Even though it's the start of our fifth year, it's noticeably harder than our previous years. Every professor reminds us of how important our O.W.L's are, and that we need to study a lot. It's getting annoying.
The marauders however, surprise surprise, don't care. Well, except Remus.
They see it as regular tests that we have at the end of our year and nothing more. Even though me and Remus are trying to make them understand that it's important to get good marks, they don't listen.
Kind of expected.
Lily on the other hand is stressing and studying all the time. She is taking all of this a little too seriously. Honestly, I'm worried about her. And it's only the start of the year! I try to remind her to rest and not to worry so much, but it's useless.
"It's a simple spell, but requires concertation." Professor McGonagall points out as she walks around the classroom and watches as we try to transform our rabbits to top hats.
I'm not the best at transfiguration. I mean, I always get the spells done but some of them take a lot of practice.
James on the other hand, he's very good at transfiguration. He learns the spells almost instantly and is at the top of this class.
The rabbit in front of me sniffs the air around himself and curiously looks around.
"This is easy." Says bored James who's sitting next to me. Again, like last year. He is slouching back in his seat and is twirling his wand between his fingers.
"If it's so easy then do it." I challenge him and nod towards the rabbit in front of him. Actually, I regret saying that. He will probably manage to do it.
He gives me a smirk and mutters the spell while pointing his wand towards the rabbit. Within seconds the rabbit transforms into a top hat. Great.
My rabbit looks confused at the hat that was a rabbit just a second ago. I wonder what he's thinking.
"Like I said, easy." He states with a smug look on his face. I roll my eyes at him.
"Why don't you do it." He suggests pointing his wand towards my rabbit.
"Fine." I shrug.
I sit up straighter and clear up my throat. Come on Y/N, it's not that hard. You can do it.
I say the spell and do the wand movement and wait a second. Nothing. I furrow my eyebrows and give it another try. The rabbit transforms into a top hat but still has bunny ears.
I sigh and James starts laughing at me.
"Yet again I beat the excellent student Y/N at transfiguration. I mean, we all know how good I am." James boasts leaning one of his elbows on the table to look at me.
I scoff. "You just have a good wand for transfiguration. McGonagall said it herself."
James smirks "And you're just salty. I have good skills, admit it."
"Pff, you and having good skills, as if." I say in a joking tone.
James looks at me offended. "I don't know what you are talking about. I have lots of skills, I can show you."
"Huh? What did you say?" I raise my eyebrow at him with a smirk.
His eyes widen for a second "What! I didn't mean it like that! You're the one who's making this sound something else, not me." He defends.
I snort "Merlin, didn't know you would get this defensive." James just rolls his eyes at me.
The thing is â James likes to tease or flirt with me. But he was so used to me getting flustered or not saying anything back. Of course, he wasn't expecting that now I tease or flirt back. But he loves it a little too much.
He gets up from his position and leans closer to me. Skeptical, I lean back. He grabs my shoulder with his left arm.
He leans towards me and whispers "I mean, if you want to see my other skills..."
I gasp and turn to face him, which is a mistake. Our faces are now only inches apart. I quickly pull back feeling my face get hot.
"James, what the fu-"
"Excellent job Mr. Potter, fifteen points to Gryffindor." McGonagall praises as she reaches our table.
James winks at me and turns to the professor. "Ah, thanks Minnie. You know I love transfiguration." James grins at her.
"That nickname will cost you house points if you don't stop." McGonagall warns him.
"But you love it!" McGonagall ignores James and turns to look at my rabbit-hat.
I give her an uncertain smile. "Just needs a bit practice." She gives me a nod and continues walking. At least she was nice about it.
"Why is she always so nice to you?" James questions staring at McGonagall who is walking away.
"Because, I'm one of the best students." I boast. James gives me an unimpressed look and mumbles a 'whatever'.
The class is dismissed and we start grabbing our stuff and walk out of the classroom. Sirius, Remus and Peter are waiting for us outside.
"You know, as someone who doesn't support school and studying. You two need to focus more on the studying and less on yourselves." Sirius expresses casually as we start walking.
I choke on my spit. "What?"
