Summary: Remus introspectively explores his budding feelings for Sirius, and intends to keep this secret safe from his prying friends. Meanwhile, Peter's excitement for food gets the boys into trouble with McGonagall. SBRL.
A/N: This is the first fic I've done in around 3-4 years' time (long hiatus, I know D:), so I hope I haven't lost touch with fic writing just yet. This will evolve into an actual SBRL fic, I swear! Not too much action in this chapter, but hopefully everything will burgeon into something in the next few chapters ;) I hope you guys enjoy reading this, and please let me know your thoughts! I haven't exactly planned how this plot is going to develop, so I'm open to any ideas and suggestions.
Alright enough of my nonsense, on to the fic!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, its characters and plot, all belongs to J.K. Rowling. I don't own anything. I'm only paying a small tribute to the SBRL fandom.
Of Apple Trees and Honey Bees
Chapter 1
Our tale begins in first week of the Marauders' fifth year, and our heroes were just getting seated in Transfiguration class.
They were early, for once, as Peter was particularly excited in today's activity: transfiguring apple seeds into actual steaming apple pies. Trust the shorter boy to be motivated by anything remotely-food related.
It was their last class before the end of the week. The room gradually filled up with other fatigued Gryffindor fifth year students slowly shuffling in. Their red and gold scarves matched with the falling autumn leaves outside, basking in the glow of the golden afternoon sun.
Remus was one of the many strolling inside the Transfiguration classroom from his Muggle Studies class, taking calm strides towards the empty seat between James and Sirius. He smiled his trademark serene smile when Sirius slung his arm over the smaller boy's shoulder, whilst laughing at something James had said.
James, Sirius, and Peter had opted to take Divination instead of Muggle Studies. After all, only the closet-lycanthrope had remotely any knowledge amongst the foursome regarding anything muggle-related at all, not to mention the only one who had any chance in passing the class.
"Woah Moony, what's that?"
As for the object of the Marauders' immediate attention, the tawny haired lad was carrying a dark blue book with gold engraving on its leather encasing. Its radiating glimmer against the afternoon sunlight obviously caught the attention of the other boys.
"One of the few books I need to read for Muggle studies this term," the golden-eyed boy replied. "Apparently, the new professor is a bit of a muggle literature geek." Remus sighed as the aforementioned book 'magically' disappeared from his grasp as he spoke, and into the hands of his ever-nosey friends.
James Potter reached over to fiddle with the book in with his usual curiosity, flipping over the pages nonchalantly, obviously feigning actual understanding of the text.
"Geez, Moony, how could you stand reading so much, all the time?"
Meanwhile, Sirius and Peter loudly argued how watching tea leaves was a much easier (and less mind-consuming) way to earn academic credit. Well, to be more accurate, it was more of Sirius doing the any form of persuading, while Peter simply hung on and agreed relentlessly to anything the elite Black boy had to say. It was definitely no secret to anyone in Hogwarts that Peter was a great fanboy of his charming and charismatic roommates.
Remus knew well why he did not choose to take Divination together with his friends. The subject required the students to observe the waxing and waning of the moon, for the astrological qualities it held in predicting someone's fortune.
Divination also needed its students to engage in activities that would be extremely challenging for Remus, especially with his 'furry little affliction'. That, and he did not want to risk the chance for anyone's tea leaves to suddenly transmogrify into a shape of a howling wolf, whilst his presence in the class. Dangerous and scary stuff, that Divination. Remus' neck hairs stood on end just thinking of the possibilities. The subject wasn't simply bluffing about disaster while keeping a stoically serious voice, as Sirius had contended.
Well, Remus Lupin was definitely the most studious of the Marauder boys, and didn't mind studying a bit more to attain his grades. He was more capable than his buddies to handle a much heavier academic workload. Most of the Hogwarts professors and staff often wondered of the shy boy's sanity, with the staggering frequency he spent with the notorious pranksters.
