A/N:

Apparently I still have the motivation to post regularly, which is good for all of us, right?

This chapter turned out a bit more fillery than I had wanted but I hope you won't mind.

Once again, please enjoy.

Unlike Monday's Potions exam, there was no hour break between the theoretical and practical Charms examinations. After the last grain of sand had fallen atop it's cohorts in the bottom half of the hourglass, the sixth year students were dismissed from the room. "But wait just outside" Flitwick reminded them, his high voice holding a note of warning. "You wouldn't want to miss your names being called out."

The Marauders felt the piercing blue stare of their professor alighting especially on them, shared a look, and then smiled their most sweetly innocent smiles up at the Head of Ravenclaw house. Their wide-eyed expressions clearly had no effect on their professor, who inclined his head and shooed them out of the room.

"Rude" James said, casting a grudgingly admiring look over his shoulder as Flitwick charmed the doors shut behind them.

"As if we'd go running off willy nilly through the Castle when we've got a practical exam to sit" Sirius added, clapping a hand to his chest. "I'm hurt."

"Yeah" Dorcas deadpanned, ponytail shaking behind her head. "It's like he's actually learned from the past five years."

Remus slowly turned to face her, his face the picture of flouted innocence. "We have no idea what you are referring to, Ms Meadowes" he sniffed. "We have never missed an exam in our lives."

Hestia cocked her head at them, peering through her fringe. "With you lot, there's always a time to start."

Rose slid down the wall, so she could rest her arms atop her knees. "I'd be offended if that didn't sound exactly like us" she commented, searching through her bag for the packet of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans she had squirrelled away for just this occasion. "Bean?"

"Don't mind if I do" Sirius replied, delicately dipping two fingers into the box and blindly selecting his bean. Without looking at it, he winked and said "Here's hoping for vomit. Dumbles swears he once got bogey flavoured, so puke flavoured ought to be in there too." Then, he grinned, popped the bean in and chewed with relish. "Sadly, cucumber."

"Bad luck, old bean." James clapped him on the shoulder, using him as support while he grabbed a bean himself. His nose wrinkled "Suede."

Remus was the next to select blindly, triumphantly cheering seconds after the sweetie touched his tongue. "Chocolate!"

Peter grabbed a bean at random, tossing it into his mouth before noting the suspiciously familiar green shade. "Ugh! Grass!"

Rose tilted her head in sympathy, picking out a rather shiny bean. Experience with these vicious beans had taught her the value of caution. So, unlike her friends, Rose carefully broke off a tiny piece and popped it into her mouth. "Blergh" Rose shuddered, sticking her tongue out instinctively. "Broomstick polish. Gross."

James grabbed the offending bean from her last fingers and cheerfully chomped down on it. "Lovely" he said, still chewing. "Haven't had one of these since I was five!"

Lily slid own the wall to sit next to Remus. Her nose crinkled in disgust. "You have no tastebuds, Potter" she announced, yet that didn't seem to stop her reaching for a bright red lolly. There was but a moment of silence before she grinned. "Cherry!"

Peter frowned, growling under his breath. "Some people have all the luck."

Rose watched as one by one her fellow students were called into the classroom. First it was the Hufflepuff students, and then the ones from Slytherin. One by one they left the room, frowning or smiling depending on the success of their exam. Rose saw James frown contemplatively after the Slytherins, yet she knew that he wouldn't dare risk missing his turn for the practical by following them. It was, unfortunately, one of the few times when following their instincts just wasn't feasible. Once the last Slytherin had slithered off down the Charms corridor, it was the turn of Gryffindor house. First Lily, then Dorcas, Marlene, Mary, Hestia, Emmeline, and then Alice trudged through the door, ready to face the last Charms test of their sixth year at Hogwarts.

Rose braced herself to be called next, but Flitwick's high voice called for Frank instead. She pulled back, a frown wrinkling her nose.

