A/N: Your reviews on the last chapter were so sweet - your favourite lines, your general 'feels,' your concerns over the state of Remus/Kate/Sirius - I love all your messages so much I could melt into a puddle of goo! And thank you to ThatRandomChick about your nice, encouraging words about my stress at work - thankfully that's over for the next few weeks :) I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Nineteen: Enchanted Cane

"…And in the case of larger mammals, the appropriate action would be to move your wand in the correct motion, say the right spell and the mammal will become whatever you wish it to become."

I crouched lower in my seat as Greta Catchlove laughed loudly beside me. She wasn't the only one – the entire class was in gales of alarmingly loud laughter, and I was the only one who was silent.

"To transfigure a section of a mammal's physique, the accurate course would be to point your enchanted cane at the desired limb and move it through the air in a motion that is suitable for the intended Transfiguration. Utter the recalled incantation and the limb will transform into the shape you wish it to," McGonagall continued stonily.

"Enchanted cane?" I heard Sirius scoff through a chuckle and the class burst into renewed mirth. McGonagall had never been so cruel before – surely she knew that my mind had just gone blank, she didn't really think I was this much of an idiot, did she? I mean, yes – every word she was reading out were actual words I had written into my test paper earlier in the week – but didn't teachers have a sense for what was a joke and what was completely unintentional? Apparently not.

"Was this some kind of very bizarre joke? In what universe, Miss Hopkirk, did you believe that this was acceptable work to hand in to me?" she asked sharply and the class fell silent, with only a few whispers ringing through the suddenly still classroom.

"I assure you Miss, I didn't think it was acceptable," I said quietly.

"Did you not prepare for this test? I admit, as I was reading through your essay, I genuinely worried that something might have been wrong, but then I noticed that you answered the first few questions intelligently enough. So, tell me Katherine – was it your idea of a joke? Or was it simply a case of boredom or laziness?" she said, staring down at me with heavy disappointment.

"Neither Miss. Just a case of forgetfulness," I muttered back.

"Yes well, I should hope your memory returns when you rewrite this essay for me, along with a paragraph about the Avis spell – I would read that out loud too, but your ink seemed to have disappeared altogether for that section."

"Professor," I said through gritted teeth. "My mind went blank – I literally couldn't remember a thing. It happens to the best of us!"

McGonagall looked surprised and her eyebrows shot up for a moment with recognition.

"I see."

"Caught on, have you Professor?"

The class twittered, obviously wary about me talking back to McGonagall and Greta sniffed loudly.

"Do you need a tissue?" I snapped, turning to her and raising my eyebrows.

She looked scandalized and McGonagall gave a heavy sigh – thankfully ignoring my insubordination. She was usually pretty fair and judging by the expression on her face, now that she knew it hadn't been a stupid joke, she looked regretful about reading my essay out loud and embarrassing me in front of the whole class.

"Katherine, I understand that even the cleverest of students have off days - but why did you not come to me afterwards and explain? Why wait until I reprimanded you for it?"

I shrugged. "If I'd known you were going to think that was my idea of a joke – I would have. I've got standards of wit to upkeep Professor and writing a bad essay doesn't quite make the grade."

There was a long moment of silence as McGonagall surveyed me before she finally sighed and turned away, walking back to the front of the room.

"Now you've all had your laugh but you will see that the majority of you made equally embarrassing errors on your own tests. Those sections that I have marked in red ink must be re-written and presented to me in essay form to be handed in on Monday. The few of you who don't have red marks are exempt from homework this weekend."

I heard Sirius and James give loud shouts of relief and I heard my boyfriend's voice call out, "Professor – have I told you before that I'm in love with you?"

As usual, the sheep burst into cackles and when I looked over my shoulder I saw Sirius grinning at their laughter appreciatively.

"Enough Black," McGonagall said, sitting at her desk and giving us all a nod. "Dismissed. Have a good weekend."

The loud commotion of people packing their things away and my zest for rushing out of the classroom did nothing to stifle McGonagall's soft call of "Hopkirk, stay a moment please."

I sighed heavily and made a face at Greta who turned her nose up at me and left the room with the majority of the others. Lily and Dorcas signaled that they would see me outside and I walked tiredly to McGonagall's desk. This was turning into hell week – a bad Monday ruined everything.

"Yes Professor?" I said dully, adjusting my bag strap on my shoulder.

