So I've come to the conclusion that their sixth and final year at Hogwarts are going to be some of my favourite chapters, not including the four years that they have before Lily and James die. But that's going to be a separate fanfiction just documenting the last couple of years not the full four years. It'll be called Mischief Managed and will be started as soon as this one is finished.
Hence, I am going to try and finish it at least before August this year. And if I don't, shout at me.
Love Sirona xx
Most of their week back had been met with rain and a gloomy atmosphere. James and Sirius hated their classes from the get go, being burdened with so many essays that they couldn't find time to just hang around and cause their usual mischief. To compensate this, they had managed to get Peeves the resident Poltergeist to perform various pranks throughout the school. However, it seemed McGonagall caught on and gave them a week's detention, letting them know how serious it was for 6th years to still be acting like children. McGonagall may have had a special place in her heart for James and Sirius, but that didn't mean she got any kinder when it came to punishing them, hence their detention was spent scrubbing and weeding out various parts of the castle in preparation for the Salem Witches Institute.
The whole school was buzzing with excitement, having not come into contact with any witch or wizard outside the United Kingdom and if so, it was down to their parents being well connected. Students wondered out loud about their thoughts on the Institute.
"I wonder how they sort their students…"
"… Maybe they don't like Quidditch as much as we do…"
"I hear that they have something called Quidditch, but instead of using brooms they just use enchanted household objects and they all handle the Quaffle."
"Don't be daft, they compete in the Quidditch World Cup don't they?!"
"They do the same thing with football Lindsey!"
"What's football?"
Filch had even been working overtime, clearing up anything as soon as the mess was made, and considering Peeves' extra work load from James and Sirius, this was quite impressive. Most of the time he was caught muttering and cursing the students for making his life difficult followed by Mrs Norris. James found himself wishing for their old caretaker instead of the grump that they had now, but decided it was ultimately more fun to watch someone be wound up than it was just to get away with it.
It was particularly funny to watch the professors prepare for the arrival. They were adopting strange American customs that didn't fit right with the historic and traditional ways of Hogwarts. Sirius even claimed that he saw Professor McGonagall in jeans. No one was sure if he was lying or not. The most annoying part was the change in the dinner menu, instead of usual stew and potatoes they were being served meat loaf and vegetables.
For the most part, this seemed unacceptable to most of the students. Except on the Saturday before their arrival in which the students were served burgers and thin chips which were apparently dubbed in America as 'fries'. Whilst not liking the stupid name that the chips were given, many students were all too glad to eat them.
"You know this isn't half bad," Sirius said, his mouth full of burger meat. "Except if they serve meat loaf again I will make a complaint to the board of directors.
On the 10th of September there was an unusual air around the school. The rain that had been plaguing them for the last week had dried away, making for unnaturally sunny weather. It seemed for a while to get rid of the Dementors who fell away to the darker regions of the grounds. Not that anyone missed them.
After class, Sirius made his way back to the Common Room which was oddly very quiet. He was annoyed and tired and really wanted to eat. But since the students were arriving, there was a fair chance that dinner wouldn't be until very late. Remus was already in the common room, and had been for the better part of an hour since he had a free period that evening.
"Why did I pass potions?" Sirius wailed, throwing his books onto the table that Remus was studying from. Remus jumped and blinked up at his friend before frowning.
"Don't blame me for your intellectual smarts," Remus replied.
"I blame you," Sirius cried. "You and your studious nature made me study. And now I have to take a class that I hate, with Prongs staring at Evans and a slimy grease ball who tries to get back out of his perceived 'friend zone'."
"Wait," Remus turned his quill in his hand before a smirk appearing on his face. "You blame me for getting an 'Outstanding' in potions, the boy who got an 'Exceeds Expectations'?"
"Yeah well, with your studious nature and my natural intellect there was no way I was getting out of it." Sirius said.
Remus wore a huge smile on his face. "I'm actually rather pleased with myself."
"Moony, I swear to Merlin on high,"
"HOW MUCH WORK DO WE NEED TO DO TO PASS OUR N.E.W.T's?!" James appeared from nowhere, Peter trailing behind him, all carrying very heavy thick books.
"SEE! THEY SHARE MY PAIN!" Sirius cried. "UNLIKE YOU!"
James collapsed on one of the armchairs, forcing a petrified 3rd year to move away. He let out an exhausted noise and slumped.
