Chapter 141

A Tight Schedule

When they took their usual seats in the great hall for breakfast the next morning Peter couldn't help but be impressed that Andrea's memorial was still burning along the back wall.

"Morning, Evans," James yelled across the hall.

"Sod off, Potter!" she yelled back not ever giving hi on the courtesy of a glance.

"Your hair looks stunning today," he ignored her hostility, and she took her dark red locks out of the elegant plait. she had it in and left it as a simple ponytail causing Sirius to laugh at James. "Still looks great," he replied though not as loud before finally sitting back down. "I don't get her, I compliment her and she acts like I've offended her," he said quietly now so that only the other Marauders could hear him now.

"It's alright mate, maybe next time." Sirius' tone was more mocking than comforting.

"I thought it was a great complement."

"Thanks, Wormtail." James nodded always happy to receive compliments, but he was still watching Evans instead of looking at the person he was talking to. "I know I'd want to be complemented by me."

"I don't think it was the skill of the complement that bothered her, Peter," Remus informed, choosing to ignore the narcissist in the conversation; but he shook his head, a smile plain on his face. "It was more the fact that it was yelled across the room that was the problem.

"I don't get it." James looked at the werewolf but before Moony could explain there was a stern voice behind where Remus and Peter were sitting, only Peter jumped in fright at the suddenness of their Transfiguration teacher's appearance.

"For your information, Potter, most women do not appreciate being screamed at, regardless of what is being said or who is saying it." McGonagall didn't look pleased to have to teach him this. She had a pile of blank parchment in her arms as opposed to the usual stack of schedules.

"But I..." James started but was interrupted by Sirius from the look of it had enough of his stupidity.

"Good evening, Professor." He said with a smirk on his face. "I must say you look absolutely stunning today."

"I'm glad you approve, Black," she said her voice dripping with sarcasm, James pouted and Sirius' smirk appeared glued onto his face. McGonagall may not have been entirely pleased by the compliment but she, at least, hadn't been offended by the attention. "Now if you're quite finished, before I hand out your schedules I must inform you there are a few new classes being taught this year in light of recent events."

James and Sirius stopped their silent bickering apparently interested by this news.

"Do they have OWLs?" James asked, "Cuz that's not a lot of time to learn enough to pass an OWL."

McGonagall looked impressed by the question and Peter was surprised he cared. "No, they do not. As they are temporary classes now OWL exam is given, however, there will be normal exams you will take separately from your OWLs." She answered and handed them a list of the new classes a small description of each.

"The classes are, as follows; Healing Charms, Lasting Magic, Magical Theory, Defensive Spells, and a duelling club will be held bi-weekly after classes on Tuesday and Thursday." Petter looked at the others. He didn't want to pick up any new classes but he didn't doubt that they would be useful to the extreme. "I will give you time to think about it, but I warn you these will not be easy just because they are temporary classes. You will be attempting to learn an entire subject in the span in a year. And Potter..." she addressed James directly he looked up from his whispers with his brother. "I gave you that badge as a gesture of trust, but if I hear that you are shirking your responsibilities as a team captain not only will I take the badge away but I will personally ensure that you are removed from the team altogether, permanently" She threatened him before walking away. James' eyes followed her but there wasn't a hint of worry or fear on his face.

"We don't have time for extra classes." Sirius started, clearly expecting there to be an argument and wanting to get his opinion out there quickly.

"But look at these classes! Lasting magic and healing charms?" Remus gave him the argument he was expecting. James turned back to the conversation.

"Healing is pointless we already know how to do healing, but I don't think lasting magic and defensive spells sound like a bad idea, and that duelling club sounds supremely useful," James added looking bored at worst.

"I can't heal," Peter said but James just rolled his eyes.

"We tried teaching you," Sirius shrugged as though that made it no longer his problem.

"I'm still a novice when it comes to healing and it's always useful to learn to learn more. Magical Theory sounds useful also." Remus added partly to defend Peter and partly to defend his own case.

"It does?" Sirius asked in disbelief.

"Well if you know the theory behind anything it becomes easier to learn so if you know the theories behind magic all you really need is the incantation and the wand movement and casting the spell would be simple," Remus explained confusing Peter and voting both Sirius and James.

"Uh, huh," Sirius commented looking bored out of his mind.

"Why don't we all take something different, then we can teach each other when we have time?" Peter suggested worried that they'd hate the idea. They thought about that for a moment making Peter even more nervous.

