The following Tuesday James was whistling a jolly tune as he made his way up to his dorm. He opened the door and a barrage of voices washed over him.

"James!" Peter shouted as soon as he walked in. "Where in Godric's name have you been?"

James glanced at the clock, puzzled. "It's only a quarter to six Pete. What's the problem?"

Sirius vaulted over the bed. "Problem? There's no problem Prongsie boy! We're about to complete the best bloody map in the world! That's all!"

James perked up instantly and bounded over to where a tired looking Remus had the map spread out. A flicker of worry darted through James at the sight of his friend.

"How is it today moony?" There wasn't long until the full moon and Remus was starting to feel its effects. He simply shrugged in reply but a genuine smile lit up his face as he beckoned James over to the map.

"Beautiful isn't it?" He said proudly. James had to agree. It had been the labour of the last four years for the marauders, since second year when they had wanted to map the secret passageways into Hogsmeade. Multiple sheets of paper had been fused together through some handy spells to make a map which hopefully when tapped would cycle through each floor of the castle, there were expansions which could fold out to show more information- it was a work of art. The layout of the castle had been lovingly sketched by Peter, each marauder had labelled a different floor, and James had designed what was to be the cover of the map that would be seen after it was activated, the flowing lines of his quill danced beautifully across the parchment. All of the marauders had been involved in casting the various complex charms and spells that had been layered over the years and now the only thing left to do was activate it.

"Sirius and I perfected that charm you found James and the tracking potion it had been dipped in has finally dried." Remus explained while James bounced excitedly.

"It'll definitely work Prongs, we just finished the last test," Sirius said, grinning. "We wanted to wait for you and we can cast the trigger charm together."

"So did you come to a decision on the welcome message?" James asked. Before he had left for his study session with Lily before dinner they had been arguing on what the map would say in its 'resting stage' as they had begun referring to it as.

"After some intense discussion and several arm wrestles we decided on yours James." Peter said.

James punched the air. "Ha! I knew mine would win!"

"Don't make me change my mind Prongs," Sirius threatened. James drew his wand, an infectious smile lighting up his face.

"Ready Lads?" The other three drew their wands also, all wearing matching grins. James placed the tip of his wand on the map with the others forming a square on top of the parchment as though they were about to start a chant before a quidditch match. "Everyone remember the spell?"

"Yes James," Remus said impatiently.

"OK, OK, just checking. On three then?" A series of nods agreed. James counted down and together the four best friends recanted the long, complex activation spell. A gold light, flowed from the four wand tips and spread across the map bringing it to life. The boys gasped excitedly when dots began to become labelled and move around. Sirius whooped as the map began to finally come together and they realised that it worked, it actually worked. Eventually the light faded and an ecstatic James scooped up the map and jumped on to the nearest bed. He held the map like an auctioneer presenting a priceless item and proclaimed extravagantly.

"My fellow Marauders. We have finally cracked the secrets of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and engineered a magnificent piece of magic, a beautiful piece of art, the holy grail of pranksters both present and future! I am honoured to present… the Marauders Map!" With a flourishing bow he jumped off the bed, joining in the high fives and cheers of his three best friends. Remus was pulling them all in for a group hug, his tired features transformed by the huge grin splitting his face.

"We're unstoppable!" He yelled to the cheers of Sirius and Peter. Their shouts were heard all the way in the common room. James couldn't stop laughing and in that moment he was so happy he thought his chest would explode. This was Hogwarts, these were his best friends, they were The Marauders and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Saturday 4 October 1976

Lily was sat at the Gryfindor table on Saturday lunch time next to Dorcas, chatting to Alice who was talking excitedly about how Frank had hinted that he wanted to go to Hogsmeade with her when the next weekend came around which would be within the next two weeks.

"I mean is it so bad if I just want him to come out and say it?" She said exasperatedly while Lily nodded sympathetically. "I just don't want to jump the gun and misunderstand something."

"Al, there's nothing to misunderstand," Lily assured her friend, "Frank definitely likes you, he's just shy! You're going to go to Hogsmede with him, you're going to look smoking hot and he's going to jump at the chance to make it official." Alice worriedly stabbed her chicken. Lily slapped her arm suddenly, "he's coming this way." Alice started and bolted upright.

