James was pulling Sirius into the wizarding equipment shop, Devish and Bangs. Ink bottles stood precariously on shelves along with long beautiful and for the most part expensive quills. Below the ink sets were hundreds upon hundreds of dragon leather bound parchment notebooks, all with silver embellished clasps. Sirius picked one up before checking the price. He made a hollow noise before putting it down.
"James," He said. "I can't afford any of this stuff! Darling mother only gave me a couple of galleons to get my robes and books. This stuff is just..."
"Nah." James replied. "We'll manage." He bent down to examine a set of runes along with an instruction manual. "Do you think we'll need this for divination?" He asked.
"I dunno," Sirius said peering down at it. "If we did, I'm sure they would have mentioned in the letter." He frowned. "Hold on, I thought you were taking Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures... Not bloody divination!"
James flashed Sirius a grin before pushing his glasses further up his nose. "I dropped the idea of Care of Magical Creatures." He said. "I mean, we already have a wild beast that needs locked up three days a month."
"There's only one night of the full moon," Sirius replied in hushed tones.
"I wasn't talking about him," James said, his face serious. Sirius looked at him frowning for a moment then rolled his eyes.
"A period joke, really, James? How original!"
"Never complained about it before," James shrugged, moving on across past the Fob Glasses and sneakoscopes. James was looking interestedly at a glass dome where a miniature Quidditch game was being held. The tiny figures zoomed around encased in their glass prison. Sirius sighed and pulled him away.
"Why are we here?" He asked.
James seemed distracted for a moment. "Oh... Yeah." He said after a minute. "Look at this, it's amazing!" he turned and walked over the crowded shop as young 11 year olds were buying their equipment for their first year. He picked up a mirror and held it out to Sirius who raised an eyebrow.
"James," He said patiently. "I know I'm beautiful. But you are too, and I don't think that looking in a mirror constantly will help with our vanity issues."
"Just take it," James urged. Sirius let out a theatrical sigh before taking the mirror from James. He looked into it but didn't see his own reflection.
"Uh," He said. "In the short space of three minutes, I must have been bitten and made into a vampire, without feeling any pain whatsoever... How bizarre."
"Funny," James said giving a mock laugh. He held up the mirror to his own face. "Hey look, I can see your crotch."
Sirius frowned and raised the mirror. To his shock, in the reflection there was James grinning wildly. He looked back at his friend who was stupidly looking in the mirror.
"Okay," Sirius said. "I gotta admit. These are kind of cool."
"What on earth are you talking about?" James asked. "Their awesome!"
Sirius put his mirror back onto the shelf. "What good is it when we have to read each other's lips to try and communicate?" He asked.
"Look!" James pointed at the label and Sirius read quietly.
"Hey," said a voice and Sirius jumped a mile into the air almost crashing into the inventory.
"Oi!" Said the shopkeeper.
"Sorry," said Remus kindly. "Sirius, is that really how you're going to react when you-know-how attacks you?"
Sirius flushed angrily. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Peter held up his bag from Flourish and Blotts. "Shopping," He said simply. "I thought you guys wanted to meet us here! Didn't you?"
"I didn't agree to that!" Sirius said.
"I did," James said.
Sirius turned to look at him. "I guessed as much, you see unlike you Potter, I am brains and balls."
"Sadly the two are often confused," James said picking up both mirrors and heading towards the shop clerk where he handed over money. Sirius turned to Peter and Remus who were examining a set of crystal balls. James returned after a few seconds, squeezing past the other customers.
"James!" said a voice. The four boys turned to see Ariyamna stumbling towards them, since their last meeting she had cropped her hair, it didn't look that great and James made a snap decision that he preferred her old hair. She was smiling at them happily, dressed in dark purple robes and a large pendant dangling from her neck. For a moment, Sirius and James quietly deliberated not talking to her after her letter that she had sent to them. But instead they pretended not to care.
"Hey," Sirius said. "What's up?"
