A/N Wow, long time since I updated... I HAVE been working on this, and I have just had inspiration to write a bit more. Not many people have read this either so I am going to mainly do it for my enjoyment. So here is another chapter and please R&R, my life depends on it!
Disclaimer: I really cannot be bothered.
Chapter 10
Minnie!
"Sorry Professor, we got lost."
"Fine, but don't let it happen again, do you understand?" said Professor McGonagall sharply
The classroom was big with four rows of three desks in, the other Gryffindor first-years had already arrived.
Sirius, James and Remus sat down in the front.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." McGonagall said before turning her desk into a pig and back again.
They spent half the lesson writing and taking notes on simple transfiguration spells, and then they could spend the rest of the lesson trying to turn a match into a needle.
"Acus!" said Sirius jabbing his wand at the match
"Black it is graceful swirl, not jab, try again please, Potter stop smirking and show me what you can do." Said Professor McGonagall
"OK, acus!" said James swirling his wand, the match quickly changed to silver and turned pointy at one end.
"Well done Potter! 5 points to Gryffindor for your efforts, next person will get 4, then 3 then 2 and 1." James grinned with pleasure "Black!" snapped McGonagall "Don't you dare try and switch the match!"
Sirius scowled "Yes… Minnie!" he finished with a grin
'Minnie' pretended to not hear him.
"Acus!" said Remus swirling his wand around so a jet of silver light landed on the match, promptly turning it into a needle.
"Well done to you too Lupin! 4 points to Gryffindor!"
A sudden flash of brilliant pink light filled the room followed by a puff of smoke.
Someone was coughing and waving away the smoke. Professor McGonagall hurried over.
"Oh dear, you must have swirled three times! Are you hurt? If not then clear up the ash on your desk!" she said
"Yes Professor." said a mortified Lily Evans, who had ash in her hair and on her robes.
James and Sirius snorted with laughter. Professor McGonagall glared.
"I will not permit laughter at others expense, Black as you have not produced a satisfactory needle you should not laugh. Show me now and let's see how well you can do!"
Sirius raised his wand, a trace of a smirk still on his face, and swirled it murmuring acus! His match became a needle just as the bell rang. Professor McGonagall grudgingly gave him 3 points as they went through the door.
"Thanks Minnie!"
Grace, Marley and Alice walked with them [Lily had gone to the bathroom accompanied by Mary and Emmaline]
"Hey guys, what're you doing after potions?" asked Grace
"Going to Hagrids, wanna come?" said Sirius
"Sure! Marley, hey! You wanna go to Hagrids after potions?" said Grace
"Yeah, alright, who's going?" Marley replied
"Erm, me, James, Sirius, Remus, you, Alice I think."
They headed down the stairs to the dungeons.
Sirius crossed his fingers "Please let us not be with Slytherin, please let – oh god dammit!" he finished as they rounded the corner to see green and silver ties.
"Alright students in you go and line up against the wall!" boomed a voice
Everyone went into the drafty dungeon.
"My name is Professor Slughorn and I will be your potions Professor. Today will not be a practical as we have little time. I have made a seating plan." There was a groan from the class "Gryffindor boys will be next to Gryffindor girls and vice-versa. It is only for the time being, however there will not be one later on. The sooner you show to me you are good enough, you may sit where you like."
The class brightened. James saw Lily and Snape exchange happy glances.
"Alright, so, Remus Lupin is next to Lily Evans who is next to Sirius Black then Grace Williams. In the next row James Potter is next to Marlene McKinnon who is next to Frank Longbottom then Alice Fortescue. Then…" The list went on.
"So today we'll be taking notes of the Cure for Boils potion, and in our next lesson we will be having a go. So the Cure for Boils potion is quite recent, as it was discovered only about 15 years ago, much to the pleasure of people. There is little wand work needed as you have to do one wave at the end while saying 'curarent pro'. But before that you have to crush snake fangs, pour billywig stings and keep to a certain temperature of 35 degrees."
All that could be heard was the scratches of quills on parchment.
An hour and a half later, after they had dropped their bags off at Gryffindor Tower, James, Sirius, Remus, Grace, Alice and Marlene were making their way to Hagrids hut.
James knocked on the door. A sudden scraping could be heard, followed by footsteps.
"Back Fang! Hang on – back – just a moment!"
The door opened to reveal the excitable boarhound puppy, which looked very cute considering its name was Fang.
"Hey Hagrid, we brought some friends." Said James
"Ah, yes, hmm, you look familiar." Hagrid said, looking thoughtfully at Grace. "Williams is it? When your brothers came here I spent a lot of time chasing them outta the forest!"
Grace grinned apologetically.
