A/N: Oh good, now things can actually get exciting!

Everyone slept well in the Gryffindor common room that night. They were chatting excitedly when they got up, and headed for the Great Hall to have their feast.

James made sure he got a seat next to Sirius, and then grabbed a bowl of oatmeal. He hadn't taken two bites before Peter came running to find a seat between the two. Sirius and James shared incredulous looks and continued to eat.

Not long afterwards, Remus came carrying a book. He sat a couple seats down from James. He grabbed a piece of toast and read while he ate.

James sighed, and squirmed in his seat. He glanced at Sirius, who said, "First class is Defense Against the Dark Arts. That's at ten… After that we've got Herbology, then lunch. Then we have Potions. When that's over with, Charms. Ugh, not a nice lot, is it?" James smiled.

"What d'you think you'll be best at? I'm thinking Defense Against the Dark Arts for myself." James said thoughtfully, looking over the list Sirius held in his hand.

Sirius nodded his agreement, "Defense Against the Dark Arts for sure. No question. It's in my blood, you know." He scowled and knocked his cup over. "Oops, sorry 'bout that. Er, here, let me get that." There was a loud noise of wings flapping.

"Morning post is here." Grumbled James as a large snowy owl whizzed by his head, ruffling his hair more than ever. He raised his hand to try and flatten it, but thought better of it and instead tousled his hair even more. He smiled.

A letter landed in from of Sirius. He glowered at it before picking it up and reading it quickly. He snorted and stuffed it in his pocket. Remus was reading a letter, also. James leaned back and tried to peak, but Remus caught him and scowled. He moved the letter to an angle so that James couldn't read it at all from where he was.

A professional looking owl dropped a paper on James' head. He paid the owl and opened the Daily Prophet. He opened it and glanced through the pages quickly. He then set it aside and gulped down some milk.

Sirius glanced at the paper, "Can I see that?" James nodded, and he grabbed it delicately and flicked through the pages.

His eyes lingered on a picture of a scowling, black haired girl. She looked to be about two years older than Sirius. He muttered loudly enough for James to hear, "Bellatrix Black convicted of stealing several wedding rings. The rings have not been found yet, and the real theft may not be caught." James stared at Sirius.

"Bellatrix Black? Oh, Mum really isn't going to like that. Lucky I haven't told her about you yet, or she'd march right over here and tell us both off for being together!" He punched Sirius' shoulder playfully. "How is she related to you?"

"My cousin. She's got the same old pure-bloods only crap as most of my family." He answered, snorting. "Haven't seen her in years, though. Thank god. Unfortunately, she should be going to Hogwarts. Fourth year Slytherin, if I'm not mistaken. Doesn't appear to be eating at the moment, though. "

James smiled weakly and stated that they should be getting to their classes.

It didn't take them long to find their class. The Gryffindors were having Defense Against the Dark Arts with Hufflepuff today, and everyone was quiet.

It was only a moment before the door opened. A few people jumped, while others held their breath.

It was a woman with strawberry-blonde, waist-length hair. She wore lavender robes, and had deep blue eyes. She smiled happily as she took her place behind the desk. Her voice was high and clear, "My name is Professor Prosphiles. Please open your books to page 4."

Once every book was open, she spoke again, "We will be learning about physical defense. Now, will someone please tell me the name of the disarming spell?"

A few hands went up, including James', Sirius' and Remus'. "Yes, the boy with the brown hair. Name first, please?"

"Remus Lupin, and the disarming spell is 'expelliarmus'."

"Right, so let's practice the disarming spell. Get into pairs of two, please. No more than two. Hm, that leaves one extra. You can come with me, then." She smiled at a Hufflepuff first year, Nick Axel. "Alright, so you all have your partners? Good, good."

She looked at all the people and smiled, "Now, I want one person of each pair to stand against the wall, facing your partner. A bit farther away, now. Yes, that'll do, I think. Now, remember, we are only disarming our partners, not attacking them. Got it?" The class nodded and she smiled again. "Good. Now, get your wands ready. Now, do I what I do."

She faced Axel and raised her wand. "Expelliarmus!" Axel's wand flew up in the air and she caught it. Axel stumbled with the force and fell over. Prosphiles helped him up, "Now, you all try. No, just one person from each pairing at a time. Good job!"

