CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE Strange Days

Ophelia stared blankly at the feet of parchment she had copied in Wand Combat class, wondering how she still had feeling in her left hand. The page next to her belonged to Sirius and was completely blank, save a tiny doodly in the top corner. She elbowed him in the ribs and gestured to the blank parchment. He shrugged in reply and began copying from hers.

"When you feel you have learned enough today, you may pack up your things and leave," said Professor Nostrom.

Mai looked quizzically at Nostrom, debating whether or not this offer was a trick. After a few moments she quickly grabbed at her books and slid out of the room.

Ophelia wrote a few more key points down before stuffing the roll of parchment back into her bookbag. James and Sirius were both eager to get to lunch, as neither had really enjoyed their first lesson.

The three of them ventured out into the corridors, bleary-eyed from the dark dungeon. A ray of sunlight fell across the grey stone, causing James to make a hissing noise and shield his eyes.

"Sirius!" Pandora's shrill voice called down the hall, as she ran to catch up to them. "So how did you like that lesson? Pretty difficult, huh? And how about Nost--"

"Don't you have a cauldron to clean or something?" snapped Ophelia, "Like, far, far away from us?"

"I don't remember addressing you, Lupin," Pandora hissed back, hurrying down the hall.

"Aw," gushed Sirius, "You got the demon child to go away."

"She was flirting with you!" cried Ophelia, "Of course I was going to tell her to bugger off."

"That was her flirting with me?"

"It's a wonder you and Phe are together," James chuckled, as they entered the Great Hall.

Ophelia sat down next to a beaming Lily. "How were your first classes?"

"Well," began Lily, a frown creasing her brow, "I didn't excatly... have classes."

"How could you not have classes?" asked Ophelia.

"After I left you all this morning, I went to meet Professor Dumbledore--"

"We know that, Lil, get on with it," James urged.

"A representative from the Department was there," she continued, "And as it turns out, my training will take up most of my time. I only have four classes now; Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Charms and Transfigurations."

"I would kill for four classes!" cried Pete.

"You have one more than that, what's the big deal?" Talia laughed.

"Arithmancy? I didn't think I would have to take a stupid numbers class just to work at Gringotts."

Ophelia rolled her eyes at her friend and helped herself to a glass of banana juice. She glanced round the table, her eyes falling upon Remus and their new friend, Vega, returning from classes. Remus was smiling, and generally looked better than he had earlier that morning. When he sat down across from his sister, he threw her a grin and continued on with his conversation.

"What's next?" she asked wearily, "Please tell me we have something all together."

Sirius found his crumpled schedule in his pocket and quickly scanned it. "I'm afraid not. Another career oriented class; Standard Espionage and Reconnaissance. Sounds like a heap of homework."

"Espionage?" Lily repeated, covering her mouth with her hand, "Isn't that like... spying?"

"Well, we are learning how to become Aurors," giggled Ophelia, "Spying is part of that I guess. So anyway, how was your first... non-class, training session?"

"I actually can't talk about it..." she replied quietly.

"L-Like secrets?" Ophelia stuttered, "We've never kept secrets. Well except for that bit about Moony."

"Are you forgetting about when you wouldn't admit you liked Sirius?"

"What about me?" Sirius interrupted, poking his head between the two of them.

"That's because I didn't know myself!" she cried, "Besides, I didn't think all this Unspeakable stuff happened until you actually became... an Unspeakable..."

"Neither did I, but I guess it just goes with the territory," shrugged Lily, pushing her lunch around on her plate, "You understand, right?"

"Lil, of course I do, I was just being a git."

Vega got to her feet and feigned a smile, "I left some textbooks up in the dorm..."

"Oh, well I'll go with you," offered Ophelia, "I'm not very hungry."

"Ooh, me too!" Lily said, taking a last sip from her water glass, "Don't leave me here."

James gestured to Talia, "Are you going to go?"

Talia, who until now had taken to staring across the Hall, snapped out of her daydream, "Mwhat? N-no, I'm fine here thanks."

"Suit yourself," answered Ophelia, following Lily and Vega into the corridors. "How was your morning?" she asked, "Are you finding your way around easily?"

Vega wrinkled her forehead, "Er... not exactly. Beauxbatons was easier to navigate. Here it seems as if half the challenge is finding your way to class."

"So Moony was no help then?" laughed Lily.

"Moony?"

"Oh, it's just a... a nickname we have for Remus," answered Ophelia quickly. She saw Lily nod out of the corner of her eye and eased up a bit.

"No, he was great," said Vega, "It was just difficult trying to remember all of the hallways and stairwells he showed me. At my old school our stairs didn't move, they were happy where they were."

The three girls made their way to the dormitory, where Vega quickly located her things.

"What class do you have now?" asked Lily, running a silver-handled brush through her hair.

