Moonlit Bonds: The Tale of Moony and Snowy

Chapter 131 - The Grind of N.E.W.T. Preparations

As the cold winds of March began to soften into the milder breezes of April, the Marauders found themselves buried under a mountain of books and parchments. The library at Hogwarts became their second home, with its ancient tomes and whispering ghosts offering both a sanctuary for study and a backdrop for their relentless preparations for the N.E.W.T. exams.

One afternoon, in a secluded corner of the library, James, Sirius, and Peter were hunched over a large table littered with open books on Advanced Transfiguration and Complex Charms. The air was thick with concentration, only broken by the occasional mutter of incantations or the scratch of quill on parchment.

"Okay, so if I adjust the wrist movement like McGonagall showed us," James murmured, demonstrating with his wand, "it should make the transformation smoother, right?"

Sirius, who was practicing a particularly tricky charm, looked up, frustration evident on his face. "I don't get why mine keeps backfiring. It turned that teacup into a turtle instead of a teapot."

Peter, ever the anxious one, fretted over his notes. "I read somewhere that emotional state can affect spell performance. Maybe you're too tense."

Sirius shot him a dry look. "Thank you, Professor Pettigrew. Very helpful."

Across the room, Remus and Eliza were engrossed in a dense tome on Potion-making. Eliza's brows were furrowed in concentration as she traced a line in the book. "This says that adding the lacewing flies too early can cause the Draught of Peace to become volatile."

Remus, looking equally perplexed, nodded. "Let's try adjusting the brewing time in our next practice session. Snape's been on my case about getting this perfect."

Their intense study session was interrupted by the arrival of Lily Evans, who approached with a stack of her own books. She greeted them warmly, particularly James, who immediately brightened at her presence.

"James, I think I found a reference that could help with your Animagus form," Lily said, handing him a particularly old-looking book.

James, flustered but eager, took the book gratefully. "Thanks, Lily! I—uh—really appreciate it."

Eliza watched the exchange with a knowing smile, then turned her attention back to Remus. "How are you feeling about Defense Against the Dark Arts? The practical exam is supposed to be brutal this year."

Remus sighed, rubbing his temples. "I feel good about the theory, but the practical could be anything. We should set up some practice duels—maybe ask Sirius and James to join?"

As the day wore on, the group continued their studies, occasionally breaking for a quick walk around the lake or a cup of tea in the common room. Despite the pressure, they managed to find moments of laughter and camaraderie, which lightened the mood and strengthened their resolve.

During one such break, Sirius pulled Eliza aside, his expression serious. "You're holding up okay with all this studying?" he asked, his protective nature always at the forefront.

Eliza nodded, squeezing his hand. "I'm managing. It's hard, but having you all here with me makes it bearable."

Sirius smiled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Just remember, Eliza, you're not alone in this. We're all in it together."

The evening concluded with the group feeling cautiously optimistic about their progress. They returned to the Gryffindor common room, where the fire crackled invitingly and their fellow housemates were engaged in less scholarly pursuits.

James clapped his hands together, rallying the group. "Alright, team, let's call it a night. We've done what we can today. Tomorrow, we tackle those N.E.W.T.s with fresh eyes."

As they dispersed to their respective dormitories, the bonds of friendship that tied the Marauders and Eliza together felt stronger than ever. They knew the challenges ahead were daunting, but together, they felt invincible, ready to face whatever their final year at Hogwarts threw their way.