‘Remind me again why we had to be here so early, Moony?’

‘Because, Padfoot, you always moan about us never getting a good compartment.’

Sirius ran his hand through his dark hair and replied, ‘Ahhh, I see the logic behind your thinking, Moony.’

Remus smiled and pointed towards the end of the train. There were two figures; one was tall and lanky and the other slightly shorter. ‘There they are, Padfoot. Let’s not keep them waiting.’


‘About time you two!’ said James, his hazel eyes twinkling with excitement at the prospect of another year of mischief making with his best friends. As ever, his round glasses were perched upon his straight nose and his jet black hair was as messy as it was on his first day at Hogwarts.

‘I’ll have you know, Prongs,’ said Sirius, planting his hands on his hips. ‘We are all way too early for the train so you don’t have the right to badger me for being late.’ He frowned at James for a few seconds and then a huge grin spread across his face. He clapped his friend on the shoulder.

‘You all right mate?’ laughed James.

‘Never better, my dear Prongs.’ Sirius slung his arm around Peter’s shoulders and pulled him towards the train. ‘So, Peter, how was your holiday?’

‘It was okay...’

James turned to Remus. He held his hand out and shook his hand. ‘How are you, Remus?’

Remus shrugged. ‘I’m fine. Summer has been a bit boring, nothing eventful...’

James eyed his friends face. Remus’ face was littered with faint scars, souvenirs of his condition. Dark circles hung beneath his green eyes. His sandy hair seemed to hang limply around his face, as if the life had vanished from it. Still holding on to Remus’ hand, he pulled his friend closer so he could whisper in his ear for Sirius and Peter were dawdling behind them.

‘Don’t lie to me Remus, I know you’re not fine. Those scars seem worse than the last time I saw you.’

Remus sighed and hung his head. ‘They’re getting worse. The transformations, I mean...’

James let go of his hand and put his hand on Remus’ shoulder. ‘Well, you know we’re all here for you mate.’

Remus looked up and smiled at James. He could be a pig-headed idiot at times, but he was one of the best friends he had ever had. ‘Thanks, James.’




‘Remus! REMUS!’ yelled a voice.

Remus spun around and saw Lily Evans running down the carriage towards him. He smiled as she came to a halt in front of him, clutching a stitch in her side. She tried to smile back but it just looked like she was grimacing in pain. She hasn’t changed a bit, thought Remus. Her red hair hung in loose curls past her shoulders. Emerald green and sparkling, her eyes stood out against her pale skin.

‘Are you okay, Lily?’

She straightened up and smiled properly. ‘I’m okay thank you, and yourself?’

‘Oh, I could be better,’ replied Remus, as they set of down the train to the Prefects carriage.

‘Have you been ill again?’ she questioned. ‘You look like you haven’t had a decent nights sleep all summer.’

Remus suddenly felt like his face was on fire. He always had trouble explaining himself when anyone asked about his ‘illness’. He found it even harder with Lily. She always seemed to know more than she ought to.

‘Not exactly, Lily, you see – ‘

She held up a hand. ‘It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. I know you’ll tell me when you are ready. I’m here if you want to talk.’

Remus looked into her eyes and nodded. ‘I’ll keep that in mind, Lily. Thank you.’





James had always loved the train ride to and from Hogwarts. He loved the change in scenery from the neat fields to the wild and out of control moors. He loved the atmosphere. But he loved the time he spent with his friends most of all. He knew that with Lord Voldemort and his followers, each moment he spent with them was to be treasured.

That was why this year he was going to do some growing up and show Lily that he knew the dangers and he took them seriously.

He looked around the compartment and had to stifle a laugh.

‘What’s so funny?’ demanded Sirius.

James’ smile was so wide he thought his cheek muscles were going to seize up. ‘You’re a mess, mate.’

Sirius and Peter were playing a game of Gobstones. If you lost, the stones sprayed a foul smelling liquid into your face. Peter was totally clean. Sirius on the other hand, was not. His long, dark hair was dripping wet and was giving off a rather unpleasant odor.

Sirius shook his hair deliberately so James was sprayed with water.

‘Leave it off, Padfoot!’ laughed James, removing his glasses and cleaning them with his wand. As he put them back on, a flash of red caught his eye. He jumped up and ran to the door, scattering the gobstones as he went. He muttered a hurried apology to his grumbling friends, before throwing the compartment door open.

‘Lily!’ he shouted. She carried on without looking back. He sighed and ran up to her side. He opened his mouth to speak, but she interrupted him.

‘What do you want, Potter?’ she said irritably, not looking him in the eye.

