Chapter 3- Classes and Sinistra's Mistake
The next morning I went down to breakfast with James. When I entered the Great Hall I spotted Leah, Ashley, Sarah, and Tiffany sitting with Remus and Sirius. There was also another boy with them that I hadn't met yet, though I'd seen him talking to the Marauders on several different occasions.
"Good morning." Leah said happily as I sat down.
Everyone else either chorused it or nodded in my general direction.
"Oh, Lily, this is Peter Pettigrew. He's the fourth member of the Marauders. You didn't meet him last night because of some mysterious girl who's been preoccupying all of his time." James said as he nudged Peter playfully.
Peter blushed and looked down at his plate.
"It's nice to meet you." I said politely.
"Same." He said nervously, as he glanced up at me.
Peter seemed to clash with the other Marauders in my opinion. James, Sirius, and Remus were all rather tall and Peter looked to be about my height. He was a whole head shorter than the other boys. There wasn't anything particularly distinguishing or flattering about Peter's appearance. He wasn't extremely dashing, but he wasn't really a troll either. He looked like your average teenage wizard. I suppose the reason it seemed to be odd that he was apart of their group was because the other three Marauders stood out so much with their personalities (and they were all extremely attractive, what girl wouldn't notice that?) and just their general persona.
Our first class that morning was Defense Against the Dark Arts, or DADA as the others called it. We walked in and took seats in the front of the room. Our Professor, Mr. Stigma, was late. He arrived after about five minutes and took a look around the room. On one side were Gryffindor and on the other side were Slytherin.
Professor Stigma made us all stand up as he sat us boy-girl order trying to mix both houses together. Luckily I sat between Sirius and James. Leah sat beside a Slytherin boy named Severous Snape and a boy from Gryffindor named Matt Jeffries. Leah was placed right in front of me, Matt in front of Sirius and Severous in front of James. Sirius and James made a comment about it, but I was trying to pay attention to where the rest of our friends would sit. Remus was placed next to Ashley and a Slytherin girl named Mary Plummintine. They sat right behind us. So far the seating arrangements weren't too bad. Sarah's name was called and she was placed next to two very mean looking Slytherins whose names were Avery Macnair and Rudolphus Lestrange. Sarah didn't look happy at all, she was placed on the opposite side of the room directly in front of the professor's desk. Tiffany was called and she was placed next to Sirius. She didn't seem to be too pleased. I think it might have been because as soon as she sat down Sirius threw his arms around her in goofy excitement.
"Now, that's a bit better." Stigma said walking to stand just in front of his desk.
"We'll begin today's lesson taking notes on a small review of jinxes and counter-curses that you've accumulated in the past six years. Next lesson we'll have a duel to see where we all stand." He said.
Hushed conversations started all around the room with excitement or nervousness about the upcoming duel. The rest of that class was spent copying down notes.
After DADA, we had Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall picked her own seating arrangements as well. Luckily, I was placed next to Remus. Our class today was to transfigure our books into plants and back. Our assignment was six inches on how you can vary the plant type due next class, which would meet Friday. Surprisingly, James and Sirius were producing all different types of flowers. They even transfigured roses and handed them to McGonagall professing their lover for her. At her stern look they both shut up, but McGonagall awarded them 5 points to Gryffindor for their excellent quality. They had even smelled like roses. It was very difficult to accomplish.
Next class was Charms, which I was really looking forward to. Professor Flitwick was a small man, but he was very enthusiastic about his subject. We charmed our partners to change their appearance that lesson. We split into partners again and Sarah gave me black hair with a tan complexion. It was quite the change from my red hair and pale skin. I turned Sarah's appearance by giving her brown hair with red tints and I changed her eyes to a dark blue. Sarah actually loved her look and decided to make it a permanent change. Although my 'make-over' wasn't too bad, I don't think I would fit as any thing other than a redhead.
Charms had definitely been a fun class. Peter had partnered with Remus and accidentally mispronounced the incantation which gave Remus horns and green hair. Everyone got a good laugh as Remus accepted humility gracefully and even laughed himself. Flitwick even chuckled a bit before turning Remus back to normal against Sirius' and James' requests to leave him that way.
After dinner, James and I had to conduct the first Prefect meeting. We went over the patrolling schedules and Prefect duties. As Head boy and Head girl, James and I had to patrol together every night for an hour. Dumbledore thought it would be a good idea to pair everyone this year. I had no complaints seeing as I still didn't know my way around the castle.
