IMPORTANT!
Please read this authors note it is very important (well I think it is)
As to all the questions as to where I live its Brisbane, which is the capital of Queensland. GO AUSSIE!
I know shipping Hermione and Harry was an unpopular choice, but I have always loved them together, better than Ron anyway! I'm not changing it, but I definitely won't put in anymore lovey dovey scenes but there will be references to their relationship because it's my fic and I'll do what I want! Lol
I am not usually a very angry person. Sometimes I do have a temper, but it usually takes a lot to get me set off, HOWEVER, if I don't stop receiving reviews insulting my choice of years I am GOING TO SCREAM! I CAN NOT take it anymore! No, I am not going to change the dates, so get over it like everyone else. Some people have said it in the nicest possible way, but I have already explained why I picked 1983 in the first chapter. If you had read it properly it would not be necessary to waste your time sending me VERY annoying reviews! Please stop!
I really feel I have to apologise for my atrocious spelling. It was always been a problem, I just CANNOT spell! I will try harder though as I didn't realise it was such a big issue. Thanks for the pointer!
It seems that the clamour for longer chapters has outweighed the call for shorter ones. The reason they were short is that it was what my early reviewers called for. Now I can see that people do want longer chaps so I'll do my best. But really 7 chapters in one day in between all the things I had to do, is a pretty big achievement on my first go!
Thank you to everyone who understood my offbeat humour in chapter 5. I am sorry that so many people said that it was otherwise unsatisfactory.
I've had 1173 hits and 33 reviews in one day from my first fanfic. I am so proud of myself and so thankful to all the people who took the time to read my chapters and even more thankful to the people who took the time to write something about my work. Even more thanks to the people who are kind in their reviews, you almost cancel out the bad ones!
I would like to add that I love to hear your opinions on where the story should go in your reviews. Sometimes I might need a push if I'm stuck. I've only had one person do this so far and I am SO grateful. I'm taking your advice for the next chapter.
I hate to say it but I'm going away to Mooloolaba on the 7th and won't be home till the 21st and I go back to school on the 24th or something, so if you don't hear from me in a while, don't give up, I'm just trying to find the time to update.
Lots of Love
Bee
"That has to be. The. Coolest. Lesson. We have. Ever. Had!" said Sirius Black at lunch right after their first DADA lesson.
He looked around at his friends for support and they all nodded. They were currently sitting at the Gryffindor table eating lunch.
"They know it!" said James
"Um… know what Prongsy?" asked Peter
"What it's like. To be fighting the dark arts. To be actually helping people. It's incredible!"
"Yeah," they all agreed with a sigh of admiration.
They all fell into silence, remembering the lesson. Everyone who had been in that lesson had never experienced anything like it. They hadn't even opened their books the whole lesson. Their teachers had been beyond belief as well. They were easily the best they had ever had. They knew everything they had taught so well and had been so laid back and open the whole time.
"It would be so cool to be one of their friends. You know hang out with them out of class. They seem so awesome," thought Moony aloud.
"What? Going to start grade-grubbing Moony?"
"No! Unlike some people, I don't need to grade-grub. I already have them. But seriously they seem like really nice people. And to know even a small bit of what they know would be amazing. I'm so glad they're teaching us. And with all the stuff they got up to in school, they could probably show us a thing or too," he explained.
They all nodded. He was right. But why would the two coolest teachers in the school, possibly the whole world, want to hang out with a group of students.
"I agree," came a voice from down the table, "They seem like really nice people."
"Evans are you eavesdropping?" asked James
"We couldn't help but to hear. You were talking so loudly," retorted Lily
"And we were talking about the exact same thing," added Rhea
"So what do you think about them?" asked Remus.
"We loved them," came the voices of Lily's other best friends, Jessica and Emily.
"They were so, like, wise," said Emily
"But at the same time, cool, " said Jessica.
"I liked them too," said Peter. "They way they taught was like, inspiring."
"It thought they sounded really smart, " added Lily
"Yeah like nerds," laughed Sirius
"Come on Sirius," retorted James. "You were just saying like 5 minutes ago how much you loved them."
He huffed, but they all saw him smiling beneath his breath.
"We also heard Remuses suggestion," said Jessica.
"Oh yeah? Which one?" asked James suspiciously
"The one about what it would be like to know them personally."
"Yeah but it's not going to happen is it?" said Remus. "We were just joking around."
"I don't know. We were just saying that it must get pretty lonely for them."
"Being the only people their age, and having to hang around with the teachers."
"So we thought that maybe they could use a bit of company."
"We were going to go and see them now, but then we overheard your conversation and figured we may as well ask you as well."
The marauders all looked at each other for a moment and seemed to reach an agreement just by looking at the others.
