p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7eded364d84af602bd08b92672e08477"Being able to see Remus after the full moon was what everyone needed and it had done wonders to lift the spirits of all the marauders. Especially noticeable was the change in Remus who seemed back to his old self. As evidenced by the fact that he wasn't sleeping through the whole day anymore and was back to providing his usual quick wit and comebacks to the amusement of everyone. James, true to his word, poured over books with Remus who had patiently lasted a whole three days before kicking Peter and Sirius out of the study group due to their lack of cooperation./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4ae648fe8e39a99f14336661561b3271"James found he didn't mind at all because Sirius has been extremely obnoxious, charming the chairs themselves to make farting noises whenever someone shifted in them and doing everything in his power to keep the focus on anything but studying. A brilliant result of Remus getting fed up with Sirius which meant Peter also no longer attended was that occasionally, Lily would sit down and study with Remus and him. From trial and error, James had learned if he spoke a word Lily would get up and leave without hesitation. But if he stayed quiet the fiery red head seemed content to ignore his existence as she studied besides Remus. James was happy with this, though it did sometimes annoy him how Lily would lean over to whisper something to Remus. It really felt like she was testing him, daring him to say something. But with Remus' encouragement and the occasional kick to the shin, James was now on day three of studying with Lily. James flinched as Remus' foot made contact with his shin and he quickly glanced down at his book on offensive realized he had yet again been staring at Lily, who was absentmindedly twisting a lock of her hair around her quill./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e43374388d26147c3733c3d03c6b150e"Since Peter had broken up with Marlene, the Marauder who had seemed to have the most patience with James' gushing had lost all of it. Strangely, Sirius hadn't said one word about dating or girls and seemed to be content to ignore any semblance of romance whatsoever. Remus...well, Remus was a lost cause who couldn't seem to accept that one day he might actually date some girl, and even more foreign to the poor bloke was the fact that some girl could ever possibly like him. This left James in the rather unfortunate position of none of his friends understanding him nor even pretending to. It wasn't until after a particularly rough Quidditch practice in which he had overheard older players talking about girls that James realized he had other friends besides the Marauders to turn to./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="366d1242a0e8c288aeb5489fdb64b994"So James found himself spending more time with the older Quidditch boys, who found James' infatuation with Lily as amusing as everyone seemed to but who were at least open to pretending that their newest chaser might have em style="box-sizing: border-box;"some /emidea of what he was talking about. At one point in time James spending more time with the Quidditch team would have lasted in a full out fight between Sirius and him. But Sirius seemed to have other things on his mind and when James dared to ask Sirius about the fact they hadn't been spending much time together. The boy had just stated simply that James was allowed to have other friends as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. As far as the other Marauders went; with the second term in full swing Peter didn't have much time to hang out with anyone since he was doing his best to stay caught up with work and Remus was either hanging out with Lily or Mary of all people, helping Peter study, or sneaking off by himself to do whatever it was that he did- most likely read. James wouldn't have seen Remus at all that week if it wasn't for the study sessions in the library, which had become a much more appealing place to James for some reason as of late. Even with all of them doing their own things there was less tension between the Marauders than ever. And James didn't think he was just being daft and not noticing the tension, there actually seemed to be none./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="be1142b165d1fcc65836e360a0b5f4a5"James closed his book and leaned back in his chair, stretching. He glanced at Lily and Remus who were both absorbed in their reading and marvelled how on earth the two of them could manage such concentration./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7c22a322e46fb2eda377b1e97608e98c""I think I'm going to head back early and take a nap before class. I had to wake up at dawn for Quidditch practice and Alec Bendger has us flying drills again tomorrow morning. Personally, I think Hufflepuff will be easy to beat, but he's really hard set on winning through sweat and tears. But I mean... it's Hufflepuff," James scoffed. Remus gave a sound of agreement though it was clear he wasn't listening./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f1f68ef5a7c6e83367c52f5f27904396""Of course, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"you/em wouldn't believe in the merit of hard work," Lily huffed with her usual contempt for James with the eye roll that followed highlighting it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2a504652b594a059cc8b3d9366b919d9""That's not at all what I'm saying. It's not like I've ever even skipped a single practice," James grumbled, always finding himself more than a little irked by Lily when it came to Quidditch. How was it possible for him to like someone who showed no interest in Quidditch except when it came to supporting her friend Dorcas? James felt his ears go warm as he thought about Lily being that supportive of em style="box-sizing: border-box;"him/em, rooting for em style="box-sizing: border-box;"him/em, and coming to a game specifically to see em style="box-sizing: border-box;"him!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a15ed8845abf8932e67deadefcd59d43""Well good for you then, I suppose. Now quit grinning like a moron. If you are going to leave, then do that so that Remus and I can continue to study," Lily pointed out cooly, sitting rigidly in her chair./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9824e059b245636bb2e50ffabfb6a0cc"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Blimey, you sure are in a mood. By the way you have a little bit of the em style="box-sizing: border-box;"fumos duo/em soot on your cheek," James pointed out in an attempt to be kind, although he couldn't help but sound rather smug about it. He didn't think it wise to stay much longer, since Lily had shot him a particularly dark look and as her one hand scrubbed the traces of red off her cheek her other hand looked like it was itching to grab a hold of her wand. "And don't forget to be on time to charms so I have a proper opponent to beat." James shouted with a wave over his shoulder, then ducking just in case Lily lost her head and shot a spell at him even though they were in the library./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9b4990e1e0ec9fdcfefa1f4e04695937""I will be completing the fire-making spell before you, Potter. Just you wait," Lily shouted after him. James almost bumped into a bookshelf because he was laughing so hard. Even better, the 'lovely' Madam Pince had chosen then to show up and shush Lily aggressively. Not at all feeling able to nap anymore, James still began to head back to the common room, but only to grab his invisibility cloak. He knew he would be needing it since the Marauders had agreed to go exploring tonight in honor of the second triwizard tournament task happening tomorrow. James felt better about having the cloak with him since there was no telling what he would be up to after Charms. It was also a possibility that James was merely overly eager about exploring the grounds. Perhaps they could find an adult setting up the second task so they could figure out what it was. But who could blame him for being excited. After all, his friends would hardly be Marauders if they couldn't figure out the task before it began. Plus, it would be nice to hang out with just the four of them. It had been awhile./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="654e8250b9c5b99831236566d9ef602c"James