A/N: Okay, first of all, thank you thank you thank you to my three new reviewers! I love you guys. Second of all, this chapter is way longer than I intended it to be, but all the more for you guys to read, right? Well, I hope you like it! There will be a little more of Remus's stalker in this chapter, Ash, and some Lily/James fighting. I'm working on putting the female characters into this chapter to help you get to know them better. :( I've been so wrapped up in the Marauders and their pranking that I almost forgot about them! Just a reminder of who the other girls are, Rory and Ellie Abercrombie, the twins, and Emilie Wood are Lily's roommates. Well, this is my newest chappie. Let me know what you think! REVIEW! Please…..

Disclaimer: Everything except the plot and any characters you don't recognize from the books belong to J.K. Rowling.

Revenge Is Sweet, But Not For Everyone

Two days later, Snape had figured out that the prank was meant for him, not Lucius. It was just sheer luck that he had been forced out of his normal seat. And whoever made the potion that was put into his drink knew where he normally sat and had some sort of grudge against him. He tried to think of anyone that could possibly have something against him. James Potter. He had been pretty ticked off that night with Lily. It could've been his idea. He would just have to do some searching to figure out if it was him or not.

Lily Evans sat in her dorm, doing her Transfiguration essay that was due on Monday. But she wasn't getting anywhere. The prank that had been done on Lucius was still bothering her, because she knew that it was meant for Snape. She also knew that James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus had done it. I mean, they weren't very creative about it. Just a week or so before, James had walked around with the same purple boils and he had lost his voice. And that was when he and Sirius were fighting. Now, Lucius has the same thing, just modified a bit, done to him. And James had been really upset that night with Snape. I mean, who was he to treat her like a child? But that was irrelevant. But she just knew it was them. Now those four were inseparable, walking around calling themselves The Marauders. How childish.

They needed to be confronted.

James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter were all sitting in the Common Room, working on the same essay. Well, by working I mean that they were copying Remus's essay.

"You know, Remus, you're bloody brilliant at Transfiguration," James said.

"I know, it's just a gift," Remus said sardonically.

"And not a bit too humble," Sirius muttered.

The four of them got a good laugh out of that comment, but were violently interrupted by a furious Lily Evans.

"James Potter!" she yelled, brandishing her wand at his throat.

"Lily! How nice to see you on this… fine evening. What can I do for you?" he asked calmly.

"Potter, I need to speak to you in private. Now!" she ordered.

"Anything you wish, my dear. I will see you three later," James said arrogantly, winking to them as Lily's back turned.

"Good luck mate," Sirius said. "She's madder than a rabid Hippogriff."

James followed Lily's retreating figure out of the Portrait Hole and down a long hallway. Finally, she led him into an abandoned classroom.

"What can I do for you, Lily?" James asked.

"Look, Potter, I know what you did and I know how you did it. Just tell me why," Lily commanded.

"Lily, dearest, I have no idea what you speak of. Please inform me and I would be much obliged to explain my motives," James quipped arrogantly.

"Potter!" Lily yelled. "You are such an insufferable git! I mean the prank you pulled on Malfoy. I know it was meant for Snape. I know that Sirius made the potion because it was almost exactly the same as the one he made for you just a few weeks ago. But I don't know why!"

"Well, dear, I'm afraid it is none of your business."

"IF YOU CALL ME DEAR ONE MORE TIME I'LL HEX YOU INTO OBLIVION!" she screamed.

"Okay, okay, calm down Lily," James tried.

"POTTER!"

"Okay, how about Evans?"

"Better. Now, tell me why!" she ordered.

"Okay, I'll tell you, just keep your voice down. We don't want to get caught out of bed at this hour. It's way past curfew."

"Okay. Now tell me."

"Fine. It was because of the way he treated you that night," James said quietly.

"That's what I was afraid of," Lily sighed, shaking her head. "What? Did you think I couldn't take care of myself or something? Did you think I couldn't handle him? Is that why you followed me? Or are you just some psycho stalker?"

Ouch, James thought to himself.

"Excuse me? Since when did I become a psycho stalker? I was trying to protect you from him. I could tell he was a pervert, but you obviously couldn't."

