Standing There By You

Ch. 17- Scrambling Snape and Sickening Sisters

Disclaimer: Let it be known... I hereby declare that by legal binding matters, any recognizable material belongs to the infamous J.K.Rowling.

a.k.a- it's not mine.

A/N: Guess what I'm eating. No, you'll never guess. Ice Mice! Of course they're by some strange muggle company that thinks their products are real.. but we all know they're not, right? Cause the real stuff would move and groove and be all cool like that. Oh, and I've got Fizzing Whizbees! The muggle makers create them a whole lot like pop rocks, but hey, that's okay! Oh yeah, the story, right...

There was a certain time in Hogwarts, when absolutely everything seemed in disarray.

Sure, pre-exam time was berserk, with lines of students hastily checking out books, late night studying, and apprehensive students cramming in endless amounts of information. And of course, the post-exam period was quite chaotic, with ecstatic kids celebrating every chance they got, but by far, the time that drove everyone mad, was the short period between exams. Frantic students darted throughout the corridors, nearly on their wits end as they desperately stuffed in all of the facts and data they could into their brains at the very last minute, tears of frustration welling up in eyes of the anxious, as they zoomed across the halls. One would have to be insane to walk through these frenzied hallways unless in dire need, as risk of injury was great. In one word, it was chaos. Pure chaos.

And then there were the Marauders.

"What's everyone so hyped up about?" James asked lazily, as he sauntered beside his friends in the bustling hallway.

"Dunno," Sirius shrugged.

Remus rolled his eyes. This act, of course, wasn't visible, considering a large book was currently in the very near proximity of his face. While his friends expertly avoided the exam time madness, he did not.

Sirius yawned. "Do you think McGonagall will mind if we're a teensy bit late? I was thinking of getting a little-"

"Argh!" James shouted, as he and another boy tumbled to the floor. Fixing his glasses that had fallen askew, he glared at the boy before him. "Watch where you're going, Snape!"

Severus didn't answer him; books upon books lay scattered across the floor, and the pale boy was hastily scrambling to retrieve them.

Sirius bent over and picked up a book. Glancing over the title, his face contorted into a look of disgust, and a scowl deepened as he tossed the book aside and looked over the other books.

"A bit interested in the Dark Arts," Sirius stated, more than asked.

Severus still didn't answer. He tucked the last of his fallen books into his bag, and in several quick strides was gone.

"Well he's not very polite, now is he?" James remarked, glaring at the boy's retreating back.

Sirius shook his head. "Perhaps we can teach him some manners?" A glint appeared in James and Sirius's eyes, and Remus frowned when he saw this- yet kept silent.

"Oy, Snape!" James called, as he and Sirius walked fast to catch up with him.

Severus turned around briskly, and narrowed his eyes a bit when he was met with the Marauders.

"We've decided," Sirius began, gesturing to his fellow comrades, "that you need to learn some manners."

"And the first step would be for us to give you an example. In fact, we are so kind as to inform you that you're bag is ripping."

Severus looked down, and saw his bag did indeed have a large tear growing along the seams. Looking back up, he saw it was Sirius's wand that was causing this. "Stop!" He yelled, trying to grab his books before they fell. He was unsuccessful; books tumbled out boundlessly.

James, Sirius and Peter wore equal smirks as they watched the boy struggle. The last of the books fell, and just as Severus gathered the lot, the Marauders sent them flying once more. This time the books ended up at the very end of the corridor, where they landed with a thump and scattered across the floor.

A bell rang, signaling the final warning before exams were to begin. Students darted to their classes, knocking into Severus's books in the process.

"Well, we best be going," James announced, making a big motion out of checking his watch. "You'd better hurry, tests commence in five minutes."

He and Sirius grinned as they turned and headed toward their next class, laughing as Severus's hopeless attempts, along with shouts of frustration, could be heard echoing throughout the hall.

"Can you believe the year's finally over?" Julie asked, propping herself up over the warm, sun baked grass.

"I know!" Grace grinned. "Can't wait for the Holidays, just think, three months without homework."

Glancing over at Lily, she noticed her friend wasn't nearly as jubilant as she should be. "What wrong?"

Lily snapped quickly out of her sullen state, trying, and failing, to return Grace's previous grin. "Nothing," she said.

Grace and Julie squinted at her doubtfully. "Honestly, Lily," said Grace. "You think you can pull that on us?"

Lily feeble attempt at a smile vanished. "Suppose not." She leaned back onto the soft greenery, Grace and Julie following suit. "It's just my sister. I really don't think I can take three months of her bothersome..ness."

"Bothersomeness?" Grace repeated, but cut off when Julie quickly elbowed her side.

"It'll be alright Lily," said Julie. "You've gotten through holidays with her before, why should this be any different?"

Lily turned over on her side to face Julie. "Well I don't know, but at Christmas she was particularly horrid. She got worse as the vacation progressed; if she's that bad over break, how in the world am I supposed to last a whole summer?"

