Chapter 38:
On June 1st, Remus went to his first examination at 10am, Herbology. Madame Sprouse had a tricky memorization test prepared where she had a willing volunteer, Frank Longbottom (a 6th year Hufflepuff who excelled at Herbology) eat a different poisonous plant in front of each student. She then gave the student five minutes to search the large greenhouse for the combination of plants to cure him. Remus passed easily along with Lily and Severus when they had their turns.
"Hey, Remus, I need to talk to you." Severus whispered to Remus.
"Okay. We'll talk later." Remus replied, smiling as Remus watched James go and Frank turned a nasty yellow color and his ears and nose grew large.
"Why would Frank want to do this?" Lily asked Remus.
Remus looked to Frank who was laughing while watching James looking absolutely dumbfounded of what the correct counter plant was. He picked up a long pink and yellow mossy plant and shrugged and brought it up to Frank.
"If I would eat that right now, I would die!" Frank said while laughing at James' failure.
"Poor job, Mr. Potter. Perhaps study next time instead of attending to your reflection." Professor Sprouse snarled.
"It's probably an ego thing. He get's to show off what he's best at in front of all of us." Remus decided. Remus turned his attention to a rare sight next to him, James Potter blushing. "Don't worry about it, James." Remus encouraged.
"Peter, it's your turn." Madame Pomphrey said.
"Well this will at least make me feel better. He won't do better than me, for sure." James said rudely to Sirius as he watched Peter walk up to a normal appearing Frank.
Frank ate a shiny looking sparkly black root and his hands shrank to the size of a doll's.
"Easy, that's a Yesaofly root, found in southern Kenya. The counter is it's leaf which should be in the middle of the third isle, mixed with some peppermint leaf." Peter said confidently as he hurried to the ingredients and brought them back quickly. He ripped apart the leaves and set them down. Frank picked it up with his tiny hand and was about to eat it when-
"-WAIT! Frank, don't eat the leaves. Everyone knows that you must rub the mixture behind the left ear to have it work." Peter said. He then rubbed the two leaves behind his left ear and the entire class looked in awe as Frank's hands returned to a normal size.
Madame Pomphrey lead the entire class in a hearty applause. "Well done, Peter! Top marks!"
Peter smiled and enjoyed the applause. He turned to James and smiled and said rather cunningly, "I can help you out next year."
James winced at this insult, but shook his hand in respect.
Since Dumbledore never found a qualified replacement for Professor Estrella, the students got to skip the practical portion of the exam where they had to point out constellations to the teacher and instead just complete the handwritten test with the Slytherins. Remus, again, flew through the entire exam effortlessly and was able to answer all the questions of the Lunar cycle easily. After he finished, Lily finished, then Severus. Remus, still at his desk waiting for the remainder of the test looked to James and Sirius who looked like they were doing fine. Same with Narcissia, Sirius's cousin, and Lucius. Peter, however, was looking at his paper with an expression of utter confusion upon his face.
"How did it go?" Remus asked the Marauders as they descended down the long spiral of stairs.
"Not good." Peter whimpered.
"Honestly, don't care about my grades." James said. Remus could tell that he was secretly still upset with the Herbology exam.
Sirius shrugged. "I'm just glad we don't have any more tests today so we can eat!"
"Yep. Just History Of Magic tomorrow, and Defense Against the Dark Arts on Friday morning. Then we will be set for our prank on Friday night." James said.
"Do you guys remember anything from History of Magic?" asked Sirius.
"Of course!" exclaimed Remus.
"Not you, nerd. I think I slept through that ghosts boring lectures every day." Sirius said.
The next day, the tired students walked out of the History of Magic's lecture hall at the end of the exam. The Marauders walked toward the dining hall. Severus unintentionally followed them with his head buried in his defense against the dark arts textbook, unnoticed by the gang. Sirius clenched his hand.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to use this hand again!" Sirius complained.