"Since when do I need your help? I can take care of myself. And I certainly don't need you to protect me. And that prank you pulled was just plain mean. You are nothing but a stuck-up, self-centered, egotistical jerk, James Potter. That's all you'll ever be. I hate you! You and your stupid Marauders."

Lily stormed out of the room and left James standing there, shocked.

Why should I care what some stupid girl thinks? It's not like she matters! She's just some idiotic girl. And how does she know about the Marauders? I thought only us four knew about that! Maybe she needs to learn a lesson. Hmmm, that's a good idea. We should get her next. After Snape, of course. He's number one on our list of people to prank. I'll tell Sirius later. She'll regret calling me a stuck-up, uh, she'll regret crossing James Potter.

Snape was walking towards the staircase that would take him back down to the Slytherin Common Room, when he heard exactly what he needed to hear.

"POTTER!" he heard Lily Evans scream.

Then he heard some muffled argument. He had obviously told her to keep her voice down.

He hid in the shadows for a few minutes, waiting to hear the rest of the argument. Sometimes he needed to be reminded that he wasn't the worst off.

Then, he heard it.

"… YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A STUCK-UP, SELF-CENTERED, EGOTISTICAL JERK! THAT"S ALL YOU'LL EVER BE AND I HATE YOU! YOU AND YOUR STUPID MARAUDERS!" Lily screamed.

He heard the door fly open and Lily ran down the hall towards the Gryffindor Common Room.

Snape smiled to himself in the darkness. He recalled something that he had heard Lucius say before he was pranked.

"Who in Merlin's name are the Marauders?"

At the time, the name had meant nothing. Now, he had all the proof he needed.

He darted to the Slytherin Common Room to enlist the help he needed to get his dear friend James Potter back.

As he entered the Common Room, he found exactly the person he was looking for.

"Lucius!" Snape called.

Lucius looked up from Narcissa, with whom he was quite… involved.

"What do you want, Snape?" he asked irritably.

"I know who did that to you," Snape said quietly.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah, and I know why."

"Do tell."

"It was James Potter. He was trying to get me, not you. I don't know if you noticed, but that night you were sitting in my seat. It was meant for me. And you got that note, saying it was from the Marauders?"

"Yes."

"Well, James and his friends call themselves the Marauders."

"Are you sure of this?" Lucius asked greedily.

"Positive."

"Excellent. What do you say we teach our friend James a lesson?"

"My plans exactly," Snape said, wearing an evil grin.

James was crouching in the darkest corner he could find. He was hiding under his invisibility cloak, waiting for Lily to come. She was next. Sirius had helped him to plan their newest attack. It was brilliant.

He must've waited half an hour before she finally came towards him. He could recognize her voice from a mile away. He heard some other female voices too, but that was okay. As long as Lily got pranked.

"So, you really think that Sirius Black is cute?" Lily asked Rory.

"Well, he is pretty handsome. I mean, the long black hair and those blue eyes, it's almost too much!" Rory declared.

"Well, I personally think that James Potter is much cuter than Sirius Black," Emilie said.

"You're joking," Lily asked in disbelief. "That arrogant jerk? He makes the hairs on my neck stand up. I hate him."

"Aww, Lily, he's not that bad," Ellie said. "Besides, he seems to like you well enough."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Lily asked indignantly.

"Oh, nothing…"

"Ellie!" Lily warned.

"Okay, whatever Lil, I just think he might have a little crush on you or something. It's not a big deal. I mean, he'll get over it. Just try to be nice to him. He really is a nice kid, even if he is quite arrogant."

James's cheeks reddened at the course of the conversation. I do NOT have a crush on Lily! She's an ugly, stupid girl!

He chose that moment to attack. He opened the box he had been holding and waited for their reaction.

Lily and her friends were walking down the corridor when out of absolutely nowhere they were attacked by bewitched toy spiders. All four girls began shrieking and sent stunning spells flying in every direction. More than a few times, James found himself having to block the spells since they were coming in his direction. Luckily, the girls were so wrapped up in the spiders that they couldn't hear him muttering the spell.

