Prologue

Prologue:

"Well, I thought that exam was a piece of cake." Sirius said confidently, as he, James, Remus and Peter strolled across the grounds at ease. "I'll be surprised if I don't get 'Outstanding' on it at least."

"Me too," said James. He put his hand in his pocket and withdrew a glint of gold, a struggling golden snitch.

"Where'd you get that?" The other Marauders wanted to know.

"Nicked it." said James casually. That was pretty obvious. He began playing with it, letting it get about a foot away before seizing it. Although he was a chaser, his reflexes with the snitch were excellent. Peter was watching in awe, wishing he possessed even just one of James's many skills.

Stopping in the shade of one of their favourite trees, a particular beech on the edge of the lake, they threw themselves onto the grass. The sunlight was hitting the lake making it almost blinding to look at and several girls were paddling in the shallow part around the edge. Typically, Lupin began to read.

Sirius glanced around at everyone, hair still flopping into his spectacular eyes. James was still fiddling with the snitch, letting it fly further and further away each time and Peter appeared to be drooling over James's antics. Sirius wishes Peter would shut up, and even James was beginning to find the cheering tiresome. When would Peter get a life? But he forced himself to ignore the irritating Peter and enjoy the attention. It was a start at least. James rumpled his hair up as he watched the girls by the lake. Not far off he could see a stunning red head, laughing on the land near the water were her friends were splashing about or laying down and talking. He watched her, and noticed the light also hitting her hair, making it shimmer as she moved. It was entrancing, and he was barely watching the snitch when he grabbed it.

"Put that away will you?" Sirius said irritably after one whoop, "Before Wormtail wets himself in excitement."

Peter went pink and James grinned.

"If it bothers you." he said stuffing it in his pocket, inwardly hoping Sirius had not seen him staring at the girls across the lake.

"I'm bored." sighed Sirius, "Wish it was a full moon."
"You might." said Remus darkly, his face partially hidden by the book he was engrossed in. "We've still got transfiguration, if you're bored you could test me." He held out the text book, "Here…"
Sirius snorted, "I don't need to look at that rubbish, I know it all."

James smiled a little. Too right they did, being unregistered Animagi and all. Then he spotted sight of something else. And it wasn't red hair, it was rather greasy black hair. "This'll liven you up Padfoot." James said to his best friend quietly, "Look who it is…"
Sirius's head turned to fast it was amazing he didn't get whiplash. "Excellent…" he breathed, "Snivellus…"

Snape was coming towards them and Sirius and James stood up. Remus and Peter stayed sitting. Remus was looking rather uncomfortable. As a prefect he knew he should probably try to stop Sirius and James, but he didn't have the guts right now. He pretended to read his book, but his heart was pounding in guilt and his eyes could not seem to move as he watched Sirius and James out the corner of his eye. Peter, however, looked rather excited. Trust him…

"All right, Snivellus?" James said loudly.

Snape seemed to have been expecting an attack. He reacted fast, plunging his hand inside his robes and whipping out his wand. It was half way into the air when James shouted, "Expelliarmus!"

Snape's wand flew up into the air and fell with a little thud behind him. Sirius laughed, and then called out, "Impedimenta!"

Snape was knocked off his feet halfway through a dive to his own wand.

Students all around were watching, and a crowd had gathered. Snape was very unpopular, and no one would stick up for him against James and Sirius. There were no Slytherins to be seen to even attempt to help him. Not that a Slytherin would risk their own hide to do that.

Snape lay panting on the ground now, and James and Sirius advanced on him, wands raised. James kept glancing over his shoulder, looking towards the girls by the lake as he went. Peter was also on his feet, watching hungrily, highly entertained. Remus was still determinedly focusing on his book.

"How did the exam go, Snivelly?" said James.

"I was watching him." said Sirius, before Snape could say a word, "His nose was touching the parchment. There'll be grease marks all over it, the won't be able to read a word."

Several people laughing, most of all Peter, who sniggered rather shrilly. Snape was still struggling to get up, but the jinx was still operating on him. He was struggling, as though bound by invisible ropes.

"You-wait," he managed to spit out at James, with an expression of the purest form of loathing. "You-wait!"

"For what." said Sirius, before James could fire a witty remark, "What are you going to do Snivelly, wipe you nose on us?"

Snape let out a stream of swear words and curses. Nothing happened, his wand still ten feet away.

