"Marchbanks, Mary Elizabeth!"
"Is it just me, or are there a lot of double names this year?" asked Sirius as he tapped his fingers on the Gryffindor table.
"Some names sound nice that way," shrugged Remus as "Marshall, Martin Lee" was sorted into Hufflepuff.
"My parents considered it," agreed Dorcas Meadowes. "Although I still contend that Dorcas Ann would be too much to say every time someone wanted my attention. What's your middle name, Remus?"
"John."
"John?!" sputtered Sirius. "But that's so i normal. /i At least Orion is interesting."
"Interesting isn't always better," replied Peter. "You try walking around with a middle name like Pisces."
"Pisces?" Sirius laughed. "Blimey, Pete, you have it almost as bad as James."
"Don't," James glared as "Sullivan, Katie Lynn" joined the Ravenclaw table. "Sirius Black, don't you dare. It would be breaking the sacred Marauder bond."
"Oh, now we have to know," grinned Dorcas.
"I don't know, Meadowes. I would be breaking the sacred Marauder bond and all."
"I'll give you the rest of my chocolate frogs if you tell me."
"Deal," agreed Sirius without argument. Chocolate frogs had been his favorite since Christmas first year when his mother called them "ghastly mudblood treats."
"Er... I don't actually have any more chocolate frogs. Lily?"
"If it makes Potter this obviously uncomfortable, it must be good. I'm willing to part with the frogs." Lily smiled and held out the candy in question just as Professor McGonagall carried the sorting hat away and Professor Dumbledore rose to speak.
"Welcome, students to another wonderful year at Hogwarts! I would like to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is indeed forbidden for a reason. Mr. Filch would also like to remind you that Zonko's products are banned from the castle and should not be brought in. Also, I would like for you to all join me in welcoming our newest Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Panworth. I encourage you all to seek his advice in these dangerous days, as well as the advice of the rest of your esteemed educators. And now for the two most important words I'll say to many of you- dig in!"
"Alright, Black," said Lily as she piled her plate with rolls. "What is this mysterious nickname?"
"Fleamont," Sirius smiled as he dug into his own meal.
"No, really," laughed Dorcas. "That's not even a name."
"Yes it is. It's James's middle name."
"Knew I should've waited to hand those frogs over," glared Lily. "You're just having a go with us."
"No, honest," Sirius laughed as James'a face quickly turned to match the tomatoes on his plate. "That's his name."
"It's my Dad's name," James grumbled as he speared a piece of chicken with his fork, looking all the angrier when Lily burst out laughing. "What's your middle name then, Evans?"
"So sorry," she smirked. "I'm afraid that's not information I'll give so easily."
"Ooh this is good then," smiled Sirius. "Meadowes? Fancy trading these frogs for Evans's middle name?"
"Not a chance," replied Dorcas. "Our friendship is too strong to be sold out for some chocolate."
"I bet it's something boring," shrugged Peter. "Elizabeth or something."
"Is it Elizabeth?" James asked as Lily shook her head. "Anne? Margaret? Katherine?"
"You'll never know," Lily responded mysteriously as she rose from her seat. "Remus? Are you ready to lead the first years?"
"I will find out, Evans!" James called as the pair walked away. "Just you wait!"
Though Lily did not give their conversation another thought, James continued to brainstorm as she drifted to sleep that night. Walking to breakfast, his mind continued to focus on his redheaded classmate for some reason.
"Annaleise?"
"Who's Annaleise?" Kiara Shacklebolt asked, taking a piece of bacon as she and Lily sat down at the Gryffindor breakfast table.
"I'm trying to guess Evans's middle name," replied James. "Was I right?"
"No," laughed Lily.
"Fine, then. Let's try another flower - Daisy? Rose? Ivy? Petunia?"
"Ivy is my mother and Petunia is my sister so no."
"Okay, neither of those. Lilac? Tulip? Gardenia?"
"It's not a flower," said Mary McDonald as she slid into the seat next to Remus.
"Mary! No hints," Lily scolded.
"I've got it!"
"Yes, James?"
"Minerva! It's got to be."
"And what exactly has 'got' to be me, Mr. Potter?" inquired Professor McGonagall, gazing at the Gryffindor students curiously. "Please tell me you're not already planning pranks."
"Of course not, Professor," smiled James sweetly.
"Yeah, we're not totally terrible trouble-makers" Sirius chimed in.
"Daft dysfunctional dolts," added Peter.
"Mindless mischievous micreants."
"Negligent ninny naer-do-wells."
"Babbling, bumbling baboons."
"Nice one, Padfoot."
"Why thank you, Wormtail."
"If you're quite done," Professor McGonagall interrupted. "I have your NEWT schedules here. Let's see...
I am pleased to note that all of my sixth-year Gryffindors were able to continue into my NEWT-level Transfiguration. I do expect you to make me proud."
"Yes, professor."
"Speaking of which, it is nearly 9. Wouldn't do for you to lose house points due to tardiness on the first day of term."
"Not a problem for me," smiled Mary. "You lot enjoy Potions. I believe I'll go give myself a manicure in Gryffindor Tower."
"Mind if I walk with you?" asked Peter. "I wasn't mad enough to continue Potions either."
"That's because he didn't have the marks for it," whispered Remus as the rest of the Gryffindors began making their way to the dungeons.
