Chapter 11 It's Not Easy Being Green

"There's something strange about him," Remus commented thoughtfully. No one needed to ask whom he was talking about. The marauders were sitting around outside the lake a couple of weeks after coming back to school on the train.

"I don't care. Just leave him alone guys. He's cool," Sirius said. He had taken a liking to Evan. He kind of reminded him of James.

"I bloody hate him! Have you seen Lily and that git lately? They're so close. I shouldn't have let them spend holidays together!" James exclaimed.

"Yes, because you could have stopped them," Remus said sarcastically.

"I could've tried!" Lily and Harry have exited the school doors. They're laughing and he has his arm around her. "Bloody hell! He has his hands all over her!"

"They're just friends!" Sirius said exasperatedly.

"I think Prongs is right," Peter said, being a suck up as usual.

"See! At least Wormtail is on my side!" James marched up to the nearing couple. Get your hands off of her!" He barked at Harry.

Harry withdrew himself nervously. He didn't want to do anything that would make his dad angry. It's just that everyone else had been busy lately and not including them, so he and Lily had become best friends.

"James Potter! Do not tell Evan what to do!"

"But Lily, he had his hands all over you," James protested.

"He did not! Besides, we're just friends. He's like a brother to me!" Lily yelled.

'Or son,' Harry added smirking.

"It's not our fault that everyone has left us behind to do their own things and we ended up being left together!" Lily continued.

"But Lily…" whatever James was about to say was cut off as Lily ran back inside the castle. Harry was about to follow when a group of Slytherins decided to make an appearance.

"Aw… has even the mudblood turned you down?" Snape said.

"Don't call her that," Harry hissed as he and James both drew their wands.

"How revolting, two Gryffindors fighting over a mudblood. I suggest you give her to Jameson. Mudbloods only deserve each other."

Harry had his wand pointed on Snape. "Don't say another word," he told him through clenched teeth.

"Why what are you going to do? Corner me and then freeze up?" Snape replied, referring to Harry's duel with Lily months previously. The rest of the marauders made their way over to Harry and James.

"Snivellus!" Sirius said delightedly. "So glad to see you here. I've been needing someone to try this new spell on. It's called the bat bogie hex. Have you heard of it?"

Snape's reply was cut off as Hagrid saw them about to fight. "Hey! You lot, what are you up to?" He asked as he came over.

"Nothing," Snape said trying to sound innocent (and failing).

"Right, then you best get inside." They watched the Slytherins give their final glares and leave.

"Don't let them get to you. Don't want to get detention for fighting do ye?" Hagrid said before walking away.

"I'll see you guys later," said Harry as he rushed back into the castle, remembering Lily.

"I hate him!" James yelled once he was out of sight.

"Why? I thought he did a pretty good job against Snivellus," Sirius said.

"He did! He took my job! He was the one to defend Lily. He was the one Snivellus was talking to. It's like he bloody well took my place."

"You sound jealous," Remus commented.

"I'm not jealous. I'm angry. Who does he think he is? Fighting with our enemy, spending time with my girl!"

"I don't think Lily considers herself to be your girl," Remus said.

"Well…she would," James spluttered. "If it wasn't for Jameson!"

"Actually Prongsie," Sirius replied. "You've been getting along with her a whole lot better since Evan's been here. You've only had a couple of big arguments."

James ignored the last comment. "You're right, Remus. There's something strange about him. Remind me of some of the weird things he's done."

Peter complied. "Well there was that incident with the dueling."

"Probably couldn't curse her because he's in love with her," James muttered.

"The way he looked at us like he knew us when he had just met us…"

"He said Sirius reminded him of someone he knew," Remus cut in.

"The incident with the map of course…"

"We've checked it, and nothing looked suspicious," Sirius said.

"He never talks about his past! Don't you find that at all suspicious?" James exclaimed. "He's keeping secrets from us."

"I suppose you're right. But I've been saying that all year and you haven't cared that much until now," Remus said.

"Well, I say that we confront him with everything," James said. The group of Gryffindors walked inside, incensed to find Evan and question him.

He had just finished comforting Lily when he turned to see the marauders approaching him with determined looks set on their faces. "Jameson, we need to talk to you."

"Um…ok, sure," he replied. He got up and followed them into their dormitory. "What's this all about guys?"

James moved in front of him. "We want to know what exactly you're hiding from us," he said harshly.

"What do you mean? What do you need to know about me?" Harry asked coolly.

"You're obviously not telling us something Friends don't keep secrets from each other."

"Huh, you haven't been acting like friends lately. Lily and I have been on our own while you lot have been off doing who knows what."

"That's beside the point. We have a right to know whatever it is that you're not telling us," Sirius said, getting defensive about leaving him out.

Harry laughed bitterly. "This is the most hypocritical conversation I have ever had."

"What do you mean?" asked Peter.

"I know that you guys have been keeping secrets from me. Trust me, I know quite a lot about every single one of you."

Remus paled. "And how much about us do you think you know?"

"Oh, just about everything, Moony," Harry replied. Inwardly he grimaced, 'So much for not making them suspicious of me.'

The 6th years reeled back as if struck. "How do you know about that?" Sirius demanded.

"It doesn't matter how I found out. The important thing is that we all have secrets that we'd rather not get out. Right Wormtail?" Harry replied. Peter darted his eyes around, seemingly nervous. 'He's probably already made friends with some deatheaters,' Harry thought grimly.

"I…I don't know what you're talking about," he stuttered out. The other marauders looked at him curiously.

"You're not going to tell anyone, right?" Remus said pleadingly.

"I wasn't planning on it."

"If you tell, we will make your life a living nightmare," James threatened.

"Ooh, I'm scared now." With that said Harry pushed past them and walked out of the door, leaving the marauders standing there, shocked at how their confrontation had worked out against them.

"You know gentlemen. We have been seriously neglecting our pranking duties as of late," James said.

The others looked at him blankly, wondering how he could be thinking of pranks at a time like this.

"Maybe we should do a little something to get Jameson's attention about how serious we are concerning keeping our secrets secret," James finished. The quartet exchanged looks and silently agreed.

Evan Jameson was going down.