Thanks to everyone whose reviewed x
I love you all very much x
Thank you Becky, my wonderful beta and big sister (lol) x
Here's a chap that'll change the way of the story x so I hope you like it x
*The beginning of the end*
Snivellus
The next few months were uneventful, classes continued, as did Quidditch. Turns out Gryffindor had a really good team this year, they had only lost one match against Hufflepuff, and that was only by 10 points.
This in turn scored them the house cup; the first time Gryffindor had won it in ten years!
Severus still hadn't told Lily what he wanted to tell her and she hadn't asked.
As the O.W.L's drew closer, the fifth years were feeling the pressure. Especially Lily, who was taking eleven subjects, which was even more that Remus, who was only taking ten.
So like every other day for the past couple of weeks, Lily could be found sitting on the floor in the common room, surrounded by books, notes, and quills; and tonight was no exception.
"Lily, why did you even take Muggle Studies? You're a Muggle-Born." Marley asked, looking up from her Care of Magical Creatures book. She was studying which was highly strange, but what was even stranger were James and Sirius who were both studying by the fire. They never studied, ever!
"Because it's easy! I can do it with my eyes closed, so I might as well take it." Lily replied without looking up from her Divination text book. Why did she take this again?
"Glad you find it easy!" Willow called looking up from Lily's Muggle Studies notes.
"Lily-flower!" Lily looked up to see Sirius calling her.
"What do you want, Black?" she said angrily. He got up and walked over to where she sat.
"What's a tele-vis-i-on?"
"A television?"
"Yeah! That!"
"Um, it's a box that runs on electricity. And when you turn it on different pictures show, and it makes noises and stuff."
"Thank you my lady"
"Any time." Lily replied sarcastically
"Why do I get the feeling you're being sarcastic?"
"Maybe because I am?" Lily said chirpily.
Sirius laughed, a barking kinda laugh, before turning and walking back to his fellow Marauders.
It was the morning of the first exam that year, Muggle Studies. Only Lily, Sirius and Willow were taking this class and some were freaking out more than others.
Sirius sat with his three best friends at the breakfast table. "Why did I take Muggle Studies?" He moaned.
"It was the class that would piss your parents off the most." James replied.
"Oh yeah." Sirius groaned
"Is this Sirius Black freaking out over an exam? Merlin! Someone get a camera!" Remus cried.
"Shut it, Moony!" Sirius growled.
"I'm sure you'll do great, Padfoot!" Peter squeaked.
"Thanks, Wormtail." he replied.
At the other end of the table sat three girls, Alice was talking to Frank. They were the cutest couple Hogwarts had ever seen, you know the ones that stay together all through school then get married? Yeah, that's what Frank and Alice were like.
"Okay, test me." Willow said, turning to face Lily.
"Fine, name as many Muggle transport as you can." Lily said.
"Okay, train, car, bus, walking," she said ticking them off on her fingers, "bike, scooter, um, oh! Car and…hairyplane?"
"You mean aeroplane?"
"Yeah! Yeah! That!" Willow shrieked. "Did I get them all?"
"Yeah, Wills, you did!" Lily said happily.
"You guys should probably get going, don't want to be late." Marley said smiling at them.
"You're probably right." Will sighed "Let's go Lil." she gabbed Lily's arm and pulled her out of the Great Hall.
Ten minutes later Lily, Willow, Sirius, two Ravenclaw's and three Hufflepuff's were each seated at a desk. As the class was small they would take the test in their normal classroom.
"You may begin." Professor Burbage said. There was a sudden sound of rustling papers and quills scratching on pieces of parchment.
After an hour of silence the test was finally over. "Time up!" Professor Burbage called, summoning all the students' papers. "You may leave."
Lily left the room with Willow, she refused to think about the test until the results came over the summer, she was not going to worry, there was nothing she could do now. Instead she would think of all the upcoming exams. Oh, joy! Lily thought sarcastically.
Lily and Willow walked down the long corridor towards the Gryffindor common room, until they were rudely interrupted by none other than Sirius Black. He squeezed between the two and flung his arms round them both.
"Well, I thought that went well. How about you?" he asked them both.
"Fine" Willow said, she was the only one of her friends on speaking terms with James and Sirius, but that was only because they were all on the same Quidditch team. Well Alice spoke to James, but not Sirius.
