We know you've all been waiting for it.

Disclaimer: We do not own the Harry Potter characters you have all come to know and love, they belong to J.K Rowling. We do however, own Etoile & Lucia, and the writing is original. Thankyou to those who replied to the cast call, its still open for those of you who still wish to participate! You guys rock, but not as much as me and Cat ROFL!

Rating: PG 13.

PROLOGUE.
The Phoenix

There is a legend about a bird, which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain.... Or so says the legend. -- Colleen McCullough

:heartbeat: Pat

WOHOOO!! First replier!! :yahoo ok, I totally loved the prologue and can't wait for more! Loved it Pat and Cat! (or whoever wrote the prologue since you two are both working on this.) Anyways, can't wait for more!
:love:
~kit-Kat~

Squee, it's up!!! I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot more squee moments to come...hehe! Great prologue!

:lol: Its up! That was such an intense prologue,

Love the line.
Anyways i inticipate more. Its gonna be so good.

~Ciao Claire

Wow what a fabulous prologue...I'm sitting here trying to figure out how it's all going to connect into your story, I'll continue pondering away until you post! I expect more soon, that's a pretty short part to keep occupied for very long but I did love it. I was expecting this to be a very funny story, judging by how excited Cat seems to be, but considering the whole Pheonix death piece I'm not so sure anymore.

Alas, I await in bitter agony for more (haha!)
:love: Sarah

LOL. oh don't worry Sarywary! There's plenty of comedy! lol.

:heartbeat: Pat

Now, you all have to pester Cat so she'll post the first chapter. *claps for her in advance* :P

:heartbeat: Pat

I think she'll kill us if we do, Sary and me will have to do it very subtle *begins to hatch plan* :lol:

By the way love your avatar Pat, love the story and the movie ^_^

~Ciao Claire

I wouldn't go so far as to actually KILL you... smack you maybe, but not kill... you're not worth the jail time ;)

I'm almost done the first chapter though!!! *dances excitedly*

As a warning... you might want to make sure you have a good amount of time on your hands before reading this... it's a long one... lol and constructive critism is definitely welcome.

Chapter 1: Prong and Padfoot Reunited

“You know, it’s still a little early,” Sirius Black, my best friend, said. “Maybe we should wait a bit.”

“No, it’s fine. Let’s go,” I said back, looking at him curiously and glancing at my watch. It read midnight, the time we always left for the Shrieking Shack when the full moon was on a school night.

The Gryffindor common room, usually crammed with students, was empty and dark, the roaring fire reduced to amber-lighted coals. I maneuvered my way easily towards the portrait hole, the route so familiar to me after nearly six years, I wouldn’t even have had trouble if I’d had my eyes closed. Peter followed me, I could tell by the various thunks as he ran into the comfortable red furniture. He really was clueless, but he was a Marauder nonetheless and essential to our monthly outings.

“I really think we should wait, mate.” Sirius repeated. “What could fifteen minutes hurt?”

“There’s no difference whether we wait or not,” I said turning to see he hadn’t moved from his initial spot by the boys’ dormitory stairs. Light from the full moon filtered in through the small window, creating shadows that distorted Sirius’s girl-besotting features so that he looked dark and ominous.

From the corner of my eye I could see Peter’s eyes darting between the two of us, but I didn’t give him more than a seconds thought. Sirius had been acting strangely all night, and he had been giving the distinct impression that he wasn’t looking forward to our moonlit adventure. It was odd since just that morning he’d been laughing with the rest of us as we planned our mischief .

I raised my eyebrow at him, inviting him to explain his odd behavior. That’s what happens after so many years of friendship; you end up knowing what the other’s saying by the smallest of gestures. Instead of confessing what he was keeping from me, he glanced nervously out the window and then strode purposefully over to where Peter and I were standing.

“Fine. Let’s go.”

I looked at him skeptically for a moment, then shrugged and pulled out the invisibility cloak, a very crucial item to our mischief since our very first year. There would be no point in questioning him, especially while Wormtail was around. Plus I wanted to get the night started, so without saying another word I threw the invisibility cloak over us, and Wormtail transformed into his animagus form; a rat. The Fat Lady’s snores followed us all the way down the corridor, the only sound besides our scampering feet.

~*~

It was when we were crossing the grounds that Sirius started up again. “Ouch! I think I just twisted my ankle...” He feigned, hopping up and down clutching it, disturbing the cloak so that it started to slip off of us.

The problem with sneaking out during a full moon is that the night is a lot lighter than it would be normally, so anyone looking out one of the hundreds of Hogwarts windows would have little trouble spotting students on the grounds.

I was about to snap at him, when the distinct sound of the castle oak-wood door opening and closing made both of us freeze where we stood, Sirius still clutching his ankle ridiculously.

A little gust of window ruffled the cloak as the person sprinted past us, and I knew the figure. I knew it all; the greasy black hair, the foul scent of the dungeon potions room, the ugly hooked nose. Snape was running across the grounds, straight toward the Whomping Willow. I couldn’t see his face, but I imagined it twisted into it’s usual sneer.

“It’s Snivellus,” I whispered to Sirius, my eyes not leaving Snape’s flimsy form. Sirius gave a weak chuckle in response. “Let’s see what the grease ball’s up to.” I started moving along again, and Sirius followed.

