The next morning, the four Gryffindors stumbled into an early Charms lesson bruised and aching. They dropped into their seats at the back of the room, too tired even to get riled up when the Slytherin first-years filed in.

"Can we hex them?" asked Peter. He reached down to pull his wand out of his bag, but Remus reached down and held his wrist tightly.

"We're in class," he hissed. "Besides, we don't know that any of them are actually Death Eaters."

At that moment, however, Severus Snape walked into the room. His gaze jumped immediately to them, and he smiled thinly before taking a seat next to Lily Evans.

"Slimy little weasel," growled Sirius. "He's taunting us! Just because he got some fancy hexes in last night. Honestly, I'm going to—"

But before he could do anything, Professor Flitwick stepped onto a chair and waved his arms to quiet them down. "Today you will be practicing tickling charms," he told them. "Please pair up and repeat after me. Rictusempra."

The class dutifully repeated the incantation.

"Watch your aim as you practice this spell," Flitwick continued. "It has a tendency to go off-kilter, and we don't want the whole class in fits, do we?" With that, he stepped down from the chair and movement filled the classroom.

Peter took a quick look at James, who he had partnered with. The other boy grinned. "You can go first, Pete," he said. "And make certain you hit me, all right?" He winked and glanced behind him. Snape and Evans were practicing a few feet away.

Peter took a deep breath and swirled his wand around. "Rictusempra!" he cried, pointing somewhere between James and Snape. James shook his head and stood patiently for Peter to try again.

He tried several more times unsuccessfully, and then James took a turn. On his third try, Peter giggled.

"Are you laughing at me, or did it work?" James asked.

"It worked," said Peter. The charm felt like a feather brushing his stomach.

James tried again, and this time Peter doubled over in laughter. James immediately released the spell and reached over to pat Peter on the back. "All right, let me try again," he said as he pulled away. He brandished his wand at Peter and cried out the incantation. As the word left his lips, he flicked the tip away from Peter's face.

Silver light shot out of the wand and over Peter's shoulder. He turned around just in time to see it hit Lily Evans, who fell down, squealing uncontrollably.

"Mr. Snape, well done!" said Flitwick. Students all around the classroom stopped to watch Lily's hysterics.

"It wasn't me," cried Snape, wild-eyed. "It was her turn to do it, and the spell just came out of…nowhere…" His voice trailed off as he looked at James and Peter. "Actually, Professor," he said, his voice much more controlled, "I'm pretty sure that was Potter's spell."

"And a fine spell it was," said Flitwick, beaming at James. "You'll need to work on your aim a bit, of course, but this is the most successful Tickling Charm I've seen all day. Ten points for Gryffindor. Look at that, she's still going."

As a matter of fact, Lily was on the ground now, tears streaming from her eyes. "Please—stop—" she choked out.

"Yes, of course." He waved his wand, and her giggles immediately ceased. "That will be all for today, class. You're dismissed.

There was a flurry of activity as students grabbed their bags and left the classroom. Snape stalked to the back of the classroom, but Lily beat him to it.

"What was that, Potter?" she demanded, stopping less than a foot away from him, hands on her hips. "You just happened to miss your partner and hit me with that spell?"

James put up his hands between them. "It was an accident. Lay off, would you?"

Behind Lily, Snape snorted. Lily glowered at James.

"Honest! All right, if you want proof I wasn't trying to hit you, then you should know I was trying to hit him. Happy?" James jerked a finger at Snape.

From behind Peter, Sirius finished packing up and slung his bag over his shoulder. "You're digging yourself a hole, man," he said. "Come on, she's not worth it."

"You are completely out of line, James Potter!" cried Lily shrilly. "You tried to hit Severus. That's misuse of magic. I ought to tell Professor Flitwick. To think he gave you house points!"

"It's your house that got the points, why are you upset?" Sirius said.

Lily swung toward him, and Sirius took a step back. "How would you like to be laughing for a good five minutes? I swear, you lot are the worst thing ever to come to Hogwarts."

"We're not the worst."

They all turned to Peter, who bit his lip. Sirius quirked an eyebrow, as if to say, "Go on."

"James was only trying to charm Snape because Snape and his friends attacked us last night." Peter swallowed and glanced between Lily and James. He studiously avoided Snape's gaze. "They immobilized us and practiced curses on us."

"You're lying," scoffed Lily. "Severus would never—"

"You think so?" asked Remus quietly. "Ask him. You've met the Slytherins that call themselves Death Eaters, don't you? They thought we'd make good practice dummies."

Lily turned to Snape and opened her mouth, probably to say something supportive. But she froze when she saw his expression. Snape was looking at a point on the floor, and his cheeks were flushed.

"You went back to them?" she asked, her voice breaking. "With the evil things they do, with the things they said about me? To me?"

"They're teaching me magic," Snape muttered. "And I can't just leave, I'm the only first-year they let in."

"No," said Lily. "No. Severus, you are not doing this. You aren't one of them!"

Remus cleared his throat. "We're going to be late for Potions," he said.

Lily stared at him, her eyes shining with angry tears. "You'd better get going, then," she bit out. She grabbed her bag and stormed out of the room, leaving the four Gryffindors alone with Snape.

"Why did you tell her?" he asked, anger mixing with agony in his voice. "She's my friend, not yours, and you had no business telling her anything!"

"House loyalty, mate." Sirius shrugged. "I may not like the girl, but I sure like her better than you."

Snape snarled and hissed a curse. A jet of light sped toward Peter, who let out a yelp, but suddenly a pale, shimmering bubble appeared around him and absorbed the spell.

"What is going on here?" Professor Flitwick's squeaky voice came from the direction of his office. "Really, boys, there is no reason to solve your arguments with magic. Mr. Snape, I am disappointed in you. Ten points from Slytherin."

Snape froze like a startled deer.

"Off with you all, now. And Mr. Snape, I think we will have to arrange a detention, as well…"

A/N: Peter showed some bravery, surprisingly enough (surprised me, anyway). I had planned on some humor in this chapter, but maybe with Death Eaters involved, a fluffy trickster fic isn't meant to be. Arguments and duels are just too tempting.

Comments turn updates from "sometime" to "today," so please let me know what you think of the fic, and anything I can improve on. Until next time...