"Oh, I don't have one right now, Remus and I have a free period," she explained, "I thought I would get a little head start on the reading for my other classes."

"You two are going to get along so well," laughed Ophelia, pushing Lily towards her, "You can study together."

"Phe's exaggerating, I don't study that often." Lily argued.

"I didn't say it was a bad thing. Look where it's got you; you're the first recruit into the Department of Mysteries in ten years. From Hogwarts, I mean."

A furious blush crept onto her cheeks, nearly matching the shade of her hair. Lily shook her head and dropped a few textbooks onto her bed, "Come on, we should be getting back."

They returned to the Great Hall just as everyone began filing out. As he was passing, Sirius grabbed Ophelia by the arm and spun her around.

"Class is this way," said Sirius.

"I'll talk to you later!" she called after her friends, falling in step with James and Sirius. "So where is this next class?"

"Next door to Flitwick's room," he replied.

"Professor Flitwick," said Ophelia sternly.

Sirius smiled and clasped her hand, "Sorry Phe. I didn't mean anything by it."

James stood dumbfounded in front of the opened door before stepping inside. "Why didn't I notice this earlier?"

"Because you were too busy hexing Slytherins?" she volunteered, immediately regretting it a moment later.

"Thanks for the reminder," James grinned, "We need to get on that right away, Padfoot. And none of these childish pranks, I think we've moved on to bigger and more intricate hexes."

Ophelia chose a table near the middle, hoping it would keep the boys more in line. Those that were in their earlier class filed back in.

Mai rushed into the room, out of breath as usual, and collapsed into the chair next to Sirius. "What did I miss?" she gasped, a wicked smirk playing at her lips.

"Nothing," answered James, gesturing to the front of the class, "I don't even think the professor knows we're here."

A dark haired man was sitting with his head down on the desk, his back rising and falling in a steady motion. He was asleep.

"You would be wrong, Mr Potter," said the man, rising from the desk, "I know exactly who has come in."

He was shorter in stature than Nostrom, but his booming voice commanded the same attention. A piece of chalk danced across the board, spelling out his name with each stroke.

Professor O'Leary paced the length of the room, taking in the faces staring back at him. "Who can tell me why you are all here?"

Ralph's hand confidently rose into the air. "To learn how to be Aurors."

"That is a fool's answer," O'Leary bellowed, "You are here to discover the ways to disguise yourself... to watch others without being known... to gain knowledge and secrets in order to have an advantage over your adversary."

Mai raised her hand, "Excuse me, but are you an Auror?"

"How is that relevant?"

"Well, the skills that you mentioned will be aiding us as we beome Aurors," she explained, "I think it appropriate that we have an Auror teaching us."

A genuine smile flickered across Professor O'Leary's face, but soon vanished. "Yes, Miss Thylacine, I was trained as an Auror and recruited by the Ministry. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, thank you."

"This class will be mainly practical," he continued, "This means you will be executing what I teach you in the classroom, on the test field."

"The test field?" Mai mouthed, leaning forward slightly so Ophelia could see her. They both grinned and punched their fists into the air.

"As I see some of our students are more excited about the practical components of this course, I will begin our first lesson. Please open your textbooks to page three, 'The Element of Surprise'. Read to the end of the period. I want the first two chapters read by Wednesday's class, as you will be tested on it."

"T-Tested?" stuttered Druciff, "We're going to be tested already? I hate tests..."

"As I said earlier, Mr Baryshnakov, this class is practical, as are the tests."

Druciff nodded, as if satisfied with the given answer and returned to the text.

Ophelia began reading the first chapter, when she was stuck in the side with a pointy quill. "Quit trying to distract me," she giggled, "Though I'd still whoop you on the test field."

"I was just going to ask if I could borrow some ink, but now that you mentioned it... you could not whoop me," replied Sirius.

"I Could too."

"Could not," he retorted.

"Perhaps you could settle this on the actual field." O'Leary suggested, walking by in front of them.

"Sorry Professor," Ophelia muttered, burying her face in the book.

"No, no. Please do not apologise. I like to encourage the wagering of duels out on the testing field," the professor explained, "When you pit yourself against a friend, it makes the process all the more fun."

Mai stifled back a laugh and concentrated instead on the work in front of her.

The remainder of the class passed without incident, and when they were finally dismissed, James realised they had the next class free.

"Wait a moment," Sirius began, "Do we have to be in the library or the common room or something?"

James shook his head. "Nope, it's completely free, to use as we please."

"Finally, a class that I understand..." howled Sirius, slapping his knee, "Do you get it? Because we're no--"

"Did you hear the good news, Potter?" Snape's voice hissed from behind them.

