Wednesday 14th November 1973

Library, 16:00

Remus rubbed at his eyes for the seventh time in what must have been as many minutes. He'd been like this all day, tired, listless, inattentive. But he wouldn't ask to be excused! The stubborn idiot. James had almost asked for him but Remus had sent him a pleading look that he couldn't resist. Were puppy-dog eyes a thing for werewolves? Because if they were, Remus had them down pat.

James frowned as Remus' head bobbed forward so much that Sirius had to grab him by the scruff of his neck and yank him back so he didn't crack his head off the table.

"You sure you don't want to go up to the dorm?" He asked.

"No, m'good," Remus mumbled, yawning widely and pulling his piece of parchment closer to him. "Need to get this done."

"I'm sure everyone would understand," Peter said. "You were in the Hospital Wing."

The full moon had been a few days ago and, as usual, Remus had made his trip to the Whomping Willow. James, Peter and Sirius had persuaded him to let them walk to the Entrance Hall with him (for moral support). James was pleased that his Invisibility Cloak came in extremely handy for this. Madam Pomfrey hadn't suspected a thing.

Remus shook his head. "Need to get this done."

Sirius peered over his shoulder. "This is for next Friday!"

"Not all of us leave our homework until the last minute," Remus snapped.

"I don't leave it until the last minute," Sirius retorted. "I was just saying that you have time to take a day or two for a break."

Remus stared at him fiercely for long enough that James thought he was going to pounce on Sirius but then he just slumped in on himself. Kind of like a puddle. He just looked so tired.

"Sorry, you're right."

"That's the first sensible thing you've said all day," Sirius informed him.

That made Remus crack a smile. The first they'd seen in a few days. He also reached for his textbook and closed it, putting it in his bag. Miracles would never cease.

"Come on, I'll come with you to the dorm," Peter said, also standing up.

"Don't you have homework to do?"

Peter shook his head even though James knew that he at least had Potions to do. But Peter thought like the rest of them. Nothing mattered except getting Remus to look after himself.

Remus opened his mouth to complain but then saw Peter's stubborn look. He didn't use it often but when he did no force on earth could budge him. Except maybe McGonagall but then again, the heavens would move if McGonagall wanted them to. So, Remus didn't even bother and just sighed before standing up.

James and Sirius watched their two friends leaving the Library, leaving them with a stack of unfinished homework.

"That was an awful full moon for him," James pointed out unnecessarily.

Sirius shrugged and reached for some parchment. "He wasn't as injured as normal. He's just really tired. Do you think he'll let me copy his Charms?"

"No," Remus never let them copy. "And I know he's not as injured but it was still difficult. Wish there was some way we could make it easier."

"It's not like we can be there to stop him ripping in on himself," Sirius said with an eyeroll.


Saturday 17th November 1973

Slytherin Common Room, 11:00

Regulus was people watching again. A favourite past time of his. Especially in Slytherin House. There was always something going on. Things being planned, secrets kept. And Regulus liked to know everything.

Leila Lestrange, if you could trick her into revealing something, was always a good source of information. She was an expert of keeping her eyes down but her ears alert. How she did that while gossiping with her friends, Regulus would never know.

He moved his gaze from the armchairs to the fire, where the older boys always held court. They were very boisterous these days - if Slytherins could ever be described as boisterous, bragging a lot and with a more confident than usual swagger to their walks. A lot of them would be coming into their inheritance in the coming months but they were trying to pretend they were adults now. A bit ridiculous but it was confined to Slytherin House so it was ok.

Speaking of ridiculous behaviour, Regulus turned to look in the far corner. Mulciber from his year was sequestered in there, a stupid look on his face (which was normal) and was gesticulating wildly. What was worse was the fact that the little group of first and second years gathered around him actually looked impressed. In awe even. What was so interesting about Mulciber? He was an idiot. Nothing worthy of note about him.

So, what had all those students so excited about him? Regulus shifted in his seat and frowned. Well, he wasn't going to go over there.


Sunday 18th November 1973

Library, 17:30

"You're going to miss dinner again."

