"Where the hell is Potter?" Lily asked Amelia angrily, pacing back and
forth in the Common Room. "He knows he has a detention with Professor
Trellis in the dungeons! He knows I am supposed to collect him... Gods! He
even knows it's me who will get in trouble when he doesn't show!"
"I'm sure he'll be along soon," Amelia answered, peering over the top of her book. "He had Quidditch practice didn't he?" she inquired, just as a red-faced James came bounding through the portrait hole closely followed by Sirius.
"Finally you decided to show your face," Lily said acidly, glaring at James. He merely shrugged and ruffled his hair, making it messier. "You have a detention... remember?!"
"Oh..." James groaned, realization dawning on his face. He sprinted up the stairs to get changed, leaving Lily more annoyed than ever in the Common Room. Sirius watched in amusement as Lily tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for James. She was already half way out of the portrait hole when he stumbled down the stairs and after her.
"Evans, wait!" he cried, catching up to her. "I'm sorry I'm late, I completely forgot!"
"What ever, Potter," she snapped and kept walking, not looking at him once. They walked down to the dungeons in silence... an icy silence thanks to Lily's glacial demeanor. She was really annoyed.
"Don't be mad, Evans. I really did forget," James told Lily sincerely when they reached the dungeons.
"I don't want to hear it Potter," she answered blankly. "What you do in your own time is your business. I don't care. Just as long as I don't get into trouble by your own lack of responsibility." She opened the door to the dungeons and entered before James could say another word. He followed quietly.
"Ah, you two finally decide to show your faces," Professor Trellis regarded them frostily.
"Sorry, Professor," James said, stepping forward and ruffling his hair. "I was late from Quidditch practice. It wasn't Lily's fault." He glanced hopefully back at Lily.
"Is this true?" Professor Trellis asked Lily. Lily looked from Professor Trellis to James.
"Yes," Lily answered blandly.
"Very well then. Potter, 10 points from Gryffindor for being late and I will be seeing you next Thursday evening also. You may leave, Evans."
Lily left without a glance at James, satisfied that he would be spending another night in detention thanks to her but also slightly irked that he had not received a more demanding punishment. She didn't feel cleaning cauldrons was enough.
When she finally got back to the Common Room it was ten to nine.
"That took a while," Amelia commented when Lily trudged through the portrait hole. "Was Potter more hassle than usual?"
"I swear, Amelia, I don't know how he manages to walk from class to class everyday. His head must be so heavy that he is doing incredible strain on his neck!"
Amelia giggled, putting down her book. "Either that or his head is so full of air that he floats from class to class."
"Now, girls," Sirius interrupted them. "That's not nice."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Black, you're no better. Don't flatter yourself." She turned and went up the stairs to the girls dormitories, leaving Sirius and Amelia in silence.
"What does she have against James?" he asked Amelia. "What's he done to her?"
"Well," Amelia answered rudely, "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean."
Sirius scowled at Amelia as she bounded up the stairs after Lily. "You should have expected that, Sirius," Remus interrupted Sirius' thoughts.
"And why is that?" he asked, annoyed.
"Because that is exactly what James said to Lily after the exams last year about Snivellus."
"So? James has said much worse about Snivelly than that and me much worse than James ever could. It doesn't seem a good reason to loathe him."
"Girls are complicated creatures," Remus answered good-naturedly.
"Annoying is a better way to put it," Sirius contemplated bitterly, scowling at a bunch of fourth years who were watching him adoringly.
"Lily Evans isn't annoying," Remus defended her. "Once you get past the 'hating Prongs' demeanor she's very nice."
"Yea, and when you get past the 'irritating' demeanor, those fourth years are actually very intellectually challenging." Sirius rolled his eyes.
"That is a bad example. Everyone knows those fourth years can't string two sentences without saying the 'like' every second word."
"Exactly my point, Moony."
*
"Hey, Evans!" James called cheerfully from the Gryffindor table at breakfast the next morning. She rolled her eyes and kept walking. She was definitely not in the mood for Potter this morning. "Evans!" he cried nonetheless, watching in amusement as her face changed from happy to annoyed in about two seconds flat.
"You are so good at annoying that girl," Peter smirked as she walked past, ignoring them.