James blinked. ‘I just wanted a chance to speak to you...’

She stopped and turned to face him at last. Her eyebrows were pulled down into a frown and her glittering green eyes were boring into James’ hazel ones. James just stood there and blinked stupidly. He had forgotten how pretty Lily was.

Lily sighed and said, ‘Whatever you have to say, Potter, just say it. I need to go and change into my robes.’

James shook his head to clear his thoughts and replied quickly, ‘I just wanted to apologize for my behaviour. It was wrong of me to curse Snape - ’

‘Hold on,’ said Lily. ‘You’re apologizing?’

James frowned. ‘Yes?’ he said slowly, confused at her reaction.

She relaxed her stance slightly and cocked her head to the side. A curl of her hair fell across her face. She tucked it back behind her ear, still looking at James with uncertain eyes.

‘What are you after, Potter?’

‘I’m not after anything...’

‘Are you sure you’re not just apologizing to get me in a good mood so you can then ask me out?’

James smiled. ‘No. That hadn’t crossed my mind actually,’ He paused before continuing, ‘I just felt bad about what I had done. I know Snape is your friend; I shouldn’t have done that to him. Even if I have a quarrel with him, I shouldn’t have made you suffer. It was wrong.’

At the mention of Snape, Lily’s lips pressed together to form a thin line. When she spoke, it was through clenched teeth. ‘He’s not a friend of mine, James.’ She turned on her heels and walked slowly back to her compartment.

‘Thank you,’ said James quietly.

Lily stopped with her hand resting on the handle of the door. ‘For what?’

‘For listening, and...’ he smiled. ‘For calling me James and not Potter.’

Lily flashed him a quick, uncertain smile before vanishing into her compartment. James smiled to himself before turning around and making his way back to his compartment dreamily.

This year is going to be different. I just know it, James thought.

#Chapter Two

‘...and may I remind the adventurous amongst you that the Forbidden Forest is still out of bounds,’ Dumbledore’s piercing blue eyes strayed to where Sirius and James were making their empty plates float with their wands, ‘and anyone found in there will be punished and no exceptions.

‘Now, enjoy your meal young ones!’ He sat down in his chair, the floating candles illuminating his long, white hair.

Over at the Gryffindor table, Sirius and Peter were having a tug-of-war over a particular chicken drumstick.

‘For god’s sake, Sirius, you already have ten on your plate!’ cried Peter, his floppy blonde hair covering his eyes.

‘Well, I’m a growing boy, Wormtail, I need my food!’

James whipped out his wand and cast a shield charm in between the quarrelling pair. The drumstick dropped onto Peter’s plate.

‘Will you pair quit it!’ he said sharply.

‘James, lower your wand,’ said Remus calmly, his hand outstretched towards James’ arm.

James looked down at his wand; his eyes widened. He put a stop to the spell and busied himself with putting his wand away. Two of his friends just sat there, staring. Sirius’ hand was still out stretched towards Peter. Peter’s mouth was slightly open. Remus however, dropped his outstretched arm and started handing out bread rolls.

‘Pass me the butter, Peter,’ he asked politely. Peter jumped and handed Remus the butter dish. Remus buttered his bread roll and then he sighed.

‘Sirius please shut your mouth. At the moment, you’re doing a very good impression of a gold fish.’

Sirius snapped his mouth shut, but continued staring at James, who was now staring at the enchanted ceiling.

‘But he - ’

‘Yes.’

‘But, Moony, he just - ’

‘Yes, Sirius, I know what he did. I have two very good eyes. I saw for myself.’

James finally looked at his friends. He lifted a hand and began messing with his hair as he spoke, ‘Sorry guys. I just think about the little arguments we have and how they seem stupid compared to the families who have lost loved ones,’ he smiled sheepishly, ‘It just gets to me...I feel the need to do something to help, you know, but what I don’t know...’ he trailed off.

‘It’s okay, Prongs,’ said Peter quietly, his watery blue eyes fixed on his friends face. ‘I get what you mean. People around where I live are going through it, and it’s horrible. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.’

James smiled weakly. He moved his eyes to look at Sirius, who was still staring at him (at least his mouth is shut, thought James). ‘Sirius...?’

Sirius shook his head before looking at James again. ‘It’s okay, James. I understand.’

‘Are you sure...’

Sirius held up his hand. ‘Just forget about it.’

The two boys just grinned stupidly at each other. Remus shook his head and muttered something that sounded like ‘Idiots...’

Further down the Gryffindor table, Lily was sitting with Alice Prewett and Marlene McKinnon.

Marlene looked at Lilly and said, ‘Is something wrong, Lily?’

