Disclaimer: Do I look like J.K. Rowling? Nope. LOL.
Author's Note: Ch. 11! The good stuff is coming up! Thanks again to Fearless. She has a broken finger and still manages to edit every chapter I send her. Thanks so much girl.
Ch. 11: Second Term
For the rest of the holiday it was Remus, Sirius and James in Gryffindor Tower. Remus had just had his monthly transformation, so he didn't have to worry about that. They were looking forward to the start of term. They had just taken their last rounds of potion and were looking forward for their first attempt at their anamgus form. Everyone returned the day before the new term started.
"How was your holiday?" Peter asked when he returned.
"We went to see Padfoot's cousin," James told them, and they explained all about their day at Andromeda's.
"Hey, guys," a voice said behind them. It was Bonnie. Amber wasn't with her, which was weird.
"Hey, Bonnie, how was your Christmas?" James asked.
"Really good. Amber came over. She said she'll meet us down here," Bonnie said.
"Is it just me or did you get tan, Bon?" Sirius smirked. For some reason he liked to irritate her.
"Yes," Bonnie said testily. James and Remus looked from Sirius to Bonnie. It seemed that they were waiting for something.
"Well, I better go," Bonnie said quickly. She left fast.
"You guys have a weird relationship," Remus said.
"Wonder what's up with her?" Sirius said, biting his lip. He was use to arguing with Bonnie. Maybe he should ask Amber.
"Hey, losers," Amber said, smiling.
"As long as we're your losers," James retorted.
"Hey," Sirius said. Remus didn't say anything, but smiled.
"Cat got your tongue, Remus?" Amber said, smiling at him.
"What? Oh, got a new hair cut, Amber?" Remus asked.
Amber smiled. "Yes" she replied.
"It looks nice," Remus said. Amber smiled even brighter.
"First Bonnie and now Remus," Sirius said, rolling his eyes.
"What about Bonnie?" Amber asked.
"I don't know, she's acting really weird," Sirius said.
Amber laughed. "You don't know?" she choked.
"Care to enlighten us?" James said.
"I can't, I promised her I wouldn't," Amber said.
"But…" Sirius began.
"No buts. A promise is a promise," Amber said.
James looked at her in disbelief. Sirius knew that James would do everything in his power to find out what it was, but for now James decided to drop it. Remus also threw them a significant 'I told you so' look. Amber would understand when they eventually told her about Remus' furry secret.
"Come on, guys, lets plan the prank," James said.
"Can I help?" Amber asked.
"Plan the prank?" Sirius asked. Amber nodded.
"What do you have planned?" James asked curiously.
Amber was very excited to help with one of their pranks. It was nice having a friend in another house because now they were able to plan more school wide pranks. On the second day back they got ready for the prank. At dinner, James looked over at Amber. They came up with a signal. When Amber nodded, James nodded back. Remus flicked is wand. Food started attacking everyone.
"Who is doing this?" they heard Snape snarl as a chicken leg was attacking him. Sirius looked up at the staff table. Professor Dumbledore looked amused and Professor McGonagall looked completely confused. Sirius ducked an apple.
"Let's get out of here," Remus said when a few students started leaving the great hall. James nodded. Professor Dumbledore said the counter curse.
"Beautiful work," Amber said, chuckling. Bonnie was eating an apple and looked very pleased.
"That was amazing. Did you see Snape's face?" Bonnie smirked.
"The git deserved it," Amber said appreciatively.
"Too right. Well, I got some homework to do," Bonnie said, looking a little stressed.
"You'll get it done, Bon," Amber said, consolingly putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I hate potions," Bonnie said, shaking her head and leaving.
"She is kind of a perfectionist when it comes to grades," Amber told them.
"Is she straight O's?" Sirius asked.
"We both are, but I'm a lot more relaxed about it," Amber explained.
"Well, we better go. See you, Amber," James said.
"Yeah, Sirius can you wait a moment?" Amber called. Sirius motioned them to go on without him and turned back.
"Yes," Sirius said smirking at her.
"I was wondering if I could draw you? I'm a part of the art club, and we need to make a self portrait of someone," Amber explained.
"Yeah, sure," Sirius said, them he smirked. "Why don't you ask Remy? It would be the perfect time to be alone with him," he chuckled.
"Well, I asked you. Sirius, that is a really inappropriate thing to say," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Well, you do think he's glorious," Sirius said. They still didn't know what she meant by it, but Sirius guessed it meant Amber thought a lot of Remus.
'He's a very nice guy, yes," Amber said, rolling her eyes again.
Sirius was determined to get her to admit she fancied him. "Well, I think it's a better choice, with me being so stunning," he mocked.
Amber rolled her eyes yet again. "I'll go find a place where I can sketch in peace. I'll owl you when the date is," he said. Sirius nodded. Amber smiled and went the way to her dorm.
