Author's Note: Sorry if I confused any of you with the fact Cherie lives so near James. I shall explain.

Cherie lives across the road from James, they know each other pretty well, they were like childhood friends and all. And the fact she lives so near James is just and added bonus for Sirius.

I dedicate this chapter to Maes Hughes, who was shot. He was a family man who used every opportunity to show off cute pictures of his family. We shall never forget him. I also dedicate this chapter to Steve Irwin, the great Aussie crocodile hunter who risked life and limb to show us about the great animal of the world and such. /cries/

Disclaimer: Well. A subtle hint here, if I did happen to own Harry Potter I would have had James and Lily live…i.e. I don't own it. And it wouldn't be as much angst on Harry's part if his parents were still alive. /sigh/

Chapter 3: Glitter, Glitter Everywhere

Lily

Unluckily for seventh year Gryffindor girls, Daphne was a morning person.

"Woo! First day back! Get u-u-p!" Daphne screeched as she bounced out of bed. Many groans issued from the other beds as they simply turned over. "Guys?" she asked weakly.

"Uuugh," she heard someone moan from the left of her. Fine. So be it. Daphne gotta do what Daphne gotta do.

"It's a lovely day outside!" she shouted, yanking open the huge red curtains, causing a very bright light to flood the dormitory.

"Daphne!"

"Shut it!"

"Why have you forsaken meee?"

They were the replies she got. The last one was from Ella, who promptly pulled her covers over her head. Daphne sighed as she put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. She was starting to get very impatient; Daphne was not the sort of girl to wait for anything. An idea struck her.

"Sure, fine. What ever," she said casually as she took large, slow strides towards the bathroom door. "I guess you won't mind me taking the bathroom till breakfast and using all the hot water…?" She put her hand towards the handle and started to turn it when-

"What!"

"Wait, no!"

"Hold on a sec there Daph!"

Daphne grinned as three bed-headed girls disentangled themselves from their sheets. "Alright, you win," Lily said, smiling weakly as she stood beside the bathroom door, waiting her turn. Cherie had pelted towards the door and slapped Daphne's hand off the door knob to get inside first.

Everyone took their turns, their bed hair miraculously cured by many different concoctions, including Lily's Muggle solution-Herbal Essences. Ella scrutinised her reflection in the full length mirror by the dresser, picking at her collar and hem of her robe. "I've never liked our school uniform," she sighed, grabbing her bag. Lily glanced over at Cherie who still looked down. She made a mental note to ask her what was up later. And to properly explain her behaviour yesterday with the carriages.

As they passed the portrait of the Hungarian Horntail, Lily had a moments urge to go inside and look around her new office, but the thought of breakfast dissuaded her, and she carried on walking past. They headed down to the Great Hall chatting about Maxell's New and Improved Hair Solution, boys, nails, timetables and boys and what have you.

As they ambled down the stairs into the Entrance Hall the familiar and comforting smell of bacon, porridge and waxy candles reached their noses. Wide grins formed on their faces.

"Home," Lily stated.

"Home," they agreed. They each shared a quick evil smirk as they raced each other to get to the table first giggling manically.

James

As usual, Remus was the first to awake, rubbing his eyes and pushing his tousled hair behind his ears. Straightening his covers, Remus took a quick glance to see if anyone else was awake. He needn't of bothered, the snoring was so loud he was wondering how he could have slept. Another glance at the clock told him they were running late. Not good on first day back. Sighing, he walked to in between James' and Sirius' beds to try and wake them.

First he tried shaking James' shoulders, but James just shrugged him off. He flicked Sirius' ear several times, causing him to attempt to swat Remus away. Remus frowned. Grabbing one of his larger books he dropped it on Sirius' head. He just mumbled and rolled over. Remus was starting to feel agitated. Walking over to Peter, he dropped the book on his head who awoke with a start and screamed.

"Oh, God, it's only you. Ow, my head…" Peter said, massaging his head. Peter's scream woke James' who pulled his wand out and shot a Reducto Curse at Peter's bed. One of the poles holding up the canopy was reduced to cinders and the drapes fell on Peter. Sirius was still asleep.

"For Goodness sake, get up everyone! We're gonna be late!" Remus shouted hoping to get some kind of control of the situation. James opened his eyes properly and laughed at Peter trying to get out of his half demolished bed.

"Hey, you did this you know!" Peter said as he fell out onto his already hurting head. James flicked his wand and his bed repaired itself instantly. Sirius was still asleep.

Remus tutted as he looked over at Sirius snoring. James shrugged.

"Just leave him a while. We'll try again once we're ready."

Remus raised his eyebrows and pointed at the clock- they had only fifteen minutes to get dressed and eat breakfast, then get to their first class.

"Shit," James said. He jumped out of his bed and started to pull his robes over his head while yelling "Sirius! Padfoot! Get up! Padfoot, now!"

