Chapter 25
September 1st 1976
The Marauders were currently sitting on the train on the way to Hogwarts. Ever since Castor and Vega had been sent home from James' they hadn't had the chance to speak to them, the only time they saw was Sirius when he turned up to see Vega and even then that was rare.
"Prongs, what did your parents say to us after we left yours?"
"Just that the war has really gotten worse. Apparently He has started sending his followers to raid houses of wizards that are on the light side. What did yours say Mane?"
Castor began telling them all what happened over the summer with their parents while Vega just stared out of the window. She didn't even budge when Sirius tried to get her attention.
"Pads just let her be. She has been like this for a few days now, she just kept to her room at home" Castor warned Sirius.
"What's wrong with her Mane?" Sirius just kissed her temple and turned back to Castor.
"I have no idea Pads"
The boys spent the train ride either playing exploding snap or wizard chess, a couple of times someone had bought out a box Bertie Botts beans. At some point Vega had shifted and rested against Sirius but still refused to say anything.
The students had all arrived at Hogwarts and the new first years had been sorted and dinner had been served.
"Alright now that everyone has been fed I have a few start of term notices. To remind our old students and to inform out new students, please remember that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all students unless supervised by Professor Kettleburn during Care of Magical Creatures. Also the Whomping Willow is also out of bounds." The Marauders tried not to laugh at this.
"If you could also please welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Hepler. Now all head off to bed."
It was later than usual when everyone finally returned to their common rooms and everyone headed to their dorms pretty quickly but Remus had stayed down in hopes Vega talking to him, he had noticed her head straight towards the fireplace and stare at it waiting for the stairs to clear out.
"V what's wrong and please don't say nothing. You didn't speak on the train or during dinner" V looked up at Remus as he took a seat beside her.
"I'm just worried about my parents, they are now actively helping Dumbledore what if something happens to them? I can't lose my parents Moony they mean everything to me"
"I know V but you can't let this ruin your life, you need to enjoy our time at Hogwarts like we have in the past"
"Yes and how will that work with James holding Quidditch Practise every chance he gets"
"We will have each other"
"And Peter?"
"Right, he will most likely sit in the stands and watch training"
"Too right, alright I'm heading to bed I will see you in the morning" Vega gave Remus a hug before standing up and heading up the girls staircase.
In the morning it took McGonagall longer to give the Marauders their new timetable for the since she had to make sure they all had the right OWLs needed to continue certain classes.
McGonagall finally made it to the Marauders and gave them their timetables for the year. They were all accepted into Potions, Charms and Herbology, Peter wasn't accepted in Transfiguration and DADA so he continued Divination and Care of Magical Creatures while everyone else wasn't.
Once the timetables were sorted out, Peter headed off to Divination while everyone else headed to DADA.
"Hey did anyone else notice that this was a double class with Slytherins?" Remus was looking at the timetable.
"This lesson is going to be torture" Sirius groaned.
They all entered the classroom and took their seats, the boys sat together while Vega sat with Lily, Elizabeth and Alice in front of them. Vega was currently turned around talking to the boys when Hepler walked in.
"Alright everyone be quiet and face the front." Vega turned around.
"Welcome to your first Defence Against the Dark Arts class for the year. Before we begin learning the NEWT level course work I want to see what level everyone is at. Everyone stand up and make two lines down each side of the classroom."
The Slytherin students ended up lining up along one side of the classroom while the Gryffindor students were on the other side.
"Alright so we are going to have a duelling competition to begin with. You will duel with the person standing across from you. Since it looks like it will be a Slytherin vs. Gryffindor duel how about we make this interesting? For every win the house will receive house points. Alright begin"
Hepler was walking around watching all the students seeing who was worthwhile in keeping an eye on. He noticed that most of the Slytherin students were more inclined to use the Darker spells compared to the Gryffindor students. He was intrigued by James Potter, Sirius Black, Castor Monroe and Alice Brigs. Remus Lupin was defiantly strong in his casting but it is his werewolf side that would be interesting, but Vega Monroe isn't showing much promise he would have to keep eye on her other subjects and sees what happens. It seems as though the last two students standing are Severus Snape and James Potter. In the end Hepler had to intervene as it just seemed to be a standoff.
"Alright well done everyone Gryffindor will be awarded 50 house points and Slytherin will be awarded 40 house points. Congratulations everyone it seems like you have earned your place in this class and I am very impressed with the level everyone is at. The first thing we will be learning is the Patronus Charm. This is essentially a charm but considering it is used as a defence against Dementors it is a part of the course" The Marauders looked really excited about learning this charm.
"Alright everyone stand up, I will move the desk to the side of the room" The students stood up and the desk were pushed against the wall.
"So to cast the charm you have to think of the happiest memory you have, move your wand like this and say Expecto Patronum" once he said the charm a white mist came out of his wand.
"The white mist you see is only what most witches and wizards can produce, alright everyone start trying"
Everyone then spread out throughout the class room and started attempting to produce the charm. Vega was currently thinking about a happy memory, she decided to go with her first kiss with Sirius. "Expecto Patronum" a white mist emerged from her wand.
