A little introduction!

This story takes place in the Marauders era, meaning I had to improvise a few things and include characters who may not be true to their age. It is set in the Marauders' sixth year, meaning all four, plus Lily Evans and Severus Snape, are all sixth years. I included a few characters who plausibly could attend Hogwarts at the same time: Lucius Malfoy as a seventh year; Xenophilius Lovegood as a seventh year; Amos Diggory as a sixth year; Quirinus Quirrell as a first year; and I invented a few characters as stand-ins for existing placeholders (if that makes sense). Cho Chang's mom is Yumi Kae, a Ravenclaw; Luna Lovegood's mom is Pandora Kalloway, also a Ravenclaw; and Cedric Diggory's mom is Cassiopeia (Cassi) Dale. All three are sixth-years, as is the main character, whose love interest is Sirius.

Most of the professors have been agreed upon on forums. DADA & Divination had to be made up, so I created Bronte for DADA and Harley for Divination. Others are basically canonically acceptable: Kettleburn for Care of Magical Creatures; Flitwick for Charms; McGonagall for Transfiguration; Slughorn for Potions (canon- Lily was in the Slug Club); younger Sprout and Filch in their same roles; Hagrid could be there as gamekeeper apprentice, but Molly Weasley mentions Ogg was gamekeeper before Hagrid; and Dumbledore is still headmaster, as he was when Tom Riddle attended roughly twenty years before the Marauders. The professors we didn't witness within the books, I had to make up personalities for, as well as my stand-in characters.

The main character, Hazel Drummond, has a name that actually means "Hazel at the Ridge". Hazels symbolize creative wisdom, which I thought appropriate for a Ravenclaw. She is also the beater for the Ravenclaw quidditch team. The book is more about her story (and Sirius) than the Marauders themselves, but I still refer to it as Marauders era and the four do still play a key role in the book.

I pulled from various sources to set up the classes, schedule, and their curriculum. It will be different from Harry's because she's a Ravenclaw, and it may not be completely accurate, but it is enough so that the story won't be affected by any inaccuracy.

Enjoy!

Chapter One

"Ah, Hazel, I'm not ready to go back."

"Neither am I, Cassi."

"But you at least have something to look forward to."

I looked over at my friend, brow wrinkling. "That being?"

"You've gotten letters the whole summer,"

"So have you," I reminded Cassi. She rolled her brown eyes, brushing a swoop of auburn hair out of them.

"Not from Amos Diggory or Xeno Lovegood, though- they're seventh-years and they thought enough to write you, Hazel."

I chuckled. "Amos wrote to see if I had heard from you because he was too chicken to write to you. Xeno was asking if I had received my report card yet, and to ask how I did on my OWLs."

"Still," Cassi complained, "I've only gotten letters from Yumi and Pandora.

I leaned back and took a long swig of hot coco. "Well, I'm not worried about boys this year, Cass. I'm just looking to get my classes done. I'm more looking forward to seeing Professor Harley and Professor Kettleburn."

"I'm starting to think you fancy him."

I made a face. "Who?"

"Professor Harley."

I laughed aloud. "He's the divination professor, my sweet Cassi- I'm not interested in dating him. He's just a fascinating man. You know, he was right last year- that prediction about the saddle symbol, overcoming something troublesome, being successful. It was about OWLs, I just know it."

"And you want to spend your potentially free period learning more about divination? You don't even want to be something that would warrant that being useful!"

I kicked Cassi's leg from where I sat on the couch and took another sip of hot coco. "I'm not completely sure of that yet. Maybe I'll come back to Hogwarts and teach it."

Cassi sat forward, earnest in her brown eyes, but still maintaining a joking tone. "No, Hazel, no. You're the best beater Ravenclaw has had in years- you can't just throw that out. You've been talking about joining the Falmouth Falcons after leaving Hogwarts since, what, second year?"

I raised my eyebrows. "You don't honestly believe that's all I'll do with my life."

"No, I don't," she agreed. "You're also excellent at Defense Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures. Maybe you could combine them- go raise dragons or train hippogriffs."

I smiled at her. "I can do all of that and take Divination this year. And besides, I'm not worried about me- I'm worried about you. What are you going to do after Hogwarts? You only have a couple more years to figure it out."

"Exactly," Cassi protested. "A couple more years. And in those couple more years, I'll figure it out. If nothing else… I'll write for the Daily Prophet."

"My turn," I argued. "You're the best Potions whiz in Ravenclaw. You can't throw that away any more than I can throw away my quidditch skills."

"I'm not as good at potions as you are at quidditch."

"What makes you say that?"

She sighed, looking at the fire crackling in her living room. "That Severus Snape is a million times better than I am."