Ariyamna let out a great big grin. "Not much. Here 'cause I was hoping to run into your father," She lowered her voice. "You never replied to my letter."
James pursed his lips. "No,"
"Why?"
"Because..." He let out a fake laugh. "I think the war is just making everyone a little bit paranoid. Besides, it's complete and utter bullcrap. A werewolf? Don't be ridiculous! If a werewolf had infiltrated Hogwarts and was indeed a Death Eater like Dumbledore, then half the muggleborns in the school would be dead."
Ariyamna stood silently, thinking it over. She let out a sigh. "You may have a point James," She said. "But filthy disgusting half-breeds should not be allowed to enter Hogwarts. Don't think I'm prejudice, but dangerous animals should be locked up, not dressed in robes and made to look human – you alright, Remus dear? You've gone a ghastly shade of grey."
They turned to see Remus who shrugged. "Just hungry is all." He grunted, not really wanting to pay attention. Ariyamna turned back to look at James and Sirius.
"Dumbledore has assured us that this student poses no danger," She said. "And we have been sworn to secrecy. Can I trust you not to go spreading it around the school?"
"What good would it achieve?" Sirius asked. "A massive hunt where anyone who appears to be wolf-like is burned to the stake? I don't think so."
Ariyamna grinned. "I'm glad we have an understanding." She said. "Oh, hello Charlus!"
Mr. Potter had appeared behind them, squeezing his way through the crowd. "Hello Ariyamna! Kids, it's mad in here, why are you all standing around doing nothing like statues? Let's get outside!"
James, Sirius, Remus and Peter all nodded vehemently and stepped outside into the unusually warm air. Ariyamna flounced after them, the heels of her dragon leather boots clicking on the cobbled stones. "I was just telling them about the... you-know-what... Living inside Hogwarts. I was telling them to be careful and to keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour."
"Is that so?" Mr Potter asked absentmindedly, looking through James' bags to make sure he had not bought anything he didn't need.
"Yes," Ariyamna continued. "You know how those beasts are. It's disgusting."
"Isn't it just?" Mr Potter asked. "James, what the hell is this?"
"My new Quidditch stuff," James said in a rather spoilt tone of voice. "Because, you know, I'm Chaser!"
Mr Potter let out a sigh. Ariyamna grabbed his arm. "Charlus, I don't think you understand!"
"Ariyamna," Mr Potter said calmly. "If the boys have very little to fear, then I doubt you should continue to lecture them so. Your prejudice's may be acceptable on a Quidditch field, but if you begin to turn on every species then how does that make you better than Voldemort?"
Ariyamna stared. "Why must you speak his name?" She cried.
"Why must you be so petulantly annoying?" Mr. Potter challenged. "Now, don't you have Ministry Tasks to perform?"
Ariyamna flustered before running off. Mr. Potter turned back to his son and his three friends. He said in rather hushed tones; "I don't want to seem hypocritical, but I really hope you are not running around with a werewolf, though the gentleman or lady with this curse may be a charming and well meaning person, they are incredibly dangerous. It wouldn't be safe for any of you." He straightened up before stopping dead. "I just heard something crack." He said. "Oh bugger." He sighed. "I'll have to go, meet me at the Leaky Cauldron in an hour's time."
"Okay dad," James said as Mr. Potter disappeared. James flashed a grin over at his friends.
"Yeesh," Sirius said. "Can I just say, I hate Ariyamna."
"Ditto," James replied. "Come on,"
Together they walked down Diagon Alley past the witches and wizards who were rushing for last minute shopping. A few girls walked past James, smiling. James winked at them before Sirius yanked him away, sighing dramatically.
"I thought you were interested in Lily!" He said.
"And I can't look at others?" James asked. "I'm only human!"
"Get over yourself." Sirius said. "Especially when you are standing in the might that is my awesomeness!"
Peter let out a cough.