"I hate this year already," he grumbled. "And I blame you for this Remus."
Remus threw up his hands in exasperation. "What did I do?"
"You made me study and thus I am stuck in a class with a git," James replied pointing towards Sirius.
"Would you have blamed me if you hadn't passed your O.W.L's?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow.
James grumbled. "Yes."
"Thanks for that," Remus said. "But on the bright side, its one step closer to actually becoming an auror. Which was your dream, was it not?"
James grumbled again. "Remember the time when I wanted to be a world class Quidditch player?"
"Vaguely, around this time, you were caught up with the idea that Lily would want to date you," Peter replied.
"She still does," James said. "She just doesn't realise it yet."
"Why don't you stop harassing the girl and let her like you in her own time?" Remus asked.
James gaped at Remus for a moment then fell back against his chair. Sirius sighed. "Come on, the Salem Students will be here in a while."
"Have the seventh years left yet?" James asked getting to his feet and trying to straighten himself out. He patted his hair down and tried to look presentable by straightening his tie and fix his shirt.
"They're leaving tonight," Peter replied.
"Then you Remus will rule the school!" Sirius said excitedly. "You can put Snape in detention any time you want! You can use the exclusive Head Boy and Girl bathrooms on the seventh floor of the south-west tower, you can practically wander into the staff room and address Dumbledore as Albus!"
"I think you may be exaggerating the perks of being a Head Boy," Remus replied. "I hope neither of you," He looked at James and Sirius. "Get that honour, if you think that's what you are allowed to do."
"And to think, I thought you'd be proud of us," James sighed, leaning down and tying his shoe laces. "Alright, let's go."
Together they trumped down from the Gryffindor Common room to the courtyard where many of the students were milling around, not in any sort of organised fashion. Many of the girls had fixed their hair into strange hairstyles that none of the boys really understood, because how does a braid make a person's any prettier than it already was?
James found himself looking over at Lily, who had curled her hair in shining locks that hung around her head majestically. A silver flower pin was attached above her ear, keeping stray hair from her face. James cleared his throat before looking down at his feet and stood with Sirius as Remus went off to try and get some of the students into order. The houses divided amongst the four corners of the courtyard, creating a circle in which they looked into. Dumbledore arrived a few minutes later, with McGonagall nipping at his heels. The rest of the Professors stood back, all in their smartest robes.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Good evening students! I hope you have enjoyed your first week back at Hogwarts. Now in a few moments, our friends from the West shall be joining us and we expect you all to be on your absolute best behaviour."
Sirius caught McGonagall stealing glances at him and James with a serious expression on her face. He sheepishly looked away pointedly.
"Respect them, and they will respect you. It is as simple as that, act as though you would if they were not here, but remember, they are, so don't act as you normally would," Dumbledore said.
"That sentence hurt my head in more ways than I can imagine," James muttered and Sirius stifled a laugh.
There was a noise and the students looked around. Then in front of them the courtyard seemed to dissolve into a spiralling vortex, swirling with colours of blue, purples, reds and greens. A spark of magic shot up into the air and exploded into a glittering firework. A second spark followed and then more, increasing in size and spectacle as it did so. The students watched as the fireworks lit up the sky with the Salem Witch Institute Crest; two bald eagles erupting from crossed wands and spreading their wings into the sky and three stars under the wands, growing larger as they descended.
With a final firework a young girl who was about 14 sprang from the hole wearing a pleated skirt and a blazer with the crest on the right breast, her hair straight and blonde with eyes like silver. She opened her mouth and an elegant voice spread around the courtyard.
"Of all days gone and past,
We find ourselves at peace at last,
Standing with our brethren under the stars,
We stand together united and as one
And grace each day with the heart of the sun,
Our tongues are different,
Our lives are far
But we are one forever,"
Barely did she stop when the other students ascended from the vortex. Then with a rumble the ground reappeared and the students landed on their feet all carrying bags over their shoulders. With a blow of a whistle and a stamp of a staff, they moved to the sides, pulling out their wands and creating a rainbow tailing from the end. The rainbows filled the courtyard with light and out stepped an old woman and two gentlemen. The woman was dressed all in white with a very pointed hat and tight wound white hair.