"Beg your pardon?" Rose said, turning to her friends in surprise.

Sirius shrugged, frowning at the door. James just mirrored Sirius - really it was no wonder everyone called them closer than brothers. Peter nervously ate a few more Bertie Botts' beans, preoccupied with the looming spectre of his approaching practical.

Remus, perhaps because he didn't suck as much as her other friends, offered Rose a reassuring smile. "To test one Marauder is to test us all. I believe that someone suggested giving us all a lesson in patience." Green eyes cut pointedly towards James and Sirius. "Especially given what happened after the Charms OWL practical."

"We only singed a few of the Greenhouses" James cried, throwing his hands in the air. "Anyone could have done that!"

"Anyone else wasn't trying to goad the Venomous Tentacula" Remus retorted, sounding very much like a professor at the end of his tether.

"Most people don't have our imagination, Rem" Sirius replied, smirking as if that ended the conversation. To be fair, it had ended the conversation every other time they had had it, but sometimes it didn't serve to tell Remus that.

"There's imagination, Black, and then there's idiocy" Remus told him flatly. "Which do you think that was?"

Sirius smirked all the wider, not backing down at Remus' challenge. "Visionary genius."

Once Frank and then Benjy had taken their practical exams (both doing reasonably well, judging by the relieved thumbs-up they sent the Marauders on their way down the corridor), Flitwick appeared in the doorway. He smiled slightly at the sight of all the Marauders tossing Beans at the Ravenclaws (a few being sporting enough to open their mouths and try to catch them), nodding once at Rose. "Miss Evans?" Flitwick called, beckoning her into the classroom.

Rose grinned at her friends, who all nodded supportively at her, and strolled into the room, making sure to close the door behind her. From there, it was your average, run of the mill Charms exam. Rose stood before Flitwick's desk, non-verbally summoning water, turning vinegar into wine (once again a nice rosé), and demonstrating a whole host of other sixth year level charms. While this was, once again, an area of spell work where she didn't have her sister's proficiency, Flitwick was amazed when - just as at their OWLs - Rose demonstrated a corporeal patronus. But that had nothing on the smile on his face when she excellently cast an advanced cheering charm and then flawlessly followed it with the countercharm.

Flitwick smiled at her, making a note on his scroll. "Well done, Miss Evans" he squeaked. "Now remember, do not speak to anyone of what you have done in here. Not until they too have had their turn."

"Of course, Professor" Rose replied, knowing that he was warning her especially. "We never do. Once we're done, though, Remus makes us go over them again, to see where we can improve."

Flitwick inclined his head. "A very wise precaution" he agreed, giving her one final smile. "Have a good day, Miss Evans."

"And you, Professor."

At lunch, where they couldn't escape him, Remus insisted on going over the intricacies of their written exam. James and Sirius' first thought was clearly to override him, but one look at the intransigent glare on the werewolf's face was enough to change their minds.

"Question thirteen" Remus began, rubbing the tip of his ear. "The correct wand movement for the levitation charm-"

"Swish and flick!" The Marauders sang as one, rolling their eyes. "Everyone knows, Moony."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then why did Peter forget during third year?"

"You lot had just had me hiding in the girl's bathroom" Peter hissed, cheeks burning bright red. "I was under a lot of pressure, okay?!"

Rose made a valiant attempt not to laugh at Peter's expression. Instead, she bit her lip, counted to ten in her mind, and then turned to Remus with a smile. "I bet Flitwick only put that one in there to try and trip us up."

"He forgets, we know his tricks of old" James smirked, scooping up some gravy with his knife. "The simplest solution is often the correct one. Especially when it comes to the levitation charm."

Peter ducked his head a little. "It nearly tripped me up" he admitted, mumbling it into his pie.

Rose patted him on the back, smiling easily. "But it didn't, because you know to trust your instincts."

Peter sat up, beaming. "Thanks, Rosie" he said wholeheartedly, eyes sparkling with pride. "I knew I couldn't be completely useless."

