The Marauders and the Valkyries were sitting in the great hall for breakfast, Mary and Marls were in a deep question-answer session on Herbology, Peter was reading his notes again and again, while Remus was explaining Sirius the topics of ancient runes. James was still put off by yesterday's event and was poking the table with his fork, again and again, his chin resting on his hand, paying no attention to others. Lily was sitting opposite him, she kept stealing glances at him from over her herbology book.
She slowly kicked his leg, he looked up at her. "Can you stop doing that? And do some study, we have our first exam in less than a day."
He groaned, "I don't feel like studying at this time." and then got back to poking the table, Lily kicked him again, he muttered "Sorry" and put down his fork and took out a parchment and a quill and started drawing the plant Belladonna and labeling its parts.
"Hey look are they the examiners ?" said Mary and the others turned to look at the entrance, where Dumbledore was greeting a small group of old-looking witches and wizards.
"How are you, Dumbledore? The last I met with you was at the ministry I remember but I wasn't able to talk much, how are things going? I remembered examining you myself, and now you are heamaster." said a tiny witch.
"I am fine Marchbanks, and things are good, now let's have a seat while we talk" said the Headmaster and all of them reached to the staff table where more seats were put.
James sat in the farthest corner of the common room, avoiding everyone took out his walkman played some Beethoven music and studied his Herbology notes, where his friends were nervous and panicking, well of course Sirius who was reading Remus' notes with a relaxed look and having a lot of candies in front of him. Lily has ordered the students below fifth year to be quiet but after 10 minutes everyone seemed to have forgotten her orders.
James didn't wanted to be in middle of others and was keeping his calm and focusing on the notes. Soon one of the earplugs were removed from his left ear as someone sat beside him, he didn't have to look up to recognize who it was.
"Moonlight Sonata, really you always astonish me," she said and James grinned.
"So wanna go on a date with me?" he asked.
"Really, I would love that, "she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Has it become your habit to ask me out every time?"
James laughed "Yeah, pretty much." Lily leaned into him to see what he was reading.
"Screechsnap, the semi-sentient, they are funny plants," said Lily "Do you mind if I stay?"
"Not at all," said James. After ten minutes of studying Lily put her head on James' shoulder. The other students were so absorbed in themselves to notice them.
Herbology went well for James, though he struggled in handling certain planet, the theory exam paper was lengthy, and James has written certain answers longer and thus ended up writing till the end, he was not satisfied. Peter and Remus were looking confident, Sirius didn't gave the paper another thought. Lily had done the written part well but in practicals she made few mistakes. Mary and Marls did okay.
James' next exam was Potions, he was quite confident that he will nail it, as he will be focused on his potion rather than playing and planning pranks with marauders or looking at Lily.
"I hate potions" groaned Peter, they were in their dorms.
"You hate studying Wormtail." pointed out Sirius, who was scanning his book and memorizing instructions.
"Well, not as much as brewing a liquid" Pete replied.
"Me too" agreed Remus. " Continuosly looking at your cauldron, stirring, cutting, it isn't my interest, I hate doing all that."
"First time Moony says that he hate a subject, it's a miracle. I on the other hand am enjoying it." jumped in James.
"You are loving it because you had extra potions study session with Lily, otherwise you would be hating it too." grinned Sirius.
"That's true, come on Padfoot let's get some food from kitchens." said James.
" Bring me a chocolate shake" requested Remus.
"And cakes for me." added Peter.
James and Sirius moved towards kitchens under the cloak, when they were about to reach there they saw Synde and Avery, going to dungeons with hand full of foods. James grinned.
"Let's have some fun" he whispered to Sirius who nodded enthusiastically.
James flicked his wand and Synde's one leg blocked Avery's one leg and he tripped and fell bringing Synde down with himself, both of them covered in foods, Avery started scolding Synde who was confused. They both ran to their dorms covered in food. James and Sirius controlled their laughter until they reached the kitchens and then burst out laughing. Then took the foods and returned to their dorms.
James nailed Potion written part and did quite well in practical as well. Next was charms, James was confident of this and his other friends did well too, of course, Lily was the most confident.
In the part, James performed the levitating and color-changing charm perfectly.
"Now, the next three exams, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, and Divination are easy ones, so we will begin our 'PLAN: WARNING'." announced Sirius to the group( girls included).
"What in the middle of exams?" asked Mary.
"Yes mother Mary." teased Sirius, and others laughed.
" But exam preparation will be disturbed." protested Lily.
"Don't worry we will make sure, that doesn't happens." said Remus.
"What is your plan?" asked Marlene.
"We will go for them one by one, first Avery and Mulciber, then Synde and final warning to our dear Snivellus. You will see as the actions will unfold. Keep an open eye after your Astronomy. " James answered.
" Okay." said the girls.