Sirius sighed heavily and turned around, "What would that be, Snivellus? You've decided to drop out of Hogwarts and join the Muggle circus?"

"Was I talking to you, Black?"

"No, but Phe and I have a habit of speaking up today, don't we?"

"Yep. Bye now," said Ophelia.

"Wait! I haven't had the opportunity to tell you my good news."

James rolled his eyes, "That would be a problem if I cared, which I don't. Good bye Snivellus."

The group of friends continued to making their way back to the common room.

"That's okay," Snape called after them, "I suppose we can settle this on the Quidditch pitch."

"Don't think on it," murmured Sirius, "He only made the team because Gregory Palmers went missing over the summer."

"I don't car-- wait, Palmers is missing?"

He shrugged, "I don't know, he could be. My point is; you're the bloody captain, Snivelly has no chance of beating you."

"Oh, I know," smirked James, "I wasn't worrying about that."

Good, well then what were you worrying about?"

"Do you think Evans will be upset if I squash him like a gnat during the game?"

"Lily won't mind if you do it while playing Quidditch," Ophelia piped up, "It's totally acceptable then."

"I won't mind what?" asked Lily, as she caught up to them.

"I was just telling James here that you wouldn't mind if he brought you liles on your date. He was worried they might be a little... old fashioned." explained Ophelia.

Lily smiled, "No, not at all."

"Then it's settled," said Sirius, throwing an arm over James and Lily's shoulders, "Prongs will be a gentleman and you will be happy and Phe and I can get away for a bit while the two of you study."

"That was really nice great how you just slipped that in there," chuckled James, shaking his head and stepping towards the Fat Lady. "Nyctea Scandiaca."

The portrait swung back and the four of them stepped inside. Lily glanced around, "Wasn't Mai just with us a second ago? I'm not just going insane?"

Ophelia shrugged and dropped her things onto the couch, "I've gotten used to it. She's a busy girl; she has things to do, people to meet."

"But who does she know that we don't?" Lily continued, "I mean, all of her friends graduated, and I don't think she knows anyone in Seventh Year."

"Except Mordechai," said James.

"I don't think they really talked. Didn't Tal kind drag him off rather early on in the night?"

Sirius fell heavily against the couch. If there were a noise to be made from rolling your eyes, he would have made it. "Why are we sitting around gossiping like old maids?" he asked, "This is our first spare class and we're spending it discussing the secrets of Mai and Talia?"

"Not Talia--"

"Just Mai," answered Lily, cutting off her friend.

"Tal doesn't have any secrets." Ophelia laughed, "Though she probably likes to think she does."

James and Sirius glared at the two girls, forcing them to bring an end to their conversation.

"Fine, what would you like to talk about?" retorted Lily, "As I didn't have any classes today, I don't have any homework to do. So you better think of a good way to occupy my time for the next few hours."

James smirked but hastily received an elbow in the stomach from Sirius. "Not a good idea, mate."

Ophelia laughed and and rifled casually through her Reconnaissance textbook. The pictures inside were traversing their way through some sort of obstacle course, trying to get by without being caught by the opposing team.

Lily peered over her shoulder, "What class is that for?"

The others quickly explained the concept of the course, and O'Leary's style of practical teaching.

"He can't make you do that!" she cried, "That completely crosses the bounds as a teacher. What if you get hurt? What will you do if--"

"Lil, he's only preparing us for what to expect at college," replied James, "I know I'd rather be over-prepared when I get there, than setting foot inside a testing field for the first time."

"I suppose that makes sense, but I would still rather you weren't forced to do it.," admitted Lily solemnly.

Ophelia closed the book and took her friend by the wrist, "Come on, I need to talk to you."

"Isn't that what we've been doing all this time?" Sirius called after them.

"We'll be down in a minute, I'm sure you and James can occupy yourselves until then," she hollered back, leading Lily to their room.

In a flash, Sirius had dove across the couch, "Okay, now that we're alone I have to tell you something."

James frowned, "Alright... what is it?"

"I thought of the perfect idea to get Snape," he answered proudly.

"Well come on, let's hear it."

Sirius paused until he was sure he had every bit of James' attention. "Wouldn't it be an absolute shame, if poor old Snivellus were to come across Remus during the next full moon?"

"A terrible shame," he grinned, "He would be torn to pieces. But there's only one little problem, Padfoot my friend. If we let that happen Snape would go off to the entire school. Everyone would know of Moony's... ailment."

"I've thought of that, too. While Madam Pomfrey is patching the old git up, Dumbledore would give him a lecture about keeping his greasy nose out of business that isn't his."

"And would warn him not to let it get around Hogwarts..." finished James.

"Or anywhere else for that matter."

James slowly nodded his head, as if processing the information with every tilt of his chin. "I like your idea, Padfoot. Let's tell the others tonight after dinner."