Title: What Do You Think?

Summary in the first chapter.

Flashback

It was a beautiful day outside and James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin were sitting in couches near the fire in the Gryffindor common room, enjoying their few moments of privacy. Peter Pettigrew, the fourth member of the famous marauders, was currently in detention for walking the halls after hours. James and Sirius were there of course, but were quick enough to escape. Peter wasn't so lucky.

"…I'm telling you, Prongs, Snape won't see it coming," Sirius was explaining. "He wouldn't be able to defend himself."

"I see your point, Padfoot, but I still think we could do better," James replied, thinking about what Sirius had suggested. "Although keep that idea as a backup."

"Why do you two insist upon causing as much trouble as possible?" Remus asked. "Your mischief has landed Peter in detention again. Can't you give it a rest for a day?"

"Wormtail can handle it," Sirius said, ignoring the last question. "He's a big boy. Plus he loves doing the things that get him in detention. He thinks it's worth it."

James suddenly turned to Sirius and said, "I've just had a brilliant idea. It's perfect. We could-"

"Could what?" said an angry voice from behind them. "Finish your sentence, Potter. Could what?"

"Lily, dear-"

"DON'T call me 'dear'."

"Ok, honey." James desperately tried to think of something that would stop Lily from interfering with his plans. "Come with me."

"What?"

"Just follow me."

James stood up from his chair and without another word walked through the portrait and into the hall. Lily hesitated, but wanted to yell at him for calling her 'honey', so she followed. Sirius and Remus were curious as to what James had planned and decided to go as well.

James quickly walked the path he had walked many times before. He went through secret passages that only the marauders knew of so he could impress Lily, spoke to a couple of portraits as he passed them, and finally reached his destination.

"Potter, don't call me 'dear', 'honey', or anything else like that – what are you doing?" Lily asked, watching James pace back and forth in front a seemingly blank wall.

"You'll see."

Sirius and Remus caught up just in time to see a door appear out of nowhere in front of James. He turned to Lily and said, "Please come inside."

"Where did that door come from? It just appeared…that's impossible."

"Lily, have you not grasped the concept of magic, yet? Just come in."

"Why? What do you have waiting inside there?"

"Go in and you'll find out."

Lily was sure that her questions would go unanswered unless she actually walked in, so she slowly turned the knob of the door and opened it. The room inside was spacious, with only four chairs, a table, and a book lying on top. She walked closer to the table and read the title, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. James, Sirius, and Remus entered the room and each took a seat. They had all obviously been there before since they sat down and made themselves comfortable without question.

"What is this, Potter?"

"This is called the Room of Requirement. All you do is wish for something in the room and it appears. Try it."

Lily felt stupid, but nonetheless thought that a few more lamps would be appropriate. Not even a second after the thought entered her mind, two lamps settled themselves on either side of the table.

"See?"

"How does it do that?"

"Who cares," Sirius answered. "All we know is that we can get whatever we wish for. Don't question it."

"What did you wish for, Potter," Lily asked, curious of what the marauders might wish for.

"Well, since this it's your first time here, I thought I should make it something in your honor. I figured that wishing for a book would work. What is it?" James added, pointing at the book in her hands.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone."

"Never heard of it," Remus said.

"That's strange. You haven't heard of a book?" Sirius asked.

"It happens. Deal with it."

"I guess we should read it," James suggested, wanting to make sure Lily didn't remember that they was planning on doing something to Snape.

"Yeah, we probably should," Lily agreed. "The first chapter is called 'The Boy Who Lived'…"

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(Fast-forward to present)

Quidditch matches weren't called off for trifles like thunderstorms.

"And that is why Quidditch is the best sport in the world," James said proudly.

"Some muggle sports won't stop in storms either. Maybe you would like them," Lily said again.

James just decided to ignore the comment and refocus on the book.

Nevertheless, he was starting to feel very apprehensive. Wood had pointed out Cedric Diggory to him in the corridor; Diggory was a fifth year and a lot bigger than Harry.

"Don't worry, Harry. You can take him," James said, supporting his son. "Actually, it may be an advantage for Harry. If Diggory's bigger, he could be slower."

Seekers were usually light and speedy, but Diggory's weight would be an advantage in this weather because he was less likely to be blown off course.

"I guess I was wrong… But don't worry, Harry, it's nothing you can't handle."