I was used to Snivellus following me around during the day, trying to get me into trouble in anyway possible, but I’d managed to elude the prat during full moon nights. Of course, sometimes I’d seen him lurking about, and he’d gotten detention more times than I can count for trying to turn in Sirius and I by staying out past hours. It was almost funny; he really thought he stood a chance catching us.

I watched with great amusement as he staggered to a halt as he came into range of the Whomping Willow’s limbs, but as soon as he disappeared into the forbidden forest and reemerged with a long, thin piece of wood, I wasn’t so amused anymore. He wasted no time in confirming my fears as he pressed the tip of the wood against the rough knot on the Whomping Willow, which froze immediately.

For some reason Sirius had stopped walking, I felt the cloak tighten as he stood stock-still almost like his feet were planted in the ground. I didn’t want to stop, I wanted to find out what Snivellus thought he was doing.

“What’re you doing?” I hissed at Sirius, bewildered by his behavior.

“Let him go.”

“What!?” I turned to look at Snivellus, only he wasn’t there; he’d disappeared into the passageway. I looked back at Sirius who was glaring at the spot where Snape had disappeared. His eyes were filled with the purest loathing I’d ever seen. He wasn’t Sirius anymore; he was a stranger.

A moment passed, and then the next thing I knew I had thrown the cloak off of me, now completely visible the Whomping Willow brandished it’s limbs at me and I was forced to jump back for fear of being pummeled. I bent down and snatched the same stick that Snape had used to free the tree. With a quick jab, the tree froze once more and I dashed into the passage way, running full out through it’s dark and muddy depths.

Snape was no where to be seen, but his footfalls echoed back to me, and I began running as fast as I possibly could, my legs protested at the exertion, and the ground passed under my feet in a blur.

I was giving up hope that I would ever reach him, as my heart pounded painfully in my chest from fear for both Remus and Snape. Remus would never forgive himself if he bit Snape and Snape would never let him forget it.

I continued to hurtle along, my breath coming out in gasps. “Snivellus you git!” I called out in frustration, angered that I still hadn’t caught up to him. “Get back here!”

The sound of manic laughter reached my ears. “You wish Potter!” Even as he shouted it, I could tell I was gaining on him. Now I could see his outline, but he wasn’t running anymore. He’d stopped and was pressing up on the ceiling... but no, not the ceiling; it was the trap door. I knew what Snape didn’t; on the other side of that thin piece of wood was an angry, snarling werewolf just waiting to attack.

I closed the distance between us in a matter of seconds. Snape had already begun to climb into the Shack, his entire torso had disappeared. Grabbing a fist-full of his black robes I yanked him down, but not before hearing Snape burst out, “What the...?”

He hadn’t been expecting the force with which I had pulled him down with and fell heavily on top of me as we crashed to the floor, his elbow smashing into my mouth; the acrid taste of blood made me gag. I pushed Snape off of me, slightly disgusted, but was forced to lay flat again as a large claw swiped at my face; missing by a mere inch. I heard Snape stumble to his feet and run away; screaming like a little girl.

I grappled for my wand as the yellow eyes of the werewolf appeared, and held my eyes. His lips were peeled back from his teeth, which were terrifyingly sharp, as he snarled and attempted to climb head-first into the passage.

I whipped my wand out of my robe pocket and thought the first spell that came to me; ‘Levicorpus.’ The werewolf was yanked up into the air and hung there pitifully, upsidedown. It growled and snarled at me as I hastily scrambled away. It’s yellow eyes gleamed red with anger and it spat and growled as it twisted frantically, trying to get down.

Once a safe distance away, I climbed to my feet and, with a last regretful look at the pitiful hanging-werewolf who under the hairy exterior was one of my best mates, I began jogging back down the passage way, after Snape who would no doubt announce Remus’s secret to the whole castle if I didn’t hex him into oblivion first.

Curiously, as I ran down the passage, retracing my steps of mere moments before loud clicking sounds filled the tunnel; like the sound of a pebble being thrown at a window... and the tunnel began to fade away...

In my fretful sleep I had managed to roll my blankets all around me so that I was trapped in a kind of cocoon. I let out a groan as the noise continued that had taken me from my dream... or nightmare rather. I glared at the window, the sky was faintly pink with the rising sun. There were a few minutes of blissful silence. Relived, I turned away and snuggled back into my covers. Perhaps I wouldn’t return to the familiar Hogwarts passage-way... maybe I’d dream about being a famous Quidditch player... or of Evans confessing her undying love for me...

CRASH!

I sat bolt up, struggling with my sheet as I attempted to snatch my glasses from their resting place on the bedside table. I shoved them on my nose and surveyed the damage, perplexed. Little shards of glass that had once made up my bedroom window now lay scattered on the floor, and sitting against the wall was a garden gnome, its leathery appearance quite familiar to me by now, apparently unconscious.

You’d think, since I’d de-gnomed the garden yesterday, that they would have at least had the decency to stay away for a couple of days, but of course not. Now they were breaking my window, taking over my room and disturbing my blissful sleep!

I had just reached for my wand, preparing to repair the window when I heard a whisper of: “Prongs!” from outside.