Lily jumped slightly and stared at her friends as if she had only just realised that they were there. She lay down her knife and fork and said, stuttering slightly, ‘N-no, I’m fine. Why do you ask?’

‘Well – ‘started Alice, as she poured a glass of pumpkin juice.

‘– you’ve hardly touched your food, for one thing – ‘continued Marlene, a smile creeping across her pale face.

‘- and that must mean there is something on your mind! Because you, Lily Evans, never leave your food if you can help it!’ said Alice simply, ignoring Lily’s shocked face at the slight on her appetite. She was a growing girl after all.

Lily stuck her tongue out at the two girls and said, ‘There isn’t anything wrong. As per usual, your imaginations have run away with you.’

Marlene and Alice just smiled widely at Lily. This continued throughout dinner, with Lily finally snapping and throwing her napkin at Marlene. Marlene dodged it, but in the process knocked Alice as she was eating, ending with Alice face first in her chocolate gateau. As Alice was about to push Marlene’s face into the ice cream bowl, Professor Dumbledore rose from his chair, and, as if by the flick of a switch, everyone in the Great Hall fell silent.

‘As I’m sure you are all eager to rest, I will dismiss you now. Be sure to be up bright and early for the start of your lessons in the morning!’ He raised his hands in farewell before sitting back down and engaging in conversation with Professor Slughorn, whose face was getting redder and redder with each goblet.

‘First years follow me please!’ cried Lily, waving her hands at a group of scared looking boys and girls. The group shuffled towards Lily and Remus, sticking very close together. Remus smiled. He could remember six years ago when he had been in their position. It was the day he finally felt wanted and accepted, the day he met James, Sirius and Peter.

Remus and Lily led the first-years up the grand staircase and to Gryffindor Tower. As they walked, Remus began to feel the aches and pains that normally lead to the full moon. He stretched his arms out and heard a crack. As he strained his ears, he now realised the rest of his joints were creaking too. He groaned.

‘Something wrong, Remus?’ asked Lily, a slight smile playing across her lips.

Remus shrugged. ‘Just normal aches and pains you know...’

Lily nodded. ‘But you seem to have them all the time, so I don’t think they’re normal.’

‘Lily...’

‘I know. I’m sorry. I just wish you’d confide in me Remus,’ she said sadly. ‘I wouldn’t laugh at you for showing your feelings like Potter would...’

Remus held his hand up. ‘He’s not really like that, Lily.’

‘Venomous Tentactula and I’ll take your word for it, Remus’ she answered, standing back so she could let the first-years through the portrait hole.

James was lying on his bed, staring up at the canopy when Remus slowly shouldered his way into the room. James lifted his head and waved in welcome.

‘Alright, Moony?’

Remus grunted and shuffled towards his bed. He quickly changed and then flopped down on the mattress. James frowned.

‘How were the first years?’

Remus said quietly, ‘Fine,’ he twiddled his thumbs before adding, ‘Lily spoke about you.’

James sat up so fast his head began to spin. He sat still while his head stopped spinning. He turned excitedly to look at Remus. ‘Oh yeah? What did she say?’

Remus smiled at the hopeful look that was on James’ face. Every year he came to Hogwarts, ever hopeful that Lily would succumb to his ‘charms’ as James called it. ‘It was nothing bad, so I’d say that was a good thing, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up just yet.’

‘Why?’ said James happily, his eyes out of focus.

‘You need to show her you’re not a big-headed prat... ’

‘Who said I was anyway?’ demanded James.

‘...and that you actually have human feelings,’ finished Remus, having ignored James’ interruption. He sat up and looked around the room. ‘Where are Wormtail and Padfoot?’

James grinned mischievously. ‘They decided to have a little night time wandering down to the kitchens.’

Remus smiled. ‘Gone for the usual then?’

‘I should think so. Padfoot said something about trying to steal some Firewhiskey.’

‘Oh, that should be fun in the morning then,’ said Remus sarcastically, ‘going into Transfiguration with a hangover.’

James laughed at Remus’ tone. ‘Come on, Moony! It’s our first night back, we need to celebrate being back at this place!’ He looked around at the deep, red bed curtains that framed each of the four-poster beds. ‘It’s great to be back!’

‘I agree, James, but…’

Remus was interrupted by the dormitory door bursting open. James and Remus stopped talking and both stared at the open door. After a few seconds, Sirius’ head appeared, grinning madly. Next, Peter appeared, his arms full of bottles.

