"Padfoot" James shook his friend. "Paaaadfoot wakey wakey. Oh come on mate, d'you really want me to freeze your pants again?"
Sirius mumbled incomprehensively and then started to snore. Again. James groaned and shook his head at the ceiling. Some things never changed.
The summer was well and truly flying past; there were only a couple of weeks left before school started again. James didn't mind; he was becoming restless stuck in his suddenly empty house full of memories. It had been a painful ordeal sorting through his parents' things, unable to bear the idea of throwing things away or putting things up in the attic. In the end, he Sirius and Blinky had decided to leave everything in their old bedroom. The door to it remained closed firmly ever since.
He and Sirius had stayed in the Potter's Manor all summer; often accompanied by Peter and Remus, spending the last two full moons out in the grounds as animals. Now though, with school bearing down on them, they had decided to meet up in Diagon Alley for school things and-as Sirius had insisted-to stock up on Filibuster Flaming Firecrackers, a very cool new -must have- prankster product. That was, of course, if James could manage to rouse the comatose Padfoot.
James gave up. How did Remus do this? He stuck his head out his bedroom door. "Hey, Blinky?" he called.
In an instant, said house-elf came scurrying from a different part of the house.
"Yes Master James?" she squeaked.
"I can't wake Sirius up" he explained, rolling his eyes. He could use magic, but he'd rather not spend the rest of the day on tenterhooks waiting for Sirius's retaliation.
"Ah" Blinky nodded knowledgeably. She blinked her large eyes at the Sirius shaped lump curled on a mattress. "You is needing me to wake him up, yes?"
"Can you?" he said hopefully. They were supposed to meet Remus and Peter at noon and it was already half past eleven.
Blinky nodded slyly. With a snap of her fingers, a still asleep Sirius floated above the bed, snoring undisturbed. Tutting, Blinky pulled the duvet off and marched out of the room, a finger pointed at the still floating Sirius, so that he drifted after her. James, suppressing the urge to laugh, followed. A crack in his bedroom made him turn before leaving and he saw Sirius's pyjamas folded neatly on his bed. He crept down the long landing to the large bathroom, where Blinky was directing a still asleep and now naked Sirius in.
"Food is on the table, Master James" she informed him, grinning slightly. She shut the bathroom door firmly behind her.
James stood outside the door for a moment, nearly quaking with suppressed anticipation. There was a hiss of water and then-
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"You is needing to hurry young Sirius, or you is going to be late!" Blinky trilled.
James could hear Sirius swearing violently at the top of his lungs very clearly behind the door.
"YOU IS NOT NEEDING TO USE SUCH BAD LANGUAGE!" Blinky shrieked.
Bent over almost double, James staggered down the stairs, not wanting to get caught behind the door and risk getting hexed by his best friend. Gasping for breath, still sniggering, he made his way to the ground floor.
Though the Potter manor only had three floors, they were spread over a wide area. Decorated in shades of reds and gold (almost all Potters had been in Gryffindor), the manor was made of white marble, with elegant chandeliers and carvings in every room. The more formal rooms, such as the dining room, bore their elegance rather well, other rooms, like the sitting room, was a little more battered and 'lived in' despite house-elf interventions. There weren't very many rooms downstairs, but they were quite big. The second floor had the bedrooms, a large number of them. And the third floor held work, magic artefacts and other things the Potters had accumulated over the years. James had gone up once or twice before and knew Remus would die for a chance to go up and examine even half of the trove. Unfortunately for him, only those with the name Potter could enter, as James and Sirius had discovered a couple of years ago.
Still chuckling James entered the kitchen. Large and spacious, one section of the kitchen was for cooking and at the other end through an arch, led to the eating table. Primarily Blinky cooked, but Caroline Potter had loved to cook and there had been memorable arguments between the two about the issue. Caroline, though a pure-blood, had never had a house-elf and had never felt comfortable issuing orders to Blinky. But she had forbidden Blinky early on not to bail James out of cleaning his room or picking up after him. She was adamant that her child was to learn how to do things himself and not have others do things for him. Harry Albert had always been exasperated by her views, but she'd insisted. And as always she'd gotten her way. Not that James ever really mastered the art of picking up after himself. But he'd learnt early on not to focus a little on it, if he wanted to stay with his broomstick.
Standing briefly in the doorway, James briefly had flashbacks of his parents; his mum in the doorway greeting him, having won the right to cook that particular morning. His father chuckling from behind the Prophet at his wife's antics greatly amused. His throat tightened. Shaking his head hard, he made his way to the food laden table. He shook his head wryly. It was just as well Sirius lived with him now. He'd never have been able to eat all of the food Blinky put on the table, though he'd make a valiant attempt.
