- - -

"How? Tell me!" James said in disbelief.

Harry looked at James in slight pity. That boy was desperate. "Well, I could I tell her that I'm spending the holidays at the Potters and I'll be teaching er, advanced wand less magic to all of you and she and Ginny could learn too, if they come over for a few days." Harry said with a grin.

"Brilliant… she won't miss an opportunity like that. She's too eager to learn to not come… even if it is James." Sirius teased.

James ignored Sirius and turned to Harry and smiled at him gratefully. "You are truly my s-"James started. Remus nudged James in the ribs really hard and glanced at Peter. "Er, my savior." James finished hastily.

"Guys, we only have ten minutes before the train leaves!" Hermione yelped, jumping out of her seat.

They all started to heave their trunks towards the portrait door.

"This is stupid." Harry stated, out of breath. He took out his wand and reduced the size and weight of all of their trunks.

"Thanks." Sirius1 said, grinning, and picking his trunk and putting it into his pocket.

"No problem." Harry said with a shrug.

They all put their trunks in their pockets, went down to the front doors, and got into a carriage that took them to Hogsmeade Station.

"Come on, hurry, let's go get a compartment." Peter said. They found one at the end of the train.

"Excuse me; I'm going to go to the restroom." Hermione said, sliding the door and walking away as the door slid shut.

The compartment door slid open. It was a girl, she was really short, brown hair, green eyes. She had a pretty face. "Hey guys… anyone want to come with me to the food cart down the hall?" she asked suggestively.

"I'll go!" Peter said eagerly. The girl looked slightly put out as she looked at Peter, but agreed nonetheless. They left together.

"Who was that?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows.

Remus grinned. "This girl who's nearly obsessed with us, Marauders. Maria Owens."

"Speaking of girls, I'm going to go see if I can find that ex- girlfriend of mine from 5th year… blonde hair, blue eyes, what's her name?" Sirius1 said, standing up.

"Jessica Mayors?" Sirius said, grinning widely. "She was a total babe. But you know the deal, can't get too serious."

Sirius1 smiled sheepishly and nodded as he walked out of the compartment.

They all laughed. Suddenly, Harry's eyes flashed silver.

"What's wrong?" Remus asked quickly.

"I can sense people coming. And they don't have good intentions of coming here, I can tell. They're… Slytherins… Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, Bellatrix Black, Crabbe, Goyle, Lestrange, and Narcissa Black." Harry said slowly, rubbing his forehead. "This doesn't look too good. Listen, I'm going to be invisible… it's like an Invisibility Cloak… except without the cloak. But, you all get the idea." Then Harry disappeared just as the compartment door slid open.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Marauders… oh, but I see that little coward isn't here." Lucius drawled.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" James said icily, glaring at all of the Slytherins.

"Manners, Potter, You should watch your mouth… it could get you into a lot of trouble someday." Lucius smirked.

"Oh, just curl up and die, Malfoy. It's apparent that you Slytherin blokes aren't wanted here, so go away. Or are your heads too thick to realize it?" Sirius spat.

"Your mother-" Bellatrix started angrily.

"I have no mother." Sirius said in a very low tone.

"You cowards. You chose the wrong side and you'll all die. You blood traitors… and monster!" Severus said, smirking. The other Slytherins looked a bit confused, but kept their composure.

That got Harry fuming. He turned visible- and he was pleased to see that all of the Slytherins widened their eyes in shock and fright- and growled, "Wrong move, Snape."

His eyes were narrowed and flashing silver. With a sudden pop, all of the Slytherins were turned into rust colored chickens with their names labeled on their foreheads. The Marauders burst out laughing and Harry smiled, surprised, but triumphantly.

Hermione bustled in and stared at the clucking chickens. "Harry, what the hell did you do?" she demanded, immediately rounding on Harry.

Harry just shrugged casually. "I don't see why you think it's me without even a second's glance."

At that moment, Sirius1 chose to walk in. He saw the chickens at the last second, tried to dodge them, but failed, and in doing so, bumping into Hermione, making them both fall to the ground.

"Oh, erghh, sorry 'bout that." Sirius1 apologized, rubbing his head with one hand, and helping Hermione up with the other.