‘Let’s get to it, lads!’ cried Sirius, pulling James’ invisibility cloak from around him and Peter with a flourish. He relieved Peter of two bottles of Firewhiskey and settled down on his bed. He threw James a bottle, while Peter joined Remus on his bed, handing Remus a bottle too.

Sirius had already opened his bottle and took a swig. He sucked air in through his teeth as the liquid burned his throat. He raised his bottle and said, ‘Here’s to another year of pulling pranks, getting Snivellus annoyed, getting the ladies –‘ he looked at James and snorted, ‘- and just generally, having fun with great friends!’

The other three agreed heartily, and raised their bottles.

The next morning, Sirius woke with a pounding headache. He instantly regretted stealing the Firewhiskey from the kitchens. As most of his actions, it seemed like a good idea at the time. He raised his head and looked over at James. He snorted with laughter. James was lying face down on the stone floor, a bucket next to his head. Clearly, he had suffered more so than the rest of the Marauders.

‘James?’ whispered Sirius.

James grunted in reply.

Despite his banging head, Sirius laughed. ‘You alright, mate?’

At this, James lifted his head and stared at Sirius. His glasses were absent and the whites of his eyes were red. It looked as if he had been crying. ‘What do you think?’ he snapped, shuffling onto his knees. He looked over at the other boys’ beds.

‘Why aren’t those guys up yet?’ James demanded, getting slowly to his feet.

Sirius shrugged and flopped back down onto his pillows. He watched as James shuffled around the room gathering his things, taking care to make as much noise as possible, so to wake Remus and Peter. James stomped past Peter’s bed and kicked it, making Peter jump and fall out of his bed.

‘What was that for!?’ Peter cried in James’ direction, but James had already slammed the door to the showers behind him.

Peter turned to Sirius and said, ‘What’s up with him?’

Sirius rose from his bed slowly and stretched. ‘He’s hungover, Wormtail. He has never been able to handle his drink well.’ He chuckled to himself. His headache was dulling slightly, but still hovered around the middle of his forehead.

‘How’s your head, Peter?’ asked Sirius, pulling his uniform on.

Peter stood and smiled. ‘It’s fine actually! I have a high tolerance when it comes to my booze.’

‘Pfft,’ grumbled Remus from the folds of his duvet. He poked his head out, squinting. His sandy hair was sticking up, resembling James’ hair. ‘Why are you guys up anyway? It’s too early.’

‘Not that early, Moony,’ said James as he came back into the dormitory. His hair was damp and his eyes weren’t red anymore. The water seemed to have done him some good. James threw his clothes on his bed and jammed his glasses on his face. ‘It’s half past eight. Classes start at nine and we still need to get our timetables.’

At his words, Remus threw his covers from around him and ran like a headless chicken into the showers. The other three boys just stared after him, identical smiles spreading from ear to ear.

Sirius pulled his robes over his head and emerged with his hair static. ‘It’s nice to know Moony is still a human.’

‘Yeah,’ said James, hoisting his bag onto his shoulder. ‘I was beginning to worry he could do nothing wrong. If that was true, he would have to be kicked out the Marauders. We can’t be having a goody-goody involved with our tom-foolery.’

Peter and Sirius nodded wisely and carried on getting ready for lessons.






‘Nice to see you on time, Mr Potter,’ said Professor McGonagall, her eyebrows slightly raised as she watched James, Sirius and Peter walk in her classroom and sit down. As ever, the Professor had her hair pulled back into a severe bun; her square spectacles perched on her nose. She frowned. ‘But where is Mr Lupin?’

James grinned to himself. ‘He’ll be running late today, Professor.’

Professor McGonagall sniffed through her pointed nose and stood. By now, most of the class were seated. James turned around and saw a mixture of scarlet and gold with blue and bronze; the Gryffindors would be taking Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws.

‘This term, we will focus on the topic of human transfiguration,’ said McGonagall, walking slowly round to stand at the front of her desk. The class started chattering excitedly as the professor announced this.

‘This does not mean, however, that you have an excuse to act like immature children in my classroom,’ said McGonagall, her nostrils flaring slightly. ‘Yes, I am talking about you, Potter. You and your trouble-making comrades.’ She looked over the top of her glasses at James and said, ‘Let’s not start the term off with a detention.’

‘Yes, Professor.’

McGonagall eyed James for a couple of seconds before addressing the class as a whole. ‘Now, open your copies of Guide to Advanced Transfiguration and read the chapter on human transfiguration, before making a few precise notes. After that, you can come to the front of the room and get a mirror, before getting to work with the magic.’

James turned to Sirius and Peter, a devilish grin finding its way onto his face. ‘Something tells me this lesson will be full of fun...’

