*********
"Now that the first years have been sorted, I believe the Headmaster would like to say a few words." Professor McGonagall replied, as she sat down in her seat.
"Thank you Minerva. First years please note: the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. I believe it might do a few fifth years good to remind themselves of this also…" here he paused and smiled in the direction of Sirius and James. "Also, for all students below third year, Hogsmeade is off-limits to you. I believe that the captains of the House Quidditch teams would like me to announce that this year Quidditch try-outs will be taking place in exactly thirteen days. With that out of the way, let us feast.
Albus Dumbledore sat down and the food began filling the golden dishes. Sirius began helping himself to all the recognizable foods; he was stuffing his face with a chicken leg, some potatoes, and a few swallows of his drink while James and Remus were trying to explain to him yet another plot they had devised to annoy Lily and her friends.
***
"The Werewolf is found worldwide, though it is believed to have originated in northern Europe. Humans turn into werewolves only when bitten." Professor Firneze boredly rambled on.
James was passing a few cruel notes to Lily, and she was beginning to make very irritated faces at him. Joie and Melody were furiously trying to stifle their sniggers. Sirius and a Ravenclaw named Terry were scribbling something on a wrinkled piece of parchment, almost acting serious.
"There is no known cure, though recent developments in potion-making have to a great extent alleviated the worst symptoms. Once a month, at the full moon, the otherwise sane and normal wizard or Muggle afflicted transforms into a murderous beast." He continued to prattle on.
Remus shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Almost uniquely among fantastic creatures, the werewolf actively seeks humans in preference to any other kind of prey."
James paused his hurried writing to glance up a Remus. Sirius, too, stopped writing and gave Remus a worried glimpse. Peter stared at the ground uneasily. Lily gave Remus a pitiful, I'm-so-sorry-is-there-anything-I-can- do look.
"Homework: Two rolls of parchment on werewolves; every aspect of them, how to identify them, how to kill them, precautionary measures to keep from being bitten. Use quotes from 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', but please don't plagiarize, Go," he finished just as the bell was ringing.
Remus met up with all his friends after class. Lily stayed behind also, to give Remus her sympathy.
"I'll see you in Herbology." Lily told Joie and Melody, catching up to James, Remus, Peter, and Sirius.
"Aw, should he be allowed to put you on the spot like that?" Lily asked him.
"Technically, he didn't put him on the spot. It's not like he called him out to demonstrate anything." Sirius corrected her.
"Still, didn't he make you a bit uncomfortable? You looked a little flustered." Lily sighed.
"I'll be alright guys, don't worry about me." Remus assured them.
"If you're sure… I'm going on to Herbology then. See you guys later." Lily waved off.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked, turning to see Peter looking confused and a bit perplexed.
"Is it just me… or was Lily just acting civil towards James and Sirius?" he finally managed to get out.
"That was kind of strange." Sirius replied.
"Come on guys, give her a break. She's not that bad." James was staring at Lily running off towards the Gryffindor tower.
"Excuse me? James, what's up with you?" Sirius gave him a peculiar look.
"Er, sorry, what did you say? I'm just sort of out of it right now. You know, loads of homework to do; see you in Herbology." James quickly answered, rushing off towards Lily.
After a long pause, Remus broke their uncomfortable silence.
"Was I the only one here that found that extremely disturbing?" he asked in the most serious tone he possessed.
"No, it wasn't just you." Sirius nodded. "That was really scary."
"Shall we follow him then?" Peter grinned. "See if he's running after Lily?"
"Why not? Maybe he'll kiss her." Sirius joked.
"Nah, sometimes I think about the unthinkable pain I would experience if Joie found out that that's almost all I think about."
"Sirius, Sirius, Sirius, what shall we do with you?"
"Nothing, let's just follow him." Sirius raced off in the direction James was going. Off in the distance, near the entrance to the Gryffindor tower, they could see James and Lily talking. Slowly walking up behind a statue of Derick the Dull, they could catch snags of their conversation.
"I'm really sorry." James replied.
"No, James, It's me that should be apologizing. I'm sorry too." Lily gave a little half smile.
"So would you like to some time?"
"Sure. I'm just two rooms over." She giggled at this.
"Great. Can I walk you to Herbology?"
"Of course."
They walked off together. Sirius, Remus, and Peter stood shocked behind the statue where they had been hiding. For a moment they just stared at each other, their mouths hanging open, but a few seconds later, the sound of muffled giggling could be heard from behind the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Now that the first years have been sorted, I believe the Headmaster would like to say a few words." Professor McGonagall replied, as she sat down in her seat.