He was piling rashers onto his plate when a grumpy looking Sirius entered, now dressed and awake, his hair damp. Blinky scurried in after him.
"Eat up Masters, we is not wanting you's to be getting hungry later" Blinky fussed, before moving to the cooking section.
Sirius fell into his seat across from James and began pulling everything within reach.
"Good morning" James said brightly. Sirius scowled.
"You house-elf's almost as nuts as Kreacher. Never thought I'd say that" he muttered darkly before attacking his breakfast with gusto. James smiled into his goblet. Even the rude wake up hadn't dampened Sirius's appetite.
Ten minutes later, the food was almost gone. Feeling stuffed, James stood and stretched, yawning.
"You is tired, Master James?" Blinky inquired worriedly.
"Just fully waking up Blinky, its fine" he assured his housekeeper. He turned to his best friend. "You ready Paddy?"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Let's go, Prancer" he returned as the left the kitchen. James elbowed him.
"See you later Blinky" James called. He and Sirius stepped out the front door, bright sunshine hitting them.
James took a deep breath. "You ready?"
Sirius grinned. As one, they took a deep breath and turned on the spot.
After the unpleasant sensation of Apparation ended, James blinked and breathed out again. He grimaced slightly and quickly checked to see that his best mate was okay. Apparition was dead handy, but the sensation was deeply disturbing.
Sirius flashed a quick grin at him and moved forward. They had Apparated inside the Leaky Cauldron, just beside the door to the Muggle world. To his slight surprise the pub was quieter than normal, only a few people around the bar. Tom the barman was as usual standing behind the bar. He looked up at the pair and his eyes widened in surprise and welcome.
"Hey Tom, just passing through today" Sirius said before Tom could say anything. Tom looked surprised again, but nodded.
James and Sirius left the bar to the courtyard behind it. James pulled out his wand and tapped the necessary bricks. The wall moved and Sirius and James were greeted to the site of Diagon Alley.
The familiar street was different. It wasn't definite or incredibly noticeable, but it was there. The colourful windows were more subdued, the usual bustle less overwhelming. People moved to and fro hurriedly. There were less people standing around and chatting than normal and he could see dark robed Aurors patrolling the street. It seemed that the war was suddenly more than just a story. It was affecting ordinary life.
James swallowed. He had not forgotten his parents had died here; rather preferred to forget the details. But the difference in Diagon Alley was in no doubt attributed to it.
"Come on mate" Sirius clapped a hand to James's shoulder, his voice striving to be cheerful. "Let's not keep Moony and Wormy waiting."
James nodded and the pair moved off. The first stop they made was to Gringotts to take money out of their respective vaults. That done they went to find their friends.
They approached Filibuster Flagrante. Peering inside, James could see Remus and Peter hovering around the fireworks. He entered, Sirius at his heels.
"Hey fellow Messers" James said as he got within earshot.
"Hey Prongs, Padfoot" Remus greeted them. The other boys face was pale from the full moon three nights ago and he seemed tired. Nevertheless he smiled happily at the sight of his friends.
"Hey guys" Peter chimed in. He glanced up at them briefly, before turning his attention on the fireworks. He lifted one up, which was shaped like a mouse.
"Cat traps" he read. "Tap your wand on the firecracker and let it fall within the vicinity of the cat. Once the target is close enough, the cracker will activate, with entertaining results. Not intended for cruelty to animals."
"Not intended?" Remus raised an eyebrow. "How'd they figure that?"
"Hey let's get some for Mrs. Norris" Sirius suggested.
"Ohh, good idea!" Peter grinned brightly. As a rat animagus, he had a narrowing escape from the evil caretaker's cat a time or two.
"Don't you just get tired of chasing her around on four legs when Filch isn't around?" Remus muttered to Sirius, smirking.
Sirius pretended to think for a second.
"Nope!" he said brightly before joining Peter in selecting the firecrackers. James and Remus left them to it and restocked their supply of No Heat Wet Start Fireworks for the Halloween feast; an unforeseen prank that had gone wrong in first year that had led to a yearly tradition.
"Come on guys, we're going" Remus called to the still pondering Sirius and Peter.
"Awww, come on Moony" Sirius whined.
"No" Remus said firmly. Grumbling, the other two regrouped and the Marauders left.
Remus immediately dragged the others to Flourish and Blotts to purchase new school books. Sirius muttered mutinously under his breathed for the entire duration until Remus threatened to hex him. Ten minutes after they had bought their school books, Sirius took revenge on Remus for forcing them to leave Filibusters and insisted they leave, to Remus's chagrin, who was poring over some new spell books.
