The night before their first OWL exam, charms, the Gryffindor common room was filled to bursting with anxiety-ridden fifth years, along with seventh years crowded together preparing for their own NEWTS. It didn't help that the entire day had been a gloomy grey, casting a dark shadow over the group as the oncoming storm of exam week took hold in all of their hearts. James and Sirius were all confidence while Peter and Remus were quite uncertain. Despite Remus' lack of confidence, the other three knew he would manage better than any of them, although Peter couldn't quite say the same. The boys were sitting around the fire together when James looked up at Lily who was staring furtively at her notes.
"Oi! Evans!"
"What Potter?"
"Snog me for the test answers?"
She huffed and left the common room. James proceeded to mess up his hair, raising an eyebrow at Mary Macdonald who'd been glancing his way. She giggled before turning back to her studying. Sirius flopped down next to James, who turned back absentmindedly reviewing some notes, not paying much attention.
"That's a lost cause Prongs."
"She'll come around." James smirked, throwing his papers down.
"It's no use studying. I know it all. Come on Padfoot, let's go work on Operation Atlantis, shall we?" Sirius stood up eagerly, not even bothering to grab his books.
"You had me at 'no use studying'. Coming Moony? Wormtail?"
"I'm going to stay down her for a bit longer." Remus said, pouring over his extensive notes.
"I'll come." Peter said, but rather than looking confident, he looked resigned.
They walked past Mary and Marlene, James and Sirius winking at each girl in turn prompting some more giggles. Peter sent them a nervous smile and blushed when they took no notice of him.
"How do you guys do it?"
"It's all in the walk Wormy."
"That and the hair," James smirked, ruffling it once more.
Peter looked at them in awe, messing up his own hair in the back, only serving to give himself a nasty case of what looked like bedhead. He trailed behind them to the dorm, also practicing his swagger, managing to look like he was trying to walk with a nasty wedgie.
"Now, the spell is easy enough. Clean up on the other hand…" James said.
"Cleanup? Who cares about that?"
"I really don't fancy Filch assigning us dual detentions until 7th year Pads, and if he doesn't have to mop up 1000 Liters of water, I think he'll be a little more lenient."
"Whatever ya chicken."
James rolled his eyes, glancing at Lily's name on the Map, now back in the Gryffindor common room.
The next day the fifth years had their first OWL exam, Charms. This was followed that week by Potions, Herbology, Astronomy, and Care of Magical Creatures. The exams passed without much incident, Sirius and James making their way through their exams with practiced confidence, Remus finding himself feeling rather confident towards the end of the week, while Peter found himself rechecking all of his answers with the other three.
The four boys were walking up the lawn from their Care of Magical Creatures exam on the edge of the enchanted forest. Hagrid had sent them a big thumbs up when they passed his hut which had raised Remus' spirits significantly given his rather close relationship with the half-giant. Being related to a dark creature made Remus feel as though he could talk to him a lot more than any of the other professors about his condition. The sky was gloomy as it had been all week, suggesting a storm was on its way. Ignoring the misty greyness around them, Peter was far more focused on the greyness within his own head following exams.
"What do you think, did I handle that Bowtruckle right?" He asked his friends.
"Relax Wormy, it's not exactly rocket science, I mean if you can't handle a Bowtruckle…" Sirius began starting in on him.
"…Care of Magical Creatures is your best subject besides Herbology Peter." Remus interrupted saving him from Sirius' teasing.
"Yeah, Wormtail you're fine with all that hands on practical stuff." James replied.
"Yeah, it's the actual spellwork that your bollocks at." Sirius spoke up earning a smack to the back of the head from Remus.
"Don't listen to Padfoot Peter, you're going to be fine. Now, if we can only make it through next week, maybe we'll all survive the summer, right?"
Sirius' eyes turned dark as the sky above them. "Yeah, right."
James and Remus glanced at him, while Peter found himself poring once again over his notes for the exams the next week. They then glanced at each other in a silent conversation.
Sirius didn't talk all through dinner, choosing instead to pick at his potatoes and barely touch his roast. Even Peter seemed to notice when he left the Great Hall in a huff, making his way back to the Gryffindor dormitory alone. Remus glanced at James who sighed making his way to Mconogall's office for his 15th consecutive detention. She had gone easy on him for OWLs week, telling him to just spend the time studying quietly in her classroom. He wondered what she would have in store for him tonight. He knocked on the door and she looked up sternly.
