (to get on the better side of certain adult Quidditch fans) did attend some of the more important games, but it was in a high secluded area away from the common everyday riffraff.
His father had explained to him that frivolous activities, such as Quidditch were luxurious that successful people did not take part in. And one would only attend them in order to get on the good side of business partners. Successful people, like his father, did not need enjoyment. They could feed on the satisfaction of closing a deal and on the power they held over their weaker counterparts.
"So whose side are you rooting for?"
"Gryffindor, I suppose."
"Just checking," Remus said with a smirk.
"I suppose Potter would kill me if I'd said otherwise."
"What's going on?" James asked lowering himself beside Sirius taking his eyes off the game for the first time that afternoon.
"Nothing," Sirius and Remus chanted together.
James started to say something, but as a collective grown was heard around him, he stood back up his eyes and head engrossed in the game once more.
Sirius felt a rush as he watched, Robert McCoy, the captain, do a spectacular roll to avoid a bludger coming straight at him, he looped around the hoops scoring Gryffindor its second goal. Again everyone around him erupted into cheers, Peter high-fived James. Then James turned to him, "I bet he'll play professional Quidditch when he graduates!"
Sirius couldn't help grinning at the tangible good mood in the air. The rush of colors, daring dives and loops, and even seeing the teachers in a more relaxed atmosphere was an enjoyment in itself.
Life at Hogwarts seemed to be turning for the better. Last Quidditch game he had been sitting alone in the library and now he was sitting with the boys he roomed with and he genuinely enjoyed their company.
From the short time he had come to know them, he had been able to figure out distinct things about each of them…
James Potter had a boundless amount of energy which touched everyone around him. His outgoing friendly personality made him immediately likable to most, though sometimes his confidence shone a bit too strongly.
Remus Lupin the voice of reason was very secretive in regarding his own feelings, yet very open to pointing out and discussing what others felt. Since he was sensitive he was usually right and he cared greatly what others thought about him and things in general.
Strangely it was Peter Pettigrew, he had the most trouble pinning down. It might have been the fact he found the boys company the least pleasant. But James seemed rather fond of Peter and Remus at the least tolerated him, so Peter came with the package of befriending them.
Peter hero worshipped James, and Sirius couldn't understand why this didn't get on James's nerves. In arguments Peter had a tendency to switch sides constantly until he made sure he was on the stronger side. He was small, insecure, and a prime target for bullying. Even though Sirius didn't like Peter all that much, he felt the need to protect him, as did Remus and James, so there must be something likable about Peter's personality to cause them to all feel this way.
And Cory was on the outside of the circle. He'd always been from the start and he spent a lot of his time on his own or in the company of the first year Gryffindor girls. Sirius didn't know anything about him, but Cory seemed for the most part to be a happy boy. The arrangement was working and on weekend nights especially Cory might stay up until midnight playing exploding snaps with them.
Sirius surveyed the three boys who recently had become the focus of his life. As with his family, there had been no choice on who he'd room with in Hogwarts and he realized maybe he hadn't been dealt such a raw deal after all.
Sirius turned his focus back on the game realizing that now Gryffindor was leading by only two goals. This would not guarantee a win and it also meant the game could still go on for hours if the snitch wasn't spotted soon. Out of nowhere, the Slytherin seeker began to dive. The Gryffindor seeker, a petite blond girl began racing after him, but she was too late. The Slytherin seeker had clasped his hand around the snitch before she could even catch up to him. This meant the game was over and Slytherin had won.
The return to the Common room was very somber and though everyone clapped politely when the team walked in, no one tried to hide their disappointment.
The tension between Gryffindor and Slytherin had escalated all week before the Quidditch game as tradition and the loss was by no means a satisfying conclusion to the tense week. Sirius was well aware that his presence only made their loss bitterer and the Slytherin's win sweeter.
And it was a personal blow for him as well, since the Slytherin mentality reflected the opposing force he was in a constant battle with. It was as if they were rubbing salt in his wounds, telling him again and again how he'd picked the weaker side.
As they headed to bed earlier than usual, James began muttering how the Slytherins must have cheated. This was untrue, since even the older students had commented on how it had been one of the cleanest games Slytherin had won in ages.
And that was when little Peter piped in, "Cheer up guys, we'll just win next time."
