Disclaimer: Wouldn't it be funny if I really was J.K. Rowling writing under a penname. Alas, I am not. Or am I?

Chapter Four: The First Week

James woke up the next morning, feeling bright and refreshed. He grinned and pulled his Gryffindor robes on.

"Coming, mate?" he called to Sirius's four-poster.

Sirius pulled back his curtains, grimacing. James blinked twice, but he couldn't mistake the Slytherin robes that Sirius was wearing.

"They changed overnight," Sirius said, miserably, reading James's mind, "D'you have a pair that I can borrow?"

"Sure," James said, perplexed. He tossed Sirius a spare set, an watched in shock as Sirius slipped them on, and the red turned to green.

The two finally gave up and went on their daily adventure to try and trace their steps back to the Great Hall.

There were 142 staircases at Hogwarts. Some turned into a slide if you stepped on them wrong. Other's only moved if you spoke in Latin. Once the stairs actually landed, it was a hassle to try and get through the hundreds of corridors. More than once James wondered if the school was changing its layout.

They finally burst into the Great Hall an hour later, panting. They sat down and loaded their plates with food, eating hungrily. It seemed generations ago that they had sat down at the small bonfire.

Professor McGonagall was walking down the aisle, handing out schedules. She stopped, at the sight of Sirius, looking quite irritated.

"Mr. Black! I realize that you may very well want to be in Slytherin with the rest of your family. However, for whatever reason, you have been placed in Gryffindor. As such, you are expected to wear the Gryffindor uniform. Is that understood?"

For the first time since James met him, Sirius looked livid. His eyes blazed with anger and his teeth clenched. He stood up, and for a moment, he seemed as tall as Professor McGonagall.

"Professor, I'm certainly sorry that I'm wearing these blasted robes. As it so happens, my robes were jinxed to look like this; no doubt, an act from my wrathful family. Speaking of my family, had I been sorted into Slytherin, I would've gotten up and walked right out the door. Because, despite your clear prejudice judgments, I resent the fact that I share my name with a bunch of cold-blooded, Dark-Arts loving, pure-blooded, maniac, bastards!"

He whirled around and stomped away, leaving Professor McGonagall in shock. James hastily swallowed his eggs, grabbed his schedule, and raced after Sirius.

Unfortunately, the first class they had was Transfiguration. They sat down in the back, avoiding Professor McGonagall's gaze. James couldn't help but to notice, however, that Sirius's robes were changed back to normal.

He tried to cheer Sirius up by pointing to Severus Snape, who had his hooked-nose in a book.

"The grease marks on his nose will soak right through the cover," he chortled.

Sirius grinned, "He can use the rags that he wears to wipe them off!"

Professor McGonagall, sensing trouble, looked up, just as the bell rang.

Laughing, James and Sirius grabbed their bags and left. The class poured out into the Transfiguration Courtyard.

"If you want to see tattered robes, I suggest that you look at Remus Lupin," Snape sneered, loudly, "The only thing that's worse that his robes is his face. It looks like someone took a rake to it!"

Lupin pushed past James, blinking very quickly.

Furious, Sirius and James whipped around and shoved Snape up to a pillar.

Peter, who was standing next to them, squeaked and dove behind a bush.

The movement made Lupin stop, "What are you doing?" he cried, horrified, as James and Sirius took out their wands. He raced over, trying to wrestle the wands away.

"Shove off Lupin," Sirius grunted, "We're trying to protect your honor!"

"What honor could scum like that possibly have?" Snape said.

Lupin looked up, his eyes blazing. For a moment he looked as though he wanted to take out his own wand.

"Stop it!" a voice cried out, "Stop it, right now!"

Professor McGonagall was racing over, looking furious. James, Sirius, and Lupin stepped back, their wands still raised.

"Put those away at once!" Professor McGonagall snapped, "Black, Potter, Lupin, follow me to my office, now!"

"No!" James and Sirius said quickly. When Professor McGonagall looked as though she was about to explode, James continued hastily, "Not Lupin. He was trying to break us apart."

Professor McGonagall stared at them for a moment before nodding. Sighing, the two followed her back into the classroom.

"I would have never believed it," she breathed, "Two Gryffindors, fighting on the first day of school. For your actions, five points will be taken away from your house!"

James groaned and Sirius swore under his breath.

Professor McGonagall's eyes turned to slits, "Be thankful it's not more. Also, you will both receive detention."

James and Sirius shrugged light-heartedly at this. Professor McGonagall dismissed them. Sighing, the two left. As soon as they got outside, they saw Lupin, waiting for them.

"What happened?" Lupin asked, concerned.

"Detention!" James said pleasantly.

"First day of school, that must be a new record!" Sirius grinned.

The two high-fived.

Lupin shook his head, "I'm going in there to straighten things out."

"Forget it," James said, firmly, "Besides, Snape deserved it. He shouldn't have been insulting you."

"Well, it's not exactly private," Lupin muttered, "Snape's right. I am just a piece of scum with raggedy robes and horrifying scars."

