Marauders Year 1: Rule the School

Chapter 8: Padfoot, Detention with Minnie

James had just come back from detention with McGonagall and I knew it was my turn next. 

          "How'd it go, Jamie?" I whisper to him as he passes. 

          "Not bad. Just give her a witty comeback and I think she'll let it slide."

I nod mutely. You can't really blame me for wanting advice. After all, this is my first detention. Mother would be horrified. Not like she's any less horrified with me for being in Gryffindor and not Slytherin. 

I debate with myself for a moment. 

Grand or humble? 

I decide on grand. 

Throwing the doors open with as much panache as I can muster, I saunter into the Transfiguration classroom like some celebrity touring his new manor. 

I conjure the wooden stool in front of McGonagall's desk into a soft leather-backed armchair and plopped down in it, swinging my legs up and tilting my chair just enough that I could get my feet onto her desk wile still being able to see her. 

She looked absolutely shocked-not an expression, I daresay, that she would often be caught wearing. I put on my most bored facade. 

(See, living in the Black household does have its perks. Like, for example, you can use the Black Family name to threaten people who you don't like for any reason whatsoever. You also learn to mask your true feelings from a very young age. Partly because my mad mother had a tendency for Cruciatus Curses should we cry or do anything so "weak.")

           "Well. Erm....Mr. Black. That was an impressive bit of Transfiguration there. It is greatly appreciated in this classroom."

I nod and stare with half-lidded eyes. 

She looks slightly put out from the lack of verbal response but continues anyway. 

           "I assume you know why you are here tonight. Hanging Professor Sprout's mandrake from the ceiling of the Greenhouses is not the best way for a student in my House to start the year with. Pranksters have their advantages but teacher appreciation is not one of them. I recommend you do not try anything so radical again. Now, your detention will be to write," she coughs a little like it's embarrassing. "'Professor Sprout's Mandrake Root has Feelings too,' requested by Professor Pomona Sprout herself."

I smirk, allowing a small chortle to escape my lips. Even McGonagall's lips twitch into a slight smile before she too puts her facade down. She hands me a sheet of parchment. 

Unfortunately, at the end of one hour, 

Professor Sprout's Mandrake Root has Feelings too. 

turned into

Sprout's Stupid Mandrake sounds like a bloody banshee. 

When Sprout came in the collect my sheet, she was....less than amused.