The next exam was Care of Magical Creatures which didn't went quite well for James as he got a cut while handling a Bowtruckle, the examiner noticed it.
Divination is the one that went horribly for James, Marchbanks was very much disappointed with him when he informed her after reading her palm that she will live long enough and will have hearing problems and that she would be meeting a round, dark, soggy stranger in 1996.
Lily's divination went bad as well, "Well I informed her that she will die on a Tuesday in June 1996."
"You both used 1996, is it a coincident or you both planned it?" asked Peter
"Actually we did the homework together and thought that some 20 years from now will be a good amount of time, but Evans, you were supposed to use 1995" James said
"No you were to use 1995, not me, her death was to come after she met the soggy stranger." protested Lily, and they both started arguing for half an hour, topic changing from being rude to Potions to quidditch to library to Sherlock Holmes to that astronomy night to being arrogant.
"Any idea when will they stop bickering ?" asked Marlene
"No idea, no one can tell." sighed Remus.
The others left them, tired from the bickering, and proceeded to the grat hall for lunch and to prepare Astronomy
James and Lily arrived after another 30 minutes but to their friends shock and relief they were both looking calm and were in better mood.
"What happened ?" asked Marlene to Lily.
"Nothing we just argued than realized it's not worth arguing and we both were hungry." Lily replied.
"You both are strange " said Sirius.
"We were just letting out the bad exam frustration on each other" James said. " Anyway let's focus on tonight."
In night, they were on roof of Astronomy tower, Jamws has left his wands down the tower.
After the exam when all the students were going to dinner at great hall, somehow Avery's and Mulciber's cloth changed to girls' clothes, and that too small, their hair length were increased and coloured at ends, and they both had horrible face-makeup. The entire great hall burst out laughing, Mulciber and Avery tried to remove it but failed.
James didn't had Ancient ruins so he spent the day with Lily, and Marlene, but when the exam was over he dragged them both in front of the great hall whose doors were closed as students were still inside.
"Why are we here?" asked Lily. James looked at his watch.
"They will come out in a minute and you had to look at Synde after 2 minutes from then.
Soon the doors opened and the students came out, James pointed out Synde to both, " Any second now."
Soon Synde started dancing in the middle of corridor with odd and funny moves.
"We timed it well" laughed Sirius as they came out of hall and approached the three.
Synde's dance continued and entertained the crowd for 20 minutes before stopping and panting, he then looked around and ran from their as fast as he could.
"We brought the potion from Zonko's and put a charm on it." James informed the girls.
" You all just pranked them, you said you were going to warn them, where was the warning in that ?" asked Marlene.
"Relax Marlene the warning will be given clearly with no prank there, we will give them the taste of their own medicine." said Sirius.
"And that's we wave left it for last because then we can afford detention," added James.
"I will recommend you to study for DADA tomorrow or you will mess it." said Lily.
"I don't have notes." said Sirius and he sat on the couch and started disturbing Remus, who hit him with his notes, Sirius caught it " Thanks for the notes Moony."
James sat in his corner and Lily sat next to him.
"Can I hope that you will not cross the line, tomorrow?" she asked
" Probably not."
"You don't have to do that, you are not going to hurt them are you?"
"Maybe"
"You are a good person, you should not hurt them."
"They hurt Sirius, Mary and ... and Marls."
"I know just dont go bullying and hurting them" said Lily.
"I will try, but I cant promise." said James.
The next day Peter's and James' name was called in for DADA practical exam he got inside and stood in front of Professor Tofty.
"Potter, is it?" asked Tofty, consulting his notes, James nodded. James performed all the counter-jinxes and defensive spells, he steal side glances at Peter who was nervous but was doing okayish.
"Can you fight this vampire bat?" asked Tofty and released a bat. James with a easy movement of wand shot a spell which hit the bat and it fell to ground.
"Now, I a boy performed a patronus charm and told me that you, Potter can do it too, so you wanna show it for a bonus point?" asked Tofty, James grinned, he was sure the boy was Sirius.
"Expecto Patronum!" said James
A silver stag erupted from the end of his wand, and cantered the length of the hall.
"C-can I show that too?" James heard Peter's voice and then a rat joined the Stag.
"Excellent 4 boys, performing such an advanced spell at such a young age, excellent. Did you all learn it by yourselves?" asked Tofty and James nodded. "Excellent!, Very well, Potter, you may go!"
James sat in the great hall for the written DADA exams, he instantly found his friends, then he saw the red hair, she was sitting in the third seat from front in his adjacent column. He smiled as she turned behind to look at Hestia Jones who was sitting behind her, James noticed her green eyes, her face was nervous just like it has been before each exam.
Lily noticed James looking at her smiling, she looked at him and saw his smile widened, he waved slightly at smiled and waved back at him, then turned to front, still nervous.