contented himself in fantasizing about finding out what the second task would be, helping Gideon win all of the tournament, and-since he was getting a bit carried away-about being the best Quidditch player at Hogwarts. James had just begun dreaming about becoming a famous Quidditch player one day until he ran into Gary. Upon doing so James continued his fantasy outloud to the boy who patiently listened, though seemed distracted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0d925ae9ddb74c84c6066c467ae28d76""What's the matter with ya, Gary?" James asked as the two of them climbed one of the moving staircases. The two of them were so used to doing so by now that they didn't even register their feet habitually skipping the trick step./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="917b4c65358b1f7e1cb5e8556110f04c""Huh? Oh sorry, James. I'm just worried about tomorrow. Gideon doesn't have as many eggs as Mihaela and Anders. It sounds like Mihaela will have 2 hours for the task tomorrow, Anders will have an hour and forty five minutes, and Gideon will only have an hour," Gary fretted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5f87a6c2e0d478d38009535dea10c046"James patted Gary's back with a knowing smile. "Trust me Gary, Gideon will win. He's a friend of mine and he's one of the coolest wizards at Hogwarts...maybe even the entire world!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f657529a7585b24b69a4e9bb27aebe78"Gary looked consoled. James spent the next half hour explaining, with some slight exaggeration, the ordeal of him saving Gideon in the forbidden forest from the acromantulas./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f55d9d1dbe6bbc6995c0b7d92fa0f671""Woah, James! You are brilliant. I haven't done anything fun since coming to Hogwarts." Gary sighed looking disheartened again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="703d17aca16840fd5af9854cdd8c35ef""Aw come on, Gary. Cheer up. Hey, maybe you'll win the competition, yeah?" James offered kindly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="75049d829a440144901544b53161bc17""No...it will probably be you..." Gary huffed, looking resigned to the fact./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c129e044eef0b8ca789da6b8c15d2d35"James thought so as well, but he had enough tact not to say that outloud."Maybe you'll win as well," James encouraged brightly. Gary glanced at James with wide eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7fec6596b18126e3970c5c62a2c2f147""You really think so?" Gary asked hopefully. James realized he wasn't just the only one in the world who wanted to be the best at something./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b7531ee84086a2c5cfb5b73179a92bba""Course I do. Now, I need to go grab something then we can walk to class together, yeah?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bac09c7ba1cc542c24d6127b9469bed0"Gary was quick to agree and James ran upstairs to snatch the invisibility cloak. He recognized it was not exactly where he had set it, and saw how much neater it had been folded. He guessed either Peter or Remus had borrowed it. Probably Remus, though. Sirius better not find out Remus was sneaking off or he would get all pissy about it. James had long ago gotten used to the idea of the invisibility cloak being a community article and shrugged it off before heading downstairs and walking to Charms with Gary and Jeremiah, who had come back from optional study hall and seemed just as worried about Gary about the tournament tomorrow. James truly wasn't worried, though. He had faith in his school and in Gideon./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8d7ee89830ff6fb2bd033571d3f6080f".../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5ccc553d532df27c76b3b619c16b2689"It wasn't until near the end of the lesson on perfecting the shape of their fire spell so it formed a circle of protection around them that James was jostled awake by Sirius, who had been absentmindedly doodling ideas to perfect their big prank. James looked down at his empty paper, devoid of any notes, as chairs scrapped and students began pairing off. Luckily, they all had the benefit of Remus' neat notes to look off of later, and so far James had not experienced any real difficulty in spells./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bc6bbe442e9a456fe8f5b59db8a7d8d3""Everyone pair off and practice perfecting the fire spell, please," Professor Flitwick declared. James now realized why Sirius had actually woken him up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3964b5969a363512ed3919654dae7ca9""Follow me," Sirius whispered. James did the two of them slipped into the back of the classroom behind several pairs of students who were actually giving their all at practicing the spell. James really wanted to give it his best too, if only to beat Lily's challenge. But he could tell by Sirius' tone that he wanted to talk about something important. Even James' mum, who took studies more seriously than his father, encouraged James to put his relationships before grades. James took all of the advice his parents gave him to heart. Most of the time, anyways./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f7fea3c7b58e775d65cb3891256a1704"James waited for Flitwick to make his rounds, knowing the professor would soon become too invested in the children struggling to notice them slacking. Randomly flicking their wands in a semblance of attempting the spell, Sirius glanced around to make sure no one was paying any mind to the boys tucked away in their little corner./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="59affefc8b2bf025ff3199f52b818239""My uncle sent me...the books I requested." Sirius started off. James nearly dropped his wand in his excitement./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="01d649de427999fc3c4149813da637cf""Have you read them?" James asked eagerly, forgetting to wave his wand./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fb64b9e9587f87c856d4268e49a429eb""Don't be daft! Of course I did," Sirius began, sounding scandalized, "I would have told you earlier but you've been busy pining after Lily," Sirius teased and this time James did drop his wand face going red./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c32ca4b6b9e40d6d6d087602823f5b90""I have not!" he protested, "I've been studying with Remus, unlike you,"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d1f03d19f18b3ed7e98863aadaeb7f31""Not my fault he didn't want my genius in the group. Now stop being a git and listen, will you?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6f002a34a44de30dc9b607889c2ca2aa"James scoffed at Sirius comment of his "genius," which had consisted primarily of loud farting sounds going off that were unable to be pinpointed. Of course, Remus hadn't been fooled long and eventually kicked Sirius out of the study group. But James knew bringing that up would sidetrack Sirius, and James was too curious about the book to bother calling Sirius out on his bullshit. Satisfied by James' silence, Sirius continued in a low whisper./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ef9922360e042519cbedcf20ace2c73b""There was nothing useful, but my uncle left a note that if it wasn't what I was looking for he could get me a book called em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The Fanged and Furious,/em which he had heard rumors about in Romania. It has research on adolescent dark creatures. I bet if anything will have a way to help Remus, it's that book."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="123dd23ac70b19ccaaf3646a3b9b4ed0"James wasn't sure what to make of Sirius' fixation on the topic, especially since they had confirmed that Remus went through very little pain. James still wanted to help Remus of course, but there was something in Sirius' searching that seemed...odd. Even if James couldn't figure out exactly what it was./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0ce75de254f2c1e3bbf011da9464a0e5""That's great, mate. He's sending it then?" James asked, pushing away the strangeness of Sirius' level of persistence. Sirius nodded with a gleam to his eyes, almost aggressive. It was then James realized quite suddenly what had been off about Sirius' desperation./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b4027b0b9fe33a2819efbe8a3bb9659d""Hey, Sirius?" James began awkwardly, glad that they were in a public space where Sirius had to reign in his outbursts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c8f81a10cbba79542d255a8c55735ba3""Yeah?" Sirius asked, still elated by the discovery./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="24ae3ab0720d280687f63c2eae094b42""You know..." James glanced around, feeling uneasy with the proximity of two Ravenclaw girls who had drifted closer to them in an attempt to get away from Gary's out-of-control spiral of flames that Flitwick was dealing with. "You know this isn't temporary...that...that this isn't something that will go away for our mate. He's...he's like em style="box-sizing: border-box;"'that'/em forever..