“Have it if you want,” he replied, yawning. “I’m not that hungry and we need to get to Defence soon.”
Sirius reached across the table began to eat. “You all right?” he asked inbetween mouthfuls.
“Yeah,” Remus said. “Just, well, you know.” He looked around but the table was practically empty. “Full moon tomorrow.”
“Oh, that!” exclaimed Sirius as he spread some jam on the toast. “First one of the new term, we should do something spectacular.”
Remus laughed. “I would have thought turning yourself into a big black dog was spectacular enough. Doesn’t take long for you to get bored, does it?” He stood up. “Come on, we’ll need to hurry as it is.”
“Nah,” replied Sirius. “You go on. I’ll see you in there.”
As Remus left, Sirius swivelled his head around to the Slytherin table. Regulus was there talking to some boys from his year. He glanced up and their eyes met; Sirius raised a hand and thought he saw his brother’s hand move too. Then Regulus looked down and the brief moment between them flickered away. He wondered what Regulus would do if he walked and demanded to speak to him. He was sorely tempted to confront him, to shake some sense into his brother. Sirius balled his fist around his wand and stood up.
“Hi there,” said a voice behind him. Sirius turned his attention away from Regulus and looked into the smiling, sunny face of Martha. He could not help but smile back, and in that moment the urge to confront his brother left him.
“Hi, sweetheart,” he said and he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “Shouldn’t you be in class, or something?”
Martha snorted. “I could ask you the same thing. I’m supposed to have Divination, but Professor Barwick’s refusing to leave his room. According to Lysander, he read something in his teacup this morning and has decided today is a bad day. So, we’re going to go and practise Quidditch instead.”
Sirius grinned and then asked nonchalantly, “Lysander, he’s that short, fat Gryffindor kid in your year?”
Martha giggled. “Well, two out of four right, Sirius. He shot up over the summer, got himself a decent broom and now wants to try out for the team, so I said I’d help.”
Sirius grunted something incomprehensible. “Have fun,” he said rather abruptly and began to walk away. Then he turned back and smiled. “Sorry, I really have to get going or, cousin or not, Fabian will hex me.”
Martha blew him a kiss and Sirius suddenly felt a whole lot better.
Pelting along the corridors and skidding around the corners, he managed to arrive only five minutes late. “Sorry, sir,” Sirius called loudly as he strolled in, his hands in his pockets. He winked at Fabian Prewett who was in the process of correcting Sonia’s wand grip. Prewett did not wink back.
Sirius sauntered to the back of the class to where James and Peter were standing. “Where’s Moony?” he whispered.
Peter pointed to Mary and Sirius saw Remus standing next to her. “We’re in pairs. None of the girls wanted to go with Snivelly, so Remus joined them.”
“Non- verbal spells, as I was saying before I was interrupted are useful, why?” Professor Prewett asked the class. A few hands were raised; Snape’s being the first in the air.
Sirius snorted. “Typical, sucking up to the new teacher.”
Prewett pointed to Snape. “Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you’re about to perform, so you have a split-second advantage,” Snape replied.
Professor Prewett smiled broadly. “Excellent answer, Mr Snape. Almost textbook. Five points for Slytherin.” He looked around the room. “Right, in your pairs, I want you to disarm each other without speaking. No cheating, mind. I don’t want to see your lips move. If you can’t do it, then don’t worry. It is only a first attempt. You have a problem, Black?”
“Not really, sir. I don’t have a partner, so I’ll work in a three,” Sirius said moving closer to James and Peter.
“Mr Snape doesn’t have a partner, you can work with him,” replied the professor mildly, ignoring the gasp that emanated from the class. Snape glared at the professor and Sirius scowled.
“This should be fun,” he muttered to James as he walked forwards.
“Sir,” Lily spoke out suddenly. “I “ I really don’t think...”
Professor Prewett turned around to her, a curiously blank expression on his face. “I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about Miss Evans,” he replied evenly. “From what I’ve heard, Mr Snape and Mr Black are very well matched.” He watched as Sirius squared up to Snape and then spoke to the whole class. “Okay, you are to try and disarm your partner using a non-verbal spell only. Take it in turns. The one on the receiving end can cast any protective methods they can think of “ again non-verbally.”
Sirius could see Snape watching him with utmost loathing on his face. Go on, Snivelly. Do your worst, he thought as he stared into the Slytherin boy’s eyes. He saw Snape’s hand twitch and instinctively ducked as a jet of light hurtled towards him. Merlin, he’s quick.