The voice made him jump and drop his quill. It went fluttering down to the ground. He cursed under his breath.

"Severus," Lily scolded.

Rolling his eyes, Severus leaned down to grab his quill only to bang his head on the underside of the table as he came back up. It got him another gasp from Lily.

"You shouldn't swear so much."

"My dad does it a lot more," Severus grumbled.

Yes, he was aware Tobias Snape wasn't the best (or any) example of proper behaviour but still. Sometimes situations called for those sorts of words. Like bashing your head off something.

"Well, he shouldn't either," Lily huffed, folding her arms.

It was better off not arguing with her. It wasn't like he swore a lot anyway.

"What were you saying about dinner?" he asked as his stomach suddenly rumbled.

Food sounded good.

"You're going to miss it," she repeated.

"Was not."

"It started half an hour ago and you had your nose in that book."

"I would have remembered," he said defensively.

She gave him a look. "You've forgotten three times already."

Severus opened and closed his mouth like the fish he needed for its scales. He hadn't been that bad. Had he? The look on Lily's face said he had been. Oops. Well, this was important. Much more important that a few missed dinners.

"Well, I won't forget today."

"Because of me."

Severus rolled his eyes. Yes, yes, Lily saved him. Shouldn't she be happy that he was going to eat dinner? Severus began packing everything away. Merlin, he really managed to spread out when he studied intensely.

Lily moved closer to his table and started reading his big textbook.

"Weren't you reading that book the other day?" Lily asked, lifting his book so she could read the cover. "I thought you were further through it."

"Thought I missed something."

He needed to make sure that he knew this recipe back to front and upside down. All the ingredients, all the steps, all the possible reactions. Everything. Nothing was going to be a surprise to him. Everything was going to go perfectly.

"I don't think you will," Lily told him, eyeing the pile of notes he had made. "What's it for? It's not on the curriculum."

"Just a little challenge for myself," he said easily, sweeping his notes into his bag.

Yes, Lily would most definitely be able to brew it (Slughorn always went on about her abilities) but this was his potion to do. Not hers. Lestrange and Avery (and Mulciber, he supposed) didn't ask her, they asked him.

"Do you need any help?" she offered.

"No, I'm good," he replied slightly uncomfortably.

It didn't feel right hiding this from her but he didn't want her involved. He reached over and closed it. It wouldn't fit in his bag - even if it did the weight would probably tear it- so he would have to carry it under his arm. Like he had been all week. He would look a bit silly bringing it to dinner however.

"I'll drop this off at my door," he said to her.

She snorted and shook her head. "And have you 'accidentally' open it where I can't reach you? No. No way. Just bring it with you."

"But Lily-"

"Nope."


Wednesday 24th November 1973

Transfiguration Classroom, 10:15

Peter could feel his eyes get glassy as the Transfiguration lesson progressed. It wasn't like he had been focusing on the lesson. In fact, he'd been doing anything but. There were just more interesting things to do like watch the storm clouds gather outside or tap his quill on the table. Not on his parchment, he'd very quickly learned, even if he wasn't taking any notes. Somehow, he always ended up with splotches of ink everywhere if he tapped his quill absentmindedly on parchment.

It was kind of a boring day. Nothing interesting going on in class - they weren't even going to be performing magic and there was nothing fun planned for later. No pranks or jokes, which was a shame. It had been about a week since their last one. They'd have to do another soon; it was expected of them now and people looked forward to the Marauders' pranks.

They'd definitely have to plan another one. Maybe something with dungbombs? They hadn't done that in a while. Or weird noises, that was always hilarious...

"Mr Pettigrew!"

'BANG!' His arm slipped and hit the desk as he rather abruptly zoned back into the lesson. Giggles came from the class and he could feel his cheeks start to heat up as he tried to remember what the last thing, he heard her saying. He was coming up blank. Not good. Professor McGonagall did not look too impressed.

"Umm-"

More giggles from the class. Except from Remus who was giving him an exasperated look.

