Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, I don't think I'd be writing fanfiction about it.
A/N : Sorry it's been so long! It was kind of on hiatus, and then this scene begged to be written. Remus wouldn't shut up :D
First Circumstances
First Day Of The Rest Of Our Lives
Remus
I woke up to the sound of Sirius's loud, inane chatter.
"I swear those two are having an affair," he concluded.
"Who's having an affair?" I asked sleepily, while getting out of bed extremely quickly.
"Mickey Gee and Bumblebee."
"And Bumblebee is…" I got dressed in less than a minute, so that the others wouldn't see my disgusting, scarred body.
"Dumbledore," supplied James, as he carefully messed up his already messy hair.
"They so are!" Sirius exclaimed, even though no one had disagreed with him.
"And you know this because…" I ran a hand through my scraggly blond mess of hair.
"OK, I have good evidence to back up this point. One, I saw them look at each other," Sirius saw that we were all not yelling in excitement at his point and demanding that Mickey Gee and Bumblebee should declare their own undying love for each other.
"It was a flirty glance, it was a flirty glance!" he added hastily. "Secondly… Mickey Gee and Bumblebee… it just sounds good, dontcha think?"
I snickered at the earnest look on his face. I couldn't believe that he was wasting his time trying to convince us that the senior staffs were having an affair.
"Well, I hate to be the one to point this out, Sirius, but neither of them are married. So technically, they're not having an affair at all and dear God what have you done to your tie."
The knot was hanging at his waist for Pete's sake. He pouted and I said I wasn't going to leave the room with him if he left it like it was.
"Its cool!"
"It looks ridiculous!"
"Does not. And Pete's done it too!"
I was confused for a minute, thinking he meant the Pete I always blasphemed inside my head, then realised he meant the mousy shy boy, Peter.
"Yeah, 'cause you so didn't tell him to," I said sarcastically. They both grumbled as I told them to fix it.
"Higher. Higher."
"Are you trying to make us look like geeks?" demanded Sirius.
"Yep. Higher."
"O- Hey!" He finally cottoned on to what I'd said, and what I was making him do. I bolted for the door, and the rest of the room followed, laughing at Sirius who was struggling with the fierce knot he had made in his tie. He caught up with me and I winced, waiting for a thrashing. But he didn't hit me.
"You… You… You willy!"
I burst out laughing. "Who even uses that word anymore?"
"I do. And I shall make it cool again!"
Still laughing, we managed to find the Great Hall (surprising I know, but the mousy shy boy has a good head for remembering directions).
My stomach heaved. Breakfast. Urgh, I just couldn't handle the stuff, especially since it was nearing that week of the month. And no, it's not what you're thinking. So I just poured a cup of black coffee. Pure caffeine, straight into the veins. I noticed them all staring and it kinda freaked me out. I'm very paranoid that way, and I don't like people looking at me for too long.
"What?" I asked anxiously.
"Is that all you're gonna have?" James asked incredulously.
"Uhuh," I said, as though bored.
The seven roommates muttered, like I thought they would, but I ignored them, scanning the table instinctively for Jade. I didn't see him until he walked into the Hall with his entire group. Anyone watching would have seen this: Jade Lupin walking casually, pausing to talk to his younger brother, punching him friendlily on the shoulder, and walking away.
When in actual fact, he looked for me, walked purposefully over and without so much as a hello, leaned over to talk at me.
"Here's the deal, Fangboy," he hissed in my ear. "Don't talk to me, don't talk about me and don't talk near me. Clear?"
"Crystal," I muttered, hating his guts.
"Great, Dogbreath. Glad we're understanding me. You do understand, don't you? Keep your gaunt, grey fucking wolf face away from me, or there will be hell to pay. Hell. To. Pay."
He thumped my shoulder hard, and my only hope was that he hurt himself on the sharp bone of my shoulder. I'm too skinny really. Then he hurried away. I wished I had the guts to walk after him, spin him around and knock out all his teeth.