"Hmm!"Hermione gestured frantically at Harry and the chickens. They all seemed to resemble a few certain Slytherins.

"What the hell-" Sirius1 muttered, squinting down at the squawking chickens. He looked up at Harry in confusion, then put two-and-two together. "No…!" Sirius1 hushed, eyes widening.

Harry nodded, trying not to look too pleased. But apparently, Sirius1 didn't care. "Way to go!" Sirius1 exclaimed, grinning as he high-fived Harry.

Hermione gave Sirius1 a disapproving glare and swiftly took out her wand. She muttered the counter spell on each Slytherin.

"You're a professor! You can't do that!" Severus sputtered the second he got his respectful body back.

"Looks like I just did." Harry said coolly.

"You'll be hearing from my father! He'll make sure you never teach again!" Lucius said matter-of-factedly.

"Sure, whatever. It doesn't matter. I'm only teaching for the rest of the year, anyways." Harry muttered carelessly.

As Lucius and his fellow Slytherins were leaving, with Lucius lagging to the back, he hissed at them, "You're nothing but a bunch of mudblood lovers!"

Harry used a nonverbal hex (-I've just finished reading the 6th book!) and a beam shot at Lucius' rear end. The Marauders laughed silently so they wouldn't give it away. Hermione was about to get rid of it, but Harry silently pleaded, and she gave in at the end. Once all of the Slytherins left, they all laughed freely.

"Brilliant, Harry." Sirius1 complimented.

"Thanks. It's permanent for a month." Harry's grin faltered a bit. "Unless Malfoy Sr. figures out a way to turn it back."

Remus looked out the window. "We should change out of our robes. We've got a half an hour." He announced.

Ten minutes later, they were all changed.

"Let's go tell Lily about that wandless magic stuff." James said eagerly.

They all filed out of the compartment and found Lily ten compartments away from theirs. Lily, Alice Brookes, Ginny, Hestia Jones, Marlene McKinnon, Emmeline Vance, and Dorcas Meadowes were laughing at something Ginny had said.

"So, what are you lovely ladies laughing about?" Sirius asked giving all of them a dazzling smile.

"Well," Ginny said with a mischievous smile, "I was just telling them about what Harry did in his seventh year with the headmaster's shaved head and the Transfiguration master's hair…"

The Marauders and Sirius raised their eyebrows at Harry and Hermione giggled. Harry gave a warning look at Ginny, to make sure she didn't say anything revealing the future, and Ginny gave Harry a reassuring smile in return.

"Er… that was a complete accident! Anyways, we didn't come here for that. James, would you care to explain?" Harry asked with a pleasant grin.

"Sure." James replied with a wider grin.

While James began speaking, Harry took the opportunity to listen to Lily's thoughts. He knew it was not a particularly good thing to do, but he just couldn't resist. Harry concentrated deeply on Lily's mind, and finally got through. Harry started listening:

'Merlin, he looks cute when he's so serious… wait- what am I thinking! It's James bloody Potter we're talking about! He's that arrogant, conceited little toe-bag you've had the misfortune to meet nearly 7 years ago! But he's changed, though. He's not as big-headed as before… and he's more polite, too. He doesn't even ask me out anymore! Maybe he doesn't like me anymore… or, what if it's a trick? Yes, it must be a trick. He's got a knack of charming his way through people.'

'Lily, that's no trick. You do realize that he's loved you since forever.' Another voice in her head spoke up.

Lily jumped slightly, evidently startled. That voice- where did it come from? It sounded so familiar… she just couldn't spot it.

"So, Lily, how about it?" James asked as casually as he could.

"Uh," Lily said. She had no idea whatsoever what he said. "Erm, sure?" she bit her lip, hoping that was the right answer. She decided she would ask Ginny as soon as they left.

"Great!" James said enthusiastically. "We'll see you then."

Lily's face fell. 'Uh oh.'

- - - - - - -

Okay, umm I really hope you guys like it so far. I've fixed some things from all the previous chapters. I just made it flow better. Oh, and I've finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and I sort of despised it. I honestly don't like it. I'm thinking of deleting my other story, The Second Beginning. I think that's the title… I don't really remember. But, suggestions would be very helpful. Should I? Please Review… they're verywelcome! 3