The Marauders: Year One (female)

13. Flobberworms Must Be Flying

Jamie was getting bored. It being Hogwarts, a school full of underage witches and wizards, she'd have thought it would be impossible to get bored, but here she was. Already behind on homework, and already establishing a reputation with the teachers as a trouble maker (not that the teachers hadn't been prepared, her father being a Potter and all), she was already off to a bad start. She was sure it wouldn't be long before her parents received a Howler from school.

Her dad wouldn't be peeved, though. He would be glad she was having a laugh at school, just like he had. After all, it was only her first year. She had a good couple years before she really had to knuckle down and work. Her mother wouldn't be too bothered either. It was a good life.

That dreary, dull Monday, she hexed Mulciber at breakfast for calling Lillian a the M word, giving him large, popping pustules all over his face (she lost twenty points because of that), she glued Sirius's arse to her chair in Transfiguration (this prank had been meant for Remus, but Remus was far too smart for that) losing her another ten points, and she'd set a bunch of Nifflers loose in the Charms classroom. Flitwick still hadn't recovered all of his golden equipment.

She'd lost thirty points already, and she wasn't even a week into the term. That was even more than Sirius. Slytherin was in the lead, and if they weren't careful, Slytherin would get the House Cup, for the third time in a row. It just wasn't fair, Jamie reflected.

If only Old McGoogly had heard Mulciber, then Mulciber might have gotten a detention, or worse, if Jamie were lucky, but there was no proof Mulciber had said any such thing; it was his word against Jamie's.

McGonagall had looked like she'd wanted to believe Jamie, as Mulciber had shown a tendency to display hatred towards Muggles and Muggleborns, but she couldn't let it seem as if she were showing favouritism towards her own house.

So it was grudgingly, that she took the points from Jamie, and sent Mulciber off to the Hospital Wing to have the effects of the jinx reversed by Madam Pomfrey.

She was careful to give Jamie extra points in class later, even after glueing Sirius to the chair. 'Better luck next time, Potter,' she'd whispered in passing.

Jamie had grinned, and elbowed Sirius sharply in the ribs. Sirius, unable to move, just glared at her, whilst Lucinda Talkalot from Slytherin laughed. Sirius got her back later.

That part of the day had been alright, but the rest, in Jamie's opinion, had been absolutely awful. To Jamie, any day spent doing work was awful, though.

And Lillian hadn't even thanked her for defending his honour. He'd just sniffed, and turned up his nose at her, claiming that he 'could fight his own battles, thank you very much.'

Sirius just snickered. 'Whipped, that one is,' she'd sneered to Petra, who chucked snidely.

Jamie glared at her.

'Oh, come on,' Sirius cried. 'Merlin's saggy balls, he isn't even that good looking. I have some biscuits over here, if you're that into gingernuts.'

Jamie turned slowly to look at her. 'What did you call him?' She tried to hide the growing grin on her face, but was failing miserably.

'Gingernuts,' Sirius reiterated boldly. 'That's right.'

Both of them tried to glare at each other fiercely, but both failed, and they burst out laughing.

'Gingernuts!' I'll remember that one, Jamie cackled, wiping her eyes, and leaning on Petra for support. Jamie was glad Sirius was beginning to not be so much of a stuck-up prat. 'It's more of a reddish colour, though, I think. Not really ginger.'