A new chapter for you all. Really hope you like it! :)

Chapter 48:

Lily was sat on the castle steps with Severus, "I absolutely hate him."

"I know," Snape laughed.

"I really do!"

"I know. You've told me." Snape sighed.

"I… oh I'm sorry. I didn't realise I was boring you," Lily blurted out angrily.

"No. Lils, it's not that. It's just you talk about him an awful lot if he's someone you hate."

"He just annoys me, that's all. Anyway, never mind. Do you want to study together? Maybe quiz each other?"

Snape smiled, "Choose a subject."

"Defence?"

"Sounds good…"

It wasn't just Lily studying in the library as the students found themselves coming into June. Everyone seemed to be in the library or working quietly in the common room. The weather was amazing but most of the students were completely missing out on it. Only the marauders were spending any time outside. James, Sirius and Peter weren't working at all. They played a game of IT, running round happily. James chased after the other two marauders. Remus sat on the ground beneath the marauders' favourite tree. "Remus, get your head out of that textbook and come play with us." James called over to him.

"No can do. I've got to revise. Our exams are coming up. We've only got a bit over a month." Remus replied.

James laid down on the floor next to Lupin, "can you believe the year is almost finished?"

"We're going to be second years soon," Sirius smiled. "There's going to be a whole load of new first year girls to date."

The boys laughed, "yah. Girls!" Peter squeaked.

"We need to come up with some more pranks," Sirius started. James and Peter muttered their agreement.

"Guys, do me a favour. Could you stop pranking people for a while? Just until after the exams?"

"But…" Sirius laughed.

"Please Sirius."

"Yes, Remus. I promise." James shook Remus' hand. "Marauder's promise."

"But James…" Sirius frowned.

"No Sirius."

"This is going to be a really boring month." Sirius muttered before shaking Remus' hand in agreement.

The marauders sat in their classes quietly, trying not to distract the other more stressed students. Just as Sirius predicted June had proven thus far to be really dull. Three weeks into the month Sirius was sat next to James in defence. Professor Kilmont was talking to them about werewolf bites. The boys made notes quietly. James could see Emmie at the front of the classroom with Dorcas. She was flirting slightly with the boy on her other side. James laughed under his breath. "Class, I have some news for you. I won't be returning to Hogwarts next year. I have received a job offer from the ministry as an auror. It's what I trained to do before coming here to teach you." She smiled at her class, "It's been a pleasure being your teacher this last year."

"You've been a swell Professor," Sirius said loudly.

"Thank you very much Mr Black." She smiled slightly.

"Where's Remus?" Sirius asked.

"His mum is ill again," Peter answered.

"I'm beginning to think that his mum is ridiculously sick," Sirius pulled a face, "she must be ill at least once a month."

James accidentally spat out his drink. The three remaining marauders were sat at the Gryffindor table. "I miss Remus."

"Me too," Sirius replied, putting an arm around his best friends shoulder. "Come on man, he'll be back soon."

After dinner, the boys had seconds; they were so hungry. They ended up being the last to leave the Great Hall. They began the walk to the common room, laughing and smiling at some joke Sirius had been telling. They made it down two corridors before they could hear screaming. Sirius and James looked at each other before breaking out into a run; heading towards the sound of the screaming. When they reached the sound of the screaming, they saw a figure crawled up on the floor with four seventh year Slytherins standing around the body.

"Oi," Bellatrix began, "who do you think you are standing up for a mud-blood?" Bellatrix practically screamed before laughing crazily.

The figure on the floor pushed out her arms to pick herself up off the floor, "I- I am a good person unlike you Black." Emmilene Vance stood up as tall as she could, considering the pain she was in. James could see cuts on her face and arms. They'd hurt her. He'd kill them.

"Crucio," screamed Bellatrix loudly.

Emmie collapsed back onto the ground, screaming in agony. The marauders pulled out their wands and aimed them at the four Slytherins; Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Jeremy McDillon and Septimus Alfrid. James cast a protective spell around Emmie before the marauders made their presence known. "Hello cousin, fancy seeing you here," Sirius said loudly.

"Sirius," Bellatrix turned towards him, "what are you doing here?"

"Stopping you from behaving like a complete psychotic bitch," Sirius replied darkly.

"Oh, so brave cousin," she laughed, "crucio!" This time she pointed her wand at her cousin. He was soon writhling in pain and screaming at the top of his lungs.

James didn't waste a heart-beat, he sent a hex towards Lestrange. However, Lestrange blocked it easily. Peter was incredibly terrified. He was firing curses in every direction, hoping that they would hit one of the Slytherins. James disarmed Alfrid and then sent a body binding curse towards Lestrange. He felt a cutting curse hit him as his skin burned. James hexed Bellatrix and ropes appeared at her wrists and ankles binding her. Sirius took a deep breath before getting to his feet and hexing McDillon. James thought they might have a chance but then all of a sudden all four Slytherin seventh years were back on their feet firing curses at the first years. Peter was the first to go down; hit by Lestrange's sectumsepra curse. James and Sirius carried on duelling two Slytherins each. Sirius was hit by McDillon's sponge knees curse.

Suddenly, James realised that he was fighting four 'of age' wizards who with one curse could kill him. Bellatrix began to laugh again, "well Potter… crucio! I really will never get used to causing that much pain," Bellatrix smile haunted Harry. He watched as she tortured his father. He hated the fact that there was absolutely nothing he could do. Bellatrix continued cursing James until Lestrange pulled on her arm, "we've got to go before Dumbledore comes."

The Slytherins ran away back to their dorm. James heard Bellatrix's cackle as she ran through the corridors. He drew out his wand and cast, "Expectro Patronum!" His stag shot out of his wand, "fetch Dumbledore, please." He managed to get out before passing out from the pain.

When James finally woke up, he was lying in the hospital wing. "You must be getting very acquainted with this part of the school," Dumbledore commented.

James breathed in a sigh of relief, "you might be right, sir." He tried to smile but it hurt too much. "Sir, we were just on our way back to the common room after dinner. I promise, we weren't looking for trouble."

"I know James. I know." Dumbledore nodded.

"Dumbledore, what about Emmie? Is she ok?"

"Yes, Miss Vance is just fine. Thanks to you." Dumbledore said getting to his feet. "I once said to you that Hogwarts is my responsibility. Well, thank you for helping me protect my students. I personally am very grateful to you. I think fifty points to yourself, Mr Black and Mr Pettigrew will be awarded to Gryffindor as a token of my appreciation."

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Preview...

The boys are really bored... in the hospital wing... Madam Pomfrey won't let them leave...