"Five points from Gryffindor for your inattention," she said briskly. "Mr Fawley, do you know the answer?"

Fawley recited something off as Peter buried his face in his hands. That was embarrassing.


Sunday 28th November 1973

Library, 20:30

Alice groaned and buried her head in her hands. None of this was going in. Not even a little bit of it. And she had been here for hours. Only taking a break for dinner. She had even skipped lunch!

Yes, she was going over Ancient Runes. Again. It was turning out to be an absolute nightmare of a subject. Not enjoyable at all. What had she been thinking? Only of how pretty they looked, that's what. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid! Stupid for picking it. Stupid for not checking how much work it needed. Stupid for not understanding it. She was stupid!

So stupid that she was probably going to get no marks in their Christmas test for it if she didn't start revising now.

She supposed she should be glad that only the results end of term test was put on her report card. Her homework marks had been dismal. She had managed an A in one of them. By one mark. And that was mostly done by guesswork and copying the textbook word by word. Even then she couldn't get it right. How stupid was she?

Which is why she needed to study, study, study. She couldn't get bad marks in Runes, she just couldn't.

"Alice?"

Alice looked up to see Mary's extremely unimpressed face.

"Hey, Mary," she said dolefully.

"I've been looking everywhere for you all day!" Mary said accusingly.

"Obviously not everywhere," Alice couldn't help but say in a snarky tone.

Thankfully, Mary ignored it to ask, "What on earth are you doing in here?"

She looked around at the books in absolute disgust for good measure. It was a little bit dramatic.

"Doing homework. And revision."

"That's all you do these days."

"Third year is difficult. I want to do well."

Mary sighed and flung herself into the opposite chair.

"It's not that difficult to pass."

"I want to do more than just pass!"

And she wasn't even going to pass if she kept this up. Fail miserably more like.

"Why?" Mary demanded. "Just to spend more time in here? You don't do anything fun anymore!"

That was sort of true. Alice hadn't even got a chance to read last month's Witch's Weekly never mind this month's. She wasn't up to date with anything at all.

"I'm sorry," she apologised helplessly, not knowing how to fix it. "I will do something fun. I promise."

She just didn't know when. And apparently, neither did Mary.

"When?"

"I, uh, well I-"

Mary stood up with a huff.

"Well, when you do figure that out, you know where I am."

With that, she stomped off. Great.


Sunday 2nd December 1973

Abandoned classroom, Fourth Floor, 14:00

"Now, hear me out," James said.

That immediately made Sirius feel both on edge and interested. Usually when James used that tone it meant something exciting but also something Remus deemed stupid. Which was probably why Remus wasn't here. Peter looked like he would very much rather not be here as well. Sirius couldn't bring himself to blame him, James did have that manic look in his eye. And people thought he was the insane one in the group. Yeah, no. It was definitely James. Especially when Remus decided to wash his hands of whatever he was scheming.

James thumped a book down in front of them. It made a terrific 'BANG'.

"That is a very big book," Sirius felt like he had to announce.

Because it was. It was at least three times the thickness of their Transfiguration textbook. Maybe four. How on earth did he cart that all the way up here? Why did he cart it all the way up here?

"It's interesting," James assured him.

Now he was starting to sound the Remus. Sirius gave him a suspicious look. There was no way that a massive textbook held James' attention for very long. He barely had enough attention to finish his homework when it was nearly done.

"How many pages is it?" Peter asked in awe, measuring the height of it with his hands. "Over a thousand?"

"Three thousand, four hundred and seventy-two, actually," James informed him. "Not including the index, of course."

"Of course," Sirius said faintly.

"I didn't read the whole thing!" James said defensively. "I can't read that much at once."

"Phew."

James shook a fist at him making him laugh. But Sirius was relieved, James hadn't had some weird personality swap or anything.

"What were you reading then?"

"See, I was trying to figure out how we could help Remus," James tried to explain. "It's not like we can help heal him afterwards-"

Sirius nodded, Remus was the only one of them taking Healing anyway and even if one of them had taken it up, there was no way they'd know how to deal with werewolf inflicted wounds. That took a very specialised skillset.