After quite a while, all the spiders were back to normal.

"Where the heck did that come from?" Emilie yelled.

"Well, I don't know how he managed it, but I just know it was Potter," Lily growled.

"Oh, please, Lily, for all you know it could've been Peeves," Ellie said.

"You're just defending that stupid git Potter to get me angry!" Lily yelled, her cheeks flushing with anger.

"That's ridiculous!" Ellie yelled back.

"Ellie! Lily!" Rory screamed.

Both girls stopped yelling to look at the normally soft-spoken Rory.

"Just shut up. I hate arguing, especially if it's with my best friends. None of us know who did that, and probably never will. Just leave it alone."

The girls walked down the corridor towards the library. Lily and Ellie were still fighting, and Emilie and Rory were still pacifying.

James slipped out of his invisibility cloak and walked down the corridor in the opposite direction the girls had gone. There were still tears streaming down his face as he laughed at that beautiful memory.

"Ah, James Potter," James heard a greasy voice from behind him say, "just the fellow we were looking for."

James turned around to see Lucius Malfoy, Snape, and a few older boys whose last names he only knew, Nott, Avery, Crabbe, and Goyle.

"What do you want, Snape?" James hissed.

"Whatever do you think I want, James? I know it was you who slipped that clever little potion into my drink. It was just fate that Lucius was so unfortunate as to sit in my seat that night. Well, you see, among true Purebloods, that was considered quite rude. We're here to teach you a lesson."

"I don't think so!" James yelled, grasping his wand so hard his hand shook. In all reality, he was terrified out of his mind, but he couldn't let them know that.

"Actually, I think so, Potter. I did not enjoy those few days. You will not get away with doing something so disrespectful to someone like me," Lucius said haughtily.

"I- I won't l-l-let you t-t-touch me," James said, stuttering, as was his habit when he was afraid.

"W-w-what was t-t-that, P-p-p-potter? Are you afraid?" Lucius taunted. "Maybe this will help your stuttering problem. Silencio!" Lucius yelled.

James opened his mouth, but found that no words came out. Lucius had used the same curse that James had used on him.

"Now, do you know what it's like to be completely humiliated in front of the whole school?" Lucius asked.

James didn't reply.

"Answer me!" Lucius said. "Shake your head yes or no!"

Again, James didn't move.

"Imbecile! Crucio!"

James felt the most excruciating pain he had ever experience in his whole life. It felt as though every bone in his body were smashed into tiny bits, and his skin was being seared with white-hot blades that were as sharp as possible. He writhed and twisted as the Cruciatus Curse continued work its magic on him. Finally, after what seemed like endless ages, the pain stopped.

"Now, answer me!" Lucius said sharply.

James shook his head no violently, then collapsed on the floor. He felt blood dripping onto his hand, and a gash on his forehead that was bleeding violently. He was positive that his left leg was broken, and his left shoulder felt as though it were ripped out of its socket.

"Good boy," Lucius taunted. "Didn't like that, did you?"

James, terrified of further torture, shook his head no.

"Now, we will not perform a memory charm on you, because we want you to remember this. We want you to remember that you will never, ever cross me or any of my friends and companions ever again. Will you remember this?"

James shook his head yes.

"Good. Now, if you breathe a word of this to any soul, we will find out, and you will receive more torture. Perhaps we will even kill you. Do you understand me?"

James shook his head yes.

"Good. Nott! Avery! Put him into that broom closet. Make sure no one finds him for a while. It'll give him some time to think over what he's done," Lucius said.

Nott and Avery placed him in the back of the broom closet. As James slowly drifted off into unconsciousness amongst the brooms and buckets, he heardthem shut the door, leaving him to be found.

Lily was trudging down the corridor. Professor Flitwick had sent her into a specific broom closet. He needed his old broom to demonstrate a certain charm, so she was elected as the one to get it.

When she finally reached the closet that Flitwick had mentioned, she opened the door slowly. She looked for the green and blue broom that Flitwick had told her to get. After about two minutes of searching, she saw it in the back corner of the closet, hidden behind quite a few brooms.

