Sorry about the update delay, admin removed my songfic and uploading privileges. Meanies.

This is very short, but you'll see why. If 26 isn't posted by Tuesday it won't be posted until I get back from California on the 18th.

As promised. The Defense teachers were indeed 'cracking the whip' the minute the students returned after Christmas. They'd organized mock battles on the Astronomy Tower, they'd started a judo club, they'd been giving private lessons in fencing, they'd assigned piles of homework, they'd handed out 'kits' for the students to keep on them at all times, containing portkeys, potions and capsules of floo powder, and they had set up an obstacle course in the Great Hall. If that wasn't enough, they'd also taken to randomly attacking students in the corridors. Harry was tearing his hair out.

However, a break had obviously done the two teachers good, as they'd resumed flirting, and had even begun to wage a prank war against the student body, much to McGonagall's delight.

"Truly inspired," commented Sirius, after the teachers had kitted the whole of Ravenclaw out in nappies and babies bonnets.

It was a dull January day when the miracle happened.

Lily and James were testing each other in Defense Against the Dark Arts in the Heads Common Room, while light drizzle dampened the grounds outside.

"Hang on, I thought the incantation was Auderius,"

"No, that's the Bravery Charm, you dolt. Look, give me that!"

Lily plopped down on the sofa next to James, and snatched the book out of his grasp.

"See, the incantation is, oh, I can't read it, you've been doodling all over your book!"

James flushed, not wanting her to see exactly what he'd been doodling, and made an attempt to grab the book back. Lily hung on to it, laughing. James made a desperate swipe for the book, but Lily held it far out of his reach. He lunged toward it, and wrestled it out of her grip, grabbing her around the waist.

Realizing where she was, Lily blushed, and James was about to say something when they found themselves suddenly, inexplicably… kissing.

§

The three Marauders gawped at Lily and James's clasped hands from where they sat on the other side of the Gryffindor Common Room. The couple were deep in conversation and hadn't noticed the stares from their friends. Sirius had been only able to utter one word for the past ten minutes.

"Crikey."

"It's a miracle," Peter croaked to Remus.

"A romantic miracle," Remus agreed.

"A medical miracle,"

"An economical miracle,"

"A… a… miracle miracle."

"Crikey."

"It's unheard of,"

"Unthought of,"

"Unthinkable,"

"I agree."

"Crikey."

"He's enticed her."

"Entranced her,"

"Attracted her,"

"Engaged her,"

"Crikey."

"I am finding it difficult to express my shock."

"As am I."

"It's, it's too…"

"Crikey."

"It's unlikely,"

"Impossible,"

"Improbable,"

"Very true,"

"Crikey."

The Marauders were barely whispering the words, moving their lips at the minimum on account of their slackened jaw muscles. At last, Sirius managed to choke out a coherent sentence.

"Bloody Hell in a handbasket."

§

The highlight of February was, as ever, Valentines Day. At breakfast, a flock of white doves entered the window and showered the school with roses. A choir of nymphs had been hired, and were plucking at very flimsy looking harps in between giving the male population of Hogwarts disdainful looks. Ginny broke the romantic mood by entering the room, taking a look around and saying loudly,

"Fwar, Harry, give us a snog. I've come over all lovey-dovey."

Instead of refusing, Harry had merely shrugged and said, "Alright. If you say so," before grabbing her face and pulling her roughly towards him.

The catcalls and shrieks lasted roughly five minutes, before Harry got annoyed and cast a silencing charm over the whole hall. He smirked and said "Start learning sign language," before Ginny hit him, and he hastily removed the spell.

"You've got lippy on you, dear," said Ginny sweetly, leaning forward to wipe the offending smear away. Harry smiled cheekily and tweaked her nose. Gently.

Sirius was watching, his fingertips pressed together with his hands in an arch.

"My evil plan is working! Bwahahaha!"

Peter dutifully giggled, and commented, "Very good evil laugh, Siri."

§

"So, what would the appropriate action in this case be, Miss Hatfield?"

"A shield charm, paired with a defensive spell, sir."

Harry nodded at the Hufflepuff girl absentmindedly, idly twirling his wand. The day was unusually stuffy for March, despite the fading light at scarcely four o'clock. and they were all feeling it strongly. He glanced at Marnie.

"Open the window, please, Miss Sangrave. Mr Boot, why would we use this maneuver?"

Andrew Boot opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Marnie,

"Sir!"

Harry looked up sharply, and in a second, crossed to the window. He took one look through the glass and swore.

"Gin… get over here,"

Ginny bit her lip, knowing exactly what she'd see.

The Dark Mark hovered over the Forbidden Forest, luminously defined by the black treetops.

Yes, it has begun! The chapter was so short coz a) I had writers block. Badly. And b) there wasn't much to write. Soz. Next one will be LONG.

Completely neglected resolution to email review responses, so they're here…

Honey P: To be honest, I didn't think much of HBP. It added to my opinion that JK is losing her touch, and rambles on for 700 odd pages to make up for it.

Fuzzball: The fact that snakes don't have eyelids simply makes it all the more remarkable.

RonniekinzLuvr: Did I say I'd be gone? I'm not.

Kerei Kitsune: Has it arrived yet?

CP03: Oh, I'd make it totally AU, I didn't like HBP very much.

Danish Pastry 28: No, that wasn't it. That was just to demonstrate that Voldie is active

Shadows stalk during the deep of night: I consider Lucius Malfoy to be older, maybe ten or fifteen years older than the Marauders.

Sumrandomperson: Ditto

Godessa39: This is directed to anyone who wants to know when Harry and Ginny will get together. The answer… NOT TELLING! Meeheehee!

InsolventDarkTazz: Iy's not really the burning building. The DE are basically terrorists and if seeing a mangled bus on the TV made me bawl uncontrollably what would being at the scene be like for them?

MoonyPadfoot: Nope.

Chelsea: Coz I'm a fast reader who is desperately lacking in books and I wanted to know if Harry got off with Ginny. Simple.

Jamie: Ta! That really means a lot to me!

Silver Warrior: It's the sugar high – the pun was rubbish. Thanx 4 the title suggestion. 16 or 17? Hmm, I'll let you believe that.

Avovisto: Maybe. But to be honest, I wouldn't really notice. I'd be more interested in her green hair.

Anony: See Fuzzball