James rolled his eyes. "Right. Quidditch Qualities next."
The two arguing boys groaned. Peter laughed.
Wandering aimlessly down the aisles, James looked at the gear. He didn't really need anything, but he decided to buy a new Snitch for practise. He had been sternly reprimanded by Madam Hooch for nicking the school ones, so buying his own one made things easier. He sighed inwardly. Head Boy was already influencing him. He made a mental note never to mention this critical detail to Sirius.
He moved up the aisle, ready to queue, when he suddenly bumped into someone.
"Sorry" he and the other person said in unison. James looked at the person in surprise. It was Mary MacDonald, fellow seventh year Gryffindor.
"James" she said, startled.
"Hi Mary. What are you doing here?"
"Shopping" she said dryly, but she blushed slightly. Frowning James looked at what she was holding. It was a new broomstick, a Comet 230.
He felt a small grin tug his lips. "Thinking about joining the team this year?" He knew she was a good flyer, but she had never tried out before.
"We'll see" she returned smiling back. She flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder and pulled her purchase closer to her.
"Mary?" James heard a familiar female voice call at the front of the shop.
Mary chuckled. "The others aren't big on Quidditch." She shook her head mock sorrowfully. "But you can't get everything in friends."
"Speak for yourself" James smiled at the thought of his friends.
And speaking of his friends-
"Why, Lily-Flower!"
"Don't call me Lily-Flower Black!"
"Uh-Oh" exchanging glances, the two made their way toward the front of the shop. Sure enough there were the Marauders, along with Alice, Nancy and an angry Lily.
"Black if you keep calling her that, there won't be anything left of you to be identified" Mary remarked as she and James stepped out.
"Ladies" James nodded once to the other girls. Dimly, he thought it strange that he wasn't freezing up at the proximity of Lily, but he brushed it off.
The girls exchanged glances, Lily looking momentarily startled.
"Hi James" Nancy spoke up. Her dark eyes scrutinised him. She hesitated and then stepped forward.
"I'm sorry about your parents" she said quietly.
Behind him, James could feel the guys shifting and felt Sirius drape an arm around his shoulders, Remus and Peter just behind him. James stared into Nancy's eyes, seeing sympathy and understanding. She would know how it felt. She'd lost her father to Voldemort's followers. He nodded slowly.
"Thanks" he said softly. Nancy nodded back, smiling sadly.
"We all are" Alice spoke up earnestly, but quietly. James nodded to her in silent thanks. Beside her Mary's face was crimson.
"Damn, I'm sorry" she said, looking mortified. "I didn't even think about it."
"We don't try to either" Sirius said easily, letting her off the hook.
"Are you ok?" Lily asked. Her emerald eyes, her best feature, were concerned and hesitant as she asked James. Her cheeks were colouring, no doubt remembering who she was talking to; the arrogant bullying toerag.
James just shrugged at her. "Getting there" he said honestly. "These guys are great." He gestured at his friends.
"Marauders are family mate" Sirius said firmly. He pulled Remus and Peter forward with his free arm.
"I know." He pulled himself together. "Come on Mary, we should pay." He gestured towards the till. Still a little embarrassed, Mary followed him.
The two had rejoined the suddenly larger group when Remus suggested "Why don't we get something ice-cream and hang around together for a little while? We won't see each other until September after all."
The girls exchanged glances. James glanced at Sirius and Peter, both of whom nodded their approval. He shrugged. "Sounds good. Girls?"
"Sure" Nancy responded after a brief pause. The group moved off to the ice cream parlour, a little awkward. They never tended to hang out since Lily couldn't stand James or Sirius. But they seemed willing to stay for the minute.
They squeezed into two booths after placing their orders. Silence fell.
Playing with her spoon, Lily spoke up. "Remus, did you get Head Boy?"
"You'll never guess who got Head Girl" Mary said slyly. Lily blushed.
"Would that be you, Lily-Flower dear?" Sirius asked innocently. Lily glared at him, but bodily harm was prevented by the arrival of their ice-cream. Sirius immediately grabbed his bowl and seemed to inhale his. Lily looked disgusted.
"Congratulations Lily" Remus said quickly, looking away from the dog animagus's enthusiastic eating. "And no, I didn't get Head Boy." His chocolate brown eyes twinkled. "But I do know who did."
James cringed slightly, staring at his ice-cream.
"You do?" Lily asked in surprise.
"You'd never guess" Peter chimed in, cottoning on, grinning. James glanced at Sirius. He had stopped eating his ice-cream and was hanging his head.
"It's not Black is it?" Lily seemed horrified.