With a sickening noise, James slapped him, rather harshly.

"What was that for?" Lupin roared.

"For being a bloody idiot," James said, "What d'you think you're playing at, listening to a git like that? You got sorted into Gryffindor, didn't you? He's a Slytherin! What does he know?"

"Besides, we would've probably gotten detention anyway," Sirius grinned. He clapped Lupin on the shoulder, "C'mon, I'm hungry."

Lupin gave them an appreciative smile and the three set off across the Transfiguration Courtyard. Yet, once again, they were met by Professor McGonagall.

"Mr. Lupin, I could not help but to overhear your conversation. Is what they said true?" she asked, peering down at them, "Mr. Snape was provoking you?"

Lupin swallowed, before admitting, "Yes, Professor."

Professor McGonagall was thinking hard, "Very well, Misters Potter, Black. I will reward your five points back. However, fighting is not tolerated, no matter what the reason is. You will still receive detention."

James's heart rose slightly. They thanked Professor McGonagall and made their way to the Great Hall.

They had just finished their roasted sandwiches when a Prefect came over, bearing a note for him and Sirius,

Kindly report to my office at 9:00 tonight. You will be spending your detention doing lines.

Professor McGonagall

It was much better than he had expected. Later that night, he and Sirius trudged back to Professor McGonagall's office. Their detention only lasted an hour, yet it was still enough to leave James and Sirius exhausted.

They were walking back up to the Common Room when they heard a voice hiss from the shadows.

"Well, well, my itty, bitty, baby cousin."

Their hair standing on end, James and Sirius looked around.

A seventh-year came out from behind a gargoyle. She had a sleek perm, blazing black eyes, and a sinister smirk. She didn't have any real distinguishing features, but there was something about her that made James shiver, as though her entire presence created an air of Dark Magic and evil.

"Bellatrix," Sirius said, swallowing but holding his ground.

"Detention," Bellatrix whispered, "First you have the audacity to get sorted into Gryffindor. And then, on the first day of school, you get detention. Tsk, tsk, I always knew you were a naughty little brute!"

The back of her hand slapped Sirius's cheek before he could even react. He stumbled backwards, rubbing the gashes.

"I've sent a letter. You just wait until she hears about this!" Bellatrix hissed before swiftly racing away.

"Who is 'she'?" James asked, concerned.

Sirius looked rather pale as he said, "My mum."

They found out just exactly what Sirius's mother thought, the following Friday. Exhausted from the week's classes, James hardly noticed when a school owl dropped a letter into his lap. It was from Hagrid, inviting him to tea that afternoon.

"Sirius, do you want to come down to Hagrid's?" James asked, before seeing that Sirius was very distracted.

He had also received mail, from a large eagle-owl, who bit him before flying away. The envelope was black and formal. It had the Black Family crest where a stamp should be. Sirius was staring at it with horror.

"What is it?" James asked, curious.

"Nothing," Sirius said, monotonic, "It's nothing."

"O…open it," Peter stuttered.

Sirius hesitated, then, against his best judgment, complied.

A shrill voice filled the Great Hall:

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK! HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU DEBASE THE BLACK FAMILY NAME…! HOW DARE YOU GET SORTED INTO THAT DAMNED HOUSE, FILLED WITH MUDBLOODS AND BLOOD-TRAITORS ALIKE…! YOU HAVE BROUGHT DISGRACE ON YOUR ENTIRE HERITAGE! I WARNED YOU…! MARK MY WORDS, BOY, IF YOU SO MUCH AS FRATERNIZE WITH ONE OF THOSE WRETCHES, YOU WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE THAT COMMON ROOM!"

No one spoke.

Finally, Peter whispered, "She sounds lovely."

All of a sudden, the envelope exploded into an amount of charcoal-black slime. It covered Sirius, who staggered back, yelling.

"Sirius!" James jumped up, horrified. But Sirius wouldn't look at him. Stumbling, he ran out of the Great Hall.

James, Lupin, and Peter had Flying next. Flying was, by far, James's favorite course. In his opinion, he was the best flyer in the class, and couldn't resist showing off. However, he barely did several loops, before becoming distracted by Sirius.

James flew over to Lupin, who was holding onto his broom very tightly.

"Was that a Howler?" James whispered.

"H…howlers are r…red aren't they?" Peter asked, flying over. He was hanging in a sloth-position on his broom, looking as though he was going to fall off any moment.

"What do you reckon that slime was?" Lupin inquired. The others shrugged.

James opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Peter slipped off of his broom. He landed with a thud, and for a second, he sat, looked stunned. Then, great tears flowed out of his eyes.

Determining that Peter was scared more than he was hurt, the others decided to at least escort him to a bathroom to wash up.

As soon as they opened the bathroom door, however, their grins faded into a horrorstruck expression.

"Sirius?" James whispered, shocked.

Sirius was lying by the sinks. He was convulsing, his eyes wide-open. Yet, the worst part was his skin. His face, arms, and legs were covered with an encrusted, solid, black, substance.