The rest of the Defense Against the Dark Arts went rather smoothly as they all practiced disarming one-another.

On their way to Herbology, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter talked about class. James brought up the discussion, "I thought that class was ok. I'd have preferred it if we had actually done something more… Challenging. What did you think?"

Sirius nodded, "It undeniably need more pizzazz to it. Far too easy, if you ask me!"

"Well, it wasn't very challenging, but I'd much rather start out with something easy like this, anyway." Brought in Remus. "I'm sure classes will get much harder, anyway."

Peter shuddered, "How much harder, d'you think?"

Sirius answered, "Considerably harder, I'd imagine. You know, that was our first lesson. They always start out with the easiest of things, and gradually work their way up."

"And you've experienced this in another lifetime, I presume?" James asked, now grinning.

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh, "You guess it! Ok, ok, that's what my parents always say to by brother, anyway."

They arrived at the greenhouse a moment later, accompanied by Slytherins. "Oh, great." Sirius muttered, staring at the Slytherins loathingly.

A witch with gray hair, and wearing a patched and dirty hat came into the greenhouse. "My name is Professor Sprout, and I will be teaching Herbology to you this year. Today, we will be learning about Mandrakes."

The lesson went on without much talk, considering they wore earmuffs the whole time.

When that was over, they headed to lunch, accompanied by the Slytherins. Remus was currently explaining to Peter, "The Mandrakes' cry is only fatal when it is full grown. The ones we were replanting were just babies, so their cry could only knock you out."

"Oh, so those ones couldn't kill me?"

"Nope, not for a few months. Professor Sprout says that's about how long it takes them to grow."

Peter shuddered, "She isn't going to make us replant the adult ones is she?" He squeaked, "I really, really hope she doesn't!"

Sirius joined in, "Naw, I don't think she'd be allowed to. I mean, we're really just kids, so making us do something that is undeniably deadly is probably against the law."

James nodded his agreement, "Anyway, Dumbledore wouldn't allow it. You know how he is, always sticking up for his students and stuff. He makes a really good headmaster, doesn't he?"

Remus smiled, "There couldn't have been a better one."

Suddenly, a fair-skinned Slytherin girl joined in, "I disagree! Dumbledore was wrong for this school, and everyone who's anyone knows it. The people only wanted Dumbledore to be headmaster because he intimidated everyone. Mum and Dad say that he blackmailed them, also." She smiled triumphantly at the foursomes' stricken faces.

James and Sirius broke into fits of uproarious laughter that stopped everyone in their tracks. James finally managed to splutter, "Dumbledore? Blackmailing and intimidating people? I don't think so! And just where did your parents learn that? I mean, honestly, who in their right mind would even consider Dumbledore to do anything like that?" He burst out into hysterical laughter again and fell to the ground with Sirius.

Remus stated, "I suppose people who are envious of Dumbledore's power and knowledge may create such rumors. However, the idea does seem a bit –," He paused, searching for the right words, "-far-fetched." He smiled weakly and glanced towards the sky.

The girl turned to a greasy haired Slytherin boy, "What do you think about the rumor, Severus?"

'Severus' looked at her, as though surprised she was asking his opinion. "I think he's trustworthy enough, but," He glanced around and saw Lily. He looked away, "He shouldn't let half-bloods or Mudbloods join." All at once, there was an almighty uproar.

"That's just horrible to think that!"

"That isn't right! Just because they have no magic in their ancestry!"

The Gryffindors hurried away from the Slytherins, into the Great Hall. They ate lunch, still fuming about what he had said. Some people already knew what it meant; while others, like Lily, weren't getting the answers they wanted. "What is a Mudblood? And why is it bad, anyway?"

James answered her awkwardly, hoping he wouldn't hurt her feelings. "Well, erm, a Mudblood is a nasty word for… Muggle-borns."

"Oh." She said, looking away. "You mean, like me?"

James nodded and looked for Sirius for support, who said, "Some people, like him, feel that only 'pure-bloods' should be allowed into any good school. By their definition, 'pure-blood' means that your whole ancestry traces back to wizards, with no muggles at all."

"Oh, I see. Do all pure-bloods think that?" She looked Sirius hard in the eyes. Before he could even answer her, she added, "Because I hear things, you know. Rumors, if you may. People say that your family is like that. They say that all Blacks think that it's true."