"Mr. Potter, come in."
"Alright Professor?"
"Fine, thank you."
He sat down, pulling out some notes on Goblin rebellions when McGonogall cleared her throat.
"I figured I would just be studying again tonight?"
"Well, you figured wrong. I have a task for you tonight Potter."
James nodded. "Alright, name it."
"Before I do, I need your word that you will not reveal what you are about to do to anyone, not even your friends. I know you care for them, but this is a matter of life and death for them too, do you understand me?"
James nodded, suddenly a lot more serious than his demeanor normally allowed.
"I need you to go to Hogsmeade. There's something there that I need to deliver to Professor Dumbledore." James looked at Professor McGonogall with a confused gaze.
"I mean, I'll do it Professor, but why can't you?"
"I understand you have an invisibility cloak Potter." James nodded again.
"I also know that you boys know how to get out of the castle undetected. I need you to get this for me without being seen. I can't be seen in Hogsmeade tonight, and neither can you."
"Yeah, of course Professor."
"Very good, I'll expect you back here by 9 PM. That should give you plenty of time. No later than that Potter, understood?"
"Yeah, I understand Professor."
"Good, you'll meet a man in a black traveling cloak just outside of the fourth house down from Honeydukes. You got that?"
"Got it."
"Good, good luck Potter."
James made his way up to the dorm to grab his cloak, deciding against taking the map as he wouldn't need it in Hogsmeade. The dorm was empty for now, and James wondered where his mates had gotten to. He shrugged pulling on the invisibility cloak and making his way to the one-eyed witch statue which held the secret passage right into Honeydukes.
"Dissendium" James said, the hump opening for him.
Remus made his way back to the dormitory after spending another late night studying in the library. Peter had left just before him talking about nicking some snacks from the kitchens before curfew as James had the cloak at the moment. Remus climbed the winding staircase and stood outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Shrivelfig,"
He said, rubbing his tired eyes. He made his way up the stairs to the boys' dormitory, and noticed Sirius sitting up in bed looking at something on the Map.
He looked up when he heard footsteps, and said: "Oh, hey Moony."
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing," But Remus saw right through his easy-going smile, as all three Marauders did with Sirius.
"What's he doing tonight?"
"Same as always, in the dungeons."
"Well, then he's not getting himself into any trouble, right? Just hanging out in the dormitory?"
Sirius shrugged, glancing around the map, before his eyes settled darkly on three names. The first two were Mulciber and Avery standing together around a third figure…Mary Macdonald.
"Moony,"
"Yeah, what is it Pads?"
"Look at this."
"That doesn't bode well."
Remus seemed to agree, responding with: "Come on, let's go."
James made his way through the one-eyed witch passageway until he finally arrived at the end pulling himself into the cellar of Honeydukes. He made his way up the stairs, cloak still pulled tightly around his form, moving with ease through the mostly empty store, given the late hour. He exited, debating on taking a handful of sweets before deciding his mission had to come before mischief in this case. He moved out into the street where he felt the sky beginning to open up, drips of water sprinkling down on his cloak. He took a right out of the building, walking through the village until he arrived at the first set of houses, grateful for the newfound spring protecting his footsteps on the wet pavement as the snow would not have been so kind. He counted in a whisper as he made his way down the road "1, 2, 3, 4…" He stopped counting as he was roughly grabbed by the arm and dragged into an alleyway.
"Oof, what's the big idea?"
"Are you mad? Speaking out loud, what do you think the cloak is for? Decoration?" A gruff voice spoke to James. He looked over to see that the voice was attached to an anxious man with a long, greying beard, hidden under a black cloak.
"Sorry, I just wanted to make sure I had it right." James said, rubbing his sore arm.
"So, you're the Potter boy, are you?" The man asked with the same rough tone.
"Yeah, that's me. Seen me play, have you?" James glanced at him with a cocky grin.
"No, you nitwit. Albus told me you'd be coming."
James was confused for a moment before realizing that he must be talking about Dumbledore, his first name was Albus as James recalled.
"So…I'm here." James reached out his hands, expectantly.
The man reached into his cloak and pulled out a small envelope. James found it odd that it had no name written on it to indicate who it was for.
Before he could think much on it the man shoved it gruffly into his hands. "Here's the package, don't let anyone catch sight of you." He said.
"There's only a few people around." James replied glancing around the abandoned alleyway.
