The Infamous Marauders

Chapter Ten

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured in this story they belong to the wonderful J. K. Rowling.

Late October 1976

When Lily was young her knowledge of magic came from fairy tales and books read to her by her parents, that was until she met Severus, a quiet and odd-looking boy with pale skin and dark hair. Lily had noticed the lonely and sad looking boy many times when she was playing with her sister Petunia and had approached him to make friends, their friendship grew for a couple of years before Lily had a burst of accidental magic around him. She could still remember his happiness upon finding out she was a witch it was then that he told her all about magic and Hogwarts. Her friendship with Severus was so simple then and they had believed nothing would split them apart, Severus had told her about the Hogwarts houses, Quidditch and spells, knowledge he had gained from his mother's stories about attending school. Flying had sounded amazing to Lily and when she had found out it was on brooms like the witches in her stories she couldn't wait to try. The two friends would sneak out in first year to the broom shed and take school brooms to the far side of the lake near the Forbidden Forest and he would teach her to fly, they were still young and such good friends however the years since then, and house rivalries had pushed a significant wedge between them.

Lily was flying high above the trees on Saturday morning the sun rising slowly in the distance, she never flew anymore it seemed lonely without Severus he always listened and understood when she talked about Petunia he had been there when her sister would lash out at her and shame her for her magical abilities. It wasn't like when they were children though was it? The increasing terror engulfing the wizarding world ensured that.

One person she could talk to though was Remus, although he had been rather busy this week and she had only seen him during their prefect rounds together, she was sure she had spotted Sirius in the library the other day which only heightened her suspicions, the four boys were planning something. The marauders were far from her mind though as she flew that morning, flying would bring her so much joy but now it only reminded her of the changes in her life, Petunia had abandoned her finally cutting her remaining ties and Severus was always with those cruel Slytherins. Why had she even come out here she questioned, that urge to fly had been so strong when she woke up feeling suffocated in the castle but now up in the air she felt lost. All this hatred was so pointless why couldn't things be simple as they had been frustrated she quickly dove towards the ground, flipping at the last second and pulling up before she crashed. The exhilaration she should feel from such a daring move was non-existent, this wasn't helping and she really ought to get back before her friends woke up her decision made she headed back towards the broom shed to replace the tattered school broom.

James stood gobsmacked, who the hell was that?! He began to panic he knew that was not one of his Gryffindor players was it someone on another team, if that was the competition he was in for trouble he had never witnessed someone pull of a dive that risky, well at least not someone who wasn't a professional Quidditch player. He watched as the mysterious student flew off over the lake, squinting his eyes against the rising sun trying to figure out who it was, his plans for a fly far from his mind he quickly ran back to the castle.

Sirius was jolted awake by a pale faced James shaking him rather violently "Padfoot wake up, PADFOOT COME ON!"

"I'm awake stop shouting" he croaked out looking across the room he could see Remus poking his head out between his curtains his eyes looked foggy with sleep he quirked an eyebrow up questioningly and Sirius shook his head confused at what was happening.

"Padfoot, the dive, Merlin the dive, we can't beat that, what are we going to do?"

Sirius was confused to say the least "What dive?"

"The person on the broom!" James answered shrilly.

"Moony I'm afraid James has finally lost it" Remus chuckled at Sirius' comment.

"Listen to me, I went out this morning to fly I saw another team's seeker practicing, their dive is another level I've never seen a student feint like that, I have no idea who it was, our seeker cannot match that we need to do something NOW!"

Remus emerged from the bathroom dressed and Sirius caught his eye "Oh no you don't Moony, don't leave me with him"

"You are on the Quidditch team Padfoot I'm sorry I can't help I'm afraid" Remus' laugh could be heard as he made a quick getaway out of the door with Peter.

James was looking at Sirius expectantly "Right then Prongs it looks like we have tactics to discuss"

Many hours later Remus deemed it safe for him and Peter to return to the dormitory the two marauders spent the day writing a list of food and drinks they would need for the party, which Peter happily helped Remus create. The previous week they had trawled through massive tomes from the library perfecting their charm and transfiguration work for the night of the haunted house and now only a few days before Halloween they only needed to organise the smaller details.

Sunday was the night of the full moon so Remus fortunately had time to rest for a couple of days before the big night his lycanthropy caused him to have physical and magical exhaustion, although Madame Pomfrey's potions worked wonders he was still left unable to perform up to his usual standards as the transformation left Remus sore and sluggish.

"Finally, you have returned to save me" Sirius proclaimed dramatically throwing himself into Remus' arms, Remus attempted to shrug Sirius off but Sirius only clung tighter "You don't understand the horror of being trapped with him all day come my saviour take me away" Sirius playfully grabbed Remus' hand pulling him out of the dormitory, James and Peter laughed wildly at Sirius' display.

Sirius didn't realise he was still holding Remus' hand until he had dragged him through the common room and out into the corridor and he probably wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't for Remus clearing his throat. "Sorry" Sirius grinned "Right let's go" Sirius then continued to walk away.

Remus quickly caught up "And where may I ask are we going?"

"To the kitchens I deserve a treat for putting up with James' dramatics today"

"He's not so bad you know he just wants to make everybody proud"

"I know but the team has been performing brilliantly in practice, he's worrying for nothing it will be fine, no seeker is going to be able to dodge bludgers sent from Gryffindor beaters" Sirius smirked, earning a chuckle from Remus.

Remus was glad Sirius wanted him to go with him after he had been secretive about the potions work Remus had begun to doubt their friendship slightly, with Quidditch practice, prefect rounds and the extra homework piled on since they had begun their NEWTs it seemed like he and Sirius never spent much time together anymore. Remus knew he was overthinking yet sometimes he couldn't stop his brain from its doubts.

Once they had arrived at the kitchens Sirius' face grew serious "So how are you feeling for the moon?"

"Oh, fine, it should be all right"

"Moony?"

"Well I have been feeling a bit stressed this week, the wolf seems anxious and I'm worried how it will be"

"Something on your mind?" Sirius pushed.

"No, nothing I think with NEWTs and all the planning I've just been overworking myself"

"Well for one thing NEWTs aren't till next year, the haunted house is going to be amazing and you don't need to worry us three will be there with you, so sit down you handsome wolf and enjoy some chocolate cake" Sirius winked at the end.

Remus smiled widely, before adding "The exams may be next year but we still have assignments"

"MOONY STOP!" Sirius playfully complained.