Published: 09/10/08 | Updated: 10/06/09

Rated: 3rd-5th Years Warnings: None

Category: Marauder Era
Chapters: 13 Completed: No

Summary: It is June 1976 and The Marauders are at the top of their game. From the outside they look to have everything.But appearances, as the saying goes, can be deceptive.

James is discovering that not everything in life is his for the taking. Sirius knows he will have to defy his formidable family. Remus lives in constant fear of his life beyond Hogwarts. As for Peter... Well, Peter is struggling to live up to his friends.

The ties of friendship are strong, but war is raging and with a dark power rising those ties will inevitably fray.

Added to the mix is an adversary called Severus Snape, some lost House Points, a prank or two and a whole lot of Lily.

This is a Marauder tale.

This is a story of what made them special.

This is a story of why it started to go wrong for The Lions of Gryffindor.

OH MY GOOD GODRIC! Lions of Gryffindor won the 2009 QSQ for Best Marauders' Era Story. Amazed and incredibly grateful to those who nominated, judged and have beta'd this fic. THANK YOU.

Word count: 55512 Read: 19942

1. Chapter 1 Turning Point by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 22] (2272 words)
It’s a hot day at the end of June. The Marauders are sitting under a beech tree after their D.A.D.A. O.W.L. James is showing off. Peter is applauding madly. Remus is trying to revise. Sirius, however, is bored. Suddenly they spot their enemy, Severus Snape.

It was the final straw for Lily and Snape’s friendship. He lost her forever. It was also a turning point for James and the Marauders.

I have quoted directly from Snape’s Worst Memory from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This is simply to place this chapter in its correct context.

2. Chapter 2- Advice From The Fat Lady by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 7] (3009 words)
Following Professor McGonagall’s reprimand and the loss of housepoints James and Sirius return to Gryffindor Tower. They expect a hostile reception from their fellow Gryffindors so decide to skip the common room and head straight for their dormitory. However, they first have to get past The Fat Lady and she is not amused.

Many thanks to Terri (mudbloodproud) and Lyra (Lyrastearx) for beta'ing this chapter for me.

Word Count: 2911

3. Chapter 3 - A Wand, a Boggart and a Wager. by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 8] (4281 words)
It’s the last day of O.W.Ls. The Marauders are getting ready for their last exam. Peter is nervous but the others have more pressing demands. How will they get the House Cup for Gryffindor? Just who was James with last night? More importantly – now that they have Snape’s wand what would be the ultimate revenge?

Severus Snape is bitter. Logically he knows Lily is gone. Logically he knows it’s his fault. Logically he knows it was not James Potter who insulted her. But Severus Snape is angry and not using logic. He wants revenge on Potter- he just needs to find his weakness.

*indicates a quote from Hamlet in this chapter. William Shakespeare, in my opinion, was too talented to be a Muggle.

Thanks as ever to Terri (mudbloodproud) for beta'ing this chapter. Thanks also to Lyrastearsx for helping at the early stages.

4. Chapter 4 - The Bowtruckle Challenge by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 9] (4965 words)
The thought of having handmaidens on the Hogwarts Express has spurred The Marauders on in their quest to regain their lost points and to win the House Cup for Gryffindor. Unfortunately, they need a plan and are fresh out of ideas until Peter remembers the Bowtruckle Challenge. All they need now are woodlice, fairy eggs and a decent flyer.

Thanks, as ever, to Terri (mudbloodproud) for beta'ing this and nagging me about Peter.

5. Chapter 5 - An Intriguing Muggle Girl. by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 8] (3371 words)
It’s the summer of 1976 and London is in a grip of a heatwave. Sirius Black is desperate to escape the depressing gloom of Grimmauld Place so armed with Butterbeer, Muggle money and a radio he runs off to the local park. It’s about to get a whole lot hotter.

The song in this chapter is Thin Lizzy’s, The Boys are Back in Town, which was a huge hit that summer. I must thank my brother-in-law, Andy, for suggesting this song.

Thanks, as ever, to Terri (mudbloodproud) and also to Cassie (ms leading) for beta'ing this for me.

6. Chapter 6- Godric's Hollow. by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 10] (5087 words)
Lily had always liked the summer holidays. Freed from the restrictions of Hogwarts, she always spent her days with her best friend, Sev. But this year things are different and she's spent most of the summer in her room. Perhaps a hiking trip with Mary and her sister could be the answer to her gloom?

Thanks, as ever, to Terri (mudbloodproud) and Cassie (ms leading) for being fab betas.

I'm not JK Rowling, but I think you've already guessed that.

7. Chapter 7 - Treacle Tart and Quidditch. by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 11] (4611 words)
James Potter has just returned home from a miserable camping trip with his best friend Siius Black. He is cold, wet and shoeless. He doesn't expect to come face to face with Lily Evans and her friends at the dining table.

Thank you to Terri (mudbloodproud) for beta'ing this chapter.

As you've probably gathered I'm not JK Rowling.

8. Chapter 8 - Slythy Fen. by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 10] (4996 words)
Having left Godric's Hollow, Lily, Mary and Martha continue their hiking trip to visit the homes of the Founders. But when Lily hurts her ankle, help arrives from a most unexpected source.

I am indebted to Terri (mudbloodproud) and Cassie (ms. leading) for beta'ing this chapter.

I'm not JK Rowling and I doubt that's news to any of you. I do love playing in her world, though.

9. Chapter 9 Journeys to King's Cross by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 9] (5019 words)
Following the summer holiday, the Marauders make their way to King's Cross for the start of the new year. With very different backgrounds, it's no wonder their journeys are so different.

Thank you very much to Terri (mudbloodproud) and Cassie (ms. leading) for beta'ing this chapter.

10. Chapter 10 Caught in the Crossfire by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 9] (4860 words)
The journey to Hogwarts is usually eventful. How can it not be with underage wizards and witches eager to try out their magic? But this year the problems are coming from the older students and as the feud between Gryffindor and Slytherin threatens to explode - someone gets caught in the crossfire.

Thank you, as ever, to Terri for beta'ing and discussing multiple plot holes.

11. Chapter 11 - Potent Potions by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 14] (4289 words)
Slughorn's first class of the new year brings the class get their first whiff of Amortentia. For James and Sirius there are no surprises, but what about Remus ... and Lily.

Thank you to Terri (mudbloodproud) for beta'ing this fic.

12. Chapter 12 - Family Ties by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 8] (4531 words)
It's the first D.A.D.A. lesson of the new year, but Sirius has other things on his mind. Unfortunately for him he's paired up with an old adversary ... and that's when things get nasty.

Thank you to Alyssa (Harry4lif) for beta'ing this, and Terri (mudbloodproud) for endless AIM chats and encouragement and an MWPP class that made me change Lily.

13. Chapter 13 The Full Moon by Equinox Chick [Reviews - 9] (4221 words)
Thank you Alyssa (Harry4Lif) for not only beta'ing this chapter, but for saving a copy when my laptop died.