She grumbled the whole time as she walked towards the broom.

Suddenly, she felt he foot step on something squishy right before it gave way. She fell flat on her face. She turned her head to the left to see what it was that made her trip. Who should be before her but James Potter himself? Except, there was something wrong with him. He had passed out. And there was blood all over his face and his leg was in a position that could not be normal. For a few moments, Lily debated what she should do.

I wonder who did this to him. I mean, I know he probably has enemies, but this is horrible. Then again, I'm sure he deserved it. But I really should get him to Madame Pomfrey. But someone could find him if I move him and leave the door open enough. But I suppose I should help him.

"Locomotor Corpis!" Lily yelled. James's body rose into the air and hovered wherever Lily made it with her wand.

She went off in the direction of the hospital wing.

Remus, Sirius, and Peter were all sitting in their room. It was almost midnight and James still wasn't back from wherever it was he had gone.

"Where the bloody hell is he?" Sirius yelled. "I mean, I know he was pranking Lily and the girls but that was hours ago. He skipped bloody Potions, right before lunch!"

"Wait, James pranked the girls?" Remus asked.

"Uh, yeah, didn't he tell you guys?" Sirius asked.

"No, he didn't," Remus hissed. "Well, wherever he went, I'm sure he's fine."

"You know, we ought to check the hospital wing. Maybe he got sick or something like you did," Sirius suggested, looking pointedly at Remus. He still hadn't forgotten the events of almost a month ago.

That reminded Remus that his next Transformation was coming up.

"Let's check in the morning. It's way too late now," Remus said.

"Not if we use the Invisibility Cloak it isn't," Sirius said, grinning.

"Well, that'd be a great idea if you knew where it was," Remus said sarcastically. "Besides, it belongs to James. You can't just take his property."

"Actually, I am allowed to use it. And it would just be to see if he's in the Hospital Wing, not for all of us to go pay him a visit. Poppy isn't that stupid."

"Poppy?" Remus asked.

"Oh, Madame Pomfrey. I heard Blake call her that. It's easier to say than Madame Pomfrey. Besides, Poppy makes her sound, nicer or something. Whatever."

"Okay, here's what we'll do. Sirius, you can go and check to see if James is in the hospital wing. Peter and I will wait here."

"Sounds like a plan. See you two tools later."

Sirius went over to James's bunk and reached inside the pillow case. He pulled out the Invisibility Cloak and slipped it on.

A few seconds later the door opened, and then closed. Sirius slipped down the hallway, unseen by anyone.

James awoke suddenly from a nightmare. Yet, it wasn't completely a nightmare. He was being tortured by Lucius and Snape again. They were going to kill him. Then, just when he thought he was going to die, he was rescued by an angel. Okay, it was kinda lame, but that was his dream.

He opened his eyes, and saw that the whole world was blurry. He felt around for his glasses, but discovered that his arm was in serious pain. He yelped.

A woman in white said something that James couldn't understand, and handed him his glasses. When he slipped them on, he saw that it was Madame Pomfrey.

"Come now, dearie, you mustn't move! You've been hurt badly! Drink this, it'll give you a peaceful, dreamless sleep," she ordered.

James practically inhaled the greenish liquid in the cup and drifted off into a deep sleep.

Sirius was sneaking through the dark halls of Hogwarts, in search of his friend, who had disappeared without a trace.

After what seemed like hours to Sirius, he reached the Hospital Wing.

It was pretty much dark, so he entered quietly. He wheeled his head around, looking for an occupied bed, but wasn't finding one. At last, in the very bed where Remus had lain, he found James.

He was asleep, probably with some sort of potion. His glasses were cracked and there were cuts and bruises all over his face, neck, and arms. His right arm had a strange look to it, as if it weren't attached to his body. There was a long gash on it, running down almost its whole length. He was about to wake James when he heard a few voices behind him.

"… who did this!" Headmaster Blake exclaimed.

Sirius backed into an obsolete corner where he wouldn't be found but could still hear the conversation.

"Headmaster, it would be very unwise to wake him. He's obviously been through quite an ordeal. He needs some rest. Poppy, when he wakes, you'll inform us, won't you?" Dumbledore asked.