"But I can't take my eyes off of her pretty face Padfoot! How am I meant to study?" James fake swoons over me.
"He needs to stop acting like a horny teenager." I point out.
Sirius looks at Remus and Peter. They stay quiet for a second but burst out laughing.
"A horny teenager?" Sirius chokes out between laughs. "Prongs, don't scare our dear Y/N too much."
James raises his hands in defense "In my defense, she started it."
"You're all stupid." I point out turning to take the stairs up towards the Gryffindor tower.
"Where are you going Y/N?" Remus asks seeing me turn to a different direction.
"Too much stupidity for me today. I'm going to the common room." I explain.
"But we always go to the lake after school." James frowns.
"Yeah, you better come with us or I'm going to write to your mother and tell her that you stay inside on beautiful autumn days." Sirius warns me.
"Okay whatever, I'll come with you. But only because you're probably going to do something stupid." I give in and turn back to them.
"What? We would never." Sirius looks at James.
As we turn the corner to exit the castle someone bumps into me. That someone being Snape. Before I can even say anything, the group behind me decides to speak up.
"Hey Snivelus, watch where you're going!" Snaps James.
"Came back for another hex?" Sirius taunted.
Snape glares at them and walks past me. Doing so he harshly bumped into my shoulder.
James saw that and extended his leg out when Snape was about to pass him. The boy didn't see James's leg and tripped over it.
"Uh-oh, better look where you're going." James mocks him.
"Nice one James!" Sirius laughs.
I frown. If I never really liked Snape, then why do I feel sorry for him? Have we gone too far with teasing him?
-
Me and Remus are sitting against a tree while James, Sirius and Peter are at the edge of the lake. They're laughing and pointing at something in the water.
"Is something bothering you?" Remus asks while looking at my zoned-out face.
I whip my head towards him "Hm? No, what gives you that impression?" I brush it off. He shrugs "You've just been quiet and zoning out. Seems like something is bothering you."
I pause for a moment "Remus, do you think that we have taken things with Snape a little too far?"
He stays quiet for a moment and thinks about the question. "Well, you know that I'm not always in for the teasing and bullying thing, even though I do participate sometimes. But I do feel that maybe it's a little too much for Snape." He replies honestly.
"That's what I'm thinking." I nod in agreement. "It just feels a little too much from time to time." Remus nods.
"Oi, Moony Y/N!" James calls.
He runs up to us and holds out three robes. I give him a confused look "What am I supposed to do with them? Put them back on, it's not that warm."
"They're getting in the way." He explains.
I glance at his hands. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. "Your sleeves-" I begin to say.
"I'm not going to catch a cold from rolled up sleeves. Now catch!" He throws the robes at me and runs back towards Peter and Sirius.
"They're going to get sick." I sigh. "Probably." Remus hums in agreement.
"So, any new dreams?" Remus questions. I shake my head "A few, but there haven't been any for a while now. That probably means I'm going to have one soon."
Our conversation gets cut off by a splash and laughter.
I look towards the lake and see James in the water, while Peter and Sirius laugh at him, still on the land.
"You've got to be kidding me." I mumble and start looking for my wand.
"I'm not surprised, I expected it." Remus sighs.
There's another splash and I quickly look up. Sirius and Peter are now also in the water and James is laughing at them.
Me and Remus walk down to the lake while the boys get out of the water.
"What the bloody hell are you three doing?" I question the three of them.
"You know, just hanging." Peter laughs.
"Hey Y/N, give me a hug." James starts slowly walking towards me.
He's completely trenched in water. His white shirt has clung to his body and has become sort of see-through. His hair is wet and messy, sticking to his forehead.
"James, no. Don't even try anything." I warn him and take some steps back.
"Oh come on, just one little hug."
Hello guys!
Sorry, I took a break because me and my sister got sick pretty badly. We're fine now, but there's been a lot of schoolwork I had to catch up on. But I should be able to update more now!
Also thank you for 14.8k reads and 370 votes! And for all of your comments, they really make my day.
Oh and:
Saw this one day and I'm super thankful for all of you, love you all<33
Edited 7/19/2022