She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…

Marauder's Phase

CHAPTER TEN

Snape

Hogwarts was even more amazing then I'd ever dreamed it would be. Staircases that moved, paintings that moved, and so much magic in the air that even I could sense it.

This was it – this was the real deal. I kept very close to James and Sirius as we walked the halls of the castle the following morning.

No One's P.O.V:

"She used what?" Remus asked, as he, James, Peter and Sirius – plus another, invisible person – went down to the Great Hall for breakfast on Tuesday morning. Remus hadn't gotten back from his meeting until late, and James had just told him about Emma and Sirius' little scuffle after he had left.

"I don't want to talk about it." Sirius informed them, annoyed, as they entered the Great Hall.

"Wuss." Said Emma's voice from Remus' left, and Sirius shot her a dark glare. "You're lucky I didn't knock you out again." She went on, using the fact that Remus was standing between her and the object of her insults to her advantage. "All I did was tickle you into submission."

Remus gaped.

"We'll just see about that." Sirius muttered darkly, as they sat down at the Gryffindor table, and Emma wisely chose a seat between Remus and Peter, so it only looked as if the two were sitting rather far apart from each other.

"Oh my God," They heard her murmur. "Bacon…"

***

It was hard for me to eat under the invisibility cloak. I had to keep stealing rashes of bacon and bits of toast when no one was looking. Meanwhile, the Marauders (as I had began to refer to them in my mind) were examining their timetables, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

"Got potions up, first thing," James said, not sounding terribly thrilled. "Need to run back and get my stuff…hope no one figured out it was me who set fire to Snivy's cauldron last week." He snickered at the memory.

"There's no way they'll ever know because I got blamed for it, remember Prongs?" Sirius said. "Had to weasel my way out of detention, too." He looked proud of himself.

"Oh yeah…" James smiled, remembering. "Anyway, what've you guys got?" He directed the question across the table to

"How come you don't know your timetables yet?" I whispered to Remus.

"Because we've had a few other things on our minds." He replied, murmuring out of the corner of his mouth.

"What, you mean like running around at midnight during full moons because of your furry little problem?" I asked.

Across the table, James choked on his pumpkin juice, but it may have been because Lily Evans just walked by.

"Hullo Evans." James said, in what I realised was meant to be his 'mature' voice. I rolled my eyes.

Lily gave us a suspicious look, and then glanced at the spot between Peter and Remus. "This seat taken?" She asked. "I need to talk to Remus about something…"

"Actually, I had to get to Muggle Studies," Remus said, standing up quickly.

"Oh, then I'll walk with you." Lily said, and followed him out of the Great Hall.

James looked visibly disappointed. He looked so disappointed that I realised I had to cheer him up somehow, since it was partially my fault that Lily had left so soon.

I looked around, and then spotted something, but it may not have been bound to cheer James up. "Oi, James – your best friend's coming this way."

James' head snapped up, and his look of disappointment changed to one of anticipation. "Snivellus Sighting, guys." He said eagerly.

Sirius looked to where James was looking, and smiled. "Excellent…" He said softly, and stood up. James did too.

I looked at the greasy-haired, hook-nosed boy who was walking toward us, and was immediately filled with instant dislike and loathing.

"Hi Snivellus," James said loudly, and people began to stop eating and look. This was probably a very common occurrence.

Snape plunged his hands into his robes as if he'd been expecting an attack – James and Sirius already had their wands out, but just then a furious-looking teacher came charging up to the Gryffindor table, probably honing in on the trouble using Teacher Radar.

"Not you three again!" She said angrily. "I have told you no magic in the corridors or the Great Hall, and don't you roll your eyes at me, Mr. Black!" She added, glaring at Sirius, who probably had to refrain from doing it again. "Next time, I will inform the headmaster." She added, before striding out of the Great Hall.

Snape glared at Sirius and James as well, before turning and following in the female professor's wake, his black robes swishing. I had the sudden urge to curse him.

"Who was that?" I whispered to Peter. I was starting to wonder if we were in over our heads here, hiding me under the invisibility cloak at Hogwarts. I was just glad Alastor Moody hadn't shown up on the scene yet.

"Professor Riberta," Peter replied, eyeing the last piece of bacon. "She teaches astronomy…" His hand darted out for the last piece of bacon, but I was faster than he was.

"Mine!" I said, and enjoyed the look of shock on Peter's face. I could probably get used to it and, since I was hanging around James and Sirius now, it would be bound to happen more often than not.