"All the same, use extreme caution understand?" The man held James' arm again, staring rather uncomfortably into his eyes.
James pulled his hand away, raising his hands in surrender, saying: "Alright, I'll be careful."
After that the man gave him a short nod and took off into the night. James threw his cloak over himself, making his way back the way he'd come. He entered Honeydukes just in the nick of time as the rain had really started to come down outside, leaving James already nearly soaked to his skin even under the cloak. The storekeepers were getting ready to lock up for the night, and it would be quite annoying to have to make his way all the way back through the rain across the village for the cave entrance that led to the passageway behind the mirror.
James thought back to the last time he and his friends had been caught out of bounds late at night with a smirk. They had been coming back through one of the passages they had found in second year, behind a portrait of Ragnuk the 1st, and Filch had managed to find them sneaking through. If only Peter had been just a bit faster, they'd been unable to fit all of them under the cloak for some time now, and Peter didn't have the forethought to turn into a rat when he heard Filch making his way down the corridor. Although maybe that was for the best given Filch's cat's tendency for devouring the mice and rats that wander the castle. They'd earned a week's detention for that one, even Remus who was normally pretty good at keeping his name out of the pranks they pulled. James and Sirius had made Filch pay though, charming his beans into beetles at lunch the next day.
James smirked at the memory as he made his way back through the passageway to Hogwarts, thinking worriedly of his best friend particularly after the discussion of summer holidays coming up. James knew how hard things were for Sirius at home these days, and he hoped that Sirius would be able to fight through his home troubles before he managed his typical escape to James' place within the first couple of weeks. Then he wouldn't have to endure his mother's rants about how worthless a blood traitor he was for too long.
As James made his way back through the secret passageway Sirius and Remus were making their way quietly through the halls of Hogwarts. It wasn't quite curfew so the cloak was unnecessary, but it would have been nice to have for sneaking up on the three dots whom they were tracking. They heard laughter as they approached, and when they peeked around the corner, they saw Mulciber and Avery standing over a paralyzed Mary Macdonald, stuck in a full body-bind curse.
"I'll do it," chuckled Mulciber as Mary looked up at them in horror.
"Somnum Ambulate," He spoke the incantation with confidence, but nothing happened. Avery hit him on the head.
"Great going"
"Well how else are we gonna get her to show her knickers to the whole school if she's not sleepwalking?"
"I know a curse we could use." Avery spoke up this time, snickering.
Mulciber laughed loudly at that.
"Yeah, whatever Avery, I don't fancy the both of us landing in a double cell in Azkaban."
"Whatever, let me try it. I might actually be able to get it." He raised his wand, but before he could cast the incantation Sirius spoke up from behind them.
"I don't think so."
"Oh wow, the Black family's grand hero come to save the poor wittle Mudblood right?"
Mulciber spoke up.
Avery looked nervous, but Mulciber just held a look of contempt.
"Not just him," Remus spoke up as well, a barely contained rage evident in his normally quiet eyes.
"Oh boy, Remus Lupin, I'm so scared." Mulciber said, looking Remus' thin, scarred body up and down without fear.
"Yeah, why don't you run back to your Mommy there Remus? From what I hear she's not long for this world, and by the looks of you you're bound to follow her soon enough."
Remus and Sirius drew their wands quickly at that, a white-hot rage alighting in Sirius' eyes. Remus' mother wasn't as sickly as he had led most of the school to believe, but her condition was far from healthy particularly with all the stress she was under between her werewolf son and the brewing of a war particularly targeted against her own bloodline.
"You're going to let her go." Remus spoke softly, his rage a lot quieter than Sirius' although just as evident.
"Or what Lupin?" Mulciber asked.
"Or you're going to find out what an unforgivable curse looks like." Sirius spoke dangerously, fury evident in his voice.
The boys chuckled again, but nervously this time.
"Go ahead Black, you don't got the balls." Avery spoke up.
"You really want to take that chance?"
Mulciber rolled his shoulders looking at the venomous look in both Sirius and Remus' eyes and shrugged glancing back at Avery.
"Was just a laugh. Come on boys, it's nearly curfew."
Mulciber shoved Sirius as he passed, and Remus grabbed his arm to keep him from retaliating.
"It's not worth it Pads, let's help Mary yeah?"
Sirius glared after the Slytherins who had just turned the corner but nodded, allowing Remus to move him towards Mary. He muttered the countercurse, and she took a deep breath before releasing a sob that seemed to have been held in since she was petrified.
