Ties of Friendship, Bonds of Fate

Title: Ties of Friendship, bonds of Fate

Pairings: Future JamesxLily and RemusxSeverus

Rating: K to start but future M. Currently probably a T.

Notes: Bound to you Pre-quel. Pre-Harry Potter Era Hogwarts, Marauder era AR/AU.

Chapter 8- On the Hogwarts Express

To say their compartment was an emotional hazard zone was an understatement.

James was pouting, Lily had promised to come for a visit and had 'changed her mind' due to 'unforeseen circumstances' meaning because she wasn't leaving Severus alone.

He sighed, "I'm sorry James. I didn't plan to get sick."

Remus growled opening his mouth to protest.

Severus glared at it, shaking his head. He was not airing his family's 'dirty laundry' where Sirius Black of all people could hear.

Lily nodded, "Andromeda came by twice a day to check on him. She said he hat heatstroke."

James sighed, "That doesn't sound too serious but if you think it was." He was like a puppy who was left alone on vacation.

"Just kiss and make up already." Remus said dryly. "Lily didn't do anything wrong James. Stop making her feel as if she needs to apologize. It certainly wasn't Severus' fault either."

"Of course it was Snivellius' fault. He hates James and wants Lily for himself."

Remus glared, "No he doesn't. Why would he want Lily when he's got me?" he leaned over and kissed Severus.

The Slytherin prefect's eyes were wide with shock.

Lily laughed, "It was about time you announced your news."

James was in shock at first, then he crowed, "See! I told your Sirius that Severus didn't like Lily like that! You owe me ten Galleons."

Lily's eyes narrowed, "You bet on me?"

James swallowed nervously, "Only that you two were like brother and sister. Siri here claimed Severus was going to ask you out this year. I told him put his money where his mouth was. He said ten Galleons. Besides, you dating Severus would be as awkward as me with Remus."

Remus chuckled, "is that because Sev and I are bent?"

James snorted, "Nah, because we're best mates. Us Marauders are like brothers, liking each other that way would be like incest or something."

Sirius turned red.

James appeared to regret the comment immediately, "Sorry Siri." Aunt Walburga, Sirius' mother had married a cousin and Sirius was betrothed to his cousin Narcissa. "I meant sibling incest not Bonding to cousins. Besides your betrothal to Narcissa isn't illegal."

Sirius grumbled, "It should be."

Peter frowned, "But then you wouldn't have been born."

"If you were free of your betrothal who would you want to pursue," Lily asked pleasantly.

Sirius snorted, "If I were free? Why tie myself down? I want to be an Auror. I don't see why I have to Bond right away. Besides, I'd rather play the field a while. I don't know what I want yet. I don't see why I have to give in to this betrothal silently. This is my year and I'll have as much fun as I can. I'll be sixteen this year and there are a lot of fine birds at Hogwarts."

Lily groaned, "That is so sexist! You shouldn't treat people like sex objects."

Sirius laughed at her, "You think James doesn't look at you and think about sex? Don't be naïve."

Lily glared, "He's been chasing after me since first year. He wasn't thinking about sex then. Besides, unlike you I'm sure he's gentleman enough to know that I'm a lady. He's not getting me out of my knickers until he's got a ring on my finger and papers signed. He better know that he's going to have to ask my father for my hand, I'm old fashioned that way."

Severus wondered if that was meant more as a dressing down for Sirius or as a warning for James.

"So Snivellius what does Remus have to do to get in your sheets?"

Severus sneered, "As much as I like him I don't see that as too probable. You think I've got a death wish? Bringing a lion into the Snake pit as you call it? Your cousin would fillet us both alive. As for my home? That's out of the question. My father would shoot us both." His face turned red and he covered his mouth in horror. It was the first time he'd dare admit it to himself.

Sirius snickered, "So you're a tease? That's lovely, Snivellius is a coward and a cock tease."

Remus growled, "Siri back off. Friend or not you've got no right to treat him like that. If and when we do consider the idea of sex it's between us and has nothing to do with you. I'm not the type to kiss and tell. I would appreciate the same courtesy from you three."

