The Marauders; A Generation

The Marauders; A Generation

Chapter 1

The next morning, James was the first to awake in the first year's boy's dormitories and he stretched, yawning luxuriously amongst his comfortable bedspread. Getting out of bed, he pulled back the bed-curtains and walked over to the window and stared out in awe at the grounds of Hogwarts. The Quidditch pitch was directly in his sight, and he didn't think he'd ever seen anything as marvelous as it was. He longed for the days that Sirius and he could just pick up their brooms and a Quaffle and zoom around, passing and scoring. It was just too bad that first years weren't allowed on the house teams, no matter how good they were. James stepped back from the large paned window and looked at the rest of his roommates. Grinning evilly, he pounced on Sirius and shook him awake. Sirius awoke with a start, punching the air and screaming hysterically, to find James laughing his head off.

"Good lord James, what on EARTH are you doing?" he asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes. When the room came into focus, he leaned back on one arm and stared at his best friend suspiciously.

"Why are you up so early Potter?" he asked warily. James just grinned back and woke Remus and Peter up before ushering them all to get dressed.

"It's our first day at school lads, and I want to be there for everything! You don't want to miss our first breakfast in the Great Hall do you now?" he asked, smiling at the lot of them brightly. They all agreed to this. After putting on their shirts and pants, then slipping their Hogwarts robes over them and finally, tying a Gryffindor scarf around each of their necks, they were ready to go.

***

Back in the girl's dormitories, the first year Gryffindor girls were just beginning to rouse. Lily had been first to waken, followed shortly by Chelsea and they woke the other two up separately, but excitedly.

"Morning!" Lily sang merrily as the others came out of their usual morning stupor.

"Gosh Lily, how can you be so wide and awake? We were up for hours talking! I feel like someone's hit me over the head with a bludger," Melissa said through a yawn. Lily shrugged.

"I'm just excited I guess. Come on, let's hurry!" she said, and they started to get dressed.

***

The sun was shining through a crack in the curtains that were supposed to be covering the curtains in the Slytherin first year's boy's dormitories. Unfortunately, the crack seemed to direct the sunlight straight onto a certain blond-haired boys scowling face. Lucius Malfoy awoke lazily, sliding out of the capturing rays, back into the shadows where he liked to be. He looked around, remembering where he was. He'd had a bit of a shock on the first day during the train ride. What was going on with that Lupin bloke?

"I'll get him," he muttered darkly just as his fellow roommates were coming into the world of the living.

"Say something Malfoy?" one of them asked. Lucius whirled around to face the boy, glaring at him so harshly that the other boy shrank back. Lucius slipped out of his bed, and got dressed. Glaring around the room once more, he stormed out before any of the others had begun.

***

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter walked down all the winding corridors, changing staircases and moving magical pictures and they met up with some of the other first years from other houses. The Slytherins tended to stay away, so it was just Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. As they made their way across the Entrance Hall, James couldn't help but smile at everything in his life at the moment. It would be a LONG time before he got over the excitement of being at Hogwarts. He went to open the door and walk through when he was roughly shoved aside whilst someone else swept through. Regaining his balance, he looked angrily up to see the smug face of Lucius Malfoy, glancing back over his shoulder, before turning around and heading over towards the Slytherin table.

"Not here James," was all Sirius said before they headed over to the Gryffindor table and sat down together. James tried to calm himself down, he hadn't even started eating, and he didn't want to be in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Concentrating on happy thoughts, he turned his attention to his friends.

"What've we got first?" he asked Peter who was looking at the timetable he'd just received.

"Er-, it looks like Potions, with the Slytherins," he said miserably as he double-checked. James smiled feebly as his own timetable was handed to him, this day could NOT get any worse. There was a dejected sort of silence as they began to tuck into their food. He glanced up briefly as he felt someone sit down next to him, it was Lily.

"Good morning, did you all have a good night?" she asked.

"It was good, until we found out what we have first thing this morning," Sirius replied her before James had a chance. She looked up at Sirius, a frown on her face.

"Please don't tell me it's what I think it is ..." she trailed off as she was handed her timetable.

"Darn! Just our luck isn't it. You know, I may come from a Muggle family, but from what I've already seen of the Slytherins, I haven't liked, bugger what Ciss says!" the rest of the Gryffindors nodded and she picked up her fork and idly started playing around with her food, but she felt like her appetite had just gone.

"Lily! How was your night?" the group turned around to see Narcissa Delacroix, the pretty Ravenclaw first year from the day before.

"Oh Narcissa, it's so good to see you, I haven't had a chance to speak to you about everything! I really wish we'd been put in the same house!" Lily said, even sadder now with the weight of having her first class with the Slytherins.