"SIRIUS!" James yelled, panicked. He ran over to his friend.

"Don't touch his skin!" Lupin ordered, but it was too late. James's hand brushed against Sirius's. James jumped back, yelling in pain. He watched in horror as his entire hand blistered.

Kneeling down, stricken with worry, James carefully grabbed Sirius's shoulders, holding him down.

A soft noise was coming out of Sirius's mouth, which was foaming.

"Listen!" James cried, frantically, "He's trying to say something!"

"No," Lupin said, slowly, "He's screaming!"

"Do something!" James ordered, his eyes filled with tears, "Get help!"

Lupin nodded and ran away.

"Sirius?" James cried, "Sirius!"

Abruptly, Sirius's shaking stopped. He lay quite still. His chest fell, and didn't rise again. James felt his own stomach turn to ice.

"Sirius? Sirius can you hear me? No!" James roared, shaking Sirius violently, "No Sirius, you can't be dead! Wake up! Wake up, Sirius!"

Peter was sobbing, "He's dead! He's dead! Oh, where's Lupin?"

"We can't afford to wait!" James cried, "Help me!"

He carefully propped Sirius up. Peter, however, didn't move.

"Help me!" James roared.

"He…he thinks we're just Mudblood-loving scum," Peter whispered, darkly, "You h…heard his mother."

James realized what Peter was getting at. For a moment, a sickening, dark feeling welled up inside James's stomach. If Peter was right, and Sirius did truly feel that way, would he return the favor if the roles had been reversed? Would he be upset? Would he try to save their lives?

For a moment, James didn't speak. Then, he looked up and met Peter's gaze.

"Help me."

Peter hesitated then obeyed. He went on Sirius's other side, putting his limp arm around Peter's neck.

The two couldn't ignore the blisters appearing on their own skin, as Sirius's skin brushed against theirs. Grimacing in pain, and bending under Sirius's weight, they dragged him out into the corridor.

Lupin, meanwhile, had burst into the Great Hall, where lunch had commenced. Forgetting his shyness, forgetting his modesty, he ran up the aisle, shouting. He didn't hush until he was right in front of Professor Dumbledore.

Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Madame Pomfrey jumped up, upon hearing Lupin's tearful story. They quickly followed him out to the Entrance Hall, where an adrenaline-rushed James and Peter had managed to pull Sirius.

Professor McGonagall bent down, trying to pry James from Sirius.

"No!" James cried, beyond himself, "Sirius! Sirius!"

"Potter, calm down!" Professor McGonagall gasped.

James turned onto her, angrily, "He tried to warn you about his robes, but all you did was judge him! Now he's as good as dead!"

Professor McGonagall turned white.

Dumbledore was bending over Sirius, muttering intensely. A silver glow spread around Sirius's lifeless body. It swirled around him, slowly changing his skin back to normal. Then, with a shuddering breath, Sirius's eyes flew open.

Coughing violently, he sat up, looking around.

"Bloody hell, if this is the afterlife, it sure reeks."

"Sirius!" James cried. He picked his friend up and hugged him tightly. The hug was joined by Lupin and Peter.

Dumbledore straightened up, "Sirius, do you remember the dispatcher of the letter that you received?"

Sirius's silver eyes met Dumbledore's blue ones.

"I don't know sir," Sirius mumbled, "I can't remember a thing."

James opened his mouth angrily, but Sirius gave him a well-aimed kick.

Dumbledore was surveying them closely. At last, he nodded, "Very well."

"Why'd you stop me from telling Dumbledore what had happened?" James asked, yet again.

Several hours had passed since the incident. Deeming Sirius well enough to leave the Hospital Wing, the four had trudged down to Hagrid's, where they were now sipping on some strong tea. Sirius set his mug on the table, thinking.

"Because I don't want him to know that it was my parents."

Lupin gave a start, "Aha, so you do remember, then?"

Sirius looked furious with himself, "Yeah. But as far as Professor Dumbledore's concerned, I don't. He doesn't need to know."

With a disturbing, crunching noise, Hagrid put his giant hand on Sirius's shoulder.

"Don' yeh worry, Sirius. Jus' go an' tell Dumbledore. He'll protect yeh."

"I'm not afraid," Sirius insisted, "Believe me, they won't try anything again. I just…I just can't tell Dumbledore."

James was staring down at Sirius with disbelief, "You're protecting them!"

Sirius looked away, but didn't deny it.

Baffled, Lupin whispered, "Why?"

"Because," Sirius said quietly, "They're my family. They're all I've got."

James drained his teacup, and told Sirius, "You've got us."

That day changed the Marauders forever. James realized that it took a great deal of bravery and friendship to save someone who's parents clearly loathed James and his way of living. Yet, James soon realized that it was Sirius's denial of his parents' beliefs that caused him to get harmed in the first place. Nevertheless, the act brought the four Gryffindors together, into a strong bond of friendship.