"As would I." Lily said coldly, "I don't want to be treated like a conquest to be tossed aside if I were to let James into my sheets as you put it. Since boys are not able to enter the girls' dorms and my father wouldn't let James anywhere near my room if the door was shut."

Severus chuckled, "Mr. Evans would take your door off if James spent the night just to be sure or he'd lock one of you in your room and sleep with the key round his neck."

James pouted, "I wouldn't try anything under her father's roof. I like Lily…I respect her. Why would I treat her like a common whore? I intend to bond to her!"

Sirius blinked, "She's a Muggleborn…your father would never,"

James glared, "My father knows the Potter heart same as me. We fall in love once and at always round the same age. He knew Mother was the one for him at eleven. He was Sorted into Gryffindor and do you know what he did? He wrote at once to his father and begged him to arrange a betrothal between Dorea Black and himself. She could be a Hufflepuff and an illegitimate child and I'd still want her."

The looks that crossed the group's faces were interesting and varied.

James was embarrassed, lily surprised and amused, Sirius shocked, Peter horrified, Remus surprised and Severus intrigued.

"Well now, if you want to Bond to her that's different," Severus smirked, "I thought you just wanted to date her."

James coughed nervously, "And I had no idea Remus was interested in you other then as a friend."

Remus laughed, "We can double date then. Especially in light of our best friends being together. My best friend would be seeing my boyfriend's best friend."

Severus felt a shiver of pleasure and being called Remus' boyfriend.

Sirius looked at a loss for words and Peter's expression was uninterpretable.

Lily checked her watch, "Sorry as I am to break this party up I fear it is getting close to the time for the prefects' meeting in the Head's carriage."

Sirius sneered at them as they left, "Stuck up pricks."

James glared, "Cousin or no back off Sirius. I won't have you insulting my future Bondmate. I thought you were better then our pompous, narrow-minded relations. Remus is our friend. Severus is Lily's friend. How many times do I have to tell you to back off? I think you're just jealous because we've formed an attachment and you haven't."

Sirius paled, "Black don't form 'attachments'…"

James snorted, "Maybe not your mother or Bella but Annie did. Why else would she have run off to Bond with her Hufflepuff? Unless you would rather believe she did it because she wasn't up to Lucius' weight."

Sirius glared, "Annie's not a coward!"

James sneered, "No but you are. You prevented your own fiancée from making friends because your mother and her sister would disapprove. You're always complaining about your mother's overbearing ways and you're exemplifying her behaviour."

"I am not!" Sirius said hotly

"Oh no?" James asked incredulously, "You treat Lily like dirt. You call Severus names and insult him constantly. You act as if you honestly believe I'm just playing with Lily's feelings. Are you afraid that if I did Bond to Lily your mother wouldn't let us associate? Aren't you more concerned with what your mother's reaction would be to us being friends with Lily or Remus?"

Sirius snapped, "It has nothing to do with Remus!"

"Oh really? Are you jealous because he has someone who truly seems to like him back? you likes him based on his merits? The Gryffindors don't trust you because you're a Black. The Slytherins regard you as a bloodtraitor,"

Sirius snarled, "I'm not a filthy bloodtraitor."

"Don't fight…" Peter said quietly.

James snorted, "We're not fighting. We're exchanging terse words. I'm telling Siri some pointed truths. I'm sick of this pathetic battle you've had going with Severus. I'll admit that you've got some decent qualities and your idea to become animagus is pure genius. If Severus makes Remus happy you will leave them be. I mean it Siri no more verbal attacks. You leave them alone. There is something more to Lily's insistence that Severus was ill. I mean they had to call in a healer. Plus Remus is more protective then I would have expected. Something happened this summer and it involved the three of them. I want to find out but I want them to trust me. Your thoughtless behaviour won't help."

"Fine." Sirius grumbled, he'd find other ways to cut that arrogant know it all snake down to size. He doubted Remus dared tell his precious Snivellius that he was a werewolf. The best test of whether Snivellius was worthy of Remus was to see how that arrogant snake handled finding out his precious boyfriend was a werewolf, a so-called monster. That might be entertaining…

What do you think? Outstanding? Exceeds Expectations? Acceptable? Poor? Dreadful? Troll?