"Do I have anything in my teeth?" She asked Lily, baring her pearly whites.

Lily snorted. "No, you're fine." Frank arrived at their spot and shyly tapped Alice on the shoulder.

"Are you ready to start that homework?" He asked gently. Alice nodded smiling dazzlingly at him and got up to leave. She kissed her fingers and tapped Lily and Dorcas' cheeks, bidding them goodbye before walking off with Frank. Lily grinned at their retreating figures, they were so cute together. Alice looked back once and Lily gave a cheesey thumbs up and an exaggerated wink causing Al to flick her off discreetly. Lily checked her watch, she was meant to meet James to work on transfiguration in like 20 minutes but it was too early to leave yet. She turned to Dorcas who was vacantly prodding at her food and touched her gently on the arm causing her to jump.

"Hey Cas, you alright?" Dorcas nodded blankly, she still hadn't fully recovered from the events of the summer. Her dad was still in a coma and she still blamed herself. She had become something of a robot over the last month or so, turning up to her classes and going to quidditch but she wouldn't say anything in lessons, just automatically make a few notes. She had lost weight and her hair had lost some of its lustre. At the start of the term she had woken Lily with her sobs at night but when she had tried to talk about it she had started putting silencing charms around her bed. It was like she was only there in body but not in mind. Everyone was concerned, even the marauders. James and Peter would always crack stupid jokes, Remus would just be there and Black, bless him, had began sitting next to her in some of her classes. He did seem to make a difference and had marginally more success in making her smile and taking her mind off of things but Lily just didn't know what to do.

"Do you want to go for a walk or anything?" She asked hopefully. Dorcas hesitated before shaking her head slowly.

"Thanks, but I've actually got some work to do." She stood to leave.

"Ok, well. I'll catch up with you later ok?" Dorcas smiled weakly and walked off. Lily sighed and turned to Marlene on her other side who had just sat down with her boyfriend, Rhys. She pasted on a smile and mentally braced herself for a conversation with the detestable Ravenclaw. She was saved however by the arrival of Brendan, Rhys' friend who sat opposite her, quickly pecking her on the cheek. Lily really didn't know what the situation was with her and the older boy. She supposed the most accurate description would be that they were seeing each other. They would sit next to each other in meals quite often, Brendan still walked her to some classes, they flirted, took some long walks together and he had taken to kissing her on the cheek. But he had never actually asked her out officially and they hadn't properly kissed or anything. Lily wasn't 100% sure on what she thought of him but she wanted to date him, try things out and get to know him a bit better, the big idiot just hadn't asked yet.

"Hey Lilly, how are you?" He asked. Lily smiled back as they began to chat.

"So I hear you're stuck with Potter for that big transfiguration project you guys have got."

Lily nodded, "well I mean, he is one of the best at transfiguration so I wouldn't say I was stuck-" Brendan scoffed, interrupting her.

"How many times has he made a pass at you so far?" Lily frowned.

"None actually, so-"

"Just let me know if you want to borrow my notes from last year when that idiot inevitably ruins your work. I got top of the year last year so I at least know what I'm doing." He puffed out his chest slightly, looking ridiculous. Lily was about to call him out when he changed the topic and she allowed herself to be steered away from his little hissy fit about James. He quickly resumed his normal, charming demeanour and the strange incident slipped her mind as they began their normal routine of flirting/chatting. He even asked her to Hogsmeade to which Lily happily agreed, she was so caught up in him that she didn't even notice as the time at which she was meant to meet James passed.