The comment was unnecessary, but it somehow made them all feel better. It even got James to smile. The loss had bothered him so much he looked as though his birthday had been cancelled. And it became a bit clearer as to why Remus and James tolerated Peter.
All four boys would play an important role in the dynamic of their friendship and Sirius would learn his innocent eleven year old assessment of his four friends, were more on target then he had ever imagined.
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James was thoroughly sick of watching Sirius Black allow the Slytherins to constantly batter him. Sirius refused talk about it and half the time did not even acknowledge it was occurring. Every time there was an occurrence, James hoped it would be enough to rile him to allow James to assist him in getting revenge. Well that never occurred because Sirius would just turn off his emotions and ignore the lot of them.
James tried to point out to the stubborn boy that generally it was not custom for Gryffindors to take insults from Slytherins lying down. It was not done and even though it may have been Sirius's choice, his tactic was affecting the way everyone looked at their house. Gryffindors were not pushovers.
Just the other night when they had been on their way to the Great Hall for dinner, another group of Slytherins intercepted them. They mostly ignored James and Peter, except in regards to their insults about who Sirius chose to associate with.
"You're a disgraceful nothing!"
"Aww is little wittie Black too scared to say anything back to us! Don't wet your pants blood traitor!"
It went on and on. Day in and day out. It went against every fiber in his soul to just stand there and take it like Sirius did. It was cowardly!
Peter was always frightened by these encounters and felt Sirius should not expect them to accompany him everywhere if he would attract this type of negative attention. While Remus would always say that Sirius had his reasons to stay silent.
Well James decided it was time to take matters into his own hands. He wouldn't just be getting back for Sirius's sake he reasoned, it was to bring back honor to the Gryffindor house, especially after their Quidditch loss.
He needed to be sneaky. If he insulted the Slytherins back, he would look like an idiot if Sirius would just stand there. Additionally, it would only anger Sirius and at this point their relationship was still held in a delicate balance.
And he couldn't hope to engage one of them in a duel since his knowledge of spells was limited to what he had learned in class and the few non-threatening ones his parents had allowed him to learn.
He had to pick a target that was feasible and an idea sparked in his head when he saw the greasy haired Severus Snape walking into the library the other day. His mind filled with endless possibilities, but he realized it was best to keep this prank simple.
James watched Snape over the next few days and came to the realization he took all his classes extremely seriously. A plan formed in his mind when he saw Snape laboring meticulously over the potion they were brewing.
James persuaded Peter easily to lend him a few dungbombs from the stash in his trunk. James couldn't believe Peter hadn't put them to use yet. The next day they had Potions with the Slytherins, James pocketed the dungbombs. He partnered with Sirius this time and made sure they took their seats today closer to the Slytherin side then usual. If anyone suspected an ulterior motive in this, no one said anything, but Sirius was looking at him oddly because James was having trouble staying still in his seat.
James patiently waited until there were only twenty minutes in class left and then walked toward where Snape was and purposely dropped his wand so that it rolled inches away from where Snape stood. Snape bent down to pick up the wand and in this moment of distraction James tossed in two of the three dungbombs he had stored in his robes.
"Your wand, Potter," Snape said carelessly handing it back to him. To be perfectly honest, James hadn't been all that sure Snape would even bother to pick it up.
James took his wand back and smiled cordially. It looked as if everything was going as planned. As James turned, Snape's potion began to make a popping sound and a yellow solution began to bubble over (the solution should have been a very light pink color to it). A foul odor accompanied by smoke began forming.
Snape began to frantically stir it in hopes to save it and then he suddenly put everything together, quicker then James would have ever imagined.
"Professor York! Potter has put something in my cauldron! It was stewing perfectly fine, until he came in its vicinity."
James turned back casually, "You can't fault me, maybe you didn't follow the directions properly…"
Professor York walked over to Snape's cauldron and inspected the yellow mess, "Well it certainly looks as if it were sabotaged and you were nearest to Snape…what do you have to say for yourself, Mr. Potter?"
James knew ever since the first day Professor York had disliked him when he'd interrupted class and was very suspicious of everything he did.
"It could have been anyone…" James said lamely. He hadn't thought of a proper lie since he really hadn't expected to be caught.
The teacher surveyed the class critically as if she could eye the culprit. Snape was looking at his ruined potion as if something catastrophic had occurred.
