I want to apologise profusely to my subscribers who have been with me from the very start about leaving this for so long! But if you will, my computer did decide to have a teenage hormonal strop with me and wouldn't co-operate. Added on top of that was the sheer amount of work I have been getting from college (I guess that is to be expected, now studying at university level) this is the first chance I've actually had time with myself to write the thing that I love most in this whole wide universe – The Marauders. DON'T WORRY! I have continued writing, my muse is certainly NOT gone! I will continue this until I'm in the grave or very possible beyond that. I want to share my version of their tale with you awesome socks peoples! Enjoy and please don't leave without giving a review, it means the world to me.

The Christmas holidays seemed to pass in a flurry, so much so that James, Sirius, Peter and Remus had little time to register that they were now cascading towards their fifth year at Hogwarts. It struck them one day as they were eating lunch in the Great Hall about how far they had come. James asked for his friends not to dwell on it, particularly Remus. He merely smiled and told his three friends that though their meeting on the train seemed a lifetime ago, they still had a lifetime left.

Sirius of course was in no great mood over the holidays. His brother, Regulus, had asked him to join him at home. To which Sirius replied with a string of swear words, cussing and hexes just as McGonagall walked past, earning him a week of detention when the new term started. Sirius shrugged. "It's worth it," He told James over their game of Wizard Chess in the Gryffindor common room. "Just to show mother what I really think of her. Bishop to e5."

"Checkmate," James said. "Padfoot, old friend. I have never met your mother. How can you say she is all that bad?"

"I'm not inviting you to mine if that's what you think, Prongs." Sirius said. "Your family may be well respected among the wizarding community, but your bloody well not respected by my mother."

James peered over the top of his glasses and ruffled his hair slightly. "Excited about the Quidditch Season coming up?"

Sirius grinned. "Oh am I going to slaughter Slytherin."

"Well as long as I'm not cleaning up the mess afterwards," said a voice. Sirius turned to see Remus standing at the table. His face worn and tired but flushed from the afternoon snow.

"Hey!" James got up. "When'd you get back?"

"Just now," Remus said as James gave him a hug.

"You look bloody awful," Sirius said standing up and embracing Remus like a brother.

"Thank you," Remus said, sitting down at the table. "I came back earlier than meant to,"

"I know," Sirius said. "Why?"

Remus shrugged. "I like it here. Not mention, all the books,"

"Did you miss them?" James teased.

"Ha ha," Remus said. "Yes I did but that's not the point." He took off his scarf and cloak and draped it on the back of his chair to be warmed by the fire that was blazing away keeping the few Gryffindor's toasty hot away from the cold outside. "Where's Peter?"

"He'll be here in a few days," James said repairing the chess set and turning it towards Remus. "His brothers are back from Russia after working with Goblin curse breakers. Bloody cool if you ask me."

"No one did ask you," Sirius said.

James grinned. "Game?" He asked Remus.

Remus looked down at the chest board and sighed. "Not right now," He said. "Maybe later."

"Alright, Padfoot?" James asked.

"Ha! No!" Sirius said, leaning back and putting his feet on the table. "Not after you've beaten me for the last three times."

James pouted. "Mm."

Remus sighed and leaned forward, exposing a little bit of his chest and neck under his shirt and sweater vest. James stood up suddenly and pulled Remus forward.

"HEY –What-"

"Oh bloody hell," James said. "What happened to you Remus?"

Remus pulled away, covering the thick long scars that clearly covered his entire torso and half his neck but well hidden beneath his clothes.

"Nothing," He said.

"Remus!" James said.

"Stop it," Remus said. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Yeah okay, but-"

"James!" Remus said sharply.

James fell back to his seat. Sirius was staring intensely. His grey eyes piercing the scene in front of him, Remus sat down, flushing furiously and starting a new game. He was shaking so badly that he clenched his hands into fists so tightly that his nails cut into the palms of his hands.

James sighed. "We were talking about Quidditch," He said.

Sirius looked up. "Yeah we were," He said.