"Hex her into oblvion?" Grace suggested.

Lily sighed. "Can't use magic over the holidays."

"She doesn't know that."

Lily giggled. "True."

Julie smiled. "There, better now?"

"Yes," Lily nodded.

"But I still don't want to go back there."

"Is it that awful?" James asked, frowning. He hated to have his best friend trapped with such monsters for all of break.

Sirius sighed. "Worse."

"You'll come over again, then?"

Sirius nodded. While the prospect of visiting the Potters very much lightened his mood, the dread of spending the rest of the break with his family was still disheartening.

"We can practice for Quidditch," Sirius said, shoving the grim thoughts aside. "Did you hear there'll be an opening for beater?"

James grinned. "Brilliant! Quincy's the whole reason we lost the cup this year, I'm sure we'll win with you on the team."

James's first game of Quidditch had gone fairly well; the young seeker had performed fantastically, but the team lost nonetheless. Whether it had been Quincy's fault or not, when the Golden Snitch was caught, Gryffindor had yet to score enough points.

"I think there's also a spot for Chaser," Sirius commented. "Wonder who's going to try out."

James shrugged. "Well, guess we should be going."

The two boys glanced at their messy trunks, and all sorts of clothes that lay stewn about. Groaning, they inwardly vowed to work on their procastination, as they stuffed everything in, not bothering with any order. By the time they were all packed and ready, they had to rush down the stairs and out of the common room, as not to miss the train's departure. They darted out of the huge oak doors, and down the magnificent steps- a familiar routine that was sure to repeat itself next year, and for many years to follow.

A/N: MUST READ.. Okay, I really don't want to look like I'm completely copying JKR's works with the whole, Petunia not knowing she can't do magic over the holidays, etc., but you have to figure, if Petunia didn't know Harry couldn't use magic over the holidays, she must have thought Lily could. I therefore had to add that part in, in the sense that I'm (trying) to work together everything mentioned in the books. Also, you must must must trust me that chapters will get longer and more involved at they get older, okay? Thanks : )

Molly- ::leans over and accepts lilies:: : ) But really, I am very very grateful for constructive criticism, its just the whole 'annoying american slang' that was getting to me, because it's something I can't really help. Thank you for all of the advice and suggestions, etc., everything is very much appreciated. Also, thanks for not dis-banning my story, and the whole author alert thing, that means a lot. Ah, and make sure you tell me the user-name you put your story under, I'll be watching for it!

MidnightPrincess- Oh good, I'm glad you didn't think it was too lame : ) hehe, anyhoo.. WOW you can out-do the Marauders... interesting.... wow, i am insane. Thanks for the review!!

Hprincess- one word.. huh? you'll have to be a bit more specific dearie, over the summer.. what? I have come to two conclusions to decipher what your cryptic review meant: a) over the summer in Harry Potter world, as in, write their over the summer adventures, or b) over the summer in my world, as in, me, the author, writing the story over my summer vacation. In response to a), perhaps I'll write that, but I have so much that I want to get written, that I don't want to drag out the first couple of years, and in response to b) of course i'll write over the summer! Nice, long chapters too. And, no worries, as we progress throughout the story, the older years will be much longer : ) thanks for the review!

Oksana- Yup, my birthday was SMASHING, hehe, thanks. And why does it sound so familiar.. Angie stole it! she stole it, and i want it back... muh hahahaha. but not really. oh, and who do you think wrote the chapter, hmmmm?

Loki Mischeif-Maker- Ooh, I'm really glad you like it : ) Thanks for the review, it made me feel splendid.

Nymphadora003- Wow!! Thanks for the...EIGHT reviews, you're awesome! I'm glad you like it, and, as for the whole HP movie thing, I've already ranted in a review to you : ) whoops, sorry bout that. Ah, and prudish Lily. Poor prudish Lily, yes, I do hope she'll get less prudish, but we'll just have to wait and see, now won't we?

EW4eva- Hmm.. not really sure what to say, since we've already traded several e-mails, but.. thanks for the review!

FAIRYPRINCESS13- ROTFL! For some odd reason (maybe it was the surplus amount of sugar I'd recently inhaled) the whole, making up the AngelFish13 sent me into hysterics. Anyhoo! Yes, it makes me mad how the boys are nice to ol' Petie, but alas, that is how J.K.R. portrayed it. Thanks for the review!!

Dreamlessnights- lol, I'm glad you liked it! I enjoy when people tell me the parts they like- makes me feel super duper! : ) Thanks for the review!!

Aerandir- You're right!

Manny2003- Okie doke, I did it ASAP, as you wish! Thanks for the review : )

Dulcis Caelum- EW, sleep would never be as important as Harry Potter. You are rightio. Yes, I DID take a poll. : p

Suji- Thanks for the review! lol, awesome, I love english moods! They're the best. Cheerio!

Thanks for all the reviews!! I love you : )