I rolled my eyes. "Severus Snape is a genius, in all things but love. Ooh, maybe you two will fall in love and have little potion master babies-"

"Eww, no, stop-"

"The Slytherin and the Ravenclaw- I should write a book!"

"Hazel, please, no."

I tossed my head back, laughing, and grinned at her. "I'm writing it now. We'll even include Lily Evans in there, as she has his eye for now. The tragedy of a chain of unrequited love- your love for the potions boy, the potions boy's love for the Gryffindor girl."

"I'm going to stop you right there, Hazel Drummond," Cassi said, glaring. "That will never happen."

I met her eyes, still grinning. "And why not?"

"I don't like Snape."

"Then who do you like?"

"No one," she lied, but she had kept up that lie the whole summer. I had a hunch I knew who she liked. "But if I did like someone, it wouldn't be Snape. He's- oh, he's alright, I suppose, for a Slytherin. But he isn't my type."

"Mhm."

"He isn't!"

I laughed again. "Whatever lie comforts you most, dearest Cassiopeia."

She groaned. "And don't you dare write that book."

"Don't underestimate me."

"I don't, which is why I feel it necessary to ask you not to write it. Because I know you will."

I smiled. "Don't ever doubt a thing, dear one- least of all true love!"

The morning came bright and early. I dressed quickly in my blue turtleneck and a pair of gray jeans. I faced myself in the mirror as I raked a brush through the dark blonde locks that had grown since school got out, and then pulled it into a side-braid. Once I was dressed, I made my way into the kitchen and started some tea. I leaned on the counter for a moment, waiting for it to brew, and heard footsteps down the hall. Mum walked out, her brown hair pulled into a messy ponytail.

"You're sure you want to go alone this year?" She asked.

I nodded. "I'm sure, Mum. You have that job interview, you go on."

"I'm just worried you'll need an extra hand, or get scared, or… Promise you'll write to me every day?"

I could see the tears welling up in her eyes and reminded myself it must be hard to watch her witch daughter disappear to a world she knew nothing of. Mum was a muggle, and I was a witch- that was where complications started. Dad had died before he got the chance to explain to her about his magic, and the fact their child may share in those abilities.

"I promise, Mum," I said, crossing the bar to take her hand. "Maybe not every day, but often. I'm sure Yumi will remind me constantly."

Mum smiled sadly, and then squeezed my hand. "Where is she? I haven't seen her all summer."

"Yumi? She's been visiting France. She has a cousin there, apparently, who attends Beauxbatons. They've been visiting all summer. I told you this, Mum- she sent me letters."

"What about Dora?" She added, heading into the kitchen to start breakfast. "Where's she been?"

"I'm not sure," I replied. "But you have to remember, she lives considerably further away from here than Cassi."

"Where does she live, again?"

Does she remember nothing? I thought, smiling. "She lives closer to Nottingham."

"That explains it. How's her mum?"

I continued to answer questions, strolling back and forth around the house and making sure I had everything ready. As we sat down to eat breakfast for the last time until the holidays, a familiar tapping came to the window. I grinned at Mum and raced over, opening the window of the living room.

"Archibald!" I greeted the tawny owl, letting her in. She flapped through the window and landed on the TV, dropping off the letter on the floor. Immediately after, she went to picking at her feathers. I stroked her head and grabbed the letter. It was marked in fancy script, To Hazel Drummond of Oxford.

I opened the letter and began to read it.

Hazel,

I apologize for not writing to you during the summer. I quite wanted to, as you have been a friend throughout the years. I've been… Busy. I'll explain in person; it's too much for a letter. I know we're in different houses, but I was hoping you could ride with me today. I understand if you would rather ride with friends you haven't seen in a long time.

I hope all is well.

Lily Evans.

"Who is it, dear?" Mum asked.

"Lily," I answered.

"Who?"

"She's a Gryffindor. We haven't spoken much, but we always manage to have the same table in Potions. She's part of the Slug Club, like me. She was hoping I would sit with her on the train."

"Will you?"

"I guess so."

Mum came back down the hall from where she had left while I read the letter. She finished putting in an earring and glanced at the clock. "Oh! Darling, go get your stuff- you'll be late!"

One glance at the clock told me she was right. Mum and I managed to get my belongings outside, and Archibald into her cage. We were waiting on the roadside when Cassi and her family pulled up, the car stopping. Cassi hopped out to help me load up, and then Mum grabbed me to say her goodbyes. After what seemed to be a million I love you's and stay safe's, she finally let me get in the car and leave. I really would miss her.

