Chapter 25:

Lessons

Harry squinted through the fog that was spiralling around him. He could hear the gentle chatter of the common room but he couldn't see anything except the thick fog. "It's good to be back," James was saying. Harry recognised his father's voice automatically.

"Yeah…" Sirius yarned in agreement.

"I do miss their library though," Remus commented.

"Why? It was mainly full of books on the dark arts," James replied.

"How would you know? You didn't go to the library once in the whole time we were there," Harry could hear exasperation in Remus' tone.

"Well… maybe…" James tried to respond.

The fog was clearing now. Harry could see his father and his three best friends sat together in the empty common room. They were huddled by the fire. James sighed, "I was thinking…"

"I'd be careful if I were you," Sirius joked.

"Ha ha… I think we should learn some healing spells."

"Why?" Sirius asked.

"Well… Just in case."

"In case what?" Peter asked.

"You're worried… You think I might hurt you?" Remus asked, his face fallen into a sad grimace.

"Well… no… not on purpose at least…" James replied. "I still want to do it. I want to help you Rem. I just want to make sure we don't get caught."

"Huh?" Sirius and Peter both looked confused. Remus however was nodding.

"Think about it… we're bound to get a few scratches… at least. If people begin to realise that we're all getting hurt once a month…"

Sirius and Peter still looked confused.

"Not only might people start to suspect Remus but we might get in a lot of trouble," James continued.

"Can't we just go to the hospital wing?" Peter asked.

"And say what?" Remus asked.

"My friend the werewolf pushed me over?" Sirius offered sarcastically.

James grinned, "I fell whilst in my animagus form?"

"I wasn't watching where I was walking?" Remus joined the joke.

"Ok, I get the point," Peter frowned.

"I think you're right James. I think we need to at least know the basics before you start joining me for the full moon," Remus nodded. "I'll get some books out of the library tomorrow and do a bit of research."

"Great… more research," Sirius complained. "Haven't we already got enough spells to learn with the transfiguration spells?"

Harry felt the fog pull him away from the common room. Before he knew it, he was in one of the greenhouses. He could see the marauders at the back of the classroom. None of them were paying attention to Professor Sprout. Lily was sat a few rows in front of them and she kept turning round and glaring at the four boys. Harry saw her mutter to herself, "stupid idiots."

Harry stifled a laugh, forgetting that the students and their teacher could not hear him. Professor Sprout was successfully ignoring the four childish boys at the back of her classroom as she told the class about Devil Snare. They were having a revision session. They had first learnt about Devil Snare in their first year. "Mr Black, could you tell me how you can slow down the Devil's Snare's attacks?"

"Erm…" Sirius looked blankly at the teacher.

"Come on Black, this is revision. You should know this. My first years know this. Do you even know what the question is Mr Black?" Professor Sprout asked with an eyebrow raised in disdain.

"Of course I know what the question…" Sirius began to lie.

"What about you Mr Potter?" Professor Sprout turned to James. "How can you slow down the Devil's Snare's attack?"

"Don't struggle or resist," James answered without thinking.

"Very well… it really is a shame that you two don't pay better attention. You really are wasting two very competent brains." She turned away from them, shaking her head gently, "Miss Evans… tell me about the Devil's Snare's choice environment."

"Yes Professor. Devil's Snare prefers a dark, damp environment as it shies away from light or heat."

"Very good Miss Evans. Ten points to Gryffindor. Devil's Snare recoils from bright light and the heat of a fire. Therefore the most effective spells against Devil's Snare are?"

"Fire spells," Lily began, "such as bluebell flames."

"Right you are again Miss Evans. Ten more points."

The Gryffindors had three hours of Herbology revision before heading to Care of Magical Creatures. Professor Kettleburn was waiting for them in a large paddock just inside the Forbidden Forest. "Quickly, quickly," He called excitably.

Once all of the class had gathered, Professor Kettleburn clapped his hands. "Today we are going to study Nifflers. Who can tell me anything – anything at all – about nifflers?"

"Miss Evans?" Kettleburn noticed that Lily's hand was raised.

"A Niffler is a treasure-hunting creature with a long narrow snout. They are very attracted to shiny things, making them wonderful for locating anything metallic or shimmery."

"Very good Miss Evans," Professor Kettleburn grinned. "Ten points to Gryffindor. Now before we start, could you all remove any jewellery you are wearing – we don't want you getting bitten."

Some of the girls began taking off rings and pretty bracelets. James complained bitterly to Sirius, "I just don't get why she has to be such a know it all." Sirius merely laughed.

"Nifflers are gentle creatures… and can even be affectionate towards their owners. However, they can also be rather destructive in their search for sparkling objects. They don't really make good house pets. They live twenty feet below ground in lairs and can produce six to eight young in a single litter. The Goblins often use nifflers in their search for treasure."

The teacher smiled at his students, "I have hidden Leprechaun gold all around the paddock. Some of the coins are in the grass whilst others are buried beneath our feet. You will each choose a Niffler. If your Niffler finds the most gold you will win a bottle of butterbeer."

The Marauders were intent on winning. James' Niffler had already collected fifteen coins but Sirius' wasn't far behind. Lily was having a lot of fun with her Niffler. The small creature kept nuzzling up to her every time it brought her a coin. "Can I keep her sir?" Lily asked.

"They don't make the best pets Miss Evans," Professor Kettleburn replied.

James saw Lily's face fall, I'll get you the Niffler Evans, James decided.

The rest of the day went quickly. Divination was a bore. Professor Lifflilee had them studying Horoscopes. Lily and James barely paid any attention to their teacher. Muggle Studies wasn't much better either. They were learning about the muggle postal system, something that greatly confused James and Sirius. They both left the classroom at 5pm with a headache and an essay to write on how to send a letter the muggle way. James hoped that he would be able to talk Lily into helping him, fat chance.