James Potter and The Marauders' Map

Chapter Three: Greasy Snivellus

"No luck with Evans, eh?" Asked Remus as James sank down on one of the chairs on The Marauders' compartment. Peter tried to pat his shoulder as a sign of sympathy but it was no help.

James took a deep breathe and said,"What's wrong with me? Why can't Evans just go out with me?"

"Nothing's wrong with you! You're perfect!" Peter said trying to lift James' mood up. Still, it didn't help.

"OK. I've got to go now. Have a meeting with the other prefects. I expect you all in your best behavior while I'm gone." said Remus maturely that it almost didn't sound like Remus at all.

"Yes Professor Lupin!" Said Sirius and acted as though he was a soldier and Remus was his commander. James chuckled a bit.

"Hey mate. Maybe Evans' not into relationships yet." Said Sirius who was serious all of a sudden when Remus walked out of the compartment.

"How'd you say so?" James said trying not to get his hopes up.

"Well, she's a muggle-born, isn't she?" James just nodded on Sirius' question. "Maybe her parents think wizard boys are wild and weird."

"But we are not!" James shouted. He wasn't sure what Sirius meant by that but it sure did
offended him.

"Yes, we aren't! That's why you should show Evans that wizards boys are better than those muggles think we are!" Said Sirius who was shouting also, but in a gym trainer kind of way. Peter just kept on patting James' back."Let's go."

They went off their compartment and left their things in there. They searched for Evans in every compartment but wasn't able to see an auburn-haired beautiful girl with emerald green eyes. James gave up and just slowed down as they kept on searching compartment to compartment. Sirius and Peter, however, were very determined they'll find Evans.

"I'm tired. Can't we just go back to our compartment?" James said lazily. But Sirius shook his head.

"No! We'll find Evans and you'll confess to her, once and for all!" he shouted with glee.

"Yeah!" said Peter who shouted and punched the air with his fist.

While the other two were busy looking for Evans, James turned around and went back to their compartment. On his way, he bumped into someone who seemed to be in a hurry.

"Sor - Snivellus?" James who was once gloomy and lazy started to feel energetic and full of life again. "Look who I bumped into."

Snape didn't speak. He glued his eyes to his untied shoelaces. He was carrying a bunch of books and from all the running, his face was greasier than ever.

"What ya reading, Snivellus?" said James in a mock voice. He tried to get atleast one book but Snape was gripping tightly." Give - me - the - book!"

"No, Potter." said Snape firmly but his hand started to shake. James was, in fact stronger than Snape that he got at least one book from Snape and read it aloud. "Extra Tips on Defensing Against Dark Arts."

"Give - It - Back - To - Me!" Snape shouted while trying to yank the book off of James. James, who still has a firm grip on the book, started reading the first chapter of it.

"Chapter One, you must know the basic spells by heart. In this table you will see -" He said trying hard not to lose his grip on the book.