DUEL
Their first few days at Hogwarts was a blur of new faces - classes teaching all kinds of different lessons, students getting used to sleeping in dorms with groups of new people - it was both incredibly exciting and incredibly nerve wrecking.
Peter found quickly that he didn't really enjoy Potions - though Professor Slughorn was an interesting, if strange, person.
He found he adored Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall, and would rather die than continue going to History of Magic with Professor Binns, the only ghost teaching in Hogwarts with a voice the human equivalent of a sleeping potion.
James seemed to adore Potions, if only because it seemed to be Lily's favourite lesson, and Sirius liked History of Magic because it let him sleep.
James took to their flying lessons like a fish to water, laughing in pure joy as he flew freely through the air.
Astronomy was interesting, if only because Peter liked looking at stars - though Remus seemed less than enthused with the class.
Herbology was something they all seemed to enjoy, same with charms.
And then finally, there was Defence Against the Dark Arts - the class Sirius and Remus looked forward to the most.
Remus, being the ever working student that he was, was already talking about exams - though James continuously reminded him that they're not until June - and was already beginning to spend more and more time gathering more and more books from the library.
Peter found himself joining him on more than one occasion - and soon it became habit.
After DADA on a Thursday, the two would walk up to the library and spend a good few hours there, finishing homework, doing some extra reading on the topics Peter had struggled on in class, or Remus reading up everything he could on history, curses, magical creatures and whatever else while Peter struggled to keep up.
It was nice.
James was mostly trying to barging with Professor Hooch to let him practice flying more, since they only had lessons twice a week and apparently that wasn't enough for the ambitious flier.
Sirius would split his time between them, sometimes accompanying James to back him up on his arguments, other times going with Peter and Remus to begrudgingly complete his homework.
And when James wasn't arguing with Hooch, he was in the library, pretending to work as he stared at Lily.
Peter half expected to look up and see literal hearts in his eyes at some point.
Something the four of them quickly decided on was that they hated Slytherin House.
If Peter was confused about why Slytherin was so disliked - he wasn't anymore.
The majority of the house, it seemed, were rich Pure Bloods - and not like James and his family, who were kind, accepting and over all normal.
No, these Pure Bloods were cruel - believing in Pure Blood Wizard Supremacy and hating all things that went against that.
It was sickening.
The comments these people made, so loudly and unashamedly, about Half Bloods and Muggleborns-
The incident that sealed their combined hatred for the House was about a month into their first year.
James had been happily prancing down the grassy hill towards Hagrid's hut - a large, half giant who cared for the grounds, and seemed to have an adoration for often dangerous magical creatures.
The four didn't spend a lot of their time with Hagrid - they only really started coming around here for two reasons.
It was quiet.
And Lily was there.
Because of course she was.
How could she not be? As James had quickly learned in his deepening obsession with the red haired Muggle Born - she adored all creatures, and had long, interesting conversations with Hagrid about the creatures he cared for.
The four ended up coming down whenever they weren't too busy, and Hagrid was always willing to give them a cup of tea.
James had been happily regaling them on his latest achievement - getting Professor Hooch to agree to him watching Gryffindor Quidditch Practice despite him not knowing any of the team - when a sudden yell sounded from the edge of the forest, right near Hagrid's hut.
They turned, James opening his mouth to complain about people interrupting his story, when he was cut short by the sight before them.
Lily was there, her flaming red hair glowing in the afternoon light, one arm outstretched to the side, protecting a large creature just beyond the tree line, her right hand out in front of her, wand at the ready.
"You get back! He hasn't done anything to you!" she screamed, her voice cracking in pure rage.
"What are you going to do about it Mudblood? It's just another monster!" a Slytherin boy cackled, gaining a roar of laughter from the gaggle of Slytherin students behind him.
"He is not a monster! He is a Centaur and he came to talk to Hagrid- he's a person just like you or me!"
"It's not a person! It's a thing! And it shouldn't be here- it shouldn't even be alive. It's an abomination!"
"He's hurt! Let him get help!"
James was already skidding down the hill at the term Mudblood - reaching for his wand and aiming it at the group - Sirius following soon after.
Peter hesitated, before running after them - hearing Remus panting slightly as he gave chase as well.
"Don't you touch her!" James screamed, firing a jinx at the group- though as they were only first years, it didn't do more than throw them back.
Lily turned to him, looking shocked at the sight of anyone coming to her aid.
One of the Slytherin's fired, which swooped past Lily - striking the injured Centaur in the leg.
He howled in pain, and Lily gasped, turning to face him tearfully.