"Me too, but don't worry, we'll still be together all the time, you can come hang out in my common room anytime you want. Apparently Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws do that with each other all the time," she said. Lily smiled back in relief.

"Well I'm glad, it was a pretty good night, but we've got potions with guess who first!" she said, the frown returning to her petite face. Narcissa's face turned into an expression of horror.

"You poor things! It's been good for us, we've got Transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs, but I think we have Herbology with the Slytherins tomorrow. Anyway, come and sit at our table for lunch all right? I've already cleared it with Professor Flitwick, he said it was fine. Good luck!" she said before rushing off back to the Ravenclaw table. Lily turned back to her food miserably.

"Cheer up Lil', it won't be too bad, and we'll all have each other to get through it!" James told her, comfortingly patting her arm. Lily smiled, slightly reassured, and they prepared themselves for what was coming next.

~*****************************************************~

The eight Gryffindor first years made their way down to the dungeons where they would be having their very first Potions lesson. As they reached the door, they found that the Slytherins had already arrived. They were crowding around someone, and a familiar voice could be heard speaking above them all. When they drew closer, they saw that the person in the middle, standing tall and superior, was Lucius Malfoy, with the rest of the Slytherins looking up at him, listening rapturously. It was hard to distinguish what it was that he was actually saying, but when he spotted them, his face changed and he addressed them with mock-sincerity.

"Ah, the Gryffindors have arrived, it's about time too, I know you were all probably off being stupidly heroic, but you'd think you might be able to make a class on time ... I must say, I was rather sad to see that you two didn't make it into Slytherin, but then again ... maybe that's a good thing," he directed this comment at James and Sirius, who returned his unpleasant smile with a scowl. It looked like an argument was just about to break out but was interrupted when a voice suddenly spoke, shocking them.

"Enter," it said, coolly and calmly. The first years trailed into the 'classroom' silently and found desks to sit at: the Slytherins on one side, and the Gryffindors at the other. They were all looking around curiously, trying to figure out where the voice had come from. Shocked again, they were, when a tall, dark, robed figure stepped out from the shadows and swept towards the front desk. Some of the students gasped in shock when they saw their new Professor. She was a tall, dark and exotically beautiful woman. Her long black hair cascaded down her back in loose ringlets, and her features and the way she walked resembled something of a gypsy. The first years were mesmerized by her enchanting confidence and beauty, so much that no one had yet uttered a word. When she spoke again, her voice was melodiously soft but hard at the same time.

"My name is Professor Lestrange. For those select few ... you will know me as your Head of House ... and you may also know my son, Arvan Lestrange, who is a fifth-year Slytherin prefect. I am the Potions master, and expect a lot from you ... even as first years." When she said these words, her dark eyes trailed over the Slytherins, who were sitting up proudly. Unsure of what to make of this woman, the Gryffindors remained silent as Professor Lestrange picked up the register and began to call names.

"Marcus Avery ... you must be Oren's son ... give your mother my regards," she said and then continued to run through the role. The boy named Avery was looking very proud indeed. The Professor went through more names, pleasantly commenting on such Slytherin ones for her connection with their parents. This included a boy named 'Igor Karkaroff', but when she got to Remus, she stopped and looked him right in the face. An eerie silence fell through the class and she stared at him with an extremely strange expression on her face.

"I think, that we both know for you to watch yourself whilst you're in this school, understood?" she said quietly but icily. Remus dropped his head and nodded, not looking anyone in the face. The whole class had turned to him, but Professor Lestrange caught their attention again when she called the next name, commenting on it, as she apparently knew 'Darmon Macnair's' father very well. She'd finally reached Malfoy. This time, she walked right up to the boy and fixed him with a scrutinizing gaze. She tapped her fingers on his desk softly and there was a silence before she spoke again.

"Lucius Malfoy indeed. I don't need to ask who your father is; we're very well acquainted. I expect great things from you young man, and I do hope I see them," she said, the first smile of the day crossing her lips, no matter how evil it looked to be. Lucius puffed out his chest, and smirked back.

The first half the lesson was mainly taking notes, which didn't cause too much trouble, and the Gryffindors soon came to see that Professor Lestrange was, for the majority of the time, fair about the giving and taking of house points, but as they went on to make their first potion, it was obvious where her loyalties lay. She showed them where their ingredients were kept, and how much to get out. Throughout the lesson, Sirius managed to 'accidentally on purpose' throw a Skrewt nail into Malfoys cauldron before it was suppose to be added, causing his cauldron to erupt into a cloud of purple smoke, making it impossible to see anything throughout the whole classroom. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter took this opportunity to laugh themselves silly, silently, and successfully managing looks of confusion and shock when the smoke had finally cleared.