"Four writing prompts? What a crazy git, that Professor Binns." James said.
"What did you write about, Remus, for the question asking how the Great Troll War shaped our troll/wizard relationships today?" Peter asked nervously.
"Well, I started by stating -" Remus began proudly, but was cut off by James.
"Ah, you're worse than Binns. I don't want to hear anything about History of Magic!"
"Fine." Remus said slightly hurt.
"Have you figured out our escape path yet for tomorrow night?" James asked excitedly. Severus's head curiously looked up, listening.
"Oh, shoot, not yet. I'll do that right now. We don't want to get caught tomorrow. See ya!" Remus said and he ran off down the hall. Unbeknownst to Remus, a very curious Severus was following him.
"Class, be seated and silent. Your final exam will consist of a written portion, a tricky multiple choice 100 question test, and a final duel. Begin the essay now." Professor Malfoy said and thick essay booklets and quills appeared on their desks. Remus flew through the essay in his small, neat cursive and waited once again for the rest of the class to finish. The essay was on defence against vampires.
Finally, he doesn't focus on werewolves. Probably thought we had too much practice this year, wouldn't want his students to do well, of course. He deserves humiliation tonight. It's good that I found the perfect route.
The test was even easier than the essay, he looked to James and Sirius who seemed to agree by the way they finished early too. Remus handed in his test to Professor Malfoy, eager to see his essay score (Professor graded the essays while the students took their tests). Malfoy, with a pained look handed Remus his neatly written essay.
85% Obviously he took some subjective liberties while grading. This could have been published in the textbook. Remus looked up and opened his mouth, Mr. Malfoy gave a sinister smile, awaiting Remus to say something he could be punished for. Better not say anything. My probably perfect score in the multiple choice test will make up for it. Remus smiled back and set his essay down on Mr. Malfoy's desk and walked back to his seat.
"Now that everyone's finished, come and collect your multiple choice exams as I have already graded them. You can have five minutes to go over your many mistakes before the duels begin. First up, is Potter and Snape."
"98/100. Not bad at all." Remus told himself.
Lily looked over his shoulder at his score and disappointedly said "Good job, you beat me. I dropped the ball a bit and got a 94. Severus, what did you get?"
"Perfect." Severus said nonchalantly. "Remus, we still need to talk. I have to ask you about some things I saw you doi-."
"Congrats on the score, we'll talk later. You have to duel." Remus said.
"Please bow at your opponent." Mr. Malfoy said to Severus and James.
Severus gave a normal bow but James gave a flamboyant curtsy. "Begin." Professor Malfoy said as he rolled his eyes.
Severus sent green sparks at James using Verdimillious, but James dodged it using a shield charm. Remus could see James smile and sent a spell called "nosiusgrowreage." A yellow light hit Severus right in his nose and Severus covered his nose with his hands in pain. When he released, Severus's already large nose had grown twice as big as normal. The class laughed and Sirius took an enchanted picture on his magical camera. Severus, annoyed, calmly muttered the counter-curse and his nose shrunk to normal. While James was still laughing, Severus yelled "Expelliarmus" and James's wand flew into Severus' free hand. James looked wide eyed and stunned as Severus lifted his wand and said "Flipendo." And James went flying onto his back.
"Well done, Severus. 48/50, though work on your shielding spells. 10 points to Slytherin. James, take the duels more seriously next time, 40/50. Next is Narcissia verssus Lily."
James walked up to Remus, Peter, and Sirius in annoyance.
"Hey, at least we have this picture." Sirius said as he showed him the terrified moving Severus with a large nose. James laughed while Remus rolled his eyes and watched Lily dominate Narcissia. Next, a very quick Sirius was able to outsmart a very slow Domante and win. Peter, however, was quickly beaten by a cleaver Slytherin girl named Meghan Stecker. After a few other duels, Remus and Lucius were the last to be called.
"Begin." Mr. Malfoy said.
