Chapter 22: Back to School
The whole back-to-school events came and gone so quickly. They had so much fun heading to King Cross Station in the Potters' limousine, joking with one another along the way, and going through Platform nine and three-quarters in which they crashed into one another creating chaos at the platform. And lastly, pranking the Slytherins in the train to amuse themselves. The next thing they knew they were at the Great Hall waiting for the feast to start.
"The first-years look so cute!! I wonder was that how our seniors looked at us when we were the ones being sorted." Lily said, clapping as another first year was announced into Gryffindor. I never get tired watching the sorting ceremony. The first-years look so adorable. It was just three years back when I was the one sitting up there. How time flies.
"I bet they can't be bothered after the first five. It gets boring after some time. But of course nothing is interesting without the Marauders." James answered, giving a something-is-up-in-my-sleeves smile, winking at Remus. Animagi.. here comes the Marauders!!
"Something is going to happen. I just know it." Lily said smiling as she noticed the winking around. What could be their prank this year?? I'm kinda looking forward to see.
"Why is the sorting so long??" Sirus asked, pretending to be fainting of hunger while Peter was staring greedily at the empty plates and goblets. Why can't they hurry up with the sorting??
"It isn't that long!" Arabella replied and rolled her eyes. Sirus' actions seem to always irritate her in a way or another. I can't believe Sirus is whining. Oh my god!!
"Only seven more to go. Hold on, Sirus, don't ever give up!!" Remus counted the number of first-years in the queue and then clasped onto Sirus' hand dramatically.
"Don't hold my hand!! Makes me look so gay!!" Sirus whined in a very effeminate manner. The whole group burst into laughter.
Suddenly silence flood the Great Hall as Dumbledore made his usual short speech and announced the commencement of the feast.
Burgers of all sorts, fries, fried chicken, pizza, etc. appeared on the plates. Coke, sprite, and other soft drinks appeared in their goblets instead of the usual spread. Everyone started heaping his or her plates with enormous amount of food. The start-of-year feast seems to have adopted the idea of fast food theme with burgers that looked like from MacDonalds, and pizzas, that looked like from Pizza Hut. The food tasted so much like the food from muggle fast food restaurants.
"This is an interesting start-of-year feast." Lily said, getting to her third helping of fillet-o-fish. Fast food never taste that nice. Perhaps it all depends on whom I'm eating with.
"I don't remember ever eating something like this in restaurants. What is it called??" James asked, holding up a piece of chicken nugget. This is yummy whatever its name is.
"Chicken nugget!!" Lily said suggestively. I didn't know nuggets were not common in the wizarding world. Or is it not a restaurant kind of food that James usually eats. Anyway, this is something new.
"These chicken nuggets are nice." Sirus said stupidly as he stuffed another two pieces into his mouth. Yummy. Crispy.
"Seriously Sirus, is there any food you don't think is nice??" Lily asked, taking a piece of chicken nugget too. The guys made these simple nuggets taste so good.
"I don't like erm.. I hate those type of food so much that I can't remember anymore." Sirus replied with his mouth rather full frm nuggets and started eating a McChicken.
"I don't remember that you actually don't like any type of food. You eat practically everything!!" James said, taking a slice of Hawaiian pizza and the grated cheese powder and sprinkled over his pizza.
"Pass me the cheese after you are done with it." Remus said, taking a slice of pepperoni pizza onto his plate.
"Lily, you want?" Stefanie asked after she finished sprinkling the cheese powder onto her pepperoni pizza.
"Nah, I hate cheese." Lily replied, eating a piece of Hawaiian pizza without grated cheese or red pepper. I wonder how people can eat something so cheesy. I just can't bring myself to eat that.
"You're the first one that I know who don't like cheese." James said in a surprise, and helped himself with generous amount of grated cheese powder. So cute. Lily doesn't like cheese. Maybe I can create a prank that involved cheese.
"Personal preference I supposed. I don't like the taste or the smell of plain cheese. If the cheesy taste and smell is concealed, I don't mind. Like cheese in pizza."
"Hey, look at that first-year, she's pretty." Sirus said, pointing at a light blonde hair girl who was sitting with some other first-years at the end of the Gryffindor table. The girl was remarkably pretty for an eleven-year-old. Her facial features made her looked very sweet and innocent but yet bubbly and wild on her expression.
"She must be a veela, or at least half veela." Remus told the rest, taking another look at her nevertheless. Even Peter was staring her the girl, open-mouthed. Pretty and sweet. Not my type. I prefer someone angelic like Stef. Oh great. I'm crazy.
"What's a veela?" Lily asked the rest. The four guys, along with most of the guys in the Great Hall, were ogling at the first year Gryffindor with the same expression. Stefanie explained to the two of them the meaning of veela since the three guys were unable to talk all the sudden. They practically started drooling.
The three girls continued eating their food while the guys were taking occasional glances at the attractive girl. Their conversation stopped totally for the rest of the feast. However, the three girls continued their small chat without the Mauraders.
