"Open your eyes Bell! Don't be afraid to duck Rosier! That shield was glass Bern, bulk it up!" Professor Odbrana was barking orders as they ran an obstacle course designed to test reaction times and the strength of their recently learnt shield charms; Felberta ducked behind a wooden board gasping as Petunia ran the basic diagnostic scan over her "Remind..me..why we're doing this..again?" Fe panted to her friend, leaning her head back against the board and accepting a small vial of water "We're in a war Fe. We can't be firsties anymore" she replied, throwing up a shield and standing, pulling Felberta with her and making another break for the finish line.
They were in the rich hues of autumn and half way through their first term of second year. The attacks against muggleborns and their allies were becoming more overt, first years were given leeway to gain control of their magic, afterwards defensive and offensive spells were given much more priority and they were pushed harder than ever; nowadays it was a common site to see Professor Odbrana, the new defence teacher, shouting on the lawn or by the lake. Flying lessons had been continued into the upper years and were slowly becoming combined with others, such as charms. Professor Snidget had become quieter with his second years, instead of a jovial and gentle approach to correcting mistakes he was harsher and much more critical, particularly of the pure-bloods. One upside of the increased pressure during lessons meant homework had slackened somewhat, their teachers recognising, as they staggered sweaty and trembling with exhaustion from their classrooms, that maybe they needed the evening to recuperate.
"If Odbrana makes us run that course again I think I might hex him" Evan moaned as he collapsed at the Slytherin table, his friends laughed settling around him. The upper years were beginning to trickle in and Snape was buried in a book "Sev, you know if you weren't reading all the time, you could probably notice when the Marauders are going to do something." George Gibbon remarked as his fellow second year's hair began to fill with soap bubbles and laughter broke out throughout the hall. Rasbastan sighed and vanished the bubbles quickly as Snape began to mutter furiously about '..stupid Gryffindors. Everyone thinks they're so perfect..' "Gibbon's right Snape. This is what you're being taught. A lapse of concentration outside of school could lead to death, not just humiliation. You need to pay attention." the prefect scolded quietly, closing the younger's book for him and banishing it to the dorms. The look of growing hatred unnerved the elder slightly but he clapped a hand onto his shoulder and tried to offer some small comfort with a forced smile and promises to speak with Gideon Prewett, one of the new Gryffindor prefects.
Owls were returning from hunting as the front doors creaked open quietly, a young blonde slipped out and began stretching once reaching the bottom of the stairs. The door opened behind her once more, she jumped and hid behind the pillar, peering out as Madam Pomfrey bustled down the stairs, took a careful look around then strode across the lawn. Petunia followed at a safe distance, running forward as the matron vanished into the base of the Whomping Willow. She frowned, levitating a small rock close to the tree and flinching as it flicked it away sharply; she stared at the plant, wondering how the nurse had gotten past the violent branches when there was a scuffling and a pale sleeved arm appeared, fumbled at the trunk then pressed something, a moment later Madam Pomfrey appeared once more. She was escorting someone, arm wrapped around a blanketed shaking slim boy, Petunia scrambled to a hiding place and held her breath as the two passed, the boy paused and leant, exhausted, on Madam Pomfrey; she chanced a look and bit her lip, mumbling a gasp as Remus looked back, suspicion and pain in his eyes. The matron whispered something and two moved on.
"Where were you this morning?"
"I went for a jog. If we're going to keep running obstacle courses for defence then I need to get faster."
"Why do you keep looking at the Gryffindors? Are you looking for Remus?" Vulpix's quiet questions made her jump, Felberta had turned back to her chess game with Sheana and hadn't noticed. "Remus won't be back until tomorrow. He always needs a few days to recover"
"From what?" However Vulpix had started humming, staring vaguely at the stormy grey ceiling, Petunia glanced once again at the table behind her and caught James looking back, he raised an eyebrow and she blushed, looking down, face growing brighter as he nudged Sirius with a smirk.
A steady stream of chatter filled the dungeon, today's potion had been relatively simple. Petunia had paired with Melladew, the quiet Hufflepuff was starting to grow on the other girl. She was also a muggleborn, had a quirky sense of humour and was knowledgeable about a wide array of topics; the two had been meeting in library for study sessions, Melladew had been struggling in Transfiguration, Petunia offered to tutor her in return for help on her research into the Whomping Willow, Professor Sprout had been frustratingly silent on the subject; Remus' appearance from the tree had been weighing on the girl's mind since she had witnessed it over 2 months ago. Christmas was only 2 weeks away and the end of the term was in a few days, all of the Marauders, except for Peter, were staying. Remus had vanished from class again at the end of November, just as they had begun advanced study on the lunar cycle and the effect this held on botany.
"Mum, can we visit Diagon Alley before we catch the train? I need some more potions ingredients." Marie hummed an agreement, more preoccupied with re-hemming Lily's robes. Petunia rolled her eyes with a sigh, resolving to ask her father when he arrived home from work knowing her mother wasn't paying attention. "Hurry flower, we've only got a few minutes, traffic is going to be manic by the station." She nodded, absorbed in peering into a dark barrel of what seemed to be jelly like intestines.