Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All the characters (save Kathy Steele) belong to J.K.Rowling along with settings, objects and anything else you recognize from the Harry Potter series. All the dates are correct according to hp.lexicon and wikipedia.

Hello everyone!

This little two parter is dedicated to MisheavousMarauder.

I intended it to be a ONESHOT, but couldn't resist splitting it after I had written the last couple of sentences for the first half, now the first chapter.

This two parter is a carry on from my story 'Until the Clock Strikes Twelve'. You don't have to read it to read this, but it would be advised. Especially if you want to know about whom Kathy Steele is.

It is the day before the Marauders, Lily and Kathy go back to lessons after a very intersting Christmas break at Hogwarts. However the fun is not over yet...

Remus never thought that he would dread a day more than the dread he felt of knowing that he was to spend a night in the Shrieking Shack, nor did he think he would ever be so embarrassed either.

Four days had passed since New Years and tomorrow he and the rest of his class mates would be back at school and have to endure 3 hours of double Potions. Normally Remus wouldn't complain unlike his fellow Marauders (James and Sirius that is, Peter hadn't required high enough grades to continue Potions on into NEWTs). Potions was quite a relaxing subject even though it required a little more than incantations and wand waving; it was an art, a precision that if prepared incorrectly could have extremely disastrous results, or in some cases rather comical endings.

Remus knew his friends had mixed views on Potions. James and Sirius, both wanting to be Aurors once they had graduated need this subject and therefore took it even if they thought it a bore and a Slytherin's subject. But Remus knew why they really 'disliked' it. Severus Snape. After all, Severus was probably one of the most gifted Potion brewers Hogwarts had seen in many years, though his skill could be closely matched by Lily's, something that made James like Potions a little more than Sirius. James couldn't hate a subject his beloved liked so much could he?

Remus rolled his eyes as he fell back onto his soft feather pillows, he lay still for a moment before turning his head to his left only to see a sight he'd rather not. On his bed side table were a dozen red roses and a heart shaped box of chocolates; cringing he sat up again and put his head inbetween his knees as though he were about to be sick and then wrapped his arms around his legs.

"Do I have to do this Prongs?" he found himself calling out to the closed bathroom door. "I mean, it was fourth year right? So it can't still count can it?" he asked hopefully as the bathroom door opened and James stuck his head out.

"'Fraid so mate." James replied with a sigh. "Besides, Marauder's Honour; once you commit yourself to a bet or dare the consequences that follow must be completed. We've had that rule since 3rd year, and you made it up."

"I know!" Remus groaned at his own stupidity. "But why me? What have I ever done to deserve this? I go though more than enough once a month without this added humility!"

Stepping out from the bathroom in just his jeans James went and sat on the end of his friend's bed.

"Listen Remus," James began, sympathy etched into his handsome features, "we know it's not really fair, but you made a bet with Steele. Besides, giving Sluggy flowers and chocolates and say you love his tash isn't as bad as admitting your undying love for Snivellus is it?"

Remus laughed softly at the memory of Sirius and the look of terror on Severus's face from a few days ago. "True, very true."

"Now stop sulking Moony, be a Marauder and go downstairs and face the world like a true Gryffindor! Oh, and tell Lily I'll be there in a minute."

Remus nodded and left, and though James' words had lightened his load a little, he still couldn't help feeling put down by the task ahead even if it wasn't as bad as he was making out.

The rest of the day followed with out much disturbance, unless you counted Kathy telling nearly everyone how well they would look with facial hair before looking at Remus and wriggling her eyebrows. This only stopped when Lily put a silencing spell on her friend, a good move until Kathy made a form of force field between James and her. Everyone found this highly amusing, except James and Lily of course because whenever they tried to hug, hold hands or kiss for the rest of the day the force field pushed them apart several feet, and the more they tried the further and stronger away they were pushed from the other; a very amusing form of entertainment, until James nearly landed in the Gryffindor fire.

Remus went to bed that night dreading the next day more than ever as he thought of what he had to undertake in front of all five Gryffindor's, four Slytherin's and two Ravenclaw's the next day in double Potions. But James was right wasn't he? At least he wasn't admitting his undying love for Sluggy. Just saying he loved his moustache. Nothing could go wrong. Could it?

I hope you liked the first half MisheavousMarauder!

Thanks for reading everyone, and now if you would be so kind please review! Or I might not put up the second half, and I don't think MisheavousMarauder would like you all for that! XD

GryffindorAtHeart