Remus was composed as usual, and had already changed in that small amount of time and was dusting off his robes as he picked up his bag. Peter had his robes on backwards and one sock on. Sirius was still asleep.

Remus pulled open the curtains, causing Sirius to grunt, then pulled off his covers. Sirius curled up and began blindly scrabbling for his duvet.

"Augumenti!"

Sirius woke, drenched to see Remus pointing his wand at him. He narrowed his eyes in dislike saying "Oy, I was sleeping," sounding annoyed.

After much pointless bickering, throwing heavy/sharp objects at each other, and mis-aimed spells, they managed to all get dressed and head down to breakfast with five whole minutes left to spare. A miracle.

Walking in to the Great Hall they found Lily and her friends already seated, looking composed as usual, with Professor McGonagall handing out their timetables. The Marauders sat down next to the girls, pushing a few younger years out the way, the girls pausing their chatter for only long enough to frown at the Marauders silly grins. James stared at Lily, who was delicately eating a grapefruit whilst reading the Daily Prophet, his mouth wide open.

Sirius noticed and muttered, "Prongs, jaw up." James quickly turned his head and shut his mouth with a snap.

"Cheers mate," he whispered grabbing a slice of toast to spread it with marmalade. Peter was unblinkingly staring at Daphne, who was trying to ignore him, but had a deep frown on her face as she stabbed her bacon with her fork rather forcefully. Professor McGonagall reached Remus first, handing him his timetable. As she handed James and Sirius their timetables they immediately looked as to what they had that day, and whom with.

"Argh, no!"

"What?" asked Peter worriedly, who was on the other side of the table, so hadn't received his yet. In response James handed him his timetable. Peter sank down in his seat as he read their timetable for the day.

"Why me?" Peter said glumly staring at the enchanted ceiling.

"I think you mean 'why us?' Wormtail," James replied as he took back his timetable. Sirius sighed and finished his bacon.

"Hey, Prongs…"

"Yeah?"

"D'you remember what we were mean'ta do last night? At the welcome feast…" Sirius continued. James looked up from his porridge, raised an eyebrow enquiringly, then slapped his forehead all in quick succession.

"Oh, shit. I forgot!"

Sirius nodded in agreement, then his smile became devious.

"We could still…"

"Yeah! The welcome feast prank!" James shared Sirius' sly smile.

Remus and Peter shared a worried look. Remus then also slapped his forehead.

"Hurry up and get it over with then," Remus said resignedly through his fingers now covering his face. Their smile widened. Sirius gestured with a hand towards James indicating he should do the honours.

Pointing his wand to the ceiling James muttered an incantation and something wispy and crimson flew out. As it hit the enchanted roof it seemed to explode in a shower of stars, it made a great noise like a very loud Christmas cracker being pulled and red and gold glitter fell from the ceiling in a great cloud of sparkles. The sparkles rained down upon peoples heads, but none more so than the Slytherin table who seemed to get the worst of it with the glitter almost covering their bodies completely.

The Maurauders laughed as the Slythering frantically attempted to get off the red and gold sparkles. Lily and her friends had disapproving frowns on their faces, except Cherie who was blatantly trying not to giggle.

The only table with which the glitter did not fall on was the teachers table as Sirius wisely said, "We'd be in enough trouble without them so attractively decorated."

"Plus it'd be very hard to keep a straight face seeing them twinkling red and gold," James added with a smirk.

Whilst everyone was distracted with the shiny flecks now dotted over their bodies and in their food (or in the case of the Slytherins, who were absolutely saturated with it) they grabbed their bags and walked down into the dungeons for their first leson of the day-potions. As they descended into the gloomy passageway their laughter echoed, with their grins eventually fading from their faces. It wasn't such a strange coincidence that all the Maurauders had taken potions together, they were almost inseparable, but as they remembered back to their dismal timetables their smiles had changed to looks of worry.

"Um, maybe we shoudnt have done that right before we're gonna be stuck in a dingy room with them for an hour…"

"I second that."

"Bugger it!" Sirius exclaimed for their dooom was striding down the dungeon corridors right towards them. The Slytherins, in all their red 'n' gold gleaming glory, scowling, eye narrowed and wands drawn.

As one the Marauders gulped and withdrew in fear.

Author's Note: I AM SOOOO SOOORRRY FOR NOT UPDATING FOR AGES!

Please /grovels/ please don't beat me.

But, in my defense I've just gone back to school and, uh, I've got a ton of coursework, and ummm…there were so many Full Metal Alchemist episodes to watch…my computer is on the frizz…

I shall stop with the excuses now.

Oh, and Ellie, Faye, Ella's "Why have you forsaken meee?" I got off you. Or 'Why the hell won't it snow?' by Neil Cicerga and his friend.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

If you did, or didn't…review!