Do I really need to say this again? J K Rowling IS Harry Potter. If you recognise anything from any movie, TV show, book or whatever else, it's probably because it is from them. If you want my 'full' warning, you can check out either 'Dormant Power' or 'Beginning of the End'.

If you've read both those fics, then you know how my version of it ends…but how did it begin? Again, only some names are mine, everything else is not! I've based this from the Marauders perspective so…well you'll know the story when something happens to a certain someone, even though I don't write about it in this one! Also check out 'The Apprentice', it has some info you won't find in my other two stories (wink, wink!).

Greetings, I am back! Hope everyone enjoyed HBP as much as me…though Prisoner is still my fav! I'm not going to change my Potions Prof's name to Slughorn though…after all, my fics were always AU anyway.

Oh, and yes, Sirius did whack James with a wet towel…and having been on the wrong end of that before, I can tell you that it does sting a bit!

Chapter 5 – Silence Reigns Supreme

A week had passed since the first full moon of the school year, with Remus nearly fully recuperated and up to date with his subjects. The four of them had settled themselves down at the Gryffindor table for breakfast when the morning influx of owls streamed in, much to the annoyance of Sirius.

"For Merlin's sake! Can't they tell that I'm hungry? I'm a growing boy!"

"Who just keeps on growing" James replied with a grin.

"Shut up, James."

James was about to respond when a scream was heard from the Hufflepuff table. Everyone's attention turned to that table as a fourth year witch jumped up and ran from the hall with tears trailing in her wake. Whispers started to break out, but Professor Dumbledore silenced everyone when he stood up.

"Miss Paterson has just suffered a terrible loss. I trust those of you who know her to respect her privacy. Please try to enjoy your day."

Remus just looked over at the empty chair and felt a pang of guilt in his stomach. He knew what she would be feeling right now. Remus had tried to push his feelings down, to keep them from bubbling over. He didn't want to break down in front of his friends, they wouldn't, no couldn't, understand what he was truly feeling. He remembered Trent's words on the Express; 'you won't be alone. Many more will not make it through this.'

Remus closed his eyes and wondered exactly how true those words would be this year.

This became a regular occurrence for the next fortnight, as more letters arrived, informing students of the news that Voldemort had struck

"Have you noticed that Slytherin are the only table who hasn't got one of those letters yet?" Sirius said as they sat down in their usual spot for breakfast.

"Of course, Padfoot. What did you expect from the house of Death Eaters in training?" Peter answered.

"We could write a letter for Snivellus!"

"Don't even think about it, Prongs" Remus growled.

"Sorry, Moony. It was just an idea."

"Death isn't funny, James. Even Snape doesn't deserve something like that."

"But he keeps on telling you about what happ…"

"I know he does, Sirius. But I'm doing everything I can to ignore him. Despite that, no one deserves a fake one of those letters."

"Remus is right. I wonder if anyone will get one today" Peter asked as they walked into the Great Hall for breakfast.

His question soon was answered when the owls flooded in again. Everyone waited in silence to see if anyone got one of the dreaded letters, but they were all stunned when a second year Slytherin wizard stood up and bolted out the Hall.

James just turned to Sirius and Peter, "I guess that blows your theory about Slytherin."

Peter nodded in reply, while Sirius just shrugged before helping himself to some sausages and toast.

"So, what do you reckon it'll be like, having that Auror teaching us?" James asked his friends as they vacated the Charms classroom. It was mid October, and Professor Flitwick had announced that Trent would be taking a class in two weeks time.

"No idea. Don't even know what he's going to teach to be honest" Sirius replied.

"Probably some basic defence stuff. I mean, he is an Auror after all."

"Good point, Peter. Except for the fact this is Charms, and not Defence Against the Dark Arts. Besides, apart from disarming and stunning, is there really that much he can teach us?"

"There's quite a bit he could teach us, James. I mean, things like stealth…"

"Which we have down pretty well, Remus" Sirius cut in with a grin.

"Perhaps so, but there's more to being an Auror than just defending yourself with a wand. Maybe that's what he'll show us."

"What, muggle martial arts? C'mon Remus, I mean, yeah, it might be good to learn, but magic can do much more damage."

"I'm aware of that, Sirius. I'm just throwing a few ideas out there."

Sirius shrugged. "Well, I guess we'll find out in a month. After all, that is when he's going to start. How's things going with Lily?" he asked James.

"Not too bad. We're kind of in a holding pattern."

"Meaning what exactly?" Peter enquired.

"We're still friends, nothing more."

"And you're ok with this?" Remus asked.

James winced a little. "Well, at this stage, yeah. She's agreed to go to the next Hogsmeade weekend with me though."

"Let me guess, Madam Puddifoot's again?" Sirius casually remarked with a grin.

James winced again before nodding. "I know it's a bit feminine…"

"A bit? You are kidding me, right" Sirius snorted, before pushing the door open to enter the Great Hall for lunch.

"All right, so it's quite feminine. But I don't want you three hanging around."

"What, do we look like we'd want to go there when Zonko's and Honeydukes are just down the street?" Peter asked.

"C'mon guys, please. I don't want to stuff this up."

The other three grinned at this before seeing James' sincere and hopeful look on his face. Sirius, Remus and Peter quickly huddled together at the table to make their decision. They broke apart and left Sirius to do the talking.