"Thank you Minerva. First years please note: the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. I believe it might do a few fifth years good to remind themselves of this also…" here he paused and smiled in the direction of Sirius and James. "Also, for all students below third year, Hogsmeade is off-limits to you. I believe that the captains of the House Quidditch teams would like me to announce that this year Quidditch try-outs will be taking place in exactly thirteen days. With that out of the way, let us feast.
Albus Dumbledore sat down and the food began filling the golden dishes. Sirius began helping himself to all the recognizable foods; he was stuffing his face with a chicken leg, some potatoes, and a few swallows of his drink while James and Remus were trying to explain to him yet another plot they had devised to annoy Lily and her friends.
***
"The Werewolf is found worldwide, though it is believed to have originated in northern Europe. Humans turn into werewolves only when bitten." Professor Firneze boredly rambled on.
James was passing a few cruel notes to Lily, and she was beginning to make very irritated faces at him. Joie and Melody were furiously trying to stifle their sniggers. Sirius and a Ravenclaw named Terry were scribbling something on a wrinkled piece of parchment, almost acting serious.
"There is no known cure, though recent developments in potion-making have to a great extent alleviated the worst symptoms. Once a month, at the full moon, the otherwise sane and normal wizard or Muggle afflicted transforms into a murderous beast." He continued to prattle on.
Remus shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Almost uniquely among fantastic creatures, the werewolf actively seeks humans in preference to any other kind of prey."
James paused his hurried writing to glance up a Remus. Sirius, too, stopped writing and gave Remus a worried glimpse. Peter stared at the ground uneasily. Lily gave Remus a pitiful, I'm-so-sorry-is-there-anything-I-can- do look.
"Homework: Two rolls of parchment on werewolves; every aspect of them, how to identify them, how to kill them, precautionary measures to keep from being bitten. Use quotes from 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', but please don't plagiarize, Go," he finished just as the bell was ringing.
Remus met up with all his friends after class. Lily stayed behind also, to give Remus her sympathy.
"I'll see you in Herbology." Lily told Joie and Melody, catching up to James, Remus, Peter, and Sirius.
"Aw, should he be allowed to put you on the spot like that?" Lily asked him.
"Technically, he didn't put him on the spot. It's not like he called him out to demonstrate anything." Sirius corrected her.
"Still, didn't he make you a bit uncomfortable? You looked a little flustered." Lily sighed.
"I'll be alright guys, don't worry about me." Remus assured them.
"If you're sure… I'm going on to Herbology then. See you guys later." Lily waved off.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked, turning to see Peter looking confused and a bit perplexed.
"Is it just me… or was Lily just acting civil towards James and Sirius?" he finally managed to get out.
"That was kind of strange." Sirius replied.
"Come on guys, give her a break. She's not that bad." James was staring at Lily running off towards the Gryffindor tower.
"Excuse me? James, what's up with you?" Sirius gave him a peculiar look.
"Er, sorry, what did you say? I'm just sort of out of it right now. You know, loads of homework to do; see you in Herbology." James quickly answered, rushing off towards Lily.
After a long pause, Remus broke their uncomfortable silence.
"Was I the only one here that found that extremely disturbing?" he asked in the most serious tone he possessed.
"No, it wasn't just you." Sirius nodded. "That was really scary."
"Shall we follow him then?" Peter grinned. "See if he's running after Lily?"
"Why not? Maybe he'll kiss her." Sirius joked.
"Nah, sometimes I think about the unthinkable pain I would experience if Joie found out that that's almost all I think about."
"Sirius, Sirius, Sirius, what shall we do with you?"
"Nothing, let's just follow him." Sirius raced off in the direction James was going. Off in the distance, near the entrance to the Gryffindor tower, they could see James and Lily talking. Slowly walking up behind a statue of Derick the Dull, they could catch snags of their conversation.
"I'm really sorry." James replied.
"No, James, It's me that should be apologizing. I'm sorry too." Lily gave a little half smile.
"So would you like to some time?"
"Sure. I'm just two rooms over." She giggled at this.
"Great. Can I walk you to Herbology?"
"Of course."
They walked off together. Sirius, Remus, and Peter stood shocked behind the statue where they had been hiding. For a moment they just stared at each other, their mouths hanging open, but a few seconds later, the sound of muffled giggling could be heard from behind the portrait of the Fat Lady.