"Who. Did. This." Professor Lestrange looked absolutely outraged, and the four boys were actually beginning to get a little scared at her venomous expression. Her face was directed to the Gryffindors, as she KNEW that it was one of them. At that moment, the bell signaling the end of class rang and they all began to quickly pack up and head for the door.

"STOP!" she growled, and the cowering Gryffindors turned back to face her glare, as well as the sight of their foe, dripping wet from the explosion: they almost burst out laughing again despite the severity of the situation.

"I know that it was one of you, and when I find out who it was ... for now though, five points from Gryffindor, and get out!" The Gryffindors scurried out as quickly as they could, heading down to the Great Hall for lunch, laughing uproariously.

"Did you see her face-"

"Malfoy's clothes!"

"Dripping wet-"

"Purple smoke!" was all that could be heard as they entered the Hall and sat down for lunch. Lily had joined in with their laughter, amused at their antics, and very impressed.

"Lily!" she heard a voice call her name from another table, and remembered that she'd told Narcissa that she would sit with her at lunch.

"I'll see you guys in Herbology all right?" the first year Gryffindor's chorused a cheery goodbye before she hurried over to the Ravenclaw table.

"Good work Sirius, that was a job well done, when's the next one?" James asked excitedly, shaking his best friends hand. A few other Gryffindors applauded him, ones from higher years as well, as the news of his handiwork had traveled fast. He stood up, mock bowing to them, blowing them kisses.

"I'm afraid I just couldn't help myself my dear fellows. The opportunity just presented itself so perfectly ..." he pretended to look modest, but broke the image by bursting into laughter. When he sat down again, the food had already begun to appear on the tables, and they dug in heartily. It was only after a few minutes that they started to discuss their first lesson.

"She was a bit of a snake wasn't she?" Melissa said thoughtfully.

"She definitely hated us!" Chelsea agreed.

"Do you know her Remus?" Sirius asked, squaring them off into their own conversation, away from the other Gryffindors. He'd just remembered the way that Professor Lestrange had picked on Remus. He couldn't have imagined that Remus might ever have done something to cause a reaction like that, but it was obvious that something must have. Remus regarded Sirius for a moment, before shaking his head wearily.

"I guess she just didn't like me. I had a bit of a tiff with Arvan yesterday ... he's obviously told her," he shrugged it off, but Sirius looked interested.

"What was it about? Is he big? Did you fight?" Remus smiled, shaking his head at James when he suddenly cut in with these questions.

"You really have a vivid imagination don't you." As Remus, James and Sirius began to banter on, Lily was just sitting down at the Ravenclaw table.

"Hi! How was it?" Narcissa asked her. Lily sighed deeply, rolling her eyes.

"Don't even ask!" she said, an amused smile on her face. Narcissa laughed and began making introductions around the table. The Ravenclaws seemed like very nice people, but also extremely studious. Currently, though they were at lunch, they were discussing the correct way to perform a transfiguration they'd obviously just learnt in class.

Lily was slightly glad she'd been put at Gryffindor and not at Ravenclaw, even if it did mean not being with Narcissa, at least they talked about other things then school!

"So Lily, tell us what you learnt in Potions? We have that this afternoon with the Hufflepuffs," a boy named Tarquin asked her. Lily felt quite flattered to suddenly be the center of attention when the rest of the Ravenclaw first years turned their heads towards her in anticipation.

"Well, that's Professor Lestrange up there, she's the Potions master and Head of Slytherin house-" she was cut off by the oohs and aahs that she received as they all turned to look up at their new Professor.

"That's not Arvan Lestrange's mother is it?" a girl named Adele asked her. Lily nodded, wondering silently how she knew. She needn't have wondered though, because the other girl answered her question almost immediately.

"He's evil. I swear it, he's absolutely horrible, the meanest prefect there is, my sister said so, and she's in sixth-year!" Adele went on to say.

"How so?" Lily asked curiously.

