CHAPTER 1

The Great Hall was practically empty, which wasn't unusual for the first week of term at Hogwarts, apart from sixth and seventh years that had free periods. A few groups of students sat scattered around the room; each group sitting apart from the rest on a different one of the four long tables that lay in the over-sized and frequently-used hall. At the hall entrance, a group of Ravenclaw girls sat giggling and gossiping over possible boyfriends. Further down the hall, on another table, were three Slytherin students, two boys and one girl, who were attempting to turn a rather unlucky ferret into a snake. Across the room on the Hufflepuff table was a girl trying to do an advanced summoning spell. In the far corner of the room, furthest away from the entrance and sitting at the Gryffindor table, was a group of three sixth year boys.

The first boy, who was fair-haired and sleek-looking, had his head in the book in front of him. The book seemed to have his full attention as he poured through the pages, his face engrossed in its contents. The second boy had dark hair which flopped from his scalp and ended just past his ears. He was on top of the table, his hands either side of him, as he lounged back onto them in a sitting position. His feet were on the bench he was supposed to be sitting on, next to his book-loving friend, and he wore a smirk on his face as his eyes scanned the room. The last boy had scruffy dark hair and wore round glasses. Yet despite having the facial appearance of a well mannered student, giving him the potential to be the teacher's pet and golden boy, he sat next to his friend backwards on his bench. One elbow was propped on the table behind him, allowing him to lounge back in a relaxed position. In his opposite hand he was flicking a snitch, which he'd stolen from his Quidditch match last year, into the air and catching it on its return.

The boy on top of the table, named Sirius Black, scanned the room for what seemed like the millionth time and then turned to his snitch-catching friend.

'Prongs, have you realised how little people are in here?' He questioned, scanning the room once more.

James Potter looked up at him; smiling at the fact his friend had used his nickname. He too then looked around the room. James had spent all six weeks of the holidays with his family in their small house in the country. The first four weeks had been long and hopeless, but Sirius stayed at his for the last two weeks. The term 'came to stay' was a loose description of the events. Sirius ran away from his Slytherin family as he couldn't stand them. All they were to him were a collection of the people he detested the most; so he left. James' family took him in with open arms when he turned up with his Hogwarts' trunk and owl on their front door step. It was the highlight of James' holiday.

After finishing his scan of the room, James looked back to Sirius.

'I've realised, Padfoot.' He agreed, skillfully throwing the snitch into the air again. Meanwhile, Sirius turned to their other friend, whose nose was still firmly in his book and jabbed him in the arm. Instantly he looked up.

'Moony, why the hell are we in here?' Sirius asked. He only received a sarcastic look in return with raised eyebrows. Sirius smirked and nudged his friend again.

'Remus!'

Remus Lupin returned the smirk. 'There are a few reasons' he said, the sarcastic look remaining on his face.

Sirius' smirk grew bigger as he raised his eyebrows. 'And they are…' he prompted.

'Well' Remus put a piece of scrappy paper in his book and shut it. 'The first is that it's quiet and I can therefore read without interruptions.'

Sirius exchanged a look with James that meant 'not if we can help it'. Remus noticed this but ignored it.

'Yes, but if it's quiet and deserted then James and I have to be quiet and cause very little trouble.'

'When was the last time you two stayed quiet and caused no trouble?' Remus exclaimed. Sirius and James chuckled lightly.

'You have a point.' James grinned.

'So…' Sirius prompted. 'Next reason'

Remus smiled, looking at James. 'Lily Evans normally comes here for the majority of her free periods. Seeings though she's in the majority of our classes, I figured she'd be here.'

Immediately James sat up. At the end of the previous year he had become closer to Lily. He stopped being a prat to her all the time, deflated his head a little bit and tried being a gentleman in an attempt to let her see he wasn't just a jerk who hexed people for the fun of it. It worked. Lily promised to stay in touch with him over the holidays by owl.

'Thought that might interest you' Remus rolled his eyes.

Sirius grinned at James. 'I take it you two stayed in touch over the holidays then? Have you been sending each other love notes?' Sirius batted his eyelashes mockingly and Remus laughed at the red tint in James' cheeks.

'Let's just say her owl no longer bites me.' James said and they all laughed. The three boys knew that Lily's owl, however much Lily protested, was a vicious beast that would peck the living daylights out of anyone it delivered a letter too. For the owl to be no longer leaving marks over James' hands meant that he and Lily had quite literally kept in touch over the holidays.

'So, we've discovered yours and Prongs' reasons for being in this room of dull inhabitance; but what's mine?' Sirius turned back to Remus.

Remus propped his elbow on the table and rested his chin in his hand. 'Because otherwise, you'd have no one to hang around with and would probably end up getting into trouble. When Dumbledore gave me this prefect badge he hoped I'd use it to keep you two from ending up in detention every other day' said Remus, gesturing to the red shield badge on his Hogwarts robes with a 'P' in it's centre.