Lily muttered something along the lines of "Good" but Willow might have heard her wrong.
Both girls tried to get out of Sirius' grip but he wasn't a beater for no reason, because man he was strong. They reached the fat lady and Lily said the password quickly so she could get away from Sirius as soon as possible. Sirius had different plans as he seemed to want to continue talking to them.
"Look, Black unless you want to help me with Transfiguration please go away!"
"I can help." Lily's head snapped to see James looking at her with intense hazel eyes.
"I would rather have help with someone who doesn't think they're above studying." she seethed.
"I study!" He defended.
"Once, Potter, once doesn't count!" She turned on her heels and walked away.
That night Lily sat alone in the common room, everyone had gone to bed but Lily was desperately trying to make the beetle into a button – Transfiguration was easily her worst subject.
"URGH!" Lily cried frustrated.
"Sure you don't need help?" Lily looked up to see none other than James Potter smiling at her cockily. When she didn't say anything he sat next to her. "The reason you can't do it is because you don't think you can. Don't think about the beetle, think of the button you want it to be, picture it clearly in your mind, don't think of beetle, focus on the button."
Lily pointed her wand directly at the beetle, and thought of a small black button. She took a breath "Scarabyga!" She said clearly. Lily didn't want to look at it, she was too nervous of James seeing her fail.
"Evans, look!" James said cheerfully. Was he really that happy that she sucked at Transfiguration?
Lily slowly looked down at the table, but there was no beetle instead she saw a small black button. "Oh Merlin! I did it! I did it!" She screamed happily. She threw her arms around James, because that's what seemed like the natural thing to do. Until she realised what she was doing, she pulled back and cleared her throat "Um, thanks." She smiled, probably the first real smile that had ever been directed to him. "I should get to bed" she said, gathering her books. James nodded, when she had safely gotten up the stairs to her dorm James stood.
"Prongs, you are so gonna get her!" James turned to the voice of Sirius just in time to see him pull of James' invisibility cloak.
"How long you been there?" he asked
"I saw everything!" Sirius smiled. James shoved Sirius' head before making his way to bed.
"What was that for! Prongsie!" Sirius yelled following James up the stairs.
The exams had passed quickly, and James thought he was doing pretty well. He was now in his second to last exam, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and after helping Lily with Transfiguration his spirits had been lifted dramatically. They hadn't had one fight since! And she even smiled at him in the corridors!
"Five more minutes!" Professor Flitwick called, making James jump as the Professor had said it whilst passing him. James placed his quill down and started to reread what he had written. James then yawned hugely and rumpled up his hair, making it even messier than before.
He quickly glanced at the Professor to make sure the coast was clear, before turning in his seat and grinned at Sirius, who gave James the thumbs up before returning back to lounging in his chair, tilting it back on two legs. James turned back to his work and stared doodling on a spare piece of parchment; he drew a Snitch and wrote the initials L.E. in it.
"Quills down, please!" Squeaked Professor Flitwick. "That means you too, Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!"
Over a hundred rolls of parchment zoomed into the air and into Professor Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backwards off his feet. Several people laughed. A couple of students at the front desks got up, took hold of the Professor beneath the elbows and lifted him back to his feet.
"Thank you…thank you." Panted Professor Flitwick "Very well, everyone, you're free to go."
James hastily crossed out the 'L.E.' and jumped to his feet. Stuffed his quill and exam paper into his bag, which he slung over his shoulder, and stood waiting for Sirius to join him.
Remus, Sirius and Peter joined James and they started to walked out of the entrance and into the blazing sun. "Did you like question 10, Moony?" Sirius asked.
"Loved it" said Remus. "Give five signs that identify the werewolf. Excellent question."
"D'you think you managed to get all the signs?" said James in tones of mock concern.
"I think I did," said Remus seriously "One: he's sitting in my chair. Two: he's wearing my clothes. Three: his name is Remus Lupin."
Peter was the only one who didn't laugh. "I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes and the tufted tail," he said anxiously "but I couldn't think what else –"
"How thick are you, Wormtail?" said James impatiently "You run round with a werewolf once a month –"
"Keep your voice down!" Hissed Remus.
"Well, I thought that paper was a piece of cake." Sirius said "I'll be surprised if I don't get 'Outstanding' on it a least."