Muggle Studies had been a pretty bland subject so far. No subject in the course interested Sirius. That was until their professor discussed Muggle transportation.
"This is a motorcycle, class. It runs on fuel that Muggles call gas," Professor Marks lectured. The thing called the motorcycle looked really cool. For the first time Sirius raised his hand. Remus' jaw almost hit the floor.
"Professor, do Muggles manually run it?" Sirius asked curiously.
"Yes, Mr. Black, however, the rider needs to learn how to drive it and only Muggles of a certain age are allowed to," he told him. Sirius was amazed. He wondered what other muggle transportation there was.
"Wow, Pads. I've never seen you get so excited over a topic discussed in class," James said afterwards.
"I want one," Sirius said.
"What, a motorcycle?" Remus asked.
"Yes." Sirius nodded excitedly.
"Your parents will be thrilled with that," James mocked brightly.
"Like I care," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. He decided to put extra work into writing his essay for Muggle Studies. He went to the library to check on books on muggle transportation. They were really interesting. There were things called cars, airplanes, and bikes. So far, motorcycles were his favorite. He decided he really wanted one.
"All right, guys. It's time to attempt to turn into our animals," James said bossily.
"Okay, what do we do?" Sirius asked. Peter looked nervous.
"Just visualize the animal you are turning into," James said.
"You guys can do it," Remus said supportively.
Sirius took a deep breath. He visualized the black dog. Nothing came. James and Peter didn't turn either. They tried for an hour. Finally, Sirius was able to get a tail.
"Good Job, Pads," Remus said appreciatively. Sirius closed his eyes again and the tail was gone.
"I did it," Sirius said, jumping up and down.
"That's really good." James smiled.
"Soon you might even be in full form," Peter said brightly.
Sirius beamed at them. He was really proud of his accomplishment. He couldn't wait to be able to turn into a dog. He planned on registering when he was of age. He had a lot of plans when he was of age. He planned leaving his family, and also working at the Ministry of Magic. He wanted to be an auror with James. No one, not even James, knew Sirius wanted to be an auror. He just hoped his family's reputation didn't ruin it for him.
James and Sirius went flying Fridays after classes ended. It was the perfect way to start the weekend. Sirius burrowed a school broom and him and James raced around the Quidditch pitch. James always beat him.
"I think I'm going up for dinner. Want to come?" Sirius said as he dismounted his broom.
"I'll meet you up there. I want to fly for a bit," James said. Sirius smirked. James would live in the air if he could. Sirius thought that maybe he should go on to become a professional Quidditch player.
"All right, see you then," Sirius said. He put the broom back in the shed and met up with Remus and Peter. They were already in the middle of their first helping of ham when he sat down next to them.
"Where is Prongs?" Peter asked.
"Just wanted a few laps around the Quidditch field," Sirius told them. They set food aside for him. By the time dinner was over, they got worried. Sirius suggested they take a plate up to the common room. He may have just lost track of time, knowing James. He didn't show up for an hour after dinner either.
"Where is he?" Remus asked, looking at his watch.
"Let's go see if he's still outside," Remus suggested, and they walked down the boys staircase. They were halfway to the entrance when Professor McGonagall came in.
"Just the three I was looking for. Follow me please," she said quickly. They looked at one another.
"Professor, what's wrong?" Remus asked.
"Mr. Potter is in the Hospital Wing," she said. She looked really worried.
"What, what happened?" Sirius asked.
"Hagrid heard Mr. Potter scream. Someone set two bludgers on him. He has multiple broken bones. We're not sure how it happened. It was lucky that Hagrid was there. I warn you, he is pretty badly beaten up," the Professor told them.
"He was fine when I left him," Sirius said.
"What time did you leave the pitch?" McGonagall asked as she hurried them along.
"Right before supper. He didn't turn up," Sirius told her.
"They must have waited for you to leave," Professor McGonagall said.
"You sure someone tampered with the bludgers, Professor?" Remus said.
"Yes, the bludgers were locked away. Bludgers don't just malfunction, Mr. Lupin," she explained. Remus bit his lip. Peter looked white. Sirius knew what he was thinking; it might be connected to his attack. They were shocked when they reached the Hospital Wing.
"James?" Remus said. James was black and blue all over.
"Hey, guys," he said weakly.
"What happened?" Sirius asked.
"I don't know. I was flying and next a bludger just came at me," James said. He told them everything that happened after Sirius left.
"This wasn't a coincidence. Whoever messed with that bludger was the one that attacked Peter," Remus told them. James looked a little ill at the thought of a person trying to kill him. They stayed there until Madam Pomfrey told them it was time to go. They didn't sleep at all that night.
Next Chapter: Amber and Sirius spend time together. Sirius makes a startling confession to her. Remus tries to figure out who is attacking his friends. Peter makes an official apology.