“Excellent work, Mr Snape,” called Professor Prewett from the back of the classroom where he was helping Peter get up from the floor. “I said protective spells, Black; ducking won’t work forever, although ...” He paused and smiled slightly at Sirius, “...your reflexes are good.”
Sirius turned back to Snape. Petrificus Totalis! he thought, hoping that Snape would soon be bound tight on the ground, but his opponent was too quick and the protective spell cast, caused the hex to be little more than a judder in the air. He could see Snape looking at him intently, a slight smile playing on his lips. What the hell does he have in store? His eyes left Snape’s face and watched his wrist. It flicked slightly, and this time Sirius was ready; his shield charm held.
“Your lips moved, Black!” said a voice behind him. Another Slytherin, the girl from Potions, smirked at him.
“Rubbish!” he retorted, refusing to let her rile him. “Your boyfriend just can’t beat me, Flint.”
Shirley Flint pulled a face and went back to trying to hex her friend. Sirius turned back to Snape. He noticed Snape’s eyes boring into him and a spell swam before his eyes. Tarrantellegra! he thought, but Snape smirked and easily deflected the hex.
“Okay, take a break,” called Prewett. He walked to the front of the class. “I still see a lot of muttered curses. The trick is to concentrate your mind. Focus on the spell, your wand and the person you’re hexing.” He turned to Sirius. “I’ve been watching you, and clearly the non-verbal part of this isn’t a problem, but you’re giving yourself away, somehow, and your opponent is anticipating your actions.
“Non-verbal spells can be an essential part of your armoury,” he continued. “But you cannot rely on them entirely. It is better that you build up your knowledge so you can deal with any situation. Thinking on your feet and adapting may well save your life.” He turned back to Sirius and Snape. “Try again.”
The words had barely escaped his lips when Snape thrust his wand outwards. Sirius did not have time to cast a shield or and hex before he found himself hoist by his ankle in the air. His robes flapped over his face and he could hear Sonia cackle. “Nice underpants, Sirius, darling,” she called.
“At least they’re new,” he replied through a mouthful of cloth. He lifted his robes off his face to see James torn between laughter and sympathy. “Hey, Lily, Mary, enjoying the view?”
“Nice one, Mr Snape,” declared the professor. “Now let him down.”
Snape flicked his wand casually, and Sirius came crashing down. There was a crack as his head hit the floor. “Bloody hell,” he said rubbing the top of his head. He was no longer laughing. “That was deliberate, you slimy bastard.” He tried to stand up but his legs buckled beneath him.
“Oops, my wand slipped,” Snape replied looking Sirius straight in the eye. He glanced at Fabian Prewett who was watching them both with narrowed eyes. He walked over to Sirius and began to feel his head. Sirius winced as the professor’s fingers touched a bump that was already forming.
“Miss Evans,” Professor Prewett said at last, “perhaps you’d take Sirius to the hospital wing and explain what happened.” He hoisted Sirius up and Lily put her arm around him.
“Hey, I’ve pulled. Prongs, look,” said Sirius woozily, “I’ve cracked it. Sorry, mate, she’s all over me.”
He began to sway again and James darted forwards from the back of the class. “I’ll take him, sir,” he said firmly.
“Now, now, Prongs. Better man won,” slurred Sirius. “I don’t think Lily wants to let me go. Lily darling, you must keep your hands to yourself, or Martha will get upset.”
Lily sighed. “You’re a fool, Sirius Black. Sir, I’m not sure I can take his weight.”
“Take Potter with you, then,” replied Prewett. “Miss Slattery, pair up with Pettigrew, will you? Snape, you can sit out for a while. Potter...” Professor Prewett turned his gaze to the three of them. “Don’t use magic to get him there. It might cause more harm. Miss Evans, I’m relying on you.”
Sirius felt rather than saw James put an arm under his shoulders. “You could stay, Lily,” Sirius said as he turned his head around. “I can see two of Prongs, so that should be enough. Although ... then you’d be stuck with Snivellus and that would be horrible.”
Snorting with laughter, James tightened his grip and dragged him out of the room. Lily glanced around the room; her eyes briefly met Snape’s and then she clutched Sirius’ other arm and walked with them.
Somehow, the three of them made it along the corridors and up the moving staircases with only a few stumbles. Sirius at one point decided he wanted to sing a rather bawdy song about goblins, but Lily managed to persuade him that it really wasn’t a good idea, especially as they were currently outside Professor McGonagall’s classroom.
“She might enjoy it, livy loly...err...I mean lovy ...” he shook his head and winced. “What do I mean?”