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c5fde49621009ff9e349e53af807fcbc""Course I know that, James. Don't be daft," Sirius snapped, but fell quiet for a while. James wondered if he dare even try to ponder over what went on in Sirius' mind sometimes. As the silence stretched on Sirius glowered at the floor as he practiced the spell. James figured it was best to change the topic in case Sirius' anger accidentally resulted in him catching James on fire./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="de27139b0e66b6d6f412c6cfbb0f2bd4""So...haven't seen much of you lately. What else have you been up to? Don't tell me you've got a girlfriend now?" James asked casually, although he was secretly hoping this was the case. If only his closest friends were interested in girls, then everything in James' life would be that much easier. But Sirius made a face at the suggestion./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="294ec41d4e15dedb3db92799b2466f4c""No, not unless you count my dickface brother relating to me how I will be forced to attend a wedding with some other dumbass pureblood female," Sirius scoffed, waving his wand around wildly. James winced, though wasn't entirely sure why Sirius was that upset about it. The Black family had certainly done worse to their son than force him to hang out with some girl./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d35af3def304907a028ba163a877b07a""Sorry mate, that's bollocks," James mumbled since it seemed like the best thing to say./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6d79a03d8f37d781cb46f007557ba0d4""Yeah, it is. But I don't want to talk about it," Sirius grumbled and James figured that was the end of the topic. He should have known better, though. Once Sirius started complaining about his family he seemed to have a hard time stopping. "Also, dumb little Regulus actually seems to think he's a better wizard than me. He won't leave me alone about this little conspiracy theory he has concocted. He seems intent on 'saving the school' or some sort of childish fantasy. He should just grow up and leave me alone. I'm not going to get dragged into this game of his and get in trouble for it."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7d52892e81996208c0a4d58c487a2a4f"James had no idea what to say. He knew that any remark he gave about Regulus seeming to just want to hang out with Sirius would undoubtedly end in his friend pointing out how "only-child Potter" couldn't possibly understand. Luckily, Flitwick came over and asked to see their progress. James straightened, having practiced very little throughout class due to Sirius. But James knew Lily was looking at him, and he was very good at spells so with the correct swish of his wand he stated confidently:/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a5b13026fc674f2cb9eb6930beff0dbe""em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Incendio!/em"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e42d5630eb67a56c77742096dfb415ee"Flames leapt out of his wand and proceeded to form a circle around him which filled James with a great amount of pride./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5410ec285510e853a943d9dd43e9ca9b""Oh, very well done, Potter! Very well done indeed," Professor Flitcwick said encouragingly. There was scattered applause at James being the first student to accurately get a full circle of flames to surround him. James beamed, catching Lily looking away in a huff before looking at Sirius expectantly, grinning. Only Sirius wasn't looking at James. Instead, he stared at the ground with a dark look that James knew all too well. A storm was brewing inside the young Black, and James really didn't fancy getting caught up in it when it broke free. He better talk to Remus about it soon. Only first he'd make sure to boast to Lily about winning. But as soon as Flitwick left, Sirius muttered under his breath./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0170e92700a1381946e10a8473a57bf6""If you spent as much energy searching for a cure as you do failing to impress Lily then maybe we would be somewhere by now," the sore loser pointed out sourly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="37d9f2a11c8a445c603635e47b9c7b3c"James knew Sirius well enough to know he was picking a fight. But quite frankly James, didn't bloody care. His desire to stay out of the shit storm of Sirius turned into anger at his prejudiced friend./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="22b3eb9e1e9c52038280de4dd15ffcf8""Sirius, you are such a mor-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="731156fb1e4b1f280fc0cc62648eed5b".../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="90c37f0edca76bc31b8353d768788012"On metaphorical fire at his progress during the class, Remus sat down tiredly in his seat. He had been pleased that he had been the fourth student to complete the spell accurately. Maybe he really did have a chance at winning the competition! Remus had started off not caring about the triwizard tournament, but he had become more invested once the Hogwarts champion was GIdeon and then even more so after the first task. Then they had learned some of the younger students, due to throwing such a fit about not being able to be considered for the tournament, could limitedly participate in the last task. James, Peter, and Sirius had gone on and on about the piece of eternal glory that could be theirs if they participated in the third task. But Remus' own reason for wanting to be in the third task seemed more foolish than that./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="eb679ac61794404570134588cabfdc7f"Deep down Remus knew it was highly unlikely and an extremely childish desire. Still, he couldn't help but hope that if he conducted himself wisely during the third task, perhaps his dad would be forced to trust him more. That way Remus could actually have permission to have friends. They were truly the best mates anyone could hope for. Remus needed his dad to see that./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d29efec39963af14022293e4a2111179"Of course, the Marauders had been spending less time together lately, but this time it wasn't due to someone bickering with someone else. Instead, there was an ease about the whole thing that seemed to stem from finally feeling secure in their friendship with each other. The peace that had come over the Marauders since Remus had successfully lied to them, and would continue to pull that off somehow, had left Remus free to spend more time with Lily and Ryan without feeling too guilty./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3ddd465b9d01f14276732d58221eabb8"Plus Remus was pretty sure he would hex James if he kept ranting about saving Gideon during the tournament. His friend's growing arrogance seemed to be fueled by his excellence at Quidditch and James' ridiculous attempts to impress Lily. Succeeding so brilliantly in Charms would probably increase James' arrogance further. But Remus would never dare tell James that. Besides, it seemed like such a small issue in comparison to the harm Remus always caused his friends./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="daaa6f67adbd17d7957ce0549f95711f"Ever since Remus had realized he had been truly accepted by all the Marauders, there had been a growing jitteriness in him. Despite himself, Remus thought about sabotaging the precious friendships by being too much of a swat and a wet blanket. Remus had even found himself not calling James and Sirius out on their dismal studying habits as much as he had prior. He wasn't entirely sure if this meant he was