Disclaimer: It's all JKR's.
star estrella: Thank you very much, and I will. I'd be happy for some suggestions, if you're inclined to give them.
psalantino: I'm glad you liked it. Please keep reviewing.
LittleEar BigEar's sis: Thanks. I hope you like this, too.
petites sorcieres: Merci. Je veux vous ecriver, mais je sais un peu de francais. That's the extent of my French, and I'm not too sure of the grammar. I hope you keep reading.
SilverKnight7: Here's the update. I hope you like it.
Indiangurl: Harry a prankster - that's a good idea. I'm having fun thinking up the assignment, so I hope you keep reading this.
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana: I love them too, which is why I decided to write my own. And I will continue; I know how annoying unfinished fics can be.
somepotter: I'm glad you liked the beginning. I'll update as often as I can.
Epiphanys-Curse: Thanks. It's really wonderful that you liked it.
Trinity Day: I'm happy you find it enjoyable, and I'm sorry if it's a bit slow. I know I tend to ramble. I've tried to make this a bit quicker.
Leah: Thank you. I'll keep writing if people keep reading.
penny: Well, here's the DADA class for you. I hope you like this too.
Author's note: Many thanks to everybody who reviewed. Here's the next chapter; I hope you like it.
Chapter 3: Potter versus Potter
James glared down the length of the Gryffindor table. Professor Flitwick had been delighted with Lily and Thomson, and had suggested they partner each other for all further classes on Defensive Charms.
Lily hadn't seemed to mind; in fact she had seemed quite happy. Thomson, on the other hand, had looked nervous at the prospect, making James angrier, if anything.
"All my life," he muttered to Sirius, "I have tried to make Lily Evans notice me. And Thomson over there is offered a chance to speak to her every day for the rest of the term, and what does he do? He hesitates."
"Bad luck, Prongs," Sirius said sympathetically. "You never know - maybe Flitwick will put you with Lily next time."
"I want to know what he's hiding," James said.
"Who? Flitwick?" Peter asked.
"Don't be stupid, Wormtail," James snapped. "I meant Thomson, obviously."
"What makes you think he's hiding anything?" Remus demanded. "For heaven's sake, do you expect him to tell you his whole life story when he barely even knows your name?"
"That's the whole point!" James said, as Peter nodded vigorously. "He knows my name, but I don't know his."
"Yes, you do," Sirius said. "It's Thomson."
"He says it's Thomson. But didn't you notice that he always takes a second to respond if somebody calls his name unexpectedly. McGonagall spotted it; she looked puzzled, but she didn't say anything."
"Prongs, don't be ridiculous. Why would he want to change his name?"
"Well, isn't that obvious, Moony?"
"Oh, come on, he can't be a Death Eater, if that's what your thinking."
"Why not?" Sirius said. "Look at Regulus; he's halfway there already."
He looked balefully in the direction of the Slytherin table and muttered under his breath.
Remus threw up his hands in despair.
~*
Harry felt his morning had gone pretty well. He had managed to speak to Lily without gaping at her, and he'd been able to concentrate enough to perform all the defensive spells successfully.
He was looking forward to the afternoon and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Since Dumbledore was the Headmaster in this time as well, it would probably be good, unlike the nonsense they had learned with Umbridge and Lockhart.
What he was not looking forward to was the Defense teacher. Of the five he had known thus far, the first had been Dark, the second an idiot, the fourth a Death Eater and the fifth a miserable toad. He had no reason to imagine that this one would be any better - he had a vague recollection of Hermione telling him that it had been years since Hogwarts had had a good DADA teacher for more than four terms in a row. Then she had given him the usual haven't-you-ever-read-Hogwarts-a-History lecture.
He seated himself as far from Lily as he could without being obvious about it. She didn't seem to notice; she was talking to her friends. Harry was profoundly grateful for that.
The two seats on either side of him were empty... empty, that is, until James and Sirius came in and sat on either side of him. Remus came in also, gave him a reassuring smile, and sat on Sirius's other side.
Whatever Harry had expected, it had not been this. He had a very strong feeling that it would have been smarter to sit somewhere else. He couldn't get up now, so he settled for smiling at James and Sirius.
