Classes and Clashes
September 8th 1971
Peter drank his orange juice as Sirius spilled his bowl of cornflakes. Sirius and Remus stayed up all night to avoid another shower incident, and we’re busy hating the morning more than usual.
It was fine by Peter and James, they had gotten a full night's sleep.
“You gonna pick that up, or lick it off the table?” James asked Sirius.
“Lick it.”
“You won’t.”
Sirius began to lick the cornflakes off of the table.
“That’s actually impressive,” Remus yawned, shoving a piece of bacon in his mouth.
“F’ank you,” Sirius replied, mouth full of cornflakes and chin on the table.
“Hey, guys!” Mary came and sat down next to them, the other three girls following her, “Sirius, what on earth are you doing?”
“Eating breakfast.”
“I dared him to.”
“You lot are concerning,” Marlene said, shaking her head. “Do you have any more of those cookies, James?”
“Is that the only reason you talk to me?”
“Yes.”
“I left them in the dorm, I’ll bring them down before Defense so we don’t die.”
Defense Against the Dark Arts was the only class all of the Gryffindor first-years were looking forward to, and it was very disappointing. Professor Poursoon was as strict as he looked, and they spent the entirety of yesterday’s class reading a safety manual.
Sirius said something, but it was inaudible due to the amount of cornflakes in his mouth.
“Someone translate,” Mary said.
“Say it again,” Remus asked Sirius. Sirius spoke again.
“I got Dumbledore.”
“I got Professor.”
“I got hire.”
“Can Dumbledore hire a Professor that doesn’t make us die of boredom?” Remus asked Sirius. Sirius nodded.
James threw a piece of toast at Sirius, “Apparently not.”
“Mr. Black! Please focus, or do you need the Hospital Wing?”
Sirius had been spending the first 10 minutes of Herbology pretending to faint on Remus’s shoulder, and Remus and Sirius had been getting no work done.
“He’s being a drama queen, Professor!” James called out from his station with Mary.
“Pomfrey might bury me in the Grounds if I show up there again.”
“They're an interesting couple,” Marlene said, examining the dittany, “How do you put up with them?”
“It’s fun, they're like Millie and August but our age and ten times louder.”
“I don’t think I could deal with them while I’m trying to sleep, that’s a sacred time, Pete.”
“That’s actually what started this, Me and James threw cold water onto Remus and Sirius yesterday morning.”
Marlene laughed, “Why?”
Peter shrugged, “They wouldn’t get up.”
“Cruel, Pete,” Marlene said, through her laughter, “Cruel.”
“Very good, Ms. McKinnon and Mr. Pettigrew.” Professor Sprout said as she came around the Greenhouse.
“Thanks!” Marlene responded.
“You seem to have your mother’s talents,” Sprout smiled at Marlene, “How is she? I worked alongside her for a brief time.”
Peter continued to take notes on their dittany while Professor Sprout and Marlene talked, “She’s writing another book, she says it’s an introduction to Herbology.”
“Oh, I love Breakthroughs in Herbology, I recommend to fifth-years for their O.W.Ls- Mr. Abbot and Mr. Stebbins, step away from those plants!” She hurried off to where Gaten Abbot and Stuard Stebbins were playing with a plant Peter had seen in the McKinnon's Greenhouse.
Marlene rolled her eyes, “Idiots. Does no one know to be careful with Puffapods?”
“Marls, not everyone’s Mum is a Herbologist.”
“Well, they should still know.”
James got the Chocolate Chip Cookies from the dorm before Defense Against the Dark Arts, and each of the first-year Gryffindors had one in preparation. They were stopped by two seventh-year Gryffindors, Micheal and Charlotte who asked for some to get through Arthimacy.
Defense Against the Dark Arts was slightly more exciting than yesterday, they didn’t spend an hour reading a safety manual, thankfully. Instead, Professor Poursoon spent half the class lecturing them on the Vermillous charm, which sent red sparks out of their wands. He left the last half of class for them to practice.
“I love having a half an hour lecture for a spell we all did in five minutes.” Remus frowned.
“Why’d we even spend yesterday reading a safety manual anyways?” Peter whined, shooting sparks out of his wand.
“The dangers of sparks,” James said dramatically, hitting Peter with the charm.
“I think we’re supposed to use this spell if we’re in danger-”
“It’s called Defense against the Dark Arts, Remus,” Sirius rolled his eyes, “We’re supposed to learn how to defend ourselves, not how to make other people defend us.”
“Yeah,” James said, “I was hoping to learn about dark creatures, like vampires and werewolves!” He said the last part very dramatically.
“You okay, Remus?”
Peter looked over to Remus and Sirius, who was frowning.
“Yeah, I just thought of something unpleasant.”
“What’d you think of?” James asked, “Can’t be worse than this.”
“Flying.”