Sirius threw him a look before continuing up the alley. He stopped and looked over at a store selling the latest Wizard rock gear, a bunch of wizards around Ariyamna's age were talking hastily over the new dragon leather jackets. Sirius stepped closer to have a look.
"Meh," James said. "They all seem too dark for me."
"I think they look awesome." Sirius said.
"Dragon leather?" Remus said. "Isn't that expensive?"
"Yes, but you're forgetting who you are talking to!" Sirius said.
"Your mother only gave you a few galleons," James said.
Sirius' face fell. "Oh yeah... Dammnit." They continued to walk. James stopped them after a moment a frown creased on his handsome face. James peered around.
"Isn't that your brother?" James asked.
"Yes," Sirius said. "With MacNair."
MacNair, a lanky 5th year from Hogwarts stood leaning against one of the walls that led into Knockturn Alley along with Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black. Regulus looked quite in place with them as they talked in hushed tones. Lucius and Narcissa were holding their wands by their sides, tightly grasped in their hands. They were both legal now so could quite easily hex the four boys in an oblivion if they dared cross their path. They watched as they looked around before trailing down the alley. Sirius started after them, Remus grabbed his arm.
"Are you mad?" He hissed.
Sirius flashed a grin. "A little bit, yeah," he shrugged off Remus' grip before running after his brother. James followed quickly, Remus and Peter looked at each other almost tepidly before following their friends. They passed a strange man who was talking to himself, or rather the brick wall, dressed in a long leather coat. "He... No... Made...Me... Werewolves...Mudbloods... TRAITORS! A conspiracy!" He grabbed James arm and grinned darkly showing his little remaining teeth. "GREAT DANGER BEFALLS THOSE WHO TRUST THEIR FRIENDS!"
"Geroff me!" James said, pushing him off. The man returned to stare at the wall, angry with himself.
"They wouldn't listen. Silly boys... Silly boys..."
James continued down the alley to find Sirius crouching outside Borgin and Burke, a dark Wizard shop filled with objects that one would not associate themselves with. He bent down and looked in through the grimy windows.
"What are they doing?" He asked.
"Looking at books," grunted Sirius. He sighed. "And not the type that Peter likes to read when he wants to sleep."
"Hey!" Peter said showing up and crouching by Sirius. Remus took place beside James looking in the window.
"Yes, this is very conspicuous," He said sarcastically. "Four boys crouching to spy in a window. Don't you think we'll be caught?"
"Ha, ha, ha!" Sirius said. "Very funny Moony, very funny."
"Here," James said, pulling out his invisibility cloak and draping it around the four boys, they huddled together and watched as Snape and MacNair talked in hushed tones to each other, whilst Narcissa and Regulus were pouring over a book. Malfoy was hidden from view.
"What on earth is your brother doing there?" Remus asked.
Sirius licked his lips, thinking over his answer carefully. He sighed. "I don't know." He said. "He's fallen in with the wannabe death eaters, I don't know what to do now."
The cloak was ripped from them and flung to the ground. Malfoy was sneering down at them his wand raised. They jumped up, moving back slightly.
"So" He said coldly. "Thought we would spy on us did you?"
"Yes!" Sirius said unafraid. "He's my brother, it's my business."
"Sirius," Regulus had appeared behind Malfoy. He looked terrified but was not about to show it. "What are you doing here?"
Sirius couldn't speak. He stared at his brother a sad look in his eyes.
"ANSWER BLACK!" Malfoy bellowed. "I should hex you right here. "
"Try it, scum!" Sirius said back spitting the ground where Malfoy stood. Malfoy's face turned up into a sneer. He grabbed Sirius by the robes and pushed him against the wall. James, Remus and Peter had all pulled out their wands and were pointing them at Malfoy who chuckled.
"You wouldn't dare expulsion over your friend, would you?" He said.
"Try us," James said, he didn't realise that Remus had lowered his wand slightly.
"Lucius," Narcissa said kindly. "Lucius, what will it look like? We cannot attack them."
