DISCLAIMER: JKR owns the great world of HP. I'm just borrowing it awhile.

Chapter Four: First Classes

Entering the History of Magic classroom, Remus and the other Marauders chose seats half way between the back and the front. James told him that if they sat close to the front the teachers can see you too easily, and if you sat at the back it is automatically assumed you are a troublemaker.

"We don't want to be known quite yet as troublemakers," Sirius whispered as they sat down dropping their bags onto the floor. "Let's see how long it takes them to figure out it's us."

They each pulled out parchment and quills, then got the shock of their life as their teacher floated through the blackboard. Sure, he knew there was ghosts at Hogwarts but Remus hadn't expected to be taught by one. Without calling a role or looking at them the teacher began.

"My name is Professor Binns. I will be teaching you history this year." With that he opened his book and said, "Let's start at the Goblin Rebellion in 1657."

The four boys tried to take notes but by the end of the lesson only Remus was still making notes. James and Sirius were doodling on their parchment and Peter was gazing out the window paying no attention at all. Remus had always thought learning about history was interesting but Professor Binns could make reading a book about the life of an amoeba like interesting compared to his class.

When the bell rang he put down his quill with a sigh and gathered his papers. He certainly hoped the other classes were less boring. Nudging Peter out of his daydream the boys grabbed their things and headed out the door.

"Lunch!" Sirius grinned happily.

"You can't be hungry already," Remus stared at him. "With what you packed away at breakfast and the feast last night? Do you have a third stomach?" He was talking to air. Sirius and James had ran off. It didn't take long for them to come back though.

"Anyone know the way to the Great Hall?" James asked.

Remus laughed and shook his head. Looking toward the portrait on the wall next to him (he wasn't going to make the mistake of leading them there a second time) he asked the shepard watching over his flock of sheep for directions. After the shepard pointed them in the right direction they headed off.

"We have double potions after lunch," James said. "I wonder who the potions professor is?"

"Dunno," Sirius said. "Can't be less fun than McGonagall though. We don't have her again till Wednesday though. We had a double period with her this morning that we missed." He walked on for a second then said, "Oh damn!"

"What?" Peter asked curiously at this last exclaimation from Sirius.

"We're going to get a detention for that," Sirius explained. "We all are. Which means neither James or I won that bet on the train since we will both get the first detention."

"Never thought of that," James looked downcast.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Why don't you two just bet each other that you can get the most detentions in all your years at Hogwarts? We'll make a note of it and pull it out at the end of our seventh year to see who won."

James and Sirius looked at each other. Then grinned and stuck out their hands simultaneously. "Deal," they chorused together. Remus reached into his backpack and withdrew a spare bit of parchment and a quill.

"We, Sirius Black and James Potter, do hereby bet each other that one of us will get the most detentions Hogwarts has ever had. We, the undersigned, agree not to deliberately insult Professors or do other items of cheating in order to gain the prestige of being the winner."

SignedJames Potter

Sirius Black

Date2nd September 1971

WitnessedPeter Pettigrew

Remus Lupin

"There that should do it," Remus signed his name and folded the paper placing it into his bag along with his quill. "We'll find somewhere to put it later. In the meantime, let's go eat before the food is gone."

They made it to the Great Hall in time for a quick bite before getting up to find their potions classroom.

"You ought to try to keep out of Professor Cunnun's Way," Arthur Weasley had warned them. "He hates students. Of course, he isn't biased. He hates all students so it's not like he favours other Houses over us. In Potions just follow instructions and keep as quiet as possible."

Remus and the others had decided to follow this advice on the first day. Sirius and James called it, "Testing the Waters." They wanted to know how bad Professor Cunnun is before starting to pull pranks. "To see if it's at all possible to prank him in class and live to see the next day," as Sirius said.

They filed quietly into the classroom, again taking seats in the middle of the class. The Gryffindors were apparently sharing this class with the Slytherins, Remus noted as other students entered. Everyone appeared to have been warned about the teacher, he thought, because no one is talking and everyone is ready to go already.

As the bell rang, the door quietly opened and a man wearing black robes entered.

"Welcome to Potions," he said. Not a word was spoken from the students. "Follow my exact instructions and you may pass this class. Do not follow instructions and you will face the consequences." He looked around the room once then walked to the blackboard. Waving his wand precise instructions appeared for what looked to be a Headache Potion. For the first hour everyone took notes. Then they were told to clear their desks and pair up and try to make the potion. Professor Cunnun said the word 'try' with particular emphasis, as though, Remus thought that they didn't have a hope of coming close. Sirius and James paired up, leaving Remus with Peter. With Peter following direct instructions from Remus, their potion managed to turn the required blue colour although not many of the class even managed that. The bell rang just as they were finishing up.

"Bottle your potions and bring them here," Professor Cunnun ordered. "Then get out. Homework: three feet on each of the ingredients in the Headache Potion and what their effects are on the potion."

"Intimidate much?" were the first words out of Sirius' mouth as they reached the entrance after climbing the stairs from the dungeons.

"Yeah," Peter squeaked. "The black robes made the effect scary."

"Actually," Remus spoke up. "He probably wears black robes because of the potions. Potion Masters were black coz it stains the least when experiments explode."

"You're like a walking dictionary and thesaurus," James grinned.

This time, knowing they were joking, Remus grinned in return. "Let's eat," he said. "After that class, I'm looking for food to calm my frazzled nerves."

"You were nervous?" Sirius asked in astonishment. "You never looked it."

"Unlike the rest of us mere mortals," James put in.

Remus shook his head. "Come on guys, let's eat."

Hey guys!

I realise this chapter is short. However hopefully I'll be updating more often than I used to so that may make up for it some. Reviews are loved please!

Fuzzy always,

TheWall