Peter was in such a good mood, he didn't notice James and Sirius muttering under their breath "Not completely."

Rose pretended she didn't hear their - unfortunately quite accurate but also unkind - statement, flicking a pea at James's glasses. "So, what wondrous exam will you be gracing with your presence after lunch?" she wondered, sharing a grin with Remus.

James scowled into his pumpkin juice. "I don't remember" he admitted cheerfully, turning to Sirius to see if his best friend knew.

"Does it matter?" Sirius asked, dabbing his lips with his napkin. A few of the people surrounding them looked enviously at the napkin as Sirius tossed it back onto the table. "Whatever tedious exam we have to sit, I'm sure we'll do well."

Remus cast his gaze towards the enchanted ceiling, praying for patience he had precious little of. "If you don't know what exam you're supposed to sit, how will you know what classroom to go to?"

Sirius smirked, leaning forward on his elbows. "Why Moony" he said, the playful tone of his voice making Remus' eye twitch. "What do you think we keep you around for?"

Remus stared back at him, unimpressed and refusing to rise to the bait. "Far more than you will ever admit to, Sirius" was all the werewolf would say. "Far, far more."

Peter rubbed his hands together, smugness lighting up his eyes. "I have nothing set for after lunch" he bragged, forgetting what a bad idea that was to do that around James and Sirius.

James flicked the back of his head, shaking his head in disappointment. "You don't have any other exams to sit, Pete, because you're only taking seven sodding classes. The rest of us-" here James waved around to encompass the others "-are taking nine. That means we have more exams to sit than you."

Peter grinned, unfazed by James's point. "It just means that I am only preoccupying myself with classes that will help me in the future. Unlike you lot who took extra classes because you enjoy the subject matter." He laughed to himself. "That means you're swots!"

Sirius' left eyebrow climbed right into his black hair. "We have very good reasons for taking these classes, Wormtail" he said, voice deadly soft. Peter swallowed, smiling nervously. He hadn't yet realised that Sirius wasn't in fact glaring at him. "Remus, granted, is particularly swotty, but he can't help it. It's who he is."

"Watch it, Padfoot" Remus warned, otherwise content to let Sirius make his point to poor Peter (actually the misguided fourth years who had been stupid enough to nod behind him).

"Our responsible friend likes to broaden his horizons with all that Arithmancy rubbish, Ancient Studies, and Merlin only knows what else."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Ancient Runes (because it challenges me), Astronomy (it's endlessly fascinating), Alchemy (who doesn't want to learn about one of the most ancient arts of magic?), Charms, Defense, Potions, Herbology, and Transfiguration (all obviously because of what we want to do after Hogwarts)." The barely-disguised pride in his voice was well deserved, his courses were some of the hardest Hogwarts offered, and he was practically top in all of them - potions excepted.

"Precisely" Sirius smiled, sharp and cold. "You're taking the core classes, Pete, and they'll serve you well. Just as Arithmancy will." It was as Sirius said this that Peter realised that the fourth years paling behind him were the actual targets of Sirius' rage. "James here, as well as being our Quidditch Captain, is taking - which classes again, mate?"

James sat up straighter, always happy to help reinforce the lesson Sirius was making. "Astronomy (because Astra wouldn't let us drop it - and you know it's true, Rosie), Defense (obviously, given the current climate out there), Charms, Herbology, Potions (all for our career aspirations), Transfiguration (Minnie would be disappointed if her most promising students didn't carry on all the way), Care of Magical Creatures (for fun), Divination (always good for a laugh), and Muggle Studies (because it's a fascinating subject and really pisses off the blood puritans when they find out)."

