Hogwarts: A History [Harry Potter Fanfiction]

Chapter 28 - Tempus Enim Praeterlapsum

“Transfiguration tutoring with Benjy,” she said casually as she slung her bag over her shoulder.

He groaned, “Another lesson? You two are joined at the hip lately… people might start to talk.”

Gizelle shot him a look. “As if it should bother you,” she answered coldly.

Sirius looked genuinely offended for a moment.

“He’s very helpful,” she continued, in a softer tone, “and now I’m going to be late.” She said her goodbyes over her shoulder and exited the great hall.

Peter had just managed to clean his face of the pumpkin juice. He threw his used tissue onto the table and turned to Sirius.

“Why do you care if she’s tutoring with Benjy?” he asked.

“I don’t,” Sirius responded sternly.

 

“Ninety-nine bottles of potion on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of potion! Take one down, pass it around, ninety-eight bottles of potion on the wall!”

James and Peter were on their fifth round of 99 Bottles of Potion. They, along with Sirius, were serving out the detention they had earned from their balloon incident, courtesy of four young Gryffindor first years. James had filled in the rest of the Marauders on what happened. Naturally, they were amused with the situation and told James not to think too much into it, but he had that all too familiar feeling in his gut that it would not be the last time hearing from them.

James had initiated the song and Peter had eventually joined in after the first two rounds, but Sirius would only subject himself to the occasional cheer of recognition required to show that he was at least somewhat engaged in what his friends were doing.

James could not have been in better spirits. His first date with Lily had gone swimmingly and he had already set up another and both Peter and Sirius had spent the first fifteen minutes of their detention listening to James regale in just what Lily Evans’s lips felt like against his. 

Sirius, in direct contrast, had showed up with his spirits down. He had come across Gizelle in Hogsmeade with Benjy, who were, in his opinion, looking far too comfortable with one another.

“I don’t trust him,” James said once they had finished their latest bout of song, “He’s the Ravenclaw captain for Merlin’s sake. What’s he want with her?”

“No worries,” Sirius assured, admittedly more to himself than his company, “She’s not gonna go for him. She wouldn’t.”

They left their detention, having finished polishing the trophy room, and after getting approval from Professor McGonagall. Eventually they found themselves in the common room, indulging themselves with a game of Wizard’s Chess, though knowing full well they should be studying for their upcoming exams.

“That’s checkmate,” Sirius said, moving his bishop in line with Peter’s king. It slid towards the piece, stopping when it was at the square diagonal to it. It swung its axe, beheading the king, who crumbled to pieces.

Just as the dismembered tokens had begun to reassembled themselves, the fat lady’s voice sounded, muffled at first and then at full volume, when it open. After a moment, Gizelle popped through the walk space, making Sirius’s victory short lived. She danced over to where the three were sat, a massive grin set upon her face.

“You’re in a good mood,” Sirius said dryly.

“Bloody well right I am!” She laughed, grabbing Peter and spinning him around with her.