"Well done Miss Monroe" Hepler appeared beside Vega, he thought to himself that there must be something about her if she is the first one to be able to produce this.
Remus was next to produce a patronus mist from his wand using the memory of his friends accepting him as a werewolf, both in first year and third year. James used the memory from the past summer when he was made Quidditch Captain. Sirius used the memory of when Vega had said yes to be his girlfriend.
By the end of the lesson, half of the Slytherin students had been able to produce the Patronus Charm along with Alice and Lily along with Vega, James, Remus and Sirius. Castor and Elizabeth were unable to produce the Patronus Charm, Hepler just kept telling they weren't using a happy enough memory.
"Next class we will continue with the Patronus Charm in hopes of everyone being able to produce the mist. Class dismissed"
"V what memory did you use to be able to get it so quick?" Castor walked up beside his sister.
"I guess I was just lucky to pick a happy enough memory first. I'm sure you will find something Mane" Vega smiled at her brother
"Is anyone going to tell me what memory they used?" Castor looked at everyone else.
"When I was made Quidditch Captain" They all looked at James.
"Well we all knew you were conceited Prongs" Sirius punched James' arm.
"Mane I think most of them are personal, that's what makes them such good memories"
"I think you might be right Moony"
"If you really want we could always find an empty classroom and practise Mane?" Castor nodded at his sister.
They were all currently sitting in their seats at the next DADA class waiting for Hepler to come in.
"Stand up and move the tables aside and we will pick up from where we left of last time."
After practising a few times over the last few days Castor felt a bit more confident about his memory.
Half way through the class Castor finally produced the Patronus Charm, they were all about congratulate him when they realised someone had produced a corporal Patronus.
At first they thought it was Sirius since it was a dog, but when they took a closer look they realised it wasn't a shaggy dog like Sirius animagus.
"Guys I think its V. Look at her" Lily pointed to Vega and she in fact had a smile on her face and was watching the dog run around the room.
"Well done Miss Monroe. That is really a great effort" Hepler now knew he had to keep an eye on Vega Monroe as well.
"Thank you Professor Hepler"
"Now who is the mutt?" Vega turned around and noticed Sirius standing behind her.
"Oh shush you. You are actually a mutt. Mine is a pure breed" Vega stuck her tongue out at him.
"What memory did you use babe?"
"You Pads" Vega smiled at him.
"I feel special"
"You should. Have you tried again?"
"Yeah I don't think I can get the right memory to make it corporal"
"You'll get there. Look someone else has got. There is a Doe"
"Isn't a Doe the female version to a Stag?"
"Yes it is...oh that is funny, I think its Lily's"
Vega was correct; in fact the Doe that had joined Vega's Dog was Lily's. James had the biggest smile on his face when he realised this, everybody was confused as to why he was smiling about this except the Marauders.
James finally got his corporal Patronus to appear and it was a Stag as well to match his animagus form. Lily wasn't happy when she realised this.
"Well isn't that interesting, two counterpart animals" Hepler smiled at Lily and James while Lily just groaned at this realization.
When Sirius finally got his corporal Patronus to appear it was a dog as well and it instantly ran over to Vega's
"Can you see the difference Pads. Mine isn't a mutt while yours is" Vega smiled at Sirius
"I agree with V Pads. Her patronus looks better than yours" Castor smirked at Sirius
"Oh shut it Mane, you're just jealous you haven't got one yet"
"Moony hasn't either" At this they all looked over to Remus and noticed he was trying anymore.
At this point in the class there were various animals running around the room, 2 dogs, 2 does, a stag, a lynx, an otter and a snake.
"Moony why aren't you trying anymore?" Vega walked over to Remus.
"I'm scared about a wolf showing up, Prongs had a Stag and Pads had a Dog. What if mine is a wolf?"
"So what Moony, remember when we were reading about the animal matching? You had so many of the aspects that were listed for a wolf. You are cunning, brave, loyal, intelligent, family value and are fiercely protective. If your corporal Patronus is a wolf no one is going to think it is because you are one"
"You sure V?"
"Yes. Look at Lily and Prongs Patronus, they might be counterparts but they aren't dating. Just because Pads and mine are both dogs, even though they are the opposites doesn't mean anything about it"
"Alright thanks V" Remus smiled at Vega.
By the end of the class Remus had managed to make a corporal Patronus and it was in fact a wolf and Castor had managed to make a Lion appear.
"Well done to everyone. You had all finally managed to make perform the Patronus Charm and some of you had even produced corporal Patronus' you should be really proud of yourselves. Class dismissed."
On the way out of the class Lily and Alice walked up the Marauders.
"Did you all know about what your corporal Patronus' would be?" Lily walked up beside Vega
"What do you mean?"
"Well the boys nick names match the animals that appeared"
"Oh, we may have read some books on it and found some really good matches to our personalities. But I never got a nick name because we couldn't decide between a dog and an otter"
"Makes sense, come on Alice" Lily pulled Alice away from them.
"What did Lily want babe?" Sirius put his arm around Vega.
"Asked about our nick names, I just told her about the book we read"
"Good save" Sirius kissed her temple before the group of friends headed down the corridor towards there next class