"Remus. Remus," James's voice was really far away. I pulled myself out of bloody fantasies of causing my brother GBH.
"What?" I said, a bit too loudly.
"Timetables," he replied, sliding mine along to me.
REMUS LUPIN, G ¹
MONDAY
Charms – Professor Flitwick
Transfiguration – Professor McGonagall
Potions – Professor Micket
Herbology – Professor Sprout
Defence Against the Dark Arts – Professor Harrison
History of Magic – Professor Binns
TUESDAY
Charms – Professor Flitwick
Defence Against the Dark Arts – Professor Harrison
Herbology – Professor Sprout
History of Magic – Professor Binns
Transfiguration – Professor McGonagall
Potions – Professor Micket
WEDNESDAY
Defence Against the Dark Arts – Professor Harrison
Transfiguration – Professor McGonagall
Health Education – Miss Florence
Potions – Professor Micket
Herbology – Professor Sprout
Charms – Professor Flitwick
THURSDAY
Transfiguration – Professor McGonagall
Astronomy Theory – Professor Veel
Defence Against the Dark Arts – Professor Harrison
Herbology – Professor Sprout
History of Magic – Professor Binns
FRIDAY
Library – Madam Pince
Flying Lessons – Madam Hooch
Astronomy Theory – Professor Veel
Social Education – Professor McGonagall
Management – Mr Nutell
Charms – Professor Flitwick
"Bloody hell," I said softly.
"I know, brother," said John, in the same state.
"Are you having a laugh?" I heard Jenna's voice and my mouth instinctively curved into a smile. It was completely unbelievable seeing her again.
(FYI – I've known Jenna all my life, we've been best friends since before we could talk. Some unfortunate circumstances meant that we stopped speaking when we were nine (our families had this huge fight) so I haven't seen her for almost three years. Can you imagine not seeing your best friend for three years, and then realising you were going to spend the next seven years of your life with her? Unbelievable.)
"I know, it's a bloody joke," I said to no one in particular, hoping she would hear. And she did- I saw her mouth curl into a smile.
"Outrageous."
"Unacceptable."
"Inappropriate."
"Bloody ridiculous."
"What the hell are you on about?" Sirius cut in, completely confused.
"Oh, no-thing!" I almost squealed as Jenna's fingers nudged into my kidneys, it felt like.
"There was no need!" I said to her, spinning around on the bench (which is nearly impossible to do gracefully- I almost kicked Sirius in the face).
"You love it," she grinned.
"No, I don't actually."
"Mmmhm," she said in a tone that indicated she did not believe me.
The bell rang, and there was the scrrrreeeech of benches, and the chatter heightened as about a million people rushed to the door at once. That's what it felt like, anyway.
XxX
Our first lesson was Charms, and after a lot of marching around and falling through trick stairs and trying to open false doors, we reached the classroom. Only to find it empty. It was a bit of a letdown, really. We all waited in a disorganised line for a while, before someone who I think was called Michael Tresson got bold and just opened the door.
Everyone scrambled for good seats and all the Gryffindors kept to one side of the room while the other people (Ravenclaws, judging by the blue and bronze ties) kept to the other side. I had managed to get a seat beside Jenna and next to us were Sirius and the shy Peter. Behind us were Shane and the slightly annoying Scottish guy, John. They were laughing at something scribbled on their desk.
The seats in front of me and Jenna were empty but James and Lily's bags had been left on the desk. They were down beside the blackboard, arguing over what looked like the register. Snatches of their heated discussion sometimes reached my ears. Meanwhile, Andie had abandoned her seat and her friend (the pretty, sweet looking blonde) and was sitting on the desk of the two guys who I remembered from the Sorting - Daniel Day and Finlay Digg.
"-bet it's something really stupid-"
"Like yours won't be!"
"Actually it isn't... and you'll never guess-"
Andie was now gesturing us over. I snapped my attention away from Lily and James. I was just about to leave my seat when the teacher walked in the door.