"I've always said it's one of Prongs finer traits," Sirius laughed, ignoring the glare that was coming from James.
"I'm not trying to annoy her," he whined. "Despite appearances, I'm just trying to get her to like me. But everything I do only makes her hate me more."
"Maybe you should stop trying then?" Remus asked from behind his book.
"Yeah," Peter spluttered his mouth full of toast. "If it's not working at all then it isn't worth it."
"I agree with Wormtail. If she wants nothing to do with you, then it's not up to you to change her mind." Sirius clapped James on the shoulder and Remus laid down his book, watching James.
"Actually, Sirius is right," Remus said and James started choking on his beans.
"Hey!" Sirius barked, feigning insult. "It's not that uncommon for me to be right!"
"How is he right?" Peter asked, bewildered.
"Well, it's not up to James to change Lily's mind. It's up to Lily to change her own. If you stop trying she might let down her defenses a little and see that you aren't as conceited as you seem." With that, Remus picked up his bag and left the hall, claiming he had left something in the common room.
"Hey!" James said moments later. "I don't seem conceited... do I?"
*
"Today we'll be looking at Animagi," Professor McGonagall told the sixth year Gryffindor's. "I'm sure you all know what an Animagi is, having seen me in my Animagus form several times, but what you will not know is how dangerous and difficult it is to do it."
Lily sighed fixedly as she listened to Potter and his friends snigger behind her.
"What is so funny?" Amelia hissed at Lily, getting fed up.
"Silence," Professor McGonagall snapped and continued with the lesson. "Attempting to change into another creature is a very dangerous transformation, extremely arduous even for the most experienced of witches and wizards. It should only be attempted in controlled situations, and you must be registered by the Ministry of Magic. Attempting to become an Animagus without being registered will result in up to four years imprisonment in Azkaban. If you survive that is."
The four boys in the back seats suddenly quietened the only sound in the room a grave cough made by Sirius.
Amelia put her hand up. "Yes Miss Bones?" McGonagall asked.
"Will we get a chance to attempt Animagus in class?" An excited whisper passed through the students.
"No, we most certainly will not," McGonagall answered sharply, her eyes whipping to the four Marauders in the back. "It would be absolute chaos. Although I am prepared to talk to any students who might wish to attempt it once they leave school," she added as an afterthought.
This time Lily put her hand up. "How old must you be to get registered and be allowed to attempt it?"
Professor McGonagall considered for a short while before answering. "For any witch or wizard, the standard age is 19 years. However, that can be overruled depending on a person's experience and schooling. For instance, that age might be lowered for a student who was completely serious about attempting to become an Animagus and had outstanding school records. But in saying that, if a person who had less than appropriate school records were to apply that age might be increased."
"Hear that Peter?" Lily heard Sirius laugh behind her. "You won't be able to apply until you're at least thirty!" They all burst out laughing, Peter included, receiving glares from both McGonagall and Lily.
"Potter, Black, Pettigrew and Lupin!" Professor McGonagall snapped, losing her temper. "I will be seeing you all in here Monday evening. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Professor," they mumbled.
"Now as I was saying," McGonagall continued. "I will be putting you into pairs for an assignment. You must hand in 18 inches of parchment - yes I said 18 Mr. Black – on at least six different people who attempted the Animagus transformation but didn't succeed for one reason or another. Due in on Tuesday."
"Tuesday?" Sirius hissed.
McGonagall started calling out names to be paired together. "Avery – Bones, Black – Evans, Lupin – Longbottom, Pettigrew – Potter..."
After they had all seated themselves next to their partners, Lily and Sirius very begrudgingly, McGonagall explained the last of the assignment before announcing that class was dismissed.
"Can you believe the gall of that woman?" Sirius asked bitterly. "Giving us that big an assignment, three days to do it and pairing me with Evans?"
"Well you have Evans, Sirius. Think about it. It will get done properly."
"Yes... her way and everything will be researched down to how to spell the word 'Animagus'. I'll see you guys next week, I'll no doubt be in the library all weekend."
Lily pushed past them and turned to look at Sirius, walking backwards and glaring at him. "I can assure you, Black, that I know exactly how to spell 'Animagus', and you need not worry." She turned and walked off, Amelia throwing Sirius a very nasty look.