Lucius' entire face twitched madly but he did not move.
"GET AWAY FROM THEM RIGHT NOW!" Bellowed an angry voice. They turned to see Ariyamna marching towards them, her face hard and angry. She pulled out her wand and aimed it at Malfoy. "GET AWAY, NOW!"
Malfoy could sense that this was a battle not worth fighting, he loosened his grip and let Sirius go. Sirius staggered towards his friends coughing slightly. Malfoy turned to Narcissa putting his arm around her and kissing her forehead as they walked away. Snape, MacNair and Regulus following.
"Thank you Ariyamna," James said.
"No problem," She replied. "Sick little fuckers, how dare they attack second years-"
"We're third years now," Sirius corrected, doubled over.
"Whatever," Ariyamna waved his correction away. "Sick fucking little... Who were they anyway? I have a right mind to get them expelled from Hogwarts for their behaviour."
"Can't do that," Sirius said simply straightening up.
"And why not?" Ariyamna asked, stowing her wand back into her robes and picking up James' invisibility cloak.
"Because he's family," Sirius said staring after Regulus.
...
"Evans' you got to listen to me!" James said running after her down the train past the full compartments where students were happily chatting amongst themselves. Sirius, Peter and Remus all gave a sigh before finding an empty carriage and leaving James to continue with his protests to Lily. She had grown too over the summer and was now beginning to show the first signs of womanhood. She had grown a little bit taller than James and she had lost much of the prepubescent puppy fat that James always found adorable. Her red hair had been swept back into a bun with tiny sparkling silver butterfly clips holding a plait that curved around the bun in place.
"I don't want to hear it Potter," She said simply. "You'll just make up some rubbish that is completely bogus and what's more insulting."
"Evans' I swear to you it's true." James insisted. "Please, you've got to hear me out!"
Lily stopped to let some first years by, she turned to look at James one of her eyebrows raised. "Okay, go on then."
"I saw Snivellus-"
Lily glared.
"- I mean Snape-"
She continued to glare.
"-FINE! I saw Severus," James said it with some distaste. "In Borgin and Burkes with Malfoy and Sirius' cousin Narcissa,"
"Potter," Lily said. "Unless you have valuable proof that this is the case, then I will listen, until then, you have nothing."
James grabbed her by the arm. "Listen to me!" He hissed. "I don't want you hanging around Snape, he's into that Dark Magic shit. It's dangerous and could put you in danger."
"The only danger I am in right now," Lily said lowering her voice. "Is you breaking my arm as I wrench away from you and smack you across the face."
"Evans' you have to believe me!"
"Believe you?" Lily let out a laugh. "Why on earth would I believe an arrogant good for nothing prat like you?"
"Be that as it may," James admitted. "You have to listen to this!"
Lily shook her head. "You're unbelievable." She stalked off.
"EVANS'!" James cried after her.
"Sorry," mumbled a small second year as they pushed past him. James sighed before moving off to find his friends. They were sitting in a compartment along with another student whom James recognised to be Xenophilius Lovegood. He sat down and smiled over at him.
"Did you talk to Lily?" Peter asked, dealing a hand of exploding snap.
"Yes," James said bitterly, putting his legs up on the chair opposite beside Sirius.
"I'm guessing it didn't go well." Sirius said.
"Oh dear lord, you must be psychic," James said sarcastically. "She wouldn't even hear me out."
"That is hardly unexpected," Xeno said absentmindedly.
All four boys looked up. "Oh?" James asked. "How so?"
"I hate to be the one to say it." said Xeno.
"Then don't say it." Remus said.
Sirius high-fived him.
"I fear Miss Evans' has been taken over by a Corconoro!" Xeno said.
They looked at him as if he was speaking jibberish, then looked back at each other. Remus was the first to speak up, clearing his throat.
"A what?" He asked.
"Have I not told you before?" Xeno asked, dreamily.