…

Ravenclaw were in the lead in the Quidditch league. Slytherin was just behind them, and Gryffindor was third. Clara pointed out that if they beat Slytherin first and then focused on Ravenclaw they would have a better chance of winning. Ravenclaw played smart. Very smart. The keepers in the team kept themselves playing low, meaning that the Quaffle more often than not ended up on the ground, leaving the field open for the beaters and seeker to actively seek the snitch as a team and win the game. Ravenclaw's didn't care about the points scored by the other team as long as it was below 150. They celebrated of course when they did score, but it wasn't a massive disappointment when they didn't. The captain of the Ravenclaw team chose his teammates carefully making sure they were nimble enough to glide easily between other players but strong enough to hold onto a broom and not get hit by another player during the game.

Clara had devised the strategy by herself during the holidays which she presented to the team. The main attack was of course the seeker. She left what she would be doing out. During the game Gryffindor won by just ten points. Ravenclaw disappointed but focusing more on their studies and creativity to care. So the match against Slytherin was due to come.

Sirius was happy and distraught about it at the same time. He would be back playing his favourite sport soon but he had to face his brother, whom he did not do so for several weeks and he knew their relationship was testy at best. Though Regulus was a seeker and had no direct contact with Sirius, the beaters of the team had decided to take personal vengeance on the older of the brothers. Clara reckoned it had to do with the fact that with Sirius out of the way as Keeper, they would be able to score more goals because no chance would they be able to catch the snitch by themselves. Sirius and James thought otherwise. Sirius believed that Regulus had almost "hired" the two beaters to act as thugs and purposely try to hurt members of the team, specifically the Marauders (as they called themselves) Remus of course snorted at this idea, snubbing it as ridiculous until Regulus almost set the thugs on him when he took his walk to astronomy class on Wednesday nights.

The Slytherin match was brutal, and harsh taking place in late January. The weather was tough, as the Scottish snow got heavier before eventually clearing up in late February. Visibility was clear and the last thing Sirius remembered was a bludger heading straight for his head.

He woke droopy eyed and holding his temple, someone was pushing him back onto the warm bed that he found himself on. He realised quite suddenly that he was soaked from head to toe and still in his Quidditch robes. He looked up and saw what seemed to be the entire Quidditch Team including James, surrounding his bed along with Remus and Peter. They too were covered head to toe in mud and rain.

"You alright Padfoot old chum?" James asked, sitting next to him.

"Don't sit up," Clara ordered.

"Okay, I won't sit up." Sirius said. "What happened?"

"Christ, you don't have amnesia do you?" James asked. "Okay, well, I'm James Potter, this here is Peter Pettigrew and this here," He motioned at Remus who was unwrapping a bar of chocolate. "Is your boyfriend."

"My what?" Sirius asked.

"His what?" Remus paused and looked at James.

"His what?" Repeated the Gryffindor team.

"Never mind," James said. "It was a joke."

"Wasn't very funny," Clara pointed out.

"Yes, thank you," James said.

"What happened?" Sirius asked. "In the game, James, I don't want my entire life story,"

"Well," Peter said taking the bit of chocolate from Remus and giving it to Sirius. "The beater from the other team couldn't see what was going on, he hit too hard on the bludger and it hit you square in the head. Lucky the ground was soft and he didn't hit that hard. Otherwise it would have broken your neck."

Sirius bit into the chocolate and chewed slowly. "And the match? Did we w-"

"We won," James said with ease. "Relax you little weirdo. We didn't notice you were lying half dead in the mud until Clara caught the snitch like a few minutes later."

"How, I don't know," Remus said lightly, looking over at the team captain, who's face would have turned bright red if it had not been covered in mud. "I don't know how anyone could have found anything in that rain."

"Where's Mary?" Sirius asked.

"You two had a fight this morning," James said. "Don't you remember?"

Sirius looked at him and blinked. His face broke out into a smile. "Of course I remember, I'm not an idiot... What was it about again?"

James stared at his friend. "You thought her friends were being stupid when fussing over their make-up."

"Right," Sirius said. "Yeah, of course." He smiled.

"I'm messing with you," James said calmly. "She's just nipped to the bathroom, she'll be back in a minute."

Sirius let out a sigh of relief. He looked over at Remus. "Bet it feels weird, eh, Moony? Me in the hospital wing and not you?"

Remus looked over and a faint smile played on his lips. "It is a bit weird," He admitted. "But rather you than me,"

"Charming," SIrius said. Remus' smile grew even more.

