John's first proper encounter with Professor Vertstone was in the first Defence Against the Dark Arts class that year. It was only now that they were second years that they began to take five classes a day as opposed to four, and Charms had only woken him up so much after his History of Magic lesson with Professor Binns. It had been a long Monday so far. He was beginning to feel worn out to say the least, but he was curious to see how the new teacher would teach them. Surely anything would be better than last year's Professor Doe. He couldn't remember a thing she'd taught them!
The second year class of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws shuffled into the classroom, not sure what to expect. It was plain and betrayed nothing about their professor. None of them knew what to think. The clock reached 4:06 and Professor Vertstone left his office at the exact moment John was wondering why Hogwarts had such foolish timeframes for its classes. The professor was perfectly punctual, regardless of the silly schedule. He walked into the room without saying anything, moving so smoothly he almost seemed to be gliding. He stopped behind his desk and faced them. A subtle glance at the desks told them all to sit down. When everyone was seated, he cleared his throat.
"My name is Professor Vertstone." He spoke to them in the manner of someone who was already tired of giving this speech. His accent was foreign, though John was unsure where he could be from. "I used to travel the world but got caught up in a conflict in Brazil a few years ago, and have found my way to Hogwarts. I will not take any questions on my personal life. I am your professor and all you should concern yourself with whilst in my class is doing your work properly and paying attention to what I tell you. I advise you to take this class seriously and I will not hesitate to deduct House Points if I see fit."
He finished his speech and nobody spoke. It was as if the whole class had collectively decided to hold their breath. Professor Vertstone scanned the class carefully before pulling his wand out and waving it, causing parchment to fly from his desk to rest, one in front of each student. There was a collective groan at the immediate test they were made to take but before it could get too bad, Professor Vertstone reminded the lot of them that the Defence Against the Dark Arts course had an unreliable record of what was taught each year and he needed to judge how much everyone actually knew. A wave of relief washed over the class as the bell rang to signal the end of the school day. They were informed as they began to pack up that the pop quiz would not even count for a grade.
"Can you believe him?" James scoffed. "A pop quiz on the first day! And he didn't even tell us it wasn't worth a grade!"
"I got stressed for nothing." Peter said glumly.
"Oh, please." Remus rolled his eyes. "It was perfectly reasonable."
"That isn't what you thought when you started sweating bullets halfway through because you couldn't remember if we'd learned about gytrashes or not." John laughed. He was met with a sharp look that made his heart skip a beat.
"And how would do you know that's the question I stopped on?" Remus asked, though John was sure he already knew the answer.
"Er, well…" That didn't mean he wanted to admit it though.
"If it's any consolation, we definitely didn't learn about gytrashes last year." Sirius provided helpfully. "I don't see why you'd care so much even if it was for a grade."
"That's rich, coming from the guy who didn't study for anything until the end-of-year exams." Remus pouted, crossing his arms. John thought it was kind of cute, but then he buried that thought.
They all agreed Professor Vertstone was a teacher to be respected and perhaps a bit intimidated by. Another thing they agreed, however, was that he would surely be an incredible teacher. Remus had already been a fan of Defence Against the Dark Arts before, but now that they had a promising teacher? He practically radiated optimistic energy; something rare for the scarred boy. That didn't stop his friends from disliking the sternness of the professor though. They already thought they had quite enough of that thanks to Professor McGonagall.
At least Professor McGonagall liked quidditch. Two weeks into school, first year flying lessons were beginning, and all of the house teams were having tryouts. James had brought his shiny new Nimbus 1001 to school with him and, upon learning Sirius hadn't a broom to his name, asked his parents to send his 'old' Nimbus 1000. John didn't say it, but he vaguely wished James had given him the broom instead of Sirius. There was nothing wrong with his Swiftstick, of course, but it paled in comparison to the Nimbus. Perhaps one day…
The days leading up to quidditch tryouts, the three of them would take their brooms and use old quaffles to practice throwing and catching. Sirius had mentioned wanting to be a beater, but they were unfortunately not so lucky in getting bludgers for him to practice with. They improvised by using wingardium leviosa to throw decently sized rocks for him to whack with the bat he'd stolen from the Slytherin locker room (something he'd been very proud of at the time). Peter and Remus would watch them from the ground wherever they may have decided to practice that day. There was no doubt that James was the best of the three boys vying to make the team. John wished James wanted to be anything other than a chaser. Maybe then he'd have a chance. That wouldn't stop him from trying though.
On Thursday the 14th, he found it even harder than usual to concentrate in Transfiguration with Ravenclaw. Tate had to set him back on track several times as he got distracted from transforming the animal in front of him into a water goblet. He thought Professor McGonagall was giving him a free pass with his distraction that day. Perhaps she understood that his constant checking of the clock was because her class was the only thing standing between him and quidditch tryouts.