"An' who are you?" asked Hagrid, looking at Alice
"Alice Fortescue!" said Alice, smiling
"And I'm Marlene McKinnon." Said Marlene
"Hello, nice to meet yeh all."
"So Hagrid, who's Filch?" asked Sirius eagerly
"Well, 'e is the caretaker 'ere at Hogwarts, and he has this horrible scruffy cat called Mrs Norris. Basically you do not want to get on the wrong side of HIM or his stupid cat, that follows him around but when she isn't, as soon as she smells a waft of mischief, off she 'oes! You lot, better stay outta his way, now you 'ear?" said Hagrid, looking at Sirius and James
"Don't worry Hagrid, we'll stay well out of his way…" said James
Remus groaned.
After drinking their tea and trying to eat some rock cakes Hagrid made, the first-years decided it was time to head back, as it was dinner time. James' stomach rumbled as they hurried up the sloping lawns and into the Entrance Hall.
"What are you lot doing?" snapped a voice
The first-years spun round and came face-to-face with a horrible looking man with long greasy hair, little teeth and very patched robes. In his hands he held a scruffy cat with grey patched here and there. It was Filch.
James took a glance around.
Remus looked pale, Grace looked disgusted, Marlene was glaring at the cat, Alice was trying not to sneeze and Sirius looked as though he was about to laugh.
James frowned "What do you mean?" he asked
"What are you doing? Smuggling fireworks? Sneaking back from the forest?" Filch glared at them all.
Alice sneezed.
Sirius supressed a laugh and as a result it came out as a small burp.
Marlene giggled silently.
Grace glared at Filch.
"Why should you care what we've been doing? Why are you jumping to conclusions? We haven't done anything; we have just come back from Hagrids house! So there!" she stormed
Filch looked alarmed, then grew angry.
"I'll have you know that I have to know what you have been up to! Been to Hagrids eh? I'm going to be keeping a large eye on you lot from now on!"
And then Filch stalked off, Mrs Norris glaring at them over his shoulder.
"I think Snape and him would make good friends." said Sirius unexpectantly.
Everyone laughed. They seemed to unfreeze, and, as one, they made their way into the Great Hall for dinner.
"That was interesting… Alice, why did you sneeze?" asked Remus as he helped himself to Shepard's Pie.
Alice blushed.
"Well, I'm kind of allergic to cats." She said
The others laughed.
"HA! I bet Filch will be pleased!" sniggered Grace
They ate until they were full and decided to go to Gryffindor tower. Lily, Mary and Peter joined them.
Remus stopped at the seventh floor [which they had finally managed to get to] and looked at his watch. 17.57.
"Well, I got to go, Dumbledore remember?" said Remus nervously
"Oh yeah!" said James
"Bye Remy, see you in the common room." Said Sirius
"Why does he have to see Dumbledore?" asked Grace curiously when Remus walked the opposite direction down the corridor.
"Well…" began Sirius
Remus rolled his eyes.
He reached a stone gargoyle.
"Umm, Chocolate Frog?" said Remus
"Yup, up you go!" said the gargoyle
It sprang apart to reveal a magnificent bird that was revolving with some stairs, making an escalator. Remus hopped on. He wound his way up and reached a golden griffin door knocker. As soon as he knocked a voice spoke from inside "Come in!"
Remus opened the door and quietly walked inside.
"Mr Lupin! You got my message I presume?" asked Dumbledore, smiling
Remus nodded
"Sit down then, and we'll talk."
Remus sat with a bump.
"Care for a Rhubarb and Custard?" asked Dumbledore, holding a jar with sweets half read half yellow.
"I'm sorry?"
"They are a muggle sweet I quite like." said Dumbledore, carefully selecting a large one and popping it into his mouth.
Remus smiled "OK then."
"So, Remus, I have heard you have made friends already!"
Remus nodded while sucking the sweet between his tongue
"Also, the full moon is unfortunately in four days' time. This Friday, I have arranged with Madam Pomfrey that you meet her in the Hospital Wing on the Fourth floor. You will then make your way down to the Willow where Madam Pomfrey will take you down to a Shack. She will leave you there and you will transform. In the morning she will pick you up and take you back to the Hospital Wing. Sadly that is on Saturday so you may take any homework you have with you on the Friday. On Sunday you will be discharged." Said Dumbledore "I am assuming, as it is the first day, you have not told Mr Potter or Mr Black of your case?"
Remus nodded.
"Very well, that is all, I will see you on Friday, have a nice week, and Remus?" Dumbledore stopped Remus from getting up.
"Yes?"
"Don't get into too much trouble will you?"
Remus opened his mouth to reply when he saw the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes.
Remus smiled "Yes sir."
While he was walking back, Remus new, with a heavy heart that he would never be able to tell James or Sirius of his condition because of his fear.
His fear, his fear of being deserted again.