Giant Wars and Hogwarts Battles.

Bit of a time jump from the last chapter. In the intervening time, James and Cissa have been just as loved up as ever, and sneaking off to the room of requirement when possible .

Thanks again to all those who have liked or followed the story. I hope you continue to enjoy the story and as always reviews are welcome.


History of Magic was not James' favourite subject, sure it was one class he could catch up on some sleep in, but it was boring and irrelevant. Of course, none of that made much difference as James looked down at the exam paper in front of him. What the hell were the Giant Wars? He didn't even know there had been giant wars, let alone describe the main three causes for them starting. All he could remember was Binns talking about the Goblin rebellion for what seemed like twenty years.

As he glanced down the rows of classmates he saw Sirius looking around the classroom, in a similarly confused way. As he glanced back James caught his eye:

"Giant Wars? When the hell did we cover that?" He mouthed.

Sirius simply shrugged in response, "I'm just winging it," he replied silently, flapping his hands to signal the winging it.

"What are you writing?" James tried to signal back using various ornate gestures.

But before his friend could try and sign a suitable reply, Narcissa lobbed a ball of paper at him, and pointed at the invigilator, who had just sharply turned around.

Looking back down at his exam paper again James couldn't help but sigh. I shouldn't have slept through so many classes.


As they all trudged out of the classroom James made a beeline for his friends.

"Well thank God that's over with" he exclaimed loudly.

"I need a drink," came Sirius' affirmation.

"It wasn't that bad," came Remus' voice from the departing crowd, "I told you both you would actually need to study for this one."

"Life's too short for studying," laughed Sirius.

Meanwhile Peter had finally caught up with the rest of them, "I think I got question 2 and 3, but the rest were a nightmare," he complained, his face a slight beetroot colour from the stress.

"Wormtail, calm down. Just think we're never going to have to sit through Binns' classes again." James reassured his friend.

"Unless we fail, and have to resit the subject." Peter interrupted.

"That's not goin-"

"Wait we could have to resit History of Magic?" Sirius almost yelled, "I thought that was only the important subjects."

At that James and Remus started laughing at their friend's fear.

"Don't worry mate, we won't have to resit it, if that was the case everyone would be resitting it." James corrected, as Remus coughed, "Fine. Except Moony, who actually studies."

As a certain blonde Slytherin walked past, James grabbed her arm. "How'd you find it?"

"I don't know, it was most of the stuff I thought would come up, so hopefully I've at least passed," Narcissa replied, rolling her eyes.

"Even the Giant Wars question?"

"Yes, it was all Binns droned on about for the last month of class. Don't you remember, or did you sleep through the whole thing?"

Apparently that was exactly what James had done. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, it was you I was dreaming of." Well, that and winning the quidditch cup. But he was always happy when he made Narcissa smile. "So where are you off to now?"

"I was just going to go outside, get some fresh air and not ever think about magical history again."

"Well why don't we join you? We were all going to do the same thing. Right guys?" James asked as he turned to his friends, and tried to ignore the faces they had been making at one another.

But Peter still looked miserable, "I've got detention," he sighed, turning to stare at Sirius accusingly.

"It's not my fault, you got caught with those spiders."

"They were your spiders!" Peter almost shrieked.

"No they weren't I just got them from a guy in the pub. And I never told you to try and bring them into the common room."

"Spiders?" Narcissa questioned.

"Trust me, you don't want to know," Remus interjected, rolling his eyes. "And I've got that meeting with Dumbledore," he reminded James, who had totally forgotten about the meeting his friend had to discuss how his 'werewolf status' was going and how he felt at school. No doubt Remus would have to make up some sad story to make up for the fact that the four of them had been gallivanting around every full moon for the past year.

As the group separated, James, Sirius and Narcissa made their way to the great lake.

"We found this spot by the great lake that's really quiet," James explained to Narcissa.

"Yeah we found professor Flitwick sunbathing there last year," Sirius laughed, "Man that was disturbing."

"One day, you two will have to explain properly how you seem to know all these secret spots around Hogwarts."

Sirius glanced at James questioningly, as if to ask what James had already told Narcissa.

"We just explore a lot, and besides it helps having an invisibility cloak." James explained, Narcissa already knew about the cloak, but he had never explained to her about the Marauder's map. He had always felt that that was something his four friends should choose to share together.