"Of course, Professor. His arm has been healed. It was dislocated and quite badly broken, but I healed it. It's a shame that people could be so sick to do so much damage to such an innocent young boy," Madame Pomfrey said.

"Well, hopefully James will tell us," Blake said. "I would hate to have the culprits of such a horrible crime walk around unpunished."

"Well, it is late. I need my rest," Dumbledore said. "We all need our rest." Dumbledore looked right into Sirius's eyes when he said this.

"Yes, you are right, my friend. Good night, Poppy, Albus."

Sirius waited until he had a clear path and then ran towards the Gryffindor Tower.

When he arrived back in his room, he was accosted with questions.

"Well, did you find him?" Peter asked eagerly.

"Of course I found him," Sirius said, slipping the Cloak back into James's pillow.

"And?" Remus asked.

"He's been beat up pretty badly. All kinds of gashes. Dislocated shoulder and all that jazz. Poppy fixed him up, but he's out cold. I think Dumbledore can see through Invisibility Cloaks."

"Well, that's interesting, really, but if you don't mind, I'm extremely tired," Remus said. He was already in his pajamas. "Good night."

"Night, Remus."

Lily lay in her bed. She was crying. She didn't know why, but she was.

"Lily!" Rory exclaimed. "Would you please stop crying and just tell us what's wrong?"

"I mean, you've been crying for an hour!" Emilie exclaimed.

"Please, honey, just say what's bothering you," Ellie said.

"He… I found him… blood everywhere…. his blood…. Pomfrey…. hurt…. almost died! Lily said between sobs.

"Calm down and say it again, more slowly," Rory said.

Lily told them exactly what had happened.

"That's horrible!" Ellie cried.

"Who would do such a thing?" Emilie asked.

"I have no idea," Lily moaned, "All I know is that he almost died and I saved his life!"

"Why is that a bad thing?" Rory asked.

"I don't know!" Lily cried exasperatedly.

"Well, don't let it haunt you," Ellie said. "You did the right thing here. I'm sure he would've done the same."

"Get some rest," Emilie said. "It'll help."

"I can't sleep!" Lily cried.

"Well, then lay in bed. He'll be fine. Madame Pomfrey is a good healer, and she'll take good care of him," Ellie said.

"Fine," Lily grumbled, knowing they were right. There was nothing she could do about it, so she may as well rest up.

She lay in her bed for quite a while, probably two or three hours. Then, just as she thought she would never get to sleep, her eyes shut and she drifted off into dreamland.

Since Remus, Peter, and Sirius had not been allowed to visit James that morning, they had gone about their day as normal.

They were now sitting in their room discussing what had happened to James. From what Lily and the girls had told them, he had been attacked or something. Sirius thought he had a pretty good idea who had done it, but he kept it to himself. He was sure it was Snape and his group, getting revenge for their prank. He was waiting for the right time to ask James.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Remus got up to open the door.

Ellie was standing there.

"Oh, hello," Remus said. He thought maybe it might be James.

"Nice to see you too," Ellie said sarcastically.

Remus rolled his eyes. "What do you want, Ellie?"

"You, actually. There's a girl in the Common Room looking for you. She's a Hufflepuff first year, says she knows you. Short, blonde hair, kinda talkative? I've never seen her before, and I have no idea how she got into our Common Room. Anyway, she asked for you, so I said I'd come and get you. Right, well, that's all. Bye."

Ellie turned and walked down the stairs.

Remus turned to his friends, completely puzzled.

"Maybe it's your little friend, mate," Sirius said, smirking.

"My little friend?" Remus asked, confused.

"Yeah, you know, that one who was like stalking you?"

"Oh! That friend. Oh God I hope it's not here. She's a loony!"

"Well, let's go find out. Got nothing better to do anyways."

The two boys (Peter wasn't feeling too good) went downstairs.

Remus's heart sunk as he saw none other than Lindsay sitting in a chair by the fire.

"Oh Remus!" she squealed upon seeing him. "I'm so glad you came!"

