Charming toads so that they sung was a new one for Flitwick. They'd charmed things to levitate and dance as well as changing colour and other things that he thought the class would find useful in their future. But singing toads? James had never even thought about toads singing.
Okay, that was a lie.
It had been one time in fourth year. But he hadn't told anyone about that particular dream.
James shuddered at the reminder of his dream and glared at the silent toad on his desk. He couldn't bring himself to make it sing; what would he make it sing anyway? A love song to Lily? Yeah, that would go down well.
He looked up at the girl in question, only a seat in front of him, and frowned as both Alice and herself cooed at the small, slimy animals that were currently singing a duet.
"What's so fascinating about toads?" Sirius wondered from beside him, his wand twirling between his fingers as the toad in front of him started to sing The Beatles. It had been a song choice inspired by Remus' own toad who was also singing a song by The Beatles, however his was considered better since it was also dancing. Peter, bless his toad, had charmed his to sing about food – breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snacks. "I mean, they're slimy and gross." Sirius carried on and Alice, after hearing this, turned around with a glare.
"Toads are wonderful animals Black, and one day, my son will have one as a pet." Sirius snorted with disbelief but didn't argue with her any further. Lily was still smiling at their toads and James was left to wonder – what was fascinating about toads? Sirius was right; they were slimy and gross but as he saw the sparks of excitement and happiness in Lily's eyes, he guessed that there was more to them than met the eye.
Glancing at the toad in front of him, he swished his wand with the correct movements and smiled softly as the toad started singing a soft love ballad. It wasn't overly loud but it was gentle and sweet, somehow managing to gain the attention of more than a few students in the class as the romantic words erupted from his tiny little throat.
He glanced around and took note of how all the girls in the class were glassy eyed and smiling at the sweetness coming from his animal. For a moment he felt guilt at managing to snag the attention of every single girl, some from their animal whilst the others were from their own boyfriends, but it was only passing when he noticed how Lily was sat there giving him an appraising look.
She smirked at him, rolling her eyes, before changing the tune on her own toad and lifting it with her hands to sit next to his. Lily had made her own toad duet with his and the outcome was glorious.
Singing toads weren't that bad after all; especially when they weren't singing about ways to kill you.
Word count: 512
Written for Charms Class in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments) Write about a Marauder in a Charms lesson.
Extras:
(word) sparks
(speech) "What's so fascinating about toads?"
(emotion) guilt