Disclaimer: If this were all mine i would be using the name JKR, not the lame excuse that i have in real life...
"I will be putting you into pairs for today's class work," announced Professor McGonagall to the sixth year Gryffindors.
A groan rose from the class. Professor McGonagall glared at them before lowering her eyes to the parchment in front of her. A week had passed since The Fight. A week of torture for the four boys as they purposely ignored each other's group.
"Black and McKinnon. Potter and Evans. (Somewhere from the back of the class came the sound of quiet whooping) Lupin and Prewett. Pettigrew and Jordan." Professor McGonagall called.
A few names later, James and Lily were sitting together (much to Lily's disgust) at a table next to Remus and Gideon Prewett. James kept winking at Lily and mouthing words of wordless excitement to Remus, who was trying not to grin.
"For HEAVEN'S sake, Potter!" whispered Lily angrily, after watching James wiggle his eyebrows suggestively at her. "It's just a classroom exercise!"
"Yes, my darling Evans, but it's the first step towards a date…" James trailed off, looking at her hopefully.
But Lily let out a tinkling laugh that made James' stomach flip around. "You must be joking! You seriously think a classroom exercise will make me change my mind about you?"
"Well…if you gave it enough thought –"
"Shut up, Potter! Let's just get on with the work!"
"What kind of work do you mean exactly?" James asked mischievously.
"POTTER!" Lily almost shouted.
Meanwhile, Sirius was having a problem.
"Professor? Professor, Marlene isn't here!" he told Professor McGonagall.
"Where is Miss McKinnon?" she asked the class.
"She had to go to the Hospital Wing, Professor," answered Lily. "She needed some Pepper Up Potion."
"Very well, Black. You may join Miss Evan's and Mr Potter's group…" her voice trailed off as she noticed the look on Sirius' face. "Is something the matter, Black?"
"I would rather be in another group, Professor," muttered Sirius.
Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows at him. Glancing at the rest of the students, she noticed the stunned looks of the pupils nearby, who had heard what Sirius had said.
"I would never have thought I would see the day when you passed the chance to work with Potter, Black!" she exclaimed.
"Well times change, Professor," Sirius said boldly. As Professor McGonagall looked at the others groups work, he added quietly so she couldn't hear him, "Maybe I've moved onto BETTER things now." He glared maliciously at James, who merely stared back at him.
"Whether you like it or not, Black, you will have to work with Potter and Evans. Their group is the only one left that have not started working – Lily glowered at James – so it will be easier for you to work –"
"But Professor, I'm smart –"
James snorted from his table.
"I can understand the work! Just put me in another –"
"NOW, Black! You've wasted enough time as it is!" Professor McGonagall snapped, losing patience.
Sirius slouched over to Lily and James' table, muttering darkly along the way. He slammed himself into the chair next to Lily and opposite from James. Lily glared at both boys angrily.
"Fine! But I intend to finish this exercise and if either of you mess it up, I'll hex you!" she said, fiercely.
James grinned at her and Sirius raised his eyebrows.
"Well then, you shouldn't let James have anything to do. He'd probably make a mess of it!" Sirius said maliciously.
"What!" said James loudly. Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes at him from her desk. "I mean," James continued in a quieter tone. "I happen to be better than you in Transfiguration, Black!"
Lily looked at the two boys in some surprise.
"Is this supposed to be some kind of prank? Pretending to be enemies or something stupid like that?" she asked.
Both James and Sirius ignored her. She shrugged and looked back at the chair they were supposed to be transfiguring.
"Can't resist showing off, can you?" Sirius said suddenly and quietly. "Just like seven nights ago."
James stiffened slightly and glanced at Remus, who was staring fearfully at Sirius. Remus' good sense of hearing had enabled him to hear what Sirius had just said.
"What happened seven nights ago?" asked Lily curiously.
"None of your damn business, Evans!" snapped Sirius.
James instantly bristled.
"Apologise, Black," he said quietly, so Professor McGonagall couldn't hear him. "Apologise to Evans!"
Lily stared at James. Even at this awkward moment she couldn't help noticing how handsome James was. His sparkling hazel eyes, his determined face, his muscular body, his –
"OH MY GOD!" Lily yelled out suddenly. The whole class turned in their seats to look at her. Even James gave her a funny look. Lily's face turned the same shade of red as hair.
"Is there a problem, Miss Evans?" asked Professor McGonagall, frowning.
"Ummm…no, Professor," she answered.
Only my mental health!
She wasn't actually falling for James Potter was she? THE James Potter. The arrogant, stuck-up, stupid, childish, handsome, caring, thoughtful –
"NO!" Lily yelled out again. The whole class swivelled around in their seats once again.
"Miss Evans! Really! What is the meaning of this!" shouted Professor McGonagall, walking to the table
"What I mean is…ummm," Lily rambled. "No, Potter. Don't make him apologise. He can do it for himself! Sorry, Professor. It won't happen again."
Professor McGonagall returned to her desk, glaring at Lily and the other two boys. A knock came at the door. A first year student walked in. He looked extremely nervous to be in a room full of enormous looking sixth years.
"Professor Dumbledore would like to see you, Professor McGonagall," he said nervously and quickly, then exited the room as fast as he could.
The class burst into laughter.
"I'll only be a few minutes or so I expect. Carry on with your work." Professor McGonagall said and left the room.