“Lovely Lily, I think that’s what you’re trying to say, Padfoot,” remarked James. He looked across at Lily who was suppressing a grin. “The crack to his skull seems to have turned him into some would-be Romeo.”
They stopped and leant against a wall. Sirius slid to the ground and held his head in his hands. James and Lily stood over him.
“I’m not sure whether to be insulted or not,” Lily mused. “Sirius Black can only call me lovely when rendered insensible.” She flashed James a smile but he didn’t notice.
“Sirius,” he said as he knelt down by his side and snapped his fingers. Sirius didn’t respond. “Padfoot! Wake up!”
Lily, catching the urgency of James’ tone, bent down and peered into Sirius’ glassy eyes. “Merlin, when I said insensible, I didn’t mean it.” Straightening up, she continued, “I’ll go and get Madam Pomfrey.”
“No,” replied James. “It’ll be quicker if we take him. Look, we could levitate him between us and then he won’t be a dead weight.”
“But Professor Prewett said we weren’t to use magic,” she reposted. “It could make him worse.”
“How do you think Madam Pomfrey escorts people to the hospital?” James replied impatiently. “The number of times I’ve been hit with a Bludger, and ended up there. She levitates us on stretchers.” He looked down at Sirius again.”We just need to make him a bit lighter, that’s all.” He got out his wand and muttered something under his breath. Instantly, Sirius floated upwards, his chin lolling on his chest. He mumbled something and James, relieved his friend was now talking, grasped him around the waist. “Look, go if you want. I’ve got him and I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble, Evans,” he said, a slightly scathing note in his voice.
“Oh, shut-up, Potter,” she snapped. “I’ll have to come along now, to make sure you don’t decide to do something really stupid.” She grasped Sirius other arm and began to walk along the corridor. “If I left it to you, you’d probably decide to float him up to the girls’ dormitories or something.”
James laughed. “Don’t think we haven’t tried. There’s some sort of enchantment on the windows as well.”
“James Potter!” she exclaimed and dropped Sirius’ arm. James loosened his grip in alarm at the tone in her voice. Sirius started floating towards a flaming torch; his hair began to singe just as James grabbed him back. “That’s disgusting,” she continued, her voice sounding shrill. “Don’t we deserve any privacy?”
“We were first years, Evans,” he said defensively as he tried to hold Sirius away from the flames. “We were only interested in your chocolate supplies, not your ... erm ... other things.” He snorted slightly.
Slightly mollified, she took Sirius’ arm again and the three of them “ two walking and one bobbing “ walked up the staircases to Madam Pomfrey.
“So what happened then?” Lily asked finally. “To the windows, I mean.”
“Oh.” James grinned broadly. “Well, we’d broken into the broom store and I’d flown up with Mr Floaty here. Peter was on the grass; he couldn’t fly that well at the time.” He paused, frowning in concentration. “I don’t think Remus was there. He must have been ... well, that’s not important ... Sirius got as high as one of the windows. He was hovering so I joined him and we decided to fly closer.” He chuckled at the memory. “And then, suddenly, this enormous pigeon flew at him. He swerved, bumped into me and we both careered towards the windowpane. But before we could crash, we hit some kind of invisible wall and slid to the grass. So, we ended up with a few cuts and bruises and were no nearer to discovering your secret stash of sweets.”
They stopped at the door of the hospital wing. James produced his wand and gently released Sirius from the spell. Sirius grunted something as he slumped in James’ arms.
“You wouldn’t have discovered much anyway,” replied Lily casually. “We all have very good hiding places. Nothing as easy as a loose floorboard next to the fireplace.”
James turned his head to her. “How do you know about that?”
She snorted. “Really, Potter. I would have thought you’d worked us Gee-Gees out by now. We got into your dorm the first term we were here. Where did you think your Chocolate Frogs had gone?”
Sirius had broken his skull. It was a small hairline fracture on the crown, which Madam Pomfrey healed in a trice, but she told both James and Lily that she wanted to keep him in for the night. They walked back together, but without the Sirius-shaped buttress that had been between them, James found that he was tongue-tied. “How did you know they were my Chocolate Frogs?” he said at last as they were walking down their second flight of steps.
“What?” Lily looked puzzled. “Oh, your chocolate stash. You came to this school already obsessed with Quidditch “ I understand why now, having met your dad “ and as well as your sweets, you also had a Quidditch magazine in your hidey-hole.” She stopped walking and smiled as she remembered something. “You were so cross when you’d discovered they’d gone, weren’t you? I can remember you sulking at the dinner table and refusing to talk to the others. Actually, we felt a bit guilty then, until Phyll reminded us that the week before you’d turned Mary’s hair green.”