'Every other day?' Sirius scoffed. 'You underestimate us, Moony. Everyday, more like.'

Sirius turned to high five James, who slapped the hand of his partner in crime whilst they shared the same devilish grin. Remus rolled his eyes. He went to tell his friends that they have standards too high, when he spotted a figure walking in the door way.

'Lily Evans just walked in' he whispered. James swirled round instantly and smiled and waved. Lily caught his eye and waved back before heading over to the table.

'You embarrass me, I kick your ass.' James whispered to them under his breath.

Sirius pretended to look hurt as he threw his arm round Remus' shoulder.

'Us? How dare you?' Sirius winked at Remus who couldn't help but smile at the fact Sirius would definitely attempt to turn James' face scarlet. Also, James' version of 'kick your ass' would involve the pair of them spending the next few weeks trying to sneak puking pastilles and potions with varying intentions of revenge into the other's food.

Lily approached the three boys smiling. She had long, thick and dark red hair, which fell past her shoulders, and pale skin which seemed almost shining. Upon her robes she wore a red prefect badge, identical to Remus'. She was the other sixth year prefect for Gryffindor.

Although Remus could see James' attraction to her, he most admired Lily's brains. He and Lily had been good friends since first year as they were both highly talented in class and willingly bright. Although Lily always despised James and Sirius' behaviour, she made many attempts to try and influence them into good manner. It would work on the rare occasion but mainly she would only talk to Remus. However, now Sirius and James seemed to have grown-up, even though they had landed themselves a detention in the three days they had been back, Lily had taken more of a liking to them. The last few days of the previous year had involved the four of them messing around by the lake and experimenting with different spells and charms. Between Lily and Remus, they had managed to drill the Summoning Charm into Sirius' head whilst James acted as a test-dummy, holding the item Sirius tried to summon.

The main reason, however, Lily and Remus had remained friends, was because whilst Sirius and James played pranks, Lily discovered something out about Remus that the three boys tried hard to keep hidden.

Remus Lupin was a werewolf. In his early years at Hogwarts, he was bitten by the werewolf, Fenrir Greyback. This resulted in Remus having a transformation, once a month at full moon, where he would turn into a reckless and fearsome monster. By Dumbledore's request, Remus would be escorted down to the shrieking shack by Madam Pomfrey every month where he would be locked in and complete his transformation. It was very soon after the bite had happened that Sirius and James found out. Using James' invisibility cloak, the two of them followed Remus and discovered his secret. Since then, they decided to help Remus. They didn't feel it was fair for him to be locked up every month. So in the space of two years, they turned themselves into animagi through a long process of somewhat disencouraging pain. From then on, they'd turn into their animagi forms every month and escort Remus the werewolf around the forbidden forest.

Sirius' animagi was a large black dog and James' was a stag. Along with their werewolf friend, they created the Marauders. Remus, Sirius and James; also known as Moony, Padfoot and Prongs.

Lily Evans' discovery of Remus' true condition did not involve sneaking around under a cloak or large animagi. Instead, she used her brain and wit whilst studying werewolves in Defence Against the Dark Arts to make the connection between the werewolf description and Remus' monthly illnesses and disappearances. She confronted Remus about this in the third year.

'I know who you really are.' Lily whispered.

Remus stopped abruptly, checking the Gryffindor common room was empty. He and Lily had stayed up completing Transfiguration homework.

'What?' Remus could only say.

'I know who you really are.' Lily repeated. Remus threw her a confused face.

'Oh come on, Remus. You have the right symptoms and I'm not the brightest witch in our year for nothing.'

'I don't know what you're talking about.' Remus said stubbornly.

'Werewolves are stubborn too. It's their fearless attitude that does it…' Lily began.

'Keep your voice down!' Remus exclaimed, looking worriedly around the room again; checking for lurking Gryffindors.

'So you admit it?' Lily grinned at Remus; knowing she'd won.

Remus returned the smile, defeated.

'I admit it.' He had whispered.

Remus was glad Lily knew and didn't judge him. Lily wasn't a very judging person. Maybe that's why she liked James; despite his twat behaviour.

As she stood in front of him smiling, James shoved Sirius feet aside so Lily could sit between him and Remus on the bench. She sat correctly at the table, like Remus, causing James to swivel round and do the same. Sirius, who was amused by James' behaviour, jumped off the top of the table and sat opposite the three of them at the narrow table.

'Evans!' Sirius exclaimed, causing Lily to roll her eyes at his foolishness.

'How was your summer?' Remus smiled at her.

Lily's face fell into a grimace. 'It was the same as ever. I went home to muggle life and a whole summer deprived of magic. Well, not completely.' She shot a look at James, who smiled at her knowingly, and blushed.

