Rebel Rebel

Hogwarts Express,  Somewhere in Northumbria, September 3, 1977

The Hogwarts Express rattled along the tracks, the afternoon sun casting a golden hue over the rolling hills outside the windows. Inside one of the carriages, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew settled into their compartment.

“I’m living with James now,” Sirius announced, a proud grin on his face as he sprawled out across two seats.

Peter looked up from the pumpkin pasty he was munching on, beaming. “That’s great! I bet it’s brilliant at the Potters’. I'm just happy to get back to school.”

“You two are practically neighbours,” Sirius smirked, nudging James with his elbow. “Godric’s Hollow, right?”

“Yeah,” Peter nodded enthusiastically. “Our mums are always talking. We’ll have the best time during the holiday break”

“Ya, we missed you over the summer” James replied. Petergrew and his family had spent the summer away visiting family in the midlands and travelling to Europe. 

James, who had been leaning against the window with a distracted look, suddenly straightened up. “Oh, by the way, I’m Head Boy,” he announced with a casual shrug, trying to sound nonchalant but clearly thrilled, as he showed his pin.

Sirius and Peter both seemed confused by this nomination, given James past debauchery and proneness for mischief. Remus blinked, his smile faltering for just a fraction of a second. He probably had expected, maybe even hoped, to be named Head Boy himself. But he quickly masked his disappointment, giving James a wide grin. “Really, mate? Congratulations.”

“Yeah, yeah,” James waved it off as if it were no big deal, but the gleam in his eyes betrayed how much it meant to him. “I’ve got to head off to the Head Boy and Girl meeting now, though. I’ll catch up with you lot later.”

As James made his way to the front of the train for the prefects' meeting, the thought of who the Head Girl might be crossed his mind. He had a sinking feeling he already knew.

His suspicion was confirmed the moment he stepped into the compartment and saw Lily Evans sitting stiffly. Her vivid auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching the light as she turned to face him. Her bright green eyes, sharp as ever, fixed on him with a mix of wariness and reluctant acknowledgment.  His heart leapt—half out of excitement, half out of dread. She hadn’t forgiven him for pestering her all these years to go out with him, and he had made a right fool of himself more times than he could count. They had been cordial as Marlene’s ball but he still could feel the tension in the air. 

Lily gave him a brief, cursory glance before focusing on something—anything—else. James noticed her stiffening even more as Snape walked into the compartment. He tried to catch her eye, but she deliberately avoided looking at him, the tension between them palpable.

The meeting passed in a blur, with Lily and James awkwardly avoiding any direct interaction beyond the necessary discussions of patrol schedules and responsibilities. The tension in the air was thick, but James was determined not to make things worse.

After the meeting, James lingered as the rest of the prefects filtered out, leaving only him and Lily in the room. For a moment, they stood there in awkward silence.

“Evans,” James began, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just wanted to—well, I think we should start fresh this year. I know I was a git in the past…” 

Git was an understatement, Lily taught. He was with Black in part responsible for the loss of her oldest friend. Despite his many apologies, Lily found that what he had done was unforgivable. 

“But maybe we could call a truce since we’ll be patrolling together all year?”

Lily folded her arms, eyeing him suspiciously. “A truce?”

“Yeah. I’ll stop being an idiot, and you can stop hating my guts. Maybe…. We can be civil just like at Marlene’s ball”

Lily raised an eyebrow, her lips pressing into a thin line. “You’ve been more than an idiot, Potter.”

“I know.” He sighed. “But… after everything with Snape—”

“Don’t,” she cut him off, her voice tight, “mention him.”

James raised his hands in surrender. “Alright. I won’t. I’m just saying… it was a mess. And I’m not proud of how I handled things. So, here’s the deal: a proper truce. I won’t pull any stupid stunts, and I’ll even stop asking you out.”

That caught Lily off guard. Her eyes narrowed. “You’ll what?”

“I mean it,” James said, his tone unusually sincere. “No more badgering you. No more dramatic gestures. I’m not saying I’ve given up on… well, hoping. But I get it. You’re not interested. So, no more. You’ve got my word.”

Lily studied him for a long moment, her green eyes scrutinizing his face for any sign of insincerity. Finally, she sighed. “Fine. A truce. But don’t think I’m suddenly going to start being friends with you.”

James grinned, a hint of his usual cockiness returning. “I’ll take what I can get.”

**

Marlene was just stepping out of the loo when he cornered her. Startled, she nearly screamed. She hadn’t heard from him since those nights at Mckinnon manor. She had tried to forget, to bury it along with the rest of the manor's secrets. But there he was— dark hair, and that intense stare that made her heart skip.

“We need to talk,” he said.

She looked at him as though he’d lost his mind. There couldn’t have been a worse place than the crowded Hogwarts Express, full of nosy students who lived for gossip.