James returned his look with one that just stopped short of being a scowl. Sirius did scowl, an expression Harry had seen on his face many times, but never before had it been directed at him.
Remus looked from one to the other, sighed, glanced at Harry apologetically and took to studying the view out of the window.
Harry opened his mouth to say something - anything - to end the uncomfortable silence, but just then the door opened and a tall, blond wizard entered.
"Good afternoon, class," he said briskly. "I see we have a new arrival. Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts, Mr. Thomson. I am Professor Phobos Williamson. I am sure you will find our lessons well within your scope - I hear the Defense course at Madam Vivien's is among the most advanced in the world."
He smiled around at the class. "Today we shall begin something I know many of you have been looking forward to - the Patronus. It is an immensely complex spell that requires a great deal of talent and willpower, so I do not expect that, even at the end of the year, any of you will be able to achieve more than an indistinct silver mist if you are actually confronted with a Dementor."
"Hear that, Thomson?" James said casually. "So in the exam you can just create smoke and pretend it's your Patronus - if you can even create smoke, which I doubt."
There was a very distinct sneer on his face. Harry was forcibly and unpleasantly reminded of Draco Malfoy. He had known that James hexed Snape whenever possible, but he hadn't imagined that his father was habitually mean to everyone.
"Actually, Prongs," Sirius said, "I bet he can create smoke - I didn't see him doing much else in Charms."
Harry opened his mouth to retort - he had plenty of practice, thanks to Malfoy - but then he caught the pleading look Remus sent him and shut it again.
"Now, then," Professor Williamson was saying. "I have told you the spell, but we are only going to practice it in our next class. For now, I want to explain the theory..."
Harry settled down to taking notes.
As they left, he glanced at the lunar calendar pinned to the wall. The full moon was... tomorrow! For the second time that day, his heart almost stopped. If the Marauders checked the Map while on their monthly escapade... if they saw his name on it... abandoning all thoughts of dinner, he ran to Dumbledore's office.
Author's note: I will try to update at least once a week, but if I can't, I'm awfully sorry. I will finish this because I know how annoying incomplete fics can be.
star estrella: Thank you very much, and I will. I'd be happy for some suggestions, if you're inclined to give them.
psalantino: I'm glad you liked it. Please keep reviewing.
LittleEar BigEar's sis: Thanks. I hope you like this, too.
petites sorcieres: Merci. Je veux vous ecriver, mais je sais un peu de francais. That's the extent of my French, and I'm not too sure of the grammar. I hope you keep reading.
SilverKnight7: Here's the update. I hope you like it.
Indiangurl: Harry a prankster - that's a good idea. I'm having fun thinking up the assignment, so I hope you keep reading this.
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana: I love them too, which is why I decided to write my own. And I will continue; I know how annoying unfinished fics can be.
somepotter: I'm glad you liked the beginning. I'll update as often as I can.
Epiphanys-Curse: Thanks. It's really wonderful that you liked it.
Trinity Day: I'm happy you find it enjoyable, and I'm sorry if it's a bit slow. I know I tend to ramble. I've tried to make this a bit quicker.
Leah: Thank you. I'll keep writing if people keep reading.
penny: Well, here's the DADA class for you. I hope you like this too.
Author's note: Many thanks to everybody who reviewed. Here's the next chapter; I hope you like it.
Chapter 3: Potter versus Potter
James glared down the length of the Gryffindor table. Professor Flitwick had been delighted with Lily and Thomson, and had suggested they partner each other for all further classes on Defensive Charms.
Lily hadn't seemed to mind; in fact she had seemed quite happy. Thomson, on the other hand, had looked nervous at the prospect, making James angrier, if anything.
"All my life," he muttered to Sirius, "I have tried to make Lily Evans notice me. And Thomson over there is offered a chance to speak to her every day for the rest of the term, and what does he do? He hesitates."
"Bad luck, Prongs," Sirius said sympathetically. "You never know - maybe Flitwick will put you with Lily next time."
"I want to know what he's hiding," James said.
"Who? Flitwick?" Peter asked.
"Don't be stupid, Wormtail," James snapped. "I meant Thomson, obviously."
