James opened his deep brown eyes once again to the familiar surroundings of
hogsmede station. Looking around he spotted his friends, Sirius, Remus and
Peter standing next to a carriage. James took his things over to be loaded
before heading for his friends.
' Wow our fifth year,' Peter said with a glance over at the nervous looking first years.
' That means we have our O.W.L's,' Remus said with a grimace.
' Yeah but, Sirius lowered his voice, we've almost mastered being animagi,' the small group smiled.
' And Sirius is keeper again this year,'
' Only cause we have a good seeker,' Sirius and James beamed at each other. When James opened his eyes he saw a waft of shining red hair float by. Jame's stared after Lily as she boarded the train, the carriage just in front of theirs. Forgetting there was no door there James tried to board the train and meet up with Lily only to hit the side of the train.
' James is still tempted by the red haired Veela,' James rubbed his head and came back to reality. The station master blew his whistle and people started boarding.
' Come on lover boy,' Remus said grabbing James away from heading for Lily's carriage. Once in the same compartment the four friends were chatting happily trying to find out how the other's holidays were. Even though there were only four of them the sound was great. Before long the lady with the food came around and all four boys stuck into eating away. Just as they were getting comfortable and full their compartment door flung open. There stood a girl with long dark brown hair and blue eyes she was almost taller than all of them and she was incredibly pretty.
' Sirius would you like to sign a petition for me?' she asked him with fluttery eyelids. He didn't even look up.
' What's it about?' he asked staring at the card from the chocolate frog.
' T-t-they want dementors to guard the castle and we're signing against it,' the girl was starting to loose her composure around Sirius and she seemed very flushed.
' Just this once Petunia,' he smiled at her and she grinned back trying to make eye contact. He scrawled a signature across the parchment at the bottom and handed the board back.
' Thanks,' she smiled and stumbled over her tall frame out of the compartment. Remus sat forward and gave him and almighty slap up side the head. Sirius raised a hand to threaten.
' She's head over heels! And you are to you just can't admit that sort of thing,' Jame's exclaimed getting worked up.
' Not Petunia, she's too...popular. Besides i don't feel that way,' Sirius said calmly.
' You're popular too,' Peter said sheepishly.
' At least i don't go spilling my emotions like some people,' Sirius laughed and imitated James smacking into the train.
' Peter too he's got a bit of a love interest don't ya boy,' Remus said elbowing him in the ribs. Peter blushed furiously.
' Seems like we all have someone,' Sirius said observantly. The compartment door opened once again and Lily entered, her cloak swishing behind her.
' You might want to get into your robes soon, she smiled sweetly at James, uh Remus can I speak to you...outside,' he shrugged and rose to his feet and out the door. James' face fell as he noticed Lily's cheeks had gone a bit pink when she asked for Remus. It wasn't long before Remus returned with Lily. She sat down next to James and smiled.
' My group have been very silly lately and i was wondering if i could hang out with you guys?' she asked this whilst looking at her feet. The four boys looked at each other with a funny stare it was half surprise and half acceptance.
' Sure,' they chimed making her look up and grin. It was an awkward silence as the boys tried to decide through eye gestures whether ot not to tell her about all their plans. It was decided on a communal head shake. The rest of the trains conversation got better as they got used to having a girl around. Although the awkwardness of wanting to tell her everything they had planned was exceptionally tempting since she was already one of their good friends. Even though James was pretty good friends with her he still looked at her from a distance like she was a goddess he could never touch. Well James especially enjoyed her company because he couldn't seem to keep his eyes off her as the sorting hat started it's song.
The entire hall erupted in applause when it finished and the first years stepped forward for sorting.
'Black, Sintar,' cried the sorting hat. James had almost completely forgotten Sirius's brother was starting.
' Slytherin!' the hat cried sending a hush over the fifth years. They all twisted to look at each other as Sintar looked longingly over at the Gryffindor table.
' That's not right,' Remus whisper could almost be heard over the silence. Lily, James, Peter, Remus and Sirius sat in bewilderment as Sintar looked over at them with sad eyes. Before long Dumbledore's words were to fill the hall and make them forget all their worries.
