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Chapter 33:

James led the marauders into the Slytherin common room. Snape was shivering in fear, "Wormtail, quit it." Mulciber whispered.

"Oi, look it's the first years," one of the Lestrange brothers called, "come sit with us."

"Alright, Lestrange," Macnair replied as he sat opposite the older more intimidating boy. Harry noticed that Bellatrix, who was sat on Lestrange's lap was watching Macnair closely. Her eyes were dark and suspicious.

Her eyes were diverted briefly to Snape, "Snape, you've got to stop hanging out with that mudblood. You're giving Slytherin a bad name."

"Erm…" Snape shivered slightly.

"Ah, come on Bella. Give the boy a break. It doesn't matter right now. In fact it might even help the cause for a while. If we're nice to a few mudbloods it will keep Dumbledore off our backs. I certainly don't want him snooping around too closely." Lestrange smiled at the girl in his lap.

"But Rodolphus!" Bella began.

He leant down to kiss her neck, "I know. She'll get what she deserves soon enough." He winked at her, "They all will… those magic stealing mudbloods."

Bellatrix nodded, her eyes lighting up as she pictured Lily Evans under her cruciatus curse. Harry felt sick seeing that look in her eyes. He gulped and was incredibly grateful that Mrs Weasley had killed the horrible bitch in the final battle.

"Any way… there was something I wanted to ask you guys. You know those pesky Gryffindors, Potter and his friends. I think their up to something. I want you to work out what it is."

Macnair smiled, "I think they're just doing everything they can think of to annoy that Evans girl and Severus." He laughed.

"Nah, their up to something else," Bella added, "They are too quiet. They haven't duelled anyone in ages and they haven't been pranking. Something is going on."

Avery smiled, "we'll look into it but I think Macnair's right. I think Potter fancies the Evans girl."

"I guess, that could be it…" Bella said quietly.

"Have you spoken to your parents about coming to my house over Easter?" Lestrange asked.

"We sent out owls, just waiting for their replies." Mulciber said.

"Good." Lestrange said lowering his voice, "My father told me that Voldemort himself will be there."

"Wow," Snape whistled.

"Right you are Snape," Bella laughed, before turning to Lestrange, "I'm going to go to bed." She kissed his cheek before standing up.

"Night, Bells," Lestrange smiled, once Bellatrix had left the room he turned back to the first years in front of him. "We're going to war, guys. You'll have to pick a side soon. The Dark Lord isn't going to be in the shadows for long."

"What's it really like?" Avery asked.

"I got my mark over Christmas. It still itches. Bella's getting her's over Easter. Malfoy wants his too." Lestrange smiled, "It's exciting. I get to use unforgivable curses. That's one of the things you'll learn over Easter at my house, if you're not too chicken!"

The boys didn't know what to say, but Lestrange didn't notice, "I'm going to ask Bella to marry me."

"That's cool!" Avery smiled encouragingly.

"I really like her. She's awesome. The way she's managed to get all the seventh and sixth years to join the Dark Lord."

"She's pretty persuasive," Macnair nodded.

Time was really getting the better of them. Macnair looked at his watch. Ten minutes. Their hour was almost up.

"Right, I'm off to bed. See you tomorrow," Lestrange stood up and made to leave the room, "Deciding to marry Bella was the easiest choice I ever made, besides becoming a death eater that is."

Once Lestrange left the room, Avery stood, "we need to go! The potion will be running out."

The marauders rushed into the common room. Their noses were changing shape and their hair was changing colour. James looked around the dark room towards the fire. It had died down quite a bit. James could see someone asleep on the sofa; he saw a hint of red. The boys started making their way up to the dormitory, "I'll catch up with you guys in a minute."

James walked over to the sleeping girl. Her eyes were closed and her lips were slightly parted. James brushed her hair out of her eyes, She has beautiful hair, James thought to himself, get a grip James! It's Evans. She hates you… You hate her. He transfigured a blanket, shaking off his thoughts. He covered her with the red and gold blanket before walking up the stairs to his dormitory. Harry sat in a chair in the corner, watching his mother sleep. She was so peaceful.

Several weeks past. It was the 12th of February and James had written to his dad to tell him what they had learnt in the Slytherin common room. He told him about Lestrange's plans for Easter and the mark that he had spoken about and the group that he called the deatheaters. His dad had written a short reply; not explaining any of it. James had so many questions and no one except his fellow marauders to answer them, except the marauders knew no more than he did.

"What do you reckon the mark is?" James asked his friends at the back of their herbology lesson.

"James, we don't know!" Sirius was getting bored.

"We'll have to go out again," James frowned, "we need more information."

"I don't really see why we do." Remus begun, "We found out where Voldemort is over Easter and we found out that all the seventh and sixth year Slytherins have joined them. I think that's more than what your dad asked of us."

James grimaced, "I don't care. We have to do more. They were threatening Ev- the muggleborns."

James was sat alone in the library – he was avoiding Peter; he'd never find him in the library – Sirius was off snogging Lisa and Remus had gone home because his mum was sick again. James was quite worried for Remus' mum; she was ill so often. James finished up his homework before walking out of the library and back up to the common room. On his way, he passed a door. It stood ajar. He could hear voices on the other side, "I just think it's such a shame." James continued walking paying Professor Flitwick's voice, "Lupin is such a sweet boy."

James stopped at the sound of his friend's name, "I know. Such a shame. He's so clever too and brave. To have been bitten so young too." McGonagall replied.

"I'm glad Dumbledore let him in," Flitwick added.

"The parents wouldn't be happy if they knew. Not happy at all. I can hear it now: What do you mean there's a werewolf in the first year!" McGonagall said coldly.

James gasped. Oh fuck! Remus is a werewolf! James thoughts were loud in his head, so loud that he couldn't believe the teachers in the next room couldn't hear them. Fuck! Remus is such a good guy too. James began to think of the months of friendship they had had.

"His life is never going to be easy," McGonagall continued, "He'll never be accepted."

I'll accept him, James thought as he walked back to the common room. He decided that he wouldn't tell the other boys. He'd much rather Remus told them or they worked it out themselves. He'd keep his friend's secret.

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Next couple of chapter...

A little surprise...

and a little bit of couple time, it is February after all...