When class finally ended, John, James, and Sirius rushed out of the classroom, their friends tailing behind them. They rushed to the broomshed where their brooms were stored before standing on the quidditch pitch. In their haste, they'd managed to get there before the current members of the team. Peter wheezed, having run after them. James told him he could go sit in the stands with Remus and the squat boy's cheeks turned red as he realized he'd followed them for nothing. He nodded before turning around and heading up to do just that.
Before too long, the captain arrived. One-by-one, every hopeful student wanting to make the team gathered. They split up into groups depending on what they wanted to try out for, causing Sirius to separate from James and John. The goal for the chasers was to score as many times as they could against the team's current keeper, as well as demonstrate their ability to pass the quaffle to other players. By the time it was his turn to try and score, John noticed they'd gained a decent audience. He even saw some people from other houses, recognizing his other friends. It didn't do much to help his nerves.
James went to score before him and not only did he score several times in his allotted time frame of five minutes, he did so with pizzazz. He ran a hand through his already windswept hair after he landed and sent a cocky grin at anyone who looked at him. John didn't think James's wish of 'good luck' would be much help in causing the lump in his throat to disappear. When he went, not only did he not have any pizzazz, but he only managed to score once. Disheartened, John decided to leave early and put his broom away. There was no way they'd let him on the team if he couldn't even score. He went up to the stands to sit next to Remus.
"You weren't that bad…" Peter tried to tell him.
"Ah, what are the chances of them picking two second years to play chaser anyways? James's got a way better chance than I do and there are still older students who are way more qualified." John shrugged him off, pretending it didn't sting that James was better than him at everything.
"You were probably just nervous." Remus told him. "It's not like you usually have a crowd when you're practicing. Besides, when did any of you practice with a keeper?"
"Er…" John didn't grace that question with an answer, as they all knew the answer to be no.
Tryouts went on for an hour longer and John spent his time slouched next to Remus, watching the keeper tryouts more closely than the others. Maybe next year he'd try out to be a keeper? He sighed, his mind still stubbornly set on being a chaser. Maybe one day… James flew up to them in the stands after tryouts, not bothering to go put his broom away.
"I got on the team!" He shouted.
"We knew you would!" Peter squeaked. John only smiled at him, trying not to show his envy.
"Where's Sirius off to?" Remus asked, closing his book. He'd been skimming Quidditch Through the Ages.
"I'm right here." Sirius said, approaching without his broom. "I was just putting the Nimbus in the broomshed."
"Did you get on the team?" James asked eagerly, still on his broom as if to show off his incredible balancing skills. He appeared to be lounging rather comfortably on the wood.
"Ah, they told me to try out again next year." Sirius said, picking at something on his shirt. "I was the only second year trying out. The other blokes had loads more experience."
"I'm sure you'll make it next year." Remus smiled at him. Sirius smiled back.
"Well, I hope you lot have fun watching me at all the quidditch games!" James said loudly. "With my chasing skills, we're going to crush Slytherin. I don't even care if they catch the snitch, I'll score so many points we win anyways!"
John rolled his eyes as the five of them made their way back to the castle, James carrying his broom on his shoulders and exuding an aura of cockiness. John was glad James and Sirius said nothing to him about leaving tryouts early. He would rather not admit to them that he'd given up immediately. They went to the Great Hall as dinner was already well underway. The Gryffindor quidditch captain hadn't wanted to hold tryouts right before dinner but it was the only time available that didn't conflict with first year flying lessons, other team tryouts, or curfew.
James basked in the impressed stares of nearby classmates, his grin only faltering when he quite literally knocked Lily over. The Nimbus clattered to the ground and James scrambled to retrieve it, making sure there was no damage done to it. He looked up at Lily, his brows furrowing as he intended to tell her off. His words died somewhere along the way and he stared at her as she got to her feet, irritably brushing dirt off of herself.
"Do you mind?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips and glaring down at him. James knocked his glasses askew in his rush to stand up and had to adjust them before his cocky grin returned.
"Sorry Evans, I was just telling everyone about how I'm the newest chaser for Gryffindor." James said, resting his broom on his shoulder and running a hand through his hair.
"If that's supposed to impress me, you'll find that I don't care." Lily said, eyes narrowing. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more important things to do. See you, John." She pushed past the group and left the Great Hall.
"What was that about?" Sirius asked. James shrugged.
"She needs to sort out her priorities. I bet she's gone off to go study."
"James, you like to study." Remus pointed out.
"W-that's different!" He insisted as they continued walking to the Gryffindor table. He sat beside Sirius, John sitting across from him between Remus and Peter.
"I think Jamesie fancies someone." John teased.
"I don't fancy her." James scoffed.
"Then what was all the hair flipping and such about?" Remus asked, cutting some sort of meat. John wondered if it belonged to some magical creature, because he didn't recognize it.