"My sister, that's her over there, Katrin, she's a prefect too. She plays Keeper for Ravenclaw and Arvan is one of the Chasers. Apparently he deliberately aimed the Quaffle at her head once, and then laughed about it, and then in another game, he specifically fixed it so that their fourth-year beaters, Evan Rosier and Caleb Wilkes aimed their bludgers straight at her head! She was in the hospital wing for a week recovering! And do you know why that is? It's because we're not purebloods, we're half. My mums a Muggle and dads a wizard, you all know what Slytherin's think of anyone who isn't a pureblood: they haven't ever had someone who isn't pure I don't think," she told them solemnly. Lily would not have been able to understand what Adele had just told her, had Narcissa not explained to her what Quidditch was on the train. She looked over at the Slytherin table nervously, immediately picking out who this boy must be. He was sitting in the middle of the table, with the rest of the Slytherins, including those older then him, AND, Lucius Malfoy, looking up at him in admiration. He was dark and exotic looking like his mother, and Lily jumped when he suddenly caught her looking at him. She was unable to turn away as his dark eyes bored into her green ones, sending a frightening shiver down the length of her spine. Finally she ripped her gaze away and turned back to the rest of the Ravenclaws.

"I hope I never cross paths with him. If that's what he does to half bloods, I'd hate to think how I would be treated. I'm completely born-born," she said worriedly. The Ravenclaws looked at her in sympathy and Narcissa patted her shoulder.

"Was it a hard class Lily?" another girl named Rochelle asked her, and the attention was back on her, although she was a little too freaked out to bask in it.

"Not really, if you've read the books. She tried to catch us out by asking us what the other names for Aconite were-" she was cut off when the rest of the Ravenclaws collectively answered 'monkswood' and 'wolfsbane'. Lily shook her head, smiling just as the bell rang.

"Thanks for letting me sit here, but I'd better sit at Gryffindor tonight otherwise they'll think I'm trying to change houses! See you all later!" Lily said before rushing off to join her fellow house members in heading down to the greenhouses for Herbology with the Hufflepuffs.

"Oh darn, I left my text book back in the hall," Lily said as they had almost reached their destination.

"Don't worry, we'll tell the Professor you've gone back to get it, just hurry!" her roommate Chelsea said, smiling. Lily took off back to the hall. Just as she was coming around the last corner, she crashed straight on into someone, making books, parchment and quills fly everywhere. The impact also caused Lily to end up on the ground.

"I'm SO sorry-" she was just beginning to say as she stood, when she looked up and saw who it was.

"So you should be, you stupid Gryffindor, what the HELL do you think you were doing?" It was Arvan Lestrange. His voice was deep and menacing, and Lily almost cried in fear at his deadly expression. Pointing his wand around at his things and opening his bag, he muttered 'Accio' and his belongings immediately flew back, neatly into his bag.

"Now as for you. You'd better thank your lucky stars that I'm in a hurry and don't have time to REALLY deal with you, so I think we'll just make it five points from Gryffindor for your stupidity ... and for being a Mudblood. Watch your back," he spat out angrily before roughly shoving past her again and stalking off. Lily's heart was beating maniacally as she sank back down to the floor in absolute shock and embarrassment. That was something she NEVER, wanted to experience again.

~****************************************************~

It was their third day at Hogwarts, and they'd just come back to the dorm to drop off their school things before heading down to the Great Hall for dinner, when they found Remus packing up a few things, looking like he was ready to leave.

"Mate? Where are you going? We just got here! You haven't been expelled already have you?" James asked incredulously. Remus looked up at them in surprise.

"Ah-um, I'm, my mum's sick, I've got to go home for a few days," he stuttered out, a desperate expression on his face. James and Sirius looked at each other skeptically, but didn't say another word for a while. They watched as Remus packed up a few changes of clothes, and some other necessities into a small, light carrying bag, and tucked his wand carefully into his pocket. He was already dressed in his usual black robes, so they were unsure of what lay beneath. Each movement he took seemed to be a slight strain on him, as if it took an extra amount of effort, and his breathing sounded a little irregular, as if he was trying to restrain himself from something. When he'd finally finished packing and getting ready, he turned around and faced his three roommates, and they all looked at each other nervously.

"Do you want us to walk with you?" Sirius asked. Remus looked up, slightly shocked at his offer, but gave them a small, grateful smile.

"That would be really good ... if that's all right with you guys?" he said timidly. Sirius and James nodded, and Peter followed suite. Remus looked around the room one more time to check if he'd forgotten anything, before they all headed out. As they were passing through the common room, they met up with Lily, Chelsea, Melissa and Cordelia, as they were heading down to dinner.

"Where are you going?" Lily asked when she saw the bag that Remus was carrying. He started stuttering again and James patted his back, taking over for him.

"He's just got to go home for a few days and see his mum. He'll be back soon," he said, and Lily nodded.

"Ok, well I hope she's all right. How are you getting home Remus?" she asked.

"Professor Dumbledore's meeting me at the Entrance Hall," he replied quietly.