Several weeks later, I got a letter from Harry in the morning post. He said that mum was trying to get him to court some countess against his will, again. I chuckled at that. He also said that Charlie had gotten an invitation to some prestigious boarding school and had already left for it. Enclosed in his letter was a picture of Petunia with her new boyfriend that he secretly took while they were having tea. It was hilarious. Her boyfriend is twice her size! Not only that but he looked absolutely ridiculous sipping tea from a bright pink floral patterned china set. I just started laughing so hard that I could barely breathe. Tiffany and Sirius gave me weird looks so I showed them the picture after about ten minutes of them begging. Their reactions were similar to my own and it was like a contagious disease as each person started to laugh uncontrollably when the picture was passed down to them.
Today, Wednesday, we all had our elective classes. Tiffany, Sirius, and James all had Flying because they were on the Quidditch team. Remus and Ashley had Muggle Studies, Leah and Peter had Astronomy, and Sarah and I had Divination. I really didn't want to go back to Divination. I hated that class the very first day, fifteen minutes into the Professor's speech. Our Professor was Miss Sinistra. She was probably in her forties and she was the biggest fake I'd ever seen. Unfortunately this class lasted all morning until lunch. It was a double period because we only meet once a week. After lunch I have my second elective of Care of Magical Creatures until dinner. The good thing about Wednesdays: Only two classes. The bad thing about Wednesdays: Divination.
"At least you'll be dropping this class for Flying if you make the Gryffindor team." Sarah said groggily as Sinistra talked about crystal balls.
"When are try-outs?" I asked.
"Uh, Saturday I think. Ask James though, he's the captain." She said.
"I can't. Remember, Tiffany wanted to 'surprise everyone with my skill'. So nobody besides us girls is supposed to know I'm trying out." I said.
"Oh yeah, that's right. Quick, act like you're doing something. Here comes Sinistra." Sarah said sitting up straighter and taking her elbows off the table.
"How are you doing dears? Have you been able to read each others thoughts yet?" She asked.
"No professor, I can't seem to hang on to the images." Sarah lied.
"Oh that's not too bad dear. Nobody has been able to read thoughts with their crystal ball since myself when I was attending Hogwarts." Sinistra gloated.
I rolled my eyes from behind her, but suddenly I got an idea.
"Professor Sinistra?" I asked.
She turned to face me.
"Do you think I could practice on you? It's only that I know Sarah is always thinking about boys because it's all she ever talks about and I want to see if I can actually read thoughts." I said making up an excuse to get Sinistra to participate.
From behind Sinistra, Sarah raised her eyebrows in confusion.
"Well, alright I suppose it wouldn't hurt." Sinistra said.
Sarah got up from her seat across from me and allowed Sinistra to take it. The rest of the class had begun to watch what was going on in interest. I secretly winked at Sarah and began to rub the crystal ball with a look of utmost concentration on my face.
"You're thinking about what would happen if anyone knew you fancy professor Stigma." I said.
Sinistra jumped while the class looked on.
"What, how did you, how can you, what, how?" She stuttered.
Everyone started laughing.
"Can Miss Collins and I be excused for the rest of the class? We've grasped the concept of the lesson." I said.
I didn't even wait for a reply as I grabbed my books and Sarah's arm leading her out of the room. We were only thirty minutes into the class before we had left.
"Wow, Lily. That was hilarious! How did you do that?" Sarah asked as we were walking down the hall way.
I had actually done it using my Legilmency, but I couldn't tell her that. People who are skilled at Legilmency are thought to be evil. It's most just superstition and the like.
"Uh, actually I was making it up you know? I can't believe it was true though." I said.
We laughed and decided to walk down to the Quidditch pitch.
"Lily! Sarah!" Someone shouted.
Sarah and I looked toward a section of the stands the voice came from and we saw Tiffany, James, and Sirius all sitting together and waving at us. We walked up and sat with them.
"Why aren't you two in class?" James asked.
"Lily got us out!" Sarah said as she told the story of what happened in Divination.
"No way! That is so funny!" Tiffany said laughing.
"Eww, that's disgusting! Stigma is only twenty-two years old. Sinistra is like twice his age!" Sirius said.
"So what exactly are you doing?" I asked them.
