Chapter 19
On Thursday, December 14th, Remus Lupin, Lily Evans, and Severus Snape were in the library studying for their classes final exams scheduled for the next morning. Remus and Severus were concentrating on a small black cauldron and some ingredients. Remus picked up a vile of red blood and wearily spoke to Severus. "So, to make a Wiggenweld Potion one must first give 10 drops of salamander's blood, heat and stir until it turns orange" Remus added the ingredients and the red mixture turned a neon orange. Severus looked impressed as Remus continued speaking. "Then add 5 spines of lionfish, heat until it turns yellow, add the flobberworm mucus, and then, then. . ." Remus looked panicked and turned to Severus for assistance.
"Shake it until it turns green. . ." Snape said helpfully to Remus.
"Right. Then just add the honeywater until it turns pink." Remus said proudly. He did this and the substance inside the vial turned a bright pink.
"Good work. Now you can use that potion to cure minor injury or awaken someone from an enchanted sleep." Lily added as she walked over to the pair. She picked up the pink vial and examined it closely. "Otherwise, a true love's kiss works too." She said jokingly, and a bit flirty to Severus. She walked away back to her charms book.
"Mate, she totally fancies you." Remus said hushed to Severus. Severus blushed and shook his head. "Come on, I know for a fact she does. Back in November I heard she and . . . Katelyn -Merlin rest her soul. . . talking about how she really fancies you, but she thinks you don't like her." Severus looked at him with hope. "It's almost Christmas. Maybe you can get her something really nice."
"What do girls like?" Severus asked.
"Well a lot of girls like the typical girl gifts - jewelry, perfume, clothes - but Lily is special. She would probably like something sentimental, like a poem or something like that." Remus whispered. He always was very good at picking out gifts.
"Oye, you two, if you plan to beat me in best marks this exam, you'll have to do some studying." Lily yelled jokingly. Remus felt confident on this exam, he was able to put most marauding to the side this quarter and focus on his studies. He decided to once again help Peter who was at the table next to his potion setup. Peter, unsurely took a vial of green liquid and was about to combine it with a yellow vial. Remus noticed this danger.
"Wait, Peter! Don't mix that or else -" Remus said frantically and rushed over to his table, but he was too late and Peter mixed the two. There was a small explosion and green smoke was viciously released into the air, covering the entire library.
"It will explode" Remus mumbled. He began to cough, as did everyone in the library. "Oh, Merlin, that bloody stinks!"
"Anapneo!" Remus heard Lily scream. Suddenly all the green smoke was sucked into her wand.
"Wicked!" Peter said. Severus and Lily glared at Peter. "I'm sorry." Peter said embarrassed.
"Maybe if you spent more time studying and less time trying to gain approval from that arrogant James Potter, you would actually not be so incompetent in the classroom!" Severus snapped. Peter started to cry and ran away.
"Severus! That was rude and cruel. I don't like this side of you at all." Lily said and quickly gathered her things and left, slamming the door of the library behind her.
"You should apologize to Peter and Lily, if you still want her to fancy you." Remus kindly patted Severus on his shoulder and left. Severus brought out parchment and a quill and began writing apology notes, ashamed with how he snapped.
The next morning Remus woke up excitedly. "Wake up! It's final exams day!" Remus said joyfully to his three friends. Sirius moaned and buried his head deeper in his pillow. James gave a huge yawn and stretched his arms into the air. His brown hair was extremely unorderly, resembling a tangled role of yarn, and he put his round golden ringed glasses on his face. "It's okay, we all know I'll get good marks just for showing up."
"Did you even study at all last night?" Remus asked annoyed.
"Nope. Sirius and I planned a perfect little way for Brian over there to start his morning." James chuckled. Remus looked to Brian who was getting up. Remus covered his mouth from exploding into laughter as he saw the monstrosity on the top of his head. Brian ran a hand through his red straight hair and stopped in terror as he felt two giant antlers on each side. He turned a shade of red and the entire dorm room exploded into laughter.
"Whoever did this is going to be beatn' till they're blue!" Brian screamed and locked himself in the bathroom.
"That's perfect!" Peter said while applauding James.
"Come on lads, it's the last exam of Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration this year." Remus said.
"Yeah then we get to look forward to more boring classes after holiday." Sirius grumbled as he got up.
After the exams, the teachers posted the scores early on Friday night at 18:00 outside the doors of the great hall. Severus, Remus, and Lily gathered read the results in anticipation.
"First, Transfigurations: 1st place is Me then Severus then Remus then James in fourth. How is it that narcissist can get good grades?" Lily asked Remus annoyed. James was walking past them while she said this.
"It's a gift, Evans." He said while walking away. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Potions: Severus, Remus, and Lily in third, and Potter in 15th!" Severus said while amplifying his voice in James' direction. James continued walking and raised his arm proudly above his head and gave him two fingers, the v-sign. Severus rolled his eyes.
"And finally Charms. "Remus, Lily, then Severus. Huh, we tied this time." Remus said, relieved at his good marks. "What should we do for the prizes?"
"We should send each other gifts over Christmas." Lily suggested.
"Good idea." Severus said. Remus saw Severus was in deep thought, probably thinking of what to get her.
"Sounds like a plan. Everyone's leaving tomorrow for their homes, I'll write to you both at least once over the next two weeks." Lily said as she skipped away.
"See ya, Severus!" Remus said as he went back up to the Gryffindor common room and began to pack. He promised that he would write to Sirius, James, and Peter over holiday. James even said that he would try to get his parents to allow a sleepover. Christmas was always his favorite time of the year, and this would be the first year celebrating with friends as well as his parents. Remus looked outside to the gently falling snowflakes glowing like stars against the dark blue night sky as they drifted to the ground, illuminated by the half-full moon in the sky.