"And it's not like we can make him not be a werewolf..."

Also, true, people had been trying for centuries, a couple of teenagers weren't going to make any headway there.

"So, I was thinking maybe we could make it a bit easier on him during the full moon."

James stepped back and folded his arms as he made that little announcement and looked at them expectantly. Sirius and Peter just stared at him, not knowing what to make of what he just said. Make it easier during the full moon? What did he mean by that?

"Yeah, well it's not like we can just turn into anima- oh." Sirius said, starting off with a scathing tone only to have it taper off in realisation as he actually read the title of the book James had thumped down. "Oh."

"Exactly," James said smugly.

"That's genius," Sirius couldn't help but mutter and he opened the textbook and started to lead through it.

"Thank you."

He was going to be insufferable about this now but Sirius would give him it. It was a brilliant idea.

Peter looked between them in slight confusion.

"What is it? What are you talking about?"

"James' idea. Its brilliant," Sirius told him.

"I don't know what the idea is," Peter complained.

Sirius reached over to hold up the textbook, Merlin that was heavy. He pointed at the title which read 'Animagus - Advanced Transfiguration'.

Peter gasped. "You want us to become Animagi? Why?"

"Because werewolves aren't a danger to other animals," James said. "Just like Professor Ericsson said."

They were focusing on dark creatures this year. Which sounded like the most interesting things ever unless you were being taught by Professor Ericsson. Somehow, he even managed to make dragons sound boring. Professor Binns would be proud. He was just so dry and boring that it was hard to pay attention in class. Not that the man seemed to care overly much. He just kept talking and talking.

Sirius had tried to pay attention to the lessons on werewolves, figuring that it would at least be useful when it came to Remus but he just couldn't. He supposed that he would just ask Remus if he had difficulty understanding things about werewolves.

"So, you want us to become Animagi?" Now it was Peter's turn to sound sceptical.

"Well, yes."

"Didn't McGonagall say that it was really hard and only people who were experts in Transfiguration could do it?"

"Petey, we're good at Transfiguration."

"I'm not."

"Sirius, what do you think?" James whirled around to face him.

Sirius looked between James' eager face and Peter's slightly terrified face.

"I think we could give it a shot," he said slowly.

"Yes!" James pumped his fist in the air, glasses falling off his face in his excitement.

Sirius could feel his own excitement build up. This would be so cool! Then a thought struck him.

"And what does Remus think of this?" Sirius asked.

There was no way James ran this past him. Or maybe he did and Remus wasn't here in protest.

James scratched the back of his head and gave him a sheepish look.

"Uh, I, uh, haven't told him..."

Sirius just raised an eyebrow.


Friday 7th December 1973

Library, 18:30

Severus frowned at his Herbology homework and he scratched out a whole paragraph. He had mentioned the exact same thing earlier. He really should have been paying more attention. He barely had enough time to do his homework as it was, never mind extending it because of stupid mistakes.

A thought suddenly came to him and he looked ul at Lily.

"Hey, Lily?"

"Hmm?"

She didn't look at him, being far too focused on her Transfiguration homework.

"Do you know anything about how to earn money?"

That got her attention. She looked up.

"What do you mean?"

He made an impatient noise. Surely he had been quite clear?"

"I need to know how to earn some money," he repeated.

"You get a job."

Severus rolled his eyes. He knew that. But it was somewhat difficult for a teenager at Boarding School to get one at a shop or something. Surely, there'd have to be another way?

"And what job would a thirteen-year-old do?" He tried really hard to keep the scathing tone from his voice.

"Well, in the Muggle world you can do a paper round at our age."

"That won't work," Severus pointed out. "The post doesn't come by people here.

"I don't know," she said with a shrug. "Thirteen-year-olds don't really have jobs. Unless you count doing odd jobs for people."

Severus perked up at that. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, you know, cutting people's grass. Tidying up their sheds or doing shopping for them. Things like that," she explained. "My Year five teacher would give you twenty pence if you tidied the art cupboard."

