the marauders were popular at hogwarts for their rowdy mischief making and prank pulling. the way they always seemed to pull off the grandest of schemes was well known among the student body at the magic boarding school was proudly admired by peers. it was what made the four boys their own.

though their pranks were the most commonly seen and acknowledged, the boys were well aware they they weren’t the only people to pull pranks at hogwarts.

they never turned a blind eye to a fellow prankster, always cheering on whoever dared to try and pull a prank, even if it was themselves getting said prank pulled on them. it was the unspoken pranksters code of honor. something silly james never broke.

he always stuck to it, even if there was no technicalities. james believed in helping others and this was just a way to be prideful of his actions and of others he found admirable.

it was a colder day out, one the marauders spent studying in a corner of the library. james had an empty seat next to him, remus and sirius on his other side as he stared down at his transfiguration textbook.

until you stormed in, your heavy, frantic footsteps tearing james from what he had his mind on. the library was quiet and you were not, and neither was the angry voice that followed you, a tone he had assigned to the old gobby caretaker, flich.

james had never seen you before, not once in all his years at hogwarts and it was safe to say he was captured by the new face. he figured you pulled something off by that smile on your face.

he was too enthralled to even realize the not-so-subtle fact that you were running towards him. hurriedly sitting down in the empty seat next to him, muttering something about covering for you.

it didn’t take long for the old man to hobble over, pointing an accusatory finger at you. ”you, come with me.” he says, his usual sour tone evident.

”for what?” james asks, the question coming out as second nature for him. ”they haven’t done anything wrong. been here all afternoon, haven't you?”