"Well you gave us a right good fright there mate," Peter said. "We thought you weren't going to make it."

"Oh Pete," James said shaking his head. "Fill him with hope and confidence."

"I'm good with that," Peter nodded. "Just watch." He tapped Sirius on the shoulder. "You were this close to pissing your underwear."

Sirius' face drained. "That's not funny Pete."

"It is," James said. "Because you did."

"You didn't," Remus said calmly shooting a look at the pair of them. "Behave yourselves, there are other patients!"

"Yes! Exactly!" Sirius said.

"Like Sirius' ego," Remus said. Sirius turned to give him a glare and he just smiled even more.

James looked over and grinned as Madame Pomfrey came bustling around the corner. "Why is it," She was muttering. "That everytime I get a new patient it always, always seems to be one of you four."

"Oh, Poppy," James said getting up and letting her pass. She pushed Sirius rather roughly against his pillows whilst glaring at James. He winked. "You love us really,"

Madame Pomfrey just glared at them before going about tending to Sirius. "Why don't you cut your hair? The length is ridiculously long, you don't want people to think that your unkempt."

Sirius opened his mouth to argue but was cut off by Madame Pomfrey sticking a themometer in instead.

"Under the tongue," She ordered.

Sirius obliged and watched as the Prewett twins decided to make comical faces and noises behind Madame Pomfrey's back. Madame Pomfrey was not amused by this and told them immediately to remove themselves from the hospital wing. They of course ignored her and tried to set about the most obvious way to cause trouble. Sirius looked on amused as the twins took the remedies from the table top and began to examine them as if they were professionals in the field.

"Healer Prewett," Gideon said. "This simply won't do."

"I agree, Healer Prewett," Fabian said with equal mocking. "Madame Pomfrey should be ashamed of herself for providing such poor services."

Madame Pomfrey put her hands on her hips and was staring at them quite angrily. Fabain put one of the bottles down.

"Or y'know," He cleared his throat. "Top notch stuff you have here."

"I'll tell you again," Madame Pomfrey said. "Leave."

"Well I don't need to hear it twice," Gideon said.

"Nor do I," Fabian replied.

Sirius, James, Remus and Peter were killing themselves laughing. Well, not Sirius to be exact, him holding his chest wheezing for breath. Madame Pomfrey did not look pleased as she shushed the rest of the Gryffindor Team out of the hospital wing.

"I better go have a shower," James said stretching.

"You should," Remus said, scrunching up his nose. "You stink to high heaven."

"Thanks mate," James said. "And you both smell like wet dog. Peter… I don't know what you smell like anymore."

Peter rolled his eyes. James patted Sirius on the shoulder before leaving for the showers. Mary came darting in, her eyes wild and alive. James almost bumped into her.

"Hey," He said as he moved away.

"Hey," Mary breathed, she looked at Sirius. "You're awake!"

"It appears so." Sirius said.

Mary practically launched herself onto his lips holding him tightly.

"We're going," Remus called over Mary's head. Sirius recognised what his friend said with a quick thumbs up, not even letting Mary's lips go.

Remus rolled his eyes and nodded towards Peter who followed him out of the hospital wing. They walked in silence for a moment before someone came crashing into them.

"SORRY!" Dorceas Meadowes wailed, her books going everywhere. She helped Remus and Peter up and together they collected her books up. "I didn't see you,"

"Going somewhere?" Remus asked kindly.

"Yeah, study group with the Ravenclaws, they're doing tutorials this year for kids who are just not smart."

"I think that is an underestimate of your abilities," Remus said.

"Oh, no trust me, it's an overestimate," Dorceas said. "Where are you guys off to?"

"Common room," Peter said.

"Ah," Dorceas smiled. "Well see you on Monday," She began to move off. "Oh wait, how's Sarah doing?"

Remus blushed, his neck and ears going red. "She's fine," He said.

"Not gone off at her again have you?" Dorceas asked.

"No," Remus replied, his face growing redder.

"Good boy," Dorceas said. "See you later then!" She darted off.

Peter raised an eyebrow. "You and Sarah having troubles?" He asked.

"No," Remus said.

"If you are you can talk to me-"

"I don't want to talk about it," Remus said. "Really, it's fine,"

"Whatever you say man," Peter shrugged.