"My dear Flower" Sirius said dramatically. "The world has not completely ended. However it is on its very threads of sanity."
James caught Remus's eye. Silently, they agreed. They should not have let Sirius have ice-cream. He got hyper on a couple of glasses of pumpkin juice.
"But then who...?" Lily trailed off. James peeked a look at the girls who were all staring at him. Nancy was smirking, Alice and Mary were shocked. Lily's mouth hung open.
"Potter, you got Head Boy?" she said dazed.
Suppressing a laugh, he adopted a voice reminiscent of Dumbledore's. "Indeed Ms. Evans, my colleague Mr. Padfoot is right. The world has dissolved into insanity."
Peter snickered.
"Wow" Mary blinked. "Congratulations!"
James laughed. "In all seriousness, you guys are right. Dumbledore has lost his marbles giving me Head Boy."
"I wonder if he ever had any" Peter muttered. Everyone laughed, except Remus and Lily, both of whom looked disapproving.
Sirius smirked. "He wrote to Dumbledore when he got the badge, saying that he'd given him Moony's badge."
"And that if it wasn't a mistake, had he been Confounded recently?" Remus chuckled.
"Come on" James protested. "You deserve it more than I do Moony."
"And Dumbledore said he gave it to you because he believed you needed to take on some responsibility" Remus countered.
Peter snorted into his ice-cream. Sirius on the other hand looked distraught.
"What are the Marauders coming to?" he wailed. "You can't be in a position of authority!" he whined melodramatically.
"Moony's a prefect" James pointed out.
"Yeah but he's Moony. He's the responsible one!" Sirius exclaimed. Remus was scowling at Sirius. Mary and Alice were giggling, Nancy was smirking and Lily was frowning, though her mouth was twitching.
"Well, look who it is" a cold sneering voice cut through the laughter. James jumped up, grabbing Sirius as he leapt up.
It was Lucius Malfoy and his fiancée Narcissa Black, Sirius's cousin. His pure blood mania part of the family, hence his reaction.
Malfoy's eyes swept over the group. He smiled coldly at Sirius and James.
"You should consider your company more carefully" a nasty smirk played on his lips as he looked over Lily and Remus in particular.
Sirius swore and reached for his wand; James just behind him. Behind them Remus seized their arms, stopping them. James tugged, but it was no use. Remus had enhanced strength from his werewolf side. It does have some uses, he reflected ruefully.
"Guys don't" Remus muttered. "They're not worth it."
"I don't know about that" Nancy spoke up. She had risen and was playing with her wand. Lily and Alice grabbed her arms too.
"The only company we're regretting is yours" James said icily to Malfoy. "So take your pure blood opinions and stuff them up your peacocks' tail feathers."
Malloy's smile faded a little.
"Be careful Potter" he said softly. "Carry on that way and you'll wind up just like your parents."
Remus had to rely on his strength, along with Alice, Lily and Mary to stop James and Sirius launching at Malfoy. Sadly, this meant the girls had to let go of Nancy and she made her opinion heard.
She slapped Malfoy hard in the face.
Startled he staggered back a step-and fell. Peter appeared behind him slunk back over to the group pleased with himself. His diminutive figure had gone unnoticed in the fight to keep James and Sirius at bay.
Furious, Narcissa pulled out her own wand, only to freeze as Nancy levelled hers at her chest. Livid Malfoy stood pulling out his own at Nancy.
He never got a chance to use it. There was a bang and he landed on his butt again. He staggered upright to find himself staring at Lily's wand.
"You're outnumbered" she said icily. "Now go before you find out why redheads are famous for their temper."
Malfoy glowered at her, but with several wands pointed at him and a large crowd now gathering, he grabbed Narcissa's arm and the two left the shop.
"Let's go" Remus eyed the crowd.
The group quickly left. James was still shaking with fury, Sirius along with him.
"Slimy-evil-twisted-bastards" he hissed.
"Ignore them. You're right; they're pricks" Nancy spoke up.
The reached the Leaky Cauldron. Remus looked at them.
"Ok I'm Apparating you two back. You're angry enough to Splinch yourselves."
"I guess we'll see you guys on the Express" Alice said, smiling. "Take care then.
"Bye."
"See you."
"You guys too" Remus spoke for the lot, but James pulled himself together a little.
"See you guys soon." He smiled faintly at the girls and they all smiled back, even Lily.
"Bye James" she said. Leading the girls they walked back into the pub.
"Come on. Let's go." Remus took James by the arm and as he spun into the darkness he reflected idly Lily had called him James for the first time ever.
A/N: Wow this is the longest chapter I've done for this story. I don't know if it's any good, but if it is or not, let me know? Please?