“Not here,” she replied, hoping to delay the inevitable. But Sirius had other plans. Grabbing her arm, he gently but firmly pulled her back into the cramped loo.

As the door clicked shut behind them, she suddenly became painfully aware of how close they were. She could hear him breathing.

“What do you want, Black?” she said, clearly annoyed. Marlene McKinnon didn’t take well to being cornered.

“Black, is it now?” he chuckled, his dimples flashing.

“We need to talk about what happened this summer.”

“What summer?” Marlene arched an eyebrow. She knew she was being childish, but it was bloody Sirius Black standing in front of her.

“We snogged,” he said matter-of-factly. “And did much more than that.”

The second the words left his mouth, memories of that summer crashed into her mind. Her pulse quickened. She opened her mouth to reply, then closed it just as quickly. Sirius, noticing her hesitation, looked smug, almost proud that he had rendered her speechless. She wanted to punch him just as much as she wanted to kiss him. What was wrong with her? She needed to stop sleeping with these bloody Gryffindor boys.

“Cat got your tongue?” he teased.

“It’s never happening again,” she snapped, glaring at him.

He reached out, brushing a lock of her blonde hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ear.

“And how can you be so sure?” he grinned, that familiar cocky smirk back in place.

“Fuck off,” she shot back, swatting his hand away. Then, after a pause, she added, “Did you tell anyone?” Her voice was quieter now. They both knew what she really meant: Did you tell James? That was the only question that mattered.

“No,” Sirius admitted, looking away for the first time. “Did you?”

Marlene raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. She had half-expected James to be the one to corner her, telling her how displeased he was. If she were honest, though, she wasn’t sure how James would react if he found out—especially given everything else that had happened between them.

“No,” she lied. Of course, she’d told Dorcas the first chance she got, but that didn’t count.“If I told the girls, the whole school would know by now. Mary’s got a mouth bigger than this train.”

Sirius snorted. Gossip traveled faster than Firewhiskey at Hogwarts.

“So, I’m your little secret, am I?” he said, wiggling his eyebrows, his smirk returning.

“Piss off,” Marlene rolled her eyes, shoving past him to leave the now claustrophobic space. But as she headed back to the girls' carriage, she couldn’t stop the small smile from creeping onto her lips.

**

As the Hogwarts Express chugged along the tracks, Mary Macdonald peered out the window, the warm summer breeze brushing against her face. She had missed this—the excitement of returning to school, the buzz of chatter from every compartment, and most of all, her friends. After a summer in Spain with her parents, she'd barely had time to catch up with anyone. 

Mary, hailing from the vibrant city of Bristol, was known for her bubbly personality, her warm brown skin, and her curly hair that bounced with every step she took.  Her wardrobe was legendary among her friends—each outfit a burst of color, always able to brighten even the gloomiest of days.  Today was no exception; her cheerful yellow cardigan, paired with a skirt patterned with tiny sunflowers, practically radiated happiness. 

"Mary!" Marlene McKinnon’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Mary turned to see Marlene and Dorcas sliding into the compartment. Marlene’s bright blonde hair practically glowed in the sunlight streaming through the window. Behind her, Dorcas followed more quietly, offering a soft smile.

"Finally!" Mary exclaimed, standing up to greet them. "I haven’t seen you a lot in forever. Spain was incredible, but god, I missed you."

Marlene grinned. “Yeah, Spain and your postcards. We get it, you had tapas and sun. Tell me you didn't forget about us while you were off ”

The trip had been a blast. Mary had always gotten along well with her parents, both dedicated doctors. They were often busy with work, so she cherished the time spent with them, along with her two little sisters. Her mother, Dr. Beatrice Macdonald, a Bristol native, had met her father, Dr. Malcolm Macdonald, at an NHS hospital where they both worked. Malcolm, who had just come from Barbados, had charmed Beatrice with his easy-going nature, and the rest had been history.

"As if! I was dying to hear about everything. Especially the ball," Mary said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "So, what happened? I need every detail!"

Marlene smirked, leaning back with a dramatic sigh. “Well, let’s just say Lily spent half the night flirting with my brother.”

Mary gasped in mock horror. "Really, Lily? Who wouldn’t, though? Your brother’s fit," she teased, nudging Marlene, who rolled her eyes in exaggerated exasperation.

Dorcas chuckled quietly from her seat, glancing up from the book she had been pretending to read. “You really didn’t miss much, Mary. Marlene’s just being overdramatic, as usual.”

Before Mary could press for more details, the compartment door slid open again, and Lily stepped in, looking slightly flustered. “You will not believe this,” she started, flopping into the seat next to Mary.

“What?” Marlene asked, narrowing her eyes. “What happened at the Head Boy meeting?”

“Potter is Head Boy.”

