eloquence | sirius black ✓

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

BREAKING TIES

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Sunshine was streaming through the high windows on to the bent heads, which shone chestnut and copper and gold in the bright light.

       "Five more minutes!"

       The voice made James jump. Turning, he saw Professor Flitwick's head moving between the desks a short distance away. Professor Flitwick was walking past him.

       James yawned and rumpled up his hair, making it even messier than it had been. Then, with a glance towards Professor Flitwick, he turned in his seat and grinned at Sirius.

       Sirius gave James a thumbs-up. Sirius was lounging in his chair at his ease, tilting it back on two legs. A girl sitting behind him was eyeing him hopefully, though he didn't seem to have noticed. And two seats along from the girl — was Remus. He looked rather pale and peaky and was absorbed in the exam; he reread his answers, scratching his chin with the end of his quill, frowning.

       Lily, James thought with a sigh as he absent-mindedly drew an L.E. on his paper.

       "Quills down, please!" squeaked Professor Flitwick. That means you too, Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!"

       Over a hundred rolls of parchment zoomed into the air and into Professor Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backwards off his feet. Several people laughed. A couple of students at the front desks got up, took hold of Professor Flitwick beneath the elbows and lifted him back on to his feet.

       "Thank you . . . thank you," panted Professor Flitwick. "Very well, everybody, you're free to go!"

       James hastily crossed out the 'L.E.' he had been doodling, jumped to his feet, stuffed his quill and the exam paper into his bag and stood waiting for Sirius to join him.

       "Did you like question ten, Moony?" asked Sirius as they emerged into the Entrance Hall.

       "Loved it," said Remus. "Give five signs that identify the werewolf. Excellent question."

       "D'you think you managed to get all the signs?" said James in tones of mock concern.

       "Think I did," said Remus seriously, as they joined the crowd thronging around the front doors eager to get out into the sunlit grounds. "One: he's sitting on my chair. Two: he's wearing my clothes. Three: his name's Remus Lupin."

       Peter and Diana was the only ones who didn't laugh. "I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes and the tufted tail," said Peter anxiously, "but I couldn't think what else — "

       "How thick are you, Wormtail?" said James impatiently. "You run round with a werewolf once a month — "

       "Keep your voice down!" exclaimed Diana and Remus at the same time.

       When James and his three friends strode off down the lawn towards the lake, Snape followed, still poring over the exam paper and apparently with no fixed idea of where he was going. "Well, I thought that paper was a piece of cake," said Sirius. "I'll be surprised if I don't get 'Outstanding' on it at least."

"Don't be so cocky," said Diana with a roll of her eyes. Sirius only grinned wider.

       "Me too." said James. He put his hand in his pocket and took out a struggling Golden Snitch.

       "Where'd you get that?'"

       "Nicked it," said James casually. He started playing with the Snitch, allowing it to fly as much as a foot away before seizing it again. Peter watched him in awe as Diana opened her book; beginning to read Gone With the Wind in silence.