"Ok, Prongs. We'll leave you and Lily alone that weekend. But we want a full account the day after!"

James looked aghast at this and quickly shook his head. "No way! I'm not agreeing to that!"

The other three started laughing before James realised that Sirius had been joking.

"Very funny you three. Remind me to never tell you anything again."

"You should've seen your face! I never knew your eyes could get that wide!"

Sirius and Peter burst out laughing again. The other people in the hall looked over at them, but went back to eating when they saw who they were.

"So, that's the first weekend of December then" Remus said to James as the other two were still trying calm down from their laughing fit.

"Yeah, it is. Thanks for agreeing to this, Moony."

"No worries, James. Besides, contrary to what Sirius might think, I reckon you two would look quite good together."

"Cheers Remus. How are things going with Petunia?"

Remus stifled a laugh. "I can't believe you're still going on about that. I told you that I'm not interested in her."

"Then have you told her that yet?"

"I'm still trying to find a way to do that. I don't want to hurt her feelings…"

"Yep, that's our Moony. Always putting others first" Sirius interrupted, now over his bout of laughter.

"I'm never going to live that down, am I" Remus sighed as he helped himself to some juice.

"Actually, Sirius told me quite the strangest thing" James piped up after a short silence.

"Oh, what about?" Peter asked.

"He said that the reason you're not interested in her, Remus, is because you…"

James was cut off as Sirius cuffed him on the back of his head.

"Ow! Dammit Sirius, what'd you do that for!"

"You know perfectly well why, Prongs" he growled.

James glared and rubbed the back of his head. "Fine, you ask him if it's really true then."

Sirius glared back, before leaning over and whispering into Remus' ear. After he'd finished, Remus just nodded.

"Did I just miss something?" Peter asked.

"I'll tell you…"

"You will not, Prongs!" Sirius hissed. "I'll tell you at Hogsmeade, Peter."

"Ahem. I think that since this concerns me, I should be the one to fill Peter in" Remus gently said, frowning between James and Sirius who sheepishly nodded before turning back to their lunch. Remus then quickly told Peter about what Sirius had suggested about werewolves being quite 'instinctive' when it comes to being in relationships. He then glared at James and Sirius before addressing the three of them.

"While that is one reason, it most certainly isn't why I'm not interested in her."

"Oh, then what is the reason?" Sirius asked as sweetly as possible.

Remus then gave him his best death stare, and watched with amusement as Sirius quickly backed down.

James then leant over to Peter and quietly said "I think that means he isn't going to tell us."

Peter nodded and added "at least, not anytime soon. Are we doing anything for Halloween?"

"Not sure yet. We most likely will, but we'll probably discuss it a couple nights beforehand."

"We most certainly will. Speaking of pranks, you reckon that Auror figured out it was us who did it on the opening feast?"

"McGonagall made sure he did…" Remus started, but James cut him off.

"Actually, she only gave us detention for the food fight. To tell you the truth, Sirius, I highly doubt he'll figure that out" James replied before helping himself to another sandwich.

The four of them settled down at the far end of the Gryffindor table keen to discuss what havoc they could cause during Halloween. James noticed that Remus seemed a little down and asked him what was wrong.

"Nothing James. Just the usual thing with...you know."

"Yeah, that furry little problem. Are you sure though, Remus? Because you don't normally look this…well, troubled."

Remus knew James meant well, but he didn't really feel like telling any of them what was wrong. He knew they wouldn't understand how he felt after his parents had been taken away. It had taken him a full month to come to terms with the fact that he had nowhere to go for Christmas, since his grandparents were going on holidays to France. And while James had owled his parents to ask if Remus could stay with them, which they agreed to, he knew it just wasn't going to be the same.

'No one knows how I really feel' he thought before sighing. "Don't worry about me, James. A lot of things have happened to me in the last few months, that's all. So, what have those two decided to do tomorrow night?"

"Well, now that you've finally decided to join in, we were just going over some ideas. You're normally pretty good with timed jinxes, so if you've got any ideas, feel free to jump in" Sirius told him.

Remus nodded before the four of them started to plot what they could do tomorrow night for the feast. They didn't realise that a certain Auror had been watching them quite closely.

Trent looked over from his corner in the Great Hall watching the students carefully. Since it was the night before Halloween, he had a feeling that the Marauders would be up to something. He had figured out that it had more than likely been those four that had pranked him the night of the opening feast. He smiled as he fondly remembered his own school days; so carefree, so peaceful, so…quickly over. He sighed as he looked over at the Gryffindor table and spotted the four teens in conversation with each other.

Trent smirked as an idea formed in his mind. It was payback time. Trent then discreetly waved his wand, casting a silencing charm on everyone in the room except for the Marauders and the Professors. When the whole room fell silent except for the four plotting Gryffindors, everyone's attention turned to them. Remus noticed it first and the others soon realised that everyone was looking at them with varying degrees of spite. They glanced around confused, until McGonagall stood up.

"BLACK! POTTER! LUPIN! PETTIGREW! DETENTION!"

"What did we do?" Sirius asked the others.

"I really don't know" James answered honestly.

Trent grinned as he then lifted the charm.