It seemed, James thought with a breath of release, that she couldn't prove it was him and this meant he was off the hook. Unless someone spoke up…
"I saw Potter do it, Professor. He threw something into his cauldron, when Snape picked up Potter's fallen wand," Lily Evans said quickly and evenly.
James's mouth fell open in surprise. If there was one rule everyone in Hogwarts for generations and generations followed was that you did not turn in a member of your own house for something as trivial as this. Had no one told this girl the rules and was she so dunce that she couldn't figure out the code of trust among fellow students on her own?
"Are you positive it was him, Ms. Evans?"
"Oh yes. It was Potter no mistake about it."
"She's lying, Professor York," James said, but his voice faltered a bit at the end.
"Turn out your pockets, Mr. Potter."
James cursed silently as the realization that he still had the third dungbomb in his pocket dawned on him. He hesitated, "Alright, I did it…"
"Turn out your pockets, Mr. Potter. I won't ask you again!"
James handed over the one dungbomb that was left over and he saw Peter look at it in surprise. He saw Remus give poor Peter an appraising look realizing who James's supplier had been.
"I'll take this and I suppose you'll receive a detention for your troubles. See me after class for the details."
"What about my potion, Professor?" Snape asked his voice cracking a bit. Was the git really that upset over some spilled milk?
"You will still receive a passing mark for this assignment, Mr. Snape. Now everyone as soon as your potion has cooled please place them in the proper vials. Remember to put your name and the date on the vial or you will lose credit."
Snape looked smugly at James. And he still couldn't believe it hadn't been a Slytherin to rat him out, he knew loyalty only ran on the surface in that house. He mustn't be well liked even if he had caught the attention of Lucius Malfoy and this James felt was valuable information.
Professor York was in an extremely foul mood as James approached her at the end of class.
"You do know that dungbombs are forbidden at Hogwarts and I suggest if you have anymore you lock them safely away. You have been let of rather easily, I must warn you that our Mr. Filch finds these extremely menacing and two members of my house had to serve a week detention with him for just being caught with them in their possession."
"Guess I'm lucky then," James said his anger resurfacing.
Professor York was not impressed by his attitude, but ignored it just he same, "That was a very dangerous thing to do. If we had been brewing a more hazardous chemical it could have resulted in an explosion that could have seriously injured or killed your fellow students. I doubt that it what you had in mind, Mr. Potter and thus you must remember that everything you do has consequences. You must be careful."
"I meant it as a silly prank, honestly…"
"I know, but regardless whether you meant it or not your foolishness could have had dire consequences not only to fellow students, but yourself, such as your expulsion."
"I'm sorry…"
"Well you best rest your writing hand this afternoon, for you detention will be served writing several feet about the safety precautions one should take during Potions," she then smiled at him warmly changing topics completely, "I am though pleased that you and Mr. Black seemed to have reconciled your differences. That boy needs someone like you to help him in the right direction."
"Professor…I'm not sure if it's my place to tell you this, but the Slytherins have been bullying Sirius a lot outside of class. I thought maybe since you are their Head of House, you could say something. It has been getting out of hand."
"What has exactly has occurred? Any fighting? Dueling?"
"No. Mainly insults. They sometimes push him around in passing by."
"I will address the issue, but unless Mr. Black comes to speak to me about it, there is less I can do. If it continues please have him stop by my office."
"Thank you, Professor…I guess I'll see you tonight."
"Yes and remember rest that hand!" she said lightly. James grumbled at the anticipation of his hand killing him and the monotony the detention would surely be.
Sirius was waiting for him near the portrait of the Fat Lady. Remus and Lupin had already gone inside, obviously Sirius wanted to speak to him alone.
"What were you thinking?" Sirius said his voice angry and tensed, "I told you I would handle this all on my own."
James faltered in speech for the second time in a matter of hours. How did Sirius know his attack on Snape had been a revenge for his sake?
"Look it couldn't go on like this. I did you a favor and the whole house a favor. If Evans hadn't spoken up, no one would have ever known it was me. And anyway a detention is a small price to pay for getting back some of our dignity."
"This isn't about dignity! I've told you this is between them and me. Not Gryffindor and Slytherin! I know you didn't ruin Snape's potion to get back at Slytherin…for they've done nothing to you personally…you did it because they've been bothering me. And I don't need you to fight my battles."
"So what if I did it to help you? What is so terrible about that?"
"Because I told you I'll deal with it…"
"But you aren't. You just continue to stand there. It's embarrassing!"
