James spend his afternoons after dinner cleaning the trophies with Severus with Filch looking over them. Neither boy talked to the other. Both had the same intent in mind. Vengeance.

It was their final detention that Friday. As usual Filch was grumbling about how unruly the students were.

"In my day..." he grunted. "They used to hang students by their thumbs in the dungeons until they were begging for their mummies."

Not again. Thought James wiping off the trophy that had Tom Riddle written on it. If he ever met Tom Riddle James decided was going to punch the brains out of him. The guy simply had too many trophies and contributed to half the ones they were cleaning.

"Oh would you look at the time." said Filch. "You best be off...don't want anymore trouble now do we?"

Filch gave them filthy grin that made James cringe internally.

With that James and Severus headed back to their dorms a tense distance between them. In flash James swirled around, his wand pointed towards Snape who quickly raised his own.

"I'll tell Professor McGonagall." said Snape.

"I don't care." said James. "No one messes with my friends."

"A band of half-bloods and blood-traitors." snape scoffed. "You can do much better than that for friends."

"Who? Posh wank-stains like you?" jeered James. Bless Remus and his sharp tongue.

Severus's features hardened, his eyes narrowed, fingers tightening around his wand.

"Blood traitor." he hissed.

"You should really by more orginal." 

With that he pointed his wand at Severus's nose.

"Engorgio!" he cried.

Snapes nose grew, larger and larger. It just didn't stop. James burst out laughing as a screaming Severus ran to the infirmary. He simply couldn't wait to tell his friends.

~~~

That nigh Remus had sat down to write at letter to his parents. He forgotten hs promise and hated himself for it.

Dear Mum and Dad

I'm sorry for not writing earlier. I've been busy with school and stuff. The first transformation here wasn't too bad. Obviously it can't be as bad as the first one. Poppy (the nurse at school) and Professor McGonagall are taking very good care of me so you needn't worry. Thanks for all the chocolates. They really helped.

Hogwarts is great. I absolutely love it here. I think my favourite subject is Defence against the Dark Arts with Professor Ambrosious Woodbead.

There are four boys in the Gryffindor dorm. There is Kingsley but he doesn't talk very much, he prefers to be with the Ravenclaws, I think his best-friends is there. The other three are my best friends. There's James Potter, he can be a bit of a dunce but he's alright and can be really funny, he's really good at flying. There's Peter, he was the first person I met on the train and he was my first friend. He's really nice. There's also Sirius Black. He's the one we met at Diagon Alley, he's nothing like his family. He does a neat bat-bogey hext though. James wants to start a gang but we can't come up with a name.

Before I forget can you send over some more chocolate. My supply ran out.

Lots of Love

Remus

As soon as Remus finished his letter James walked into the room, with a huge grin on his face. Peter and Sirius were fast asleep.

"Guess what I did?" he asked proudly/

"You hexed Severus didn't you?" mutterd Remus folding up his letter and placing it in an envelope.

"Yes! I made his nose get bigger and..." 

James started laughing.

"He migh tell..." started Remus

"Who cares?" With that James flopped down on Remus's bed. "At least he known what's coming if he ever says anything to any of you."

"Your funeral."

"As long as there's cake at my funeral. I don't mind."

Remu laughed and shook his head.

"I'll make sure there will be." said Remus.

"Were you writing to your parents?" asked James.

"Yeah." Replied Remus. "I miss them."

"Me too. What are they like your parents?"

"Well my mum's a muggle." said Remus. "She's the absolute best she's an accountant. My dad's Lyall Lupin."

"The Welsh Boggart guy?"

"Yeah that's right."

"That's cool."

"How about you?"

"My mum's a witch, Dad's a wizard." said James. "They were old when they had me, around 50. Um...my dad makes haircare products."

"Is your Dad Fleamont Potter?"

"Yeah..."

"James Fleamont Potter? That's your full name?"

"Please don't tell Sirius. I'll never hear the end of it."

Remus grinned "Cross my heart and hope to die."

"Well talking about Sirius it's his birthday in less than a month." said James looking at the sleeping boy with a smile. "Since his parents...you know...should we...?"

"Definitely!" said Remus. "It should be a surprise though. We should let Peter know."

"What do you think he wants?" asked James.

"He's from a rich family." said Remus. "He's probaby got alot of neat stuff at home."

"Right."

"I have an idea. But I'll have to ask my parents."

He told James and hastily scribbled a post-script in his letter and moved to give it to Athena who stood at the window. As he was tying the letter to her leg something in the school grounds caught his eye.

"Oi James." he whispered frantically. "Come her."

"What is it?"

"Look."

James adjusted his round glasses, his hazel eyes scanned the grounds. A shadowy figure was walking across the grounds. Hooded and cloaked neither James nor Remus could make out who it was. The figure still and with frightening speed it turned its face. It wore a mask of gold, the eye sockets looked directly at them. The colour drained from both the boy's faces. Then with a crack it vanished.

"What was that?" asked James, shaking.

"Whatever it was. we have to tell someone."

~~~

"Remus tell me James in joking..." pleaded Sirius.

"Unfortunately not."

"Who are you going to tell?" asked Peter.

"McGonagall." replied James. "The sooner we see her the better."

The four rushed up to her office. James knocked on the door, with three sharp knocks. An exasperated Professor McGonagall answered.

"Yes Mr. Potter?"

"Professor, we need to tell you something important."

"Well then spit it out."

"Last night we saw a person disapperate on school grounds. They were cloaked and they wore a gold mask. We saw it from out dorms."

"No one can disaperate in Hogwarts grounds..." she told them thoughfully. "I assure you Hogwarts is the safest place in the world."

"Yet Professor but..."

"But what?" she asked. "Don't think I don't know it was you lot who pulled that prank on Slytherin house. I fthis is another one of your jokes. I do not want to hear ir."

James quietened before mumbling. "Sorry Professor."

Dejected the four of them left for the great hall.

"She didn't believe us." whispered Peter in disbelief.

Sirius shook his head. "They're too caught up in thinking that the school is the safest place in the world."

It was a tale as old as time. The adults didn't believe them.

"We have to do something about it!" said Remus.

"What can we do?" asked Peter. "We're just kids."

The three boys turned to James who had been silent all this while. No doubt they looked to him as the leader.

"If they think we're upt to no good." he said. "Then let them think we're upt to no good. But we're going to get to the bottom of this. Without any of them. But you have to swear it to me."

"I solemnly swear we're up to no good." said Sirius gravely.

"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good." came Remus's determined response.

There was a pause as they looked expectantly at Peter. His features had blanched. He seemed petrified. He hesitated before he let out his own shaking.

"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."

Satisfied James repeated again the vow that would set their legendary exploits in stone.