“I think you’re heads screwed on wrong Remus, you’re all backwards! Flying’s fun!”
“I’ve never even ridden a broom before.”
“Are you serious?”
“He isn’t, Sirius is-”
“The jokes old,” Sirius said, slapping James on the face. He turned to Remus, “C’mon, never?”
“No.”
“Why not?” James asked, scandalized.
“My parents are a bit overprotective,” Remus explained, “I never wanted to fly anyways.”
“You scare me.”
“You’re welcome.”
The Common Room had a new notice stating that their first flying lesson would be this Thursday at 3:30 with the Slytherins.
“Finally!” James exclaimed, “I was wondering when the fun would start.”
“Does it have to be with the Slytherins, though?” Sirius frowned. Peter’s excitement had overlooked that part, and now it dwindled slightly.
“Five galleons to whoever knocks Snivellus off his broom!”
“James-”
“Oh, lighten up a little Remus.” James said, “No one’s gonna actually do it.”
The four spent the time before dinner on the Grounds, sending sparks at each other and talking about flying. James and Sirius occasionally sent some at random students passing by, and Peter joined in eventually.
They went down to dinner as soon as it started, much earlier than they typically did. There was nothing else better to do, they could only be so entertained by sparks and flying until they got bored, and no one wanted to do homework. Except for Remus, who had worked on his Uric the Oddball essay in between Spark Wars.
The Great Hall was practically empty, dinner had only started five minutes ago. They were the only ones at Gryffindor Table.
“We should come early more often,” James said, sprawled out on the bench. Sirius ignored this and sat right on top of James' legs.
“Hey!”
“You’re in my spot.”
“Arsehole.” James straightened up, dusting off his robes. “I reckon I’m the only sane one here.”
“What gives you that title?” Sirius asked, shoving mashed potatoes into his mouth.
“Well, Remus doesn’t like flying and spent the time we were outside working on History of Magic-”
“It’s called doing homework before the deadline, James, you should try it-”
“-Sirius is Sirius-”
“Great description of my personality-”
“And then we have Peter,” James frowned, “Actually, you’re also the sane one.”
“Why’s Peter so special?” Sirius asked. Peter saw Remus glance over his shoulder, “Because you two prats like waking up in the morning?”
“Two out of four, Black. I’m impressed.”
Peter turned around to see Snape, Avery, and Wikes standing behind him and Remus. He guessed it was Snape that spoke.
“I am too, didn’t know you could count,” Sirius responded.
“I didn’t know it was possible to throw up onto your robes, but Lupin proved otherwise-”
“If you’re gonna be a git, at least come up with some new insults,” James rolled his eyes, “That happened almost a week ago.”
“And you know the days of the week, Potter. I didn’t see that one coming.”
Sirius laughed, “You didn’t even come up with that one, so much for Slytherin being brainy-”
“So much for Gryffindor being brawny, you can’t even talk to me without backup-”
“Last time I checked, this is Gryffindor table!” James exclaimed, “You’re the one who needs backup, you’re too scared to go near us without Malfoy or those two loaves.” He gestured his head to Wikes and Avery. Wikes was much taller than any of them but Sirius.
“You’ve really gone to the dogs, haven’t you Black?” Avery asked, smirking.
“I’d certainly say these three are a step up from you lot, I don’t wanna stab myself when I’m around them-”
“No one would’ve ever imagined it, that the heir to the Blacks would sink so low.”
“Higher than you, still.” Sirius scoffed, “Oh, where are Rosier and Greengrass?” Sirius looked around the hall, “Not anywhere near you! Appears you’re not as high up as you thought, Avery.
Avery huffed.
“Hey, Sev!”
Lily Evans and the other girl came and sat down near them, Marlene and Dorcas were rolling their eyes at each other. “What are you doing here?”
“Just having a chat, Lily,” Snape responded. He sent one last glare at James and Sirius and returned to the Slytherin table.
Lily frowned at James and Sirius, “What’d you guys do?”
“Nothing!”
“We were literally just sitting here-”
She turned to Remus and Peter, “Is that true?”
“Yeah, Snape’s just a git-”
“None of us said anything to him before he came over here,” Remus frowned, “He was looking for a fight.”
“Did you seriously just do that Evans?” James asked, astonished.
“Do what?”
“Ask Remus and Peter if we were telling the truth like we’re their children,” Sirius responded, laughing.
“Well, they’re more trustworthy than you two-”
“Lily, anyone’s more trustworthy than Snape!” Marlene exclaimed,
“You just have a bad impression of him-”
“He helped hex Mary down the stairs!” Dorcas added.
“He’s literally best friends with Lucius Malfoy!” Marlene added.
“C’mon, Lily.” Mary added, “Snape’s not innocent.”
Lily huffed and moved down the bench. Mary followed her.
Sirius frowned, “Are she and Snivellus like, engaged?”