Herbology class had always been easy for me, but ever since Professor Maverick (a hyperactive, twitchy man that always seemed like he needed to be on Ritalin) had placed me with Remus Lupin, my work had become all the more easy.
"So I've extracted the juice from a Rapidrear sprout using an all silver eyedropper, now what?" I asked Remus, who was paging through his copy of Magical Plants for the Advanced.
"Put it in a vile and we're done," he stated, closing his book.
I did as he instructed and went to wash my hands in the dingy Herbology sink. I hated to use the sink that I doubted was ever cleaned, but I didn't want to smell like Rapidrear juice, which had a distinct odor of gasoline.
"That was easy, what class have you got next?" Remus inquired, putting his protective gloves in his bag.
I shook my hair out of it's elastic, tucking a strand behind my ears. "Potions."
He nodded. Remus Lupin wasn't at all like his best friends, James and Sirius. He was quieter and more reserved, less likely to have sudden outbursts or temper tantrums. He rarely talked about his family, all though I gathered that he had a mother named Echo who was retired from being an Auror. Remus also got sick much more often than anyone I knew. He said he had gotten an illness as a young child and never fully recovered.
"I've got Transfiguration. Love that class," he said in his soft voice.
I smiled. "Me too. It's probably my favorite. Lily and Isabelle never understand half of it, but I really love it."
He gave a small smile as James walked up behind me.
"How have you two already finished when me and Peter can't even get the damn sprout off the plant?" James said in a frustrated voice.
I rolled my eyes. "Probably because the two of you are completely incompetent."
James gave a pout that looked almost identical to Lily's causing me to laugh.
"That was hurtful, Hennessy. I'm not incompetent at everything, there are a few things I could show you that I'm very good at," he said mischievously.
I bit my lip to hold in my laughter as I felt my cheeks flare up. Remus shook his head at James and turned to a textbook.
"I doubt that you could show her anything Prongs," Remus muttered, not looking up.
James's jaw dropped, obviously shocked that quiet Remus would say something along those lines. He walked away still in shock after a few seconds leaving Remus nodding.
"Just catch him off guard, that's when he won't know what to say," Remus said to me.
I grinned, sitting on the stool next to him. "Is that how it works? I've always wondered…"
Remus rolled his grey eyes. "James isn't anything to wonder about."
I let my mouth fall, looking at him in shock. "He's you're best friend! You'd say that?"
He shrugged. "Yeah he's my best mate, but he's not as amazing as everyone says. He's a normal person with a screwed up obsession for that red-head friend of yours."
I nodded, thinking for a moment. "He does like her an awful lot."
Remus looked up at me with a half smile on his face. "A lot doesn't even begin to describe it."
"Does he tell you everything or something?" I asked.
He shrugged and gave a small smile. "I guess. People confide in me. I'm very good at keeping secrets."
I grinned at him before he turned back to his textbook. "I'll have to remember that."