James eyed him coldly, "Wash out your mouth. Scourgify!"

Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once, the forth was covering his lips, making him gag, choking him-

"Leave him ALONE!"

James and Sirius looked round. James's free hand immediately jumped to his hair.

It was Lily, with her thick, dark, red hair that fell to her shoulders, and her startlingly green almond shaped eyes.

"All right Evans?" said James, and the tone of his voice changed noticeably, to suddenly pleasant, deeper and more mature.

"Leave him alone." Lily was looking at James with immense dislike, "What's he done to you?"

"Well," said James, deliberating the point, "It's more the fact he exists if you know what I mean…"
Many students laughed, Sirius and Peter included. Remus was still staring blankly at his book. Lily and Remus weren't laughing.

"You think you're funny." she said coldly, "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone."
James couldn't help himself. He always had to do this…

"I will if you go out with me Evans," he said quickly, "Go on… Go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."

Behind him the jinx was wearing off Snape and Snape began to inch towards his wand, spitting out soapsuds as he crawled.

"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid." said Lily furiously.

"Bad luck Prongs." said Sirius briskly, and turned back to Snape, "OI!"

Snape directed his wand at James and there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face, splattering his robes with blood. James whirled around and a second later Snape was hanging upside down in the air his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of greying underpants.

Many people laughed and cheered and Sirius, James and Peter roared with laughter.

Lily's expression twitched, as if she was about to smile, but she didn't and yelled again, "Let him down!"

"Certainly." said James, jerkin his wand upwards so Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the ground.

Snape got quickly to his feet, seizing his wand, but Sirius said, "Petrificus Totalus!" And he keeled over again, as rigid as a board.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily yelled. Behind her, some of the girls at the lake looked up. Lily had her own wand out now, and James and Sirius eyed it wearily. She was, after all, the expert at Charms.

"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you." said James earnestly, looking more casual than he was inside.

"Take the curse off him then!" said Lily, jabbing a finger at Snape.

James sighed deeply, and muttered the counter curse. "There you go," he said, as he watched Snape struggle to his feet, "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus."
"I don't need help from filthy Mudbloods like her." spat Snape.

"Fine." she said coolly, not letting the words effect her, "I won't bother in future. And I wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."
"Apologise to Evans!" James roared at Snape, wand pointing threateningly at him.

"I don't want YOU to make him apologise!" Lily shouted, rounding on James, "You're just as bad as he is!"

"What!" yelped James, hardly believing her words. "I'd NEVER call you a- you-know-what!"

"Messing up your hair because you think it's cool to look 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!"

She turned on her heel and stormed off. Some of the girls from the lake were getting up now, glancing at Lily.

"Evans!" James shouted after her, "Hey! EVANS!" She didn't look back.

"What is it with her?" said James, trying to look as if it was a throw-away question of no importance, and knowing he was failing.

"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited mate." said Sirius.

"Right." said James, furious now, "Right…"
There was a flash of light and Snape was once again hanging upside down in the air.

"Who wants to see me take Snivellus's pants off?"

But he was stopped yet again by another voice.

"What the hell is going on?" a brunette was coming up to them. It was Jessica Woods, one of Lily's best friends. Usually Jessie might have been laughing with them, being class clown along with James and Sirius. But now she looked pretty mad, probably because Amy and Kate, their other two best friends, were trying to chase after Lily and clam her down. James and Sirius flinched. She was joint first with Remus in Defence Against the Dark Arts and what she lacked in the theory, she made up for in spells.

"I think that's a wrap." she said coldly, glaring at James and Sirius, flicking her wand so Snape, again, fell to the ground, "Whatever Lily said to you has got to be right, and I wouldn't bother flicking another wand at Snivellus, because you've upset Lily and you've got me to answer to. I'd advise leaving. Now!"

James and Sirius hesitated, glancing at each other, Peter looked scared and Remus was watching now.

Jessie pulled her wand out, grey eyes flashing, "I'm warning you."
"Fine." James mumbled, getting louder, "Fine. We're leaving. Count yourself lucky Snivelly."
And Snape made a hasty exit. James and Sirius went back to their tree with Remus, and Jessie glanced around to make sure there was a reasonable distance between Snape and the Marauders then pocketed her wand and ran after Lily.

James was deep in thought. He'd really screwed it up this time. Lily HATED him now… And there was nothing he could do to change that now…