Sorry about the slight confusion over chapters like chapter 12 being in fact written as chapter 13 but hopefully this wont be a problem from now onwards. Thanks for the great new reviews! Here are my responses:

Thanks brennqt14 for yet another review! It feels like I'm writing this for you only sometimes!

Thanks lil-snuffles25 and they will find out in their second year

Thanks always-blond and LittleCrazy1 – yes they are, that's where James inherits his money from

Thanks again for reading and keep the reviews coming!

Chapter 14

Remus went home to visit his mother during the week. This didn't arouse much suspicion though Sirius did ask insensitively why Moony always looked so awful before and after his visit.

"Or before and after the full moon," James said. "Have you noticed he only visits her when there's a full moon?"

"How d'you notice a thing like that!" Peter said in awe.

"Dunno," James said vaguely.

"It's a coincidence Prongs," Sirius said. "D'you want a game of gobstones?"

"Yeah alright," James said and the pair of them began the game while Peter watched.

The weather improved gradually as February gradually merged into March. There was no more important disappearance news, though there was something in the papers about giants being in danger. There was a lot of talk about Hagrid the gamekeeper on the day this paper arrived.

"What d'you mean a half giant!" A third year Ravenclaw laughed as she and her friend descended the stairs to the entrance hall. "I've met someone almost as large as him before! I reckon he just swallowed a bottle of skele-gro when he was young or something."

"Well that's what a couple of Slytherins are saying," the other Ravenclaw said shrugging.

"Do you think it's true?" James asked Sirius as they passed the Ravenclaws.

"Dunno," Sirius said, "I don't suppose so, Dumbledore wouldn't employ a giant would he? I mean, that's like a half breed."

Remus looked at Sirius carefully before saying, "I don't really think that matters. Dumbledore's a trusting man isn't he? Very few headmaster's would let… some people into schools."

"What d'you think about the Dementors?" Peter asked excitedly. "Remus says the ministry is seriously considering using them to guard the Azkaban prison instead of Acromantulas."

"Well I s'pose Dementors are more dangerous aren't they?" James said. He had heard about them from his parents. They were supposed to be tall, black hooded and extremely dangerous creatures. "But it's a bit of a gamble isn't it? Dementors are free creatures. They could chose to turn against us."

"Some are worried Dementors may be involved in the mass disappearances." Remus said. "Along with other powerfully magical creatures, like giants."

"That's why there's all this fuss about Hagrid isn't there?" Peter said.

"Yes," Remus agreed. "But I'm not sure… Dumbledore would never employ him as Gamekeeper if there were any chance he was dangerous. Dumbledore's trusting but he's not stupid. I'm sure there's nothing wrong with the gamekeeper."

There was little more talk on the subjects of giants and Dementors, or of funny disappearances. The newspapers were now packed with news about the new minister for magic though there was a short article on auror Alastor Moody, who had discovered three more wizards to be acting under the imperius, so clearing them of all charges. The Easter holidays were approaching rapidly and though the workload was little compared to what the older years were complaining of, it was still far more than they had had before Christmas.

"Yes, the essay on Artemisia Lufkin is in for next Monday please… It is a subject of great importance in your exams, which you are required to pass to be excepted into your second year." Professor Binns said at the end of History of magic.

"Who's Artemisia Lufkin" Peter asked nervously.

Sirius and James groaned. "What do you do all lesson Peter!" Sirius said. "Honestly! It's almost as if you don't pay attention!"

"Yes I do!" Peter said indignantly.

"Bit rich coming from you though," Remus said though he was smiling. "Artemisia Lufkin was the first witch ever to become minister for magic Peter." He said. "In 1800. Then Grogan Stump in 1811 sorted out which creatures were beings and which were beasts. That's useful too."

"Thanks," Peter said scribbling quickly.

Professor Binns was not the only one to increase their workload. The new potions teacher, Professor Blint was giving them several potions to write about each weekend. Though she was much kinder than Gryllus her lessons were no easier.

Peter was having particular difficulty with the potion to cure boils they had been asked to look at in Friday's lesson and continually forgot to save the porcupine quills until the cauldron had been removed from the fire.

"It's a very standard potion you know," Professor Blint said as she helped Peter mop up his potion, which had exploded over the floor.

James, Sirius and Remus however had been doing far better in potions over the last two months. "Oh well done!" Blint said happily as their cauldrons began to emit reddish smoke. "That mean's its finished!"

They were also making huge progress in Transfiguration. Professor McGonnagal had taken to awarding them at least 10 points a week for their perfect transfiguration of a tortoise into a dinner plate. Though Peter's was green and still moved very slowly he managed it with help from the others.

They were not struggling in any of the other subjects and James and Sirius especially felt confident that they didn't need to revise much for their end of year exams.