"Excellent reasons, mate" Sirius approved, turning a cold glare back on the growing number of students wanting to hear what they had to say. For some reason, the Marauder path was endlessly fascinating to their fellow students, despite the danger it took to get them to open up like this about it. "Now, I'm taking almost all of the same classes as James, and for the same reasons, except where he takes Astronomy, I take Ancient Runes. Runes is a difficult and fascinating subject, and while I miss taking Astronomy, I wouldn't give up Muggle Studies for the world." He smirked wickedly. "You would not believe how much my taking it pissed off my parents."

"You're missed in Astronomy, Siri" Rose offered, moving hastily away from the subject of his awful parents.

"I've seen enough of the stars in class for my lifetime, Rosebud" Sirius replied easily. "And it's not like you don't drag us all up there every now and then." Rose stuck her tongue out at him, revelling in his laughter. "Now, sweetheart, finish lecturing these morons for me, will you?"

Rose grinned back at him. "Anything for you, Siri." She turned to face the rest of the table, eagerly awaiting the knowledge of why the Marauders took the classes they did. "Just like this lot, I'm taking the core courses because of our future aspirations outside of Hogwarts" she began, glancing at Remus for support. Remus just nodded slightly, smiling at her with his eyes. "Astronomy, because I very much love the stars and from the very first lesson I knew I wanted to take it right up to the NEWTs. Magical Theory because I find it interesting to know how the spells are made and work and what goes into making up new spells - which we have done once or twice-"

"Don't go giving away all our secrets, Rosie" James called, his grin almost swallowing his face.

Rose made a face back at him, thinking back on all her courses. "Um, and I take History of Magic because I want to know everything I can about the world I'm now a part of and, come on, we're learning about King Arthur, Merlin, the Knights of the Roundtable, Morgana, and Camelot next year." Rose grinned brightly. "Who'd pass up learning about that?"

"Sane people, sweetheart" Sirius quipped, turning an impassive face back on their audience. "All that and we prank the living daylights out of people too" Sirius said wickedly. "We learn what we want to because we want to."

James nodded seriously, taking up the lesson like the born leader he was. "That is the only reason you should ever take your courses. If they're no longer fun, nor will they serve you in your future careers, ditch 'em. Don't be angry with us for taking the classes we want to. Be yourselves, nobody can ever ask you more than that. If you're bookish and want to abide by all the millions of rules" James grinned at Remus, who bowed in his seat. "Then be bookish and abide by all of the boring rules. If you're content with quietly taking just enough to get by and staying quietly in the ways of things" Peter grinned and offered a little wave "then do that." James then smirked and inclined his head at Sirius. "If you're unapologetically different to everyone and everything you've ever known, and want to carve out your own path, filled with mischief and loyalty, then be true to yourself - you'll make a path that might be hard, but will have an unimaginable reward at the end." Sirius glanced at James and nodded, smiling tightly. James then turned to Rose and winked. "Maybe you're uncertain of your place in the world, you want to have some fun and learn the things that are important to you - then start having fun, make a little mischief, and learn about something most people would find incredibly boring." Rose playfully scowled at James, but squeezed Sirius' hand when he smiled at her. "Or if you're addicted to quidditch, pranking and know exactly what you want out of life - go and get it, you're the only thing standing in your way."

"Unless what you want is Lily Evans" Sirius muttered, leaving the other students hiding their smirks.

James manfully pretended he hadn't heard that. "Or, if you've never fitted in and you want to find a family that will unconditionally accept you and have some fun doing it - then look around you, the friends you have may already be waiting for you to realise what you have." James's final statement was about the Marauders as a whole, a family who had never truly belonged anywhere else. "Life is right here, waiting for you. Be yourselves, find something fun to study, and enjoy yourselves while doing it. Nothing at Hogwarts will ever seem empty, dull or wasted because of it."

James would never know, but the other Gryffindor, a few Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students weren't the only ones who heard his impromptu lecture. Dumbledore had heard every word, impressed at the way James had taken the blatant curiosity of the students and turned it into a lesson they could all call upon. James was a true leader, Dumbledore smiling at the further proof.

Thank you for reading.

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