"Okay," James shouted over the noise of forty kids who were all hoping to make the Gryffindor Quidditch team. James had been surprised to notice that Lily was one of them, but his surprise was almost immediately doused by the nightmare his trials was most likely going to turn into. Beside him, Sirius sent him a look of encouragement. "Okay listen up you lot."

The group fell silently, some students shuffling around to face him.

"So we're looking for two new chasers to join the team," James told the crowd. "Sirius here is going to help me with writing down hopefuls whilst the rest of the team is flying with you. I'll quickly introduce the team for those of you who don't know."

James waved his team forward so they were standing near him before pointing at each of them and saying their names. Benjy Boot – the sixth year James and Evans had caught out on the first night – was their keeper. He wore silver rimmed glasses and had sandy blonde hair. Then there was Alice and Marlene – seeker and beater respectively. James' second beater was a fifth year named Jack Robin.

"Now that you know everyone I want you guys to brake up into four groups of ten," James told them. "Sirius will then give you all a different number."

James got the first ten into the air straight away and starting with simple passing. He then broke them into smaller teams of five and played five on five with Marlene and Jack as a beater for each team. From the ground he would then proceed to call down a number till only two hopefuls were left from the first group.

"Okay you two stay here. The rest of you can leave but thanks for trying out," James said, waving them off.

He sent the second ground up. Then the third. By the time he sent the fourth group up it was nearing nightfall. James watched nervously as Lily wobbled up into the air, tailed by an encouraging Marlene.

"This doesn't look good," Sirius said to him. "Can Evans even fly?"

James ran his fingers through his hair. "I guess so," he replied.

James got them passing. It was obvious – and to put in bluntly – that Evans had no skills what so ever in the game. She missed most of the throws and couldn't balance long enough to properly throw it back. But she was in the air and that was saying something.

"Why is she even here?" Sirius asked as James got them to split into two smaller groups. "I've never seen her at a game – not once."

"Uhh long story," James muttered. "But I might've provoked her."

"Might've?" Sirius said, half laughing. "Prongs?"

"Yuh," James answered, keeping his eyes on Lily.

"You're an idiot."

"And you're a huge ass."

"Nice," Sirius commented. "But I was under the impression that you needed my help." He waved the paper containing James' list of hopefuls under his mate's nose.

James shoved him off, still keeping his eyes on the sky. Firmly, he reminded himself that he wasn't here to scout the worse fliers, but the best. He called two Gryffindor's down – both second years – deciding to give Evans another chance.

"Not to judge your captaining skills – they're impeccable – but those second year's were certainly doing better than Evans," Sirius told him.

James grinned. "I know," he replied. "But if I called her down she'd have had one or two things to say about it."

"Don't let her hear you saying that," Sirius said, sounding solemn but James' could read the grin all over his face.

"You think I'm mental, don't you?" James asked.

The grin fell of Sirius' face into something that resembled thoughtfulness – or as thoughtful as Sirius' expression could get. "I used too," Sirius told him.

James waited for him to continued, scratching his temple whilst Sirius scuffed his shoe back and forth over the green turf of the Quidditch pitch. When he didn't, James shrugged.

"I actually don't think I could explain it, even if I wanted to," he told Sirius. "Sometimes she makes me so angry that I think, okay I'll finally listen to what Remus has told me since fifth year and just move on but then I see her in the library or walking between classes and I can't even remember why I was angry with her in the first place."

James' couldn't believe how cliché the words sounded out loud, but there was no taking them back now. He waited for Sirius to pay him out, or at least tease him.

"She's not that pretty mate," he said, finally. There was a smile in his eyes but James couldn't figure out if it was sincere or mocking.

His answer was soppy, he knew it but he heard the words slip from his tongue anyway – "she is too me Pads."

Sirius, being the noble gentleman he was, coughed up a laugh, before hurriedly turning his focus back to the trials when noticing the look on James' face. James' feeling both foolish and lighthearted called another four numbers down – including Evans. As Sirius slashed out their names on his list, James watched Evans wobble slowly back to earth. When her feet touched the ground, he let out a sign of relief he hadn't even realized he'd been holding.