"Me too." said James. He put his hand in his pocket and took out a struggling snitch.
"Where'd you get that?"
"Nicked it," James replied casually. He started playing with the snitch, allowing it to fly as much as a foot away before seizing it again. Peter watched in awe. They stopped in the shade of the beech tree on the edge of the lake. Remus pulled out a book and started reading. Sirius was looking at all the girls wondering who his next victim should be. James was still playing with the snitch, letting it get higher and higher before catching it. Peter watched James and applauded whenever he got a hard catch. But James wasn't interested in what Peter thought, his eyes kept moving back to the girls at the lake; where Lily and her friends sat with their shoes and socks off with their feet in the lake.
"Put that away, will you?" said Sirius finally, as James made a great catch and Peter let out a cheer. "Before Wormtail wets himself with excitement." Peter turned bright pink, but James just grinned.
"If it bothers you." James said, stuffing the snitch back in his pocket.
"I'm bored." said Sirius "Wish it was a full moon."
"You might," Remus muttered darkly, from behind his book "We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored you could test me. Here…" he held out his book.
But Sirius snorted. "I don't need to look at that rubbish, I know it all."
"This'll liven you up, Padfoot." said James quietly. "Look who it is…"
Sirius' head turned. He became very still, like a dog that had scented a rabbit. "Excellent" he said softly "Snivellus."
Severus was standing a short distance from the Marauders, he was stowing the OWL paper in his bag. As he left the shadows of the bushes and set off across the grass, James and Sirius stood up.
Remus and Peter remained sitting, Remus was still staring at his book, though his eyes were not moving and a faint frown line had appeared between his eyebrows. Peter was looking from James and Sirius to Severus with a look of avid anticipation on his rat like face.
"All right, Snivellus?" said James loudly.
Severus reacted so fast, it was as though he had been expecting an attack (which he probably had). Dropping his bag, he plunged his hand into his robes and had his wand was halfway out when James shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
Severus' wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with a little thud in the grass behind him. Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "Impedimenta!" He said, pointing his wand at Severus, who was knocked off his feet halfway through a dive towards his own fallen wand.
Students all around had turned to watch the fight. Some of them got to their feet and moved closer.
Severus lay panting on the ground; his greasy hair had fallen into his eyes. James and Sirius advanced on him, wands raised. James glancing at the girls by the lake as he went. Peter was now on his feet, watching hungrily, edging around Remus to get a better view.
"How'd the exam go, Snivelly?" Asked James.
"I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment." said Sirius cruelly "There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be able to read a word."
Several people watching laughed, Severus was very unpopular. Severus was trying to get up, but the jinx was still operating on him; he was struggling, as though bound by invisible ropes.
"You – wait!" He panted, staring up at James with pure hatred. "You – wait!"
"Wait for what?" Said Sirius coolly. "What're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?"
Severus let out a scream of swear words and hexes, but with his wand ten feet away. Nothing happened.
"Wash out your mouth," said James "Scourgify!"
Pink soap bubbles streamed from Severus' mouth; the froth was covering his lips, making him gag, chocking him –
"Leave him ALONE!"
Lily sat with her three best friends; they all had their feet in the lake. They were enjoying the sun before they had to go into the last exam this year. Lily was sure that with James' advice she could scrap a pass grade.
"What's going on over there?" Wills asked. The other three girls looked up to where a crowd of people were gathering.
"There's Black and Potter." Marley said, pointing out the obvious ringleaders.
The crowd moved slightly to reveal Severus on the floor spluttering on pink froth. "And there's Sev." Lily said angrily. She hesitated for a second before she got up, not bothering with shoes or her cloak, grabbed her wand and ran to the crowd. "Leave him ALONE!"
James and Sirius looked round. James' free hand immediately jumped to his hair. Lily's thick, dark red hair blew around her face, somehow making her emerald eyes seem more vicious.
"All right, Evans?" said James, the tone of his was suddenly pleasant, deeper, and more mature.
"Leave him alone." Lily repeated. She looked at James with every sign of dislike and distrust. "What's he ever done to you?"
"Well," said James, appearing to think about the point, "it's more the fact that he exist, if you know what I mean…"
Many of the surrounding students laughed, Sirius and Peter included, but Remus, still apparently intent on reading his book, didn't. Neither did Lily.
