Chapter Three

Settling In

Sirius' assumption that they would need a map proved to be very true the next day when it took him, James, Remus and Peter thirty minutes to get to breakfast.

"That! Was ridiculous!" James growled as they all flopped onto a bench.

"There should be signs!" Remus whined.

"Had some trouble aye?"

The four friends looked up to see Fabian Prewett.

"This castle is impossible," Sirius moaned.

"Don't worry, you'll pick it up," Fabian said and walked away. Sirius stared after him.

"I thought he was going to help!" he exclaimed.

"Ah come on, let's eat. We have to find our way to our next class," James growled, "Hey, what is our next class?"

There was a scornful giggle from next to them. Lily, Rose and Mary were eyeing them mockingly.

"What do you want?" James asked.

"Fine, I won't give you your timetables," Lily scowled.

James glared at her but Remus just smiled and leant towards the girls.

"Hey Lily, could we please have our timetables?" he asked kindly.

Lily narrowed her eyes but they softened, "Of course, Remus. Because you asked so nicely,"

Remus grinned and took the four pieces of paper, "Thanks Lily,"

Lily rolled her eyes and the three girls set off.

"Suck up," James muttered.

Remus chuckled, "It got us what we wanted didn't it?"

"I must try that one day. Being nice to get something," Sirius said.

The four boys chuckled as they checked out their timetables.

"Double Transfiguration first," Peter squeaked.

"Then single Charms, followed by lunch and then double Potions. Last subject Herbology," Remus continued.

"Well, let's go then," James said standing up and walking towards the doors. He stopped when he got there, "Which way is it?"

"This way," Sirius said, "I think"

After ten minutes they finally found their way into Professor McGonagall's classroom only five minutes late.

"Sorry Ma'am," they all mumbled as they took their seats. Lily rolled her eyes as they sat down. She was sitting, James noticed, with a Slytherin boy. The same one from the train.

'Sivellis, Severus, Snivellus. Ah that's right Snivellus,' James snickered.

Sirius cocked his eyebrow at him.

"Snivellus," James whispered, looking pointedly at Severus. Sirius snorted and stuffed his fist in his house.

McGonagall cut off her lecture.

"Anything I can help you with Potter? Black?" she asked sternly. The boys shut up and bit their lips.

"No, Professor," Sirius mumbled, fighting back his chuckles.

"Very well…," McGonagall continued with her lesson.

Sirius and James tore little bits of paper off their parchment scrolls and rolled them into balls.

"Ten points for the back, twenty for the head," Sirius mumbled taking aim at Severus.

"Aim," James whispered.

"Set,"

"FIRE!" the boys whisper-shouted. Two small balls of parchment flew through the air.

Puft! Puft!

Lily frowned and looked at Sev beside him. Severus was scowling and rubbing his head. On the floor behind him lay two balls of parchment.

"Potter and Black," she growled looking behind her. The two boys in question were very obviously avoiding her and each other's eyes.

"Idiots," she muttered.

"Yes," Sirius hissed, "Twenty points,"

"Me too," James grinned.

Chuckling, the boys wrote down their scores on a spare scrap of parchment, ripped up some new balls, and took aim again. Remus rolled his eyes at them and made sure to take down careful notes which he was sure they would be borrowing later on.

By the end of the lesson Sirius Black had one hundred and twenty points, James Potter had one hundred and thirty and Severus Snape had quite a sore head.

"Ha! I win!" James chuckled as they packed up their equipment.

Sirius scowled, "The wind caught me last one,"

"Wind? What wind? You lost Black. Admit it," James crowed.

"I admit to nothing," Sirius grumbled.

James chuckled as he tucked his books in the crook of his arm but just as he stood straight those books went flying as someone banged into his shoulder. Hard.

"Hey!" he exclaimed.

"Oh sorry," a flat voice said from above. James looked up to see Severus grinning down at him, "My fault,"

Lily was giggling from his side.

Severus leaned down and hissed, "That was for the target practice, Potter,"

He stood back and walked off. Lily smirked and ran to catch up with him.

Sirius helped him pack up his books, "That girl is evil!"

"Ha, you don't say,"

"I think she's quite pleasant," Remus said from his desk where his was finishing up his notes. Peter nodded in agreement.

"I am pretty sure you think everyone is pleasant Remus," James said.

"You were hitting her friend," Peter mumbled.

"Whose side are you on Petey?" Sirius asked frowning. Peter freaked.

"I –I was just- I didn't mean-"

Sirius laughed, "I was joking Peter, calm down!"

"Mr Potter and Mr Black, please come up here," Professor McGonagall requested. The boys jumped. They had forgotten she was still there.

"Mr Lupin and Mr Pettigrew you may leave," it came out as a request but the boys all knew it was an order.

Sirius and James looked at each other, gulped and walked up to McGonagall's desk.

"I should give you detentions you know boys," she said eyeing them until they both ducked their heads.