Then he had all of the wind knocked out of him at the sight of her coming towards them – her fiery hair was disheveled and wild, her pale cheeks flushed a rosy red and her eyes brighter than he'd ever seen them (well, when they were directed at him) – but it was her smile, wide and cheeky, that stole the words from his chest.

"Someone should've told me how much fun that was," she said, her voice airy and light. The smile only seemed to grow.

James gaped back at her. What in Merlin's name was happening? Him? Lost for words… that was new. When he didn't reply, Sirius sent him a confused stare.

"Pity you didn't make the team then," Sirius replied for him, waggling his eyebrows at her.

Evans shrugged, pushing her tangled ponytail off of her shoulder. "I thought you were on the team," she asked.

"I was," Sirius replied. "Got kicked off in fifth year for something that was definitely not my fault and was completely drawn out of proportion."

Evans laughed – a bubbly sound that knocked James' over again. Why was Evans suddenly standing around and joking with him and Sirius all of a sudden?

"That doesn't sound true but sure," Evans said in what James' could only describe as a teasing voice. "I guess I'll see you later. Good luck with the rest." James knew the last few words were directed at him but he was still lost for words, and could only watch as Evans threw them both a cheery wave and made her way back up to the castle.

Once she was out of earshot, Sirius rounded on him. "That, mate, was the most pathetic thing I've seen you do since that time you enchanted Evan's textbooks to sing love songs that you'd written for her."

James whacked him over the head. The rest of the trials went uneventful from then, with James close to happy with his final decision.

"I'll post the results in the common room as soon as possible," he told the remaining crowd. It was nearly dark, and most on lookers had left, which left James with only his top ten. "But thanks for all trying out."

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"Hey Moony," James said, looking up from the list of names Sirius had scrawled down for him from trials. Right now, Sirius was dead to the world – snoring heavily – but James was half tempted to wake him up since he couldn't make sense of the words he'd written at the bottom. That was when another thought had struck him.

"Yep," Remus replied from his bed.

Both him and Peter were peering over the Marauder's map. Well, more accurately, Peter had the map held to his face so close that his nose was almost touching the paper.

"When's the next full moon?"

"That exited to wreck havoc?" Remus countered, grinning.

James half shrugged, half nodded. It wasn't lying if Remus had been half correct, right?

"Uh it's this Thursday actually."

James leapt from his bed and hurried over to his school satchel. Evans had handed them out in their last prefect meeting – all neatly written and scheduled. She'd even given them the chance to move dates if necessary. Why had he been so lazy as to not check? Ripping the patrols schedule from underneath two potions textbooks, James hurriedly scanned down next week's column. He and Lily's names were scheduled next to Monday – alongside Remus and some Ravenclaw. He signed a breath of relief, before noticing Tuesday's patrollers. Him and Lily and the Hufflepuff fifth years.

"Do Head students usually patrol every week day?" James asked, lifting his head. Because sure enough – there was his name – next to every single weekday for the rest of that term.

Remus cocked an eyebrow at that. "No," he said slowly. "You're scheduled Thursday then."

James nodded. "It must be a mistake," he said, standing up again. "I'll go talk to Lily."

"It's well past midnight Prongs," Remus pointed out.

James paused by the door, then slumped against it. "She knows doesn't she?" He said defeated.

"About you being an Animagus or me being a werewolf?"

James sent him a pointed look.

"Yeah okay," Remus said, nodding his head. "She's known about me since fifth year. She told me she'd purposefully made an effort this term to make sure I wasn't scheduled for patrols around and on the full moon."

"How do you reckon I get out of doing patrols for every full month this year without raising her suspicion and her finding out about my illegal activities?" James asked.

Remus gave James a look that said he was mad. "Maybe ask her why you're scheduled every day instead," he suggested. "And keep your illegal activities out of it."

"Yeah, alright," he replied. "How long has he been at that for?" James pointed over at Peter.

"About thirty minutes."

"Why?"

"He's stalking some girl."

"Peter, dude, that's pathetic."

"Thanks." Peter responded.