Severus frowned. Twenty pence wasn't much, he needed an awful lot more than that. And in wizarding currency. Proper money. Money he could buy ingredients with.

But helping people. Hmm. Maybe she was onto something there...


Tuesday 11th December 1973

Entrance Hall, 15:45

Frank let out the breath he didn't realise he'd been holding as he stomped the snow off his shoes. He would have to thank his mother; she had insisted on getting the boots that went past his ankles. They were definitely needed. He had completely underestimated the depth of the snow lying on the crowd. Sure, he was cold from walking in from the Greenhouses but at least his feet were dry.

"So cold!" Jasper complained, rubbing his hands up and down his arms, shedding snow.

Filch was not going to like that.

"I think I'm squelching, there's so much snow in my shoes," Elsie added her complaints.

"Better be careful your feet don't become blocks of ice," Julian teased.

"Oh, shut up," Elsie snapped. "Someone cast a warming spell at them, quick!"

"You've got a perfectly good wand," Julian sniffed. "Do it yourself."

Frank frowned, that wasn't very gentlemanly. Or particularly kind.

"My arm's shaking. I'm more likely to heat the floor," Elsie retorted.

Julian opened his mouth to continue their argument when Frank stepped in and cast the charm. Elsie immediately sighed in relief.

"Oh, thank you, Frank. You're a lifesaver."

"You still might want to change your socks and dry your shoes," he advised.

Or else she'd get cold all over again.

"That's a good idea," Elsie nodded and then leaned over to kiss Frank on the cheek. "Thanks, Frank. Bye guys!"

She waved at everyone as she jogged off towards the Hufflepuff Basement.

"Ooooh," the McRae triplets chorused as heat rose in his cheeks.

"Shut up."


Wednesday 12th December 1973

Greenhouse 2, 9:30am

Severus was rereading the recipe for the Potion yet again. It really was becoming an obsession of his. Case in point, he was currently in class and he had carefully copied it out onto a piece of parchment that fitted in between the pages of his textbook. It wasn't like it would be seen or anything, he wasn't sitting near the front and Professor Sprout didn't walk around the room during theory lessons like other Professors did.

He wouldn't normally do this, wouldn't risk it getting taken off him, but he had just figured something out. Or he thought so anyway. There was a step where you stirred it five times, after the lacewings, but Severus didn't think that it was necessary to do that that many times. Two should really suffice but he would have to check. Oh, how he wished he had a Potions text in front of him-

"Mr Snape!"

Severus jerked his head up, eyes wide at Professor Sprout's voice. Instinctively, he flipped a few pages in his textbook to ensure his parchment was hidden.

"Yes, Professor?" he replied, trying to sound as engaged and attentive as possible.

Which wasn't much, apparently, because Professor Sprout was frowning at him (the closest she ever got to a glare).

"Five points from Slytherin for not paying attention," Professor Sprout scolded.

Severus blushed and ducked his head down until she returned to her explanation. He already knew all of this. It was a waste of his time. Carefully, he returned to where his parchment was. He just wanted to see if he could figure out this one thing-


Saturday 15th December 1974

Hufflepuff Common Room, 15:00

Tonks sighed heavily as she walked past a group of giggling students by the fire. They were from her year but none of them asked her to join her. Or even smiled in greeting. Yes, she had her friends in other Houses (and a cousin!) but having a friend in the same House as you was different.

It was easier to be friends when you were in the same House. You spent practically all of your spare time in the Common Room after all. Especially in the winter.

She shook her head and held it up high. No point in moping around. Especially when she shouldn't be complaining- she was going to meet up with Chryssie after all. They were going to build snowmen down by the greenhouses. They should be able to avoid any snowball fights there - no one dared go anywhere near Professor Sprout's greenhouse with anything that even posed a risk to chipping the glass, never mind shattering it. Even though it was all magically protected. Professor Sprout was just too scary about them. Hence the perfect spot for snowmen. Or snowwomen.

"Finally!" Chryssie declared running across the Entrance Hall to her.