' I must let you all know that we are not to have Dementors guarding the school, Dumbledore's face went stern, instead we will have Aurors from the Ministry of Magic guarding the most vital entrance's only,' at this he glanced at Jame's group who looked innocently back. 'I must ask you treat them with the up most respect if you see them around the school by calling them sir and so forth,' Severus and his friends sniggered. 'The Auror in charge will be Alastor Moody so I ask that you speak to him if you have any questions,' Alastor stood up, he was much younger looking Moody will the chunk in his nose and several scars gone and his hair a very light brown, still there were a few scars that remained which made him bearable. But his eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth as straight as a wand.
'Moody if he feels the need might take some of your D.A.D.A lessons. But for now...dig in!' And at that food appeared on the table and the sound of knives and forks against the glittering plates filled the hall.
' I'm goin to 'ave a 'alk oo Dummledore,' Sirius said with a mouth full of roast.
' We should all go,' Remus said with a hopeless look at Delila. Severus placed an arm around Sintar and gave a wry grin to Sirius. At this Sirius took his spoon and facing forwards flung a piece of food over his shoulder, unaimed at the Slytherin table. He turned to see where it had landed instead he came face to face with Proffesor McGonagall.
' Uh eep,' he shrunk suddenly in his chair.
' Next time Sirius be more accurate in your aiming but I must ask that you not do that at dinner or your place on the Quidditch team may be lost,' an amused smile appeared at the corner of her mouth as she returned to her table. The five of them burst out laughing.
After dinner everyone returned to their dorms full with the last desert. The common room was filled with friends meeting again and first years being scared from sixth years stories. People compared prank sweets and prodded the fire. The room was filled with laughter and light. The five sat in the corner next to the fire and spoke once again of their holidays. Soon everyone started to leave the common room for bed. Finally it was only the five of them left in the common room as Petunia came down and told them (while she looked at Sirius) that they had to go to bed...and she was prefect. The guys said goodbye to Lily but James stayed back and grabbed for her wrist.
' Uh what did you want to talk to Remus about?' James asked trying to stare into her emerald green eyes, but they were shifty and she was blushing.
' I wanted to know if you would...,' A voice interrupted.
' Bed or I'll have your hides,' Petunia's voice floated down.
' I-I'll talk to you in the morning,' Lily said looking to the stairs breaking from his grip, she jogged up the spiral, her head bowed. James looked at his hand, it was flushed red from squeezing Lily's wrist, he didn't realise he had her so tight. But there was a different glow to it, like it wasn't only blood rising to the surface.
The first day of school was introduced with their new timetables which were given out by the prefects. Petunia's hand shook as she handed Sirius's his.
' Charms first,' James smiled knowing it was Lily's favourite subject. She smiled too, everything was a favourite for James, he was one of the top students in the grade.
' Sirius,' Lily poked him in the ribs. She had to poke him again before he looked up from his bacon and eggs.
' Could I sit next to James in Charms? Actually, all the subjects we have together?' Sirius raised a black eyebrow. His stuffed mouth turned into a smile.
' You really like him don't you?'
' No it's just that he's about as good as I am in Charms and...,'
' Don't worry about it, no sweat. Hold on a second,' Dumbledore had walked past.
' Sir?' Sirius asked nervously standing up. Albus looked at him through his half moon glasses.
' I-I was wondering if i could talk to you about my brother's sorting,'
' Ah yes, I was wondering about that myself. But what's done is done, come and see me anyway during lunch,' Sirius nodded and sat down. Peter and Remus gave him a sympatheitc pat on the back as Sirius peered over at his brother. That night after a ruthless first bout of Transfiguration homework four boys gathered by the fire to discuss that years adventures.
Since lunch time Sirius had been a lot happier but he told everyone that he would tell them tonight when there were less people around.
' What are you so happy about?' Peter asked playing with his pet rat Chutney.
' Dumbledore said he would give my brother the Gryffindor password so he could see me if he needed to. He said he would love to change but once the Sorting Hat has decided not even he can change it,'
' Oh I did quite some work on the Marauder's Map,' Peter said running up to his dorm and fetching a piece of parchment, waving it around as he did.
' Careful Peter we don't want,'
' Oh no look it's blank,' he said smoothing the paper out on the floor in front of the group.
' But then,'
' Hold on, Peter took out his wand, I solemly swear I am up to no good,' he said tapping the paper as he did their four nicknames and 'Marauders Map' appeared on the page in spindly writing in green ink. Suddenly a blotch appeared next to the last name.