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The next morning James cornered Evans in the Head's common room just after breakfast. She was spread out on one of the window seats, a tattered book in hand.

"Hey Evans," he said, sitting himself down next to her.

She raised an eyebrow over the edge of her book, looking at him curiously. Then her eyes drifted towards the piece of parchment in his hand.

"Let me guess," she said, smirking. "I didn't make the team."

"What?" James replied, now confused. Evans pointed at the paper in his hands. "Huh? Oh, right. No that isn't it. Well it's true you didn't make the team but this is about patrols."

Evans' eyes narrowed. "What about them?" She said slowly.

"Well I wanted to know why we're both scheduled five times a week," James said. "Isn't that a bit much? Moony told me that this wasn't normal."

Evans blinked. "Moony? Oh right, Remus. I still don't get those nicknames." Noticing James exasperated look she hastily continued. "Dumbledore said he wanted us to double the patrols, namely with us doing most of the work. Kinda annoying really."

"And you didn't tell me this because?"

"You didn't know?" Evans answered, sounding surprised.

James' annoyance melted a little at her genuinely confused expression. "Well maybe you were supposed to pass on the message." His words came out harsher than he meant.

Evans coiled slightly at the tone. "I, well I just thought he'd told you too. He didn't make it sound like a big deal – he probably wants to prevent another Marauder group rising to fame after you lot leave."

She added the last bit with a teasing tone in her voice, but James barely heard it. There was something else there – something nagging at the back of his mind. It was a strange coincidence, James thought, for Dumbledore to up the patrols at the same time the attacks outside of Hogwarts grew to be out of hand. What are you suggesting James? That these Death Eaters are going to attack Hogwarts? Wasn't getting into Hogwarts supposed to be impossible… unless, UNLESS he wasn't worried about attacks from the outside.

"Uhh Potter," Lily said, waving her hand before him.

James snapped out of his thoughts, expecting to see the same expression of horror and tension on her face that swamped his head but she was just frowning curiously.

"You haven't been training a bunch of first years," she asked him, narrowing her eyes. "Because that would be daft."

James found himself laughing. Surely he was being daft, right? The Slytherins might act as if they're constantly up to no good, but they weren't planning something surely.

"We wouldn't dare give away all our trade secrets," James said, acting as if her idea was mental. "That's all part of the fun."

"Oh sure," Evans responded. "So tell me – do you know all the secrets Hogwarts has to offer?"

"I doubt it," James told her. "There's probably some huge secret chamber that we missed. Or even a whole other tower that can only be found on every blue moon at midnight."

Evans brightened at the idea, dropping her book onto the seat. "So it's more than just random secret passages."

"Padfoot and I have searched this entire castle – top to bottom – and we still haven't found the teacher's sleeping quarters. My theory is that they all sleep in their offices."

"What about the kitchens then?"

James winked. "Marauder secret."

Evans snorted. "Marly will get it out of Black one day."

"Good luck to her," James scoffed. "If you managed to wrangle it out of anyone it'd be me."

"What? In exchange for a date?" Evans suggested, not unkindly but the words still managed to knock James down one or two rungs.

He pushed back against the window seat, folding his arms. "You have to be asked to go on a date," he reminded her.

Evans winced. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean it like that. If anything its become something of a – well habit, I suppose."

"Sure," James said, standing up. "I actually wanted to tell you that I can't do patrols this Thursday."

"Yeah, sure that's fine," Lily said, her voice low. She glanced down at her fingers, the tips of her eyes growing red.

James nodded. "Well see you in class then."

"Wait – hang on," Evans said, jumping up from her seat. James paused, his heart thumping painfully in his chest. Her eyes were still focused on her hands, so James could only figure out the sound of her voice. It was hesitant, shy almost. "I – I want to say sorry, about before. I should've told you straight away and also about just then. I don't –

"Hey Evans, it's fine," James interrupted. "You just forgot something, I'm not mad or whatever."

She lifted her face. Her emerald eyes were so bright and wild and genuine that James took a small step closer. He couldn't take his eyes off the small freckles patterning her nose, the rosy shine to her cheeks.