"Sorry, Professor, we weren't sure when you were going to come in so Lily and I thought it might be a good idea to start taking the register," James began lying smoothly while Lily gaped at him in astonishment.
"Yes, yes, what a clever idea!" the tiny Charms teacher squeaked. Lily blushed while James grinned and dragged her back to their seat. "Take a point to Gryffindor!"
Some of the Ravenclaws muttered darkly but soon shut up when Professor Flitwick started speaking.
"Now, Charms is one of the subjects where you'll have to concentrate on wand movement and the words you're saying very carefully..."
My attention started to drift. Andie chucked a ball of scrunched parchment at me. I opened it up as Flitwick turned around to write notes on the blackboard.
Tonight at 7. Bring music sheets and guitar. Meet DD and FD in Entrance Hall. Love Andie xxx
Jeez, that was fast. I nodded to her to show that I understood while Jenna read over the note.
"Jeez, that was fast," she commented. I grinned but my smile faded when Flitwick turned around. The extensive and complicated notes on the board were for us to copy down. He flicked his wand and folders flew out from his desk onto ours on their own. We all gaped and Flitwick smiled.
"Yes, a Banishing Charm is a rather effective little trick. Unfortunately it's not something you'll be learning until about fourth year."
The class sighed collectively and assumed gloomy expressions.
"However, if this class is willing to learn and follow instructions, we might be able to learn Wingardium Leviosa in about two weeks time!"
Most of us were blank. The few who knew what that was gasped in excitement and Lily even went: "Oh!" in surprise.
"I presume you know what the Charm is? Can you tell us what it does, er, Miss-"
"Evans," she replied in a shaky voice. "Wingardium Leviosa is the incantation used for making inanimate objects fly."
"Excellent! Take another point to Gryffindor. Well, well, if all of you are as clever as Miss Evans here, we'll be the most advanced Charms class in the year!"
Lily blushed again. The Ravenclaws muttered again, some were jealous, but I could tell most of them were impressed. However, any comments that might have been audible were quickly silenced by the shrill clanging of the bell and Flitwick's squeaky shout telling us to hurry and pack up, or we'd be late for our next class.
XxX
The Transfiguration teacher seemed ready to explode. Her face was bright red, a few strands of hair had escaped from that formidable bun and her voice had just reached a new, high definition level of screeching.
"Never, never in all my years of teaching have I had my first lesson so disrupted! May I ask why you found it so amusing to draw those sordid, inappropriate and quite frankly childish diagrams on my blackboard? And where on earth did you get the ideas for them? Do you find this funny, Mr Black?"
"A lil' bit," he replied, showing her how much by pressing his thumb and forefinger almost together.
The quill in her hand crumpled under her clenched fist.
"Well, you can laugh your way through detention. And the same goes for you three."
"Has anyone ever got detention before lunch on their first day of Hogwarts before?" James was keen to know. McGonagall looked at him sharply, and then decided he was being serious.
"No," she said curtly. "You four, maraudering miscreants are the first."
"Wicked," me and Sirus murmured, exchanging quick high fives.
"Make it double detentions for Misters Lupin and Black."
"Oh no," I sighed as Mister Black cracked up laughing at my side.
XxX
We were interrogated by the girls at lunch, after a fairly boring Potions lesson - Jade had totally lied to me, we didn't get to set anything on fire or blow something up. Professor Micket turned out to be a total weed anyway, probably not even capable of dreaming about setting things on fire.
"Double?" screeched Jenna. "Are you having a laugh?"
"Sorry, Jenna I-," I tried to apologise but she cut across me.
"You realise that's two wasted nights?"
"Well, you can still do it without me," I tried to soothe.
"Pfft! There's not much point, if its only a drummer and a bass player going!"
"Huh?"
"Me and Andie, er, kinda got detention too. From that bitchface Harrison. It's not like we even did anything wrong!"