But Remus himself knew precisely why he had spent time James, Sirius, and Peter. True, they were noisy, and often got the skinny lycanthrope roped into trouble (despite his prefect status). But they accepted him, despite his past and his very secret affliction.
He smiled as Sirius started waving a flurry of tea bags animatedly in front of him. The Divination peeps were supposed to drink one cup of tea a day, and note their observations or whatnot. The long ebony-haired lad was already planning what shenanigans he and James would write for their homework.
Remus really enjoyed spending time with his friends, especially Sirius. He was outgoing, charismatic, and was always up to something funny. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and never hesitated to help out a friend in need. In fact, he had come to realise that he had been spending more time with Sirius as of late, and–
The classroom doors flung open with a sudden bang. Professor Minerva McGonagall's brisk entrance broke any ongoing conversation or trains of thought in the room. The head of Gryffindor was notorious for the strict discipline she expected and upheld in her students. She never hesitated to deduct house points, even the previous ones of her own house.
"Good afternoon class. Today we will be transfiguring apple seeds into apple pies," she began, covertly rolling her eyes at the sight of the Pettigrew boy's twinkling eyes. "This is an advanced level of Transfiguration, as it involves more focus, as well as more processes than you have practiced before in your fourth year."
A collective groan resounded in the large classroom, with the exception of Peter (who was busy drooling in fantasy land), Remus (who was recalling his wand-flicking actions), and Lily Evans (who was the confident prefect, as always).
"You are to follow the spells listed specifically in these handouts", McGonagall continued as she levitated sheets of parchment to each table.
"Wands out. Once ready, you may begin."
"Bloody Merlin's beard!"
Three hours later, we find our heroes entering the Gryffindor portrait hole, their normally messy hair all the more strewn with the addition of twigs and leaves.
"Mind your language, Sirius," Remus commented, sighing as he cast a quick cleaning spell on their hair and clothes. But even though the debris was cleared, it did not lighten up the other boys' mood.
The Fat Lady in the portrait wrinkled her acrylic nose in disgust, as the dirty foursome gained entry through the most recent password. 'Cinnamon Apples'.
"I can bloody say whatever I bloody want to, Moony," Sirius retorted. The two black haired boys then cast a dark glare at Peter. The latter sheepishly shrank further from the group, and murmured his apologies for the nth time that night.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, if you haven't guessed it by now, here's what really ensued.
The overexcited Peter Pettigrew had indeed transfigured the apple seeds. But in his hyperactive state of mind, he had not transfigured them into apple pies, but instead, into an enormous apple tree. Dun dun dun.
The monstrous structure had not only taken root in the mahogany-floored classroom (practically destroying said floor in the process), but also threatened to break through the classroom ceiling. The very act had caused a mini-earthquake to ensue, and the classroom violently shook into a state of disarray.
Some perfectly transfigured apple pies (like Remus' and Lily's), and semi-transfigured apples (like James' and Sirius'), as a result became flying debris all around the room.
Needless to say, it was a scene of pure havoc.
This being said, thankfully Transfigurations was not held in the deep depths of the castle dungeons, or the Gryffindors would have probably been buried alive in this catastrophe. (And we wouldn't have a story now, wouldn't we?)
Without a doubt, McGonagall had assumed this whole episode as another prank staged by the infamous Marauders. In hindsight, it would have been a great prank, if it could have included a proper escape plan. But anyway, the head mistress of the Gryffindor house had immediately deducted 40 points from the house, and sentenced the foursome into two months' worth of detention, laden with the task of rebuilding the now-unusable classroom back to its pristine state.
And here's the catch: They were to rebuild the room, totally without the aid of magic.
What worsened the already steaming blow, (well, mostly for James anyway), was that Lily became one of the unfortunate recipients of the assorted flying debris. Whilst being rushed into the hospital wing with the assistance of her close friend Suzie Fludger, the flaming red-head uncharacteristically spewed profanities at Potter for giving her major burns.
"Dammit Wormtail, can't you do anything right for once?"
To Be Continued...
A/N: Comments and reviews would be highly appreciated! Let me know what you guys think! :)