becoming a better friend or a worse one./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0cd930316982ff32649c925546348ecb""Remus, will you help me with the spell later?" Peter whined, sitting down next to him. Remus nodded and the two of them habitually glanced at James and Sirius who normally would have rushed back to their seats to brag about their progress or attempt to distract Peter and Remus from theirs by talking. But Remus found the two boys still in the back of the classroom, and by their stiff body posture they were arguing about something as quietly as they physically could./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0e15d56219f64d5ea8e30dca07919ae9"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Well the lack of bickering amongst the Marauders had been nice while it lasted/em, Remus supposed. He caught the words 'unrealistic goal,' 'arrogant wanker,' and 'maybe he's right' but stopped trying to listen when he heard Flitwick clear his throat and climb on top of the stool at the front of the class./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b3db110e3753174df201bf46deef8f2f""Attention class. I wanted to let you know that for the next class period, the competition portion date will be announced at the end of class for anyone who wishes to participate. The first task is done individually, and I encourage you all to brush up on your spells over the weekend."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c9815b8b9a8a8d8973d126de8980ecc2"Multiple students, especially the Ravenclaws, tried to gather more information from Flitwick. However, the professor remained adamant in the surprise of the challenge, though he did hint that students should look outside of their spell books. But that had immediately been a give in to Remus at first hearing of the challenge, considering years one-three were allowed to compete. Sirius was adamant about the challenge being a ploy to get students to focus on their studies other than the guest students or the war. Remus figured that was part of it. The guest students had dwindled in the classrooms, preferring to hang out in cliques with each other. Meanwhile the war had seemed to come to a plateau, at least by the standards of em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The Daily Prophet/em./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="da671b9568d0aa9a6e1e24d5036a3f55"No, Remus suspected the younger students participating had something to do with Dumbedore's ulterior motive for having the guests. Remus wasn't quite sure if his suspicion about Dumbledore trying to gain support from the foreigners was even right. However, when Remus had returned the book on medical healing to Dorcas-refusing to look at it for a long awhile until he stopped being quite so upset about Sillverstream-the talented witch had suggested that both competitions had to do with enhancing the battle skills of young wizards and witches. Remus figured that was a more likely reason for getting the younger students involved. Still, he didn't want to imagine the war would last that long or that any adult would suspect it would./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0987d742e63dcc666913f3409110d1e0"There was a shuffling as students packed up, and Remus pulled himself from his thoughts long enough to get to his feet with the rest of the students. Then Remus began to focus on the two primary concerns he could think about without getting a headache: Ryan, who seemed more and more anxious every time Remus met up with him; and Professor Corbyn, who he had overheard Hagrid and Sprout talking about./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0cd902936c159da64e9e328fd2864fa8"Since Ryan was refusing he was being harassed by his peers, Remus shifted his focus to his favorite professor. Maybe Sprout and Hagrid had the information wrong about the man? Remus didn't like the idea of Corbyn fighting the war while he was also teaching. But Remus didn't like thinking about anyone he cared about fighting the war. However, he really doubted Corbyn was doing so./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3c6d1a41ac591340f1af99c04916ca1d"After Remus successfully placed some of the haunting problems in the back of his mind, he found that he had actually been able to pay special attention to the young professor. Only Professor Corbyn never seemed different or behind in lessons for the class. Other than his outburst and using the spell to attempt to get children to change their view on dark creatures, he had been his happy-go-lucky self./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5311e2ed07ccf623c60508f01e2647e8""Oi, earth to Lupin. Whatcha starin at?" James asked with a friendly grin, pulling Remus away from his thoughts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c179ff28eddf9b0350f4d665985b1982""Nothing. Congratulations on getting the spell done first."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3bcebd5ecb923df1997d3f7e0b8f2b0e"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /James beamed and started talking about how he hoped Lily took notice, but caught himself and frowned. "Actually, can we talk?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="443d5b37c450714ae8ecf568b3883a06"Remus tensed, his mind quickly filling with hundreds of terrible scenarios,/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4d139b551b58162bc1153ba0cee5c291""...it's about Sirius," James added, sensing Remus' immediate discomfort. Remus glanced around realizing, Sirius was no longer in the classroom./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ccb37b8973113ce0e332b38f3e741e92""Sure, James. Do you want to talk now?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5a38327db7c1d9769e34ded58e7ed4b7"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Blimey, no not now! We'd be late to dinner and I'm famished. How about we talk this evening before our mission tonight? I really need to take a nap after dinner or I might fall off my broom."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f8ede1ea384ec1beddcbeb7ee0ee2806"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"The great James Potter couldn't possibly make a mistake on his broom." Remus had meant it to be sarcastic, but his internal conflict on how to treat his friends whose acceptance meant more than he could ever begin to explain caused his tone to sound closer to sincere./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="225d749a585a1f3e807b67ee60ce2fdc""Thanks, Remus," James smirked. He thumped Remus on the back jovially before going back over to Peter, who had been waiting patiently and was now complaining about James keeping secrets. A small part of Remus was still surprised that Peter and James waited for him to pack up before the three of them walked to the Great Hall together. As they did, Remus tried to focus on James boasting about his charms prowess and Peter lamenting about how poor he was at charms, but now found himself worrying about Sirius. He felt much too tired to hold up a conversation while worrying like he normally would have attempted to do./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="56a39d8a21efa9e7e89dc23b031bc9b8"Even though Remus' sleep had improved drastically since successfully lying to his friends after the last full moon, he had by no means been sleeping well. His nightmares were filled with Greyback taunting him over what he could not remember. In fact, Remus was so tired he thought about going to take a nap himself after dinner. Especially since James coming to him about Sirius would no doubt equate some level of exhaustion. But Remus knew that Lily would need to rant about either James or Severus, who as of late had been ignoring her entirely. What's more, he had already promised Dorcas that he would practice defensive spells with her. So Remus trailed slightly behind Peter and James, both pleased and overwhelmed by how many people he now had to juggle spending his time with. With everything going on, both the problems he fretted over and the ones he ignored, Remus realized he was feeling like he was still trapped in the ring of fire he had conjured during class. And if he didn't make the ring bigger somehow it was going to burn him, or worse, his friends. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="afad75df512a0e05e95f8dcc433d8917"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"AN: /spanThank you for your patience everyone. I know that I have been extremely inconsistent in my updating and I am trying to work on getting back on a consistent schedule but I am a lot busier this year than last year. Just know that I am doing my best to keep the story progressing despite the craziness of life. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4ae648fe8e39a99f14336661561b3271"James found he didn't mind at all because Sirius has been extremely obnoxious, charming the chairs themselves to make farting noises whenever someone shifted in them and doing everything in his power to keep the focus on anything but studying. A brilliant result of Remus getting fed up with Sirius which meant Peter also no longer attended was that occasionally, Lily would sit down and study with Remus and him. From trial and error, James had learned if he spoke a word Lily would get up and leave without hesitation. But if he stayed quiet the fiery red head seemed content to ignore his existence as she studied besides Remus. James was happy with this, though it did sometimes annoy him how Lily would lean over to whisper something to Remus. It really felt like she was testing him, daring him to say something. But with Remus' encouragement and the occasional kick to the shin, James was now on day three of studying with Lily. James flinched as Remus' foot made contact with his shin and he quickly glanced down at his book on offensive realized he had yet again been staring at Lily, who was absentmindedly twisting a lock of her hair around her quill./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e43374388d26147c3733c3d03c6b150e"Since Peter had broken up with Marlene, the Marauder who had seemed to have the most patience with James' gushing had lost all of it. Strangely, Sirius hadn't said one word about dating or girls and seemed to be content to ignore any semblance of romance whatsoever. Remus...well, Remus was a lost cause who couldn't seem to accept that one day he might actually date some girl, and even more foreign to the poor bloke was the fact that some girl could ever possibly like him. This left James in the rather unfortunate position of none of his friends understanding him nor even pretending to. It wasn't until after a particularly rough Quidditch practice in which he had overheard older players talking about girls that James realized he had other friends besides the Marauders to turn to./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="366d1242a0e8c288aeb5489fdb64b994"So James found himself spending more time with the older Quidditch boys, who found James' infatuation with Lily as amusing as everyone seemed to but who were at least open to pretending that their newest chaser might have em style="box-sizing: border-box;"some /emidea of what he was talking about. At one point in time James spending more time with the Quidditch team would have lasted in a full out fight between Sirius and him. But Sirius seemed to have other things on his mind and when James dared to ask Sirius about the fact they hadn't been spending much time together. The boy had just stated simply that James was allowed to have other friends as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. As far as the other Marauders went; with the second term in full swing Peter didn't have much time to hang out with anyone since he was doing his best to stay caught up with work and Remus was either hanging out with Lily or Mary of all people, helping Peter study, or sneaking off by himself to do whatever it was that he did- most likely read. James wouldn't have seen Remus at all that week if it wasn't for the study sessions in the library, which had become a much more appealing place to James for some reason as of late. Even with all of them doing their own things there was less tension between the Marauders than ever. And James didn't think he was just being daft and not noticing the tension, there actually seemed to be none./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="be1142b165d1fcc65836e360a0b5f4a5"James closed his book and leaned back in his chair, stretching. He glanced at Lily and Remus who were both absorbed in their reading and marvelled how on earth the two of them could manage such concentration./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7c22a322e46fb2eda377b1e97608e98c""I think I'm going to head back early and take a nap before class. I had to wake up at dawn for Quidditch practice and Alec Bendger has us flying drills again tomorrow morning. Personally, I think Hufflepuff will be easy to beat, but he's really hard set on winning through sweat and tears. But I mean... it's Hufflepuff," James scoffed. Remus gave a sound of agreement though it was clear he wasn't listening./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f1f68ef5a7c6e83367c52f5f27904396""Of course, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"you/em wouldn't believe in the merit of hard work," Lily huffed with her usual contempt for James with the eye roll that followed highlighting it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2a504652b594a059cc8b3d9366b919d9""That's not at all what I'm saying. It's not like I've ever even skipped a single practice," James grumbled, always finding himself more than a little irked by Lily when it came to Quidditch. How was it possible for him to like someone who showed no interest in Quidditch except when it came to supporting her friend Dorcas? James felt his ears go warm as he thought about Lily being that supportive of em style="box-sizing: border-box;"him/em, rooting for em style="box-sizing: border-box;"him/em, and coming to a game specifically to see em style="box-sizing: border-box;"him!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a15ed8845abf8932e67deadefcd59d43""Well good for you then, I suppose. Now quit grinning like a moron. If you are going to leave, then do that so that Remus and I can continue to study," Lily pointed out cooly, sitting rigidly in her chair./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9824e059b245636bb2e50ffabfb6a0cc"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Blimey, you sure are in a mood. By the way you have a little bit of the em style="box-sizing: border-box;"fumos duo/em soot on your cheek," James pointed out in an attempt to be kind, although he couldn't help but sound rather smug about it. He didn't think it wise to stay much longer, since Lily had shot him a particularly dark look and as her one hand scrubbed the traces of red off her cheek her other hand looked like it was itching to grab a hold of her wand. "And don't forget to be on time to charms so I have a proper opponent to beat." James shouted with a wave over his shoulder, then ducking just in case Lily lost her head and shot a spell at him even though they were in the library./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9b4990e1e0ec9fdcfefa1f4e04695937""I will be completing the fire-making spell before you, Potter. Just you wait," Lily shouted after him. James almost bumped into a bookshelf because he was laughing so hard. Even better, the 'lovely' Madam Pince had chosen then to show up and shush Lily aggressively. Not at all feeling able to nap anymore, James still began to head back to the common room, but only to grab his invisibility cloak. He knew he would be needing it since the Marauders had agreed to go exploring tonight in honor of the second triwizard tournament task happening tomorrow. James felt better about having the cloak with him since there was no telling what he would be up to after Charms. It was also a possibility that James was merely overly eager about exploring the grounds. Perhaps they could find an adult setting up the second task so they could figure out what it was. But who could blame him for being excited. After all, his friends would hardly be Marauders if they couldn't figure out the task before it began. Plus, it would be nice to hang out with just the four of them. It had been awhile./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="654e8250b9c5b99831236566d9ef602c"James contented himself in fantasizing about finding out what the second task would be, helping Gideon win all of the tournament, and-since he was getting a bit carried away-about being the best Quidditch player at Hogwarts. James had just begun dreaming about becoming a famous Quidditch player one day until he ran into Gary. Upon doing so James continued his fantasy outloud to the boy who patiently listened, though seemed distracted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0d925ae9ddb74c84c6066c467ae28d76""What's the matter with ya, Gary?" James asked as the two of them climbed one of the moving staircases. The two of them were so used to doing so by now that they didn't even register their feet habitually skipping the trick step./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="917b4c65358b1f7e1cb5e8556110f04c""Huh? Oh sorry, James. I'm just worried about tomorrow. Gideon doesn't have as many eggs as Mihaela and Anders. It sounds like Mihaela will have 2 hours for the task tomorrow, Anders will have an hour and forty five minutes, and Gideon will only have an hour," Gary fretted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5f87a6c2e0d478d38009535dea10c046"James patted Gary's back with a knowing smile. "Trust me Gary, Gideon will win. He's a friend of mine and he's one of the coolest wizards at Hogwarts...maybe even the entire world!