2

'Good morning!' James chirped happily the next morning. Frank and Peter were already dressed from what he could see. Remus's bed was empty, and James heard water running faintly. Sirius however, was still sleeping peacefully.

James, thinking of an idea, tip-toed over to the side of Sirius's bed and yelled as loud as he could,

'WAKE UP SIRIUS!'

Sirius shot up and frowned while James, Frank and Peter laughed,

'You both should get ready. We haven't got long and we have to find the Great Hall for breakfast.' Remus said, coming out of the bathroom.

Sirius had jumped up at the word breakfast and dashed into the bathroom with his uniform, leaving James to hurry after him.

'Gracie!' Sirius said excitedly when they had finally arrived at breakfast.

'What did you just call me?' Grace asked as James, Remus, Peter, Frank and of course Sirius, sat down around her and the other first year Gryffindor girls.

'Gracie. Your name.' said Sirius innocently.

Grace, now Gracie, turned back to Lily, ignoring Sirius.

James patted Sirius's shoulder, smiling.

The owl post and the first years looked up in shock. One owl stood out the most though. Instead of carrying a white letter like an owl usually would, it was red.

Students noticed the owl and watched it as it landed... right in front of Sirius.

'You've got a howler!' James grinned. 'I'd open it quick if I was you.'

'What's a how-?'

'SIRIUS ORION BLACK!' Everybody nearby clamped their hands over their ears. 'YOU ARE SUCH A DISGRACE TO THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW SHOCKED AND ASHAMED WE WERE WHEN WE FOUND OUT YOU WERE PLACED IN GRYFFINDOR! GRYFFINDOR! OF ALL THE HOUSES, GRYFFINDOR? I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD DEFY YOUR OWN BLOOD! WAIT UNTIL YOU GET HOME! REGULUS WOULD NEVER FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS BECAUSE HE IS A TRUE BLACK LIKE YOUR COUSINS!'

The howler ripped itself to shreds.

'I expect it,' he said simply, then paused and added. 'Her voice is like music to my ears.'

They fell silent.

'Who's your friend in Slytherin, Lily?' Gracie asked.

Lily pointed to Snivellus.

'Ohh… he- he- looks nice.' Gracie said smiling. But when Lily looked away, James could see that she made a weird face. Sirius who had also heard the conversation and seen Gracie's face was sniggering next to him.

'Here are you timetables.' McGonagall's voice came from behind them, making them jump.

She passed the timetables around.

'You'd better hurry up. You have Defence against the Darks Arts first.' She said sternly and left.

'We made it on time!' Peter said surprised. Professor Servark glared at James and his friends from the front of the classroom.

They silently sat down, and James knew instantly that he was not a teacher to mess with.

The Professor started calling out the register, stopping after saying a name, glancing at who it was, studied them, and them reading the next. Just as James's name was about to be called after Peter's, the door to the classroom burst open.

'I'm sorry I was late Professor. I forgot my bag and I had to go back and get it and-' it was Gracie, panting in the doorway.

'No excuses Miss Prewett, Detention. On Saturday, after dinner, in my office.' Gracie opened her mouth to protest.

'SILENCE! Sit down!' Servark barked.

Gracie sat down scowling.

'Now,' said Servark. 'Open your text book and read the introduction.''

James sighed and twirled his quill between his fingers. Sirius was frowning slightly to his left, bored. Most of the class had finished reading the introduction and were busying themselves with their quills, other books or their thoughts. Except, James noticed Lily Evans, who's fiery red hair glistened in the light coming in from the windows and her sparkling bright green eyes that captured James… he sighed and felt a nudge in his side. He had been caught staring. Lily had her hand raised and was impatiently waiting for Servark's attention.

'What is it? Miss…?' Servark growled, making Lily shift uncomfortably. By now, the rest of the class were watching them.

'Evans. Lily Evans.' Lily said.

Servark's face twisted. 'Oh yes. A Muggle-Born, I suppose?' he asked faking politeness.

James sent him a glare and so did a few other people in the classroom.

'What does that have to do with anything?' he whispered to himself. Servark didn't seem to hear, but Sirius had next to James, he was nodding in agreement. Lily didn't answer Servark.

He turned to Gracie next.

