𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗭𝗞𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗡 [𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍]

Chapter Fourty Nine: Arrogant Bullying Toerags

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ ･⋆✵⋆･ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾

The Great Hall was very silent at the monument, save for the scraping of quills and the rustling of paper, making the Hall seem more vast than it already is. The high ceiling sported a clear forget-me-not blue and matched the view outside the window where sunlight streamed through and shone like a halo over the bent heads of the students.

Sirius, who had long since decided this was the best he had to give, had left his answer sheet and quill on the table to tilt his chair back on its back legs and observe the class, unaware of the girl sitting next to him with her eyes glued on him hungrily. Or maybe he was aware but enjoying the attention too much to interrupt her.

Remus meanwhile looked sure and very focused on his paper, scratching his chin with his quill as he filled in answers, but Peter was chewing his nails and pawing at the floor with the toes of worn-out loafers while he kept trying to sneak glances at Xenophillius Lovegood's paper.

And James was sitting with one hand thrown over the back of his chair, doodling on his exam paper, eyes darting every once in a while over to where Lily was intently working on her paper, her red hair catching the sunlight and looking like molten gold pouring over her back.

And then Sirius' grey eyes landed on Snape, nose barely half an inch off his parchment like he was trying to snog it, hand flying over the parchment faster than anyone could even think (as much as Sirius hates to admit it).

"Five more minutes." came Professor Flitwick's command form the front of the Hall, where he was perched on a pile of books to be able to see the whole of the Hall better.

James picked up his paper with a yawn as if to read over it but Sirius knows he was just acting if Evans happened to be looking in his direction. But no such luck, as Lily was too busy trying to make a future for herself. Then James glanced at Professor Flitwick before turning around in his chair to grin at Sirius.

Sirius gave him two exaggerated thumbs ups in response.

"Quills down, please." squeaked Professor Filtwick. "That means you too, Stebbins. Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!"

There were over a hundred students in this Hall and that many rolls of parchment flying at you when you're barely four feet tall is fatal, to say the least. Poor Professor Filtwick was knocked off his feet when the parchments zoomed into his outstretched arms at break-neck speed. Lily sprang to her feet and with the assistance of a few more people, managed to hoist the fallen professor to his feet.

"Thank you . . . thank you." panted Professor Filtwick, smoothing the wrinkles out of his robes and accepting his wand from Lily to collect the students' answer sheets. "Very well, everybody. You're free to go."

James crossed out whatever he was writing (Sirius is ready to bet his life it had something to do with Lily) off his question sheet, jumped to his feet, stuffed his quill and exam paper unceremoniously into his bag, which he slung over his back, and stood up to wait for Sirius to make his way past the four seats that separated them. Remus and Peter joined them too.

"Did you like question number ten, Moony?" Sirius asked as the Marauders emerged into the Entrance Hall.

"Loved it." answered Remus with a grin. "Give five signs that identify a werewolf. Excellent question."

"D'you think you managed to get all the signs?" asked James in mock concern, bunching up his eyebrows.

"Think I did." said Remus seriously. "One: he's sitting in my chair. Two: he's wearing my clothes. Three: his name's Remus Lupin." he said as he counted off the answers on his fingers.