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f657529a7585b24b69a4e9bb27aebe78"Gary looked consoled. James spent the next half hour explaining, with some slight exaggeration, the ordeal of him saving Gideon in the forbidden forest from the acromantulas./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f55d9d1dbe6bbc6995c0b7d92fa0f671""Woah, James! You are brilliant. I haven't done anything fun since coming to Hogwarts." Gary sighed looking disheartened again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="703d17aca16840fd5af9854cdd8c35ef""Aw come on, Gary. Cheer up. Hey, maybe you'll win the competition, yeah?" James offered kindly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="75049d829a440144901544b53161bc17""No...it will probably be you..." Gary huffed, looking resigned to the fact./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c129e044eef0b8ca789da6b8c15d2d35"James thought so as well, but he had enough tact not to say that outloud."Maybe you'll win as well," James encouraged brightly. Gary glanced at James with wide eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7fec6596b18126e3970c5c62a2c2f147""You really think so?" Gary asked hopefully. James realized he wasn't just the only one in the world who wanted to be the best at something./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b7531ee84086a2c5cfb5b73179a92bba""Course I do. Now, I need to go grab something then we can walk to class together, yeah?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bac09c7ba1cc542c24d6127b9469bed0"Gary was quick to agree and James ran upstairs to snatch the invisibility cloak. He recognized it was not exactly where he had set it, and saw how much neater it had been folded. He guessed either Peter or Remus had borrowed it. Probably Remus, though. Sirius better not find out Remus was sneaking off or he would get all pissy about it. James had long ago gotten used to the idea of the invisibility cloak being a community article and shrugged it off before heading downstairs and walking to Charms with Gary and Jeremiah, who had come back from optional study hall and seemed just as worried about Gary about the tournament tomorrow. James truly wasn't worried, though. He had faith in his school and in Gideon./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8d7ee89830ff6fb2bd033571d3f6080f".../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5ccc553d532df27c76b3b619c16b2689"It wasn't until near the end of the lesson on perfecting the shape of their fire spell so it formed a circle of protection around them that James was jostled awake by Sirius, who had been absentmindedly doodling ideas to perfect their big prank. James looked down at his empty paper, devoid of any notes, as chairs scrapped and students began pairing off. Luckily, they all had the benefit of Remus' neat notes to look off of later, and so far James had not experienced any real difficulty in spells./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bc6bbe442e9a456fe8f5b59db8a7d8d3""Everyone pair off and practice perfecting the fire spell, please," Professor Flitwick declared. James now realized why Sirius had actually woken him up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3964b5969a363512ed3919654dae7ca9""Follow me," Sirius whispered. James did the two of them slipped into the back of the classroom behind several pairs of students who were actually giving their all at practicing the spell. James really wanted to give it his best too, if only to beat Lily's challenge. But he could tell by Sirius' tone that he wanted to talk about something important. Even James' mum, who took studies more seriously than his father, encouraged James to put his relationships before grades. James took all of the advice his parents gave him to heart. Most of the time, anyways./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f7fea3c7b58e775d65cb3891256a1704"James waited for Flitwick to make his rounds, knowing the professor would soon become too invested in the children struggling to notice them slacking. Randomly flicking their wands in a semblance of attempting the spell, Sirius glanced around to make sure no one was paying any mind to the boys tucked away in their little corner./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="59affefc8b2bf025ff3199f52b818239""My uncle sent me...the books I requested." Sirius started off. James nearly dropped his wand in his excitement./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="01d649de427999fc3c4149813da637cf""Have you read them?" James asked eagerly, forgetting to wave his wand./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fb64b9e9587f87c856d4268e49a429eb""Don't be daft! Of course I did," Sirius began, sounding scandalized, "I would have told you earlier but you've been busy pining after Lily," Sirius teased and this time James did drop his wand face going red./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c32ca4b6b9e40d6d6d087602823f5b90""I have not!" he protested, "I've been studying with Remus, unlike you,"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d1f03d19f18b3ed7e98863aadaeb7f31""Not my fault he didn't want my genius in the group. Now stop being a git and listen, will you?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6f002a34a44de30dc9b607889c2ca2aa"James scoffed at Sirius comment of his "genius," which had consisted primarily of loud farting sounds going off that were unable to be pinpointed. Of course, Remus hadn't been fooled long and eventually kicked Sirius out of the study group. But James knew bringing that up would sidetrack Sirius, and James was too curious about the book to bother calling Sirius out on his bullshit. Satisfied by James' silence, Sirius continued in a low whisper./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ef9922360e042519cbedcf20ace2c73b""There was nothing useful, but my uncle left a note that if it wasn't what I was looking for he could get me a book called em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The Fanged and Furious,/em which he had heard rumors about in Romania. It has research on adolescent dark creatures. I bet if anything will have a way to help Remus, it's that book."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="123dd23ac70b19ccaaf3646a3b9b4ed0"James wasn't sure what to make of Sirius' fixation on the topic, especially since they had confirmed that Remus went through very little pain. James still wanted to help Remus of course, but there was something in Sirius' searching that seemed...odd. Even if James couldn't figure out exactly what it was./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0ce75de254f2c1e3bbf011da9464a0e5""That's great, mate. He's sending it then?" James asked, pushing away the strangeness of Sirius' level of persistence. Sirius nodded with a gleam to his eyes, almost aggressive. It was then James realized quite suddenly what had been off about Sirius' desperation./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b4027b0b9fe33a2819efbe8a3bb9659d""Hey, Sirius?" James began awkwardly, glad that they were in a public space where Sirius had to reign in his outbursts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c8f81a10cbba79542d255a8c55735ba3""Yeah?" Sirius asked, still elated by the discovery./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="24ae3ab0720d280687f63c2eae094b42""You know..." James glanced around, feeling uneasy with the proximity of two Ravenclaw girls who had drifted closer to them in an attempt to get away from Gary's out-of-control spiral of flames that Flitwick was dealing with. "You know this isn't temporary...that...that this isn't something that will go away for our mate. He's...he's like em style="box-sizing: border-box;"'that'/em forever..