"Oh! Well we can all walk down together then," she said, and they headed out of Gryffindor tower. When they reached the Entrance Hall, Dumbledore was waiting patiently by the doors, smiling and saying hello to a variety of students as they walked passed.

"Ah! There you are Remus, and how nice of your friends to walk with you! Shall we?" he said, as he gestured to the other direction from the Great Hall. Remus nodded, and started to follow him when James placed a hand on his shoulder.

"We'll all be here when you get back all right? I really hope your mums okay," he said. The look on Remus' face was unreadable as he nodded, but it was obvious that he was struggling to speak. The rest of them said goodbye before they headed into the Hall for dinner, and Dumbledore led him in the other direction. Once they were out of earshot, Dumbledore spoke.

"I don't think they would be prejudiced against you if you told them the truth you know my boy," he said grandly. Remus didn't look at him, but continued to plod on.

"But it is your decision, and I will respect that. Tonight I will show you the way to the Whomping Willow, and will escort you there every month until you feel like you want to go by yourself," he explained to the young boy, and Remus nodded.

"I know I'm not going to regret my decision about your attendance into Hogwarts Mr. Lupin, this is a big responsibility, and also involves a lot of trust on my behalf, I trust that you will not betray that." For the first time, Remus looked up.

"You won't regret it Professor Dumbledore. There's never been anyone who's been this nice to me after they find out ... well, you know. There aren't enough words that I can say to thank you." Remus had stopped walking to look straight up at his Headmaster, speaking earnestly. Dumbledore patted his back reassuringly.

"There is no need my boy. No need at all."

~*******************************************************~

Dinner was as usual, a magnificent affair. The long house tables as well as the teachers table was covered completely in golden plates and bowls and goblets of the finest, most tasty food and drink, and before long, the entire school was contentedly full. Professor Dumbledore had returned from wherever he had taken Remus, about halfway through his meal and had taken Professor McGonagall aside for a few moments to discuss something with her. When James looked up at the teacher's table, he saw that Professor Lestrange was giving him a very strange look indeed. It was something of a cross between hate, and satisfaction, but James had no idea what it could have been for. He had not stood out in anyway during Potions then the rest of the Gryffindors had, except for when Sirius had caused Lucius Malfoy's cauldron to explode ... James chuckled at the memory. They were interrupted when Dumbledore went to the middle of the teachers table where he normally sat, but stayed afoot, and tapped his goblet, calling for silence. The entire hall quieted almost immediately as they waited for their esteemed Headmaster to speak.

"I would just like to make a simple announcement before you all return to your dormitories. A tree, now labeled the Whomping Willow, has just recently been planted over a building called The Shack, near Hogsmeade. This is an extremely violent and dangerous tree, and so, I implore that you keep well away from it, especially if you are out on a Hogsmeade weekend for those in third year and above. That's all I have to say this evening, good night!" he said, and sat down, whilst the students in the hall muttered amongst each other curiously whilst getting up to go back to their respective dormitories.

"Why do you think that's been planted? Sounds like an accident just waiting to happen if you ask me," Peter said to James as they headed back up to Gryffindor tower. James shrugged.

"I don't know Peter, I just don't know."

~*********************************************************~

When they reached their tower, the boys said goodnight to the girls in the common room and headed up to their own dorm. The lack of Remus' presence was sorely noticed.

"He's a good bloke you know. What do you think his story is?" Sirius asked James after they'd all changed into their pajamas and climbed into bed. Peter was already snoring away as he'd had a long, busy day, with the Potions master picking on his work the most out of all the Gryffindors. James glanced at Peter's sleeping form before replying.

"I don't know Sirius, but there was something he wasn't telling us tonight before he left. You don't really think he was going home to visit his sick mum do you?" he asked dubiously. Sirius shook his head.

"Definitely not, it's a bit fishy, I've thought it since the first day, and even today in Potions! I don't really buy that story about his tiff with Arvan, Lestrange sounded pretty serious ... but I guess ... it is his own business," Sirius said grudgingly. James nodded.

"It is, and so we're not going to pry are we Sirius?" he said, looking at his friend expectantly. Sirius scowled at him.

"Oh all right. I agree with you, you know. Hey, what do you think the deal is with this 'Whomping Willow' business?" Sirius asked, changing the subject. James looked thoughtful whilst he contemplated this. He'd actually been thinking about it since Dumbledore had mentioned it.

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out ... are you in?" he asked, looking at Sirius with a mischievous expression on his face. The grin that crept over Sirius' face was identical to James' as he reached out his hand and they shook on it.

"Without a doubt. Good night James."

"Night Sirius."

~******************************************************************~