'I'll take that as a yes. Now, Miss Prewett, let's hear what your opinion on,' Servark gave a small hesitation. 'Mudbloods is.'

Most of the class gasped. James included.

'How dare he say that?' James whisper yelled.

Servark glanced up at him and turned back to Gracie.

'I think that Muggle-Borns,' she said, saying Muggle-Borns slowly and loudly and glaring at Servark. 'Deserve to learn magic as much as Half-Bloods and Pure-Bloods do!'

'She's right!' James and Sirius yelled.

'Muggle-Borns like Lily have just as much magic as the rest of us!' James said, furious

James could see Lily wiping a few tears from the corner of his eye. He hated people. Like Servark who thought they were better than everybody else because of their blood status.

'That is where you're wrong Mr Potter. Muggle-Born Witches and Wizards stole magic from us. They do not deserve to learn magic and be here. They are filth.' Servark sneered at James.

'You're just some crazy Pure-Blood manic!' Sirius yelled.

Everyone jumped about a foot in the air because of how loud he was.

'So are your family crazy Pure-Blood maniacs as well?' Servark asked amused.

'Yes. But I'm not. And I refuse to be taught by you.' Sirius hissed.

'I refuse as well.' James said, and to his surprise, Gracie and Remus as well.

'Fine. But,' Servark's mouth turned in a grin. 'Potter, Black and Lupin come to my office every Friday to discuss what you have learnt. Miss Prewett can come on Saturdays. Go! Now! And don't come back!' James, Sirius, Remus and Gracie collected their bags and left the classroom, fuming.

'He was so mean to Lily! I bet all the Slytherin's love him!' Gracie cried out as soon as Remus closed the door behind them.

'And did you see Snivellus? He's meant to be her friend and he didn't help her.' James said bitterly.

'Snivellus? I thought his name was-' Gracie said confused.

'No. It's Snivellus. Anyway, look on the bright side! We don't have any homework for DADA ever!' Sirius said excitedly.

James grinned and high-fived Sirius.

Remus rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath.

'What was that?' Sirius asked as they began walking along the corridor.

'Nothing,' Remus said quietly. 'So,' he said, obviously trying to change the subject. 'What do you want to learn about first?'

'What?' asked James, staring blankly at Remus.

'What do you want to learn about first? I mean we could do dark creatures, jinks, curses-'

'You want us to actually teach ourselves?' Sirius asked astonished.

'Well, yes Sirius. We have to tell Servark what we learnt every week.' Remus said smartly.

'So? How does he know if we're lying or not?' Gracie asked. James and Sirius nodded next to her.

'There's a potion to detect if you're lying and he might ask you to show him how to do the spells.'

Sirius grumbled under his breath after Remus finished speaking.

'Well, all the teachers can't be like Servark. Or we might as well teach ourselves everything.' James sighed unhappily.

Sirius and Gracie grimaced.

'They won't be,' Remus said, looking as if he was trying to convince himself as much as them. 'We've got Transfiguration next, with Professor McGonagall. She looks stern but alright.'

'Lead the way Remmy.' Remus stopped moving.

'Don't call me that Sirius.'

'Why not? Everyone needs a nickname. Gracie loves her nickname!'

Gracie snorted, but Sirius chose to ignore it.

'And James had Jamesie and your Remmy.'

Gracie sniggered while James paled.

'Does this mean we get to give you a nickname as well then, Siri-Kins?' Gracie said smirking as Sirius flinched.

'Siri-Kins?' he whispered. 'Yeah, you're right. Nicknames aren't actually that cool anymore.' Sirius said calmly, but you could see the panicked look in his eye. He coughed. 'Lead the way, Remmy Remus.'

James and Gracie had to stuff their fists into their mouths to keep in their laughter at Remus's face.

Remus frowned, and then decided to smack Sirius over the head.

Sirius, being, well Sirius, pretended to over dramatically fall to the floor, and then proceeded to roll around on the floor, clutching his head, screaming in fake agony.

'You know, I heard McGonagall gives out free sweets to the first one to class.' Gracie said.

Without another word, Sirius got up and dashed down the corridor.

'Well he certainly believed that.' James muttered.

'What? I wasn't lying.'

Next minute, the three of them had joined Sirius in running as fast as they could to the Transfiguration classroom.