“Wha–?” I watched in wonderment as another gnome soared through my broken window and thunked against the wall, sliding down to join the other in a state of unconsciousness. Anyone coming into my room at that moment probably would’ve thought I had started a stuffed gnome collection. They really were the ugliest of creatures, gnomes, with their leathery skin and potato shaped heads. Not to mention they were vicious; I had the cuts on my fingers to prove it. Again, another gnome flew in threw my window, followed by another whisper calling me by my nickname. Something about that voice was definitely familiar...

“Sirius?” I questioned stupidly to the various Quidditch posters that adorned my walls. Another gnome flying through my window finally cleared the sleep fogging my brain. Careful not to step on the glass, I exited my room and raced down the stairs, the royal-blue carpet muffling my footsteps. I jumped the last few stairs and the portly witch in one of the many portraits gave a huff of indignation, muttering, “Unruly boy, why in my day...”

Ignoring her, I crossed the front hall, pulled open the front door and leaned out just in time to see Sirius chuck another gnome through my broken window. He looked tired, and frustrated, his trunk lay beside him and I raised my eyebrow curiously. Although Sirius had often visited in previous summers he’d never come without warning.

“I don’t know what they’ve told you Padfoot,” I said loudly. He turned, startled, but his face broke into a grin when he saw me, “but sane people don’t usually like being awoken by flying gnomes at the crack of dawn.”

“Took you long enough,” he said, not bothering to answer, but instead grabbed the handle of his trunk and dragged it and himself into the house. “Nice pyjamas by the way mate,” he added as he passed.

I looked down at my quaffle-covered blue pyjamas that mum had given me as one of my numerous birthday gifts. “If I’d known such high-class company was coming, I would’ve dressed up a bit,” I retorted, shutting the door firmly behind me.

Sirius stood awkwardly in the middle of the main hall, he was fidgeting with something in the pocket of his casual robes, so navy blue they were almost black, and staring at his dirty trainers. It was the stance I expected from someone trying out for my Quidditch team (Captain since fifth year, thank you very much).

I opened my mouth to ask him what he was doing here when my mother’s footsteps pounded down the stairs and she appeared in the stairwell. “James, is everything alright? I heard a crash...” she trailed off as she saw Sirius and her face lit up immediately. My mother absolutely loves Sirius, and has ever since his first summer visit to our house. She doesn’t know that he almost got expelled last year. She also doesn’t know that in all the letters she’s received from Hogwarts the ‘accomplice’ described (as in ‘James Potter and a fellow Accomplice were caught attempting to build a Tree House in the Forbidden Forest...’ (First year)) is Sirius. She’s under the impression that he’s a good influence on me, something Sirius and I laugh ourselves sick over every now and then. “Sirius!” She exclaimed, her hazel eyes, which I had inherited, sparkling.

“Hi Mrs. Potter,” Sirius said politely, but I noticed it wasn’t with the usual charming smile. There were only ever two things that could really get Sirius down; and empty stomach and his family. I suspected the latter was the reason for his defeated attitude, and if that was the case, then I’d better get used to his company again, because he’d be staying for the rest of the summer.
“How wonderful to see you dear!... But James, you didn’t tell me Sirius was dropping in! And at such a time in the morning...”

“I guess I forgot mum,” I lied, “He’s staying ‘til school though... I swear I mentioned it sometime or another...” I could tell by Sirius’s appreciative smile that I’d guessed right; he had no intention of returning to his home, 12 Grimmauld place.

Mum’s getting on in her years. She’d old, even by our (wizarding) standards. So’s dad. I was a nice little surprise for them, they’d tried for children for years when they were younger, and they’d eventually given up. But then I’d arrived, their only child, a boy, stunningly good-looking and brilliant (to describe just a few of my attributes). For a few embarrassing years they’d even gone so far to refer to me as their ‘Wonderful Miracle Bundle-of-Joy’. Thankfully, I’d managed to convince them to stop calling me that in public by the time I was ten.

So it wasn’t really surprising when mum nodded and said, “Of course you did... I’m sure I remember something about it...” She ran a wrinkled hand through her almost entirely grey hair, and used the other to cover a giant yawn. “Wonderful, we’re always happy to have you Sirius.”

“I’m sorry I woke you, Mrs. Potter,” Sirius apologized. I couldn’t see his face, but I knew he was sincere. Sirius likes my mum just about as much as she likes him.

“No trouble, Sirius dear, it was time for me to be getting up. I’ll just head upstairs to get dressed and then how ‘bout some breakfast hmmm?”

“Great,” Sirius and I said simultaneously, Sirius’s stomach emitting a small grumble. With that my mother disappeared back up that stairs, chuckling at us.

I went over and grabbed one handle of his gigantic black trunk and started pulling it towards the stairs, he grabbed the other handle and we climbed up the stairs, slightly awkwardly but it wasn’t the agonizing task it had been when we were younger.

“Heard from Remus?” I asked, as we hauled the trunk around the second-floor stair railing and began climbing up towards the third.

“No, he’s probably still settling in at his grandparents,” Sirius replied. “You?”

“Nah, haven’t heard from Peter either, I guess neither of them have time for us anymore,” I said lightly as more stairs passed under our feet.