"What makes you think he's hiding anything?" Remus demanded. "For heaven's sake, do you expect him to tell you his whole life story when he barely even knows your name?"
"That's the whole point!" James said, as Peter nodded vigorously. "He knows my name, but I don't know his."
"Yes, you do," Sirius said. "It's Thomson."
"He says it's Thomson. But didn't you notice that he always takes a second to respond if somebody calls his name unexpectedly. McGonagall spotted it; she looked puzzled, but she didn't say anything."
"Prongs, don't be ridiculous. Why would he want to change his name?"
"Well, isn't that obvious, Moony?"
"Oh, come on, he can't be a Death Eater, if that's what your thinking."
"Why not?" Sirius said. "Look at Regulus; he's halfway there already."
He looked balefully in the direction of the Slytherin table and muttered under his breath.
Remus threw up his hands in despair.
~*
Harry felt his morning had gone pretty well. He had managed to speak to Lily without gaping at her, and he'd been able to concentrate enough to perform all the defensive spells successfully.
He was looking forward to the afternoon and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Since Dumbledore was the Headmaster in this time as well, it would probably be good, unlike the nonsense they had learned with Umbridge and Lockhart.
What he was not looking forward to was the Defense teacher. Of the five he had known thus far, the first had been Dark, the second an idiot, the fourth a Death Eater and the fifth a miserable toad. He had no reason to imagine that this one would be any better - he had a vague recollection of Hermione telling him that it had been years since Hogwarts had had a good DADA teacher for more than four terms in a row. Then she had given him the usual haven't-you-ever-read-Hogwarts-a-History lecture.
He seated himself as far from Lily as he could without being obvious about it. She didn't seem to notice; she was talking to her friends. Harry was profoundly grateful for that.
The two seats on either side of him were empty... empty, that is, until James and Sirius came in and sat on either side of him. Remus came in also, gave him a reassuring smile, and sat on Sirius's other side.
Whatever Harry had expected, it had not been this. He had a very strong feeling that it would have been smarter to sit somewhere else. He couldn't get up now, so he settled for smiling at James and Sirius.
James returned his look with one that just stopped short of being a scowl. Sirius did scowl, an expression Harry had seen on his face many times, but never before had it been directed at him.
Remus looked from one to the other, sighed, glanced at Harry apologetically and took to studying the view out of the window.
Harry opened his mouth to say something - anything - to end the uncomfortable silence, but just then the door opened and a tall, blond wizard entered.
"Good afternoon, class," he said briskly. "I see we have a new arrival. Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts, Mr. Thomson. I am Professor Phobos Williamson. I am sure you will find our lessons well within your scope - I hear the Defense course at Madam Vivien's is among the most advanced in the world."
He smiled around at the class. "Today we shall begin something I know many of you have been looking forward to - the Patronus. It is an immensely complex spell that requires a great deal of talent and willpower, so I do not expect that, even at the end of the year, any of you will be able to achieve more than an indistinct silver mist if you are actually confronted with a Dementor."
"Hear that, Thomson?" James said casually. "So in the exam you can just create smoke and pretend it's your Patronus - if you can even create smoke, which I doubt."
There was a very distinct sneer on his face. Harry was forcibly and unpleasantly reminded of Draco Malfoy. He had known that James hexed Snape whenever possible, but he hadn't imagined that his father was habitually mean to everyone.
"Actually, Prongs," Sirius said, "I bet he can create smoke - I didn't see him doing much else in Charms."
Harry opened his mouth to retort - he had plenty of practice, thanks to Malfoy - but then he caught the pleading look Remus sent him and shut it again.
"Now, then," Professor Williamson was saying. "I have told you the spell, but we are only going to practice it in our next class. For now, I want to explain the theory..."
Harry settled down to taking notes.
As they left, he glanced at the lunar calendar pinned to the wall. The full moon was... tomorrow! For the second time that day, his heart almost stopped. If the Marauders checked the Map while on their monthly escapade... if they saw his name on it... abandoning all thoughts of dinner, he ran to Dumbledore's office.
Author's note: I will try to update at least once a week, but if I can't, I'm awfully sorry. I will finish this because I know how annoying incomplete fics can be.