Huh, she had walked all the way from the Common Room to the ground floor without even realising it.

"How are you here before me?" Tonks demanded. "You're coming down from a Tower!"

"I give myself plenty of time."

Tonks pulled a face at that jibe. She had left herself plenty of time. Sort of. Okay, not a lot but enough to get here before Chryssie. Just, well, the first time she was about to leave the Common Room she had realised that she had forgotten her hat and scarf. Something you couldn't do when you were in the depths of winter in Scotland.

"Well, I'm here now. Let's go build some snowmen!"

"Yeah!"

The two of them ran to the door, scarves trailing in their wake.


Chryssie dusted snow off her gloves and stepped back to eye her masterpiece. Or, almost masterpiece. She wasn't quite done yet.

She was quite pleased with her snowman, it was three massive snowballs high, she'd actually had to levitate the head on because it was taller than her (not that that took much). Tonks had transfigured some rocks into buttons for them and Chryssie had used hers to give her snowman a shocked look instead of the usual buttons down the torso. Nope, her snowman wouldn't need buttons for his "coat". She was going to sculpt him some robes instead. Maybe even a hat. Though, how she was getting that onto his head she didn't know.

"What do you think of mine?" Tonks asked, indicating at her own snow creation.

"Uh," Chryssie tilted her head at it. "Um, what is it?"

It looked kind of like, well, actually, Chryssie didn't know what it looked like. There was a long thin humped shape along the ground and a large-ish snowball was at one end with a button on either side of it. On the other end of the hump were several sticks poking out of it in a fan.

Tonks looked at it and then back at Chryssie in dismay.

"It's supposed to be a phoenix."

Ah. Hmm. Really? Chryssie squinted at it.

"I can sort of see it..."

Tonks pouted and kicked a cloud of snow in the air.

"It just needs a beak," Chryssie told her, trying to cheer her up.

It would make it more bird-like at any rate.

"You think so?"

"Let's see if we can find a stone for it," she replied, already starting to look around.

There were plenty of them around. One was bound to do the job. Like that one over there!

"What about this o-"

'SPLAT' she was hit on the back of the head with a snowball.

"Hey!"

She stood up with an outraged look on her face, brushing the snow off the back of her head. Tonks was just grinning at her mischievously.

"I was trying to help you!" Chryssie complained.

"You just made too tempting a target."

"That wasn't very fair of you, hitting me when my back was turned!"

Tonks bent down to scoop up more snow.

"All's fair in love and war," she claimed with a smirk.

Chryssie's eyes narrowed.

"War, huh?"


Tuesday 18th December 1973

Great Hall, 18:00

"No running in the corridors!" Professor McGonagall scolded as students rushed inside. "And wipe your feet of Mr Filch will have something to say!"

"That storm blew up fast!" Remus panted out, tugging his hat off his head and giving it a shake.

A whole lump of snow fell off it and landed with a wet splat.

"I couldn't see my hand in front of my face!" Peter told them.

"I think I tripped over a first year," Sirius replied in a bragging tone.

"Well, at least we're warm now," James said, rubbing his hands together to get some feeling back in them.

He'd somehow managed to lose his gloves during their snowball fight. Which was rather epic if Remus said so himself.

"Yeah," they all agreed.

There was something really good from coming in from the freezing cold to the welcoming warmth of the castle. Actually, it was magnificent.

"We got the fifth years good," Sirius bragged, shaking his head.

The downside of having long, curly-ish hair. Snow got caught in it. And, Remus jumped out of the way, you could spray it in your friends.

"We did," James agreed. "That spell you found, Remus, was great for making snowballs follow them."

Remus beamed with pride even if James technically described the spell wrong. It didn't make snowballs follow you, it made a person attract snowballs. Either way, the fifth years got buried under a load of snow.

"I'm feeling like hot chocolate," Remus announced.

Because he was always ready for some form of chocolate.

"Sounds good to me," said Peter.

They changed direction so that instead of going up the stairs they were going to the Kitchens.

"I hope they have marshmallows," Sirius said.