“As if he were having the time of his life and we’d been holding him back,” Sirius grunted as we reached the third floor. I chuckled at his sarcasm. We both knew that, with out us, Peter’s summer would be duller than the task of de-gnoming my garden. “I thought you were of age? Why the hell are we carrying this thing?” Sirius complained just as we stepped in his room and set it down. Like my room, Sirius’s was covered in Quidditch posters and there were some personal items in the drawers and some old robes hung up in the closet. He’d claimed this room the first time he’d stayed at my house (we had about five other rooms to spare, so it wasn’t much of a loss). Where my room was red though, his was pale blue. His window looked out into the backyard and mine looked out across the front which was just a bunch of fields (our rooms were directly across from one another). My room was slightly larger than his, but both were spacious and more than enough for two boys used to the cramped dormitory life of Hogwarts.

I rolled my eyes in response to his comment. “Old habits die hard,” I admitted, having only come of age mid-June, I was still getting used to being able to use magic whenever I pleased. Plus I’d forgotten my wand on my bedside table. I could’ve apparated to get it, but apparition was a very uncomfortable experience that I didn’t care to go through all that often. “Exercise never hurts, Padfoot.”

Sirius groaned and immediately kicked off his shoes, collapsing on the bed. I knew the place would be a pig-stye within the week, exactly like mine. Mum didn’t let the house-elf clean our rooms, saying that it would be cruel and inhumane to assign him such a grueling task. I pointed out that she didn’t to have a problem with making her own son do it, but for some reason she didn’t take me seriously.

I leaned against the doorframe, and crossed my arms lazily. “Get any sleep last night?” I asked, watching as he rubbed his hands over his face, attempting to wake up. His eyes were a little bloodshot and there were giant bags under his eyes that I hadn’t noticed before.

“None,” he said. After a brief pause he started to unload. “I couldn’t stand it anymore, Prongs. I really couldn’t. You should’ve heard them,” here he put on a falsetto voice, and imitated his mother, “‘That Voldemort! He knows what this world needs. Those filthy mud-bloods and muggles dirtying our world! Makes me sick! He’s got the right pure-blood attitude! Why can’t you be more like him Sirius? Why can’t you set an example for your brother and join Voldemort’s side?’”

I let out a derisive snort. Sirius’s parents really were unbelievably ignorant, unfortunately they weren’t the one ones with the superior attitude so many Pure-blood families flaunted.

“That’s not even the worst of it,” Sirius continued, “They took turns reading aloud the Prophet at the breakfast table and would laugh at all the disappearances and murders! They just burst out laughing!” he exclaimed.

“I’m surprised you didn’t completely lose it and hex them,” I commented, knowing Sirius’s volcanic temper was always at boiling point when in his family’s company.

“Tried to,” Sirius admitted with a slight grin as a laughed a bit. “I got Regulus pretty badly, with accidental magic and all.” Sirius wasn’t of age yet, though he would be by the end of the week. “Can’t say that I regret it, though, the little git nearly fell off his chair laughing when he heard that Lucia Cuervo’s father went missing,” he said darkly.

“Yeah, I heard about that.” Lucia was in our year at school, and a fellow chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I also happened to know that she was one of Evans’s best friends (the other being Adrina Adderley), and I had, maybe, pestered her with questions about Evans once. Or twice. I think she only put up with it so she could ask me about Remus. I suspected she fancied him, but hadn’t mentioned anything to her about it yet, preferring to store the information for later use. “So what’d you do after that? Just up and left?”

“Nearly, I made sure they knew what gits I thought they were before I left. I swear dad was about to kill me. He wanted to, I know that much. Dear old mum was blasting me off the tapestry as I left,” Sirius tried to sound as though none of it really mattered to him, but I knew he was more upset than he was letting on. I decided against mentioning it though, knowing it would only make Sirius defensive. “I wandered around London for a bit before deciding on coming here. Took the Knight Bus,” he explained at my quizzical look. “And don’t worry about me staying here all summer, I expect my uncle’ll let me stay at his place...”

“Don’t be an idiot,” I interrupted him. Sirius frowned at me. “It’d break mum’s heart if you up and left, besides, we’re of age now... think of all the havoc we can wreak!” If there was anything I loved more than Quidditch it was pranking with Sirius and the idea of having the whole summer, without the interruption of classes or homework, sounded extremely promising.

“I can’t just...” Sirius protested, sitting up on his bed and frowning at me. His tidy hair, a total contrast to my messy mop, falling gracefully into his eyes.

I rolled my eyes, annoyed. “Would you stop already? You know I’m not going to beg you to stay here, and you know you want to.”

Sirius’s face broke into a broad grin, the first genuine one I’d seen him give since his arrival. “In that case,” he said, much happier, “Let’s go get rid of those garden gnomes in your room. I expect they’re tearing it apart, not that it’d make much difference. You know you sleep like a rock? I was throwing pebbles for about an hour before I switched to gnomes. And I can’t wait to eat your mum’s cooking. She making sausages? I love sausages. No bacon! I’d die for bacon right about now...”

I laughed as Sirius rambled on, glad that he was back to being the care-free person I was used to. With Sirius around, I was sure this summer would be the best ever.

*claps*

I know I've read it a bazillion times, edited it, done all that stuff...but yeah, I still think it's great Catty!

Chapter Two is cooooming....

:heartbeat: Pat

*Applause* I enjoyed it alot! It was very good and sirius is so funny! :laugh: I can't wait for more! Cat it was great and ch.2 is coming up soon! YAY! :yahoo
:love:
~Kit-Kat~

I loved that line so much!! I loved that whole CHAP so much!!!!!