Silence fell over the compartment as the girls stared at Lily in disbelief. Mary’s eyes widened. “Wait, what? Potter? But—what about Remus?”

Lily shook her head. “No, it’s Potter. I was just as shocked as you are.”

“Of all the people,” Dorcas muttered, folding her book. “I thought Dumbledore had better judgment than that.”

Mary couldn’t help but giggle. "Well, this year just got a lot more interesting. Poor Remus, though. I thought he had it."

Lily groaned, leaning her head back against the seat. "I still don’t understand it. He barely knows what responsibility is."

"Maybe he’ll surprise you," Marlene chimed in with a smile. "Stranger things have happened."

The conversation shifted as they caught up on everything else. Mary eagerly jumped into stories about her summer travels, describing Spain’s vibrant festivals with the same enthusiasm she showed for life itself. Her hands animatedly gestured as she talked, her bangles jingling in rhythm with her words. Of course, she avoided talking about the stares her family got in certain parts of Madrid as that would not make for a great story.

“So, classes,” Marlene eventually prompted, grinning. “What’s the plan for N.E.W.T.s?”

“I’m taking Divination again,” Dorcas said quietly, her fingers playing with the corner of her book. 

“You are?” Mary raised an eyebrow. “I dropped it. It’s so vague! But good for you. I need to maintain my grades if I want to get into the healer program.”

Ever since she was a kid Mary had wanted to be a doctor just like her parents. A healer was the next best thing.

Lily perked up. “I’ll help. We can study together. We’ll both need it with the N.E.W.T.s coming up.”

"Thank you," Mary smiled warmly. "I’ll need all the help I can get."

Marlene shrugged. “No clue what I’m going to do after Hogwarts. Still figuring that out.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Dorcas said, giving her best friend a reassuring nudge. “There’s time.”

Mary smiled, leaning back in her seat. 

**

The Great Hall buzzed with energy on the first night back at Hogwarts, golden candlelight flickering over the tables packed with laughing, chattering students. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter were loudly catching each other up on their summers, practically shouting over one another in their excitement. Marlene was focused on the latest copy of the Hogwarts Herald, the unofficial students newspaper, known for its mix of trivial fluff pieces and sensational scandals. Next to her, Mary and Dorcas animatedly discussed their own summer adventures with Muggle relatives, the snippets of their conversation adding to the lively atmosphere. Across from James and Sirius, Lily served herself some potatoes, pretending not to listen. 

Halfway through the meal, Erin Whitaker—a Ravenclaw blonde with an earnest smile and nervous glances—approached, clutching a parchment tightly in her hands. She seemed to be aiming for James, though she glanced around at the group, her eyes hopeful.

“Oh, here we go,” Sirius muttered, a grin playing at his lips as he nudged James. “Your friend’s coming over, Prongs.”

James smirked, looking over just as Erin stepped up to the table, her face lighting up as she caught his eye.

“Hi, James! And everyone,” Erin greeted, holding up the parchment. “I was wondering if you’d all sign my petition. It’s a call for the Ministry to do more for Squibs and Muggle-borns—given all the discrimination they’re facing, especially lately.”

James threw Sirius a bemused look, eyebrows raised, but before he could respond, Lily stepped forward, her expression immediately earnest.

“I’d be happy to sign,” she said warmly, reaching for Erin’s parchment and quill. 

“Yeah, sure,” Marlene said, shrugging as she looked up from the Hogwarts Herald. 

She had just rolled her eyes at a particularly ridiculous headline—"The Great Broomstick Debate: Does Your Broom Really Reflect Your Personality?"—and flipped to the next page.

Sirius chuckled as he signed, grinning up at Erin. “All for fairness and justice, right?” He nudged James again, winking.

James signed with a flourish and tossed Erin a charming smile. “Anything for you, Erin,” he said with a wink, which sent a flush to Erin’s cheeks. “Glad to help.”

Peter scribbled his name, nodding slightly. “Doesn’t hurt, right?”

“Thank you so much!” Erin beamed, clearly thrilled. “This really means a lot—especially from you, James.”

Once Erin had walked away, practically skipping back to her table with her petition in hand, the moment of seriousness dissolved, and they all burst into quiet laughter.

“She’s still not over that one Hogsmeade date, is she, Prongs?” Sirius said, smirking as he glanced over his shoulder at Erin’s retreating figure. “When was that, last winter?”

James chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “Last winter, yeah. She tried to give me a poem afterward. It was a lot.”

“Now that’s dedication,” Sirius snorted, folding his arms. “Campaigning just to get you to look her way? That’s ambitious.”

Peter snorted, nearly spilling his pumpkin juice. “She probably thought you’d be so moved by her cause that you’d fall in love with her right here in the Great Hall.”