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c5fde49621009ff9e349e53af807fcbc""Course I know that, James. Don't be daft," Sirius snapped, but fell quiet for a while. James wondered if he dare even try to ponder over what went on in Sirius' mind sometimes. As the silence stretched on Sirius glowered at the floor as he practiced the spell. James figured it was best to change the topic in case Sirius' anger accidentally resulted in him catching James on fire./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="de27139b0e66b6d6f412c6cfbb0f2bd4""So...haven't seen much of you lately. What else have you been up to? Don't tell me you've got a girlfriend now?" James asked casually, although he was secretly hoping this was the case. If only his closest friends were interested in girls, then everything in James' life would be that much easier. But Sirius made a face at the suggestion./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="294ec41d4e15dedb3db92799b2466f4c""No, not unless you count my dickface brother relating to me how I will be forced to attend a wedding with some other dumbass pureblood female," Sirius scoffed, waving his wand around wildly. James winced, though wasn't entirely sure why Sirius was that upset about it. The Black family had certainly done worse to their son than force him to hang out with some girl./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d35af3def304907a028ba163a877b07a""Sorry mate, that's bollocks," James mumbled since it seemed like the best thing to say./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6d79a03d8f37d781cb46f007557ba0d4""Yeah, it is. But I don't want to talk about it," Sirius grumbled and James figured that was the end of the topic. He should have known better, though. Once Sirius started complaining about his family he seemed to have a hard time stopping. "Also, dumb little Regulus actually seems to think he's a better wizard than me. He won't leave me alone about this little conspiracy theory he has concocted. He seems intent on 'saving the school' or some sort of childish fantasy. He should just grow up and leave me alone. I'm not going to get dragged into this game of his and get in trouble for it."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7d52892e81996208c0a4d58c487a2a4f"James had no idea what to say. He knew that any remark he gave about Regulus seeming to just want to hang out with Sirius would undoubtedly end in his friend pointing out how "only-child Potter" couldn't possibly understand. Luckily, Flitwick came over and asked to see their progress. James straightened, having practiced very little throughout class due to Sirius. But James knew Lily was looking at him, and he was very good at spells so with the correct swish of his wand he stated confidently:/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a5b13026fc674f2cb9eb6930beff0dbe""em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Incendio!/em"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e42d5630eb67a56c77742096dfb415ee"Flames leapt out of his wand and proceeded to form a circle around him which filled James with a great amount of pride./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5410ec285510e853a943d9dd43e9ca9b""Oh, very well done, Potter! Very well done indeed," Professor Flitcwick said encouragingly. There was scattered applause at James being the first student to accurately get a full circle of flames to surround him. James beamed, catching Lily looking away in a huff before looking at Sirius expectantly, grinning. Only Sirius wasn't looking at James. Instead, he stared at the ground with a dark look that James knew all too well. A storm was brewing inside the young Black, and James really didn't fancy getting caught up in it when it broke free. He better talk to Remus about it soon. Only first he'd make sure to boast to Lily about winning. But as soon as Flitwick left, Sirius muttered under his breath./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0170e92700a1381946e10a8473a57bf6""If you spent as much energy searching for a cure as you do failing to impress Lily then maybe we would be somewhere by now," the sore loser pointed out sourly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="37d9f2a11c8a445c603635e47b9c7b3c"James knew Sirius well enough to know he was picking a fight. But quite frankly James, didn't bloody care. His desire to stay out of the shit storm of Sirius turned into anger at his prejudiced friend./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="22b3eb9e1e9c52038280de4dd15ffcf8""Sirius, you are such a mor-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="731156fb1e4b1f280fc0cc62648eed5b".../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="90c37f0edca76bc31b8353d768788012"On metaphorical fire at his progress during the class, Remus sat down tiredly in his seat. He had been pleased that he had been the fourth student to complete the spell accurately. Maybe he really did have a chance at winning the competition! Remus had started off not caring about the triwizard tournament, but he had become more invested once the Hogwarts champion was GIdeon and then even more so after the first task. Then they had learned some of the younger students, due to throwing such a fit about not being able to be considered for the tournament, could limitedly participate in the last task. James, Peter, and Sirius had gone on and on about the piece of eternal glory that could be theirs if they participated in the third task. But Remus' own reason for wanting to be in the third task seemed more foolish than that./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="eb679ac61794404570134588cabfdc7f"Deep down Remus knew it was highly unlikely and an extremely childish desire. Still, he couldn't help but hope that if he conducted himself wisely during the third task, perhaps his dad would be forced to trust him more. That way Remus could actually have permission to have friends. They were truly the best mates anyone could hope for. Remus needed his dad to see that./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d29efec39963af14022293e4a2111179"Of course, the Marauders had been spending less time together lately, but this time it wasn't due to someone bickering with someone else. Instead, there was an ease about the whole thing that seemed to stem from finally feeling secure in their friendship with each other. The peace that had come over the Marauders since Remus had successfully lied to them, and would continue to pull that off somehow, had left Remus free to spend more time with Lily and Ryan without feeling too guilty./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3ddd465b9d01f14276732d58221eabb8"Plus Remus was pretty sure he would hex James if he kept ranting about saving Gideon during the tournament. His friend's growing arrogance seemed to be fueled by his excellence at Quidditch and James' ridiculous attempts to impress Lily. Succeeding so brilliantly in Charms would probably increase James' arrogance further. But Remus would never dare tell James that. Besides, it seemed like such a small issue in comparison to the harm Remus always caused his friends./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="daaa6f67adbd17d7957ce0549f95711f"Ever since Remus had realized he had been truly accepted by all the Marauders, there had been a growing jitteriness in him. Despite himself, Remus thought about sabotaging the precious friendships by being too much of a swat and a wet blanket. Remus had even found himself not calling James and Sirius out on their dismal studying habits as much as he had prior. He wasn't entirely sure if this meant he was becoming a better friend or a worse one./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0cd930316982ff32649c925546348ecb""Remus, will you help me with the spell later?" Peter whined, sitting down next to him. Remus nodded and the two of them habitually glanced at James and Sirius who normally would have rushed back to their seats to brag about their progress or attempt to distract Peter and Remus from theirs by talking. But Remus found the two boys still in the back of the classroom, and by their stiff body posture they were arguing about something as quietly as they physically could./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0e15d56219f64d5ea8e30dca07919ae9"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Well the lack of bickering amongst the Marauders had been nice while it lasted/em, Remus supposed. He caught the words 'unrealistic goal,' 'arrogant wanker,' and 'maybe he's right' but stopped trying to listen when he heard Flitwick clear his throat and climb on top of the stool at the front of the class./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b3db110e3753174df201bf46deef8f2f""Attention class. I wanted to let you know that for the next class period, the competition portion date will be announced at the end of class for anyone who wishes to participate. The first task is done individually, and I encourage you all to brush up on your spells over the weekend."