"Uh, right. What do you want, Lindsay?" Remus asked, his cheeks flushing at the snickers going around the Common Room.

"To say how sorry I am about your friend, James. When my friend Melina told me about how he was attacked I thought, I should go talk to Remus. How are you holding up?" She put an arm around his shoulder.

"Um, look, Lindsay, I'm fine. Really I am. You need to get your arm off of me," Remus hissed.

"Oh, okay Remmie-kins. I understand that you're not holding up too well. I'll see you around. Bye!" she said happily, blowing him a kiss.

"What the hell is that girl's problem?" Remus asked angrily.

"Problem? She's a psycho!" Sirius said.

"Yeah, no kidding," Remus muttered.

"Who's a psycho?" a voice asked from behind.

Remus and Sirius both turned around to see who was butting into their business.

"James!" Sirius yelled.

"Sirius! It's good to be back in here, let me tell you. That hospital wing is so boring!"

"We were so worried about you!" Remus said. "Lily told us what happened."

"Lily?" James asked, confused.

"Yeah. Lily Evans," Sirius said. "Tall redhead, our year, kinda pretty, really smart, you know her mate."

"Shut up. Of course I know her. But what does she have to do with anything?"

"She found you!" Remus cried.

"Oh," was all James could say. Lily found me? And she actually helped me? I thought she hated me! Maybe there was nothing she could do. Or maybe she doesn't really hate me. It doesn't matter, though, because she'll never act like it.

"Oh? That's all?" Sirius asked in disbelief. "James, she found you almost dead in the back of a broom closet and saved your life! Oh, is not a proper response. Hello! You owe this girl big time!"

"Alright, alright! I get it, okay? No need to get mental on me, okay?"

"Look, I'm going to bed," Remus said. "I'm tired and I don't want to hear you two fight. You sit here and work it out. You're not coming back into the dorm until you do. Goodnight."

Remus walked up the stairs and left them sitting by themselves in a mostly deserted Common Room. Only a sixth year girl was sitting at a far table studying.

"Look, mate, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so mad at you," Sirius said.

"It's okay, Sirius," James replied. "Now let's go get some sleep."

"Hold on a second," Sirius said.

"What's up?"

"I, uh, have a question for you."

"Ask away."

"What the hell happened to you?"

James didn't reply. Should I tell him? Lucius threatened to kill me if I told anyone. But Sirius is my best mate! He of all people should know. But if they almost killed me before, I can only imagine what they'll do to me if they find out I told anyone. But I really should tell him.

"Okay, I'll tell you only if you swear to keep your mouth shut about it," James ordered.

"I swear," Sirius said solemnly.

"Okay." James lowered his voice to a whisper. "It was Malfoy and Snape and their little gang of losers."

"WHAT?" Sirius bellowed.

The girl at the table looked up suddenly. She was quite angry.

"Sorry, so sorry. Personal problems. He's a bit mental," James said as a means of explanation. The girl rolled her eyes and went up to her room.

"Would you mind not waking everyone in the castle?" James hissed.

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

"So, Snape did this to you?"

"Uh, mostly Lucius actually. He must've figured out it was us."

"What was us?"

"The prank. The one that was supposed to be fore Snape."

"Oh! That one. But what did he do to you?"

James looked into the fire, the memory of the day before coming back to him.

"They cornered me and threatened me. Then Malfoy used the Cruciatus Curse on me. Beat me up pretty good, actually. Then they left me in the closet where Lily found me."

"Wow. So what do you say we do next?"

"Do? We're not going to do anything. They said they would kill me if I told anyone. I'm risking it just telling you. What the hell do you think they'd do if we retaliated? They'd throttle me and you."

"But if we do it-"

"Sirius, I'm not going to do anything, and you sure as hell aren't either. Okay?"

"Whatever. I still say we get those bloody-"

"No. No revenge. They'll get theirs eventually. We just have to wait. Now can we go get some sleep? I'm exhausted. Those beds in the hospital wing are very uncomfortable."

"Sure."

Then the two boys walked up the stairs into their rooms and fell into peaceful sleep.

A/N: Well, that was it! Tell me what you think... REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!