The wind was so strong that they staggered sideways as they walked out onto the field. If the crowd was cheering, they couldn't hear it over the fresh rolls of thunder.

"Tough conditions," James admitted. "But I've played through it loads of times. It's not as bad as it sounds as long as you can see where you're going. Actually, the thunder blocks out the booing from the Slytherins and you can think about the game more clearly."

Rain was splattering over Harry's glasses.

"All right, now he's in trouble."

Within five minutes Harry was soaked to his skin and frozen, hardly able to see his teammates, let alone the tiny Snitch.

"I'm sorry to say this, Prongs, but I think Harry might lose this one," Remus observed.

"Don't count him out too soon. He's very talented, especially on a broom. If only he could see…"

Twice Harry nearly came very close to being unseated by a Bludger; his vision was so clouded by the rain on his glasses he hadn't seen them coming.

"That sounds dangerous. Couldn't they stop the game?" Lily asked, concerned.

"Of course not. That's a crazy thing to suggest," James replied.

"They'll repel water!"

"Hermione's a genius. She might just allow Harry to catch the Snitch," James said, excited. "See, Evans? She understands how important Quidditch is, why can't you?"

"I just don't get why so many people want to see other people injure themselves for the sole purpose of winning a game. That's what it is. Just a game."

James looked as if she had just stabbed him in the heart. "How could you say such a thing? How could you even think it? Quidditch is a sport. It's more than just a sport, it's a lifestyle. If you're having a really bad day and your team wins one match, then your day could seem like the best in your life. Do you understand now?"

"No."

"You're hopeless."

Wood looked as though he could have kissed her.

"So could I," James agreed.

the silhouette of an enormous shaggy black dog, clearly imprinted against the sky, motionless in the topmost, empty row of seats.

"See, Sirius? I told you that you were there to see the Quidditch match," James said.

"I guess you were right."

"Sirius is a dog?" Lily asked.

"No, of course not. That would be silly, Lily," James said. Right before she could point out that he said the dog was Sirius he added, "So how about we get back to the book?"

Harry looked wildly around. Cedric Diggory was pelting up the field, and a tiny speck of gold was shimmering in the rain-filled air between them –

"Get him, Harry. Get him," James yelled, sitting on the edge of his seat.

But something odd was happening. An eerie silence was falling across the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to roar. It was as though someone had turned off the sound,

"That hasn't happened before," James said, frightened.

"What happened?" Remus asked.

"Maybe Harry's hallucinating. Maybe he's sick from his clothes being wet?" Sirius suggested.

And then a horribly familiar wave of cold swept over him, inside him, just as he became aware of something moving on the field below…

"I think I know what it is," Remus said, frowning.

"Unfortunately, so do I," James agreed.

"What is it?" Sirius asked, confused.

"Dementors."

A shrill voice was laughing, the woman was screaming, and Harry knew no more.

"He better not be dead," Lily said, panicking.

"He's not, Lily. Don't worry," James soothed, but was a little unsure himself.

"We didn't – lose?"

"Diggory got the Snitch,"

"How could they lose? Harry fell unconscious and slipped of his broom from fifty feet in the air. That's completely unfair," James complained.

"When he looked back and saw you on the ground, he tried to call it off. Wanted a rematch."

"Well at least this Diggory guy sounds all right, but still… it's unfair."

"Where is Wood?" said Harry, suddenly realizing he wasn't there.

"Still in the showers," said Fred. "We think he's trying to drown himself."

"I would, too," James said, understanding.

"You really do take this seriously, don't you?" Lily asked, surprised at how devoted James was to the sport.

"Yes."

"And it hit – it hit – oh, Harry – it hit the Whomping Willow,"

"Could this day get any worse?" James asked.

"And?"

"What do you think happened?" Sirius asked sarcastically. "The tree returned it in one piece?"

Slowly, she reached down for a bag at her feet, turned it upside down, and tipped a dozen bits of splintered wood and twig onto the bed, the only remains of Harry's faithful, finally beaten broomstick.

"That's a sad ending to the chapter," James commented.

"Yeah, but the next chapter is called 'The Marauder's Map'…" Sirius pointed out, grinning.

"Well, then I think we should continue reading as quickly as possible," James said, matching is grin.

"What's 'the marauder's map'?" Lily asked.

"You'll see."