"Katherine, I want to apologize for singling you out today. It seems my judgment on your work was misguided," she said, graciously.

I shrugged. "That's all right."

"I admit that after I learned that you had received yet another detention from Professor Binns – I let it interfere with my reasoning. I did think that you were perhaps making a mockery of my examination."

I smiled. "So you thought you'd make a mockery of me as a lesson?"

She sighed and shook her head. "Yes, even teachers sometimes make bad decisions. Once again, I do apologize."

I chuckled and waved her off. "You know me, Miss – it just rolls off. No harm done."

She didn't laugh, but frowned instead – studying my face intently. "Are you quite all right, Katherine? You haven't been yourself these past few weeks."

"Me? 'Course Miss – same as always."

"Mr Prewett did inform me of the incident with your Boggart and his Fifth Years."

I laughed openly now and ran a hand through my hair. "Teachers' gossip travels slow – I haven't heard jokes about that one in weeks!"

"You do know, Miss Hopkirk, that you absolutely are enough. No one should ever make you feel otherwise. I understand that being a teenager is very difficult and handling love at your age can be very confusing but if you significant other is––"

I cut her off because I was beginning to get really uncomfortable again. If she started giving me advice about my relationship with Sirius, I would probably dissolve with humiliation.

"Honestly Professor McGonagall, it was nothing. I'm fine. I know I'm perfect just the way I am and all that good stuff."

She smiled. "Well, if you should ever need to talk about something, please don't hesitate."

"Stop Miss, you're embarrassing me!" I said with a laugh and she joined in.

"I've decided to excuse you from your detention with Professor Binns. The damage that was done to the desk was minimal and I have attended to the scrapes already."

I beamed. "You know Professor, I think Sirius had the right idea. I think I'm in love with you too."

She shook her head amusedly and nodded at the door. "That will be all, Katherine."

When I left the classroom, I saw that Lily and Dorcas were waiting for me and also, surprisingly, James. The other Marauders seemed to have gone off to the Common Room, so I turned to him expectantly – he must've needed something.

"What's up?"

He shrugged. "I just thought that since I don't have any Transfiguration homework this weekend, I'd lend you my test paper to help with your essay."

I stared at him in shock and knew that Lily probably had an identical expression on her face.

"Really?"

"Yeah," he said, offering me the sheets of parchment. "It's not like I need them."

I burst into a simpering smile and shook my head. "James, I think I might cry."

He laughed embarrassedly and ran a hand over his hair. "Yeah, well – sometimes I think you're a bit hard done by, Kate."

I clutched my chest. "Stop. What have you done with James Potter?"

"Just take the bloody test!" he said, rolling his eyes and shoving the paper in to my palm.

"Thanks Jamesie – you are now a solid second on my favourite Marauder list."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Before Remus?"

"No, after Remus. Sirius comes in third today for the enchanted cane comment."

He laughed and elbowed me playfully. "Honestly though – what made you think 'enchanted cane' was a more impressive phrase than 'wand'."

"Like I've said – my mind was blank."

He grinned again and then turned to Lily. "Oh Evans, can you tell Davies that Slytherin is training a new Keeper? They're trying to keep it a secret, and I thought all the captains should know."

Lily was the one who looked like the might clutch her chest in surprise now. "Oh. Um, yeah – of course Potter. That's…decent of you."

"Nah, it just makes the Cup more interesting when we're all on a level playing field," he said with another smile. "Well, I'm off to detention. Trophy room for blowing up my cauldron – can't wait to count how many times my name comes up."

"Sounds like the perfect job for you, really," Lily said and he laughed.

"Oh, speaking of Quidditch!" Dorcas put in, as if to remind them she was there. "James, I wanted to tell you about this massive sale that's on at the Quidditch shop in Hogsmeade next weekend."

James' eyes widened a little and he nodded. "Oh cool, yeah."

"I'll walk you to detention – I was on my way to the Library anyway," she said and he nodded again, running his fingers through his hair and ruffling it.

"See ya laters, girls," Dorcas said, as she began chatting to a confused James.

When they were out of sight, Lily sighed softly.

"We should do something about that."

I bit my lip and motioned for her to turn so we could head up to the Common Room. "About Dorcas' increasing obsession with James?"

She shook her head. "I'm worried about her, Kate. She goes out of her way to impress him and he barely gives her a second look. It's not fair."

I nodded. "Yeah, it sucks."