"I have my reasons."
"And pray tell me what those are?"
"Think of it this way, if I insult them back this will continue back and forth for the rest of our Hogwarts years. Trust me; I'll hear about my faults enough from my parents and cousins. If I don't react, it will get old quickly to most members of Slytherin and they will drop it eventually."
So Remus had been right again and Sirius's reason was astonishingly mature. How was Lupin always correct about these sort of things?
And Sirius had been correct as well, the insults gradually lessoned, until it was only those related to Sirius that seemed to have an endless amount of nonsense to spit out every time Sirius came near them.
Then, Lily Evans stepped out of the portrait hole.
"Why'd you tell on James?" Sirius asked her crisply. Without having to say it Sirius had forgiven James.
"It wasn't as if I falsely accused him. He did throw- whatever that was- in Snape's cauldron. Snape was the innocent party," Evans defended. She hugged the books she was carrying tightly against her chest.
"It's a dungbomb, don't they have those in the muggle world?" James asked with false politeness.
"No. What you did to Snape was unfair. I was not going to stand by and let you get away with it."
"It was only a potion," Sirius said shaking his head, "You don't tell on your house for something like that."
"I don't see why not."
"You just don't. It goes against house loyalty."
"I would have done the same thing if the roles had been reversed. And you of all people, Sirius Black shouldn't be lecturing people about house loyalties!" Lily turned crisply away from them and disappeared from sight.
"She's going to be a handful these next few years," Sirius commented into the silent hallway.
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That same day, James had also unknowingly created his own enemy. His own personal war with Severus Snape had begun that very afternoon in Potions.
Severus Snape had grown up with a father that constantly reminded him that he was better than him, wiser than him, stronger then him. Snape would always be weak and talent less in his eyes. His father always demanded respect from others, but never respected anyone he didn't deem worthy through his own set of twisted rules. And his mother, though she cared for him did not have the strength to stand up to her husband.
So the carefree, confident air James possessed would always rub Snape the wrong way. James, just like his father, thought he was better than Snape. Snape could not let this cocky boy get away with thinking like that. It angered Snape to no end that James felt he could just ruin his potion because he felt like it. As if everyone should concede to what he felt like doing.
And at this age, showing his father a lesson in humility would not be possible, but he could very well practice against James Potter.
Thanks for READING and please REVIEW
A/N: Sorry it's been awhile since my update, I did have finals and then after finals it was hard getting back into my story, I reread all my chapters in hope to get inspiration, since this chapter nothing really exciting happens but it is important for development of the story. I hope I didn't make James's character too unlikable in this chapter, he is a good person and it will come out more as Sirius's and his friendship evolves.
Thanks to all my readers and reviewers. Happy Holidays to All!
Brennqt14: No problem clearing that up. Yes school has been driving me insane as well, I'm so glad my finals are over though. I'm really happy you like the way their friendship is evolving, I've been being careful making it seem real
Inferno Elf: Thank you and sadly they won't be animagi for awhile, since we learned from the books that it took them a good three years to successfully transform and I am staying faithful to the books, so probably not until fifth year.
Irish Anor: I know, I feel bad for Sirius, and I'm the one putting him through the torture at least in this story, lol. I hope he is brought back in someway, or at least the memory of him or something.
EsScaper: Yes, Severus I believe especially from that comment from Sirius that he knew more curses than seventh years, that Snape was very capable of defending himself. Sorry about that whole mix up with chapter 14 alert, but I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
Siriuslyhot!!!: I like your penname, anyway thanks for reviewing
Elevengirl9: Yea it completely turn me off from a story when they begin with I hate Peter so I'm not even putting him in the story. I think I've read your fic where Peter switches side, because I don't think he was evil in his schoolboy days and like you said he was very weak. Remus and Peter are just as important in the dynamic of the marauders as James and Sirius, though those two will be the main focus of this story
Darce: I'm glad you like my story and sadly since I'm staying true to the books, we learn it took them about three years to learn to become animagi, so it won't be awhile and it probably won't be addressed in this story, maybe another one I will write though
Z'yiandria: Thank you so much for your review and it does take time to build a friendship as close as they have, it doesn't happen instantly at least not usually. And Sirius, though he won't be having a great summer at the Black manor, he will be returning to Gryffindor in his second year, since I will be staying to cannon, so never fear. I'm glad you find it all believable