A/N: Here is Chapter 3. My speediest release yet. You can all thank my Nonwestern Philosophy class for that... It's boring as sin. Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter. Also for this story I challenged my cousin Fireless Fly to a contest of who could write a better one, so when you review add a score of 1-5 of how good you think it was. Do the same on his if you would like

Pure 'n' White: Thanks for pointing out my spelling error on Slytherins... I certainly feel foolish for botching that one lol.

Funsize: I think 3 days counts as super-duper fast. :-P

Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter universe... Just the plot and the OC's I make.

Chapter 3: The Classes Begin

The next morning James awoke early. He pulled on a pair of scarlet pajama bottoms and walked slowly, half asleep out of his room. Lilly who had woken up somewhere around the crack of dawn, was sitting in one of the plushy arm chairs organizing her books and things for class. James walked like a zombie across the room into the bathroom to shower and get ready for the first day of school. The moment the door closed behind him Lilly let out the breath she didn't even realize she was holding. Images of a shirtless James began to race nonstop through her mind.

'God, I never knew he had a body like that!' she thought. Her mind replayed his walk across the room and she paid particular attention to his ripped abs and chest and his powerful arms. 'How am I going to ever pay attention again?' She wondered closing her eyes. Which as it turns out didn't help at all as she just saw his body yet again in her mind. Lilly began debating in her head if she wanted to leave for the great hall now or stay and wait for a repeat performance when he went back to his room. In the end she forced herself to gather her books and things and get to the great hall for breakfast.

Lilly walked briskly to breakfast, her hair fluttering behind her as she went. She entered the great hall through the huge oak doors and stepped to the side, leaning against the wall and a pillar in the back, trying to rid her mind of what she had seen. She then surveyed the people sitting at Gryffindor table and quickly spotted Yumi, her lavender hair easily noticeable. She set herself to head to the table when she was stopped.

"I'd offer you a seat next to me," a cold slimy voice spoke. Severus Snape stepped in front of her, leaning an arm on the pillar effectively blocking Lilly from moving. "But I can't bring blood as dirty as yours to Slytherin's table."

Lilly's eyes held a look of hurt for a moment. "I really wouldn't want to sit near you anyway," she responded.

"It's a shame really," Snape said again completely ignoring her remark. "Beauty such as yours, having been tainted by your foul muggle blood," He reached up to stoke her cheek as he spoke.

She stiffened and backed up as far as she could against the wall. "Don't touch me Severus," she warned.

"Of course not. I am about to eat after all. Wouldn't want to dirty my hands," He added coldly smiling at her with an unsettling mix of hatred and lust in his eyes.

Lilly looked down hoping he would move and hoping more she could keep her eyes from tearing up. "Need help finding your table Snivillus?" James' voice came loudly from behind. "Usually it's just first years that have trouble finding their way." Snape turned to see James standing tall, his wand in his hand looking rather upset.

Snape scowled back. "I don't need a blood traitor's help," he spat walking away from Lilly. He walked close to James as he passed intending to bump his shoulder into him, but when he hit James, it was like hitting a wall. Severus bounced off him, without moving James and inch.

"Why don't you watch where you're going?" James said quietly, giving him an icy stare. "You're liable to hurt yourself." Snape stormed off to Slytherin table looking furious. James turned his attention to Lilly who was leaning against the wall, eyes downcast. "You okay Lilly?" He asked softly.

Her eyes snapped up to meet his, "you called me Lilly," she mumbled mostly to herself dumbfounded. 'Wow. That's lovely the way he says my name,' she thought replaying the sound in her head. After a moment of silence she spoke again. "I'm fine, just a little startled I guess."

"Come on," James said to her. "Let's get some breakfast."

They arrived at the table finding Yumi, Jenny and Remus in conversation. Lilly talked quietly with everyone about what had just transpired. Sirius arrived shortly after and heard the conversation as well.

"That mangy git!" he growled shooting a look over to Slytherin table. He then added quietly to James, "he is gonna be in for it. We have to cook up a big prank for him this time" James nodded in agreement.

Conversation shifted to a lighter topic through the rest of breakfast. Quiddich. James was planning a date for tryouts for about 3 weeks. "Should give everyone enough time to get used to their classes, but still give us enough time to train before the games begin." Sirius nodded in agreement.