Seriously Cat, that was awesome. Great writing, great characters, great beginning to a story. I can already tell that I'm gonna be completely obsessed with this fic!!!! Can't wait for more! :)

Awww Thanky so much you guys!! ^_^ I'm so glad you liked it!!!

I'm sure Pat's dying to post chapter 2 so it should be up soon!!

I'm so excited for the 2nd chapter. Can't wait. Loved the first one, i was laughing through a lot of it, the whole gnome thing i kept on laughing and well i told you everything already at school. Hehehe... *runs off to class*

Did you know that that entire chapter was absolutely amazing?

I really, truly loved it. Especially with it starting with that incident with Snivellus and Sirius's (may I say HUGE!) mistake. And the whole thing with being wrapped up in a cocoon of sheets? :blush: Guilty.

I like the idea of James' parents being old. It makes the idea of him being an only child more plausible, what with them loving him so much and being so rich, wouldn't they want even more kids? You'd think so. And that was the perfect way of explaining it.

And, Sirius and the family Black. You captured it fantastically. (If you can't already tell, I'm a huge HP-Marauders buff. ;) ) That Padfoot has this whole exterior facade of being nonchalant concerning his parents. Glad he hexed them though. ^_^ God man, Sirius, good man.

Post the second chapter soon, Pat. Or is it really your plan to kill us? I can see it now on my tombstone:

1989-2005
Death by Cliffhanger.
She was a good obsessor fan.

Beautifully done Cat, I was all upset reading that dream, thinking it wasn't going to be your usual witty writing but the second that gnome flew through the window I was overjoyed. So I finally finished reading the chapter, I'm glad it was so long but I haven't had time up until now.

I'll tell you all about how much I luurrvved it tonight!
I hope you post chapter 2 soon, Pat! I'm really looking forward to it.
:love: Sarah

Dying is an understatement Cat! *huggles my Remus* Obviously...Cat gets carried away, so this chapter isn't as long...but oh..methinks my Chapter 3 will be noooice and long! and OMG talk about laying all the nerves on me! eeeek. I'm so scared I can't meet ze expectations now! Thanks beloved readers! lol. Alright, I'll shut up now and let y'all read.

CHAPTER 2 A long unexpected morning.

It took an extra ten minutes for my tired eyes to open on this particularly chilly September morning. They were their usual hazy grey, a far cry from the piercing yellow they had been a few nights before. My somewhat chocolate coloured hair was a mess, enough to rival James’s signature ‘Potter hair’. The large black rings around my eyes weren’t alien to me. Indicators of sleep deprivation and my monthly transformation. The latter, having occurred five nights ago. Grandfather had to lock me in the basement and use a muffling charm, so my howls couldn’t be heard. My waking was ominous this morning; my alarm clock unusually animated, nonchalant to my fist constantly thwacking it. I suppose I’ll never be a morning person.

I showered and dressed to the growing scent of grandmother cooking breakfast. An uncanny feeling of home, and of excitement was slowly filling me and I could feel is stirring in the pit of my stomach. I know it probably wasn’t typical to every seventeen-year-old to be excited about going back to school, but the promise of getting up to mischief with my friends, and seeing the big, fat, ten I deserved on the Transfiguration homework I had spent most of my summer on, loomed over me.

“Breakfast is on the table, dear,” My grandmother’s voice cut through my thoughts like a hot knife on butter. “Poached eggs,” she added. I left my stupor, wondering why I was wearing a bright pink shit, when a moment ago; I had been wearing a faint blue one. Something seemed a little odd this morning. I left my thoughts of a malfunctioning wardrobe to the explanation that I was losing my mind, which seemed fitting at the moment.

I frowned at the breakfast greeting me. It was common knowledge that I despised eggs and the twinkle in my grandmother’s eye meant she knew it too. I ate them slowly; this was the only dish I did not attack with my fork ubiquitously. Drinking the large glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, I cleared my voice. It sounded foreign to me as words left my mouth, echoing hoarsely and ambiguous.

“I’m apparating to London,” I assured my grandparents, my guardians since I had been five years old. The advantages of being in seventh year were great and highly appreciated. At seventeen, I had come of age in the wizarding world, so my grandfather’s slow nod was quite expected. I tugged on my now lime shirt and stared at it quizzically, something wasn’t right this morning.

“Finish packing your trunk dear, then you can be on your way,” my grandmother smiled sweetly. I left the last two eggs uneaten and headed for my bedroom. She stopped me on my way out the kitchen, handing me a chocolate frog surreptitiously; when granddad sat busy immersed in the pages of the Daily Prophet, naive to our secret dealings.

A foreboding sense of mischief sat in the curved smirk of her lips as she shooed me off to my bedroom, checking the time on one of the many clocks that adorned the kitchen wall.

I hobbled to my room slowly, pulling out my neatly packed trunk from under my desk, and placing the crisp parchment which was my work for McGonagall on the very top. I was now immensely pleased with myself. Another rudimentary task was completed, and all before half past nine.

I sat now at my writing desk, an odd tune I had heard last night over the wireless echoing in my head. My quill scratched a note out quickly, my mind still too asleep to register exactly what I had written. Our family owl Erebus pruned himself as I called him from his cage, setting the note in his beak. That was the precise moment I smelt it. Smoke. Faint, but easily detected with the wolf senses I had now learnt to exploit to my advantage.

