i really loved him

chapter 14

Monday, 8th September, 14:37 – On their way to Transfiguration, the final class of the day, James thought to ask Sirius if he wanted to attend the unofficial afterschool quidditch session. He deliberately left out the detail that Regulus was going to be there, meaning to mention that part later, but Sirius shook his head all the same.

"Can't," he said apologetically. "Mr. Moony's helping me with that Defence essay on blasting spells."

"I checked the notes you gave me this morning," Remus told him. "Sirius, drawing pictures of explosions doesn't count as note-taking."

"This is why you should just let me copy yours!"

"Then you wouldn't learn."

Sirius rolled his eyes.

"That's the idea."

Once they'd sat down at their usual desks on the back row, Mary turned around in her chair.

"Were you lot talking about the Defence essay?" she asked, and they nodded. "It's a right pain in the arse! I haven't even started yet. Would you boys mind if I joined you later, if you're going to work on it?"

Sirius smirked and leant an elbow on the back of his chair, opening his mouth to speak. But Remus beat him to it.

"Yeah, if you want," he shrugged.

"Thanks!" Mary smiled and turned back to face the front. Sirius looked affronted.

"That's enough!" Professor McGonagall called, and the class settled quickly into silence. "You will need page sixty-one of 'Intermediate Transfiguration' for today's lesson."

She continued over the rummaging of bags.

"Over the rest of this year, we will study Vanishing Charms intermittently amongst our other topics, as it is one of the most complicated spells that will be required in your O.W.L. This charm provides a method of sending objects into the non-being, which is to say, everything. So, naturally, it comes with a multitude of risks. Any misbehaviour will not be tolerated!"

James could have sworn McGonagall glared over at them when she said that.

After a tedious safety lecture, she demonstrated the charm and taught them the incantation. Then, she set them off practising on snails to begin with.

"I do not necessarily expect you to achieve results this lesson," McGonagall announced, patrolling up and down the aisle to inspect as students started to attempt the spell. "In the eventual exam, you will be expected to completely vanish a kitten, but for now, I would prefer you all focus on perfecting the movement and build up from— I said vanish, McKinnon, not levitate!"

"Sorry, Professor!"

By the end of the lesson, James had managed to successfully vanish his snail, and was only mildly offended when McGonagall made him empty his pockets to ensure he hadn't hidden it instead. When satisfied, she gave a curt nod.

"Well done, Mr. Potter," she said shortly. "Take five points."

"Cheers, Minnie! Y'know, it's really reassuring to know how much you trust—"

"Potter."

"Yup, sorry."

15:54 – Regulus was already on the pitch when James arrived, despite his having dashed back to the dorm to fetch his broom and kit the moment McGonagall dismissed them.

"You're late, Potter!"

"Bollocks," James panted as he jogged over. "Don't tell me you got here early just so you could say that."