"Vermillious" Remus said at the same time as Lucius said
"Verdimillious"
A red stream of sparks emitted from Remus's wand while Lucius's wand emitted a green spark stream. The class oohed at the startling start. The streams met in the middle and both boys held on with two hands insink and tried to push forward, but neither would budge from the middle.
"Come on, half-blood! Show me what your sick muggle mother is dying for." Lucius said menacingly. Remus began to feel tired, and the green stream from Lucius's moved passed the middle, creeping toward him.
Bullocks! What do I do? What spell?
The green sparks came closer.
Not first year, think, Remus. You can't lose again. Not after Frederick. You are not a loser. That murderer put your teacher in jail. You need something more powerful. Something to knock this prick out completely. Use your rage. . . That's it.
The green light was now almost at the tip of Remus's wand. Remus took a deep quick breath and quickly released his spell and jumped out of the way of the green sparks. It was like everything went into slow motion. Remus saw the sparks just nick the sleeve of his robe. Remus quickly did a uppercut swish of his wand and yelled "Stupify." Lucius's eyes widened as he helplessly saw a powerful red ball of energy being thrown right at his chest. Before he could react, the ball already hit him in the chest and sent him flying backward into the wall. The class was silent, watching Lucius, waiting for him to rise. But he didn't. The stupefy spell worked completely and Lucius was knocked out, cold.
The class cheered and Sirius and James lifted Remus's small body onto their shoulders. The class went crazy until Professor Malfoy yelled "Expelliarmus!" and Remus's wand went flying and Professor Malfoy caught it. The class went silent.
"Is there a problem, professor? Remus won the duel." James asked as he set Remus down.
"In all my years of teaching, I have never seen a first year perform the stupify charm successfully. It is apparent that you had experience." Professor Malfoy said curiously while examining Remus's wand. Remus stood still, not sure what to say. "Where did you learn that?"
"My d-dad." Remus said nervously. Mr. Malfoy stared at him like a hawk, obviously not buying it. "And I read advanced books from the library." Remus added.
A sinister smirk appeared on the pointed face of the Professor. "Ah, and tell me Remus, where did you find these advanced books?"
"What do you mean, sir?" Remus asked.
"Well, for the safety of our younger students here at Hogwarts, we keep advanced lesson books that contain advanced year 5 spells like "Stupify" where?" the Professor asked condescendingly.
"The restricted section." Remus muttered. There was a small murmur throughout the class.
"50 points from Gryffindor for going in the restricted section of the library." Professor Malfoy said. There was a groan from the Gryffindor students and a chuckle from the Slytherins.
Remus nodded and said "I apologize, Professor."
"But a 50/50 for the duel." Professor Malfoy said surprisingly. Remus looked up, confused.
"But he knocked out your nephew!" Narcissia Black shouted at the professor.
"5 points from Slytherin for interrupting me, Ms. Black." Malfoy said back. "I am awarding Mr. Lupin full credit for being powerful enough to earn my respect. You have a great talent for the dark arts and I see great things coming in your future, Mr. Lupin, just chose the right side." Professor Malfoy proudly said. Remus shuddered in discomfort of his approval.
"Thank you, sir." Remus said, not so surely. The bell rang and the class hurried out. Remus approached the professor who was still holding his wand. "Can I have that back, sir?" Remus asked.
The professor held it out and Remus grabbed one side, but the professor wouldn't let go. Mr. Malfoy leaned in close and whispered to Remus. "A war is coming, Remus Lupin. We need powerful young wizards like you to join our Lord's ranks." Remus looked up at the pale professor in confusion.
"What are you talking about, sir?" Remus asked scared.
"Remus come on!" James shouted at the door frame.
"You'll know soon enough." Professor Malfoy winked and he released Remus's wand. Remus walked away quickly and joined his friends, ignoring a stuttering Severus who was begging to talk to him.
What is Professor Malfoy talking about. What war is coming? Who is his Lord?