As they travelled through the school, James observed a certain greasy haired Slytherin lurking in a doorway, probably spying on them.

Nodding he drew his friend's attention to him, "Sirius look who it is, our very good friend Snivellus."

That earned them a choked laugh from Narcissa, "I heard you had him hung upside down last week?"

"That was just a bit of fun," James responded, sliding his wand into his hand.

"Let's go teach him a lesson on spying on his betters," Sirius suggested, nudging James with a gleam of mischief in his eyes.

James was about to agree, when he stopped to consider the situation, hesitating he glanced at Narcissa.

She smiled, "don't worry about me, I'd enjoy seeing Snivellus suffer for a bit." She said with a venom in her voice that took James by surprise. "Ever since he became friends with certain people he's walked around the Slytherin common rooms like he's royalty. I used to be nice to him, I felt sorry for him and now he treats me like I'm tainted. When I'm the pure blood, he's nothing but a self-loathing half blood."

Wow, where had that come from? James wasn't used to having someone other than Sirius encouraging this sort of thing. He had clearly been around Evans too much, she always seemed ready to rush to Snape's defence.

Narcissa backed out of range and suddenly James was being hit by a body binder curse from behind. As Narcissa released the curse for him, he turned to see Sirius and Snape trading jinxes back and forth. Snape had clearly thought he was out of action.

With the flick of a wand James had Snivellus hanging in the air again, this really wasn't going to get old.

"Now, what do we have here? Snivellus I do believe the last time we had you hanging like this we promised to show the world your underpants?" As Snape seemed to shift his attention to behind James, James turned to see Narcissa now in Severus' eyesight.

For a moment it seemed like the world slowed: "Aren't you going to help?" Snivellus finally challenged Narcissa, still dangling upside down. James almost laughed, the greasy haired git clearly didn't understand Narcissa at all.

Narcissa raised an eyebrow, in a way that reminded James of her cousin, "Why would I do that Snivellus?" She questioned, pointing her wand at him as well.

God she was sexy when she was angry.

Before anyone could act, however, a sharp Scottish accent echoed down the staircase.

As James released his spell, Snape fell to the floor just as Professor McGonagall waltzed down the staircase, in deep conversation with younger student. She took one look at the scene in front of her.

"Potter, Black, Snape…what is going on?"

"Nothing, Professor," all four of them echoed simultaneously, each trying to pretend they hadn't been the victim of one jinx or another.

"I already have Mr Pettigrew in my classroom, with detention. If none of you would like to join him, I suggest you all skedaddle. Now." She practically shouted.

Without glancing at one another, both Sirius and James turned sharply and starting walking to the nearest exit. They both knew Gryffindor Professor didn't indulge in empty threats.

As they all burst out of the building, into the blinding light of the sun they practically exploded with laughter.

"God that was close," Sirius admitted, whilst nursing a black eye that Snape had obviously managed to deal him.

"I know, three seconds later and McGonagall would've killed us."

Meanwhile, Narcissa seemed to have collapsed onto the lush grass, her arms outspread as if to lap in the sunlight.

"Cissa?"

"Do you ever wish you could rewind time, just to see something again?" Narcissa smiled, "Severus' face when he realised I had no intention of helping him was priceless. It was like he was seeing me for the first time."

James couldn't help but feel a tad uncomfortable, and sat down next to her in the grass, "Is that a good thing though? Snivellus tends to hold a grudge."

"I'll be fine, we have less than two weeks left before the holidays. I'm not the only one in Slytherin that's tired of his attitude. If he tries something he'll pay for it. And besides I'm not an easy target anymore."

No she certainly wasn't, James thought to himself. But then again Snape was no easy target either.

"You're going to come visit me over summer right?" James asked, as if they hadn't discussed it several times already.

"Of course, and when my parents go to France for three weeks, you can come over to mine," she smiled, seductively.

James leaned over to kiss the Slytherin princess, and she returned the kiss passionately.

Before Sirius loudly cleared his throat, "Prongs, if you're going to shove your tongue down my cousin's throat, can you at least wait until I'm not here."

Narcissa tried not to giggle, "Sorry Sirius, we're just enjoying it being quiet out here for once."

"Sorry mate," James apologised, "Now come sit on the grass and enjoy the sun with us." They didn't get the chance to enjoy the peace often enough.