After Dumbledore made his annual announcements regarding the important reminders, they were herded up to their respective towers by the house prefects.
"Hi, my name is Sirus Black, what's yours??" Sirus jogged up towards the sweet first-year who was walking solo at the shifting staircases. She looks good closed up.
"Gracie Lockhart." The long wavy blond hair girl replied politely.
"That's a sweet name, Gracie. I'm James Potter by the way." James ran up and walked with Gracie on her left side. Wow. Prettier than I thought.
"You're the son of Minister of Magic!!" Gracie suddenly jotted to a realization at the mention of the last name Potter.
"Yeah, but that's nothing to be proud of." James said, blushing a little. James was rather popular partially because of his father's reputation as the Minister of Magic. His father was one of the most honorable and respectable men in the wizarding world.
"Ladies first." James said and allowed Gracie to enter the common room first. Cute girl. But I think I would prefer someone like Lily. I must be nuts manz.
"Wow!!" The impressed first-years look around the common room in amazement. The seventh year prefects, Leo Jordon and Angela Moody called all the first-years to gather around for a short briefing in the common room.
"See you around, Gracie." Remus said as he started pushing the three guys up to their dormitory before all of them get started on their ogling fest again. Remus was the one who can exercise the most self-control among the four Marauders.
"Can you believe Sirus, and the rest of them??" Arabella asked in disbelief. The Great Hall and common room were practically flooded with saliva. She's just a pretty face.
"Well, they're normal guys. Besides that Gracie Lockhart is really appealing, you know." Lily said reasonably and started to unpack her trunk. Even James was ogling rather seriously. He doesn't seem to look at me in that manner though. Why should I be sad about that??
"I know she's gorgeous and everything. But why all the guys flock to her like bees to honey??" Arabella replied, lying on her bed. The guys don't even know her!!
"Why are you so concern what Sirus do?" Stefanie said as she walked out of the bathroom while Arabella went in. Bell like Sirus. Haha. Sirus like Bell. They sounded so cute together.
"The Lockhart family produces very good-looking people." Samantha told them as she unpacked her trunk at the other side of the room.
"Why??" Lily asked in amazement. A family of good-looking people. Sounds like something out from the movies or books.
"Their female ancestors are all veelas. But the males of the family are usually himbos." Joey joked.
"That sounds funny, Joey. You mean they're all pure blood wizards as well?" Lily asked curiously as Arabella walked out of the bathroom in her nightwear. Gracie Lockhart. Sweet name for a sweet girl.
"The Lockharts are usually writers, or singers, basically literature and musically talented in a sense. Not to mention they're mostly models as well." Samantha explained as she hopped onto her bed literally.
"That first-year Hufflepuff which I think could be Gracie's brother, Gilderoy, is quite a cute little boy as well. He seems pretty egoistic though, and flirt with girls from seventh years as well." Joey said, laughing in a mused manner.
"How did you know??" Lily asked, grinning as well. What a funny family.
"Jun Chang from Ravenclaw told me. That Gilderoy even approached her and introduced himself!!" Joey said, all the girls in the dormitory burst into hysterical laughter. Jun Chang was a Ravenclaw and a third-year as well.
"This is probably the funniest thing that can happen in the first day." Lily exclaimed, quite amused at the whole situation. This year looks interesting. Well, there's gonna be some amusement with the Lockhart twins somehow.
"The conclusion is Gracie Lockhart must be a veela." James said firmly, drying his hair and trying to neaten it. Gracie is gorgeous. But I prefer Lily personally.
"Definitely, how could any girl be this pretty and normal?" Sirus added, admiring his reflection of a neater-looking hair beside James. The guys were all talking about the new girl in their dormitory. I must be the most good-looking guy around.
"Well, she's pretty and charming for an eleven-year-old. But I don't think she enjoys all these attention showered on her." Remus said, turning to Peter, who was unpacking his trunk and not joining in the conversation. I got this bad feeling about Peter. I must be ridiculous. Peter is my friend.
"Only people worthy of the Marauders to be noticed are special." Sirus said, combing his hair neatly to spite James. James look like me if his hair is neater.
"Just because she's pretty that's why you said that!!" James said, trying to mess up Sirus' hair at the same time. The two guys actually looked rather identical in terms of physique and facial features beside the slight differences in hair and eye colour.
"Knock it out guys. It's nearing midnight and don't forget we have lessons tomorrow." Remus reminded the two guys as he climbed into his bed. What a day.
"One more important thing, we really have to find a way to turn ourselves to animals as soon as possible. It had been more than a year and we're not having much progress so far." James said, turning back into his cozy four-poster bed and drew the curtains. Animagus. What a challenge. I love challenges.
"Let's hit the library tomorrow during the breaks to get all the books before anyone else gets it." Sirus said and climbed into his bed as well. This is going to be exciting!!
"I don't remember Sirus and library actually can actually come together." James said jokingly to the rest of the guys. Remus and Peter gave a sleepy laugh.
"James and library crashes too." Sirus retorted jokingly.