"We'll come," said James. "But there's no time now. We've got Transfiguration now and our next DADA lesson is last thing tomorrow."
"Should we go up to them after that lesson?" asked Lily cautiously. As much as she wanted to meet Harry and Hermione out of classes, she didn't want to look stupid or embarrass herself in front of them.
"Sounds good to me," said Rhea enthusiastically. She got up from the table and shouted back over her shoulder, "I'll see you all in DADA!"
The rest of the group following suit and left for their various classes. All were looking forward to talking to their professors the next day. They went through their classes the next day without paying much attention to what was going on. They were too excited about DADA.
They all met up again for their last lesson of the day. Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts. The lesson was similar to the last in that, they were still working on the Unforgivables, but this time there wasn't as much practical work. They took notes on the history and uses of the curses and the same as last time they were all put under the Imperius curse.
Lily and James managed to throw it off again but without so much exertion, while Sirius and Remus had the same results as James and Lily had had last lesson. Rhea, Jessica and Emily were met with limited success and a few others from the other three houses had small successes.
When the lesson finished the class was dismissed and the 2 teachers sat down at their desks at the front of the classroom. They were well aware that the Marauders as well as Lily and her friends had not left the classroom, but allowed them to make the first move. Hermione pulled out a book and started taking notes for a lesson that they were teaching first thing tomorrow and Harry attacked a pile of parchments on boggarts from some of his third years.
"Um…excuse me Professors?" came a tentative voice.
Both looked up and feigned surprise at beholding the large group standing before them.
"Please. Its Harry and Hermione. Don't make us put you in detention."
James Potter spoke up, "Sure Harry and Hermione. We were just wondering…um…if…um…you know…wow this is awkward."
Sirius tried after him but couldn't seem to get the words out, "it's just that…er…we were…um…thinking about you…"
"I'm touched Sirius," said Harry mockingly.
They were all to embarrassed even to laugh.
Lily took a deep breath and just spat out what both boys had been trying to say, "Wewerewonderingifmaybeyouwouldappreciatesomecompanybecauseyoumustgetverylonelywithoutanyoneyouragearound!"
Harry was suddenly reminded of himself at age 14 trying to ask Cho to the ball. He looked up and saw that they were all looking as embarrassed and awkward as he had felt at that time.
"We would absolutely love it!" came a voice on his left. "I'm so glad you asked. We were beginning to get a bit bored, weren't we Harry?"
He nodded.
They all breathed a sigh of relief.
"So what would you like to do?" asked Harry.
"Well," said Rhea. "Right now I could go some dinner. Will you come and sit with us?"
Harry and Hermione exchanged a quick glance before both shouting, "YES!"
"Oh my God you have no idea how boring it is sitting up there next to that Slytherin bitch."
"We aren't used to sitting up at the head table like that," said Harry "At our old school we always sat at one of the house tables. It feels weird sitting up there with all those old people!"
"Well come on then!" said Sirius, his foot already out of the door. "The food is calling me!"
They all walked down to the Great Hall together. It was a bit awkward after that high excitement moment back in the classroom. As soon as they stood up, the Marauders and tag alongs were forcible reminded that these were teachers. They were taller, older and more powerful than they were and no one could find common ground to talk about.
Lily, James, Peter, Sirius, Rhea, Jessica, Emily, Remus, Harry and Hermione sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table.
"Treacle tart!" yelled Harry and dived for a bowl in the middle of all of them. He grabbed the whole bowl and proceeded to stuff them into his mouth.
"Harry!" reprimanded Hermione. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Treacle tarts 'Mione! Don't you remember? We used to have them at school! I haven't had these in 2 years!"
"Well maybe you could leave some for everyone else."
"NO! They are all mine!"
The rest of the group watched this exchange with mouths wide open. This wizard who had to be one of the most powerful people they had met was eating treacle tarts like he hadn't seen food in days.
"I guess he likes them," said James.
"One thing I learnt growing up with two boys as best friends, is that they eat ALOT of
food. And Harry isn't even as bad as Ron was," she said with a laugh.
"I bet you miss him a lot," said Rhea sympathetically.
Harry just continued to eat treacle tarts, enjoying his relived youth.
"Everyday," she said with a sigh. "But if he was here, Harry and him would just get into all sorts of trouble."
"Would not!" said Harry sullenly. He could talk not because all of the treacle tarts had been eaten.
"But you used to get up to lots of trouble at school didn't you?" asked Emily. "All that stuff you told us in the first lesson."
"Hermione? Get in trouble?" scoffed Harry. "I don't think so. She was the teacher's pet. The best student in every class. She was top of every class for 7 years!"
"But you always beat me in DADA," she reminded.
"So you just made all of that stuff up then?" said Sirius. He sounded beyond disappointed.