The exam began and Lily read the first question : What are pixies and how will you fight them? Write the spell and describe the wand movement.
James found the paper easy, He wrote about the best way to fight the boggarts and then moved on to write the efficiency of shield charms.
"Five more minutes!" said Flitwick.
James finished the paper early, he yawned hugely. He glanced at his friends, and grinned at Sirius who gave him a thumbs up, Remus was absorbed in his exam and Peter was nervously biting his nails and was looking at Kim's paper.
James looked at Lily who was sitting relaxedly in her chair and was moving her body slightly, humming a song. James smiled and started doodling. After submitting his paper, he stood up and joined his friends started discussing the paper, laughing and moved out of the hall.
Lily was behind the boys with Mary, Marlene, and Hestia. They all decided to go to the lake's edge and submerged their feet in the water.
"How did the exam go?" asked Mary.
"I am quite sure of getting 'Outstanding'." said Lily.
"Me too," said Marlene.
"I might get an 'E', I messed up few spells." sighed Mary.
They all began talking about the Transfiguration exam which was next.
"Just one exam after that then we will be free" squeaked Marlene.
" I still have muggle studies." groaned Hestia.
"Why are they all getting up?" asked Marlene.
"Do you think the Marauders ?" asked Lily.
"Yeah, maybe, I just hope they don't cross line while doing whatever they do." said Mary as sound of laughter reached their ears.
"We should go and see." said Lily getting up, looking a little worried.
"Yeah, let's go." said Marlene and they all stood up and moved towards the crowd.
Lily heard Sirius say something about wiping nose , and then she saw the scene in front of her. Snape was looking at James with expression of purest loathing. Snape let out a stream of mixed swear words and hexes, few swear words directed to James' parents and blood traitors and a particular half breed, Lily looked at Lupin who was clutching his book very hard but was still sitting there, this was going to get bad, and Lily saw James clench his wand tighter. If Lily wouldn't stop James then he might do something stupid, she saw a few Slytherin students approaching towards them. Lily was also worried that the slytherin might use dark spells on James and also knew Snape was good at dark arts and she still felt bad for Severus, she had a little hope that he might come to his senses and stop supporting you-know-who.
"We have to stop them" she whispered to Mary and Marlene.
"I am not going to do anything," replied Marlene.
"Marls a big fight will break out here and the Slytherins know dark spells." Lily tried to be reasonable, she knew Marlene was angry at Snape.
"Lily is right," said Mary.
"Wash out your mouth." said James coldly. "Scourgify"
Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once; the froath was covering his lips making him gag.
"Stop James he will listen to you, the Slytherins are taking out their wand" said Mary in a concerned voice. Lily nodded.
"Leave him ALONE!" said Lily moving forward.
James and Sirius looked around, and James' free hand jumped to his hair again. James had said he will try and here he was doing this in front of the whole school.
"All right, Evans?" said James, in a pleasant, deeper, and more mature voice, Lily got angry at this behavior as though nothing was wrong.
"Leave him alone," she said looking directly at James, "What's he done to you?" She had thought that he will not do that.
"Well, it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean..." said James and she knew what he mean, the disgusting things Snape was involved in.
Many laughed but Lily, Remus, Marlene and Mary didnt . Marlene fist tightened at the though of that day, Mary noticed this and placed her hand at Marls' shoulder. Remus knew it was worthless to interrupt, James had been holding back enough and with Sirius by his side he wil not listen to anyone but maybe Lily. They had discussed this earlier and Remus' has said he dont want to be involved, he knew James was going to remind Avery what he has done via Snape, but they hadn't expected Lily to interfere or to be true they had forgot about Lily. Remus was pleased to see Lily there but also worried.
"You think you're funny," she said coldly. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone." Lily was angry now at everything at Snape and at James. She had thought James would listen her advice, but he has ignored it under his hatred.
"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James quickly. "Go on ... go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."
" I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid," said Lily, she knew this James Potter surrounded by people, being egoistic.
"Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius, who was used to all this, he turned back and saw Snape pointed his wand at James "OY!"
"Sectumsempra" said Snape, a flash of light and a gash appeared in the side of James' face, splattering his robes with blood. Lily gasped, the spell was weaker than when Snape has used it on bird, but the cut was deep. This was what she was afraid of.
Marlene took her own wand out but Mary stopped her as James flicked his wand and Snape was hanging upside down in air.
Lily forgot being furious as people laughed around her, she realized that James was reminding the Slytherins what they had done to Marls, she was on the verge of smiling at the scene in front of him, when he saw the look in James' eyes it was anger and hatred, his face was stern, and then changed.
"Let him down" Lily said to James, she was angry at him and hoped that he was done now.
"Certainly" said James in a calm voice and with a jerk of wand Snape fell to ground, got to his feet and raised his wands to attack again. Lily took out her own wand.
