The Stag Prophecy

Perhaps no student enjoyed the visits to Hogsmeade as much as the Marauders. The four delighted in hearing rumours of the Shrieking Shack, guzzling back cherry syrups, and of course the hours spent drooling over new mischievous inventions at Zonko's Joke Shop. Sirius ordered another batch of butterbeers for the gang, as they celebrated the return of the Marauders' Map in The Three Broomsticks. However, not everyone was happy with James not being expelled.

"James still here? Pity," hissed Snape as he approached the table of friends, arms crossed under his cloak.

Sirius brushed his dark hair from his rolling eyes, took a swig of his butterbeer and then, noticing that Snape was still there, said, "Get away you greasy haired git!"

"Ah, no need for insults- Slime trail," Snape insulted Sirius, and then diverted his attention to James. "All I want is to know what kind of clever act did you pull to come from Dumbledore's office with a clean slate? Hmm? Any decent professor would have expelled you on the spot- being caught with the Marauders' Map."

Remus, who had not appreciated Snape's sarcastic tone, laughed, "You are getting more pathetic by the day, Snape."

Though Snape was apparently pretending to ignore Remus, his face was a bright red mix of embarrassment and rage. "Well be warned Potter," glared Snape. "Argus Filch is on your track. He wants his filthy hands on that troublesome map just as much as I want you expelled!"

With that Snape quickly turned away, his cloak failing behind him. Snape immediately sat at the bar, next to Lily Evans, the Gryffindor Prefect. It appeared they were conversing- no wait- laughing- no!- worse yet, giggling together!

Sirius loudly slammed his mug of butterbeer on the table, and let out a hearty laugh. "I got Argus Filch on my side," he said in a little girl voice, mocking Snape. "You better watch out! I'm a prat with bad hair and a nose that's doubly ugly!"

Remus laughed at Sirius, and seconds later, Peter too joined with the laughter. However- James' eyes were fixed on Lily and Snape.

"What are those two doing together?" James asked, almost disgusted.

Sirius pried his neck, trying to spot whatever James was starring at. "What two?" he asked.

"Their in rival houses! Since when did he like anyone in Gryffindor? Let alone her?!? And her- I thought Slytherin was her mortal enemy!"

"Who?" Remus also asked.

"Well you'd think she hates Slytherins- by the way she acts towards me anyway-"

Sirius whacked the back of James' head, and again asked, "Who are you rambling about?"

"Oh...er..." James, embarrassed, stumbled on his words as he 'came back to Earth'. "Er...Lily Evans and Severus Snape." James motioned his hand towards the two at the counter.

"I dunno," shrugged Sirius. "How does that Muggle saying go? Birds of feather blah blah blah together?"

"Birds of a feather flock together," Remus added with a smile. "But it appears our buddy James seems a bit jealous, eh?"

Remus nudged James as he winked, causing James' cheeks to slightly shade pink.

"Me? Jealous?" James laughed. "Of which one? Jealous of Lily because she's suddenly best friends with that prat Snape? Or jealous of Snape because suddenly he's sitting arm to arm with...With Lily...Flirting, and giggling." James voice began to slowly trail and become softer and softer.

"Yep, he defiantly fancies her," Sirius nodded.

"No doubt about it,"

"James likes Lily!" Peter giggled, a tad too loud- and James had to muffle his chant, placing his hand over Peter's mouth.

"Geez, Peter!" James hushed. "She could hear ya!"

"Why don't you just go talk to her?" Remus asked innocently.

"Well for starters, she's sitting with Snape-"

"Not any more," Peter interrupted with a childish tune to his voice.

It was true. Snape had now evidently left The Three Broomsticks, leaving Lily by herself, hunched over a cherry syrup. Sirius slapped James on the back, and grunted, "Go get her, partner!" James awkwardly stood from the table, and made his way over to Lily. Without acknowledging her, he sat in the empty stool, and ordered the same drink as Lily- a cherry syrup.

"Hmm, you've always struck me as more of a butterbeer type, Mr. James Potter," Lily said, with her competitive tone.

James pretended to act surprise, replying with a, "Hullo Lily...I didn't even notice you here."

Lily gave him a tightlipped smile, yet neither one seemed to want to break eye contact, or continue the conversion. 'Man, she has beautiful, green eyes,' James thought to himself. He continued to stare- in awe of her perfect, symmetrical face, framed by her honey, red hair- until Lily ruined the moment- 'completely ruined' in James' opinion.

"So, you are not expelled?" she asked with the same disappointed melody as Snape had.

"How is it that everyone knows? I mean it wasn't a big deal anyhow," James mumbled.

"Well I know because I wanted to attend your expulsion trial- had there been one, that is," Lily said.

James raised his eyebrows, "So, I suppose you and Snape were going to team against me, hmm?"

"Hardly!" Lily snapped, a tad offended. "I was going to vouch for you!"

"Really?" James asked, admiring Lily's fallen posture, and pinkened ears.

"Well, yes..." Lily said softly. "But only because if you were expelled my title as Hogsmeade's Head would not be as important had I not beat you to attain it."

"Pardon me?" James asked. "Hogsmeade's Head?"

"Yes, have you not heard?" Lily said surprised.

She quickly ran to pull what seemed to be a blank poster on the wall, and brought it to James. "Parchment Poster, please tell us of the Hogsmeade's Head Competition."

Then the poster shot from Lily's hand, and hovered in the air. The creases in the parchment took the shape of two eyes, and a rather large mouth. A melodious whistle came from the 'mouth' of the parchment and it began to sing, attracting the attention of most of The Three Broomsticks.

"In the days of Wizard's old,

When Hogwarts had been founded

The wizard village, Hogsmeade

Proclaimed a great challenge.

Send your best of students

Brave, cunning, smart, polite

To win the title of Hogsmeade's Head

Winning's a delight

Free butterbeer, and candy

Zonko's toys galore!

Chocolate frogs, and Bertie's Beans

So sign up in teams of four!"

The crowd now gathered around the singing poster, cheered in delight, and then broke into whispers and plans for teams. The parchment folded, taking a bow, and then dove back into Lily's hands.

"So James, do you have your team picked yet?" Lily said with a very competitive edge.

James glanced over his shoulder at his three friends, and then remarked, "Of course. Challenge accepted, Lily."

* * * * *

Dumbledore wasn't the only one in his office that weekend afternoon. As the Headmaster proceeded to his desk, he found it already occupied by a figure.

"Did you sleep late Albus?" the voice croaked.

Dumbledore spun his wand in a circle and chanted, "Lumos", lighting his office and revealing the shadowy man. He was a weathered, plump man, with long white, whiskers, and a furry, gray head. He was hardly as tell as Albus, his shoulders hardly reaching above the desk. As Albus fixed his eye, the man's cheeks upturned in a smile.

"Why Mundungus Fletcher!" Albus Dumbledore exclaimed in delight. "I'm so glad you arrived so promptly. I do hope my portrait wasn't snoring."

"As a matter of fact," chuckled Mundungus. "I was having a staring contest with old Rowena Ravenclaw."

Albus reached into a candy dish on his desk, and diligently offered Mundungus a lemon drop. "She can be a stubborn lady, that one," he sighed, his face full of the Muggle treat.

"Yes, so Albus, it is safe to speak of 'it' here?" Mundungus asked.

"Yes, I can assure you," Albus replied. "Most of the students and staff are at Hogsmeade this weekend."

"Ah, yes," Mundungus recalled. "I hear there is some competition for the youngsters there."

Dumbledore nodded his head, and clasping his hand, gulped and sat down in the chair opposite from Mundungus. "The time of the Marauders is now."

"Quite...I could tell...I could sense it," Mundungus said, adjusting his large glasses. "What about the Stag? Have you found the Stag yet?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "You know how I feel about fate, Mundungus- no offense to you, of course, being an expert in Divination...However, I like to believe that life is what a wizard makes of it."

"I know," replied Mundungus. "And you are correct in thinking so. Which is why we must take action, and stop the prophecy from being fulfilled."

"I have been hearing awful stories of the Dark Lord...Terrible, terrible stories," Dumbledore said, lowering his eyes. "Such terrible things that we can not possibly wait for the defeat as it was prophesied. We must be rid of the Dark Lord as soon as possible."

Mundungus' expression was in full agreement of Dumbledore. "So, who are the Marauders- the legendary Marauders?"

Dumbledore's eyes flickered to return to their regular playful glitter. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you..."