Big thank you to bookwurm1612 and littlemisschatterbox98 for their lovely reviews of the last chapter. Keep them coming guys - they really do make my day. :) Anyway here is another chapter for you and I'm working on another one as you read this so you might get another one at some point in the very near future...

Chapter 35:

The marauders sat at the back of classroom 3C for their Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Several slytherins were sat at the table in front of them, including Severus Snape. Professor Bartlet was speaking to the class, "today we are going to be talking about a magical creature that is perhaps one of the most deadly known to wizardkind. The Basilisk, also known as the King of Serpents, is a snake that can reach a gigantic size and lives for hundreds of years. Let's have a little competition; who can tell me anything about the Basilisk?"

Lily's hand flew into the air, "the Basilisk is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad, Professor. It's venom is deadly and it can kill its prey with a single look."

"Very good Miss Evans, ten points. In some ways the Basilisk has become something of a myth. This is because in Basilisk breeding was banned in Medieval times. Herpo the Foul was the first to breed a Basilisk; Herpo was an Ancient Greek dark wizards – one of the earliest known dark wizards for that matter. He is well known for his invention of several curses and he was also the first wizard to partake in the darkest of magics – however you are far too young to learn about that. He had the ability of talking to snakes – being a parselmouth would have helped him greatly in his Basilisk breeding. He was said to be able to control the Basilisk with parseltongue – this is particularly incredible as Basilisks are considered imposible to domesticate; classed as a XXXXX creature by the ministry (a known wizard-killer that cannot be tamed.)"

Professor Bartlet looked at his students who were scribbling notes whilst they listened to him, "Dark wizards throughout time have attempted to breed Basilisks with the worst of intentions. The Basilisk can grow up to fifty feet in length, and is a dark green colour with large yellow eyes. These yellow eyes have the potential to kill but if you look indirectly into its eyes then you will merely be petrified. Can anyone give me a cure for the Basilisk's venom?"

Lily put her hand up but James put his hand up first, "yes Mr Potter?"

"Phoenix tears, sir." James thought about his father's bird that stood in his office. When Charlus Potter first joined the ministry of magic, Dorea had bought him the bird. She had bought an equally beautiful bird for Dumbledore when he had become headmaster of Hogwarts. James had spent hours talking to his father about the beautiful bird, finding out everything he could.

"Ten points Mr Potter," Professor Bartlet smiled at him, "although you would know that. I've heard all about your long conversations with your father when you were young."

James laughed, running a hand through his hair, "Misty was always so fascinating."

"Indeed," the professor agreed. "For the rest of this lesson I want you to research ways in which one can defeat a Basilisk. You will work in pairs. Boy/ Girl please. When you are partnered up we will make our way to the library."

James made his way over towards the Gryffindor girls. Alice and Frank were waiting, holding hands, Mary and Peter were talking quietly, clearly planning on working together, Sirius and Marlene were stood side by side, Kate practically jumped on Remus, "come on Lupin!" Leaving James and Lily frowning slightly. "Er," James began.

"I'm not working with you Potter," Lily laughed. "I'd much rather work with a Slytherin."

Snape walked up to Lily and tapped her on the back, "partners?"

Lily didn't even glance at James before agreeing to work with Snape. James sighed. Apparently he would have to work with one of the Slytherin girls, bloody great! James thought to himself. James hoped that it would be one of the nicer Slytherins but he doubted it. Isla Bullstrode, the Slytherin bitch queen was working with Avery, thank Merlin. She was a horrible pure blood witch with a horrible stuck up attitude that irritated James immensely. James looked around and say Florence stood alone. He began to walk over to her, "Flora, want to work with me?"

"Sure," Florence replied, smiling slightly at James. Out of all the Slytherins Florence Cornfoot was James' favourite. He wouldn't exactly say they were best friends but they got along well enough. Professor Bartlet led them to the library to begin their research. James and Flora worked quietly together, gathering research.

James whispered, "ok so we know that it's skin is armoured – kind of similar to a dragon's – and so it deflects spells."

"Exactly," Flora frowned, "bloody hell this is difficult…"

"The crow of the rooster is fatal to it," James continued, "but really what does that even mean?"

Flora laughed, "I have no idea. How can a sound kill you?"

"Exactly," James laughed, "magic is slightly ridiculous sometimes."

"Only sometimes?" Flora asked.

James and Flora worked until the end of the lesson. When they had finished, James piled up the books and returned them to their places on the shelves. James could hear whispering from the other side of one bookshelf. "I just think we need to be careful," Snape was saying.

"Why?" Avery replied.

"It's the beginning of our second year," Snape explained, "I don't know about you but I want a magical education and that isn't going to happen if we get expelled."

"The Dark Lord will teach us everything we need to know if that happens," Avery shrugged.

"Hmmm," Snape was thinking it through, "Ok, we need a plan. This needs to be done properly."

"We need to show them what happens to blood traitors. They keep defending the bloody mudbloods and we do nothing. They're supposed to be fucking pure-bloods. I want them dead."

"Isn't that a bit of a high ambition," Snape asked, "couldn't we start off with a bit of a warning; seriously maime or injure first?"

"What's the point?" Avery asked, growing angry.

"Potter and Black aren't the only ones protecting the muggle-borns."

"Exactly, that's why I want to make an example of them."

"But nothing," Avery frowned, "stop being a chicken Snape."

"I'm not being a chicken," Snape got angry, "I'm just being practical. If they die we're out of here for definite. They'll expel us for sure."

"It'll look like an accident. This is Quidditch we're talking about."

"Hmmm. I guess so."

Professor Bartlet called all of the second years to the doors of the library. "Right off you go. I'm guessing you have somewhere to be… Potter if you could stay behind please."

James waited with his professor until all the other students were gone. "In know you overheard that conversation. I must inform you that I will need to tell the headmaster about this. I would strongly suggest that you do not play in this weekend's game."

"But professor," James began.

"Think of your mother James," Bartlet said gently. "It's not safe."

"I'm not scared of them," James said brashly.

"I know. You're very brave but also very stupid. I can think of a million things more worthy of dying for than Quidditch."

"I know professor but I refuse to let them scare me. If I let them win then who will stand up to them when they are trying to kill muggle-borns? When they attack the magical creatures? When they mistreat the house-elves?"

"I must say Potter; you are as noble as your father." Bartlet smiled. "I will have to tell the headmaster. I'm sure he will be in touch with you and Mr Black. You better head off or you'll be late for charms."

"Yes Professor," James sighed.

Professor Bartlet smiled as the young boy left the library.

Hope you liked it... please review...

Next chapter/ chapters...

Lily and Snape time...

The marauders spying...

Quidditch...