"Well Evans, everyone on the Quidditch teams gets this class. We can fly and use the pitch if we want. Mostly everyone just sits around and talks or does homework. Occasionally we discuss plays and defensive strategies." Sirius said in a business like tone.
I looked around the stands and there were players scattered all about them. There were more people a few rows above us talking together. I pointed them out to Sirius.
"Is that the rest of the Gryffindor team?" I asked.
"Yeah, you want to meet them? Oy! Guys come down here for a second!" Sirius said.
They all came down to where Tiffany, James, Sirius, Sarah, and I were sitting.
"This is Lily Evans. Lily, this is Lisa Knight. She's one of the chasers. Joe Plumpter is my fellow beater and Matt McKinnon is the best keeper in the school." Sirius introduced.
I shook hands with all of them. Lisa was short with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She was really pretty, and a sixth year. Joe Plumpter was tall and muscular with short brown hair and brown eyes. I remembered seeing him in Herbology when he had been placed at our station last week. Matt McKinnon had blonde hair and hazel eyes. He was just a little taller than me, and he had a pretty average build. He had a gorgeous smile and he was a sixth year.
"So Lily, you're from Drumstrang right?" Lisa asked.
"Yes, but I hated it there." I said quickly.
"They have an amazing Quidditch team though. A lot of great players have come from Drumstrang." Joe said.
"You've got to hear what happened in Divination earlier." Tiffany said, she then continued to retell the morning's events.
All of them were laughing about it.
"That's brilliant Lily!" Matt congratulated.
I smiled nervously and I think I blushed! I hate this stupid fare skin. I blush easily and it's so obvious. Then Matt winked at me! I could feel my heart beat speeding up.
Tiffany and Sarah walked on either side of me on the way to lunch. When we were a good distance ahead of the others they turned on me like hungry dogs about to fight to the death over a scrap of meat.
"Lily you fancy Matt, don't you?" Sarah said.
"Come on, admit it! Just tells us!" Tiffany said.
"What are you talking about?" I tried to cover.
"Please Lily, you blushed when he smiled at you, and then he winked at you and you liked like you were going to have a heart attack." Tiffany said.
"He is absolutely gorgeous!" Sarah gushed.
I started to blush again and they laughed.
"Aww, Lily he was flirting with you." Sarah said.
"Shhh!" I said as we walked into the Great Hall and sat with Ashley and Leah.
Sarah and Tiffany began to fill them in on what happened at the Quidditch pitch when I picked up on the gossip that was circulating throughout the entire Great Hall. What was the main topic for this afternoon? That would be Divination class this morning. Apparently Leah and Ashley had already heard about Sinistra.
"News travels fast in Hogwarts." Leah explained.
Indeed it did.
"Well obviously it was true." Sirius said sitting next to me.
The rest of the Marauders took seats around us.
"Why's that?" Leah asked.
"Look who's skipping lunch at the Head table." He said.
We all looked up and realized that Professor Sinistra was not accounted for.
"Poor thing." Ashley said quietly.
"You mean poor Stigma. Look at his face!" Peter said.
We looked up to the Head table again and looked at Professor Stigma whose face was a little red. His head was hung low while he ate and he nervously glanced around him. Obviously he had heard the news of Sinistra's crush on him. Who hadn't? I just hoped that my name had been lost in the retelling and so only the information of the crush had been spread.
"Hey Lils…" Someone said.
"Yeah?" I said looking up.
Everyone looked at me and raised their eyebrows.
"What?" Remus asked.
"Lils? Are you there?" I recognized the voice as Charlie's, in my head.
"Oh, never mind." I said to everyone.
"What is it?" I thought to Charlie as the others went back to filling their plates.
"You would not believe what's going on. I can't wait to see you at Christmas break. I have so much to tell you!" Charlie said.
"What is it?" I asked him
"I can't say now. But we can only owl from now on. I'll be leaving soon so I'll be too far away." He said.
"What? Harry said you'd already left for boarding school." I thought to him.
"I can't say Lils. But it will be worth it, I promise. I've got to go, but we'll keep in touch ok?" He said.
"Charlie, wait!" I said.
It was too late. I felt the connection close. I tried to reach him again, but either he was blocking me or he had suddenly distanced himself out of range.
"Argh!" I said in frustration.
Tiffany gave me a weird look.
"Uh, this is not what I wanted for lunch today." I said quickly.
Tiffany rolled her eyes.