((Disclaimer: I've made a few characters...Theia, Elle, Leilanni, Allan. The rest are JK Rowling's. Also, the spell 'Portus' was created by JK Rowling, but I created the counter-spell. Please read and review. Thanks to Miss Confidante and The all mighty and powerful M for their reviews!))

James couldn't help but feel slightly jealous as he watched Sirius and Theia holding hands down the hallway. Beside him, Lily was chattering away to Remus about Arithmancy. So much for being included. But his spirits lifted when Lily turned to him.

"Remus and I are free tonight, can you make it to our study club in the library?" she asked. James nodded. Their conversation was silenced as Professor McGonagall cleared her throat at the front. She was one of the younger teachers, but she was definitely not one to mess around with. The class fell silent.

"You could hear a quill drop in McGonagall's class." Sirius muttered.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Black. Do not talk in my lesson." McGonagall reprimanded. Sirius fell silent. Lily grinned. McGonagall was easily her favourite teacher because she could keep guys like Sirius and James in line with ease. 'Not James' said a nagging voice in Lily's brain. Lily mentally corrected herself. McGonagall could keep guys like Sirius in line with ease.

"Now, today's lesson is on Port Keys. You will not be transfiguring, but creating. The ministry of Magic has allowed us authorization for Port Keys today, and if you are successful, you will be transported merely to the front of the class. This will be a special lesson not only because it stretches Transfiguration and that Port Keys are monitored closely by the Ministry, but also for another reason. Who knows the answer? Yes, Leilanni?"

Leilanni's hand shot into the air, and as McGonagall called on her, she gave her answer proudly. "According to Hogwarts: A History, you can't Apparate in the Hogwarts grounds. As far as I know, Port Keys are allowed, but are detected easily."

"Correct. Ten points to Gryffindor. Remember, class, the command is Portus. You may read the page on Port Keys in your textbooks, and then begin when you feel necessary. Ten points will go to either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, depending on which house succeeds first."

Lily glanced at James from the corner of her eye and saw that he looked really determined. Both hands were supporting his head like all his hard thinking and reading was making it unbearably heavy. His caramel eyes were narrowed in deep thought. He straightened, and gripped his wand.

"Portus." James commanded, pointing his wand at the quill he was supposed to make a Port Key. He gripped the pen, and was supposed to be transported to the front of the class, but nothing happened.

"Can I help?" Lily asked. James glanced up at her, shocked.

"Yeah...of course." he replied.

"Okay.... you're saying it right, with emphasis on the 'tus' but your wand movement is wrong. You're jabbing with your wand, when it's a smooth flick." Lily said, demonstrating. There was no evident change, but as Lily took hold of the quill, she vanished. Slightly worried, James looked hopefully towards the front of the class. There was a swirling of gold mist, and then Lily appeared, beaming.

"Well done, Evans! Ten points to Gryffindor for your Port key. And...'De-portus! Accio quill!" McGonagall said. The quill was no longer a Port key, and sailed into her hand. Lily headed back to her seat. As she sat down, Remus was successfully ported. James gave her method a try, and he, too, wound up the the front of the class. One by one, everybody ported themselves, except Peter.

"Psssst. Wormtail. It's not 'Por-tis, it's more like Por-tuhs." supplied James. Moments later, even Wormtail was up at the front of the class.

"Well done. Homework will be assigned to Talus and Pettigrew, for being the last two." McGonagall stated. "You are dismissed." And she collected all the quills that were no longer Port keys.

As the class rose, Theia headed for Lily, grumbling about too much homework.

"Well, you can read up on Port Keys while I'm studying with Remus and James." Lily said. She was always eager to get her homework done. Theia nodded, but wasn't too happy.

"If we have homework in Care of Magical Creatures, I'm going on strike." she grumbled. Lily smiled, and the two headed outside to Grubby-Plank's lesson.

"In today's class, we will be feeding Flobberworms their lettuce. I want two groups, girls and boys. The girls will be feeding the male Flobberworms, and the boys the females. Can anybody tell me the difference between the genders?"

"Yeah. We've got a little something the ladies don't have." Sirius called out. The girls from all four houses that took the lesson giggled. Most of the blushed furiously. Lily groaned.

"I will not tolerate that kind of talk, Mr. Black. Yes, Allan?" Grubby-Plank said. The short, stocky boy named Allan, Theia's boyfriend the year before, answered.

"The males are longer and rounder."

"Ten points to Hufflepuff!" Grubby-plank cried merrily. "Now off you go, you'll find the lettuce by the pens."

As the girls headed left, the boys turned to the pens on the right. They began tossing in lettuce leaves to the incredibly boring Flobberworms.

"I wouldn't know if one was dead and the other was alive." Sirius complained. Grubby-Plank heard him.

"Very good question! Ten points to Gryffindor! When Flobberworms die, there will be a foul stench released from them, and they will rot." Grubby-Plank answered. Sirius was momentarily surprised that he had gained points, but quickly snorted.

"Snivellus must be a dead Flobberworm." Sirius stated. James was about to agree, but remembered that he was trying to be nicer. He pursed his lips, and said nothing. Snape was standing just behind the pair, and heard Sirius' comment. Unfortunately, he thought it was James that had said it, and hissed a curse, which grazed James's cheek. It burned the flesh, and left him with a deep wound.

"You'll pay for that, Snivelly!" Sirius growled. "Petrificus totalus!" And Severus dropped to the ground, unable to move.

"Potter, to Madam Pomfrey! Black and Snape, you both have detentions with Mr. Filch tonight at 7 o'clock. Sparring is not permitted!" Grubby-Plank cried. She rummaged through her pockets and grabbed her wand. After saying a countering spell, Snape was back on his feet, and scowling at Sirius. James noticed Lily's gaze upon him, Sirius and Snape. He winced, hoping she hadn't thought he caused the attack, and headed off to the infirmary.