"Oh good," she breathed airily. "Well thanks."

James nodded. She stepped backwards, her face suddenly blank. "I'm heading to the Gryffindor common room," he said. "Want to come?"

Evans shook her head. "I think I'll stay here," she told him. "But thanks." Then, almost as an after thought she added, "James. Thanks James."

A huge smile broke out across James' face – broad and gleaming. "No problem."

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James. James. James. The sound of his name, spoken by Evans – Lily, he corrected himself – the sound of Lily saying his name filled James with a sense of joy he couldn't comprehend. It was just a name – but it was his name and Lily had spoken it.

He pushed past the Fat Lady portrait, still grinning and probably looking like a manic. Inside, he caught a glimpse of Peter and Remus sprawled over an entire desk – Remus scribbling away at some essay whilst Peter threw pieces of crumpled parchment across the room and into the fire. By the mess, he hadn't been very successful.

Sirius was lying across a scarlet sofa, shuffling slightly since Marlene was sitting cross legged atop of his knees. Alice had her embroidery piece out again, and was half laughing from her spot in a near by arm chair at the couple.

"You're so heavy," Sirius complained.

"Watch it Black," Marlene responded.

"Well you are," he told her, winking. "And your arse is bony."

Marlene thumped herself down again, giggling at the look on Sirius face. He was obviously trying to pretend he wasn't struggling, but he was looking more like a disabled Labrador.

"Prongs, mate," Sirius called, having spotted James approaching them. "A little help with your cousin."

James tutted. "She's your problem now Pads. Package deal."

"Nice to know you're appreciated," Marlene said to Alice.

Alice smiled, but then James realized that her smile was focused on him and he'd probably just been sitting there – staring into the distance. It was a look he'd seen in Marlene's eyes a countless amount of times.

"What are you day dreaming about Potter?" Alice teased.

"Huh?" Marlene swiveled around to get a better look. "He is day dreaming isn't he? What are you day dreaming about – tell me its Lily!"

"When isn't it Evans?" Sirius pointed out.

Marlene waved him off, much to his annoyance. "Spill the news – now."

"Wow, demanding," James joked, purposefully trying to divert the conversation. "I've come to pin this up actually." He told them, waving the new Quidditch team list around.

In the end, his final decision had been a no brainer.

"Ohh," Marlene beamed. "Who'd you pick? It better have been that third year – what's her name, Holly Balderstone."

James nodded. "Yeah her and Thomas McPharlan."

"Well go pin it up then," Marlene laughed. "And don't think you've invaded our previous question."

James rolled his eyes, turning to walk towards the notice board.

"Wait up Prongs," Sirius called, pulling his legs out from under Marlene and leaping to his feet. "Got something to tell you."

James waited for Sirius to join him before crossing the common room. The Gryffindor notice board was jam packed with all sorts of notices – someone had lost their wand, the Gobstones wants YOU as a new member, Ronda Queen was available for Potions tutoring and blah, blah, blah.

"Engorgio," James said, tapping his notice with his wand. The list grew to four times its size.

"Nice mate," Sirius said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Not annoying in the slightest."

Ignoring his friend, James pinned the notice in the middle of the board. "What was that before?" He asked.

"Well I had an idea actually," Sirius said. "For a prank."

"A prank?" James repeated, cocking his eyebrow.

"Well it's not a prank exactly – more of a social experiment. Plus, it will be hilarious."

Now he had piped James attention. "What do you have in mind?"

"Okay so you remember in Potions class how Slughorn showed us all those potions we'd be brewing over the NEWT year?" James nodded. "Well I managed to nick some of the Polyjuice Potion."

James leant over and whacked Sirius against his temple. Sirius coiled backward, rubbing his skull.

"Mate," he complained. "Not cool."

"That's because you're an idiot. I'm still standing here though because you're also a genius." Surprisingly the idea had belonged to Remus – when James had read his note in Transfiguration he'd almost died from holding in his shock. The idea was so odd and so random.

Sirius faked a bow. "No need for the tone of surprise."

"Tomorrow, you reckon?"

Sirius nodded. "We'll give everyone a show down at breakfast."