Dumbledore had been whispering to McGonagall and looked up. McGonagall clearly mouthing the words; "We are not having a school song, Albus, don't be ridiculous,"
Dumbledore stepped forward and greeted the woman in white. "Madame Glinda." He said, taking her hand and kissing it lightly, "Welcome back to Hogwarts! And Professors Harkem and Lewis! It is good to meet you at last."
"It has been so long," Madame Glinda said looking up at the school, her accent unlike any they had heard before. "When I was here last, you were still a student, now you're one of the most accomplished Wizards in the world."
Dumbledore's smile extended. "I thank you for your graciousness."
From the small silence, Sirius' stomach rumbled loudly causing a few people to laugh. Dumbledore turned and raised an eyebrow before saying with a very straight face. "Well according to Mr Black's stomach, I feel we should make our way inside for something to eat, don't you?" He offered out his arm to Madame Glinda and together they led the other professors up through the school. McGonagall halted any Hogwarts student trying to make their way before the students of the Salem Institute. Once they were inside, McGonagall permitted the prefects and head boys to lead their years up to the Great Hall.
The Great Hall had been decorated with banners and paper chain ribbons and all four house colours were flying proudly. Madame Glinda sat to Dumbledore's right watching over the students pile in and sit at their designated tables the two professors that had accompanied her sat on McGonagall's left talking very quickly to the Hogwarts teachers. James noticed that the Salem Students had split into boys and girls and were sitting each at a table with no interaction between them. He nudged Sirius and pointed this out to him before they sat down and waited for their food to be served.
"A very long welcome to our guests from America," Dumbledore cried. "We hope that our school will be beneficial to you in ways that maybe are not normally explored."
"Question," Sirius said, leaning over to Remus. "Where are they sleeping?"
"Specially designed room a little away from the staff room," Remus replied.
"Cool,"
"Let the feast begin!"
With that food appeared onto the table, a mixture of American sourced and British. Dumbledore sat down and the students began to pick their food.
"Why are they sitting separately?" James asked.
"And what's with their uniforms? Do they not wear robes?" Sirius asked.
"Their school is in the heart of Salem Massachusetts," Remus replied. "They can't exactly go around wearing robes, for fear of exposing our world to Muggles."
"Still doesn't explain why they're sitting apart," James muttered.
"Just eat your food," Remus said, rolling his eyes.
…
"Good morning class," Professor Kilgorn placed his suitcase on the table and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "And I'd like to say a very warm welcome to our honoured guests, please, don't be strangers here. My name is Roger Kilgorn and I teach as you may have guessed, Defence Against the Dark Arts,"
James leaned over. "I don't understand, why do we have Salem kids in our class?"
"They gave us a heap of students from their senior years." Sirius muttered. "Plus their system is very weird, so, you know, just go with it,"
James made a face and looked around. The preppy student who sang when they arrived sat in front of her fellow students, all of them looking very prim and proper.
Kilgorn cleared his throat and leaned on his desk. "So do you have Defence Against the Dark Arts back at Salem? Or something equivalent to it?"
"We have weekly duelling lessons," The preppy girl replied. "Along with Dangerous Defence,"
"Okay, thank you…?"
"Allison Redgrave."
"Miss Redgrave." Kilgorn nodded respectively. "Well today our class will be learning how to perform spells without using words,"
Allison's hand shot up again and Kilgorn nodded, letting her speak. "Sir," She said. "I do not mean to boast, but students of Salem learned how to perform those types of spells back in our sophomore year."
Kilgorn crossed his arms. "You have?"
"Yes sir."
He licked his teeth pulling a face. "Okay, what about Patronous Charms?"
"Accomplished last year Sir,"
"Protection Spells? Defence against dangerous creatures? The Unforgiveable Curses? Resistance of curses and possession?" Each of these was met with a nod from Allison. Professor Kilgorn glanced at his pointed shoes for a second, his glasses slipping down his nose. The entire room was silent as students swivelled their heads between the interactions. "Well Miss Redgrave, you're in my class, in my school. We will be learning Nonverbal spells today like planned."
"But sir," Allison began to complain, Professor Kilgorn held out his hand to silence her, moving around his desk.
"If anything, you will make excellent practice for my students. Class, please move your desks to the side so we can begin todays lesson."
James got to his feet and with Remus, helped move their desk across the room. Sirius and Peter followed suit and dumped their bags under the desk to retrieve them later. Professor Kilgorn moved his own desk and cleared his throat.
