Before it Began

By. SkyQuill

Summary

James knew he was in love at first sight, but what would it take for Lily to love him back? Read their story leading up to their deaths and discover the dangers they faced and the loves and friendships they shared.

Disclaimer

I do not own most of the characters and places or anything else that may seem familiar. J.K. Rowling has the exclusive claim to this as well as the general plot that formed this fanfic.

Chapter 4: Potions and Pettigrew

Alice, Lily, Calli', Cadence and Serena set off for classes the moment they got their schedules. Alice, Cadence and Lily all aspired to become aurors and consequently they were required to take a fair many classes. Cadence was taking Care of Magical Creatures on the side and Alice and Lily had decided to add Arithmancy to their already crowded schedules. Calli', who was a chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team wanted to play Quidditch after Hogwarts. Thus, she wasn't required to obtain any NEWTS but was taking Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms and Transfiguration for practical reasons. Serena had wanted to be a healer and was therefore required to take the same courses as an auror would, but she had decided not to take any extra subjects on the side.

That morning, everyone excluding Callidora made their way to Potions, which happened to be their first class. Upon arriving, the four girls grabbed a table together and began setting up their cauldrons and supplies.

"Good morning class!" Proffesor Slughorn boomed merrily. 'Good morning' the class chanted in reply.

"Ahh, Lily, how are you?. Good summer I presume?" Proffesor Slughorn asked genially, singling out his favorite student. Lily nodded mutely, as always, she was was rather embaressed to recieve Slughorn's extra attention.

"Good, good. Now today, seeing as it is our first day back we will be doing a simple potion, that is likely to appear on your NEWTS. It is a potion used on severe cuts, abrasions and bites." Slughorn explained prompting Serena to sit a little straighter in her seat.

"Although it's effects are simple enough the potion is competent for your level so please follow the insturctions carefully." He threw a meaningful glance towards James and Remus, the only two marauders to make the class. "Instructions are on the board, please proceed."

Lily immediatly set to work, taking extra care to be precise in her cutting and stirring. Beside her, Alice had also begun to work, grumbling occasionaly as she encountered a tricky direction. Serena meanwhile seemed to be having no trouble at all, in fact, she was already on the tenth line of instruction. Cadence however was a different story, she was still staring blankly at the board.

"Lily?" she croaked, "I don't get what the first line means." Lily sighed, she should have seen this coming, Cadence was a complete disaster at Potions, it was a miracle she had passed her OWLs two years ago. Only tedious, and relentless studying had gotten her a pass.

"You have to mix the skin and jelly in an upward motion, sortof like a reverse funnel motion." Lily explained patiently. Cadence nodded, still looking mildly uncertain and began to cut her supplies.

"Time is up!" Slughorn announced, peering at their faces through the thick smoke now wafting through the classroom from their cauldrons, "Your potions should now be thick and creamy. It should also be acid green, or at least close to it." he informed the students. He then began to lumber towards various tables, a clipboard in hand as he graded each student. Finally he reached the girls table.

"And what have we got here?" he asked cheerfully as he peered into Alice's cauldron. Her potion was a light green, only it wasn't thick; in fact in was down right runny. Slughorn made a tutting noise and moved to Cadence's cauldron which he backed away from immediatly. Her potion was a murky brown and was emitting the stench of dirty socks.

"A 'P' then, " he said sympathetically, "Don't worry dear, it takes a bit of practice. Ah, now Ms. Evans, Ms. Dresi?" Serena's potion was a light green and creamy. Lily's matched the expectations perfectly, it was acid green and very thick. Slughorn positively beamed at them.

"An 'Outstanding' for Ms.Evans and Ms. Dresi, I think an 'E' is in order." Lily and Serena exchanged a pleased and rather triumphant glance. They then waited patiently as Slughorn quickly finished his rounds and excused the class.

"Well that wasn't too bad was it?" Serena asked as they made their way to Charms.

"Speak for yourself!" Cadence grumbled, "I got a P. It doesn't get much worse then that."

"It's okay Cadence, you'll do better next time!" Lily said soothingly.

"I can't believe Slughorn gave us that essay!" Alice exclaimed grumpily, "Just because my potion was a bit runny and Cadence's was, well..." Cadence shot her a venomous look,

"Well i'm sure Lily and Serena can help us seeing as they don't have their own to do. How did you two get so good at Potions anyways?" Cadence asked. Lily shrugged and Serena mumbled,

"Instincts."

000

The first day of classes passed quickly, and before long the students found themselves back in the common room, letting their dinner's digest.

Sirius was staring across the room, his eyes fixed on Cadence who was currently sharing a joke with Callidora.

"Padfoot, why don't you just take her for a walk?" James said irritably, his previous statement having just gone unnoticed, as had the last twenty questions he has issued to his friend. Immediatly Sirius snapped back to life,

"Wha- Oh right, yeah maybe I will." he said.

"Don't forget, you've still got that Transfiguration chart to finish." Remus warned.

"Ah, don't worry Moony, i'll have plenty of time to do that later." Sirius replied casually as he straightened his shirt and stood up.

"Good luck!" Peter said, his eyes glinting oddly. James glanced at him curiously as Sirius set off,

"Wormtail are you okay?" he asked suspiciously.

"Yeah of course! I'm fine, wonderful. In fact, I think I fancy a walk also." he mumbled getting to his feet arubtly.

"What's up with him?" James asked frowning as he watched Peter exit through the portrait hole after Cadence and Sirius. Remus shrugged and continued on his homework.

After a moment's uncertainty, James returned to his homework. It had been a pretty mediocre beginning of the year,and though it was impossible for the other's to know, Peter's had just gotten a lot more interesting.

A/N: Well here we go, chapter four. Still rather short but i'm trying to just get the main plot into motion. Anyways sorry about the delay to update, I was reading the new HP book! Oh my god, it's so sad at the end...I won't say anything in case you haven't read it but yeah...Anyways please review!