"That's actually not a bad idea, and then we can all join the duelling club." Remus reasoned shrugging. "We can all agree that'll be useful."

"I still think we don't have time for extra classes." Sirius pouted it was obvious he'd lost this argument.

"It's only one more class each." James reasoned though he didn't look thrilled about the arrangement either. "If these classes will teach us something that could save our lives later it'll be worth it."

"I claim defensive spells then, at least that's taught by Professor Svalinn so it'll be interesting at least." Sirius sighed looking at the slip of paper McGonagall had left them. "Healing charms are Flitwick, Magical Theory is Vector, and Lasting Magic is McGonagall. The duelling club is Svalinn too."

"I'll take Magical Theory since I"m clearly the only one interested and James can already heal so Peter should take Healing." Remus took the paper from Sirius to look at the class description. "That leaves James with Lasting Magic."

"Oh, good. Because I don't already spend enough time with McGonagall." James said with sarcasm in his voice but a genuine smile on his face.

"Not gonna lie, I'm kinda wishing I hadn't agreed to take Arithmancy now." Sirius turned to find McGonagall, she was currently informing another group of Gryffindors of the new classes.

"It'll be fun, Padfoot. Arithmancy is one of my favourites. It's a lot better than it sounds." Remus reassured.

"It's not that," Sirius turned back to look at the werewolf. "It's not gonna help much, y'know. No one bothers with maths when you're fighting a war."

Remus when silent and James turned away from where he was watching Evans attempt to finish eating at record speeds. Peter thought that she wanted to get away from James as fast as possible she only did it when the stag entered the great hall. "I'm sure McGonagall has a reason for suggesting it," James added as he got the transfiguration teacher's attention so she knew they were ready. She returned to them after she finished up with the group she was talking to.

They told her of their preferred extra classes and She and Sirius talked a moment about him picking up Arithmancy.

Peter had noticed a while ago that McGonagall had a bit of a soft spot where Sirius was concerned. It wasn't so much that she favoured him as that she seemed kinder to him. It wasn't noticeable when she was scolding the mutt either, she was ever the strict teacher, but outside of punishment, there was something different about the way she talked to him when compared to the others. Maybe it was because he was in Gryffindor when every logical bet would have been him being sorted into Slytherin, or perhaps it was because she felt bad for him in regard to his family, but Peter suspected that it was something much more simple than that. She just spent so much time with Sirius. Sure James got just as many detentions but for some reason, it seemed Sirius always ended up spending detention with the transfiguration teacher even when the two were separated.

"She tapped the empty sheets of parchment after they had finished speaking, making a schedule appear on each and handed them to the Marauders.

Peter looked at his schedule, he'd taken so few classes that there was a lot of blank blocks of time that he knew he wouldn't be allowed to actually enjoy. The bulk of his classes were on Monday and Thursday.

"We have potions with the Slytherins now," James observed as he examined his own schedule.

"Lames, it'll be harder to get by with pranking them in Slughorn's class," Sirius replied glaring at his own schedule. It must be pretty full.

"We've still got an hour til our first class it's Tuesday so it's..." Remus peeked at his schedule, "History. So let's see how much time off we've all got so we can get an idea of the damage."

"Thankfully the extra classes are only once a week," James replied lying his schedule on the table for them all to see. "Doesn't look like any of us have a break on Monday, all core classes but I've got the new class at the end of that one, definitely not setting quidditch practice on Monday, Merlin, not giving us an easy start of the week are they," James grumbled. "My Tuesday is pretty free though just history and runes but Wedsnday is full too. And I've only got one block free on Thursday and Friday. Gonna be a busy year."

"Looks like Pete's the freest," Remus said pulling Peter's schedule towards him, "at least that makes one of us. I've only got two hours on Tuesday, one on Wednesday and two on Friday."

"Still better than mine. Four hours all together." Sirius passed his own slip to Moony willingly.

"Wow, who would have guessed Sirius of all of us wins the award for most tight schedule." Remus teased looking at the hound's paper.

"Naturally it would happen this year." The dog growled, he seemed determined to be upset today but he'd feel better after history. A good nap does wonders for anyone's mood.