"Yes ma'am," they said in unison.

"But, I think Mr Snape's revenge one might say was sufficient punishment. That bumped looked like it will leave a bruise,"

James rubbed his shoulder almost unconsciously, "So we aren't in trouble?"

McGonagall studied them, "Five points each from Gryffindor. Don't disrupt my class again boys. Now off to Charms with you,"

James and Sirius grinned at each other and ran out of the classroom. Peter and Remus were waiting for them.

"What did she say?"

"Are you in trouble?"

"Ten points and that's all," James crowed, "It's got to be a record! McGonagall never lets people off,"

"Maybe you're just special," Peter said.

"Special all right," Sirius muttered, earning as smack on the head.

"Come on, we are about five minutes late for Charms and we still have to find the bloomin' classroom yet," Remus said setting off.

"I like you James. A lot! And we seem to think along the same wave-length. So I can see that Remus here is going to be very good for us!" Sirius grinned.

"I like you too Sirius. And I couldn't agree more!"

"I have only been here for a day but I already hate James Potter and his 'posse'," Lily growled as her and Sev walked to their next class.

"Don't worry, I'll always be here for you Lily," Severus promised as they stopped at the staircase that would take Lily to Charms.

"I know Sev. I'll see you at Lunch. Bye,"

Severus grinned and walked off.

"Hey Lily, can I walk with you?" it was Rose, running to catch up.

"Of course," Lily smiled and they set off.

When they reached Charms, Lily was unpleasantly surprised to see James and Sirius smiling.

"Did you get in trouble? Anything?" she asked angrily.

"Ten points Evans. Not much is it," Potter grinned while Black snickered. Lily looked murderous. She was so angry she wanted to hit them. Rose grabbed her hand.

"Come on Lily, they're not worth it," she muttered, dragging her away. Looking back over her shoulder she glared at James and Sirius.

James and Sirius were still chuckling when Professor Flitwick called the class to attention.

"Welcome students to Charms class," squeaked the little Professor.

And that was the only sentence the two boys took in for the rest of the lesson. They were off and away, planning their revenge on one, Severus Snape.

"Will I be taking notes for you in this class too sirs?" Remus whispered in a posh butler voice.

"If you would be so kind Lupin. We will pay you for your services," Sirius whispered back.

"Very well sirs. May the note taking commence,"

It only took James, Remus, Sirius and Peter five minutes to find the Great Hall for lunch. But all too soon they were setting off for Potions with the Slytherins again.

"Hey Potter!"

The boys turned to see Severus glaring at them.

"Yes Snivellus?" James asked politely.

"What is your problem with me?"

Sirius snorted, "Problem, what problem? It has nothing to do with your greasy hair, or your hooked nose, or your friendship with a certain Lily Evans. Are you such a loser that your only friend is a Gryffindor girl who could do so much better than you?"

Severus went purple, "Why you little bastard!"

"Excuse me; watch your language Mr Snape. Ten points from Slytherin,"

The rather rotund Head of Slytherin and Potions Master Professor Slughorn gazed sternly at his House pupil. Snape scowled.

"Sorry sir,"

"Very well, into class we go," Slughorn's tone of voice changed from disapproving to jolly.

Lily put her hand on Severus' shoulder and led him into the classroom. James shoved passed them with the rest of the boys in tow.

"Now we're even Snivelly," Sirius hissed as he passed.

The rest of Potions class went very well in Lily's opinion after its rough start. Professor Slughorn gushed over her Potion-making and she was the only one he complimented. She flushed with pride as she walked out with Severus.

"Every teacher already loves you," he grumbled.

"Don't be stupid," Lily laughed.

"It's true! I'll see you dinner,"

Lily stopped, "Oh I'm sorry Sev. I can't sit at your table tonight. Professor McGonagall told me that I have to sit at the Gryffindor table. Sorry,"

Severus looked heart-broken, "Oh okay. Well I'll just see you tomorrow sometime. Bye Lily,"

He started to walk off but Lily caught his arm, "You're still my best friend! Always there for me right?"

Severus smiled, "Always,"

The rest of the week passed fairly smoothly until Thursday with Defence Against the Dark Arts. Professor Gregory Guillotine was a young, clean-shaven man who could not control his class even if he tried. James Potter and Sirius Black noticed this as soon as they walked in and used it to their full advantage.

"So, Professor, what are your qualifications for this job?" Sirius asked within five minutes of their first lesson.

Guillotine stuttered, "Er that is not of your c-concern Mr – erm – Mr?"

"Black sir. No I was just wondering how someone who looks fifteen could be a Professor,"

The class muffled their tittering.

"Mr Black that is n-not appropriate. Now if we could get back on the subject of Disarmi - "

"Professor? Where did you buy your robes?" James pipped up.

"Arm, my-my robes Mr –er?"

