Chapter 5: The Annoucement

Hogwarts looked as beautiful as ever, Lily thought , as she climbed into one of the horseless carriages to take them up to the castle with Stace, Charlie and Shelley.

The Marauders were in the carriage behind,

"Hey Prongs," Sirius said questioning him, " You alright, you seem to be staring at Evans more than usual!"

"No I'm fine." said James, still staring at the back of Lily's beautiful red head in the carriage infront.

As they entered the entrance hall, Peeves was there swooping down on the students as usual.

He swooped down on Lily, who was busy chatting to her friends and she toppled backwards, landing on Severus Snape.

"Get off me, you filthy little mudblood!" a few people gasped but the Slytherins around just laughed.

Snape pulled out his wand and shot a spell at her back before she could do anything as she shot about 30 feet into the air and landed in a heap on the floor.

"LILY!" her friends screamed rushing over to her, everyone was shocked at what had just happened. They were all paralized with fear!

Unluckly for Snape, the Marauders watched the whole thing. Remus had rushed

over to Lily to try and help. Peter stood back too scared to do anything, Shelley had started sobbing so Sirius had gone over to comfort her.

So it was James who had to deal with it, he could feel the anger burning up inside him, his heart pounding furiously, he was looking at Snape with such hatred , it was very scary for people to see, even for Sirius.

He knew how much James hated Snape, he hated Snape himself! but he had never seen his best friend's face like this before.

James had took out his wand and was pointing it at Snape's throat,

"How dare you, how dare you call Lily a mudblood, how dare you even speak to her!" James growled.

The entrance hall was deadly quiet, dispite having the entire school ( apart from the first years and the teachers) cramped in there.

"And what exactly are you going to do with that Potter, you haven't even got the guts!"

"Oh believe me I have," James muttered, pushing the wand tip on Snape's throat,

"I have, Snivellus, after what you did Lily, you are going to pay!"

"Come on then Potter, do your worst."

"Oh I'm afraid I can't do my worst, I dont have any shampoo on me at the moment, so you'll definitely look the worst anyway!"

A few people laughed at these words but most people still stood frozen.

" Bring it, Potter."

" Gladly."

"So, you scared Potter?" Snape said sneering.

"You wish."

"Avada kedavra!"

"Stupifey!"

Both spells rebounded off each other, Snape's hit a bird that was flying around outside, and James' hit an unsuspecting Slytherin 2nd year.

Everyone was so shocked that Snape had shot an unforgiveable curse and James that no-one had realised that Lily had woken up and that she had seen the whole thing!

James didn't need a wand anymore, he had launched himself on top of Snape and was wrestling him to the ground. Suddenly McGonagall had entered the entrance hall,

"What do you think you are doing in here? In the Great Hall, all of you, NOW!" she said startling everyone and bringing everyone back to life from being totally shocked from what they had witnessed.

Thankfully Professor McGonagall had not seen James or Snape. James, who was still on the floor, was being pulled up to his feet by the rest of the Marauders. His face was slightly bleeding.

"Stupid...bloody..." James stuttered.

"I know James, but just have some dinner and get some rest." Remus said soothingly.

Everyone was still staring at James when he sat down, Lily was opposite him, crying silent tears. Their friends were also still staring at them. When James realised Lily was crying he stood up and pulled her into a hug and she didn't protest which James was happy to see.

"Lily...I..." he started.

"No...James, it's all my fault, that arsehole shot the killing curse at you, you could have died!"

"It doesn't matter Lily, it's over!"

She gave a small whimper and started sobbing into his chest, she was just a bit smaller than James. Their moment was stopped, however, by Dumbledore standing up, his long silver beard and half moon spectacles shining brightly.

James and Lily quickly took their seats again.

"Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts, the Sorting ceremony will begin shortly, then we can tuck into our magnificent feast! Thank you!"

The hall cheered and clapped. Then the first years came through the Great Hall looking very nervous indeed.

During the Sorting ceremony, James kept shooting glances at Lily, just to make sure she was ok, she seemed fine now, he thought, as the last person to be Sorted was put into their house which was Ravenclaw. The Ravenclaws cheered the loudest.

As the clapping died down, Dumbledore stood up again, he beemed around at the four tables,

"Tuck in!" he said smiling happily, as everyone smiled back, even James and Lily.

He sat back down and started having a chat with Professor McGonagall. As James was eating, he couldn't help but notice that Lily was smiling slightly everytime she caught him looking at her.

"Oy, Prongs," Sirius whispered, as if afraid to be overheard by the girls," want to play a little Marauders prank on old Snivellus?"

"Why not?" James replied. Remus looked over in disbelief but then saw the matching mischevious grins they were wearing.

"Oh no, not again," Remus groaned. Peter laughed nervously then said,

"So whats the plan guys?"

Sirius turned to his three friends and said,

" Well..."

After the desserts had melted from their plates, Dumbledore stood up yet again,

"Now, before you all go off to bed, I'd like to say a few words, the forest is strictly forbidden to all our students, Mr Filch, our caretaker has asked me to inform you that no kicking of his cat will be permitted any further," said Dumbledore,

(at this point the Marauders groaned loudly and the hall filled full of laughter)

"Yes, thank you boys. Now to annouce a very special event that will be taking place at Christmas, a Ball will be held here at Hogwarts, we have one every 20 years, formal dress will need to be worn, for further information, ask Professor McGonagall or Professor Flitwick, who will be organising it. Oh yes, one last thing, I'd like to congratulate our new Head Boy and Head Girl, Mr James Potter and Miss Lily Evans, do please stand up.

At this people clapped and cheered as they stood up, the rest of the Marauders got down on their knees and started bowing to James,

" Ha ha, now my slaves, get me my fair maiden!" James cried, " No, don't bother, I'll get her myself!" and he picked Lily up bridal style, even though she squealed, and ran out of The Great Hall with her. Sirius, Remus and Peter then looked at Shelley, Charlie and Stacey and yelled,

"CHARGE!"

They picked them up and ran out of the hall with them too, the hall was in hysterics!

"Right now," Dumbledore, who was still standing at the front of the hall, chuckling said, " I think that's enough entertainment for tonight, toodle pip!"

And everyone went into their common room and dorm rooms.