'Christ, you'd think they have been doing more than just sending owls to each other for six weeks…' Sirius muttered under his breath so that only Remus could hear; who struggled to stifle a laugh.

'How about you?' Lily asked Remus.

Remus thought through his summer. Besides homework and sending letters to Sirius, James and Lily, his holiday had been cruddy.

'It was the definition of dull with limited magic as my parents don't apparate around the house and spend a lot of time away.' Remus concluded.

'Your parents were out of the house and you call it dull? Sirius interjected. 'That would be heaven.'

Remus stifled a grin at James and Lily. They knew all about Sirius' dramatic escape. James had sent and owl to Lily and Remus who spent the last two weeks sending owls to each other about it.

'Well, my parents aren't too bad.' James shrugged.

'Your parents are the coolest!' Sirius exclaimed. 'I arrive out of the blue and not only do they let me stay, but they promise me I can return whenever I like. Plus they feed me! Count yourself lucky, Prongs.'

James sighed. 'I suppose so. That's only because they know all about your family problems.'

'Suppose so?' Sirius quizzed. 'Je deteste my family. That's more than just a 'family problem'.'

James smiled at Sirius' language choice and pocketed his snitch.

'Have you seen your brother yet?' Remus asked. Sirius' brother, Regulus, was in the year below. He was part of the family Sirius hated so dearly and was a Slytherin, like the rest of his family. Sirius was the only Gryffindor out of the Blacks. Sirius had always been proud of this and on the one occasion that Remus and James had visited his house on a rescue mission, they saw Sirius' walls were plastered with scarves of red and gold; the Gryffindor colours.

'Fortunately, not yet. The little fleabag will probably try to hex me at some point, however. I will not be responsible for my actions.' Sirius grunted.

Lily sighed. She may be able to have a good effect on James; but Sirius was hopeless.

'What about Snape?' Lily asked. Remus saw a pain in her eyes that James and Sirius didn't notice. Severus Snape, a dark-haired Slytherin, had always been a close friend of hers until the beginning of last year. James and Sirius was using the Levicorpus Curse on him when Lily came along and tried to help. They let Snape down but, caught in the moment, he called her a 'filthy mudblood'. Lily hasn't spoken to him since. Being called a mudblood was not to be taken lightly by muggle-borns or their friends.

'The friendless git was in our Dark Arts lesson. He was at the back but I couldn't speak to tell you or the professor would have murdered me. I'm not getting a detention just for Snape.' Sirius shrugged.

Lily stayed quiet, willing for a subject change. James noticed this as well as Remus this time and moved on.

'So how many lessons have we got with the Slytherins?' he asked.

'It's NEWT year, remember? It's all mixed.' Remus stated.

'Thank the lord. What did you guys take again?' Sirius asked.

'Erm… Potions, Astronomy, Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms and History of Magic.' Lily said, grinning.

'You took six?' Sirius said. 'Bloody hell!

Lily looked smug. 'I wanted to take more but I couldn't fit it in. What about you?'

'I took Three; Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Charms.' Sirius shrugged. 'Prongs?'

'Five. I took the same as you and then Astronomy and Potions.'

'Potions? Why even bother?' Sirius grimaced.

'I 'exceeded expectations'.' James put on a stupid voice, making Lily giggle and Remus roll his eyes again.

'You've turned into R emus on me. You'll be in the Slug Club soon.' Sirius mocked.

'Oi!' Remus attempted to whack Sirius with his book, but he dived expertly out of the way.

'There's nothing wrong with Slug Club, you know.' Lily sighed. 'Slughorn isn't that bad.'

'The same could be argued for Slytherin but I wouldn't spend an hour every other week with them if I could help it.' Sirius grinned.

Remus and James couldn't help but laugh at Sirius' quick thinking. Even Lily smiled.

'What did you take, Moony?' James asked.

'Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, Potions and Arithmancy.' Remus replied.

'Ah yes, we forgot you fancy yourself as an auror.' Sirius smiled. 'I'm sure you could be Minister of Magic if you wanted. You're too smart for your own good.' He threw Remus a smile.

Remus shared the smile with him for a moment before looking away. 'I'll take that as a compliment.' He gathered his books and looked at his watch. 'Right, it's time for Charms.'

Sirius and James groaned. Charms was possibly the dullest lesson imaginable to them.

'If it were up to me, we'd have Dark Arts and free lessons all day, everyday.' Sirius groaned to James and Remus.

'Padfoot, your Slytherin side is showing.' James grinned, menacingly.

'True Black family member, you are.' Remus continued, awaiting a reaction.

Sirius nudged the two of them hard in the stomach with his elbow before walking in front of them and calling without looking back.

'Come along, buttheads.'

Remus and James shared an accomplished look before James slipped his arm round Lily as they walked along. Remus caught up with Sirius so he wouldn't ruin the moment and they headed off to Charms.