"Potter. Yes your robes? Just, I was wondering that kind of shop sells robes that had exactly fifteen holes in them? Were they free? I hope they were sir. If not you should ask for a refund," James replied matter-of-factly.

"These are my best robes Mr Potter," Guillotine retorted.

"Oh dear. I would hate to see his muck-around ones?" James mock-whispered to Sirius.

The class' muffled tittering had now turned into audible giggling. Even Lily was trying not to laugh, though she put on a frustrated face.

"Oh come on Lily, it's funny. Just laugh," Rose giggled. Lily bit her lip.

"I suppose they must be so tattered he has to wear three sets of robes underneath as too hide the holes," Sirius mock-whispered back.

"Or he just likes a nice breeze," James suggested waggling an eyebrow.

The giggling was turning into soft laughter as Professor Guillotine slowly turned bright, tomato red.

"He probably buys them from the same shop as old Snivellus," Sirius smirked, glancing at Severus who in turn went as red as Guillotine.

Severus stood up and grabbed for his wand. Sirius' eyes widened and he pulled James under the desk just in time as Severus spat out a Knock-back Jinx which skimmed the desk and ruffled James' hair as it sailed passed, hitting Mary MacDonald square in the chest. She slammed back on her chair which tipped over. A loud crack was heard as Mary's head smacked the desk behind her. Lily and Rose jumped up and ran over to her.

The laughter which had been starting to get louder ceased immediately and everyone turned towards to teacher. He looked furious.

"You!" – he pointed to Severus – "You and you!" – Sirius and James – "Up here NOW! Miss Evans and Miss Stanford please escort Miss MacDonald to the hospital wing"

Sirius and James rose slowly from under their desk and Severus stowed his wand away. They all walked quickly up to the front.

"That behaviour was unacceptable! I will n-not tolerate it in this class! Do you understand me?" Guillotine growled.

"Yes sir,"

"Understood,"

"Aye aye captain,"

This caused the class to giggle again but Guillotine looked murderous.

"Forty points from Gryffindor and thirty from Slytherin and you will all receive detentions. Come back here at eight tonight,"

The three boys nodded.

"Class dismissed,"

The Slytherin and Gryffindor first years were completely silent until they got outside and the laughter erupted.

"That was amazing!" Peter squealed at James and Sirius, who were grinning despite the detentions.

"I have my work cut out for me don't I?" Remus sighed but grinned all the same.

"Hey is Mary okay?" Sirius asked as they made their way to dinner.

"Let's go check on her," Remus suggested.

"Yeah, I feel bad," James said. Sirius cast a longing look at the Great Hall but followed his friends to the hospital wing.

They found Mary lying on a bed flanked by Rose and Lily.

"Hey Mary," Remus said, walking up to her bed. Lily rose and gave him her seat.

"Oh hey guys,"

"How are you doing?" Sirius asked following Remus, Peter just behind.

"Just a bump. No lasting damage. I was just about to leave actually,"

There was a slap.

"What is your problem?" James growled, holding his check, glaring at a red-faced Lily.

"You are such a pig James Potter. What did Severus ever do to you?"

"Nothing, except insult me, my father and the rest of this House,"

"Oh that was just a comment. You need to grow up," Lily growled. She turned to Mary, " See you later Mary. I need to go for a walk,"

Lily stomped out of the room. Rose's eyes followed her for a minute before she ran out of the room after her. Mary rolled her eyes and got off the bed.

"I'll see you later guys. Thanks for checking on me,"

And with that, she too left the room.

"Does everyone hate me?" James asked incredulously.

"No, not everyone. Just Lily and Snape and Guillotine and – "

"Shut up Black,"

"Come on, you guys need to eat before your detention," Remus said just as Madam Pomfrey came out of her office.

"Mr Lupin, a word?"

"You guys go ahead. I'll catch up," Remus said.

Sirius, James and Peter peered at him curiously but left the wing.

"How are you feeling Remus?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"Usual soreness. Nothing I can't handle,"

"Very well, tomorrow meet here at 3. You have permission to leave Potions early but you will miss out of your first flying lesson. Sorry,"

"It's all right. Just one lesson right? Okay 3 tomorrow. Thanks,"

"You're welcome Mr Lupin,"

Remus walked out of the hospital wing and towards the Great Hall. It was amazing. Even with tomorrow's full moon, he was still happy. He still had friends! Wonder how long that would last...

Aha and the war between Sirius, James and Snape begins, Lily already despises James, the Marauders (although they are not called that yet) are cementing their friendship, James and Sirius are already causing trouble and have a detention and Remus is about to face his first full moon at Hogwarts. Let the year begin!

Next chapter: Comings and Goings : and it includes Sirius, James and Snape's detention, Remus' full moon, tea with Hagrid (why do you think he asked Harry? :P), rest of September, October and into November with first Quidditch match, possibly finishing with start of Christmas because that's where my action starts. Oops did I say that out loud? Review :D