1974

On a Friday in third year, only three Marauders made it to class. Remus, ill from the full moon being that day, had to miss his classes—he was particularly anxious, due mostly to the fact that while he was gone, his classmates would be learning about his most dreaded subject in Defense Against the Dark Arts: werewolves. Just the thought of it made him sicker than usual. Luckily for Remus, his friends had constructed a plan to ensure that no one really learned anything in class that day.

James entered the classroom first, striding in confidently and followed closely by Sirius Black. Peter, as usual, lagged behind. The three boys sat together, this time in the front row, so that they would have the closest attention of Professor Dedalus. Lily Evans, who normally sat in the front row, was utterly confused. She entered the classroom and sat behind the Marauders, eyeing them suspiciously. As students filtered in, Dedalus entered in from his office.

"Today, we will be starting our unit on…Oh let's see here…" He shifted around some papers in his hands. "Werewolves. Now, please open up your books to page 394 and I will be taking volunteers to read—"

Sirius shot his hand up. Professor Dedalus looked utterly perplexed. The Black boy never participated in class. Well, unless you counted dung-bombs and passing notes as participating.

"Er…Mr. Black, you have a question?" The professor asked. Sirius shook his head.

"No, professor. I would like to read—you are taking volunteers?"

Dedalus looked stunned. "Er…yes. Uh, go ahead, Mr. Black..."

"Right then," Sirius began proudly, clearing his throat. "Werewolves are a dark creature that can be distinguished from humans by their…Well, this isn't right," Sirius said, cutting himself off. "Werewolves are humans—they are just sick. I'll go ahead and skip down a bit—"

"Mr. Black," Deadlus interjected. "Please, read what is on the page."

"I am!" Sirius insisted. "I'm just proofreading—right, where was I…No, this bit goes on about their danger—really, I don't see how they are more dangerous than a normal wolf—alright then, here we go: they are only dangerous when transformed on the full moon. At any other time, they appear as normal wizards," He finished, looking proud. Dedalus narrowed his eyes.

"Well, Mr. Black, you certainly read…something. Would anyone else like to take over—"

Peter's hand shot up. Dedalus sighed. He wasn't sure what was going to happen next.

"Yes, Mr. Pettigrew? Go ahead…"

"Right, so it says here," Peter squeaked, "That werewolves don't generally mate—that seems a bit wrong, doesn't it? I mean, mate is a word for animals shagging—"

"Mr. Pettigrew!" Dedalus exclaimed. The other students giggled. "That is not—"

"I'm just saying, it seems wrong…Can't we say that werewolves don't often shag?"

"We will certainly…" the professor sighed. "Yes, Mr. Potter?"

"While I know werewolves don't normally shag—"

"Mr. Potter!"

"—I actually read that werewolves who did…you know…at the full moon once gave birth to some cubs. I think that's very sweet," James remarked, adjusting his glasses. Professor Dedalus pursed his lips.

"That's…actually true," he said, somewhat astonished. "And actually, somewhat nice—yes, that is true. There is one reported case of a rather intelligent bunch of wolf cubs being born to werewolf parents. Very fascinating, but I'm afraid we are getting off topic. Would anyone like to read about how to identify…" He sighed again. Mr. Black was raising his hand. "Yes, Mr. Black?" the professor asked, somewhat annoyed.

"There isn't really a way to identify werewolves, is there? I mean, as wolves they don't look all that different, and then as humans they look just like you or me. I mean, they aren't all that different, are they? They just have a little issue with lunar cycles—much like birds, if I'm going to be—"

"That…is somewhat true," Dedalus conceded. "But there are signs: Illness around—"

"Well, everyone gets ill!" James exclaimed. "I mean, I'm a bit under the weather right now but I don't think I'm a werewolf," he reasoned. "Sirius is a bit rough on the eyes, but we don't go around calling him a hag—"

"Oi!" Sirius yelped, elbowing James. "I am beautiful—"

"You're average at best—"

"Boys!" Professor Dedalus bellowed. "Please, stop this, and pay attention to the lesson. Since reading aloud is simply not working, I would like everyone to—silently—read pages 394 to 397 by themselves."

The three boys looked at each other and bunkered down into their books. Other students did the same. This lasted for approximately 40 seconds before Sirius began humming. James tapped his quill on the desk, and Peter started stomping his feet. Some students looked over, but it was all quiet enough that Professor Dedalus could ignore it and pretend the boys were reading. However, Sirius hummed louder and Peter continued stomping his feet. James stood up on the desk, and turned around, facing other students.

"Mr. Potter," Dedalus began, "Please sit—"

"Lily Evans!" James shouted. "It has come to my attention that I haven't professed my love to you yet this week—"

"Potter," Lily fumed. "Sit down—"

"Oh Lily, Lily, Lily…Sweet Lilypad—"

"Mr. Potter!" Dedalus yelled.

"Oh how to compare thee to a summer's day…thou art far lovelier and more shaggable—"

"MR. POTTER!" Dedalus yelled. "Detention—my office, 7PM."

"If you are going to give Mr. Potter detention," Sirius began, also standing up on his desk, "Then I deserve it too! Sweet Marlene—"

"Detention!" Dedalus shouted, face glowing red. Peter shuffled his feet and stood up—though he lacked the coordination to stand up on his desk.

"I would like detention too!" He quipped. The professor, angry, acquiesced.

"All three of you! Detention, 7PM! I can't deal with you…" He seethed. "Class dismissed, please read up on werewolves for class on Monday…" Dedalus stomped out of the classroom, likely gone to complain to Albus Dumbledore. James and Sirius high-fived and Peter smiled as the three packed their bags and started to leave the classroom.

Lily Evans was dumbfounded. She had never, ever, had a class cancelled midway through as a result of the Marauders. All, at least, except for Remus. Unlike her other classmates, Lily had done the readings before class. She doubted anyone else would read the chapter, but she was beginning to think that had been the goals of those prats all along. Remus wasn't here. It was the full moon. He had looked sick a few days ago and his scar that she had seen that day at the lake…

Lily began to pack her things, bit did so slowly. She hated to even think it, but those boys were genius—disguising a helpful act of friendship as a classic Marauder prank. They wouldn't even mind having detention—it would be something to take their minds off their friend's pain. So, Remus was a werewolf. And now no one in their year would learn how to recognize him—no one except for Lily. The more she thought about it, the less she cared. Remus was her friend, and as Lily walked out of the classroom, she knew that would never change