James glanced at his watch. Lily was late, she was meant to meet him 10 minutes ago. He was situated at their usual table at the back of the library by the window. He doodled lazily on a spare piece of parchment. He'd gotten bored and written out a plan for their next essay but he didn't want to start without her so had started to sketch lightly on a scrap of parchment. He was drawing the subject of his thoughts which as usual, was a certain Lily Evans. James loved to draw, he loved to draw people, to try and catch the nuances of human expression. The bottom of his trunk was littered with the product of his boredom- countless sketches of his friends, his family, even some of the teachers. He had a whole section of his trunk dedicated to that particular expression Minnie always reserved for the marauders when she was yelling. Sirius made fun of him for being creepy when he drew people but James just found it fascinating. He loved to draw Lily, she was just beautiful, her almond shaped eyes and fiery hair were just some of the features he never tired of drawing. Was that creepy? He looked critically at his drawing, this particular sketch captured Lily sat at a desk staring out of the window. It was a position she was usually in during their defence lessons and James had drawn it as though he was looking at her from where he sat which was diagonally behind her. Her hair was in a messy braid with loose strands framing her face she was sat on one of her legs and biting her lip while she looked absent mindedly out of the window. He thought it was a pretty good sketch considering it hadn't taken long but the dark lines of his quill didn't do her justice.

Lily was one of those people that you just had to draw in colour. Someone like Sirius with his dark hair and elegant features could be captured with just normal ink. But someone like Lily needed coloured ink, bright pastels and paint to capture the vibrancy of her hair, the light of her eyes, how her skin looked in the sunlight. James rested his head in his hands. God. He was such a goner. He sounded like a sap but he couldn't stop himself. He wasn't even particularly mad at her for being half an hour late, however when 40 minutes had passed he was getting a bit frustrated. He leaned back on the back legs of his chair and rested his foot on his thigh, he was just starting to consider heading back to the common room when she rushed in, hair flying as she reached where he was sat.

"Crap, Po-James I'm so sorry." Shut up heart, James said to himself as it flopped in his chest when she said his name. "I was with Brendan and didn't see the time." His heart fell at that and his features darkened but he consciously held back the over protective, jealousy act and managed a small smile.

"Don't worry about it. I guess we're even now." Lily smiled back, grateful he wasn't pissed at her. She sank into the chair opposite him and James swiftly put his sketch into his bag so she wouldn't see. The Marauders, Alice and his parents were the only people who knew he drew and he planned to keep it that way.

"I made a start on a plan for the next essay." He pushed his plan towards her and they began discussing and making notes.

An hour or so later and James couldn't take much more. His head thumped on to the table as he let out a long suffering groan.

"This is it." Said his muffled voice. "This is how I'm going to go." Lily laughed and stretched her arms above her head.

"James Potter: bored to death by Mcgonagall's essays."

James smiled, "write it on my tombstone, Lily."

"You sure you don't want to finish this last bit?" She asked, even though she herself really didn't want to do it either. James groaned again.

"Please! No more, I can't take it anymore." He exclaimed dramatically, throwing his hands up and flinging himself backwards on to his chair, almost tipping it over. Lily laughed at him and Madam Pince stuck her head out from behind a shelf.

"Mr Potter,"sShe hissed. "Quiet in the library!" James apologised and turned to Lily as Pince faded back into the shelves.

He looked at her, "shall we make tracks?" Lily nodded and began to pack up her many extra books and other things while James waited patiently. She hefted her bag on to her shoulder with a grunt. James raised his eyebrows.

"Do you want me to-" He motioned to her bag. Lily coloured slightly and rolled her eyes.

"I don't need you to carry my bag Potter," she said, affronted. James laughed loudly.

"I wasn't asking to- here." He waved his wand as Lily continued to struggle with her bag, it instantly lightened, he had cast the featherweight charm. Lily blushed, embarrassed as she let out a small 'oh'.

"Thanks," she muttered quietly. James only laughed again.

"Carry your bag. Hah, who do you think I am? Some kind of gentleman?" Lily laughed a little as she resisted the urge to point out that how he was holding the door open for her was, in fact a very gentlemanly thing to do. They wandered through the hallways side by side.

"So," James began. "How are you finding sixth year so far."

Lily glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Well it began with a crazy start after the World Cup but I guess that apart from the increasing tension and the attacks in the news it's been fine."

James' step faltered. "Did someone say something to you?" He asked uncertainly. Lily didn't particularly want to go in to detail about the whispered 'mudbloods' that were directed towards her usually once a day or the off-putting looks some of the Slytherins gave her during potions so she merely shrugged.

"Not particularly. It's just kind of a lingering feeling." James didn't look reassured and there was a short silence before he asked quietly.

"How's Dorcas been doing?"