"I didn't say I was going to the library tomorrow. You did." James replied, sounding a little sleepy. Lily. Lily. Lily. Why am I thinking about her?? Totally ridiculous.
"Fine."
"Good night everyone." Remus said, trying to get to sleep. The rest of the three guys muttered a good night and the dorm went silence.
"Nothing happened??" Lily asked in amazement and walked out of the portrait hole. No prank or whatsoever?? This is strange. It just feels so unnatural.
"Nope. We're looking fine." Arabella looked at herself, and check out if anyone else is giving them weird looks. The Marauders didn't do anything?? I bet there's something going on in the Great Hall.
"We appear to be normal. I doubt the guys will ever prank on us anymore ever since the first revenge we had on them." Stefanie giggled at the thought. It was as fresh as yesterday, there were photos to proof and they kept them in case they needed to blackmail the guys. Full moon coming up in a couple of days. Poor Remus.
"Is there any differences in the Great Hall??" Lily asked, looking around and walking into the Great Hall towards their usual seats. This is weird. Totally weird!!
"No rabbits or whatsoever." Stefanie said, looking around in amazement. I'm having a bad feeling whatever the guys are going to do.
"Did someone kidnapped the Marauders last night??" Lily asked, as she sat across Arabella and Stefanie and started heaping her plate with egg and toast. Maybe something more interesting is coming up. Anyway I'm starving.
"Don't tell me they stopped pranking??" Arabella joked as she helped herself with the eggs and orange juice. This can't be happening, right??
"That doesn't sound possible. Their last prank was still on the train yesterday." Lily said, thinking about the fluffy-looking Slytherins on the train. The Slytherins remained fluffy until they reached the Great Hall where Professor Porky changed them back to normal. The four guys then earned the first detention in the year. They thought it was worth it.
"Morning girls." Remus said as he walked over and sat in front of Stefanie. Stef looks pretty today. Bish!! You idiotic brain. How can you think like that??
"Where are James and Sirus? And Peter?" Lily asked curiously. The four guys seem to be inseparable, at least during meal times so far. Hmm..
"Still in the dorm. I gotten hungry so I came down first." Remus said, started eating. He felt guilty lying to the girls. I can't let them know that the rest of them are in the library doing research on Animagi for my sake. It will break the trust Dumbledore had on me. And I'll disappoint my parents as well. Why am I a werewolf?? Why me??
"Really?" Lily asked again, raising her eyebrows suspiciously. I got this feeling that Remus is lying.
"Yeap." Remus replied not looking at Lily. He heaped some toast and eggs onto his plate.
"No beginning-of-the-year prank this year??" Stefanie asked Remus. Remus looks a little off. Must be because the full moon is coming. He became like that all because of me. And I can't do anything to help him.
"Nope, we're going to have more exciting pranks coming up. That requires detailed planning and many discussions. We couldn't get it done in time for today because it usually takes about a month to have the biggest prank of the year. Small little pranks on Slytherins are not counted. And they don't deserve the honor to get it on the first day." Remus joked, smiling at them. Well, it's difficult to be a nice guy.
"So what's next?" Lily asked curiously. Remus is hiding something. It must be the werewolf and stuff. Full moon is about three days away.
"Only the Marauders know." Remus started eating his food, hoping the girls would stop asking him so many questions. Remind me to grab someone else next time. I'm feeling guiltier by the minute.
"Here's your timetable. Miss Evans, Miss Figg and Miss Black. And yours too, Mr. Lupin. Where's Mr. Potter, Mr. Black and Mr. Pettigrew??" Professor McGonagall asked, noticing that the school infamous pranksters were missing for breakfast. This is strange. The four of them are always together.
"They're still in the dorm, Madam. I came to collect the timetables for them." Remus said politely, suddenly looking very innocent.
"I hope you guys are not up to any mischief this year. I had a big headache with the rabbits last year because of what you guys had done." Professor McGonagall said, pointing at Remus but in a humored manner. She had a soft spot for the guys. As naughty as they are, the Marauders have no problem in communicating with Professor McGonagall the 'right' way.
Lily, Arabella and Stefanie were stifling their giggles at the way Remus was talking to Professor McGonagall. It was an interesting sight nevertheless. Afterall, Professor McGonagall seldom showed the humorous side of her in front of students.
After Professor McGonagall left the four of them, Remus heaved a sign of relief.
"Remus, that was so unlike you!!" Lily exclaimed softly, eyes widening at the Remus who just conversed with the strict and no-joke Professor McGonagall. I can't believe I ever see McGonagall looking like that.
"Well, I learnt after spending three years with James and Sirus." Remus said smiling. Finally they stop asking about James and Sirus.
"That's a really good tactic, you know." Stefanie added, her admiration for Remus also increased. Remus is so gorgeous and witty and smart. Oh merlin, I'm falling head over heels on him.
"I guess that's normal after she screamed at us about hundred over times back in the first year. We realized this tactic is very useful in dealing with her." Remus said, looking at the direction where Professor McGonagall was looking very stern, talking to a few frightened first-years.