Sirius frowned, "Well –,"

Before he could answer her, Peter piped up. "Not all people are like that. I mean, I'm half-half, but not all purebloods are like that, you know. Honestly, though, I think almost all of them are."

Remus nodded, "He's right. Sirius isn't like that, and neither are the Weasleys."

Lily frowned slightly, "Who are the Weasleys?"

"The Weasleys are a wonderful family!" Said Sirius, grinning. "They are pure-blood, but you wouldn't think it just from looking at them. They're what my family would call a 'disgrace'." He let out a loud, bark-like laugh. "They're one of the best wizarding families you could come across. You can always trust a Weasley."

After their discussion, they all went on to Potions. Their Potions Master, Professor Felix, smiled warmly was they entered. Gryffindors and Ravenclaws made their way to their seats, looking curiously around. They were in the dungeons, and it was damp and cool.

James muttered, "Nice place." Sirius sniggered, and Peter shuddered nervously.

Professor Felix spoke calmly, "Good evening class. My name is Professor Felix." The professor had cropped black hair. She continued, "Every morning I expect you all to act with greatest respect and you are all to be quiet unless called. Is that clear, class?" Many of the students nodded, while others looked uncertain.

Felix spoke again, facing her class regally, "Now, please open your Potion books to page six, please."

The class did as they were told. "We will be looking at ingredients today, since I know a lot of you are inexperienced with potion-making."

Three Ravenclaws in the front of the room giggled. Felix looked at them with a slight scowl. "I recall telling you all to be quiet. That means all of you." She said, staring at the Ravenclaws, who went quiet a moment later.

Their Potions class went rather smoothly after that, and people began to understand just how strict Felix was. She was relatively nice, they all agreed, but she was strict.

Felix, deciding that they had learned all they could that lesson, let the class out a half-hour early.

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter walked slowly, because they didn't want to be too early. Remus said, "I have to get something from the library. I'll catch up."

"I'll come, too." Sirius said. "I have to get a book on vampires."

James and Peter followed the two. "Why d'you need a book on vampires?" James asked curiously. "I doubt we'll be learning about vampires anytime soon."

"Just sort of curious, is all." Sirius said, shrugging. "What about you, Remus? What've you got to get, exactly?"

Remus frowned and stared at his feet as he quickened his pace. "Just a few potions I've been rather curious about." He flushed and changed the subject, "Anyway, I wonder what we'll be learning about in Charms. Personally, I'm most interested in the upcoming class."

Their walk slowed slightly as they neared the library. Remus glanced at his watch as they walked through the doors to the library, "We've still got a few minutes, and it shouldn't take too long, and so I think we'll get to class right on time."

"That's good." Sirius said, examining some books. Remus set off for another section, while Sirius pondered among books about dangerous beasts. "Werewolves, giants, flesh-eating slugs…" He muttered, glancing quickly through them.

Then he doubled back and held up a book. "James, look at this." Grinning, he held up a book titled, Curious About Werewolves? "Look, here it says, 'werewolves can be anyone, anywhere'. Oh well, I didn't come for this." After he had replaced the book and found one he liked, he stood up straight.

"Where's Remus?" Peter asked. "He hasn't come back yet. D'you think he's ok?" Peter twitched nervously.

"I'm sure he's fine, but we've got to find him." James said, looking at his watch worriedly. "Hurry, he went that way."

For five minutes, James, Sirius and Peter searched the library, looking for Remus.

"Maybe he went right to class." Peter said hopefully.

Sirius shrugged, "Peter may be right. Maybe Remus thought we were smart." He chuckled at his own joke and said more seriously. "I think we should go to class now. He's probably already there."

Feeling slightly guilty, the trio went to their Charms class. Remus was not at class, or dinner. He never even turned up in the dormitory to go to sleep.

James looked out at the large, full moon across the lake and wondered where he was. "Maybe he's sick." He pondered aloud, causing Peter to stir in his sleep.

"Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor." -The Marauders Map

I would have gotten that out a lot quicker if I had gotten at least one review. I'll admit I was hoping for a few reviews. Oh well, sorry that this chapter is so incredibly long, but I had to get them through the classes and introduce some of the characters I made up.