The Marauders Rise (II)

Herbology and Chemistry

October 19, 1973

In the third-year Herbology class, POMONA is instructing the class about Puffapods.

POMONA: Now, the Puffapod is a very unique plant because its seeds will flower when they come in direct contact with matter. However, the unflowered seeds are very valuable, so your assignment for today is simple. Each table has a small box that is heavily cushioned inside. Your jobs is to get as many seeds in the box without flowering, and that means handling the seeds with gloves and being very careful with them. Split up into pairs- the winning team gets five extra credit points!

REMUS and LILY meet each other's gaze and smile. With MARY being absent, MARLENE teams up with SIRIUS while JAMES and PETER work together.

REMUS: You ready for this?

LILY: (donning her thick gloves) Let's do this.

REMUS: You wanna try first?

LILY: Sure. (She carefully removes a seed from the plant, and very slowly moves it towards the box).

REMUS: Careful- (He places his hands over hers, guiding her to the box. LILY quickly glances at REMUS and smiles as they drop one seed in the box. MARLENE watches them and smiles).

SIRIUS: What are you smiling about?

MARLENE: Nothing.

SIRIUS: (sarcastically) Really?

MARLENE: I'm just so ecstatic to be working with you of all people, Sirius. Now let's get to work.

Across the room, JAMES and PETER are struggling slightly. POMONA walks throughout the classroom.

POMONA: Careful not to move the box after you've put seeds in them! Even the slightest movement will cause them to flower.

SIRIUS: (placing a seed in the box) And- got it. High five! (He turns around and accidentally knocks several seeds to the ground, causing them to flower).

MARLENE: (whacking him) You arse.

LILY: (looking around) Looks like your friends are having trouble.

REMUS: (sarcastically) Really? They're such subtle and cautious people, I'd figure this would be a breeze for them.

LILY laughs and holds REMUS' hands as they guide another seed to the box. The door to the greenhouse opens, and MARY enters, looking flustered.

MARY: Sorry I'm late, Professor-

POMONA: No matter, MacDonald, just go ahead and join a pair.

MARY goes over to LILY and REMUS, but MARLENE catches her arm.

MARLENE: Hold up. Come work with us.

MARY: (suspiciously) Okay. What's up with you?

MARLENE: I just think we should leave Lily and Remus alone, for now.

MARY: And why does that need to happen?

SIRIUS begins a war with JAMES as they start throwing seeds at each others face and watching the flower once they make contact.

MARLENE: Can't you see there's- chemistry happening between them?

MARY: Chemistry? No, Lily's not ready for chemistry, she'll blow something up. Or set her hair on fire.

MARLENE: (lightly) I'm not so sure.

MARY: You really think- Lily and Remus? No way.

MARLENE: I have a feeling about these things, just you watch.

MARY: Whatever you say, Miss Love Expert. (She puts on her gloves and begins helping with the seeds).

SIRIUS launches a fistful of seeds at JAMES, who quickly ducks, causing at them to hit a wall at the front of the room and a load of flowers to be scattered around the doorway.

POMONA: All right, all right, that's enough! Let's see how everyone did. (She observes each of the boxes and counts the number of seeds in each one).

POMONA: Oh, I think I see a clear winner! That looks like over fifty, good job, Lupin and Evans, excellent work.

REMUS and LILY smile and hug each other. MARLENE shares a glance with MARY, who rolls her eyes and gathers up her bag.