Up To No Good

Chapter Sixteen

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon in October, and, as usual, the Marauders sat in the courtyard. James's mind was still on the night before.

The castle was in the midst of being decorated for Halloween: live bats fluttered throughout the halls, scaring First Years and other unsuspecting students; enormous jack-o-lanterns glowed brightly with enchanted blue flames in the Great Hall; glittering orange and black streamers and confetti seemed to follow them wherever they went. Peeves enjoyed taking handfuls of it and throwing it at people, picking up hats and stuffing them with it, and blowing it at them.

When James saw Snape enter the courtyard, he quickly looked away. This was much to Sirius's especial surprise, but he said nothing, only tapping their map with his wand and muttering random incantations under his breath.

"What's up, Prongs?" Peter asked him, watching Sirius's so-far-unyielding work with great, almost comical, interest.

"I dunno. It's hard to say."

"So you're having a moment of redemption, eh?" Remus chuckled. "I thought you might have a go at him again."

"He deserves it," James growled, but while once he may have used the opportunity to hex Snape, he didn't feel able to pick up his wand. It felt odd now, as much as he still loathed him.

"Potter."

James looked up, and was soon greeted by a chorus of teasing "oooohs" from his friends. Lily Evans stood in front of him, arms crossed.

She narrowed her eyes at Sirius, Peter, and Remus, then looked down at James again. "If you don't mind," she glowered at the others once more, "I'd like to speak with you in private."

James was almost certain he heard Peter snort.

"Alright then, Evans," James said coolly, standing up. He didn't know what else to say. He had a feeling he knew what was coming.

They didn't go very far, really only just out of earshot of the other Marauders, who were now talking animatedly and shooting glances at the pair of them. James turned away, his back to them. Lily's eyes, he noticed, were just the shade of green as grass.

"Sev--well, Severus told me what happened," she began awkwardly. "I didn't believe him when he told me his theories about your friend a werewolf, and I didn't expect him to test it out, either."

She paused, and James wondered if he ought to say something, but she pressed on, seemingly undaunted.

"I didn't think you had it in you, but you saved him. And I'd like to thank you."

James was thunderstruck. He had expected Lily to take him aside, tell him off for being an arrogant brat for tricking Snape into going to the Whomping Willow, or tell him that she knew about him being an unregistered Animagus. He stood for a few moments, then cleared his throat.

"You're welcome." It felt like there was a Golden Snitch fluttering in his chest, and it gave him a slight boost of confidence.

"Now don't think I've forgotten what you've done to him in the past," Lily added, not meeting his eyes. "And I know what you're thinking, this doesn't mean I'll go out with you." She looked him in the eye. And while he could still see her typical obstinance in her face, something had changed. Her expression wasn't the one of anger he was so accustomed to. He felt it difficult to look at her.

James only huffed. "It was the least I could do," he said vaguely before turning and then striding away.

"What did she say, Prongs?" Remus laughed.

James sat down, mouth open, unable to speak for several moments. "It was dumb, really," he explained. "She thanked me."

Sirius was stifling laughter with such difficulty it looked like he would burst. "That's a new one," he sniggered.

"Yeah. It is."

James pointed his wand at the blank piece of parchment, heart thrumming. "Hm... I solemnly swear I am up to good."

The map did not appear. Instead, small, loopy letters began to form on the parchment.

Mr. Wormtail would like to inform that only mischief is allowed.

"Incredible," James said breathlessly, setting his wand aside and taking a closer look at the pages. "I can only imagine that fun we could have with this."

"You've said that," Peter nodded.

"About a dozen times," Remus added exasperatedly.

"Look, you can see Snivellus's nasty little feet." Sirius pointed at the map, where a small dot labelled Severus Snape was moving slowly down a corridor. "Wonder what he's up to."

"Probably writing in library books again," Peter laughed. Once again, they were the only ones in the boys' dormitory, and they had just woken up. James's hair was even more disheveled than usual from sleep.

James folded up the map, sneering. He imagined Snape picking up the map, demanding to see what was on it, but only receiving Mr. Prongs's enchanted insults instead...

At breakfast, Winfred brought James's usual haul of sweets and cards from home, which he again shared with Remus and Sirius, who hardly received such privileges. To Sirius, the Potters were more family than his own, and this time Winfred brought another card addressed to him, wishing him well, advising him to stay over whenever he wished, and other kind sentiments. James didn't mention it, but he was almost certain that he saw Sirius's eyes well with tears.

It was weeks later, and James had hardly spoken to Lily since. He almost wondered, with a fresh and usual rush of hatred, if Snape was angry with her. How furious had he himself been when they had emerged from the tunnel, even if James had saved him?

He stabbed his eggs with such force that the boys turned to look at him. He turned bright red and continued to eat without another word.

"We've got Defense Against the Dark Arts tomorrow," Peter groaned. "I hope we don't have to cast Patronuses again."

"Hey, yours took form at least," Remus shrugged. "That's a pretty difficult spell, you know."

Peter grinned in self-satisfaction, head on one hand as he continued to eat.