' Haven't quite fixed that, uh thats how far i got, it took me forever,' Peter said rolling up the parchment.
' How do you make it blank again?'
' you tap it and say mischief managed. I think we should all help to the map say do a corner each or...,'
' Shhhh,' James said jerking his head in the direction of Lily. She appeared to be crying amidst the group she used to sit with.
' What are they...,' Remus said with a look of concern. But James got up before him and walked over. As he approached them the group stopped talking to Lily and gave a horridly suspicious smile to him.
' Hi James,' said a girl with blonde hair who touched Jame's arm, he brushed it away quickly. Jame's caught Lily's arm and tried to take her away.
' We haven't finished talking to her yet,' said a boy with deep black eyes. It was one of the Patterson's, the only nasty one of the lot.
' You have now Lewis,' said James placing an arm around her and taking her away.
' She's a mudblood you know,' Lewis said with an arrogant air; Lily's eyes welled again.
' What does it matter, she probably has more magic in her than there is in the last ten generations of your family,' Peter yelled who was now next to James along with Remus and Sirius. The noise in the room gave a definate drop James's blood began to boil he drew his wand, incredibly quick and threw himself at Lewis, pinning him to the floor, his wand at his throat.
' Don't ever say that to her again,' there was a incredibly tense moment where the whole room was looking at them, but not one prefect came over. Lewis gave thought to his situation before shoving James off, offering no fight.
' Your popularity won't last long Potter,' he said across the room, to scared to face the top student in Defence against the Dark Arts.
He took her over to the fire and she burst out in tears in front of him. She buried her face in his embrace and drenched his shirt with her large tears. Remus, Peter and Sirius came over after a nice long arguement with the group (where some very nasty things were said) and wrapped their arms around Lily as well, making her feel like one of them.
In the middle of that night, the four boys snuck down to the kitchen and grabbed some food before sneaking into a passage out to Hogsmede to practice their Animagi tranformation, with the help of a book from the restricted section.
' you've got to concetrate harder James,' Remus said as James recited the chant in Latin all over again. The chant was only for the first time, after you had done the chant and transformed for the first time you could do it at will. James started the chant again as Peter and Sirius watched. Peter was having the worst of trouble so he had to watch the other two to get the idea. The closest any of them had gotten was some animal hair all over their bodies and they had to go to Madam Pomfrey for it and make up a wacked out story to wiggle their way out of it. The story was mostly composed of a potions homework gone wrong.
' Your getting it James,' Remus said as he followed the chant, James was getting all the pronunciations right and all the little pauses. Sirius opened his eyes James eyes had started to turn very round and brown, antlers started sprouting from his head. His body started to curve forwards and land on the hooves that had sprouted instead of his hands and feet. James was still chanting though while looking at his new self with astonishment. His new eyes started to move to the side of his head whilst small ears sprouted next to the antlers, his robes went gray as they started to go white. Suddenly he had stopped chanting but his body was only half way through.
' James keep going,' Remus said standing off the rock he was sitting on.
' I can't keep going I...,' James gave a small squeek and his voice stopped. James was stuck half human half stag, when he suddenly finished changing with a loud pop. The stag looked innocently at Peter, Sirius and then Remus, with a half worried and happy look.
' To change back all you have to do is think about it,' Remus said flicking through pages for more of an explanation, he shook his head. James closed his eyes and in the time you could have said 'Quidditch' he changed.
' Well that was uh wierd,' James said rubbing his head where the antlers had been.
' Seriously,' Peter said with a tone of jealousy and awe.
James was feeling particularly full of himself the next day, and his friends took no liberty of stopping him. Since it would be impossible to tame him anyway. It soon dawned on him that he been making an ass of himself because it wasn't like he could tell the school, or he would be expelled. Around lunch time he had come to this conclusion with himself and had come back to reality. And reality meant Lily.
' So uh how are your uh medicine potions coming along?' James asked looking suspiciously at his Potions book.
' Uh alright I'm having a little trouble with...,'
' Great I can help,' James butted in looking at his toast.
' Um I'll meet you in the common room,'
' Ok,' James said as he and Lily stared at each other. Sirius leaned over from James's left.
' Say anything about our plans without our consolidation and I will personally kill you,' Sirius smiled sarcastically and returned to his meal.
