The Marauder Chronicles

They say that the world is a wonderful place, full of love, happiness and joy. Until recently I believed that. But times have changed. What they don't tell you, is there are people out there who are more like monsters. People who spend all of their life and energy trying to take the world and cast it into the fires of hell. How does that effect you? Perhaps it doesn't. Perhaps you have been fortunate enough to be born in a time when Dark Magic is scarce, when you don't fear evil knocking on your front door, when you can watch your children play, and your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren grow old. Perhaps you have been lucky, and were born after a gift to the world was given.

Today is far different than just five years ago. People are out celebrating the good times, setting off fireworks, shooting stars and writing history. Most people of the wizarding world are happier than ever at the new time. Do they care how it happened, or that it happened? Do they care who was involved in the story, or the end result? The answers vary. But I can tell you this, he did not expect it.

Lord Voldemort, the only known heir of Salazar Slytherin, began his great journey and quest for immortality and world domination many years ago. In his reign of power he and his followers killed more than one hundred, all of whom were guilty of being good, of being kind, of being right. Everyone wondered if he could be stopped, if there was ever a person that could defeat him.

Auror after Auror died trying to kill him, but he was too fast and too powerful. He laughed coldly as he saw their lifeless bodies fall to the ground, and stepped over his victims to kill another. He seemed unstoppable. The world waited, hoped and prayed for someone to put a stop in his growing shadow. And they got it, sooner than expected.

But all of this you already know. There is not a witch or wizard that doesn't know the story of the Dark Lord's overthrow, it was too profound to be forgotten. All in all, lives improved across Europe as the word "Voldemort," was hardly heard. But I know of at least three lives that changed for the worst the day that demon fell. No one seemed to care about their lives, the ones who shaped the story, and I don't blame them for that. After all, it is only three. What is that?

But what is life? What is love? What is sadness? I have come to tell you that I know all three. Life is more than breathing air and squinting into the sun. It is precious and should be lived with no regrets. But there are few of us that can achieve that. Love is life. Once you have found it you will never be able to let go. It gives you air and hope when all else is lost, transforms doubt into faith, and darkness to light. And sadness, what of that? Well, there is nothing more devastating than staring into the lifeless eyes of your two best friends, as I have done. It is a moment that I will never forget, it haunts me at night and in the light of day. It is something I wish upon no one.

I want to tell you a story, the story that started it all. The story of six wizards who changed the wizarding world for all time. A story of friendship, rivalry, jealousy, betrayal, comedy and of course love, the greatest magic of all. You all know how it ends, and what happens afterward. But this is the story that shaped history. So please, take some time, time that you have on hand, to read the adventures of the greatest people I have ever encountered. Read the story that began a legacy, for every legend has a beginning.... ~ Sirius Black

The Marauder Chronicles

Part one: Potter vs. Snape

"Trickery and Sorcery, the difference is not always clear."

The class bell rang loudly throughout the corridors of Hogwarts castle. The end of the long week had finally arrived, and students of all years were thrilled to be done with the first week of the school year. Door after door swung open wide to allow the endless flow of students to spill out into the hallways. It was the weekend, it was a time to relax, have fun, and just drone. But for others, it was the right time for a nasty attack.

Our first story begins down the charms corridor, where professor Flitwick's class had just been released, and four Gryffindor sixth years exited the class and started their way down the hall. On the far other end of the building, another class had been released, and two Slytherin sixth years shuffled out of their classroom. These six young students, oblivious to the world outside of their conversation net, had no idea that they were on a collision course. Not paying attention to exactly where they were going, the Gryffindors and the Slytherins collided in the middle of the corridor. Books and papers that a Gryffindor student was carrying were now lying on the floor near the feet of Severus Snape.

"Why don't you watch where you're going, you ugly git?" said a vexed James Potter, as he bent down to pick up his books and other paraphernalia. Once he collected everything, he raised himself up slowly, and stared into Snape's cold black eyes. The noisy and busy hallway fell desperately quiet, as all of the Hogwarts students were watching the scene with rapt attention. It was well known that Severus Snape and James Potter hated each other like poison, so naturally whenever the two ran into each other, there was plenty of entertainment.

"You ran into me, Potter. I suggest you keep out of my way," said Snape with a curled lip. His black eyes narrowed as he stared ceaselessly into James's blue eyes. It looked as though things were going to get ugly. Sirius was edging nearer to James' side in case he was needed, and the blonde Slytherin standing next to Snape did the same. James opened his mouth to say something insulting when Professor McGonnagall entered the scene.

"What is going on here? What are the six of you up to now?"

There was a long pause. No one in the hall said anything. Then James turned to look at the professor and gave her a charming smile.

"Nothing Professor. Mr. Snape just ran into me, that's all. We were just leaving," and with that, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter filed out of the way and down the hall.

The excitement was over, and the students resumed play.

But Snape knew something that everyone else did not. He watched James and his followers leave, then slowly he smirked, gazed down at the ground, and moved his foot to reveal a folded piece of paper. It looked like some kind of letter. Snape bent down, and snatched it. He looked at it longingly with vicious eyes. "James" was handwritten on the front in green, and there was a wax seal on the back keeping it closed.

"Well, well, well," said Snape with a sinister grin. "What do we have here? I wonder who this could be from." Slowly, Snape turned the other direction and began to open the letter. Once the wax seal was broken, he began to unfold it. What happened next was a complete shock.

Written in the center of the paper in loopy writing was "You should not read other peoples' mail, Severus." Snape turned to look at his friend, who had a bewildered expression on his face. It took a while for Snape to register this thought, perhaps too long, for just then a huge fireball erupted from the inside letter and singed Snape's greasy hair. Scared, Snape threw the letter down, and began patting his head trying to stop the burning sensation on his scalp. But then the fire turned into a flaming roaring lion which lunged for him again.

Snape fell hard on his bottom, and scrambled backwards on his hands and feet, still keeping his eyes on the fire in a lion's form. He was so surprised that he didn't notice the entire hallway was full of people who began pointing and laughing at his hilarious predicament. Once Snape was flat against the castle wall, the lion head stopped roaring, and instead it seemed to smirk; then disappeared in a poof of black pungent smoke.

He was breathing very fast, he could hear his heart beating rapidly in his eardrums, and the laughter of the school was beginning to leak in as well. Snape looked for the letter, but it was completely gone. Then he looked at the large bunch of students of all years rolling with laughter at him. He could not feel more humiliated. Then his friend gave his hand to help him up, and a horrible sight met his face.

Not more than twenty-five feet away from him were the four people he hated the most. Remus and Peter were buckled over with laughter, Sirius gave a huge grin, and James, the person he hated more than anyone, gave a smile. Then he turned to Sirius, laughed, and slapped his hand in the most congratulatory "high five" in history. With that, they gazed on at Snape one last time, turned and walked off. Almost every student shook James's hand as he walked down the hall.