My eyes focused on the small fireplace at the southern end of my bedroom. I had never used, nor could remember it ever being used, when I really thought about it I had honestly forgotten that it was there. It was odd that a low humming was now coming from its recesses. I rose a quizzical eyebrow at Erebus, who hadn’t yet flown off to deliver my note.

Billions of logical explanations began to fill my head, a habit of mine as of late.

Perhaps the humming was from a muggle pipe next door…someone running hot water? But that didn’t explain the smell of smoke, that was slowly growing stronger. Had I looked in the mirror at that moment I would have noticed my dark hair had changed to a magenta on it’s own accord.

The rumbling ceased and I ran a hand through my newly pink hair for a moment, sizing up the appearance of the fireplace. Nothing seemed out of place, as I studied it, my nose inches from the entrance. In an excess of soot and a tangle of adolescent limbs a second later, I dusted the familiar floo powder off my lanky frame and rubbed the tender part of my head, I had fallen on, which I could feel was swelling to the size of a walnut.

My visitors scrambled to their feet, bubbling with energy as Erebus gave a small hoot, landing on the taller one’s shoulder, letting the letter drop into his hands and settling back on his perch.

“Good morning, Moony!” the receiver of my letter smiled sheepishly; one of his secret weapons and one of the reasons he earned himself a swarming female fan club at school.
“Top of the day to you!” my visitors chorused, smiling widely. I wasn’t very amused, they were too animated for this morning, this seemed all too planned, close to rehearsed even, and my throbbing head ached.

“Nice hair mate,” James snorted, pointing out the magenta crop I had been too preoccupied to notice.

“You two better help me with my trunk if you want to leave now,” I said yawning slightly, frowning at the impromptu hairdo I sported, then muttering the counter curse.

“Won’t work mate, it lasts for five hours,” Sirius grinned, Cheshire cat like. He cracked his knuckles, his natural etiquette as beater on the Gryffindor quidditch team. “I smell eggs,” he added, wandering off to what I imagined was finishing off my breakfast. Padfoot was always hungry, especially in Animagus form, hence his suggestion of raiding Honeydukes monthly.

I pouted softly turning to James to fix my overzealous hair colour. “Anonymity is what wizards strive for, I don’t think I can casually lean against the barrier without a muggle noticing me slipping through, pink hair galore.”

James waved his hand dismissively; taking out a small object from his pocket and charming it to hover and do tricks in the air while he surveyed my trunk. I sighed deeply, sitting on my bed, head in my hands. Maybe if I sprawled myself over my bed and fell asleep again, Padfoot and Prongs would carry me, or better, apparate me to Platform 9 ¾. My thoughts were once again disturbed by James having an outburst over my charms homework.

“You have Evans as you’re study partner?”

“Yes,” I nodded slowly, I had no energy for this.

“Didn’t get the chance to charm her to agree to go out with me did we Moony?” To this I laughed, this could be a good time to tease my amateur hairdresser.

“Sorry, it slipped my mind Jamesie,” His disappointed expression made me snicker. He was so hopelessly devoted to Lily Rose Evans. Intent on showing off or charming her to fall for him, when all he really needed to do was ask politely. Lily hid her feelings for James well, but you could tell she fancied him when you really paid attention.

His eyebrows furrowed at his dreaded nickname. “Stop it with the Jamesie,”

“Ok, BAMBI,” Sirius had entered, with a satisfied smile on his face, I suspected was due to him eating all three poached eggs then asking for seconds. I studied him; he looked thinner now since the previous week I had seen him, when the three of us had helped the Potter’s control the outbreak of Doxy’s in their broom cupboard.

“Ready to get this show on the road?” Sirius asked, taking the right handle of my trunk as I took the left, and James closed the lid. “This year’s going to be wicked,” he added, his scruffy, long hair flopping to the side. Smiles appeared on all three of our faces, and we grinned mischievously in unison.

“This year I’m getting Evans,” James nodded, his jaw set firm. I chuckled softly. Nothing ever deterred that kid’s spirit.

This year, we all knew, would be our last. We would be graduating from Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, we would be taking our N.E.W.T.S and mulling over how we would make an impact in the wizarding world, whether it be as a ministry representative or even as an auror. This year James would be Quidditch Captain and Head Boy, and I would be returning prefect. This year Gryffindor would win the House Cup. This year the Marauders would have one last laugh, terrorizing firsties and raiding Honeydukes. This year would be a hoot.

This year, we would solemnly swear to be up to no good.


:heartbeat: Pat

Ehehe, I love you Pat!! And you know how much I love your chapter!! You ROCK!!!

And thanky Darth, Sammi and Sary for your comments! They made me so happy!! And Sammi I'm a huge Marauders Buff too!!!!! Well, obviously I am otherwise I wouldn't have written two Marauders fics! lol! But yeah, I'm glad that you approved of my explanations for everything and the Black family thing!

I really loved that ending. :)

I know all this ranting about how great it is makes your nervous, so I'll make it minimal.

I liked the fact that it was in Remus' POV, and the whole prank thing. Shows their friendship to be really lighthearted.