"Oh no! I just never got in trouble for any of it!" she laughed.
"Harry and Ron however got more detentions between them, than I have hairs on my head!"
"It's not my fault! And plus it's not like we got caught every time!"
The whole group laughed. Some out of pure shock and others out of genuine amusement.
The night went on that way for a couple of hours. All three parties sharing tales of their exploits.
Harry and Hermione told about the reason they were friends (which shocked the pants of everyone), the Marauders talked about all of their pranks and Lily and her friends told all about their girly adventures.
By the time they had agreed to go to bed the hall was totally empty and it was well past curfew.
"Here take this bit of paper," said Hermione holding out the suggest parchment.
"What for?" asked Remus
"It's after curfew and we don't want you getting caught do we? It says that you have our permission to be returning to the common room. But make sure you go straight there. We'll know if you don't," explained Harry.
They all nodded and said there good byes. Hermione and they girls all hugged and kissed and the boys shook hands warmly.
"Off you go now," said Hermione
"Oh. And before I forget, 20 points to Gryffindor!"
The next day went as normal. The group from last night all greeting each other in the hallways. Unfortunately there was no DADA class that day. However there was one tomorrow and they were going to be moving onto a new topic; Progressive Magic.
"Ok class, put away your books for the moment," Instructed Hermione
"Today as you know we are going to be starting the topic of Progressive Magic. Most of you will have absolutely no idea what that is, am I correct?"
The class nodded.
"It's rather hard to explain so we're going to begin with a demonstration and then Harry and myself will write up some notes on the board for you to copy down."
She reached under the desk and pulled out a beautiful red rose bud. "What we are proposing to do is to make this but bloom within a time period that we set. Now who can suggest a spell that has anything to do with growth?"
The class was silent for a moment and then a Hufflepuff called Jane Emmets put up her hand, "Engorgio? The Enlarging charm?"
"Very good Miss Emmets," said Harry. "With one spell that has absolutely nothing to do with the blooming of roses, we can adapt it so suit our cause. This can be done to any task you are met with. You can change the purpose or intention, so that even if the caster has a very limited knowledge of magical incantations, they can overcome any obstacle they may face."
The class was beginning to understand what this whole thing was about and some even nodded or murmured their assent.
"Now we're going to make this rose fully grow in the space of 1 minute so what we do is we put together our time frame with our desire and we make a simple incantation. Like Un Minuto a Engorgio!" (Yes I made that up but oh well)
The rose began to change before their very eyes. The petals opened up and grew larger. The stem sprouted thorns and in exactly one minute, there stood a fully-grown rose.
Harry reached down and scooped it off the desk and with a bit of unnecessary flourish handed it to Hermione. She blushed and thanked him.
"If you attempted to do what Hermione did just them, most of you would end up with a very large rose but that would only last one minute or something like that. It's all about the intention. You have to focus your mind on achieving your goals. Now copy all of this down and then we'll start on some practical applications that you have to work out for yourself."
All in all it was a very full lesson. After the demo they all had to make a toad sing a song of their choice. Some people got their toads to make noise and some even got a vague tune but most got nothing. Apparently it was every bit as hard as Harry had made out.
They were all allowed to take their toads away with them, and their homework was to successfully make them sing a song by their lesson on Monday. They still had one day of school left for that week and everyone couldn't wait for it to be over. Not only was it their first week back at school but there was a Hogsmeade visit that Saturday.
James still hadn't forgotten Lily's promise back on the first day and asked her and her friends about date arrangements after Thursday's lesson.
Friday passed quickly and despite much hard work, no one had managed to make his or her toad sing yet. Most people were using a combination of the charm opposite to the silencing charm (the Momensio charm) combined with the title or some of the words of their song. However their failing was their concentration. They couldn't wish it strongly enough so at most the frogs croaked to their own tune.
Lily, Rhea, Jessica and Emily met James, Sirius, Remus and Peter in the entrance hall to get a carriage together. Everyone was excited and happy to be going out of the castle.
Harry and Hermione had decided on a day out as well. Preferring the hustle and bustle of the large town to the quiet solitude of Hogwarts.
"So where do you want to go first Lils?" asked James Potter after all 8 of them had stepped out of the carriage.
"I'm freezing. Can we go to the bar for a drink?"
"Sure darling," he said and slung his arm over her shoulder as they walked off together towards The Three Broomsticks.
The rest followed at a distance, not wanting to intrude upon the lovebirds. However they were far from that and Sirius had to choke back a snort of laughter when he saw Lily carefully remove James's arm from her shoulder as though it was poisonous.
They all enjoyed the warming brew and chatter happily for about an hour. Then the girls decided to go shopping.