"Nothing." James huffed, stabbing his food.
They teased James for the rest of dinner, laughing as he got more and more flustered. By the end of the meal he was looking so miserable that Remus kicked Sirius under the table to get him to shut his mouth. John reached across the table to pat James's arm and assure him they were only joking around. He then added that if James did fancy Lily, he had pretty good taste. That led to John being accused of fancying Lily; a thought he found uncomfortable. He'd never fancied a single girl in his life! What if he was into blokes? Oh dear, that wouldn't be good. He already had enough trouble with his identity without thinking of such things.
All of them went to their dorms to sleep as the conversation meandered. Classes continued as usual and nothing more of note happened for a week, barring the usual shenanigans and Sirius trying to come up with a way to spread rumors about Snape doing wizard drugs. It was the 22nd when Remus claimed he had to 'visit his mother' again. He returned the Sunday two days later, looking frail and exhausted. The poor boy dragged himself into the dormitory and burrowed under the covers, passing out despite it only being an hour or so past lunch time. The four other second year Gryffindor boys exchanged looks before quietly going down to the common room, not wanting to disturb him.
"He's always tired when he gets back. I'm worried about him." James said quietly, sinking into an armchair. The common room was otherwise empty, thanks to the Hogsmeade trip. That didn't stop them from feeling they had to speak about Remus in a hushed tone.
"Yeah…" Sirius frowned, brows furrowing. "What do you reckon he's really doing? We already know there isn't anything wrong with his mum."
"And he's got scars all over his face." Peter said, nose screwed up as if thinking very hard. "Like claw marks."
"What, you think Remus disappears once a month to go fight wild animals?" John raised a brow. "Oh, and let's not forget the wizard drugs and murder cults. Honestly, none of these theories have a lick of evidence."
"Once a month…" Sirius muttered, thoughtful.
"What is it, Siri?" James asked, prodding his friend.
"Ah, nothing." He shrugged. "Have we ever paid attention to when he's gone?"
"Blimey, I don't think we have." John remarked.
"I can start keeping track of dates!" Peter squeaked, scrambling up the stairs to the dormitories with a surprising amount of quiet.
"You boys better not be conspiring on some ridiculous pranks." Lily's voice made them jump. James ran his fingers through his hair and sent a smile her way.
"Ah, Evans, nice of you to say hi. We were just talking, nothing so fun as that, though I don't see why we shouldn't have some harmless fun now that you mention it." James said, his sentences rambling more than they ought to. Lily scoffed.
"Shove off, Potter." She said, turning her attention to John. "I finished this book Remus wanted to read after me. I don't know where he is, but I trust you can return it to him." Lily handed him the tome, which was on various dark creatures. John didn't question it. Remus's favorite subject was Defence Against the Dark Arts, after all.
"Yeah, will do." John smiled at her. Lily smiled back before leaving, likely to go find her friends. James pouted.
"How come you and Remus get to be so chummy with her?" He asked.
"Oh, I dunno." John shrugged. "Maybe because we're nice to her."
"I'm nice! I'm the nicest bloke around!" James insisted.
"Why's it matter to you, Jamesie?" Sirius asked, teasing. "It's not like you fancy her or anything, right?"
"Well of course not!" James all but shouted, his cheeks turned red.
"What's so wrong with fancying someone anyways? As much as I love teasing James, I don't see anything wrong with him fancying Lily." John said.
"Er…" Sirius failed to come up with a good explanation.
"Besides, maybe I do fancy her." James admitted. "Do you lot not fancy anyone?"
"I never really thought about it." Sirius shrugged. "I'd rather spend time with you lot than pine after someone."
"I've never fancied anyone before." John said, though a pair of tired green eyes passed through his mind.
"Me either." Peter said, and John wondered when he'd gotten back to them.
The four of them felt no need to speak any further and James decided to start on his Charms homework after making a quick trip back to the dorm room to retrieve it. John flicked through the pages of Remus's book, though he did little more than look at the illustrations. He liked the feel of the soft, worn paper. It was old and tattered and it smelled nice. Sirius spent his time distracting James from his homework. Peter was the one who broke the pleasant quiet they had established amongst themselves.
"D'you think Professor Vertstone is a vampire?"
"Oh Merlin's beard, shut up, Peter."
Word Count: 2,994
Fun stuff, fun stuff. I figured people usually start having crushes by age 12, so there's that. I introduced Professor Vertstone but I don't know how much more I'm actually going to do with him lol. No, he's not a vampire, I just like giving Peter the trait of coming up with a bunch of conspiracy theories. We don't really know much about him during his time during Hogwarts so I made that up because it was funny to me.
I can't really think of anything else to write here! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, I definitely had fun writing it! It'd be lovely if you could leave a review but of course, you aren't obligated by any means.
I love all of you, hope to see you next time!