' No hard feelings dude,' Sirius gave a real smile and got up for Arithmancy. Never had James felt so happy in his time at Hogwarts.
' Wow our fifth year,' Peter said with a glance over at the nervous looking first years.
' That means we have our O.W.L's,' Remus said with a grimace.
' Yeah but, Sirius lowered his voice, we've almost mastered being animagi,' the small group smiled.
' And Sirius is keeper again this year,'
' Only cause we have a good seeker,' Sirius and James beamed at each other. When James opened his eyes he saw a waft of shining red hair float by. Jame's stared after Lily as she boarded the train, the carriage just in front of theirs. Forgetting there was no door there James tried to board the train and meet up with Lily only to hit the side of the train.
' James is still tempted by the red haired Veela,' James rubbed his head and came back to reality. The station master blew his whistle and people started boarding.
' Come on lover boy,' Remus said grabbing James away from heading for Lily's carriage. Once in the same compartment the four friends were chatting happily trying to find out how the other's holidays were. Even though there were only four of them the sound was great. Before long the lady with the food came around and all four boys stuck into eating away. Just as they were getting comfortable and full their compartment door flung open. There stood a girl with long dark brown hair and blue eyes she was almost taller than all of them and she was incredibly pretty.
' Sirius would you like to sign a petition for me?' she asked him with fluttery eyelids. He didn't even look up.
' What's it about?' he asked staring at the card from the chocolate frog.
' T-t-they want dementors to guard the castle and we're signing against it,' the girl was starting to loose her composure around Sirius and she seemed very flushed.
' Just this once Petunia,' he smiled at her and she grinned back trying to make eye contact. He scrawled a signature across the parchment at the bottom and handed the board back.
' Thanks,' she smiled and stumbled over her tall frame out of the compartment. Remus sat forward and gave him and almighty slap up side the head. Sirius raised a hand to threaten.
' She's head over heels! And you are to you just can't admit that sort of thing,' Jame's exclaimed getting worked up.
' Not Petunia, she's too...popular. Besides i don't feel that way,' Sirius said calmly.
' You're popular too,' Peter said sheepishly.
' At least i don't go spilling my emotions like some people,' Sirius laughed and imitated James smacking into the train.
' Peter too he's got a bit of a love interest don't ya boy,' Remus said elbowing him in the ribs. Peter blushed furiously.
' Seems like we all have someone,' Sirius said observantly. The compartment door opened once again and Lily entered, her cloak swishing behind her.
' You might want to get into your robes soon, she smiled sweetly at James, uh Remus can I speak to you...outside,' he shrugged and rose to his feet and out the door. James' face fell as he noticed Lily's cheeks had gone a bit pink when she asked for Remus. It wasn't long before Remus returned with Lily. She sat down next to James and smiled.
' My group have been very silly lately and i was wondering if i could hang out with you guys?' she asked this whilst looking at her feet. The four boys looked at each other with a funny stare it was half surprise and half acceptance.
' Sure,' they chimed making her look up and grin. It was an awkward silence as the boys tried to decide through eye gestures whether ot not to tell her about all their plans. It was decided on a communal head shake. The rest of the trains conversation got better as they got used to having a girl around. Although the awkwardness of wanting to tell her everything they had planned was exceptionally tempting since she was already one of their good friends. Even though James was pretty good friends with her he still looked at her from a distance like she was a goddess he could never touch. Well James especially enjoyed her company because he couldn't seem to keep his eyes off her as the sorting hat started it's song.
The entire hall erupted in applause when it finished and the first years stepped forward for sorting.
'Black, Sintar,' cried the sorting hat. James had almost completely forgotten Sirius's brother was starting.
' Slytherin!' the hat cried sending a hush over the fifth years. They all twisted to look at each other as Sintar looked longingly over at the Gryffindor table.
' That's not right,' Remus whisper could almost be heard over the silence. Lily, James, Peter, Remus and Sirius sat in bewilderment as Sintar looked over at them with sad eyes. Before long Dumbledore's words were to fill the hall and make them forget all their worries.