"You know," Jenny began, casting a glance at Sirius. "I'm thinking about trying out this year."

Sirius' eyes lit up. "Oh really? Are you serious?" He asked intrigued.

"No I'm not," she stated flatly. "You are," she said with a grin. This cause James and Remus to howl with laughter while Lilly and Yumi were set into a fit of giggles.

"Clever," Sirius said eying Jenny with interest. "You're not the first person to use that joke. But definitely the sexiest." They both grinned at each other, but were interrupted as no one wanted to be late for their first class of the year.

After breakfast the first day of classes began. The Marauders had NEWT transfiguration, except for Peter who didn't have high enough marks to get in. Lilly and Yumi were in the class as well. The trio sat at the very back table as usual. Ten minutes into Professor McGonagall's lecture Sirius was asleep. The lesson's goal was to transfigure their books into birds. Not long into the class several people had accomplished the task. James got it first, turning his book into a magnificent phoenix. Which he had fly all around the classroom, singing its soft melody. Remus too succeeded quickly transfiguring a dove, which perched itself on Yumi's shoulder, who smiled petting the little bird. Soon most students had finished the lesson. Some people were having quite a bit of trouble. Several books were flapping their bindings and pages flopping around on desks. James and Remus were idly chatting in the back of the room while Sirius continued to sleep.

Eventually Professor McGonagall became fed up with Sirius' napping through her entire lecture and class. "Mr. Black!" She shouted startling him awake as well as causing several of the class' birds to take flight.

"Yes Professor!" He yelled through a flurry of feathers, as he awoke with a start, sitting up straight immediately. Several people in the class began to laugh at this.

"Since you see fit to sleep in my class," McGonagall spoke venomously. "And on the first day of school none the less. Ten points will be deducted from Gryffindor." Disappointed groans were heard from all present Gryffindor students.

"Come now Professor," Sirius protested. "It's not like this is difficult." With this he flung his advanced transfiguration textbook into the air and gave a flick of his wand. The book immediately turned into a dark green parrot, which flapped around, then flew several circles around McGonagall's head before landing on his shoulder. The class erupted into cheers.

"Impressive showboating there Black," she stated, upset, but still impressed. "I suppose I can award fifteen points for your transfiguration." Sirius grinned as the class cheered again, and he leaned back on his chair.

"If you count the ten you lost already," Remus scoffed. "You only got five points."

"Moony, Moony, Moony," Black chided, shaking his head. "Don't be upset that I'm just a natural at this."

Remus sighed then flicked his own wand turning Sirius' parrot back into a book startling him. This caused him to tip back too far and fall off the back of his chair. More laughter ensued, but before McGonagall could penalize him further class ended.

The first few weeks of classes flew by. All the NEWT level courses began to take their toll on the Marauders and Lilly. Sirius of course as always seemed unphased by his schoolwork. Luckily for them relief was in sight. "Hey there Mate," Sirius said excitedly coming through the portrait hole to the head common room. The painting of the coat of arms that was originally the doorway had been changed to a painting of James and Lilly. Lilly was seated on an elegant golden chair, while James stood behind her. Both were grinning, and in the painting James kept glancing down at Lilly, who even occasionally cast a glance back at him. James was seated on the couch pouring over his history of magic essay. He looked up slowly from one of the several books he had opened in front of him, not wanting to loose his place. "This weekend is the first Hogsmead weekend!" Sirius shouted excitedly.

James grinned putting his quill down. "Perfect," he laughed. "Our supplies are running low, were gonna have to get to Zonko's for some more pranking supplies." He looked up at the clock declaring, "I'm gonna go to the library"

"Why?" Sirius laughed. "Need a book? You have plenty here," he said indicating the bookshelves. "Or are you looking for a certain red haired someone?"

James grinned. "The latter Padfoot. The latter"

A/N: Chapter 3 complete. Thanks for reading. Don't forget to review and give a 1-5 rating when you do. If I'm not mistaken my average is like .3 points behind my cousins. So to all of you who review... Rate it too!! If you have any questions about what's going on in the story, just ask em in a review and I'll answer in the author's notes in the next chapter.