Lily, who had been listening, shook her head slightly, her faint smile fading as she watched all of them joke about Erin. The laughter grated against her, and she couldn’t keep quiet any longer.

“Do any of you hear yourselves?” she said, her voice cutting through their amusement. “She’s actually trying to make a difference. What’s so funny about that?”

Marlene’s grin wavered as she looked at Lily. “They are just having a laugh, Lily. It’s not like we don’t care.”

“Is that right?” Lily’s voice stayed calm, though her eyes were sharp. “Because it sounds like you’re laughing at her just for trying. Not everyone has the luxury of treating things like this as a joke, you know?”

James’s laughter died down, and he looked at her, caught off guard. “Evans, come on… we do care. We signed, didn’t we?”

Lily raised an eyebrow. “But did any of you actually mean it?” She looked at each of them, her voice softening but still pointed. 

Sirius rolled his eyes, but there was an edge of discomfort in his expression. “We were just joking around. Erin’s just… a bit much, don’t you think?”

“Maybe. But when was the last time any of you thought about what Squibs or Muggldborns really go through?” Lily asked, her tone almost gentle. “Not everyone grows up with vaults of gold in Gringotts.”

James looked from Sirius to Lily, the laughter long gone from his face. He cleared his throat. “Alright, Evans, sorry,  point taken.”

**

The Marauders were making their way back to their dorms after dinner,  joking and laughing, when James Potter’s attention was drawn to a nearby corridor. He grabbed Sirius Black’s arm, stopping him in his tracks. “Oi, listen.”

Sirius furrowed his brow, motioning for Peter and Remus to hush as they approached the corner. Around the bend, Avery and Mulciber were huddled together, talking in low voices.

“I don’t like this,” James whispered, eyes narrowing. “What are they up to?”

Sirius leaned in, catching snippets of the conversation. "They’re talking about a meeting," he muttered, eyes darkening. “Again”

“They’ve been doing this for weeks,” James whispered back. “We saw Mulciber and Rosier meeting with some shady figures at the Three Broomsticks”

Remus looked uneasy, but Sirius gave him a reassuring grin. “We can track them. If they’re up to something, we’ll catch them in the act.”

James pulled the Marauder's Map from his robes, tapping it with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The parchment filled with tiny footsteps, marking every student and teacher in the castle. Mulciber and Avery’s names were moving toward the Dark Forest.

“We follow them,” James said firmly, the glint of mischief in his eyes.

Sirius was already grinning, ready for the challenge. “Let’s grab the cloak.”

A few minutes later, the four of them were huddled beneath James' Invisibility Cloak, though it was a tight squeeze. The fabric dragged on the ground, and their feet peeked out slightly, but it was enough to keep them hidden as they trailed Mulciber and Avery toward the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

As they followed the Slytherins deeper into the shadows, James tugged Sirius to the side. “Look,” he whispered, pointing ahead.

They saw several figures, cloaked in dark robes, gathered in a small clearing. Their voices were low, but the sinister energy in the air was unmistakable. One of the men raised his wand, performing some sort of dark spell. Mulciber and Avery stood on the outskirts, watching in awe.

Peter gasped softly. "That’s Dark Magic, isn't it?”

"Looks like it," Remus muttered, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “We need to get out of here.”

Suddenly, they heard footsteps behind them, approaching quickly. Panic set in.

“Someone’s coming!” Peter hissed, his voice trembling.

Without hesitation, they bolted, cloak flapping wildly as they sprinted away from the dark gathering. James grabbed the edge of the cloak, pulling it tighter around them, but the fabric was too long, and their feet were clearly visible as they dashed through the trees.

“Run!” Sirius shouted, his voice filled with adrenaline.

They could hear the approaching footsteps gaining on them. Hearts pounding, the boys ran through the forest, dodging branches and ducking under low-hanging leaves. They barely made it out before they reached the safety of Hogwarts grounds.

Panting and out of breath, they collapsed behind a stone wall, catching their breath.

“That… was too close,” Peter gasped, clutching his chest.

“Too close is right,” James panted, but there was a thrill in his eyes.

As the adrenaline died down, Sirius sat next to Remus, their shoulders touching. Sirius flashed him a grin, still catching his breath. “Not bad, Moony. You didn’t even trip over your own feet this time.”

Remus chuckled softly, though he didn’t meet Sirius' eyes directly. "Yeah… lucky we got out of there."

Their hands brushed as they adjusted their robes. Sirius lingered for just a second longer than necessary, a teasing grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“You keep this up, I might actually start to think you enjoy sneaking around with me,” he said, his grin sharp and teasing.

Remus rolled his eyes, though the faintest hint of pink rose to his cheeks. “Come on, let’s get back before Filch finds us out.”

Sirius stood with a smirk, shaking his hair back from his face. “You’re no fun, Moony,” he said, falling into step beside him without missing a beat.