"Miss Redgrave, since you know so much about nonverbal spell, would you like to volunteer in helping me out."
Allison stared at Kilgorn and then in a very agitated voice replied; "Yes, sir." She walked over to the other side of the room, watching Kilgorn intently before pulling out her wand and holding it to her side as if it was the most precious thing on the earth. James folded his arms, leaning back against the desks; Sirius sat on it whilst Peter crossed his legs on the floor. Remus stood with his hands in his pockets glancing between the two opponents.
"Five sickles for Kilgorn," Sirius muttered.
"You're on," James replied.
Kilgorn pulled out his wand and stood patiently waiting for Allison. Allison raised her wand and then a spark flew out of it; Kilgorn dodged it and sent a spell firing back, not uttering a word. Allison managed to deflect it back to him and he waved it away. Then with another flick of his wand, Allison went flying into a pile of cushions that weren't there a second before.
"Dammit," James muttered, handing five sickles over as Sirius grinned triumphantly.
"What you have to do," Kilgorn said, stowing his wand away and helping Allison to her feet. "Is literally speak the incantation in your mind. It's all about focus and control. You cannot let your mind wander and must imagine the spell working. It takes a lot of concentration and usually only very skilled witches and wizards are able to do it. Pair off and let's try a few rounds. And I don't want any dangerous spells! If I see anyone trying to perform a curse I will send them to the Headmasters office."
James and Sirius paired off to one side of the room whilst Remus stood with Peter. Snape tried to get Lily's attention but she grabbed one of the Salem students and they began to practice.
Sirius was the first to try, screwing up his face in steady concentration. James waited but nothing happened. Sirius let out a sigh and stopped.
"Okay, maybe you do need skill," He said, rubbing his forehead.
"Let me have a go," James said, pointing his wand at Sirius.
"If you make me bald I swear to Merlin, I will kill you, your children and your grandchildren," Sirius muttered, holding his wand for self-defence.
"All pessimism, no light," James tutted.
"Concentrate," Kilgorn said moving past them.
Within a few minutes Hogwarts Students were being flown across the room, having boils appear on their face, their front teeth growing or being toppled down by jelly-legs-jinxes. They had never seen someone work so fast to create pillows out of thin air without a wand and nonverbally, but Kilgorn swept around the room easily attending to every student.
Snape was having difficulty facing one of the Salem students; a burly boy with smooth jet black hair and glasses that were perched on the end of his nose. He was laughing at Snape who was pathetically trying to practice the nonverbal spell.
Snape was getting so infuriated with the student that he forgot that he was meant to be practising nonverbal spells. At the top of his lungs he thrust his wand forward and bellowed; "SECTUMSEMPRA!"
The boy hit the ground with a crunch and suddenly the floor was red with blood as long cuts appeared over his face and body, covering his shirt and blazer. Kilgorn was there in a second, tucking his robes under the boys head. He raised his hands and hovered them over the wounds before beckoning over the first students he could.
Lily, James, Allison and Remus were all at his side, Remus being well adapted to wounds of this nature, pressed his hands against the blood flow in order to stem the blood flow. Lily sat holding his hand and Allison had his head on her lap, muttering soothing words to him. The Salem students were moving towards Snape, looking angry. James was doing as Remus told him.
"Stop!" Shouted Kilgorn. "Snape you will go to the Headmaster's office this instant and wait for me there. Class is dismissed. Black, Longbottom, head to Madame Pomfrey's and fetch a stretcher.
Sirius and Frank glanced at each other before darting out of the room. The students grabbed their bags and left the class, staring at the scene that was going on. Snape still stood there, paralysed to the spot.
"SNAPE IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL THEN GET OUT!" Kilgorn shouted. "DUMBLEDORE'S OFFICE NOW!"
Snape grabbed his bag and ran from the room, he stopped and looked back at Lily before running away.
Sirius and Frank returned carrying the stretcher.
"On the count of three," Kilgorn muttered. Together they picked up the boy and slid him onto the stretcher. "What's your name?"
"Gary," The boy breathed.
"Okay, we're going to the hospital wing Gary. Madame Pomfrey will patch you up. She's dealt with similar injuries." Kilgorn's eyes darted towards Remus before resuming his gaze. He picked up one of the ends as James grabbed the other and together they moved out of the classroom. "Go get cleaned up," Kilgorn told Allison, Lily and Remus leaving them alone and standing, confused.