Perspectives
The next morning, James wakes up again. Still in the hospital. His head aches and the bandages around his broken arm bother him, his mouth also feels very dry. He carefully turns to his right and grabs the glass of water he left on the sidetables the night before. On the side table next to the water is: A lantern, his wand, and his quidditch uniform clean and folded neatly. James cheeks go red as he realises that at some point somebody had changed him into his pajamas. Which is quite horrifying to realise as a fifteen year old boy. How they even got his pajamas he doesn’t know, but there are many secrets about Hogwarts that he doesn’t know. James makes a mental note in his head to ask Remus about the magical clean clothes later. If it says anything about laundry in Hogwarts a History, then Remus is the one to know, he's always telling the rest of the Marauders to read it, and after telling them over, and over again to Peter is the only one who read it.
James chugs the rest of the water in the glass as if he hasn’t had any water for a long time. He sets the glass abc down on the side table and just like magic it fills up again.
“Hogwarts is an incredible school isn’t it? You can be here for five years and still find new secrets.”
James looks at the door, confused since he thought he made it clear he wanted no visitors. “Dad?” James readjusts himself in the hospital bed.
“Stay comfortable son, no need to pretend you're okay.” Fleamont Potter says, walking towards James.
James readjusts himself again to be more comfortable, “What are you doing here? Did Madam Pomfrey tell you? I told her I didn’t want visitors.”
“Sh. Sh.” Fleamont puts his finger to his mouth, he sits down on the side of the bed and pats his other hand on James’ leg. “Poppy did not tell me, I was at the matcha actually. I was planning on surprising you. Minerva told me I should stay but I knew that you’d be alright. You’re strong James.”
James looks down, “so Minnie told you to come?”
“No Sirius did, he sent me an owl last night.” Fleamont explained.
James shifted uncomfortably.
“They haven’t been able to visit you yet, it's almost been four days son. Last time they saw you, you were on the ground.”
“I know, I just… I’m tired. I’ll meet up with them in the great hall for dinner.”
“That's good, alright.” Fleamont claps his hands together loudly, “now, tell me how the game went.”
“You said you were there?” James asks.
“Yeah, yeah. But I want to know what was going on in your head, and what you think was going on in the other player's head. Anyone piss you off? Did you piss anyone off?”
“Ohh. I see what you mean.” Jame shifts himself again to sit up all the way, he rests his back on the head board, “Dad, I have so much to tell you!”
—
After James fell the crowd filled with whispers, the snitch had been caught yet there was no cheering. Madam Hooch had flown down to the ground quicker than any player on the field that day. The players on the field had flown down as well, and started to crowd. Sirius was the first down after Madam Hooch. Barty was the second, as if he knew that it was the bludger he hit making James fall.
The rest of the professor had all started making their way down from the stands immediately when they saw someone was on the ground. But because of the players crowding James, the professor couldn’t get to him.
“All students return to your houses!” Professor McGonagal began to shout. “Move out of the way. Go to your houses in the meantime!”
The players started moving away and the people in the stands started heading to their houses, in about ten minutes the pitch was almost completely empty, the fastest it’s ever cleared out. A few stragglers remained: Sirius who was with James, Barty who had taken some steps back once the professor got to James, Regulus and Evan standing with Barty, Lily, Remus, Mary and Peter who were standing around the exit scared to get too close. All eight of them followed James to the hospital room but were told to go back to their houses before they could get in.
—
“Barty?.. Barty!” Evan shoved Barty's shoulder back, making him snap back to reality.
“Hey! Sorry, What? Fuck you.”
“Are you okay?” Evan asks “You’ve been spaced out for like the past ten minutes”
“Yeah. Fine. Just thinking.”
“Thinking about James still?” Dorcas asks.
“Yeah, you still thinking about Marlene?”
Dorcas throws a small pillow towards Barty, aiming for his head, “Shut up!” She gets up from her seat, grabs all of her books and storms away
“Oooh, someone is in a mood.”
“Shut up Barty, you asked for it.”
“Thats right, I did.” Barty replies smugly. Evan looks at Barty, as if he's waiting for him to say something more, but to Barty it just looks like Evan is staring dreamily into his eyes. “Is that your wand or are you just happy to see me?” Evan throws the same pillow at Barty “What?!”
“Did you just now start forgetting James?” Evan questions.
“Oh yeah, what if I killed him?”
“You didn’t kill him.”
“Nobody has seen him for four days now. He could totally be dead, and the professors are keeping it a secret.”
“Why would they keep that a secret?” Evan asks.
“I don’t know! It's them keeping the secret, not me!?” Barty yells.The portrait to the Slytherin common room suddenly opens and Regulus walks through holding many heavy books in his arms. “Just coming back from the library now, Regulus?”
“Yes.” Regulus responds.
“I am starving! Are we heading down for dinner soon?” Evan asks while Regulus sits down with them in the common room."
“Ohh yes please.” Says Barty.
—
Considering the Marauders hate homework and hate doing anything school related they are each very good at different subjects, for example: Sirius is very good at Transfiguration and Muggle Studies, Remus is good at Care for Magical Creatures and… well pretty much everything except potions, Peter is very strong in Herbology and Divination, and James is incredible at Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Each of them is good at something different which makes studying easier, if any of them are struggling they can help each other.
Although for the past week they’ve had a very important potion they’ve had to make a brewing plan for class on Friday. Professor Slughorn had everyone get into groups of two. Sirius and Peter teamed up, and James and Remus teamed up. With a plan to just work as a group of four anyway. For the first three days they’ve had James to help, which was perfect since he's the best at potions. But now it’s Thursday and after trying to make a plan for the past four days, they are definitely destined to fail this potion without James.
“No. No! That's wrong.” Peter stresses, “we need to dice the frog's eye not crush it.”
“Its all the same, it doesn’t matter!” Sirius complains.
“It is not the same! You’re going to ruin the whole potion if you do it like that.”
“Will not!”
“Yes you will!”
“Shut up!” Remus yells, throwing his book down onto his lap, “I’m hungry, I’m going down for dinner.”
“Is it that time already?” Peter asks.
Sirius’ stomach growls, “Oh good, I am starving.”
The three boys get up from their seats to leave the Gryffindor common room, they exit out of the
portrait and start descending down the stairs. Step, after step, after step. Finally they reach the bottom. They continue walking, getting closer to the great hall Sirius starts skipping ahead of Remus and Peter.
Sirius gets to the great hall doors and stands there waiting for Remus and Peter, his mouth wide open, Sirius looks back at the two and waves his hands like he's telling them to hurry up. They both speed up their walking and reach the door with Sirius, Peter's mouth hangs open just like Sirius’, Remus holds a small smile.
Sitting at the Gryffindor table is James, with a sling around his left arm, stitches under his eye, and a green bruise on his forehead. He's sitting at the table talking to Lily, Marlene, and Mary.
“James!” Sirius yells running towards James like a wild dog.