Author's note: I am sorry that I haven't updated for so long! I took all your comments into account and this chapter is in a completely different lay out to the last one so I would really appreciate it if you told me which layout you liked best so that I could continue with it.
Chapter 2
Transfiguration.
The four Marauders ran into the room panting and threw themselves down at the only available desk. (Which James couldn't help noticing was the farthest table away from Lily)
"Mr Potter, Mr Black, Mr Lupin and Mr Pettigrew! You are nearly fifteen minutes late!"
The four murmured their apologies and tried to look ashamed.
"That is the fourth time this week" Professor McGonagall continued.
The four repeated their apologies and tried even harder to look ashamed, Sirius found this particularly difficult and merely looked as if he had something wrong with him.
"Mr Black? Do you need to go and see Madam Pomfrey?" McGonagall asked in concern, obviously his expression hadn't escaped her notice.
He shook his head quickly and instead adopted a neutral expression. Professor McGonagall studied him closely for a minute and then continued her lecture.
"I can only conclude that you must all be a bad influence on each other and as I don't want this to effect your work in my lesson you will be split up for the next three weeks of Transfiguration. If you are not late for the duration of that three week period then I will reassess your position"
The Marauder's mouths dropped open. She was going to split them up!?
"Now lets see, Mr Potter you can come and sit with Miss Evans"
James gloomy face suddenly lit up and he beamed at his professor before positively skipping over to Lily's table. Her friend reluctantly moved to the empty desk and Lily looked absolutely horrified. Professor McGonagall seemed to ignore everyone's reactions though and was looking around the room thoughtfully.
"Mr Pettigrew you can sit with Miss Slater." She decided at last gesturing at the girl she had just moved to the empty table so that James could sit with Lily.
Peter didn't seem particularly put out at this arrangement but Sirius couldn't help noticing that the Slater girl shifted her chair as far away from him as the desk would allow. He was smirking at this when McGonagall jerked him out of his thoughts by mentioning his name.
"Mr Black? Are you listening to me?" His teacher demanded.
"Yes professor" Sirius replied meekly.
"Well? Go then" The aged teacher sighed when Black just looked at her in confusion.
"You obviously were not listening Mr Black and so you can sit in your placement for the rest of the year even after the three weeks are up"
Sirius sighed and hoped that she had placed him next to a fit girl at least.
"Where exactly is my placement?" He asked politely.
"As I have informed you while you were off in dreamland Mr Black, you will be sitting next to Mr Snape for the duration of the year"
"What!?" Sirius looked absolutely horrified. "There is no way in hell that I'm sitting next to that git for the rest of the year"
"Well, don't think I want to sit next to you either" Snape cut in.
"You will be sitting with him next year as well Mr Black if you don't go and sit down now" McGonagall told him crossly while blatantly ignoring the scowls from Severus Snape.
"Wouldn't it be fairer if all four of us sat with these people for the rest of the year?" James asked eagerly "I think sitting next to Evans will… erm… really help my punctuality."
"I think not" Lily argued furiously.
"I do not think so either Mr Potter" McGonagall said.
She turned to gaze at Sirius who instantly scuttled to his seat looking mortified but there was no way he was going get stuck sitting with Snivellous next year as well, this one would be bad enough. McGonagall turned her steely glare back to the only remaining Marauder and as she realised who it was her expression softened slightly. She was very fond of Remus Lupin, he was very polite and hard working, he just got influenced too easily.
"Mr Lupin you can sit next to Mr Longbottom" She said quickly and then went to continue her lesson.
Remus went to sit next to his friend and fellow Gryffindor Frank Longbottom with a smile on his face, he had thought she was going to place him somewhere really awful but Frank was his Ancient Runes partner. Sirius had been slouched in his chair looking depressed but the second the transfiguration had announced where his friend would be sitting he sat up so quickly that he banged his knee into the table.
"What!?" He exclaimed.
"Is there a problem Mr Black?" McGonagall asked wearily.
"Yes, yes there is a problem! How come James gets to sit next to the girl he fancies- (James shot him a look which clearly told him to shut it) Peter gets to sit next to a fit girl (the Slater girl blushed and looked very flattered) and Remus gets to sit next to his friend and yet I have to sit with Snivellous?"
"Detention Mr Black, and it will be a weeks worth if you mention that name in my classroom again" She totally cast aside the point he was trying to make and began to teach about the transfiguration of mice into slippers.
Sirius scowled and grabbed an unused piece of parchment and began to scribble.
How am I going to be able to sit next to Snivelly for the rest of the year! At least you all got a sane person to sit with. And you got Lily you lucky git Prongs.
He folded it into a plane and charmed it to take off and land on his best friends desk. The plane seemed to want to enjoy itself first, it flew around the room neatly skimming the heads of a few Slytherins before finally using Lily's arm as a runway to land. James grabbed hold of it and skimmed through the badly-written lines before picking up his quill and replying.
Why on earth did you tell the whole class that I loved Lily!? You are such a git! I am glad you have to sit next to Snivelly, you deserve it! Actually maybe that's a bit harsh, no one deserves that! I bet grease drips off his hair and onto the desk when he writes.
He took a while folding his, but it looked great when he had finished. It was a little model broomstick with a model James sitting astride it. He blew it slightly to make it set off. It did several dips and turns before landing on Sirius' lap.
Like they didn't already know that you loved her! No one could miss that love-sick expression you always have and the way you follow her around like some sort of dog. Ewwww don't make me feel worse. You should see his hair close up; its foul! And he stinks!
The paper once more flew to James in an aeroplane style. James was slightly delayed in replying because McGonagall turned around from the board she was jotting notes on (that they were supposed to be copying but neither James or Sirius were) and eyed him suspiciously. He finally managed to jot down a reply.
You are exaggerating! Like I show I love her that much! I bet no one else even notices! Okay I am starting to feel a bit sorry for you now. Have you seen how patched his robes are as well? He comes from a fairly well off family so why doesn't he just buy new ones? I bet he just never takes them off, that's probably why he smells. He probably gets changed whenever he has a shower which is like never!
He was just about to send it back when Lily Evans reached over and snatched it off him. She read it slowly, her eyes glinting more dangerously the closer she got to the end. She picked up her quill and began to write, digging her quill in so hard that James started to worry that it would go through the parchment and into the table.
Why must you always pick on him? He never does anything to you! And he does shower actually and change his robes! You lot can hardly talk anyway. When was the last time you brushed your hair Potter? And Black never seems to have a tie. I'm holding you responsible for this by the way Potter. I have to sit with you for three whole weeks now and you will most likely drive me up the wall.
She allowed James to read it and then folded it into an elegant swan and sent it over to Sirius.
Well, why must you write so small? I practically had to strain my eyes to read it. What do you want to defend Snivelly for anyway? And actually I do have a tie! I just don't like wearing it and Prongs spent like three hours brushing his hair this morning! Of course he will drive you up the wall, why don't you just go out with him?
I was not brushing my hair for three hours! It wasn't even half an hour! You just ask Moony. Where is Moony anyway? We totally ought to bring him into the conversation. I need some back up! And yeah Evans, why don't you just go out with me?
I will write any size that I wish so shut it Black. And if you couldn't read it then I recommend you get your eyes tested; I watched Potter read it and he did in like three seconds so it is obviously just your eye sight. Yes, do bring Remus into the conversation. I want to talk to someone normal! I will not just go out with you Potter because I HATE YOU! You dedicate your life to annoying me and hexing people who annoy you. Give me one good reason why I should go out with you.
Was that a compliment, Evans? Remus is not normal! I am more normal than Remus. But I will send this to him in a minute. I cannot believe that someone as beautiful and kind as you is capable of an emotion such as hate. I don't annoy you! And I hardly ever hex other people now, actually the only person I hex now is Snivelly. You want one good reason to go out with me? Well here goes; I love you.
Compliment? What are you talking about I have certainly never complimented you and Remus is ten times more normal than you. And stop trying to chat me up! I dislike you, okay? And you should stop hexing Severus!
What you said about my eye sight was totally a compliment! So you don't hate me? I'm getting somewhere! I notice you didn't say anything about the fact that I love you.
He folded the paper and this time sent it along to Remus who took his time to read it through, frowning slightly. He did finally reply though and then passed it to Sirius.
JAMES STOP PESTERING LILY, SHE WILL NEVER GO OUT WITH YOU!! AND I AM 100 NORMAL THANK YOU VERY MUCH! AND JAMES WAS BRUSHING HIS HAIR FOR THREE HOURS THIS MORNING!
Do you realise how long it has been before I wrote anything? You were totally cutting me from the conversation. Hah I knew Moony wouldn't back you up Prongs! Only ten more minutes to go and then I am free of Snivelly!
You are such a git Moony. It was only half an hour Lily, honestly! Ten more minutes till Transfiguration is over!
Yeah and I haven't taken hardly any notes because of you Potter.
Sure, cuz it was all my fault wasn't it Evans?
Yes, Potter it was.
As always.
McGonagall's coming over! Hide it quick!
James hurriedly shoved the parchment into his trouser pocket and looked at his professor innocently.
"What are you up to, Potter?" She asked suspiciously.
"Nothing Professor" He answered in his very best fake surprised voice.
She studied him for a minute and then seemed to be satisfied as she walked back to the front of the classroom.
"Class dismissed!"