When Black Met Blue (Marauder Fanfic)

chapter 19 *Edited*

"Mr Black?’"

‘What?’ Sirius asked. James glared over at him.

‘I asked,’ Professor McGonagall repeated curtly, ‘if you might demonstrate.’

‘Oh, er, yeah,’ he said, looking sideways at Peter for help. Peter shrugged. James frowned. Sirius never needed help in Transfiguration, and if he did, Peter was the last one he’d ask. Sirius scrunched up his face and jabbed his umbrella stand with his wand. ‘Alica Phoenicopteri!’ One straggly leg poked out the side, and the stand wobbled before toppling over with a squawk. It was hardly the flamingo McGonagall had been hoping for. The intensity of James’ glare increased. ‘Oops,’ Sirius said, grinning around the chuckling class. 

James caught Remus’ eye, glowering. In the front row, Lily looked a little annoyed. Sirius grinned around at the class, seeming slightly embarrassed, but also pleased with himself. He noticed James looking and winked.

Unable to take it any longer, James pushed away from his desk, scooped his belongings into his bag and stormed out of the classroom, slamming the door behind him. He thundered down the corridor, not really sure where he was going, other than away from Transfiguration. He didn’t care what McGonagall thought at this point. He got good grades, and despite her hard exterior, James suspected she had a soft spot for him and the other Marauders. Besides, he had more important things to worry about, namely Sirius. That git. 

James growled quietly. Next to him, a suit of armour exploded. And another, several metres down the hall. Then another. Doors rattled on their hinges and banners flapped violently in a wind that wasn’t there. 
‘James!’ He turned with clenched fists to glower at Remus, who slipped out of the classroom, closing the door quietly. ‘Prongs?’ he said anxiously. James’ anger drained away at the sight of his friend’s concerned face. The noises and destruction stopped. ‘Prongs, what are you doing?’ 

‘It was an accident,’ James huffed. He hadn’t meant to lose control like that, and he’d made quite a mess. He pulled out his wand. ‘Reparo.’ He glanced at Remus, whose face was impassive. ‘Is Minnie angry?’ he asked in a small voice. Maybe he did care what she thought. But only a little bit.

Remus twisted his mouth. ‘A little. I- er... I’ve got a note here saying we’ll be late to Charms... McGonagall...er... well, she told me to take you to the Hospital Wing.’

‘I’m not going,’ James growled.

Remus’ chocolate eyes scanned his face. ‘I think a potion to calm you down might be a good idea,’ he said finally.

‘No!’ James snapped, aiming a kick at the newly repaired suit of armour. Remus flinched. ‘And don’t you look at me like that, Moony! I’m not unstable!’ Students were beginning to join them in the previously empty hall.

Remus eyed the other students and made a shushing gesture. ‘I never said you were-’

‘You were thinking it!’ James said sudenlly. Remus grimaced, smiling apologetically at Professor Flitwick who was passing by. ‘It’s not me!’ James insisted. His face contorted and he balled his hands up. The invisible wind blew again, knocking the littler Charms professor over. Remus sighed and towed him over to the side of the hall, where they were out of the way. James succumbed with ill-grace. ‘It’s not me,’ he said again. ‘It’s that stupid git!’ James flung a hand out to point at Sirius who was leaving the Transfiguration room with Orla, Lily and Peter. 

‘Then why are you shouting at me?’ Remus snapped. ‘I’m on your side, remember?’

James was on the verge of retorting and then thought better of it. He snapped his mouth shut and glared down at his feet. ‘Sorry,’ he mumbled. Remus was right. He wasn’t the enemy. Sirius, or at least, the-boy-who-looked-a-lot-like-Sirius-Padfoot-Black-but-bloody-well-wasn’t, was the enemy.

‘It’s all right,’ Remus said tiredly. ‘I understand, but Merlin, Prongs! I haven’t seen you this agitated since the Dorea and Charlus...’ James sighed. He had almost wandlessly blown up Remus’ bedroom after his parent’s funeral, after being so overwhelmed with grief and anger at their murder. Sirius of course, had- No. Thinking about Sirius was painful. James glared over at the boy who was chatting animatedly with Katelyn, much to Orla’s obvious displeasure.

James gritted his teeth and forced himself to look at Remus. ‘How about that calming potion?’ He growled, attempting to smother the urge to hit something.