' I must let you all know that we are not to have Dementors guarding the school, Dumbledore's face went stern, instead we will have Aurors from the Ministry of Magic guarding the most vital entrance's only,' at this he glanced at Jame's group who looked innocently back. 'I must ask you treat them with the up most respect if you see them around the school by calling them sir and so forth,' Severus and his friends sniggered. 'The Auror in charge will be Alastor Moody so I ask that you speak to him if you have any questions,' Alastor stood up, he was much younger looking Moody will the chunk in his nose and several scars gone and his hair a very light brown, still there were a few scars that remained which made him bearable. But his eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth as straight as a wand.
'Moody if he feels the need might take some of your D.A.D.A lessons. But for now...dig in!' And at that food appeared on the table and the sound of knives and forks against the glittering plates filled the hall.
' I'm goin to 'ave a 'alk oo Dummledore,' Sirius said with a mouth full of roast.
' We should all go,' Remus said with a hopeless look at Delila. Severus placed an arm around Sintar and gave a wry grin to Sirius. At this Sirius took his spoon and facing forwards flung a piece of food over his shoulder, unaimed at the Slytherin table. He turned to see where it had landed instead he came face to face with Proffesor McGonagall.
' Uh eep,' he shrunk suddenly in his chair.
' Next time Sirius be more accurate in your aiming but I must ask that you not do that at dinner or your place on the Quidditch team may be lost,' an amused smile appeared at the corner of her mouth as she returned to her table. The five of them burst out laughing.
After dinner everyone returned to their dorms full with the last desert. The common room was filled with friends meeting again and first years being scared from sixth years stories. People compared prank sweets and prodded the fire. The room was filled with laughter and light. The five sat in the corner next to the fire and spoke once again of their holidays. Soon everyone started to leave the common room for bed. Finally it was only the five of them left in the common room as Petunia came down and told them (while she looked at Sirius) that they had to go to bed...and she was prefect. The guys said goodbye to Lily but James stayed back and grabbed for her wrist.
' Uh what did you want to talk to Remus about?' James asked trying to stare into her emerald green eyes, but they were shifty and she was blushing.
' I wanted to know if you would...,' A voice interrupted.
' Bed or I'll have your hides,' Petunia's voice floated down.
' I-I'll talk to you in the morning,' Lily said looking to the stairs breaking from his grip, she jogged up the spiral, her head bowed. James looked at his hand, it was flushed red from squeezing Lily's wrist, he didn't realise he had her so tight. But there was a different glow to it, like it wasn't only blood rising to the surface.
The first day of school was introduced with their new timetables which were given out by the prefects. Petunia's hand shook as she handed Sirius's his.
' Charms first,' James smiled knowing it was Lily's favourite subject. She smiled too, everything was a favourite for James, he was one of the top students in the grade.
' Sirius,' Lily poked him in the ribs. She had to poke him again before he looked up from his bacon and eggs.
' Could I sit next to James in Charms? Actually, all the subjects we have together?' Sirius raised a black eyebrow. His stuffed mouth turned into a smile.
' You really like him don't you?'
' No it's just that he's about as good as I am in Charms and...,'
' Don't worry about it, no sweat. Hold on a second,' Dumbledore had walked past.
' Sir?' Sirius asked nervously standing up. Albus looked at him through his half moon glasses.
' I-I was wondering if i could talk to you about my brother's sorting,'
' Ah yes, I was wondering about that myself. But what's done is done, come and see me anyway during lunch,' Sirius nodded and sat down. Peter and Remus gave him a sympatheitc pat on the back as Sirius peered over at his brother. That night after a ruthless first bout of Transfiguration homework four boys gathered by the fire to discuss that years adventures.
Since lunch time Sirius had been a lot happier but he told everyone that he would tell them tonight when there were less people around.
' What are you so happy about?' Peter asked playing with his pet rat Chutney.
' Dumbledore said he would give my brother the Gryffindor password so he could see me if he needed to. He said he would love to change but once the Sorting Hat has decided not even he can change it,'
' Oh I did quite some work on the Marauder's Map,' Peter said running up to his dorm and fetching a piece of parchment, waving it around as he did.
' Careful Peter we don't want,'
' Oh no look it's blank,' he said smoothing the paper out on the floor in front of the group.
' But then,'
' Hold on, Peter took out his wand, I solemly swear I am up to no good,' he said tapping the paper as he did their four nicknames and 'Marauders Map' appeared on the page in spindly writing in green ink. Suddenly a blotch appeared next to the last name.
' Haven't quite fixed that, uh thats how far i got, it took me forever,' Peter said rolling up the parchment.