James grinned. “I think I was aiming for you, actually, but you ducked. So, in a way, Evans, it was your fault and you owe me twenty Chocolate Frogs.”
They stopped in the corridor as a group of first year boys ran past them.
“Slow down,” Lily ordered. They slowed but as soon as they turned the corner, James could hear them break into a run.
“That must mean classes are over,” he said, hiding a grin as he watched Lily frown. “Might as well head straight back to the common room. I’m sure the others will bring our things.”
Lily acquiesced and they walked back to the tower in silence for a while. “How’s your mum?” Lily asked at last.
James lifted his head up from the shoes he’d been scuffing on the floor.
“She’s fine. I forgot, actually, she sent me a package, first day back and asked after you,” he replied. They reached the staircase that led to the Tower. James hesitated at the top, and Lily slowed her pace too. “Mum’s asked me to ask you something, but I ... umm ... It’s a bit awkward, so ...” He shook his head.
“Oh, come on, Potter “ out with it,” Lily said impatiently.
“Mum,” he said hesitantly, “has a bit of an obsession with Muggle-borns.” He paused before continuing quickly, “She’d like to research your family tree and wanted me to ask you if you’d send her some details of your family and stuff. I totally understand if you don’t want to... I realise my mum’s a bit of a nutcase on this subject and I’d hate you to think that she’s singling you out “ although, she is singling you out, but it’s not because she looks down on you, because she doesn’t. None of us do --”
Lily laughed. “Potter, stop babbling. I know about your mum’s hobby. Your dad told me all about it when we met.”
“And you don’t mind?” James asked anxiously.
“No, I think it’s great. Wow! Your mum might find out I’ve some really cool ancestor like Dilys Derwent, or something.”
James heaved a sigh of relief and then laughed. “Only you would think Dilys Derwent is cool. I think it’s more likely, ‘cause you’re good at Charms, that your Magical ancestor’s Wendelin the Weird.” He ducked away from her outstretched palm and dashed down the stairs to the Portrait Hall. Lily ran after him, but she was laughing.
In the hospital wing, Sirius woke to see a figure sitting by his bed. He shifted his head slightly and winced. Despite Madam Pomfrey’s care, he still had one hell of a headache.
“Hi, Sirius,” said Fabian softly. “How’s the head?”
“Fine,” he croaked. “I’ve had worse.” Sirius tried to lever himself up into a sitting position so he could look at his Professor and cousin. “Why are you here?”
“Checking to see how my student is,” replied Fabian casually. He fiddled with his wand. “It doesn’t look particularly good that in my first class with your year, someone ends up in hospital.”
Sirius waved a hand airily. “This is nothing. Remus ended up in hospital last year in the first five minutes of the Charms lesson. I’d summoned a book and it hit him right in the --”
“Enough of that, Black,” declared Madam Pomfrey as she entered the room. She was carrying a tray of food. “I think you’re well enough to eat now. Professor Prewett, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t keep him talking too long.”
“Just a few more minutes, and then I’ll leave,” replied Fabian. He caught her eye and Sirius noticed a look flash between them. Madame Pomfrey smiled back, a faint blush suffusing her cheeks, and then retired to her office.
“You’re a fast worker,” muttered Sirius. “You’ve been here less than a week and already ...” He stopped, unsure how far he could push this man, who was after all his teacher.
Fabian grinned at him. “I’ve known Poppy Pomfrey a long time, Sirius.” He paused and smiled at something. “Anyway, I’m not here to talk about her. I’m here to see you, cousin.”
Sirius sat upright, ignoring the pain in his head. Fabian calling him cousin changed their dynamic dramatically. No longer professor and pupil, they were family.
“I was warned by your Head of House that I could expect trouble between you, your friends and the Slytherins. I think that was a fair assumption on her part, yes?”
Sirius nodded. “Yeah, we’re not exactly bosom buddies “ any of us. Did you pair me up with Snape deliberately?”
Fabian considered the question. “Not exactly. I could see how reluctant the girls were to partner him, and I wondered why. I’d heard you were well matched, so didn’t think there’d be any harm in you two sparring in my classroom where I could watch.”
Sirius raised one eyebrow. “Well, you got that wrong!”
Fabian chuckled ruefully. “Yep, I messed up there all right. You were clearly not well matched.”
“I can beat that slime ball any day,” Sirius retorted angrily. “He was lucky, that’s all.”
