The Marauders: Year 1

"Owl post," Peter said, without looking up.

"Thanks, Peter, because clearly all of us are deaf and blind," Remus mumbled as he was in his typically cheerful morning mood.

"Very well could be, what the bloody hell were you doing when I got in last evening?" James asked Sirius.

"We were trying to make a potion that would render you deaf for a few minutes... but the explosion it caused... well, you saw the end results," Sirius offered as he buttered some toast.

"Nearly made us go deaf as it was," Peter squeaked. "And that wouldn't have been temporary."

"And what were you going to do with this potion?" James asked as several owls landed in their vicinity.

"Revenge," Sirius said and jerked his head in the general direction of the Slytherin table.

"Seer, we've got three days left here, all of absolute freedom just waiting for exam results, and you're plotting how to get back at the Slytherins," James said as he made clucking noises of disapproval. He reached for an owl that had just landed next to his plate and undid the letter attached to it. Across the table, Remus was paying the owl for his Daily Prophet and beginning to open it. "Why didn't you let me in on this?" James grinned.

"Figured you were in enough trouble as it was," Sirius offered and then glanced at Remus, "Can I nick the sports section, mate? The Chudley Cannons went against Puddlemere United yesterday and I've got three galleons against Robert Davis that the Cannons won."

Remus made some sort of disgruntled noise and shoved a piece of the paper towards Sirius.

"Remus, can I..." Peter began but was cut off as Remus shoved the editorial section at him. Peter grinned. "Thanks."

"I've never understood what you see in the editorials, Pete," James said to his short blonde friend who was now busy reading.

"Maybe it's the fact that all those people are whining for the public," Sirius offered. "I hope you realize that's not a realistic occupational goal, mate." He put his head back into his own section of the paper as Peter looked up and made a face at him.

"Bloody hell..." Remus muttered and looked up from his paper. "Look at this guys." He put the paper flat on the table.

"What in the name of Merlin is that thing?" James asked.

Peter squeaked, "Whatever it is, I really don't like it." His editorial page was forgotten.

"Who cares what it is! The Cannons lost, bloody hell. That stupid Porskoff Ploy, really, you think the Cannons keeper would've gotten wise to that ages ago." He sighed. "I've got to go find Davis," Sirius muttered, getting up from the table.

"Would you look at this, you thick headed dolt," James said as he grabbed Sirius's arm.

"Look at what?" he said irritably.

The four boys looked down at the newspaper that showed a picture of a decent sized house. Hovering, high above the house, was a picture of a massive skull, with a snake coming out of its mouth like a tongue, the whole thing seemed to be sparkling green.

"What the hell is that?" Sirius asked. The other three boys shrugged and Remus grabbed the paper back.

MAYHEM IN SURREY

Early this morning, the Daily Prophet received a statement from

Millicent Bagnold, current Minister of Magic, regarding the odd

appearance of a strange charm above the home of Consus and

Ceres McGonagall. Early yesterday evening, the Ministry was alerted

that the McGonagall's believed they were under attack. Aurors

were quickly dispatched to their home only to find this strange

charm floating high above their home, and inside, both Consus and

his wife were found dead on the floor of their living room. The cause

of death has been attributed to the Avada Kedavra curse. Neighbors,

when questioned, recalled seeing a green flash of light from next door

around four in the afternoon. However, as both the McGonagalls were

herbologists, they attributed it to one of their many plant growing

experiments. Details surrounding their deaths are still inconclusive.

The McGonagall are survived by their only daughter, Trixie, who is

currently finishing her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and

Wizardry, Consus's sister, Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration

professor at the abovementioned school, and Lola Neder, Ceres sister.

The Ministry wishes to warn all of it's readers not to worry

There will be a full investigation into the matters and the witch or

wizard who perpetrated this heinous crime will be caught and dealt with.

As our regular readers surely know, the Avada Kedavra curse is

punishable by a life sentence in Azkaban.

Remus stopped there and all four boys looked over to the Ravenclaw table. Trixie McGonagall wasn't there.

"How horrible," Peter said quietly. "Poor Trixie."

"It's like whoever did it is mocking them with that stupid charm over the house. I've never seen it before..." Sirius trailed off. "Yeah, poor Trixie."

"Where's Dumbledore?" James asked, glancing towards the head table. "I don't remember him ever missing breakfast."

"Maybe he's helping Professor McGonagall with arrangements," Sirius offered, the seriousness of the situation apparent in his use of the word professor for a change.

"I can't believe somebody would do that. Why would anyone want to kill the McGonagalls? I mean, they were just herbologists," Remus mused.

Sirius opened his mouth, but Remus jumped back in before anything came out. "If you say 'a mystery'! And get all excited looking, I may have to hex you." Sirius's jaw snapped shut. "Trixie, a student in our own year, doesn't have parents anymore because of this mystery, so I suggest you do your best to curb your enthusiasm, Black."

Sirius looked rather contrite as he mumbled, "Spot on, Lupin. Spot on." Then he shook his head. "I'd best get Davis his money."

As Sirius strolled away from the table, James picked up the article to read it for himself and the other two went back to their breakfasts. All four now thoroughly unsettled by the picture on the front page of the Daily Prophet.

~~*~~

The news about the McGonagalls quickly swept through the school, followed, of course, by many embellishments.

Remus told the others that on his way out to meet them by the lake, he'd overheard a third year Hufflepuff talking with a third year Gryffindor, telling him that the McGonagall's were eaten by their plants.

James reported back that he'd been told by a sixth year Ravenclaw that Mr. McGonagall had owed an ogre a large amount of money from a gambling debt and when he couldn't pay... the girl had trailed off and made a slicing motion across her neck.

Peter had caught three very frightened Hufflepuff first years sitting on a set of stairs contemplating the idea that Trixie herself had somehow slipped out of the castle and murdered her parents for refusing to buy her a new racing broom. He'd stopped long enough to tell them off, Peter reported to the other Marauders. The other three were somewhat surprised to see three girls in Hufflepuff uniforms walk by later that evening with skin a slight shade of blue (a color that Peter was well known for accidentally producing when he tried to do any sort of color change charm).

The group was now sitting by the lake once again and Peter was still in a tiff over what the Hufflepuff girls had said.

"You know that's ridiculous, Pete," Sirius said, the only one out of the whole group to have ignored most of the gossip. "I must say though, Trixie would be proud if she could see your color change charm."

"More likely annoyed," Remus commented.

"Well, she's a friend and they were saying such horrible, stupid things about her. I mean, if my mum and dad... After all, didn't she stick up for you guys over Filch's cat?" Peter shook his head. "I just wouldn't want to overhear things like that when I got back."

"I doubt she'll be back until September," Sirius said. He had his wand out and was summoning and banishing a nearby stick to keep himself entertained.

"You're right," James said as he watched the stick fly away. "You know, Seer, you've been very quiet on the whole rumor front."

"Yea well..." he concentrated on the stick flying at him and caught it.

"Amazing what will amuse you, Sirius," Remus commented as he pulled out a book.

"I overheard my cousins the other day," Sirius said quietly. "They suspect it might be Voldemort. I thought they were nutters at first... but maybe..."

"Volde-who?" Peter asked, his Muggle ancestry showing itself.

"Voldemort. He's this guy who had crazy ideas about pure bloods..." Remus began and then glanced at Peter awkwardly.

"Like the Slytherins?" Peter asked glumly.

"Like the worst Slytherin ever," James took up the story. "He's all for anti-Muggle regulations and wants to keep Muggle born witches and wizards out of the Ministry. He's got quite a following..." James stopped midsentence and then stared off into the lake.

"As most of the old blood families agree with most of his ideas," Sirius finished. "Like mine. Those stupid gits."

"I mean, he's not dangerous though. The man's a nutter, but... he really wants to make life difficult for anyone who's not a pureblood," James said.

"But you're all pure bloods," Peter said slowly, glancing at his friends.

"Such a stupid term, blood doesn't matter," Sirius said vehemently.

"But you three are, at any rate," Peter prompted once again.

James and Sirius sighed, but Remus opened his mouth to speak.

"Actually, by Ministry standards, yea... my ancestry is good enough to work for them and all with no questions. But my mum was Muggle born, so in the world of good King Voldemort, or whatever that loon has taken to calling himself, I've got 'dirty blood'," Remus laughed harshly. "Not like that matters, I've got dirty blood anyway, but..."

"Now who's a loon? Your blood's just fine," James said to Remus and then turned to Peter. "And so is yours. Who cares what our families are like? We all come here and get exactly the same training. It's all lunacy if you ask me."

"But you two are pure bloods then?" Peter asked once more.

"Yea," Sirius grunted.

"Well, it doesn't..." James was cut off.

"Yes or no, James," Peter said with an odd look in his eye.

"Yes, I am."

"So if this lunatic goes on the warpath, he'd come after people like me?" Peter asked quietly.

"I don't expect old Voldie will ever go on any sort of warpath, per say..." Remus said. "I wouldn't worry about it. He's far more engrossed in messing with the Ministry at the moment."

"But if he killed the McGonagalls..." Peter started.

"Then you've nothing to worry about. The McGonagall's are really old blood. If that's who he's trying to get," Remus stopped short and looked over at Sirius and James, who looked back at him with pained expressions on their faces.

"Maybe Mrs. McGonagall was Muggle born," Peter said.

"Well, maybe," Remus conceded. "But even so... I don't think it's him. Voldemort is just too preoccupied with trying to get all his stupid anti-Muggle and anti-Muggle born ideas across. What good would this killing do?"

"Scare everyone into agreeing with him," James said quietly. "You know, that stupid charm hanging above the house... it does seem like something he would do."

"I'm sorry, but I refuse to believe Voldemort is just going to start walking around and killing people like that. It's not as though he's Grindelwald, now is it?" Remus said, marking his spot and closing his book carefully.

"Do you suppose all the people right before Grindelwald's height of terror sat around going, oh no, all these little things, that can't be old Grindy, could they?" Sirius said, mocking Remus.

"Well, I just hope it isn't thing Voldmorty person, or whoever," Peter said.

"Voldemort," Sirius corrected.

"Whatever," Peter dismissed him.

"Well, if it is him, I'm sure the Ministry will have caught him before the end of the summer," James said as he rose and started back towards the castle. "Grades should be posted by now."

Remus, Sirius and Peter scrambled after him and the four raced to the Entrance Hall.

~~*~~

"One hundred and ten percent in Defense Against the Dark Arts," James whistled appreciatively under his breath. "How the heck did you manage that, Remmy?"

"I used a really weird tactic," Remus said grinning. "I studied."

"Wow, you three are neck in neck for top boy in our year," Peter said, craning his neck to find his own name.

"Way to go Pete. You kicked all our arses in Herbology," Sirius said. "Ninety nine percent. I only got seventy six."

"Have you opened that book once this year, Sirius?" Remus asked, trying to see the rest of his grades. "We all passed potions. Thank Merlin. I thought Nackle might fail us for fun."

"Just barely," Peter said, wrinkling his nose. "A sixty seven percent. My mum and dad aren't going to be happy about that one."

"Eh, but the rest of your grades are all high seventies and low eighties," Sirius said. "Just show them the Potions grade and follow it quickly with Herbology. It might get them off your case a bit."

Sirius finished reading through the posted paper. "Actually, I think it's more like Remus and James are neck in neck for top boy. That Herbology grade really lowered my average." He looked at the other two boys. "Did either of you get anything below a ninety percent?"

"Exams are stupid," James said suddenly and started off towards the Gryffindor Common Room. "I've got to pack."

"What's that all about?" Remus asked, puzzled.

"Ah, I've got an idea." Sirius double checked the paper and chuckled. "Lily beat him by a point for the highest grade in the Charms exam. She's got the highest average for the year."

"Who's got the highest average for the year? In what? Did you say Charms?" A nervous red head popped in front of Sirius to look at the scores parchment. A few seconds later she did a little jig and turned to her friend. "Becca, I beat Potter! And I have the highest grade for the year in Charms!"

"Way to go, Lil," the tall, thin brunette strolled over next to Lily and glanced at her own grades. "Not too shabby myself," she commented with a smile. "Looks like you've got the highest average for the year out of the girls. Watch out though, James and Remus are right behind you."

"Ugh, Potter," Lily growled and started off towards the steps in the direction of the Common Room.

"Should we tell her James just headed that way?" Sirius asked the two boys and girl standing nearby him.

"Nah, why spoil the fun?" Rebecca said and followed Lily off.

"We'd best go pack, then," Remus said.

"Yea," Sirius agreed, abnormally quiet for a moment. The three then went off towards the Gryffindor Common Room, discuss current events in Quidditch and the strangeness that was Lily Evans.

~~*~~

Peter was watching the woods zip by as the Hogwarts Express hurled itself towards London. An entire year as a wizard. A wizard! Who would've ever thought in my family? I've got three really great new friends too. He pulled his gaze away from the window and looked over at James and Sirius, fighting over the last Chocolate Frog from the witch's snack cart. I guess some things will never change. He easily recalled a very similar event that had occurred the first day he met them. He looked at James again as he triumphantly opened the wrapping on the frog and popped it into his mouth. James Potter, he thought. I'm best friends with one of the kids from one of the oldest and most respected wizarding families in existence. I wonder if they were all as odd as him when they were twelve. He smiled to himself as he recalled making that same comment to James in April when the Marauder's had celebrated James's twelfth birthday in his hospital room. He's such a show off. I bet no one on Earth would believe what he and Sirius did for me. Peter shook his head again in mild amazement. He still couldn't believe what the witch had accidentally let slip to him the day before he'd been discharged. The two boys had never mentioned it, and Peter had allowed them to keep their secret. Everyone knows him as the lunatic that tried to take on Lily Evans's kimono dragon with a little iguana. Peter actually snorted at the thought of the little blonde Hufflepuff who'd made a comment using almost that exact wording to him one day in Charms. I doubt most of them ever take the time to notice that even before he was forced to, he spent plenty of nights tutoring anyone he could help.

A loud snap shook Peter out of his thoughts for a moment, immediately followed by the triumphant crow of Sirius. Sirius Black, Peter mused. Thank Merlin, he's not a Slytherin. I'd definitely rather be on his good side than bad. He looked over and watched as Sirius began shuffling the remaining cards. Flat out lunatic... but his History of Magic notes for me while I was sick were more precise than even the text books... and he usually sleeps through that class. Peter half heartedly watched the ensuing game of Exploding Snap as he thought over the strange little sacrifices that Sirius made for his friends without a second thought. His mind slipped back to a memory of the day Sirius had explained Quidditch to him. He actually charmed a small rock to act like a bludger and took a blow to the head to illustrate a point to Peter. At the time, Peter had just assumed he was off his rocker, as usual, but later... he thought that perhaps Sirius just didn't care if he'd gotten hurt, only that his friend now understood the finer points of Quidditch defense tactics. What a dolt... Madame Pomfrey had a good laugh at us trying to explain exactly how Sirius had given himself a concussion with that rock.

Peter looked up once again as he heard the compartment door slide open. Rebecca and Melissa walked in saying they were looking for Frank's toad.

"Honestly, the boy is impossible," Rebecca said as she peered under the seats. "I swear, someday soon I'm going to Spellotape that dumb amphibian to his forehead."

"You'll tell us if you see it then, won't you?" Melissa asked as she stood on tiptoe to peer into the overhead luggage area. "Do send Remus or Peter though... Lily's sitting with us." She glanced at James. "We'd prefer to have an otherwise uneventful trip home."

The girls grinned and made their good-byes, ushered out to the boy's assurances that if the toad showed up, they'd bring it straight to Frank or Rebecca. James and Sirius returned to their game, but Peter had enough time to notice Remus's red tinge as Melissa exited.

And Remus Lupin, Peter retreated back into his thoughts as Remus picked up some book about the Dark Arts and began to read. I'd never have pegged him for a Marauder initially. Stupid cheese. He grinned despite himself. That had been a decent prank. Suddenly, his gaze became more subdued. He saved my life. Peter never ceased to be amazed that the quiet boy hiding behind the book, sitting right in front of him, had not hesitated for even a second, despite the huge risk to his own personal safety, to try and save him. Would I do that for him? Peter shivered slightly. I hope I would. I hope I would be willing to give my own life so I could save him, if I ever had to. Any of them really. He looked over at the other two who had given up on their game and were now chatting amicably. I'm sure they would have done the same if they'd been closer. Yes, if I had to, right now, I'd die for the three of them. He looked out the window rather surprised at his decision. It's so easy to think though... I bet it's not as easy to do.