"She's going to get hurt – I know she is," she muttered and I saw that she was twisting her hands together.

"Yeah, probably."

"Should we say something?"

I turned to look at her and she looked so worried, I hugged her. After our argument, we had decided to just agree to disagree, and neither of us had mentioned my concerns about Archie or her insistence that Sirius was just as bad, since.

"Well," I said, twirling a piece of hair around my finger. "I think that if I've stopped saying that I think your boyfriend is controlling and you've stopped saying that Sirius doesn't treat me very well – then we ought to not say anything to Dorcas either."

"It's not the same. It's all one-sided on her part – we know for sure that Potter isn't giving her what she needs or wants," Lily argued.

"Yeah, but I reckon we should let her make her own mistakes. We are, after all."

She laughed with me at that and we fell silent again.

"I wish Potter liked her."

I nodded. "Yeah. It would be easier, wouldn't it?"

"How do you mean?"

"Well, for you. Now you know he's not always an arrogant git – and is mostly just a not very funny git, it must make things confusing."

"I don't like him, Kate," she said firmly.

"I know you don't. But I think you know he's not as immature as he used to be. And sometimes lads who are too mature are arses."

She scowled. "I thought we agreed not to talk about Archie."

"Who says I was talking about Archie?"

She sighed and shook her head as we came to a stop outside the Portrait Hole. "Fine. We'll let Dorcas make mistakes and we'll make mistakes, and what happens, will happen."

I smiled. "Very mature way to handle things, I think."

When we entered the Common Room, our eyes immediately zeroed in on the group on the sofas by the fire. Lizzy and Emmeline had joined Sirius, Remus and Peter. Remus and Emmeline were talking animatedly about something in the love seat, Peter was bent over his homework with a frustrated scowl on his face and Sirius and Lizzy were sitting across from each other bent over a magazine on the coffee table. His eyes were bright and she was grinning as she pointed something out. She had a piece of fluff in her hair and when he tore his eyes away from the magazine, a half smile slipped on his face as he tried to direct her to it. She pawed at her fringe, but missed completely and after a moment, he reached over and pulled it from her hair, holding it between them as their eyes locked.

"Crowded today, hey?" Lily said lightly.

"Very."

She nudged me. "Are you going to say something?"

I bit my lip as Lizzy blushed and Sirius dropped the fluff to return to flipping through the magazine.

"Not really worth it," I muttered, before forcing a smile and tugging Lily along with me.

"Hello, hello!" I announced and the group looked up in greeting. Emmeline's eyes widened and darted to Lizzy before they fixed back on me. Remus did something similar and I recognized the usual pity on his face. Peter just harrumphed and threw down his quill.

"UGH! I hate bloody Defence!" he groaned.

"Hello to you too," I said.

"What's wrong Peter?" Lily asked, settling on the chair next to him. "Let me help."

Peter sighed his thanks and the two of them bent over the parchment as Emmeline and Remus started their conversation up again. I stood awkwardly between Sirius and Lizzy wondering if I ought to sit next to him or beside her to make it seem like I was cool with all of this.

"If it isn't the enchanted cane carrier herself," Sirius grinned. "McGonagall let you off easy in the end?"

"Yeah, she even apologized," I said, before turning to Lizzy. "Hey Liz."

She looked surprised and tucked some hair behind her ears. "Oh. Hi Kate – how are you?"

I nodded. "Fair. I've got a whole Transfiguration essay to rewrite – so I can't wait for that."

"Oh," she said wincing. "That's good. I usually hate rewriting essays."

If I could have made the sound of crickets materialize, I would have.

Sirius laughed. "She's joking, Liz."

"Oh!" Lizzy laughed shaking her head. "Sorry! I am so slow."

I smiled. "That's all right – sometimes I'm too funny for people to catch on."

"Also incredibly modest," she grinned and I nodded uncomfortably.

Urgh – sarcasm didn't suit her – we weren't close enough for jokes like that. Even so, I got ready to sit down beside her when Sirius stood up and said, "Just a minute. Kate, can I talk to you a sec?"

He pulled me over a few yards away so we were out of earshot and looked at me hopefully.

"So – I think I've figured out a way around this Liz problem."

I raised an eyebrow. "Problem? What problem?"

He laughed and nudged me. "Remus made me realize the other day, that the reason you get upset over our friendship is because you never see me and her together. You only ever catch us at odd moments where things are out of context. So, I thought if you spent more time with her when she's around me – it'd be easier for you trust me."