"Good one, Padfoot," James congratulated, rolling his eyes.
*
"I'm sure he'll be along soon," Amelia answered, peering over the top of her book. "He had Quidditch practice didn't he?" she inquired, just as a red-faced James came bounding through the portrait hole closely followed by Sirius.
"Finally you decided to show your face," Lily said acidly, glaring at James. He merely shrugged and ruffled his hair, making it messier. "You have a detention... remember?!"
"Oh..." James groaned, realization dawning on his face. He sprinted up the stairs to get changed, leaving Lily more annoyed than ever in the Common Room. Sirius watched in amusement as Lily tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for James. She was already half way out of the portrait hole when he stumbled down the stairs and after her.
"Evans, wait!" he cried, catching up to her. "I'm sorry I'm late, I completely forgot!"
"What ever, Potter," she snapped and kept walking, not looking at him once. They walked down to the dungeons in silence... an icy silence thanks to Lily's glacial demeanor. She was really annoyed.
"Don't be mad, Evans. I really did forget," James told Lily sincerely when they reached the dungeons.
"I don't want to hear it Potter," she answered blankly. "What you do in your own time is your business. I don't care. Just as long as I don't get into trouble by your own lack of responsibility." She opened the door to the dungeons and entered before James could say another word. He followed quietly.
"Ah, you two finally decide to show your faces," Professor Trellis regarded them frostily.
"Sorry, Professor," James said, stepping forward and ruffling his hair. "I was late from Quidditch practice. It wasn't Lily's fault." He glanced hopefully back at Lily.
"Is this true?" Professor Trellis asked Lily. Lily looked from Professor Trellis to James.
"Yes," Lily answered blandly.
"Very well then. Potter, 10 points from Gryffindor for being late and I will be seeing you next Thursday evening also. You may leave, Evans."
Lily left without a glance at James, satisfied that he would be spending another night in detention thanks to her but also slightly irked that he had not received a more demanding punishment. She didn't feel cleaning cauldrons was enough.
When she finally got back to the Common Room it was ten to nine.
"That took a while," Amelia commented when Lily trudged through the portrait hole. "Was Potter more hassle than usual?"
"I swear, Amelia, I don't know how he manages to walk from class to class everyday. His head must be so heavy that he is doing incredible strain on his neck!"
Amelia giggled, putting down her book. "Either that or his head is so full of air that he floats from class to class."
"Now, girls," Sirius interrupted them. "That's not nice."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Black, you're no better. Don't flatter yourself." She turned and went up the stairs to the girls dormitories, leaving Sirius and Amelia in silence.
"What does she have against James?" he asked Amelia. "What's he done to her?"
"Well," Amelia answered rudely, "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean."
Sirius scowled at Amelia as she bounded up the stairs after Lily. "You should have expected that, Sirius," Remus interrupted Sirius' thoughts.
"And why is that?" he asked, annoyed.
"Because that is exactly what James said to Lily after the exams last year about Snivellus."
"So? James has said much worse about Snivelly than that and me much worse than James ever could. It doesn't seem a good reason to loathe him."
"Girls are complicated creatures," Remus answered good-naturedly.
"Annoying is a better way to put it," Sirius contemplated bitterly, scowling at a bunch of fourth years who were watching him adoringly.
"Lily Evans isn't annoying," Remus defended her. "Once you get past the 'hating Prongs' demeanor she's very nice."
"Yea, and when you get past the 'irritating' demeanor, those fourth years are actually very intellectually challenging." Sirius rolled his eyes.
"That is a bad example. Everyone knows those fourth years can't string two sentences without saying the 'like' every second word."
"Exactly my point, Moony."
*
"Hey, Evans!" James called cheerfully from the Gryffindor table at breakfast the next morning. She rolled her eyes and kept walking. She was definitely not in the mood for Potter this morning. "Evans!" he cried nonetheless, watching in amusement as her face changed from happy to annoyed in about two seconds flat.
"You are so good at annoying that girl," Peter smirked as she walked past, ignoring them.
"I've always said it's one of Prongs finer traits," Sirius laughed, ignoring the glare that was coming from James.