Lily sighed and began fiddling with the strap of her bag. "It's hard to say..." She said quietly. "She doesn't talk much." James ran a hand through his hair agitatedly, kicking at the ground with his shoe.

"There's no change in Cassian." Lily gave him a questioning look, he shrugged. "My mum's been keeping me updated." He looked at the ground sadly, "Dorothy's not doing very well either. The shock of it all y'know." Lily sighed again before speaking.

"Sometimes I just want to shake her or something. Is that bad?" James let out a small laugh.

"I know what you mean. It's like she's just stuck and we can't help her. It's almost like-" James stopped suddenly looking around alertly. Lily had walked forwards a few more paces before she realised.

"James? What are you doing?" He held a finger to his lips and whirled around as though searching for something. Lily rolled her eyes. "Potter-"

"Shhh," he said quietly. "Do you hear that?" Lily frowned at him. "It's like a thumping and someone speaking." Lily pricked her ears. She was about to tell him she had no idea, when she heard it, very faintly. A dull thud was sounding from nearby, beating in a steady rhythm accompanied by some hushed words. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, she had a very bad feeling about this. She edged slightly closer to James who was walking along the wall, listening intently. He beckoned her and lifted a tapestry revealing a secret passageway.

"It's coming from in here," he whispered to her. Lily swallowed and nodded.

"Wands out?" She asked.

"Wands ou,." James agreed shortly.

They crept along the corridor, James leading the way, his footsteps soft on the musty carpet. They had been walking for maybe thirty seconds when James took a sharp intake of breath and stopped suddenly once again, causing Lily to walk into him. She had to grab hold of his arm to steady herself and she gave him a poke to show her annoyance before drawing to his side where she too let out a strangled gasp. James' heart was thudding, he was pretty sure Lily would be able to hear it with how loud it sounded in his ears. There was a first year in the corridor, he had his back to them and was banging his head against the stone wall, muttering whilst blood dripped from the self inflicted wound on his head, mingling with silent tears that tracked down his cheeks. Lily swore and rushed forward but James caught her arm, pulling her back.

"We have to help him," she said angrily at him.

"It could be a trap or something Evans. This is dark magic." His face was grave. Lily took a deep breath, as much as she hated it, he was right.

"One of us should get Dumbledore or Mcgonagall or something," Lily suggested. "They'll know how to check." James took a small step forward.

"Hold on I might know something." He mumbled a spell and traced a rune in the air with his wand. The wand tip leaving a gold trail. Lily was surprised.

"You don't even pay attention in ancient runes." She said accusingly, James shrugged distractedly.

"I'm a marauder. We pay attention to some stuff. We also do some research on the side. Comes in handy when setting traps." The runes he had drawn hadn't detected anything and he ran a hand through his hair.

"There's a spell as well. One which can detect magical traces. It's like." He paused, eyes searching the ceiling, trying to remember. "Revelimus? No." He was thinking out loud but couldn't remember it. Not to be out competed. Lily confidently raised her wand.

"Revelio." She said clearly.

James grinned, snapping his fingers. "That's the one." Lily's spell didn't show anything suspicious either so together they advanced forward cautiously. James discretely cast a cushioning charm on the spot on the wall at which the first year was continuously smashing their head. "Who is it?" James asked in a hushed voice. Lily shook her head, she couldn't see his face from where she was. She inched closer.

"It looks like-" She gasped, "bloody hell. It's Patrick Edgecombe, Melissa's little brother."

James' face had gone pale. "What's that he's saying?" He asked. Lily leaned forwards slightly but still kept her distance, she wasn't sure what kind of reaction he may have if someone startled him. They managed to get close enough to hear the choked mutterings and James rifled through his bag to find a quill.

"We should write that down. It could be important." His quill scratched against some parchment he had procured.

"The air's the key.

The world will see

The Dark Lord will prevail?" He spoke aloud as he wrote down what Patrick was saying.

"What does that even mean?" His eyebrows knit together. Why was this first year repeating a phrase about the dark Lord like some kind of mantra. It must be an imperius curse or something.