Sirius laughed his bark-like laugh. ‘Prongs, beware of the beast called Evans,’ he nodded at the red-head sitting two rows in front of the Marauders. ‘She will hex you into oblivion if you faff about.’ He looked at James, and flicked his wand in his direction. James’ hair changed from its normal jet black, to an acid green. He laughed at the expression on James’ face. After seconds of looking like a deer caught in head lights, James laughed along with Sirius. McGonagall, however, did not find it amusing.

‘Mr Black! Did you not hear what I said at the beginning of class?’

Sirius pretended to think. ‘Erm, I can’t recall anything. Sorry, Professor.’

McGonagall frowned at him. ‘Twenty points from Gryffindor, Black. If I catch you abusing human transfiguration again, I will put you in a month’s worth of detention. As punishment, you will not be able to practice the magic in class. You will do it as homework.’ She waved her wand and James’ hair returned to normal.

As soon as the professor had walked away from their table, James and Sirius started sniggering. Peter, however, seemed to have noticed nothing that had gone on around him. He was instead staring down at the pages in front of him, a blank look on his face. He turned his head and said to the two boys, ‘I don’t get it.’

Sirius and James exchanged looks and set to work helping Peter understand the work.







‘Lily, I’m sorry!’

‘Save it, Potter.’

James sighed and quickened his pace. In Transfiguration, James and Sirius had been helping Peter change the colour of his hair, because he was having trouble with the spell, when an extremely snobby Ravenclaw had goaded Peter about not being able to manage the spell. Sirius had turned around and said something about him and the Ravenclaws mother. This had caused the Ravenclaw to get angry and start shouting abuse at Sirius in the middle of the classroom. Then (Sirius being Sirius) retaliated and got sent to the back of the classroom. Being a fellow Marauder and best friend, James had spent the rest of the lesson making the Ravenclaws life hell. He prodded him, poked him, and threw things at him and much more. The Ravenclaw had snapped, sending a curse flying at James but, being one of the best duellers in Hogwarts (he didn’t like to brag about it) James deflected the curse and it had hit the Ravenclaw. Lily had thought it was all James fault, when, in reality, it was the Ravenclaws fault.

‘Lily! Listen to me, please!’

Lily stopped abruptly. James hit the brakes and stopped just in front of her. Her eyes were blazing with anger, but there was something else hidden in them. Is she disappointed in me? , thought James.

‘Well?’ she demanded angrily, her hands on her hips.

James chewed his lip before speaking. ‘He started it!’ He inwardly groaned. That was not what he had wanted to say. Lily’s face fell, as if she was expecting James to say something else.

‘How childish of you, Potter,’ she said calmly.

James faltered under the gaze Lily was sending his way. He didn’t like the cold anger. He was used to a shouting Lily, shouting-so-hard-that-she-goes-red-in-the-face-Lily – not this calm, but still angry Lily. She was harder to predict this way. At least if she was shouting, he could gauge as to what she would do next.

‘I’m sorry, that didn’t come out the way I wanted it to...’

‘No, Potter. I don’t want to hear it. I’ve had enough of your childishness; disregard for others feelings and your lack of respect!’ She turned around and walked a few feet, before turning back around again, her fists clenched at her temples. ‘I’m just mad at myself.’

James frowned. ‘Why?’ he asked tentatively.

‘I actually thought you were changing. On the train on the way here, you actually apologised to me. I thought at the time it seemed odd, but I was so glad that you seemed to be deflating your enormous head. But, after today, we’re back at square one. You – the arrogant bully who thinks it’s fine to hex others, and me – the idiot who actually thought James Potter could change.’

She left James standing alone in the Transfiguration corridor, his hazel eyes dull and sad.






Lily stomped up the stairs to the girls’ dormitory, her temper threatening to boil over. She had to get away from people, otherwise she’d do something very un-lady like. Like punch someone.

Swinging the door open with force that probably was not necessary, Lily entered the dormitory. It was empty, apart from Alice, who was reading through her Potions textbook. Potions had never been Alice’s strong subject, so she had a habit of reading the book’s cover to cover before the lessons actually started. Upon Lily’s loud entrance, Alice looked up.

She raised an eyebrow. ‘Do I really want to ask?’

Lily shook her head, afraid she would say something she would regret. Alice nodded and returned to her book.

Lily walked into the bathroom the girls shared and shut the door behind her. Fixing her eyes on the silver framed mirror on the wall, she studied herself. Her eyes were watering and she did not know why. She scrunched her eyes up and tears leaked from the corners. She was angry at herself.

Why I am letting James Potter of all people, bother me this much?