"I'm not trying to annoy her," he whined. "Despite appearances, I'm just trying to get her to like me. But everything I do only makes her hate me more."
"Maybe you should stop trying then?" Remus asked from behind his book.
"Yeah," Peter spluttered his mouth full of toast. "If it's not working at all then it isn't worth it."
"I agree with Wormtail. If she wants nothing to do with you, then it's not up to you to change her mind." Sirius clapped James on the shoulder and Remus laid down his book, watching James.
"Actually, Sirius is right," Remus said and James started choking on his beans.
"Hey!" Sirius barked, feigning insult. "It's not that uncommon for me to be right!"
"How is he right?" Peter asked, bewildered.
"Well, it's not up to James to change Lily's mind. It's up to Lily to change her own. If you stop trying she might let down her defenses a little and see that you aren't as conceited as you seem." With that, Remus picked up his bag and left the hall, claiming he had left something in the common room.
"Hey!" James said moments later. "I don't seem conceited... do I?"
*
"Today we'll be looking at Animagi," Professor McGonagall told the sixth year Gryffindor's. "I'm sure you all know what an Animagi is, having seen me in my Animagus form several times, but what you will not know is how dangerous and difficult it is to do it."
Lily sighed fixedly as she listened to Potter and his friends snigger behind her.
"What is so funny?" Amelia hissed at Lily, getting fed up.
"Silence," Professor McGonagall snapped and continued with the lesson. "Attempting to change into another creature is a very dangerous transformation, extremely arduous even for the most experienced of witches and wizards. It should only be attempted in controlled situations, and you must be registered by the Ministry of Magic. Attempting to become an Animagus without being registered will result in up to four years imprisonment in Azkaban. If you survive that is."
The four boys in the back seats suddenly quietened the only sound in the room a grave cough made by Sirius.
Amelia put her hand up. "Yes Miss Bones?" McGonagall asked.
"Will we get a chance to attempt Animagus in class?" An excited whisper passed through the students.
"No, we most certainly will not," McGonagall answered sharply, her eyes whipping to the four Marauders in the back. "It would be absolute chaos. Although I am prepared to talk to any students who might wish to attempt it once they leave school," she added as an afterthought.
This time Lily put her hand up. "How old must you be to get registered and be allowed to attempt it?"
Professor McGonagall considered for a short while before answering. "For any witch or wizard, the standard age is 19 years. However, that can be overruled depending on a person's experience and schooling. For instance, that age might be lowered for a student who was completely serious about attempting to become an Animagus and had outstanding school records. But in saying that, if a person who had less than appropriate school records were to apply that age might be increased."
"Hear that Peter?" Lily heard Sirius laugh behind her. "You won't be able to apply until you're at least thirty!" They all burst out laughing, Peter included, receiving glares from both McGonagall and Lily.
"Potter, Black, Pettigrew and Lupin!" Professor McGonagall snapped, losing her temper. "I will be seeing you all in here Monday evening. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Professor," they mumbled.
"Now as I was saying," McGonagall continued. "I will be putting you into pairs for an assignment. You must hand in 18 inches of parchment - yes I said 18 Mr. Black – on at least six different people who attempted the Animagus transformation but didn't succeed for one reason or another. Due in on Tuesday."
"Tuesday?" Sirius hissed.
McGonagall started calling out names to be paired together. "Avery – Bones, Black – Evans, Lupin – Longbottom, Pettigrew – Potter..."
After they had all seated themselves next to their partners, Lily and Sirius very begrudgingly, McGonagall explained the last of the assignment before announcing that class was dismissed.
"Can you believe the gall of that woman?" Sirius asked bitterly. "Giving us that big an assignment, three days to do it and pairing me with Evans?"
"Well you have Evans, Sirius. Think about it. It will get done properly."
"Yes... her way and everything will be researched down to how to spell the word 'Animagus'. I'll see you guys next week, I'll no doubt be in the library all weekend."
Lily pushed past them and turned to look at Sirius, walking backwards and glaring at him. "I can assure you, Black, that I know exactly how to spell 'Animagus', and you need not worry." She turned and walked off, Amelia throwing Sirius a very nasty look.
"Good one, Padfoot," James congratulated, rolling his eyes.
*