The New Marauders and the Snitch of Destiny: Year 1

Chapter 2: Back to school

The Hogwarts Express pulls slowly out of platform 9 3/4. James Potter, his little brother Albus and their cousin Rose stand at the window of their carriage waving goodbye to their parents, aunts and uncles. As they round the curve they find their compartment seats with the trunks packed over them.

James kicks his feet back, messes up his hair just like he heard Grandpa used to do and plays with the snitch dad gave him last year "Promise to keep it safe James" He had said "Wev'e been through a lot together". He smiles as he feels it's round shiny warmth, holds it in front of him, presses the small button and watches in awe as the little wings pop out. He releases it watches it flying for a few seconds completely mesmorised. Then, with the quicknes of a striking snake, grabs it.

Albus who had been silently looking out the window suddenly looks in awe at this.
" See little bro? That is how you catch a snitch, you just need to focus, like a lion stalking it's prey, edging ever closer until..."

" Oh please James, must you always be so dramatic?" scoffed Rose from behind her copy of 'Advanced Spellcraft and Conjuring Techniques for the Incredibly Gifted'. " your scaring him".

"I need to show him the ropes if he is to ever play Quidditch. I need to make sure he doesn't get his head bashed in by a bludger"

"That could very well happen" said a cold drawling voice. Rose and the 2 brothers turned to the carriage entrance to find the thin blonde frame of Scorpius Lucius Malfoy staring straight at Albus. "If you choose the wrong side, think about it Potter"

"Why don't you go and snog a blast-ended skrewt Malfoy!!" Roared James, his wand out.

"No James" whispered Rose, pushing his wand down "He's not worth it. You'l just get into trouble"

"Smart advice Weasley, I'm beginning to think father was wrong about mudbloods and their  extreme level of stupidity" quipped Malfoy " Anyway Potter, think about what I have said. If you know what's good for you I would think about it real hard, well I will see you all at the sorting"

Before James could reply, Malfoy is gone.

Albus is huddled in a corner wide eyed in terror "I don't want to be in Slytherin." he whimpers over and over again as Rose puts aside her book and holds him until the crying subsides. She then shot a look at James of fury as if to say 'See what all of your teasing has done to him?'

"It was just a joke bro." smiled James " I know you will be sorted in Gryffindor, I was. Anyway I'm going to see if I can find the Honeydukes Candy Trolley. Maybe that will cheer you up."

He steps into the main corridor and starts walking to the back and as he does he notices the train begining to wobble from side to side until he stops, eyes wide looking at the juncture between the prefects carriage and the Head boy/Head Girl carriage where the latter is shaking violently from side to side and there are 2 very wierd sounds, the first being a high female voice that was making noises like a pig with increasing volume, the other the sound of a rapidly panting dog. He looks at the sign on the door in blazing letters


WARNING!!
If you value your current form
and If you see the carriage rocking
Don't come knocking!!!!!

THIS MEANS YOU JAMES!!!!!


He hurries back to the compartment to tell Albus and Rose that Teddy and Victorie really are snogging. to find both surrounding a small pile of Pumpkin Pasties boxes, chocolate frog cartons, fizzing wizbee wrappers, pop rock pouches (more bang than the muggle variety) cockroach clusterboxes, cauldon cake tins and an empty bag of Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans.

"Hi James, the trolley came just after you left we would have saved you some but we didn't know if you wanted any of this"

"Thanks a lot you ruddy git" James moaned as he started sitting down.

"Wait a second, I have to move the cloak" Smiles Albus who reaches into apparently thin air above James' seat to reveal a huge pile of still full honeyduke's candy "I was just yanking you wand."

"Good one bro" laughed James as he reaches for a licorice wand. Rose shakes her head whispering "Boys" as all 3 of them laugh trade chocolate frog cards and devour the pile of candy.

after the last cauldron cake was eaten the trian begins to slow to a stop with a hiss that for some reason makes ablus feel slightly uneasy. A large shaggy gray haired man with a scraggly white beard ambles along the side of the train, takes a momant to pound on the Head Boy/Girl carriage "Oi, knock it off yer two, were ere" and continues onward. James recognizes the man immediately as he boards the train as well as his hauntingly familiar refrain " Firs' Years over here please, Firs' Years this way."

" It's time for us to go Albus" says Rose as she leads him into the queue with the other first years, Malfoy among them sneerting maliciously. "Don't worry bro, everythings going to be just fine" then he too disembarked the train.