Lily Evans and the Infamous James

Untitled Part 3

Inside, the corridor was utter chaos. Other students had heard the screams and there was a crowd circling one of them. James and Lily elbowed their ways to the front where they stopped and stared at the scene.

A third year boy lied on the cold, marble ground, unconscious and pale. Professor McGonagall rushed to the scene followed by a young Madame Pompfrey. McGonagall looked for any wounds and turned his head to find two punctures on his neck. She turned to Pompfrey and asked "What would do such a thing?"

Before Madame Pompfrey could reply, Hagrid, who seemed to startlingly appear from the mass of students, answered, "Merlin's beard, it'd be a murtlap bite. 'As a bit wonky considerin' we don't got any o' them creatures 'ere at Hogwarts." He examined the student as he slowly gained consciousness. There was a course clap or two from the other students as the boy stood up. He was lead away by Madame Pompfrey and another third year.

James spotted Sirius and Peter in the crowd and grabbed Lily's arm to direct her towards his friends. Once James stood before them, he said, "What's a mur- a murlap?" and the two boys shrugged.

Remus interjected, "A murt-lap is a little rubbery looking creature that causes dizziness and fatigue when bitten. That boy must have had a bad reaction to it. Worse side effects include flaming gas and boils."

Sirius jumped at the sound of Remus' voice, "Bloody hell, you can't sneak up on a guy, Remmy. You'll cause his heart to stop."

Remus replied,"I was here this whole time!" he then looked thoughtfully and said, "Say, do you think the murtlap came here on its own? They don't normally live in this area."

Lily said, "I think someone brought it in. I don't think it was for healing purposes; Hogwarts gets murtlap medicine from St. Mungo's frequently. Someone must have brought the creature in just to wreak havoc."

James piped up, "I think that it is a great practical joke. No harm done! Boys, we were almost outdone today."

Lily glared at James, "Letting a creature attack another student is serious."

James countered, "And I'm reckless. I would set a mertlap on Sniv- Severus."

"Alright," Lily stated, then abruptly stormed off in the direction of the Griffindor common room.

Sirius elbowed James in the ribs, "Well done, Prongs."

Peter said, "It's alright, mate, you proper stuck your foot in your mouth, but she'll come around."

James playfully pushed Peter and chided, "Why is it , Wormtail, that you say things so confidently with us but with a girl around you will stutter to no extent?"

Peter's neck turned red and he shoved James back, "Shove off, mate. I'm a bloody mouse. My entire character is fidgety."

Sirius joined in, saying, "You are both terrible at talking to girls. You should take a lesson from me," and he smiles smugly.

James turned from Peter and elbowed Sirius, "As if, mate. Pete and I have got more experience than you have got!"

"You haven't got any!"

"Exactly!"

Anne and Alice walked past them a few seconds later and Sirius winked at the girls. They both rolled their eyes, but Anne tried to hide her forming blush. Peter tried to wave but they passed by the time his hand was high enough.

Sirius said "I rest my case" and bounded towards god only knows what. Remus sighed.

"I guess I should follow him if I want to keep him out of trouble."

"Let him get in trouble, it builds character" James says, slapping Remus on the back.

"He already has too much character!" Remus runs off to catch up to Sirius.

James turns to Peter "we better get off to Defense if we don't want to be late" and they scurried off.

However, when the two entered the classroom, they needn't have worried about being late, as they were one of the few people there. James turned to an aloof individual in the back and asked "Where is everyone?" because if he wasn't mistaken, they came in five minutes after the bell.

The boy turned to James and said "There was a creature attack down one of the corridors leading to the courtyard."

James argued "No, it was in front of the Great Hall. I was there. It was a murtlip or something, but that was ten minutes ago."

"Do you hear that screaming? That's the victim, mate. There was a creature attack down the corridor." and the boy went silent to let James listen for screaming. It was more of a wail, but could understandably be drowned out by the average murmur and echo of students passing.