"We need to get him to the hospital wing." Lily said worriedly, jolting James from his thinking. He nodded in agreement, "Got any more tricks up your sleeve?" Lily asked, chewing her lip in thought. James cocked his head to the side before nodding. He cast a cushioning charm around Edgecombe. Lily opened her mouth to ask him what he was doing-

"Stupefy." A powerful stunning spell left his wand, hitting Patrick in the chest, he landed soundlessly on the cushioned floor, in a merciful faint.

"I guess that works," Lily muttered as James took the small boy in his arms without a second thought and began to walk briskly towards the hospital wing. He looked calm, but Lily noticed a tremble in his hands which betrayed how disturbed he was by what they had just witnessed.

Lily had to jog to keep up with the taller boy. He held Patrick surprisingly gently, one arm behind his knees and the other behind his back. Lily looked at him cautiously. His usually mischievous eyes were dark with anger and his jaw was clenched tightly.

"You OK?" She asked softly.

"This is so fucked up," he said in a low voice. Lily was still freaked out about what they had just seen but the fury in his voice sent chills down her back all over again. "What kind of psychopath puts a curse or a spell or whatever the fuck this is on a child!"

"I know. It is fucked up. But we found him, we stopped it-"

"What if we hadn't?" James burst out, his voice getting louder. "What would he have done? Continued smashing his head against a wall until he cracked his fucking skull open? Who the fuck did this!"

"I know James!" Lily shouted. "But there's no use shouting at me! We're on the same side here." James was breathing heavily and it was with a vengeance that he kicked open the hospital wing doors with a bang.

"Madam Lambert," he called out commandingly. Madam Pomfrey, the assistant healer came out from behind a curtain, shushing angrily before stopping in shock at the sight that beheld her. "We need the headmaster," said James as she appeared. Madam Lambert, the senior healer and an absolute hag of a woman who looked suspiciously crow like, and who Lily thought must be retiring soon followed swiftly behind the younger lady.

"There's been an incident. Patrick was cursed or something," Lily said hurriedly before James could piss the healers off anymore.

"Mr Potter," Madam Lambert croaked. "What have you done now you obnoxious boy," she said accusingly, glaring at him. Whatever James had been about to say died in his throat at her insinuation and his face paled even more, hurt and shock flashing across his visage. Lily felt a jolt of sympathy towards Potter and a surprising burst of anger towards the grumpy old matron.

"We found him like this actually, he was under the influence of something, Potter had nothing to do with it," she said bitingly to Lambert. The older lady looked at Lily's prefect badge before deeming her answer acceptable. She levitated Patrick on to a bed and turned to Madam Pomfrey.

"Floo the headmaster, Poppy, tell him he must come at once." The younger matron ran off.

"What happened exactly?" She asked, waving her wand over the boy. Lily glanced at James to see if he was going to start, but his eyes were fixed on Patrick's limp form so Lily quickly launched into an explanation of what had happened. It wasn't long before Professor Dumbledore arrived. Lily had to once more go over the events. Dumbledore studied her patiently as she spoke, his eyes occasionally flicking over to James who stood with hands buried in his pockets, his eyes on the floor.

"Anything to add James?" He asked. James started before pulling the piece of parchment out of his pocket.

"This is what he kept repeating, over and over again." Dumbledore tucked it into his robes. "I've never seen anything like that before," James said quietly. "It was like he was under the imperius, but he was crying so must've been aware of the pain." He shook his head. "We need to find out who did this." Dumbledore inclined his head towards him.

"Of course James. We will do everything we can." The headmaster then turned back to Lily. "As a prefect you will have to file an official report, I believe Madam Lambert has some parchment in her office. If you'll follow me." Lily nodded and followed him, glancing worriedly at her transfiguration partner.

"I'll be outside," James said quietly, retreating towards the doors.

James sat on a window ledge opposite the hospital wing doors picking at his nails anxiously. He kept replaying that scene with Lambert over and over again. She had looked so accusingly at him and blamed him so convincingly. But why?

Because you're a piece of bullying shit Potter. He thought to himself bitterly. He groaned and ground the heels of his hands into his eyes under his glasses. Hogwarts was meant to be safe. Stuff like this wasn't meant to happen. Kids weren't meant to be imperiused or whatever the hell that was that they just witnessed. And apparently it was getting worse for Lily now too. He straightened up and let his head fall back against the wall, ignoring the small throb of pain as it made contact.