"Petrificus Totalus" said Sirius, and Snape keeled over again at once, rigid as a board. Lily had enough for one day, sure she was disgusted by what Snape and other Slythrins had done, but the action of James has made her even more anger.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE" she shouted.
"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," said James earnestly, Lily calmed at his this voice, at the expression on his face and her wand lowered slightly, she now knew that James will listen to her. Her temper started to go down as she looked into hazel eyes.
"Take the curse off him, then!" she said matching his voice. Lily could see the feelings in his eyes, she looked at him trying hard to calm him with just her looks, an understanding passing between them. Lily said through her looks that 'you should stop now' and hazel answering in approval.
James sighed deeply, he had gone with the flow and has lost control, but the entire time the crying face of Marlene was in his mind, he was furious but was talented to cover it, but the green eyes had an effect on him that calmed him.
He turned to Snape and muttered the counter-curse and Lily relaxed, and looked at Marlene who was looking from Avery and Mulciber to Snape with pure disgust, Lily decided to talk to her after this and especially to James Potter, who was in for a big talk from her. She still had her wand out as she had doubts that Snape might attack again.
"There you go," James said. Snape got to his feet, others might have ignored to but he had noticed the silent exchange between Potter and Lily. He was already angry and the scene has just made him more angry. "you're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus-"
"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!" Snape said in rage. Silent fell in the crowd.
Lily who had been thinking about Marlene, was brought back to present by this words, she felt the words stabbing her. Anger and pain rose in her together. "Fine," she said coolly. I won't bother in future." She had thought that Snape was just drawn more to power and Dark arts, he had told her it didn't matter if she was muggleborn, but now he had called her the dirtiest name anyone can call to her, she was breaking from inside as the last hope of friendship with Snape died, she covered her pain with anger "And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus." She had used the word that he hated the most.
"Apologize to Evans!" roared a voice, Lily looked at James wand pointed threatingly at Snape, the anger and hatred returned to his eyes, but Lily didn't made the effort to calm him, she herself was very angry to care for other things, she hadnt felt this much anger before.
"I dont want you to make him apologize," Lily shouted, rounding on him, shaking with fury " You're as bad as he is ... "
"What?" yelped James. "I'd NEVER call you a ... you-know-what!"
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can ... I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK." Lily shouted and turned on her heel and hurried away.
"Evans!" James shouted after her, "Hey, EVANS!"
But she didn't look back and stormed towards the forest away from everyone, no tears were falling from her eyes.
"What is it with her?" said James, she was just looking calmly at him the moment before and now she was angry with him, she shouted at him, she probably hated him , 'not probably she hates me' he thought. He had just destroyed the progress he had made with her. He was just getting back at Snape for what he did to Marlene, and this thought brought him to present, Sirius was saying something about 'conceited' to him.
"Right" said James as Snape's thought came to him, he has hurted Mary. Marls and now called that to Lily, who was supposed to be his fried. James was furious at Snape. "right..."
With another flick, Snape was once again hanging upside down in the air.
"Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?" he said in a dangerous voice, the crowd didn't laughed this time, not even Sirius and Peter, they both were looking at James, his look was radiating fury they had never seen. Remus stood up for the first time.
James moved closer to Snape his wand at Snape's throat. And when he spoke people it was in dangerous, terrifying voice. " Look, you scum, if you and your friends ever came near to Marlene and my friends again then you will pay very badly."
Snape was for first afraid from the looks in James' eyes but recovered, "I know more spells than you, you cant beat me. I can beat you any day, you are just arrogant."
"Just because I dont use dark magic doesn't mean I am weak, I pity you all who thinks so highly of the dark magic. And never use that word again or I will cut your tongue." James said and moved few steps away from him when someone moved past him.
Marlene had controlled herself till now, but no more now, she moved away from Mary, past James and punched Snape very hard. "This is for insulting my friend."
James flicked his wand and Snape fell to ground.
James put his wand inside, and started walking in direction where Lily had gone.
"Where are you going?" asked Sirius coming to him, the others behind him.
"I am going to talk to Evans."
"Mate, you have a deep cut on your face." pointed out Peter.
"And I dont think you should go to Lily, she was really angry and you are the last person she'd want to see." said Mary.
" Yeah, she would blame this at you." added Marlene rubbing her knuckles, which were red.
"I know, I messed it up." said James starting to move again, but Remus stopped him.
"Look mate it looks like she hates you, I will say, you should leave her alone." said Remus.
"Look, I know what I'm doing, okay, I dont need you all to tell me what to do." said James moving again.
Remus tried to argue but Peter stopped him and said "He will not stop."
They all looked as James disappeared into forest where Lily has disappeared.
"We should go back to the great hall, Lily takes time to calm down when she is angry." said Mary.
"Yeah, let's go." said Sirius.
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