Man, I really wish I had enough patience to write a Marauders fic, because I have sooooooo many good ideas (all fitting nicely together, too :yay: ), just no perseverance to sit down and make it prose. *sigh*

Post the next chapter soon. I really want to see how Lily reacts to James' Head-ship. And I want to meet Lucia and Adrina and Etoile, too. (And the rest of us nincumpoops.)

:heartbeat:
Sam

Ehehe, well if you ever do sit down and write one you MUST tell me!!! I would love to read it!!!

Pat's writing the next chapter, the lucky bum. ^_^

Hey, wonderful chapter. I really like this fic, reading things in different people's perspectives, especially since their Jame's and Remu's, is so much better than reading a fic in a narrative tone. I really enjoyed the whole chapter, but I agree with Sammi, that the last paragraph was very-well written.

I also look forward to Hogwarts and all of the other character's to come but I'll be happy reading anything about James and the Marauders...

Please post soon!
:love: Sarah

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply! But I'm here now...

I love this story!!! You both are so talented, I can't stand it. I love the way you write the characters because it's so close to how I see them in my head.

You guys are fantastic!!!



~Jinx!

That last paragraph was indeed my favorite part! I can't wait for more from the lovely duo of Pat and Cat! This is bloody brilliant ofa story if you ask me! WRITE MORE! Love ya girls.
:love:
~Kit-Kat~

I loved that last line, Pat!!! And I LOVE these characters - both of your girls are doing a fantastic job with them!!! And I was so excited that there was an update - I've been hoping all day! lol Great job Pat!! :)

Jaime

That was a great chapter. Remus with pink hair... buhahaha! sorry couldn't help it. Poor Remus though, having to go to school with pink hair. Anyways great chapter again, i love all of your descriptions and the characters. I think you both captured the Marauders brilliantly. Can't wait to see what they're going to be up too.

and loved the last line Pat, it was great.

Ciao Bella
~Claire

Thanks pretties :)

*hugs*

Sorry it's taking so long, the yule tide season has taken its toll on me, i'm trying to work off all the chocolate cake I ate, and I'm not kidding lol. The chapter should be up in a couple of days :)

Merry belated Christmas.

:heartbeat: Pat

:yahoo I'm excited! *sits and waits patiently*

Ahem.

*bump*

Can we have some more soon, pretty please??? It's just that we love it so.... :cry:

Hey so, I'm really sorry (and I think Pat is too) that there hasn't been an update. Pat and I's schedules are kind of mixed up at the moment so we never really get the chance to talk to each other. But hopefully there'll be an update soon and thanks for being patient with us! With school and everything it's hard to keep up... at least that's what I find... but since this is so much more fun than school, obviously, and school seems to be calming down (finally!) I'll try to get my act together... and Pat's at the same time ^_^

Love you guys!

Hey, I hope you guys can update soon. I was wondering are we ever gonna find out who is in the cast? Just curious. :blush:
:love:
~Kit-Kat~

I have an update! I apologize greatly for my slackness but gaaah, there's only so much a writer can do without inspiration and access to the internet for more than half an hour! Lol.. Thank both Down With Love and the Island for this chapter! lol.

It'll be up in about thirty minutes!

:heartbeat: Pat

Yeah New Chapter, i'm so excited...

:shine:

can't wait... but will

~Claire

Goodness gracious mary agnes. Two of our most accomplished and skilled writers combining to wreak magestic havok upon the written word. Manufique.

Forgive me for the shortness! Cat will definately make up for it rofl.

Chapter 3: The Furry little Problem

I suppose being the best friend of both James Potter and Sirius Black since first year, I should be able to say I understand them completely, that anything and everything they do isn’t foreign to me, that it’s all predictable, somehow already preordained by my mind. It’s like when you hit a bludger with heavy force and it comes plummeting right back towards your head. Maybe I shouldn’t get started about Quidditch, not with Prongs nearby anyway, he’s addicted to the sport, if I haven’t already said so. And ever since second year, I’ve had a sneaking suspicion he can pick up brainwaves of anyone thinking about Quidditch. Hence, I try to do little of it to save me his rants, though mostly entertaining; it can be a bother listening to how the Chudley Cannons supposedly suck. I’ve said countless times that they’re just having a bad season, but, oh, I should get back on track. Yes, James, well, James and Quidditch are like a house on fire, James being the fire, the house doesn’t really benefit from the fire’s actions. James is so consumed by his love for Quidditch, that he’s almost as bad as…

“Hello love, need help buttering that muffin?” the words sprouting from Sirius’ mouth cut through every single one of my thoughts, mainly those about James’s ridiculous obsession with Quidditch, and what I might end up doing when seventh year ends.

The lass Sirius’ comment was directed at flushed a vivid pink to challenge my hair and a huge load of sympathy for her hit me like a tonne of bricks. I even got those nerve butterflies in the pit of my stomach, which is never a good sign. It compels me to say that other than agreeing with me that Fudge cakes beat out lemon anytime and anywhere, James had found solace in staring at a poster of an Argentinean playing a muggle sport I recognized as soccer, leaving me to stare like a gaping toad at Sirius’ ‘philandering in motion’ as he called it. I saw the girl twist a napkin between white knuckles as Sirius conversed, flirting like a madman. She was either utterly transfixed by him, or completely petrified.