Rather sick of thinking all these serious thoughts during his last few hours with his new mates before an entire summer away from them, he turned to listen to what James and Sirius were talking about.

"Ah but if we tell him..." Sirius said conspiratorially

"They're not all stupid. They may be familiar with Muggle crop circles," James cut him off.

"You weren't," Sirius pointed out.

"But really, is covering the Quidditch pitch in corn realistic? How long will that take us?" James asked.

"With proper growth charms... maybe an hour? If we get Remmy and Pete to help, less time," Sirius said, acknowledging Peter.

"I have no idea what you're doing to the Quidditch pitch and I don't want to know," Remus said as he put down his book and curled up on the seat. "I'm getting some sleep. Wake me up if the witch comes by again with the snack cart."

"Like we'd risk life and limb to wake you up for an Every Flavor Bean, I think not," James said quite seriously. Then he grinned realizing that Remus was already nearing unconsciousness.

"Only he could sleep during the last few hours we'll all be together for nearly three months," Peter said to the others.

"Eh, it's closer to two," Sirius corrected. "And I doubt we won't see each other."

"I was going to invite you three over for a week or two, if my parents let me," James said.

"I would, but trust me, my house is nowhere for four young Gryffindors to spend any amount of time," Sirius shivered.

"Moomfhosegust," Remus muttered at the others, who just looked at one another with grins and raised eyebrows.

"Right Remmy," Sirius said and shook his head. "The lad could sleep if the world were crumbling around him."

"Well, I don't think you guys would want to spend a few days in a Muggle house. After all this... it's going to seem very dull at home," Peter said glumly.

"Are you kidding, mate?" Sirius said excitedly. "Muggle homes are fascinating to wizards who grow up in wizarding households. Do you think your parents would let us come?"

James looked just as excited as Sirius. Peter was a bit taken aback. "Of course, yea sure. I'll ask them and then... well, I can't exactly send you an owl, we haven't any."

"Don't worry, one of us can write you and you can send back responses with the owls we send," James assured him.

Peter beamed. Suddenly the summer holiday didn't seem so... endless. He was still worried that he'd get off the train and go back to his regular life, only to find that it had all been a dream. Peter leaned forward towards James and Sirius, "Crop circles, eh?"

~~*~~

"You wake him, I'm not touching him. I prefer to keep all my limbs intact, thank you very much," Peter said. The Hogwarts Express had arrived in London and the lucid Marauders were left fighting over who had the task of awakening Remus.

"I've an idea," Sirius said as he pulled the book Remus had been reading before falling asleep out of his hands. "Get into the hallway, mates. We're going to run for it."

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Seer... don't chuck it at his head at any rate," James said with a smirk and headed for the platform, Peter on his heels. A second later they heard a loud thud, an angry growl and the heavy thuds of Sirius running out to the platform. A moment later, a disheveled Remus appeared rubbing his arm, glaring as Sirius.

The four Marauders tugged their trunks along towards the barrier, pausing only to capture Bob, Peter's rat, when he escaped for a moment.

"Well then, are we ready for the real world?" Remus asked the others right before they crossed the barrier.

"I believe, my groggy friend, the correct question is, do you suppose the real world is ready for us?" Sirius asked with a wicked grin and both he and James crossed the barrier into Muggle London.

Peter looked at Remus and smiled. "I think he's spot on," Peter said as he walked through the barrier, already looking forward to a summer of exchanging owls and, perhaps, even visiting his friends at their homes... real wizarding homes. He was distracted from his thoughts again as his mother and father swooped down upon him, gathering him in a great bear hug. In the commotion, he dropped Bob again and Peter, along with Remus, Sirius and James, who noticed his plight, chased the little rat out of the train station and into the bright sunshine outside.

The End