He looked so optimistic and so eager for his plan to work, that I didn't have the heart to shoot down his theory. Maybe he was right – maybe I really was seeing things out of context. Maybe she wasn't as dull as a doornail.

"Sure," I agreed and he pulled me to him and kissed me. When we separated, I patted his cheek. "Just…do me a favour?"

He nodded.

"If she gets anything else in her hair – let her pick it out herself."

His eyes widened and his mouth twitched but he covered it by licking his lips. "Sure."

"Great," I said and headed back to the sofas, sitting beside Lizzy with an unceremonious plop. Sirius took his place once more and flipped a page in the magazine. I saw that Remus and Lily were watching with rather tense expressions, so I put on a bright voice and turned to Sirius' Fifth Year 'friend'.

"So, what's this?"

"Oh, my dad owns a garage and he puts out this magazine about motorbikes every couple of months with listings of spare parts and old models," she explained.

Lily had returned to helping Peter, but I saw that even though he was listening to Emmeline, Remus' eyes flickered to watch us a few more times. I would have to remember to hit him for giving Sirius this piece of advice.

"Motorbikes?" I said. "Those muggle car things that you're mad for?"

Sirius nodded. "I've been thinking about getting one for my birthday and Lizzy's dad has all these cheap old ones."

"I was telling Sirius that if he got the bones of the machine, he could put it back together with magical enhancements," she said, turning a page and flipping to a section at the back.

"Yes, very cool," I nodded, disinterestedly. I was a little more focused on the way her cheeks reddened when Sirius' fingertips brushed hers while pointing out a motorbike he liked. Didn't fancy him, my foot.

"Have you tried it before?" Sirius asked.

She shook her head. "Well, I brought back a few mechanical toys to work on here since I can't do magic at home. Everything I've done to them seems to work – the extra accelerator, the invisibility booster. Obviously it'll be a bit harder–"

I tuned out the two-sided conversation and my eyes swept to Remus and Emmeline. He'd stopped looking over now and he had a kind of abashed smile on his face as she spoke. Even when Lily and Peter joined their conversation, his eyes didn't move from her face. I found that it made me a little jealous. Lily, a very attractive, funny girl, who Remus considered a friend – didn't hold his attention at all. He was wholly focused on the girl he was supposed to be focused on – Emmeline. She said something that made him chuckle and his eyes finally strayed for a moment and caught mine. I gave him a small smile and he nodded before turning back to her and saying something. She grinned and then kissed his cheek before she got up and said goodbye to Lily and Peter. When she saw me looking, she waved, glanced at Lizzy and Sirius and then headed off out of the Common Room.

Meanwhile, back on Planet Lizzius – my boyfriend and the apparent Muggle mechanic were still deeply buried in conversation about what spells they would use whenever Sirius got himself one of these motorbikes. They only stopped when Remus cleared his throat.

"Hey Sirius, Kate – do you two have big plans for Hogsmeade next weekend?"

"What?" Sirius asked distractedly before glancing at me. "Oh. Not really. What d'you reckon Kate – lunch and drinks at Broomsticks?"

I shrugged. "Sure."

Remus nodded. "Is it okay if Emmeline and I come with you? Or were you planning on spending time alone?"

"Nah, that's cool – what's wrong? Couldn't get her to agree to a date, so you went with the 'group outing' tactic?" Sirius laughed.

"Oh leave him alone," I said. "You did that with me at the beginning too."

Sirius chuckled a bit uncomfortably and ran a hand through his hair before he glanced at Remus. They shared one of their infamous secretive looks before Remus said, "We're just a bit awkward – thought it would take the pressure off."

"Good idea, Remus!" I beamed. "It'll be a laugh."

He nodded. "Yeah, hope so."

"Okay, so you're saying that a supersensory charm would be better on the stripped down frame?" Sirius asked, turning back to Lizzy.

I sighed and leaned back against the sofa.

As long as Lizzy wasn't around – sure – anything else would be a laugh.

A/N: Sooo - I will be going on vacation from July 18th until August 3rd, so I won't be posting at all during those weeks - I'm going to try my best to get around 3 – 4 chapters up before I go, so if my writing roll keeps up, hopefully you'll see more activity from me this week and next. Just wanted to give you a heads up! Thanks for reading!