Origin Stories - Marauders Era - ATQ Contingency

Chapter 4: Classes

The next morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn, hours before the others. It was around 5 and classes didn't start till 8:30. I decided to go running. Dad and I ran together every morning, no matter what, rain or shine, we always ran. I didn't want to break tradition. There was however, one difference. I decided to go for my run inside. I figured no one would be up yet and that it would be the perfect time to memorise the layout of the castle.

It was 6:15 when I got back to the dorm and still nobody was up yet. I took full advantage of my opportunity and had a long, hot, relaxing shower. I got out at 6:45 - fully dressed and ready - only to find the girls just waking up.

Lily's jaw dropped when she saw me. "How long have you been up?"

I checked my watch. "About one and a half hours."

Alice and Marlene gasped.

"Are you crazy!" Lily exclaimed.

I shrugged. "I'm used to it."

Lily huffed in exasperation.

"Come on," I urged. "We only have two hours till classes start."

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We arrived at breakfast at exactly 7:30.

James, Sirius, Peter and Remus were already down there. Apparently, they had gotten a dorm together. That's going to be interesting.

It wasn't nearly as loud as the night before but there was a certain buzz about the first years that livened up the room. We all chattered away. Wondering what our classes would be like. Worrying that the professors wouldn't like us. James and Sirius didn't seem to be worried. They were laughing and joking around loudly, drawing some glares from the older students.

Then the owls flew in. They circled the the hall until they found their person. Most of the first years received a letter. They were from our parents, all wishing to congratulate us after the Sorting Ceremony. Even Lily got one. Themis flew in and dropped a letter on the table. She had assumed the form of a barn owl. I patted her absentmindedly as she changed into a black cat to sip the milk I'd set out for her. I looked up from the letter to see a number of the other first years staring at me.

"Is that a shapeshifter?" Sirius asked incredulously.

I nodded. "The Thorns have been breeding them for generations."

"I thought your Dad was muggleborn." Remus said.

"Dad decided to take Mum's last name. Something about it being much more cool than 'Bowl'."

Remus nodded in understanding.

Themis, having finished her milk, jumped up, changing into a miniature tiger midair and landing in my palm. The first years gasped as I deposited her in my pocket. I grinned, glad that I was already off to a positive start. Everyone turned back to their letters to read them. My one came in three parts, one each from Mum, Dad and Aunty Em. I smiled as I read about their excitement and mild surprise that I'd gotten into Gryffindor. Aunty Em, who had been a Slytherin, joked about us being rivals now, saying that she would still vouch for Slytherin if she came for Quidditch matches.

I looked up to see that everyone else was smiling. Well, almost everyone. Across from me, Sirius hadn't opened his letter, he was just staring at with a worried expression on his face. When he did eventually open it, he barely gave himself enough time to read the first line before he stood up. He muttered something to James about needing to go the toilet before hurrying out of the Great Hall. Quickly, I stood up to follow him, supplying the same excuse and brushing off Lily's offer to join me.