She grabbed his hand and began to try and usher him back into the trees - the Slytherin's cackled, beginning to raise their wands to attack once again-
This time all four of them raised their wands and fired-
Spells shot off in random directions, sending sparks of vibrant colours into the sky.
Peter cried out in pain as a spell caught his shoulder, Sirius dove onto one of the Slytherin's tackling him to the ground.
Remus had staggered into the woods, narrowly avoiding curses aimed his way, yelling at Lily and the Centaur to go, quickly helping both of them to get further into the woods-
James had been tackled to the ground and was now struggling against a larger Slytherin boy - he looked older than them.
Peter squeaked in fear, flicking his wand as hard as he could, sending a blast of red light towards the assailant.
The Slytherin boy was shot back into the stone wall behind him, crying out in pain as James staggered to his feet and grinned brightly at Peter.
A girl growled angrily, raising her wand as she readied an attack - Peter got ready to dodge again and took a breath-
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF MERLIN DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!"
Peter yelped in shock, spinning around to face the thunderous McGonagall who had stormed over to them.
Shaking with rage she held her wand out at them, Hagrid hurrying along behind her, followed shortly by Slughorn.
Peter, gasping for breath, pointed at the woods.
"They were attacking a Centaur!" he squeaked, "I-I think- I think they hurt him!"
Hagrid's eyes widened, and he spared McGonagall a glance before rushing off into the woods.
The group of three Gryffindor's and five Slytherin's were dragged into McGonagall's class room.
Slughorn stood there nervously, seemingly unsure on what to do.
"Never in all my years have I known first year students to be so reckless! You could have been killed! You could have killed someone! Were any of you even thinking?! And you! Mister McNair! You are a Prefect! I expect better from you! Picking fights with Centaurs?! Starting a duel with eleven year olds?! You are supposed to represent Slytherin House!"
McGonagall gasped for air, seething with rage.
Peter shrunk down in his seat as her furious glare was shot towards him, James and Sirius.
"I understand you boys were trying to help the Centaur- but surely one of you could have gotten a teacher?! Or perhaps used spells to keep them at bay instead of physically injuring them?! I know you were taught basic defensive spells yesterday and I know you know how to use them so surely you could have tried a less violent approach?!
Or were you simply too hot headed to see any other option?!
You just had to take the violent approach?!"
"... they... they called- called someone a Mudblood... and the Centaur a monster... said he was an abomination." Sirius muttered, finally, purposefully avoiding mentioning Lily's name. "I saw red. I attacked first. Pete and James were just... trying to help me when I got in over my head... again."
James blinked in surprise, opening his mouth to argue- to tell everyone that it was him who attacked first- but Sirius spoke up again.
"Out of the three of us it's me who should be punished the most- they just tried to help me when I got violent."
Minerva sighed heavily.
"Be that as it may - all three of you were still involved in the fight. Thirty points will be taken from Mister Pettigrew and Mister Potter, Thirty Five from you, Mister Black - all three of you will have a week of detention."
They nodded sadly.
McGonagall glanced to Slughorn who nodded, stomping over - Peter realised that he seemed angrier now.
"Is this true?" He asked, voice scarily calm. "Calling someone a Mudblood? A Centaur an abomination?"
No reply came from his students, and that was answer enough.
He stared, shocked and appalled.
"Fifty points taken. Each." he growled, and the Slytherin's erupted into cries of shock, "And two weeks detention! You started provoking the Centaur! You used horrible slurs against multiple people! You could have stopped fighting at any moment but instead decided to take on three eleven year old boys! There are five of you! One of you is a fifth year and another is a third year! You could have stopped the fight at any point but decided to continue!
Outnumbering and outmatching three boys!"
Peter had to physically bite his cheek to stop himself from grinning as the Slytherin girl who tried to attack last wailed dramatically, mourning the loss of her points.
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"May I ask where Mister Lupin is?" McGonagall asked as they entered the dorm.
"I'm here, Professor"
They turned, James breathing out a sigh of relief at the sight of him and Lily, a few minor scrapes along their faces and arms.
"Where were you when these three got into a duel?"
Remus opened his mouth.
"I-"
"Was at the library with Lily" James cut in, catching both Gryffindor's by surprise, "They were doing homework"
Minerva looked between them, then nodded.
"Five points to Miss Evans and Mister Lupin"
"Why, Professor?"
"Because although I know you weren't at the library I can't prove it - nor can I prove you were in the Forbidden Forest, helping Hagrid tend to a Centaur"
And with that final statement, she turned and left.
Lily grinned at them, and James visibly flushed bright crimson.