"I'm proud of you, mate," Sirius ruffled Andie's hair, which was still ashy blond. For how much longer, I didn't know.
"Shove off, you poof," she said, wriggling away.
"Hey! That's insulting!"
"I know." Andie rolled her eyes as Sirius sulked.
"I can't believe you're pleased about it," Lily was saying exasperatedly to James.
"Come on, Lils! We broke a school record. No ones ever had detention on their first ever day at Hogwarts- and we got it before lunch! It's incredible. Us four are actual –what was it? 'Maraudering miscreants'. Us guys are Marauders."
James actually puffed up with pride, and I almost laughed pumpkin juice out my nose.
"Us too," chipped in Andie, determined not to be left out.
"No way!" cried Sirius.
"And why not?" Andie demanded immediately.
"Cos you're girls," Sirius replied offhandedly, then he swigged down the rest of his juice and dragged James away to the rowdy Hufflepuff boys.
"Glad you noticed!" said Andie acidly, even though he had gone. She sat in her seat, fuming. The rest of us just go on with our lunch, chatting etc, avoiding her eyes- if we glanced her way, we got Devil Incarnate glares.
James and Sirius beckoned me over, and just as I was leaving, I saw Andie smirk and start whispering to Lily.
It was not a good sign.
XxX
Detention
"Is there even a point to this?" I muttered out the side of my mouth. Both arms were aching, I was probably never going to get the stink of polish off my hands and I was bored out of my mind.
"Hey! You! Blondie! No slacking. I want these trophies glissstening," hissed Filch, and his stupid cat with a stupid name hissed as well. I shuddered. I hate cats.
James was sniggering at the fact I'd just been called 'Blondie' by Filch.
"Man, I hate cats," whispered Sirius, as Mrs Norris crawled around his legs. He looked like he was fighting the impulse to kick her away. "I really, really HATE CATS!"
Except, well, it was Sirius and he kind of lacks the ability to whisper. I've only known the guy a day and I already know this.
So, next second, we're all wincing as Filch is having some sort of seizure- shouting and threatening to suspend us from the ceiling by our no good, filthy, maraudering ankles. (I could see James trying not to giggle at that, he was still so proud at the idea of us being actual Marauders). (Plus there was the fact that Filch had the nerve to call us filthy, when quite clearly he needed a wash. I could smell his BO from ten feet away. Disgusting.)
I tried to tell them this in sign language, and I think I failed.
Then again, I thought Sirius signed back. "Yeah, almost as much as that greasy Snivellus."
"Did you see the dandruff on the slimeball!" James chipped in.
"Now, now. No need to be bitchy," I tried to tell them to quit it.
"There's every need!" argued Sirius.
"And I like to keep in touch with my feminine side!" James said. He received a lot of blank and rather weirded out stares.
Peter: …
Me: O-kay…
Sirius: Oo
James signed "Its a girl thing" by tossing imaginary, long hair and pouting.
"Girls are weird. Like, what was up with Andie today?" Sirius complained, his two forefingers like a triangular A for Andie.
"I think you hurt her feelings," I signed, tapping my heart with index and forefinger stuck together.
"HOW?" Sirius demanded, arms outstretched and the question in his eyes.
"You put her gender before her personality."
"Whaaat?"
I didn't know if it was the long words or the sign language that had him confused.
"My arm hurts," signed Peter randomly. Although my muscles were starting to seize up.
"Shut up," Sirius signed as snappily as he could.
"Alright."
"Pass me more polish..."
This all happened silently, can you believe! Until Filch noticed the exaggerated hand signals and put a stop to that as well. I was really starting to dislike him and his stupid cat. They both had bulging, lamp like eyes.
Did I mention I was bored out of my mind? But, Sirius being Sirius, found a way to amuse us - and we played the first ever game of 'Pass The Sniff'. Now the caretaker hates us for life. But it's okay, the feeling is pretty mutual. He's sworn to hang us from the ceiling in manacles and crack three different types of whips across our backs if we so much as squeak.