' How do you make it blank again?'
' you tap it and say mischief managed. I think we should all help to the map say do a corner each or...,'
' Shhhh,' James said jerking his head in the direction of Lily. She appeared to be crying amidst the group she used to sit with.
' What are they...,' Remus said with a look of concern. But James got up before him and walked over. As he approached them the group stopped talking to Lily and gave a horridly suspicious smile to him.
' Hi James,' said a girl with blonde hair who touched Jame's arm, he brushed it away quickly. Jame's caught Lily's arm and tried to take her away.
' We haven't finished talking to her yet,' said a boy with deep black eyes. It was one of the Patterson's, the only nasty one of the lot.
' You have now Lewis,' said James placing an arm around her and taking her away.
' She's a mudblood you know,' Lewis said with an arrogant air; Lily's eyes welled again.
' What does it matter, she probably has more magic in her than there is in the last ten generations of your family,' Peter yelled who was now next to James along with Remus and Sirius. The noise in the room gave a definate drop James's blood began to boil he drew his wand, incredibly quick and threw himself at Lewis, pinning him to the floor, his wand at his throat.
' Don't ever say that to her again,' there was a incredibly tense moment where the whole room was looking at them, but not one prefect came over. Lewis gave thought to his situation before shoving James off, offering no fight.
' Your popularity won't last long Potter,' he said across the room, to scared to face the top student in Defence against the Dark Arts.
He took her over to the fire and she burst out in tears in front of him. She buried her face in his embrace and drenched his shirt with her large tears. Remus, Peter and Sirius came over after a nice long arguement with the group (where some very nasty things were said) and wrapped their arms around Lily as well, making her feel like one of them.
In the middle of that night, the four boys snuck down to the kitchen and grabbed some food before sneaking into a passage out to Hogsmede to practice their Animagi tranformation, with the help of a book from the restricted section.
' you've got to concetrate harder James,' Remus said as James recited the chant in Latin all over again. The chant was only for the first time, after you had done the chant and transformed for the first time you could do it at will. James started the chant again as Peter and Sirius watched. Peter was having the worst of trouble so he had to watch the other two to get the idea. The closest any of them had gotten was some animal hair all over their bodies and they had to go to Madam Pomfrey for it and make up a wacked out story to wiggle their way out of it. The story was mostly composed of a potions homework gone wrong.
' Your getting it James,' Remus said as he followed the chant, James was getting all the pronunciations right and all the little pauses. Sirius opened his eyes James eyes had started to turn very round and brown, antlers started sprouting from his head. His body started to curve forwards and land on the hooves that had sprouted instead of his hands and feet. James was still chanting though while looking at his new self with astonishment. His new eyes started to move to the side of his head whilst small ears sprouted next to the antlers, his robes went gray as they started to go white. Suddenly he had stopped chanting but his body was only half way through.
' James keep going,' Remus said standing off the rock he was sitting on.
' I can't keep going I...,' James gave a small squeek and his voice stopped. James was stuck half human half stag, when he suddenly finished changing with a loud pop. The stag looked innocently at Peter, Sirius and then Remus, with a half worried and happy look.
' To change back all you have to do is think about it,' Remus said flicking through pages for more of an explanation, he shook his head. James closed his eyes and in the time you could have said 'Quidditch' he changed.
' Well that was uh wierd,' James said rubbing his head where the antlers had been.
' Seriously,' Peter said with a tone of jealousy and awe.
James was feeling particularly full of himself the next day, and his friends took no liberty of stopping him. Since it would be impossible to tame him anyway. It soon dawned on him that he been making an ass of himself because it wasn't like he could tell the school, or he would be expelled. Around lunch time he had come to this conclusion with himself and had come back to reality. And reality meant Lily.
' So uh how are your uh medicine potions coming along?' James asked looking suspiciously at his Potions book.
' Uh alright I'm having a little trouble with...,'
' Great I can help,' James butted in looking at his toast.
' Um I'll meet you in the common room,'
' Ok,' James said as he and Lily stared at each other. Sirius leaned over from James's left.
' Say anything about our plans without our consolidation and I will personally kill you,' Sirius smiled sarcastically and returned to his meal.
' No hard feelings dude,' Sirius gave a real smile and got up for Arithmancy. Never had James felt so happy in his time at Hogwarts.