"It's alright Mary, you're ok."
Mary grabbed Remus around the shoulders holding him tightly.
"They were going to put me to sleep. That spell's irreversible they say, done right. They were going to put me to sleep."
"But they didn't. You're right here, and you're ok. That's some highly advanced magic Mary, way beyond Mulciber's pathetic abilities."
She offered a small smile, but needed help sitting up. Sirius grabbed her hand.
"They'll pay Mary, we'll see to that."
"Don't bother. I just want to forget the whole thing happened. Please Sirius, your word, don't tell anyone not James even, I don't want this spreading."
Sirius nodded his assent, albeit reluctantly. He and Remus helped her make their way back to Gryffindor Tower.
James made his way towards McGonogall's office, cloak finally removed, and knocked carefully on the door.
"Come in." McGonogall spoke up.
James opened the door, where McGonogall was sitting behind her desk, looking cross and worried.
"Ah Potter, did you get the letter?"
"Yeah, the bloke who handed it off to me was real secretive about it though. What exactly is this for Professor?"
"Never mind that. I suspect you'll know soon enough, now off to bed with you. That will be all, and you need not worry about coming to the rest of your detentions next week. I suspect OWLs will be keeping you busy enough to stay out of mischief correct?"
James nodded, a glint in his eye suggesting otherwise. McGonogall chose to ignore it, nodding.
"Good, now go on."
James turned around before turning back one last time.
"Yes, Potter?"
"Are you in danger Professor?" She looked taken aback at the question as if it was the last thing she expected to come out of James' mouth.
"I appreciate the concern Potter, but I can assure you that I am in no more danger than anyone else in this school, which is to say not much. Go off to bed now."
James nodded, finally turning around and making his way back to Gryffindor tower. When he arrived, he found Sirius and Remus sitting together on Remus' bed talking in hushed tones to Peter who was shoveling cakes into his mouth as they spoke, nervous eater as he was.
"What's going on?"
James spoke up, and the group pulled apart quickly.
"Nothing, just discussing Operation Atlantis is all." Sirius said it with a smile on his face, but that smile didn't meet his eyes. James grew immediately suspicious.
"Oh really, what about it?"
"About…well…" Peter tried to come up with a worthy explanation but was cut off by Remus.
"…about how we've finally found a charm powerful enough to mop up all that pesky water."
James looked between his three friends, Sirius' face darker, than usual though that could have to do with the impending holidays, while Peter looked very nervous.
But James had had a long evening himself, and his own secret to hold tight to his chest so he just smiled and said: "Brilliant. Thanks a lot, Moony, I'm going to head to bed, but we'll talk more in the morning yeah?"
He didn't notice the sighs of relief that came from his friends as they separated, heading to their own separate beds themselves.
Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor girls fifth year dormitory Mary Macdonald was sobbing on her own bed with the support of her four best friends, Susan Zeller, Alice Fortescue, Marlene McKinnon, and…Lily Evans.
"It's going to be ok Mary; believe me this won't last forever." Lily pulled her into a tight embrace. Mary returned it, wiping the tears from her eyes, before she nodded against Lily's shoulder.
"I wish I could believe you Lils." She said, her voice choked.
Lily could only hold her close because she, more than anyone, knew that she didn't believe her words either. She thought of Severus, and wondered if he had been there tonight, but didn't dare ask for fear of upsetting Mary more. She had managed to name Mulciber in the attack, and a brief description of what he'd tried to do before she fell apart, but nothing else. Lily just wished that she could do something to fix how broken their world had become, to finally put it right again so that her children and their children after would never have to be afraid to walk around the castle at night because of the arbitrary condition that her parents happened to be muggles. After Mary had finally cried herself out Lily lay awake thinking of the Prewett twins, the Weasleys whom their older sister had married into, Frank Longbottom, and heck even Potter, and wondering why so many other purebloods couldn't act like they did, full of compassion and pride in any wizard that graced their door. She lay awake half the night thinking about it, particularly her best friend, a boy who himself was a halfblood and yet still looked upon people like her like they were scum. She chased that thought away quickly, arguing with herself once again that he was simply protecting himself. She rolled over, listening to the rumble of thunder outside her window, and couldn't help but wonder at the foreboding sound of its almighty roar. She soon managed to fall into a fitful sleep that left her feeling more exhausted than ever come morning.