He felt so helpless. He just didn't know what to do. He was tempted to retaliate with a prank or something on the Slytherins as it must've bee them who were behind this, would that make it worse? He could get on Dumbledore's back about starting a defence club but it probably wouldn't be possible to straight up exclude the Slytherins but if they were invited too they would lose whatever edge they had. James groaned again. It seemed like everything was starting to come undone. His mother's letters detailed the escalation of the latest auror raids, thankfully she wasn't taking an active role very often anymore but James had a bad feeling that wouldn't last long. His dad was doing better but was still fragile and had to take medicinal potions every day. The Daily Prophet was constantly filled with reports on the latest attacks and much to James' disgust some reporters were starting to take Voldemort's side and were subtly adding in anti muggle/muggleborn propaganda. Dorcas still wasn't doing great, Cassian still hadn't woken up and now dark magic was being used on 11 year olds. And what was James doing to help?

Absolutely nothing.

'Obnoxious boy.' Lambert's words danced behind his eyes. James tugged on his hair.

"You're still here." Stated Lily's voice suddenly, making James jump, he ignored the familiar heart palpitations that filled his chest as he looked at her and instead stood up nonchalantly.

"Didn't particularly want to walk back on my own," He said simply, spreading his hands. "Is it cool if I walk with you?" Lily, taken aback, nodded and together they began the trek to Gryffindor Tower. Lily looked at the unusually quiet boy next to her, his hands were buried in his pockets and his head bowed, his hair falling into his eyes.

"She really got to you didn't she?" She asked directly. James met her eyes, his head tilting as he studied her.

"Who?" He asked cautiously. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Lambert. She shook you up."

James swallowed before replying. "Well it's always a boost to the self esteem when you bring in an 11 year old who's been cursed by dark magic and the senior healer's first reaction is that you were the one who cursed them."

His reply was sarcastic but the clench of his jaw betrayed his true feelings.

"Lambert's a grumpy old hag though, isn't she?" Lily stated matter of factly. James turned to her, taken aback, "trust me, I've been helping in the hospital wing, I know." Lily just wanted to wipe that frown off his face, and it seemed to be working- his lips curved slightly.

She continued, "also a rather reliable source has informed me that her and Professor Kettleburn have been having a sordid love affair for the last few months so that speaks volumes about her judgement doesn't it." There was a second of silence where Lily and James looked at each other. James might have been able to contain himself if her expression hadn't been so dead pan and she hadn't just informed him that two of the ugliest professors in Hogwarts were getting together so seriously. Lily had just started to think that her attempts to cheer him up had been in bad taste when he suddenly burst out laughing. Lily gave herself a pat on the back as she grinned, and good Lord his laughter was contagious! His head fell back as he laughed helplessly and soon Lily found herself laughing too. Much to her chagrin she snorted, she covered her mouth, mortified. This caused James to laugh even harder both at the unexpected sound and at the remarkable resemblance her face now had to a tomato. He was soon bent double with tears rolling down his face, his laughter dissolved into guffaws which also caused Lily to laugh more and in no time both of them were soon on the floor gasping for breath.

It was a while before either could breathe and/or speak and they sat on the floor for a few moments as they composed themselves. James got to his feet, brushed off his robes and offered her a genial hand to help her up which she took gratefully and they continued their walk to the tower. They trekked in companionable silence for a while before James bumped her with his hip.

"Thanks for cheering me up Evans," he said genuinely, smiling at her, she grinned back.

"Can't have you thinking too hard, can we Potter? That might damage our chances at doing well in transfiguration." He chuckled.

"You speak the truth Red, you speak the truth. Who's your reliable source by the way?" He asked her curiously.

"Do you know Hagrid? The gamekeeper?"

"I love Hagrid!" Exclaimed James. "What a legend!" They debated Hagrid's many merits and they soon reached the Gryffindor Tower and bid each other good night. As Lily made her way up the stairs she thought to herself that she might just be able to tolerate James Potter after all.

A/N: Some freaky things are starting to happen at Hogwarts. The marauder's map makes an appearance as well, let me know when you guys thought the marauders came up with the map. As always, thanks for reading :)