Fabian looked around and then leant in. “It wasn’t luck, Sirius. You failed to disarm him. And you only protected yourself once ...”
Sirius frowned. It had been unusual. Last term, he could hex Snivellus easily, but this morning...
“What did he have that I didn’t?” he asked at last.
“What happened just before you cast your Shield Charm?” Fabian asked, his eyes penetrating.
Sirius thought back. “I was watching his face, to see if he’d cheat and move his lips, and then I looked at his wrist for some reason. It flicked, and so I knew he’d just thrown a hex.”
“And what about when you were trying to hex him?” persisted Fabian.
Sirius closed his eyes. “I tried to do Tarrantellegra, and I could see it clearly in my mind, but ... well ... he blocked me.” Sirius shrugged. “He got lucky.”
“Or perhaps he know exactly what you were going to do,” Fabian stated. “Come on, Sirius. Put it together. After all, this particular branch of magic was a speciality of your father’s, I believe.”
Sirius gasped. “Legilimency! He used that on me. What the ... Merlin, how the hell does Snivelly know Legilimency?”
Fabian sighed. He stood up, helped himself to a few of the chips on Sirius’ dinner plate and then spoke. “I have no idea, but he’s good, Sirius. I think you need to watch your step around him.”
Stealing another chip, Fabian walked towards the door. “I better go and let you ... uh ... rest,” he said winking. Sirius looked puzzled, but then smiled as Fabian let Martha into the room.
“Hello,” she said as she sat on the side of the bed. “I didn’t bring you anything, I’m afraid. James said you were unconscious so I didn’t really expect you to be awake.”
Yet, she came anyway, he thought. “How was your Quidditch practise?” he asked as he ruffled her hair.
“Not bad. Lysander’s a bit of a prat, but he’s a good flyer,” she replied.
Sirius smirked inwardly. “Thanks for coming.”
“Shit! So he’s broken his skull!” exclaimed Remus at lunch. “Is he going to be okay?”
James shrugged. “He’ll be fine; Madam Pomfrey will sort him out “ and knowing Padfoot he’ll make the most of it.” He leant over and helped himself to more bread. Lily sitting further up the table was talking to Sonia when she looked up. He smiled at her, but she looked away. He heard Peter muttering something in his ear.
“What?” James said in exasperation
“I was just wondering whether Padfoot will be okay for tomorrow,” Peter whispered. “Full moon and all that.”
“Oh.” James looked across at Remus apologetically. “Sorry, I hadn’t realised.” He lowered his voice. “We’ll be there for you, Moony, all right.”
Remus gnawed at his lip. “Not if it’s going to be a problem. I doubt you could keep me in check me by yourselves.”
“What are you three looking so conspiratorial about?” asked Mary. She squeezed in-between Remus and Peter and ran her hand through Remus’ hair. He grinned, slightly bashfully at the others and then pecked her on the cheek.
“Nothing much. We’re just wondering whether to visit Sirius,” Remus replied smoothly. “He’s probably bored out of his cracked skull.”
Mary laughed. “I don’t think so, somehow. My sister went to visit him about half an hour ago, and she’s not back yet. She’s keeping a vigil in the hope he’ll ask her to Hogsmeade next weekend,” she said meaningfully as she looked sideways at Remus.
Whilst Remus spluttered out a reply, (because of course he was planning to ask her, but he hadn’t realised when the next Hogsmeade weekend was), James glanced across at Lily. He opened his mouth, ready to shout the usual, ‘Fancy a date, Evans!’, but then he stopped.
I need to catch her alone, he thought.
Peter nudged him and James looked back to see Remus looking uncomfortable. “I think,” Remus said, “that we need to go and disturb Padfoot. See you later.” As he stood up, he gave Mary a quick squeeze on the arm, but walked out quickly. Peter followed and after gulping down the last of his drink, James did too.
“I did warn you, Mary,” he heard Sonia say. “Their friends will always take priority.”
He caught up with Remus and Peter who were waiting at the bottom of the staircase. “What’s the problem? I don’t think Padfoot will want us interrupting.”
Remus was silent. He started walking up the staircase, but halted when he reached the trick step. He looked around but there was no one in earshot. “Mary was talking about the Hogsmeade weekends and hoping there was going to be one on her birthday “ the twenty-ninth of November.” He paused. Peter started to say something, but James kicked his leg, knowing that Remus needed a few moments to collect his thoughts. “It’s her coming of age, so obviously she wants it to be special, but ... oh dear God ... that’s the night of the full moon. How the hell am I going to explain that?”