I had to hold Archibald's cage in my lap, and it was a tight squeeze with me, the owl, Cassi on the far left holding their barn owl Harold, and her little sister Lyra in the middle. Lyra and Cassi were so dissimilar it was hard to tell they were siblings, despite their being known for their shared last name. Cassi had auburn waves; Lyra had thick blonde locks. Cassi was a Ravenclaw, and Lyra, two years her junior, was in Gryffindor (and admittedly a capable chaser). Cassi was punctilious and pragmatic; Lyra was spontaneous and spirited. Of the two, I got along better with Cassi, but I had no quarrel with Lyra.

The drive from Oxford to London was spent with anticipatory chatter about the upcoming school year, alongside some friendly banter about how badly Gryffindor would lose to Ravenclaw (or, as Lyra claimed, how badly they would beat us). I was sure we would win against them this year. Of course, I was more concerned with beating Hufflepuff- this was Amos Diggory's last year, and therefore, our last showdown. He and I shared a friendly rivalry in the air, and got along quite well on the ground. I had gotten to know him after a few times bumping into each other at Hogsmeade or in the library, and he helped me study for my OWLs with motivational speeches and quotes.

We reached Kings Cross sooner than I expected and were ushered inside; it was nearly time to enter the train. Cassi's parents walked us inside, helping us carry our belongings, and then ran us through the pillar. Cassi's parents, her mum a witch and her dad a squib, were very familiar with the process by now. We were entered into the station and as we boarded the train, I turned to Cassi.

"Lily Evans wrote me this morning, sent a letter with Archibald- come to think of it, I don't know how she got the owl. It's Lily, though; we both know how she is. She wanted me to sit with her. She said she had something to talk about, and it sounds important."

Cassi gave me a pointed look. "You don't want to sit with Pandora and Yumi? You haven't seen them all summer."

I glanced down the aisle, stepping out of the way as a few first-years bustled by. "I know, and I do want to sit with them, I just- I'm so curious, Cass. If nothing else, I'll move to sit with you three midway through the ride."

Just then, I was nearly thrown to the ground as Yumi bear-hugged me out of the blue. "Hazel!" She moved to hug Cassi. "Cassi!" She stepped back. "I missed you both so much!"

"Hazel's abandoning us to sit with Gryffindors," Cassi complained. Yumi looked at me, still smiling but with confusion now.

"Why?"

I rolled my eyes. "It isn't like that. Lily Evans wants me to sit with her, she made it sound important."

"Oh, I see. That works, actually- Pandora's already sitting with Xeno. Apparently they've been writing this summer." Yumi's eyebrows wiggled suggestively and she giggled. "Either way, I'll see you in the dorm and in the Great Hall. I'm so excited to be back!"

"I see this," I commented, laughing. "What, exactly, did you do in France?"

"Oh, everything. You'll hear all about it tonight. Bonjour!"

She ran off, tugging Cassi behind her, who shrugged at me and followed. I started walking, looking for Lily's familiar head of red hair. I was taller than the Gryffindor girl, but not by much. She should be around head level, unless I grew over the summer. After a while, the train started moving, and I gripped the side while walking. I had just crossed into the Gryffindor cart when I saw Lily poke her head out of one of the booths. She smiled at me.

"I was just about to come looking for you," she said. "Get lost?"

"Almost," I answered, grinning, and I walked over to her. I joined her in the cart, sitting next to her on one seat. Across from me were James Potter and Sirius Black. I held in a groan of annoyance. "Lily, why didn't you warn me."

"Warn you of what?" She asked.

"Scared to play with the big boys, are you?" James mocked. I glared at him.

"Not one bit," I answered. "In fact, I spent the past hour and a half in a car with one of your chasers, telling her how ready Ravenclaw is to take you down this year."

James chuckled. "That's likely."

"Oh, it really is."

Sirius piped up, "He was being sarcastic, darling."

"Don't you 'darling' me," I snapped at Gryffindor's beater. "You're already on my list."

Sirius gaped. "What? I only made one comment!"

"That's one too many."

Lily laughed and elbowed me. "Come on, now, I didn't bring you here to rib each other about quidditch. I have serious stuff to discuss."

I sighed. "Fine. But how are they involved?"

Lily shrugged with one shoulder. "I don't suppose they are."

"Make them move," I grumbled, and she gave me a look, her green eyes sweet.

"Can't you just try to play nice? Everyone knows the real rivalry is Gryffindor versus Slytherin, and Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw."

I sighed again. "Okay, okay. I suppose I can play nice- but only when we aren't in the air. What did you need me for?"

"Over the summer, I discovered something," Lily said. "Something big. And I'm not sure if I can handle it alone."

"You made that point. What is it, Lily?"

She glanced at all of us and took a deep breath. The girl was sweet, but she was rarely eager to advance into danger. It made me curious as to what sort of discovery this was. Finally, I found out:

"There's something in the Forbidden Forest- a creature. I don't know what it is, but I know it's dangerous, dangerous enough it could destroy Hogwarts.