Sirius, since I had known him, had always been one to bowl the ladies over, he oozed with charm, flair and his self proclaimed 'sex appeal'. I hate to admit it, but there have been countless times when I've pined to have just the slightest bit of confidence he possessed and perhaps those chiselled features that seemed to lure women to him like moths to a flame. He didn't even have to utter a word.

We were all seventeen, I had celebrated my birthday like every other year on the Ides of March, which was why I considered myself to be most unlucky. Due to the school year, it had been at Hogwarts where I had turned seventeen, and as the eldest of the Marauders, the first to reach the milestone of being a man in the Wizarding world, I had the best cake. It was baked by muggle methods but it was the sweetest confectionary I'd ever tasted. It literally melted on your tongue. I ate so much, I coudn't move for a few minutes after.

My presents were not of great value to a pawnbroker, though James and Sirius did try to get me more expensive presents. I don't like to be doted on with expensive gifts, it makes my poverty appear sadder. I can never give back with equally expensive presents and I hate it. Thankfully, none of them rubbed it in.

I have to say, for a seventeen year old, I am still somewhat tall and lanky. Although a slight bit of hair has taken my upper lip, and my jaw and chin are stronger, there isn't much to differentiate me from how I was as a first year, except that I have sprouted higher than a mandrake can grow in the past six years. It is natural for me to fade into the background whenever accompanied by James and Sirius (which is always) and it I don't care for fame or spotlight. I am content with doing my work and beign a social as I can with my condition, and maybe figuring out where I want to go in life, especially with my career.

It was heaped on me like a tonne of bricks when Dumbledore called me to his office on the eve of my birthday to discuss 'buisness of the future'. Of course, I thought it was to congratulate me for reaching the milestone earlier because he wouldn't have time on the real date, but when I got there I was incredibly shocked. I was given the news that research had gone into my 'condition'; or as the marauders affectionately called it my 'furry little problem' (which always received stares from the Hogwarts girls when spoken about in public).

I was informed that as a werewolf, I had only seventy years at most to live, those seventy included the seventeen I had already lived and I was also told that those who knew of my condition at the Ministry of Magic, felt it was too risky to offer me a job as an auror. Dumbledore watched as the relization swept over me, probably wishing he could do something to help, but the fact was he couldn't. To say that I was shattered and heartbroken would be an understatement. Hence, why I believe I am unlucky. There was no cure for the werewolf curse, and my fear of the full moon was as strong as ever.

This was partly the reason why at seventeen, I was still incrediby shy around females, and the display Sirius was giving, I could never dream of doing. Not even in my wildest dreams, or nightmares. It just isn't me. I feel as if, to be with someone one must be truthful in every aspect, the truth was, being a werewolf, wasn't your average run of the mill thing which people were comfortable about. It wasn't society's fault that they were prejudiced, they just didn't know better.

"Hey Bambi!" followed by James fuming at the bouncy ball that hit his head nabbed my attention. Standing with an air of confidence and another two of those balls in her hand stood Adrina Adderley, who was beater of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. She was proof that you can be fooled by appearances, the sweet looking, slender girl, had power to match Sirius on the team, and there was never one game where she hadn't sent someone to the hospital Wing because of one of her bludger hits.

Next to her, stood Lily Evans, whom we all knew to be the 'love of James' life'. To her friends she was known as Foxy, for a reason we didn't know, and James had come up with some very vulgar reasons as to why. Lily was giggling at James' expression, and pretending to busy herself with the girl's trunks. They both seemed oblivious to Sirius' 'performance.'

This duo was usually accompanied by a third girl, who like me faded into the distance behind her two vivacious friends, though I have a feeling she equalled both of them when she wanted to. Her name was Lucia Cuervo and I hate to say I turned to mush everytime I saw her. My heart beat faster at her, and she grinned with triumph at what Adderley had done, her hands on her hips, her trunk hauled behind her.

This was going to be a long train ride to Hogwarts, and long train rides equalled even longer uncomfortable silences. I wanted the ground to swallow me up whole, even more when Sirius spoke.

"Hey Adderley, nice rack,"

Sirius you idiot.

:heartbeat: Pat

*bursts out laughing* omg! Okay, so I totally give you the best-way-to-end-a-chapter award!!! I seriously laughed for like a minute at that!!
It doesn't matter that it was semi-short Patty! You stuffed it with goodness, so it rocks! It's so sad that Dumbledore had to tell him just before his 17th that he wouldn't live past 70. Awww Remus... *huggles him... in a strictly platonic way so Pat won't shmack her ehehe*
So yesh, awesome chapter (yyaaayy James Quidditchness!! BOO CHUDLEY CANONS!!! ehehe) it's going to be tough to follow it gaaah...

Oh yeah! And the Cast List will be up soon!! ^_^

GO CHUDLEY CANNONS! lol. I stand by my man!

*wants to see who'll play the young Remus in OotP so I can warn everyone in advance that I'll be obsessed with him*

:heartbeat: Pat

I agree, a fantastic end, m'dear. Aw, man! I just love Remus. Love love love him. Lova lova lova. [/La Carlotta]

Its so cute how he's crushing on Lucia. Major :heartbeat: O, to be Lucia...

Sirius is a wanker.

That's all I have to say.

Oh, yeah: Pat rocks. And: I'm WAAAAYYYY excited about this cast list. :shine:

:x
Samma

You and me both. :cloud#9: