A/N: Hey, guys! I'm back! *bows*
*crickets*
Yeah... I know. It's been way too long, and I'm sorry. But better late than never, right?
...Right?
Anyway, thank you so much for being patient, and I promise I'll have the next chapter posted on Saturday. (Unless the site is being a poo-head and won't let me upload like it wouldn't on Christmas Or on New Year's. Or last week...) I'm not exactly happy with this chapter, but I'm pretty sure the next one is much better. :3 But Joe (you know who you are!), this is for you.
Disclaimer: Seriously? I still have to do this? *sigh* Fine. I do not own Harry Potter. There. Happy now?
Also Doctor Who reference. Cookies to anyone who spots it! :D
When James went to bed that night, his hand still hadn't returned to normal, and it wasn't any better when he woke up. What was he going to do?
Thank Merlin Sirius had an idea. He wrapped several socks around James' hoof so it looked to be the size of a fist, then pulled another sock over the whole thing to keep it from falling off.
"If anyone asks, tell them you're trying to teach yourself to become ambidextrous," Sirius suggested as he wrapped Spellotape around the sock.
Once he finished disguising James' hoof, Sirius headed down to breakfast while James, Remus, and Peter waited in the common room for Liz. She must have overslept, because she came bounding down the stairs just as they were about to leave, wearing only one sock, her shoes clutched in her hands.
"Sorry," she said as she hopped over to them, trying to pull on the other sock. "Lost track of time-"
"Just put your shoes on so we can go," James said impatiently. Liz shoved her feet into her shoes and dashed to the portrait hole, not even bothering with the laces.
"I stayed up too late last night," Liz said when they were all out in the corridor. "I was... you know." She grimaced and pulled up her sleeve to show her arm was covered in dark fur. "And again this morning. It got stuck."
"James' hand is, too," Peter said. Liz laughed and pulled her sleeve down. James stuck his tongue out at her.
"I still think this is a really bad idea," Remus murmured.
"Yeah, well, we don't care if it is," James said cheerfully. "Besides, you worry so much that we've kind of stopped taking your opinions at face value."
They made it to the Great Hall with twenty minutes to eat and examine their schedules. Remus had Ancient Runes for his first class, Liz and Peter would be going to Divination, and James was scheduled for Muggle Studies. He smiled, knowing he'd at least be able to share that class with Sirius... and Lily. James glanced down the table to where Lily and her friends sat, comparing schedules. When Lily glanced up, James grinned and rumpled his hair, but that only made her roll her eyes. Maybe she was just trying to keep from smiling.
"So we have one new class today, then double Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws, then a free period for all of us- except Remus, he has Arithmancy-" Liz made a face. "and then Charms with Hufflepuff. Not too bad, I suppose."
"Divination is at the top of the North Tower," Peter said, pointing to the location marked on his schedule. "Liz, we should get going."
"Gimme a second." Liz grabbed several rolls and tucked them into her bag, then shoved another into her mouth. "Fee oo 'a'er."
"I have to leave, too," Remus said apologetically, pushing his plate away and standing. "Bye, James."
"Bye." James waved and turned back to his food. He could have left with his friends, but he was hoping he could walk to Muggle Studies with Lily. He finally had a legitimate excuse to talk to her; it would be a shame to waste the opportunity.
After a minute, Lily, Sarah, and Victoria stood to leave. James waited until they passed him before he, too, got up and followed them out. At the top of the entrance hall's stairs, Sarah and Victoria turned to go to the grand staircase while Lily continued along the first floor corridor. James hurried up the stairs after her.
"Evans!" he called, running to catch up. "Hey, Evans! Wait for me!"
Lily's shoulders stiffened and she quickened her stride, but James just ran faster, slowing to a brisk walk when he drew level with her.
"What do you want?" Lily said coldly.
"Oh, Evans, you wound me," James said, putting a hand to his heart. Lily's eyes locked on it.
"Why is there a sock on your hand?"
Shit. James froze for a moment before remembering Sirius' suggestion. "I'm trying to become ambidextrous," he said, tucking his sock-covered hoof into his pocket. "This is just to make sure I don't slip up and use my right hand."
Lily raised an eyebrow, but she actually looked impressed. James grinned. He never thought his accident could actually work in his favor!
"So, could you give me some tips on stuff?" James asked, trig to keep the conversation going. "What's the difference between a tellytone and a tell-a-vision?"
"Er, well, it's actually telephone and television. You talk to people with a telephone and you watch stuff on the television," Lily said slowly, giving James an odd look. Hopefully, she was checking out his hair.
"What about those black and white cars that go 'WHEEE-OOOOH!'?"
Lily jumped at the sudden yell. "Potter, don't do that," she snapped.
"Sorry," James said quickly. "So what are those cars that go WHE-"
Lily swatted him. "Shut up," she ordered. "And those are police cars; they're transportation for what's basically the Muggle equivalent of Aurors."
James nodded. "What about those machines that go ding when there's stuff?"
"...What?"
"Where the heck is the North Tower?" Liz demanded when she and Peter arrived at yet another dead end. "We've been walking for hours!"
"Actually, it's been fifteen minutes," Peter said. Liz glared at him.
"I. Was. Exaggerating," she said through clenched teeth. For some reason she couldn't quite place, the maze like corridors of Hogwarts' northern wing were setting her on edge. She sighed and rubbed her temples. "Sorry, Peter."
Peter grinned at her. "Don't worry. It's getting to be that time of the month, right?"
Liz felt her face redder. peter quickly went scarlet. "I didn't mean that one!" he cried. "I meant the other one!"
Liz laughed weakly and punched Peter's shoulder. "Yeah, it's getting close to that time- but don't call it that, okay? It sounded like..." Liz shuddered. "...yeah."
"Yeah." Peter and Liz stood in uncomfortable silence for a moment. "Shall we try the left-hand corridor this time?" Peter suggested. Grateful for a change of topic, Liz nodded and let him lead the way back to the intersection and down what they hoped was the correct path.
Checking her watch, Liz realized they only had three minutes left to get to the classroom. "We have to hurry! Let's try this way!" She ducked into a side corridor that quickly turned into a flight of stairs. Talk about lucky. Liz shivered suddenly and drew her robes closer around her.
She and Peter pounded up the stairs and emerged at the top, panting and out of breath, to see the last few students disappearing up a ladder.
"Ladies first," Peter said between gasps, so Liz, after talking a moment to catch her breath, climbed up the ladder, emerging into a room that vaguely resembled an antique store.
She moved out of they way so Peter could climb up as well. "Where d'you think we should sit?" she asked, looking furtively at the teacher as she spoke. The professor stood at the front of the room (was it the front?), beaming at the students as they stood around uncertainly. She was an elderly woman with frizzy white hair that was held away from her face with a bright blue scarf. She was clad in a loud, multicolored robe and had what looked like twenty strings of beads around her neck. Liz wondered if Sybill had deliberately copied the professor's eccentric style of dress, bangles and all.
"Welcome, welcome! Go ahead and sit, I don't mind where." The professor flicked her wand and the clutter flew into a pile at the back of the room, exposing the tables that had been hidden under piles of parchment, candles, books, and various knickknacks. A low thunk caused by a crystal ball rolling off the pile made Liz jump. "I apologize about that, I've been meaning to clean all summer and never got around to it."
The students exchanged glances and sat, Liz and Peter claiming a table as far in the back as possible.
"I am Professor Methius, and I hope I'll get to know each of you very well this year."
"That didn't sound wrong,' Peter muttered. Liz bit the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing.
"So I see you've each bought a copy of Unfogging the Future- excellent- though I should warn you that the book isn't there to teach you. It's supposed to be a guide to the Inner Eye, nothing more.
Liz wrinkled her nose. She'd been hoping that taking Divination would help her better interpret her dreams, but so far, it wasn't looking very promising.
"Today, we will be starting with reading tea leaves, so please open your books to page six and I'll get each of you some tea."
Liz and Peter flipped to the page as Professor Methius sent a dozen or so teacups floating to the tables. Liz quickly drained her own teacup with a gag, swirled the dregs like the book instructed, and she and Peter exchanged cups.
"Okay..." Liz chewed on a fingernail as she studied the mush in the bottom of Peter's teacup. "You've just got a bunch of blobs."
"You, too," Peter said. "How are we supposed to tell what this is? Are we supposed to do this like we're looking for shapes in clouds?"
"That seems like you'd only see what you want to,' Liz muttered, turning the cup in an attempt to see something symbolic.
"It does, doesn't it?" Peter squinted at the teacup. "Well, I guess this thingy here could be a pine tree..." He turned the cup around. "Though from this angle, it looks more like a torch."
"You're better at this than I am, then," Liz said frustratedly, still unable to make out anything remotely un-blobby. "Well, there's something that looks a bit like the moon. Maybe you're going to get eaten."
"What?" Peter lunged across the table and snatched the cup from Liz's hands. "Ha ha, very funny. I'd believe you if it was a-" he glanced around and lowered his voice. "full moon."
"Give me that." Liz snatched the cup back. "There's a rectangle or something on one end of the moon, anyway, like one of those whatchamacallits that were used in farming."
"A scythe?" Peter asked.
"Yeah, that." Liz flipped through the book. "Scythe: Foretelling grief or pain. You might want to make sure Sirius doesn't booby-trap your bed."
Peter sniggered as he ran his finger down the list of symbols. "Torch: Discovery of a hidden talent. Maybe you can SING!" Peter flung his arms wide, knocking over the candle that was placed in the center of the table. "Crap!" He grabbed the candlestick and used it to smother the flame. "That's gonna leave a mark," he muttered, tentatively prodding the burned wood.
"Just leave it," Liz said, batting his hand away from the scorch mark. "And for the record, I don't sing."
Peter shrugged and turned his attention back to the cup. "So... Tree, Pine: Happiness followed by an aftermath of regret."
"Yeah, I was happy we'd have Divination together. Now I'm regretting it; you nearly burned down the tower."
Liz and Peter locked eyes for a moment before dissolving into silent giggles.
"This class is so dumb," Liz said gleefully. "I love it."
This class is so dumb, James managed to clumsily scrawl. He pushed his note across the desk to Lily. She barely glanced at it before writing something at the bottom and shoving it back at him.
Should be perfect for you.
James grinned in response to the scowling face she'd doodled. He pocketed the note, already planning on pinning it to the wall above his bed.
"Now then, for homework, I want you to answer the questions on the board about common Muggle appliances," Professor Mundie said, tapping the chalkboard as he spoke. "They will be due at the start of class."
James dipped his quill into his inkwell and began to write, his movements painstakingly slow. He was only able to copy two and a bit of the fifteen questions by the time the bell rang, when Professor Mundie promptly erased the questions. James groaned to himself.
"I'll give you the questions tonight," Sirius muttered as they packed up.
"Thanks," James whispered back. He took a while to finish putting his things in his bag, and when he finally stood to go, he was startled to see Lily was waiting by the door.
"Er, I noticed your writing's not exactly the fastest," she said quickly, "and I don't know what you did to make Black so mad at you, but, um, I made a duplicate of the questions." She held out a roll of parchment.
James grinned, accepting it. "See, Evans? I knew you always liked me."
Lily glowered. "I want to see you got them done tomorrow, or I'm vanishing them and you'll be out of luck."
James saluted her with his sock-covered hoof. "Fear not, Evans! For I shall go forth and conquer this task you have given me!"
Lily rolled her eyes and turned to leave. "Imitating Sir Cadogan isn't very impressive, you know," she said as she strode down the corridor.
"Who now?" James wondered aloud.
Remus's head was still swimming with glyphs when he sat down in Transfiguration. Professor Vergil never seemed to pause for breath between her sentences and was apparently incapable of answering questions as she all but buried her students under a deluge of information.
"Hey," Liz greeted him. "How was Ancient Runes?"
Remus thought about it for a moment. "It was... interesting."
Liz raised an eyebrow. "Interesting how?"
"Just... interesting." Remus was spared from trying to make sense of Professor Vergil's monologue when James plunked his bag on the desk.
"Look at this!" he said excitedly, shoving a piece of parchment under Remus' nose. Remus went cross-eyed as he tried to read it.
Liz took the note to examine it. "You're excited about this because...?"
James sighed and took the note from Liz, handing it back to Remus. Remus scanned it. "You... do realize Lily basically called you stupid?"
"That's not the point! The point is, she finally acknowledged I exist!"
"I'm pretty sure she acknowledged that a long time ago, James." Liz rolled her eyes.
Remus just shook his head. James never listened to reason when it came to Lily; Remus had learned a while ago that it just wasn't worth the effort. Liz gave him a small shrug as the bell rang, effectively ending the conversation.
"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts, everyone," Professor McGonagall said from behind her desk. "I would ask it you've all kept out of trouble, but I think we all know the answer to that." She gave James a meaningful look as the rest of the class sniggered. "This year, I think you'll be excited to learn we'll be starting with a special unit..."
Remus leaned forward; Peter dropped his head on the desk with a groan.
Professor McGonagall suddenly shrank, and a heartbeat later, a tabby cat with square markings around its eyes was in her place.
She changed back and the class burst into applause. Remus clapped with them, mentally banging his head on his desk. Of course she'd be starting the year with Animagi, of all things. Irony wouldn't let it happen any other way!
Almost as if she read his mind, Liz leaned over to whisper, "At least now we might get some good information that'll keep us from getting stuck, yeah?"
Remus just groaned.
The period was spent going over the history of Animagi, starting with the enchantress Ceridwen and ending with the creation of the Animagi Registry. Professor McGonagall walked around the room as she lectured, pausing occasionally to answer questions. It was a relief to have a normal-paced class after the insanity of Ancient Runes. For almost two hours, it seemed as though the class would pass without incident... until Professor McGonagall walked past them.
"Mr. Potter, why is there a sock on your hand?"
Remus buried his face in his hands. Liz placed a hand over her arm as though to cover the patch of fur. At the other side of the classroom, Sirius froze.
James, however, grinned cheekily at the teacher. "Well, I fancied becoming ambidextrous, so I had Peter help me put socks on my hand. Didn't want to be temped, see." He waved at McGonagall with his sock-covered hoof.
McGonagall sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Very well, but I'm not going to repeat anything for you, so don't ask." She shook her head and resumed her lesson.
James smirked at remus. "Cheer up, Moony," he whispered. "You look like somebody punched you in the stomach."
That was certainly what it felt like. If McGonagall had demanded James take off the sock so he could write properly... Remus shoved that thought out of his head. Dwelling on it wouldn't do him any good.
oOo
When Remus climbed into bed at the end of the day, he allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief. The first day of classes was over and nothing terrible had happened, which was a first. He'd half-expected Voldemort to come bursting into the Great Hall during dinner.
Maybe, he thought, this year wouldn't be as bad as he'd feared.
A/N: Well, I know it wasn't the best... but I'm happy with how the next chapter's coming along, so hopefully you guys will be, too. :) At least I did research the tea leaves thingy. Take THAT, SMeyer!
And the next chapter WILL be up on Saturday. See you all then! (Unless you want to go check out my Pokemon fic, but you know... No, I'm not trying to promote it, what are you suggesting?!)
Until next time,
-Dndchk