"We should head down now," Remus suggested. "Peter and James' schedules are pretty light today so they can go ahead and get to work on the... er hard stuff," Remus looked around to see if anyone was listening in but chose to avoid being descriptive about the animagi training anyway. "IF Binns gives us homework Peter you mind getting started on that after class. Then we can all just use that. Binns wouldn't notice a copied essay but I still don't think it's a good idea to copy directly. We can just use it as a guide or something." Remus explained as they walked along the corridors to the third floor when the History of Magic classroom was located. "That'll save some time at least."

"Moony, y'know you're brilliant, right?" James looked back at the werewolf as he spoke.

"I'm perfectly aware, thanks." he said but there was a slight twinge of pink on his cheeks in response.

"Good, what did we do without you?"

"We've established this already," Sirius rolled his eyes, "we nearly killed ourselves multiple times. Though I admit the idea of copying off Wormtail makes me nervous."

"We aren't copying," Repeated with a glare, "And I'll look over it first."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Moony."

When they entered the classroom James made an attempt to lead them to the seats right behind where Evans sat with a few Hufflepuff girls, all the other Gryffindor fifth years were in the opposite corner talking about makeup, or their nails, or Sirius, something like that anyway. Sirius and Remus bodily dragged James away from his red-headed weakness and closer towards the front of the class so she was behind him.

"No fair," he whined,"what do you expect me to do all class period, pay attention?"

Sirius laughed but Remus was all business by now, "It would be nice but if you honestly can't pay attention work on something else, don't you have quidditch plays to make up or something."

"I don't know who half my team is, Moony." James didn't appear so impressed with Remus now.

"Ten work on that other project." Remus set his bag on a desk, don in front of the class as Peter had expected but three rows back.

"I don't have any of the books," James argued throwing himself on his own chair leaving Sirius to sit in between them and Peter to sit on Remus' right, he was clearly working himself up into a fit and Peter was perfectly happy to be sitting with two people in between him and James. But Remus calmly handed him a small notebook. "What's this?"

"My notes on the spells you asked me about over the summer as well as a few... alternatives." Remus didn't peek around in suspicion of being overheard but Peter did.

"Alternatives?" Sirius asked taking the book and opening it himself.

"The other one seemed a bit iffy. The books I had was vague when describing it."

"Ours were too." James was looking over Sirius' shoulder pointing at something on the page with an expression of understanding.

"Yeah, I figured so I learned as much as I could but looked for alternatives anyway."

"We always try to to use what's recommended if possible, but it wouldn't be the first time we've substituted one spell for another," James replied still studying Remus' notes.

"I understand." Remus' response was whispered due to the start of the class, not that binns would have noticed anyway.

Peter tried to pay attention to the teachers on it if there was any. History was actually one of his best subjects, a fact that Remus, no doubt, noticed though Peter never mentioned it. He thought that was likely because no actual magic was required he wasn't stupid, just rather bad at magic. He was good at both History of Magic and Care of Magical creatures for that very reason, he was no slouch in potions either.

But when compared to people like James, Sirius, and Peter was content to hide in their shadows, it was safe there. They could have the limelight, all that meant was that there was more shadow for him to hide behind. It wasn't very gryffindor, but neither was Peter.

"Merlin, Moony. Your handwriting is awful." Sirius complained in a whisper he and James were still pouring over Remus' notebook making a note here or crossing something out there.

"You copy my notes all the time, you should be used to it by now."

"He makes me read it to him," James replied pulling the notebook closer to him to decipher what must have been a particularly sloppy section even erasing and rewriting a portion.

"Well I'm sorry, not everyone can afford to take writing classes." the wolf growled back under his breath.

"I didn't take classes, my gran taught me. It only took like a week." Sirius argued back a bit louder than he probably should have.

"It also takes you twice as long to copy my notes as it took for me to write them." Peter looked at James, it was usually his responsibility to stop Remus and Sirius when they started bickering like an old married couple but he was still busy deciphering Moony's notes, his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth in his concentration.

"At least my writing doesn't require a translator." Sirius counting they were starting to attract attention from a class that was desperate for a distraction.

"If you don't like the way I write you can just take your own notes! That is if you can finish writing the header before class is over!" Remus wasn't whispering anymore. The entire class was watching them now, it wasn't like Remus to make a scene especially this far from the full moon, and peter suspected he was enjoying himself.

Neither of the two really cared, they were just bored and demanding the other Marauder amuse them, and Prongs was acting like he couldn't hear them even though his classmates on the other side pretending to listen just to watch.

Wormtail was convinced he was entirely surrounded by crazy people.