"It does help to be one of Sluggy's chosen," remarked Sirius. "Like a certain redhead who may remain nameless."
"Oh, please," Lily waved him off, taking a seat beside Dorcas. "Slughorn loves me because I'm brilliant. I'm not brilliant because he loves me."
"Miss Evans!" cried the portly professor as the group entered. "So good to see you!"
"You as well, Professor," she replied as Sirius and Remus made kissy-faces at her behind his back. "How was your holiday?"
"Oh, it was just lovely. Why I had a visit from Damocles Belby, I believe he'd already left Hogwarts by the time you all arrived, but he was telling me about the most fascinating research he's been doing on a new potion. Now don't try and get me to tell you what it is because I won't! You'll have to wait and see in the Prophet like everyone else!"
"Of course, Professor."
"Now, now, we must be patient! Although I will say it may come quite in handy around the full moon once he's finished!"
"The full moon?" Remus repeated from his seat next to Kiara.
"Yes, yes, but really I cannot tell any more than that. Work to do, work to do."
Work to do, indeed. By the end of the month, the sixth-years certainly felt an end to summer holidays. It seemed that every professor was under the assumption that the NEWT-level students had copious amounts of time to spend on each subject. This was especially rough for Dorcas, Sirius, and Remus, who were taking six NEWT classes to their friends' five.
"Do you reckon they meant to give us a time-turner when we passed OWLs? Seems the only way we'll get everything done," Sirius complained one evening in the Gryffindor common room.
"Do you even know how dangerous time-turners are? They've only just been invented," Kiara rolled her eyes. "The day McGonagall gives out time-turners for classes is the day someone breaks out of Azkaban."
"Hey, Potter," interrupted seventh-year Gideon Prewett. "Got any idea when Quidditch practice will start up?"
"Thursday at seven," James replied quickly. "Just got the pitch booked. Spread the word, will you?"
"Don't know what we're going to do when the twins graduate," sighed Sirius, all pretense of working abandoned. "They're like a pair of human bludgers themselves. Not to mention how you and I are going to break in a new chaser without Zoe Freeland"
"Why don't we focus on winning this year before we worry about that?" said James. "At least the team's all got some experience. Plus, Leslee Jordan's only in third year and Marcus Allen is in fifth so the team can carry on even after you and I leave."
"It's only Quidditch," said Dorcas.
"Only Quidditch?" Lily repeated as she and Remus strode through the portrait hole. "Only?"
"Yes, yes, Quidditch is awesome, whatever," Dorcas turned her attention back to her Ancient Runes textbook.
"How was patrolling?" asked Sirius. "Lots of full broom cupboards?"
"Nothing interesting," answered Lily, glancing at Kiara. "I think I'm heading up to bed though."
"I'll join you; this work isn't getting any more down tonight."
"So will I."
"Kinky," smiled Sirius. "We just need McDonald to complete the picture. Where is she anyway?"
"Don't be weird," responded Dorcas as she continued to walk with her dormitory-mates towards the staircase. "She's off on yet another date. I think with Alex DuPont? Who knows really."
"McDonald on a date and you really didn't see anything interesting? Must not have been patrolling too hard, Moony."
"Oh we saw something interesting, all right."
"I thought Lily said you didn't?" asked Peter.
"Didn't want to say anything in front of Kiara. We caught her brother, you know Kingsley? The second year? He and his friend Bryan Lloyd were fighting two Hufflepuffs. Beating them quite badly, I will say proudly."
"Why?" asked James, rolling up his essay. "Did you find out?"
"Apparently one of the Hufflepuffs, Selwyn I think it was, made a crack about Lloyd being muggle-born. Though of course he used another m-word. Our dear Kingsley felt the need to help Selwyn broaden his vocabulary a bit."
"Tell me you didn't take points. The kid totally deserved it." Sirius shook his head in disgust. "Twelve years old and spreading that kind of filth."
"Of course not! But according to Lily, the Shacklebolts told Kingsley and Kiara both to hold their punches. You know their dad's in the office of International Magical Cooperation. Having his kids getting into duels isn't exactly the type of thing that's going to help his reputation."
"Screw his reputation," said Sirius. "Have you seen the dung that's been in the news lately? More disappearances, more normal people suddenly deciding to off their whole families as if that could be anything but the Imperious. It's bloody ridiculous."
"All the more reason to lay low if he's going to do any good," argued Remus.
"Any of you lot want to play a game of chess?" Peter interrupted. "This political talk is just right depressing."
"I'll play," agreed Remus. "Just let me run up and get the set."
"I'll walk with you," said James. "I think I'm going to turn in. Fancy getting a fly in before Potions tomorrow."
"Remus?" he asked when the two were safely alone in the dormitory. "When you were on patrols, Evans didn't, I don't know, mention me or anything?"
"No, James," his friend answered bemusedly. "You didn't really come up."
"Right, right. No reason I would really."
"Should you have been brought up?"
"No. I mean, if she wanted to talk about me, that's fine. But there's not really anything to talk about, er, not that there should be just, er, nevermind."
"Right," Remus nodded, trying not to laugh. "You sure you're alright?"
"Yeah. Of course. Spiffing."
"Alright then. G'nite, Prongs."
"G'nite. And Moony?"
"Yes?"
"Maybe don't mention that conversation to anyone? I sounded like an idiot."
"Marauder's honor."
"Thanks, mate."