"Hmmm…I wonder what was so urgent…" Fabian Prewett said mischievously.
The room was filled with laughter once more. However, three students did not seem to be joining in.
"But Evans, he –" James started.
"Leave it, Potter. It wasn't any of my business anyway." she interrupted.
"See that, James?" Sirius snickered. "I guess Evans' heart lies someway away from you. Maybe a little closer to me…" he trailed off, smiling coldly at James.
"WHAT!" shouted James and Lily at the same time.
"So how about it Evans? You, me and a broom cupboard?" Sirius said, knowing he was getting to James.
"Well, you know what, Black?" Lily said, leaning towards Sirius and batting her eyelashes.
James looked horrified not to mention heartbroken.
"Yes Evans darling? I knew you'd warm up to me sometime. Not to mention –"
SLAP!
The class became deathly silent. No one was joking around anymore. Lily was on her feet, hand raised and glaring death at Sirius.
"You actually think you can win me over with your lame pick-up lines? What the hell are you thinking!" she yelled.
The sight of his beloved Lily slapping Sirius was too much for James to take. He let out a small explosion of laughter.
Sirius rounded on him furiously, his left cheek bearing an angry, red handprint. His anger and embarrassment got the better of him and he suddenly pointed his wand at James.
The whole class gasped, all thoughts of Dumbledore and McGonagall pushed out of their minds.
"Stupefy!" Sirius yelled.
"Protego!" James shouted, his quidditch reflexes kicking in. Sirius' shot rebounded and hit a jar of shelves that immediately smashed, spraying the classroom with shards of glass.
"James! Stop it! McGonagall will be back soon!" Remus said urgently.
"Expelliarmus!" yelled James, but Sirius deflected the spell.
"James! I mean, Potter! Stop it! Black, don't be so stupid!" Lily yelled.
Curses flew all over the classroom. Lily, Remus and Peter seemed to be the only people trying to stop the fight. The rest of the class were sheltering under their desks.
Suddenly, Remus leapt for James and Peter lunged at Sirius. All four boys went tumbling onto the floor, and their misaimed spells ricocheted around the classroom. Lily was forced to fling herself onto the floor next to the four boys as a jet of orange light came speeding towards her.
"FINITE INCANTATEM!"
The ricocheting jets of light disappeared.
The students looked up to see one Professor Minerva McGonagall standing in the doorway of the classroom. She was shaking with anger and her jade green eyes flashed dangerously. She looked around the room. Tables upended, shelves smashed, windows broken and half the class under their desks. Her eyes came to rest on James, Lily, Sirius, Remus and Peter, who were still lying spread-eagled in the centre of the classroom floor.
All five of them stood up hurriedly under her sharp gaze.
"What in Merlin's name are you doing!" she said in a low voice that trembled with anger. "I leave the room for a few minutes and come back to see this! Sixth years! Duelling in a classroom! I've never heard of anything quite so foolish!"
Her voice rose to a shout.
"Whatever were you thinking? Do you even realise how many people could have gotten injured?"
"But –" Sirius tried.
"Quiet, Black!" she snapped. "What about you, Evans and Lupin? Prefects!"
Lily and Remus went beacon bright red.
"Remus and Lily had noth –"
"Don't make excuses, Potter!"
Lily glanced at James. To her amazement, he actually looked sorry.
"Fifty points each from Gryffindor and two weeks of detention for all of you!"
A groan rose from the class for the second time that day. Two hundred and fifty points lost in one go.
The end-of-class bell rang and all the students, apart from the Marauders and Lily, ran out of the room, muttering angrily.
No one spoke. Professor McGonagall eyed each of them purposely before saying, 'What has gotten into you four boys this past week? You won't talk or even look at each other!"
James, Sirius and Remus stared at their Professor. Peter looked down at the floor, unable to take the 'McGonagall stare' as they called it.
Silence.
'Very well. If you four must carry on in this childish manner, so be it. But, if I get any other sign or word of duelling in classes or anywhere else, all five of you will get more than a detention. I am very disappointed in all five of you. Especially you, Miss Evans."
Lily hung her head.
"Do I make myself clear?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Yes, Professor," five voices rang through the room.
"Good. You may leave."
The five of them exited the room quietly, each of them submerged in their own pool of thought.
James
"HA! Sirius deserved that slap! That handprint won't disappear for a few days at the most! I can't believe he actually tried to take ME on. The No.1 dueller! Well, he got his reward."
Lily
"Fifty points taken AND two weeks of detention! There goes my perfect record. This is all Potter and Black's fault. Them and their stupid fight. Well, actually, James – I mean – Potter, did try to bail Remus and me out…No Lily! Potter equals Bad! Get that into your head!"
Peter
"I always get in trouble for things that I didn't do. Always being pushed around by the others! I want to be with James and Remus again. I can tell Sirius doesn't really like me. But I can't really choose sides like that between my friends, can I?"
Remus
"Sirius wouldn't have told my secret to the whole class, would he? I can trust him, can't I? I'm a prefect and a werewolf. I lead a double life. I'm the one who caused all of this in the first place. Me and my problem. Why did it have to be me?"
Sirius
"He will pay. James Harold Potter will pay for making me – The Sirius Black – look stupid. You better watch your back Potter…you better watch it."
A/N: There you go dear readers. Hope you enjoyed that. Please review. I was wonderng whether you want me to make Lily find out about Remus' condition or not. Let me know!