"You think you're so funny," she said coldly, "but you're just an arrogant, bullying toe-rag, Potter. Leave him alone."
"I will if you go out with me, Evans." said James quickly "Go on…go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again." Unnoticed by anyone else, the Impediment Jinx was wearing off. Severus was slowly moving to his wand undetected.
"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid." said Lily.
"Bad luck, Prongs." said Sirius briskly and turned back to Severus. "OI!"
But it was too late; Severus directed his wand straight at James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James' face, spattering his robes with blood.
James turned to face Severus; He's in for it now James thought. A second flash and Severus was hanging upside-down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinning, pallid legs and a pair of greying underpants.
Many people in the small crowd cheered; Sirius, James and Peter roared with laughter. James watched Lily whose furious expression twitched as though she were going to smile "Let him down!"
"Certainly," said James and he jerked his wand upwards; Severus fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Untangling himself from his robes he got up quickly, wand aimed, but Sirius said. "Petrificus Totalus!" Severus keeled over again, rigid as a board.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily shouted. She had her own wand out now. James and Sirius eyed it wearily, they had been hexed many times with this wand.
"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you." Said James sincerely.
"Take the curse off him, then!"
James sighed deeply, then turned to Severus and muttered the counter-curse.
"There you go" he said, as Severus struggled to his feet. "You're lucky Evans was her, Snivellus –"
"I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!"
Lily blinked, she'd been called 'Mudblood' before, but never before from her best friend. "Fine" she said coolly "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."
Everyone was in shock, they all knew Severus and Lily were friends, James was the first to break out of his trance. "Apologise to Evans!" He roared at Severus, his wand pointed at him threateningly.
"I don't want you to make him apologise" Lily shouted, rounding on James "You're just as bad as he is."
"What?" James yelped. "I'd NEVER call you a–you–know–what!"
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just come off a broomstick, showing off with that snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can – I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK." She turned on her heels and hurried away, not bothering getting her stuff, the others would bring it in for her.
"Evans!" James shouted after her. "Hey, EVANS!"
But she didn't look back.
"What is it with her?" James,asked, trying and failing to look as though this was a question of no real importance to him.
"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, mate." said Sirius
"Right," said James, who looked furious now, "right –"
There was another flash of light and Severus was upside down once again.
"Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?" James asked the crowd, they cheered in response.
Remus stood and as he walked passed James he hissed, "Yeah, she hates you for cursing people, so you go curse someone, well done."
"I have to take my anger out on someone!" James hissed back.
"Do what you want." said Remus, walking away.
Sirius looked at James "Are we on?" James thought for a second, before shaking his head.
"Shows over folks!" Sirius shouted "We can't have too much fun in one day, can we?"
Sirius and James walked away, leaving Severus suspended mid-air
Once out of sight Lily ran, she ran straight to her dorm, throwing herself onto her bed letting the tears flow freely. She hugged herself tight; she had never felt more betrayed in her life, not even when 'Tuney called her "freak".
"Oh, Lily!" Lily looked up to see her three friends looking at her worriedly.
"W-what happened a-after I left?" She stuttered between sobs. The three girls didn't see what happened; they were too worried about their best friend.
"We, we didn't see." Marley said. Alice sat down next to Lily, wrapping her arms around her best friend.
"Shh, it'll be okay." Alice soothed Lily. "What did he say?"
"M-Mudblood…Sev call-called..." A new flood of tears broke through Lily.
The door opened, Jess looked at the four of them "Um – I'll just go." When no one answered she left anyway.
James, Sirius and Peter came through the portrait. Jess ran straight to James. "Oh, James! That was so funny! I saw it all!" she batted her eyelashes at him.
"Have you seen Lily?" he asked, not even looking at her.
Jess glared at him. "Why does Lily matter?"
"Because she seemed angry." James said, like he was talking to a five year old.
"Angry? Ha! More like pathetic!" James' head snapped to look at Jess. "She's in our dorm, crying over that greasy Slytherin." James brushed her off his arm.
"Thanks" he said running to the girls stairs.
"Don't" James turned to see Remus.
"Why?" James asked angrily.
"She obviously won't want to see you, especially if she's crying."
James sighed "I guess you're right."
"Aren't I always?" Remus asked raising an eyebrow.
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