The boys graciously declined their offer to join them and set off on their own for Zonko's.
They had decided that now was the time to put into action that plan they had formulated on the first night.
They had done all the necessary research and knew what spells to use but just needed to pick up some magical paint from Zonko's.
They entered to shop, thankful for the relief from the cold, and made their way to the paint and goo section.
They were spoiled for choice. There was paint that flashed rude messages, paint that tickled anywhere it touched a person, paint that flashed all different colours and one that sat out in 3foot spikes so no one could get near the wearer. They couldn't help but to get all of these, but decided for their prank to use the "Scribe Paint." It would write things all of it's own accord. Things like embarrassing facts about people, messages desired by the user and just rude things it came up with at the time.
They had just picked it up when they heard a voice from behind them, "You aren't thinking of pulling a prank with that are you Mr. Potter?"
Thinking that it was a Hogwarts Professor and that they were in big trouble, he slowly put down the tin and turned around. He was half right. It was a Hogwarts professor, well two actually and neither was about to get them into trouble. Infact both were laughing their heads off at the looks on the Marauders faces.
"You should have seen your faces!" gasped Hermione. "SO FUNNY!"
They breathed a sigh of relief now realising that neither were going to turn them in.
"You shouldn't have scared us like that," squeaked Peter.
Both just laughed even harder. Finally after many tears of laughter and sighs of mirth they collected themselves enough to speak.
"So what are you doing with that Scribe Paint?"
"Don't worry we won't turn you in. We're just curious."
"We're going to prank the Slytherins," said Sirius defiantly.
"Good. Good," said Harry, "can't have you pranking any of the nice houses."
They were a bit shocked, but they agreed so Remus elaborated, "We're going to make all of them magnetised to Snape, so there's a bit ball of Slytherins rolling around and then we're going to booby trap some of this paint so it falls on them. Should be good."
"Yeah it should, but we'd better leave you to your planning, shouldn't we Harry," she said forcefully and Harry just managed a small wave good bye before he was dragged off by his girlfriend.
The next day dawned bright and early and the marauders as cheerful as 4 teenage boys can be early in the morning. The trap was set. As soon as the last Slytherin entered the hall they would all get stuck to Snape, and well you know the plan from there.
They entered the hall and sat at the Gryffindor table. Harry and Hermione winked at them from above.
It was bound to happen in just a matter of minutes, but The Marauders had perfected their poker faces and looked perfectly indifferent as breakfast progressed.
About half way through, when Amelia Parkinson entered the hall every Slytherin (including the Head of Slytherin) got magnetically pulled towards Severus Snape.
They soon formed a massive Slytherin ball and began bouncing around. Almost without anyone noticing they began to display messages in red and gold such as:
"Snape hasn't had a bath in a week."
"Gryffindor rule"
"Slytherins are all slimy!"
"We suck at Quidditch!"
The Marauders were rolling around on the ground with laughter, when McGonnagal yelled above the ruckus, "POTTER! BLACK! LUPIN! PETTIGREW! I KNOW THIS WAS YOU!"
Resigning themselves to the fact that they had been caught, they trudged slowly up to the head table where their head of house was glaring down at them menacingly.
"Well what do you have to say for yourselves!""
"Minerva, I think you're being a bit hasty in jumping to the conclusion that these 4 gentlemen were the perpetrators," came the voice of none other than Harry Potter.
They had never been more grateful to see him, but knew he was fighting a losing battle.
"Yes Minerva. Innocent until proven guilty," added his girlfriend Hermione Granger.
"But these are the biggest troublemakers in the school. Who else could it have been?"
"As head of Gryffindor you must know by now, that Slytherin is by no means a popular house. It could have been any of them."
"Yes…but…" she spluttered. She had no proof otherwise but was determined to punish them no matter.
Sensing this Hermione said, "and we have concrete proof that these 4 didn't pull this prank."
All four Marauders looked at her incredulously.
"Oh yes? And what is that?"
"Well after dinner we invited them to come to our rooms to discuss our latest assignment, which they were having trouble with. They stayed up working until well after midnight and then we personally walked them back to their rooms. The couldn't have don't it yesterday as they were at Hogsmeade all day and with us all night. And they certainly couldn't have done it previously because I know they do not have the skills to set up a timed spell. Therefore it is impossible for them to have done this."
McGonnagal gaped at her. She could not very well ignore this teacher's evidence, nor could she dispute it. She turned to the Marauders, "You are very lucky that you have such good teachers. You are free to go. But if I find one shred of evidence that you pulled this prank. You will receive detentions for the rest of your lives!" and with that she walked away.
The four boys turned to their DADA teachers. They both just smiled and walked away, not expecting any praise or thanks.
It was now undisputable. They had the coolest teachers in the world!