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c9815b8b9a8a8d8973d126de8980ecc2"Multiple students, especially the Ravenclaws, tried to gather more information from Flitwick. However, the professor remained adamant in the surprise of the challenge, though he did hint that students should look outside of their spell books. But that had immediately been a give in to Remus at first hearing of the challenge, considering years one-three were allowed to compete. Sirius was adamant about the challenge being a ploy to get students to focus on their studies other than the guest students or the war. Remus figured that was part of it. The guest students had dwindled in the classrooms, preferring to hang out in cliques with each other. Meanwhile the war had seemed to come to a plateau, at least by the standards of em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The Daily Prophet/em./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="da671b9568d0aa9a6e1e24d5036a3f55"No, Remus suspected the younger students participating had something to do with Dumbedore's ulterior motive for having the guests. Remus wasn't quite sure if his suspicion about Dumbledore trying to gain support from the foreigners was even right. However, when Remus had returned the book on medical healing to Dorcas-refusing to look at it for a long awhile until he stopped being quite so upset about Sillverstream-the talented witch had suggested that both competitions had to do with enhancing the battle skills of young wizards and witches. Remus figured that was a more likely reason for getting the younger students involved. Still, he didn't want to imagine the war would last that long or that any adult would suspect it would./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0987d742e63dcc666913f3409110d1e0"There was a shuffling as students packed up, and Remus pulled himself from his thoughts long enough to get to his feet with the rest of the students. Then Remus began to focus on the two primary concerns he could think about without getting a headache: Ryan, who seemed more and more anxious every time Remus met up with him; and Professor Corbyn, who he had overheard Hagrid and Sprout talking about./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0cd902936c159da64e9e328fd2864fa8"Since Ryan was refusing he was being harassed by his peers, Remus shifted his focus to his favorite professor. Maybe Sprout and Hagrid had the information wrong about the man? Remus didn't like the idea of Corbyn fighting the war while he was also teaching. But Remus didn't like thinking about anyone he cared about fighting the war. However, he really doubted Corbyn was doing so./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3c6d1a41ac591340f1af99c04916ca1d"After Remus successfully placed some of the haunting problems in the back of his mind, he found that he had actually been able to pay special attention to the young professor. Only Professor Corbyn never seemed different or behind in lessons for the class. Other than his outburst and using the spell to attempt to get children to change their view on dark creatures, he had been his happy-go-lucky self./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5311e2ed07ccf623c60508f01e2647e8""Oi, earth to Lupin. Whatcha starin at?" James asked with a friendly grin, pulling Remus away from his thoughts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c179ff28eddf9b0350f4d665985b1982""Nothing. Congratulations on getting the spell done first."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3bcebd5ecb923df1997d3f7e0b8f2b0e"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /James beamed and started talking about how he hoped Lily took notice, but caught himself and frowned. "Actually, can we talk?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="443d5b37c450714ae8ecf568b3883a06"Remus tensed, his mind quickly filling with hundreds of terrible scenarios,/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4d139b551b58162bc1153ba0cee5c291""...it's about Sirius," James added, sensing Remus' immediate discomfort. Remus glanced around realizing, Sirius was no longer in the classroom./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ccb37b8973113ce0e332b38f3e741e92""Sure, James. Do you want to talk now?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5a38327db7c1d9769e34ded58e7ed4b7"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Blimey, no not now! We'd be late to dinner and I'm famished. How about we talk this evening before our mission tonight? I really need to take a nap after dinner or I might fall off my broom."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f8ede1ea384ec1beddcbeb7ee0ee2806"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"The great James Potter couldn't possibly make a mistake on his broom." Remus had meant it to be sarcastic, but his internal conflict on how to treat his friends whose acceptance meant more than he could ever begin to explain caused his tone to sound closer to sincere./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="225d749a585a1f3e807b67ee60ce2fdc""Thanks, Remus," James smirked. He thumped Remus on the back jovially before going back over to Peter, who had been waiting patiently and was now complaining about James keeping secrets. A small part of Remus was still surprised that Peter and James waited for him to pack up before the three of them walked to the Great Hall together. As they did, Remus tried to focus on James boasting about his charms prowess and Peter lamenting about how poor he was at charms, but now found himself worrying about Sirius. He felt much too tired to hold up a conversation while worrying like he normally would have attempted to do./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="56a39d8a21efa9e7e89dc23b031bc9b8"Even though Remus' sleep had improved drastically since successfully lying to his friends after the last full moon, he had by no means been sleeping well. His nightmares were filled with Greyback taunting him over what he could not remember. In fact, Remus was so tired he thought about going to take a nap himself after dinner. Especially since James coming to him about Sirius would no doubt equate some level of exhaustion. But Remus knew that Lily would need to rant about either James or Severus, who as of late had been ignoring her entirely. What's more, he had already promised Dorcas that he would practice defensive spells with her. So Remus trailed slightly behind Peter and James, both pleased and overwhelmed by how many people he now had to juggle spending his time with. With everything going on, both the problems he fretted over and the ones he ignored, Remus realized he was feeling like he was still trapped in the ring of fire he had conjured during class. And if he didn't make the ring bigger somehow it was going to burn him, or worse, his friends. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="afad75df512a0e05e95f8dcc433d8917"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"AN: /spanThank you for your patience everyone. I know that I have been extremely inconsistent in my updating and I am trying to work on getting back on a consistent schedule but I am a lot busier this year than last year. Just know that I am doing my best to keep the story progressing despite the craziness of life. /p