"I believe you have," Remus said. "You even said at one point that a letter from Sirius' mother was a... Corconoro, is it? But I've never heard of the creature."
"Me neither," James said.
"Me too," Sirius continued.
"Me three," Peter said.
Xeno didn't look surprised, instead he looked even dreamier, as if someone had slipped him something in his drink. "It's not so unusual," He said. "Many people don't realise it's existence until it nestles in ones mind and alters it. I believe he-who-must-not-be-named is using them to infiltrate the ministry."
"Bullshit," Sirius said, leaning back.
"Just because you don't see something," Xeno said. "It doesn't mean that it's not real. Does love exist?"
"I don't know anymore," Sirius said absentmindedly as his brother Regulus walked past with Malfoy and MacNair.
"Yes," James said answering Xeno's question. "It does."
"Yet, you can't actually see it," Xeno said. "It's not tangible. It's like an infection or..." He frowned trying to think of a better word. "A very powerful imperius curse. There but not there. Do you understand?"
James shook his head sadly. "Xeno, I will never understand you,"
Xeno didn't look offended. He was staring out the window, distracted by one of the clouds. The door slid open and Frank Longbottom stood there looking pissed off. He moved James' feet before sitting next to Sirius.
"Something up?" James asked, after a few seconds.
"Yes!" Frank said angrily. "My bloody mother,"
"Been there," Sirius said.
"She wants me to be an auror," He said. "An auror! Over the entire holidays it was nothing but leaflets about getting a job within the Ministry! She is convinced of it! Then just as I boarded she let out the announcement that McGonagall will be fixing my subjects to the appropriate ones to become an auror!"
"Man, that's harsh," Sirius said. "What subjects were you wanting to take to begin with?"
Frank seemed comforted by this. "Ancient Runes and Divination,"
"Aren't those good enough subjects?" James asked.
"Not according to mother," Frank said bitterly. "She wanted me to take that bloody Arithmancy! Do you know what Arithmancy is? It's numbers! Numbers over and over and over, in complicated charts that make zero sense!"
"If it makes you feel any better," Sirius said. "Remus' parents are making him take Muggle Studies."
Frank looked over at Remus who gave a nod. He let out a grin. "Yikes, sorry man,"
Remus laughed. "Thanks,"
Frank seemed to relax after that. He got up. "I think I'm going to go find Alice."
"Ooh," Chorused James, Peter and Sirius. Xeno and Remus did not join in.
Frank blushed angrily. "Not like that!" He said, but it sounded as if he didn't mean it. He got up and opened the compartment door, leaving them again.
"Did he just come in to let out a rant?" Xeno asked. "Seems very rude of him. He didn't even ask how your holidays were..."
Xeno's blunt honesty made them uncomfortable. James cleared his throat. "So, Hogsmede!"
"Hell yeah!" Sirius said leaning forward getting excited. "It's going to be fan-fucking-tastic!"
"Sirius!" Xeno cried.
"Sorry. Fan-bloody-tastic." He corrected. "Honeydukes, Zonko's, Three Broomsticks!"
"Hogs Head," James said. "Merlins' Grove... Falcon's cafe... Man almighty, it's gonna be awesome!"
"Merlins' Grove?" Xeno asked. "I have never heard of it."
"No, well it's sort of like the sister shop of Devish and Bangs," Sirius said. "But rumoured to be a hundred times better."
"They're losing a lot of money," Remus said. "After the stores main creative thinkers disappeared last winter."
"Trust you to put a downer on the subject," Sirius said. "And we'll explore the grounds and shit," He said excitedly.
"Yep!" James said just as excited.
"Bunch of Marauders," Xeno said under his breath.
"Too right!" Sirius said. "And proud of it!"
A/N I feel bad for not updating sooner. Sorry. I think you're gonna like third year, Xeno, Frank, Alice and a few new people are going to come to play (I LOVE WRITING XENO! He is so much fun and reminds me a lot of one of my friends.) Oh and Slugston – check your Private Messages.