Advanced Wizardry

Chapter two School of Wizards

Once they were out of the office Remus asked James and Sirius exasperatedly, "What did you do this time?"

"Nothing," replied Sirius innocently.

"Really? They do not usually send students to the headmaster's office for 'nothing,'" pointed out Remus pleasantly.

James shrugged. "We charmed the desks in Defense Against the Dark Arts to do line dancing."

"Only, it didn't work as well as we had hoped," added Sirius nonchalantly.

"The desk at the end of one of the rows missed a step," James easily continued.

"And fell backwards into a window. The teacher became all agitated when it shattered for some reason," Sirius completed.

Nita and Kit exchanged amused glances at how they could speak of such an incident so casually.

"What's Gryffindor?" Nita suddenly inquired.

"We'll explain when we reach the common room," promised Remus.

Soon they arrived at a portrait of a very heavy woman in a gown of pink silk. "Password?" she requested.

James supplied, "Pixie." The portrait swung open and a large circular hole was revealed. They climbed through it into a cozy room with a crackling fire, squashy armchairs, and tables. Otherwise, the room was empty.

"Everyone is at dinner," Remus explained.

Sirius went over and sat in a chair directly beside the fire and lazily hung his legs over the armrest. "Come sit down and we'll tell you everything you need to know about Hogwarts," he offered.

Kit felt that he would have rather eaten aluminium foil, yet he dutifully seated himself in a chair next to Nita across from Sirius. James sprawled out on the settee. "Padfoot, you can tell them about the houses. I wanna discuss Quidditch," he told Sirius.

Sirius chuckled, "Why am I unsurprised?"

Remus sat at a table on the opposite side of the room. "I'd like to give you a synopsis of our school too, but I've got homework that I need to make up."

"No problem," Nita responded.

***

An hour later Sirius and James were still explaining the houses, rules of Quidditch, classes, teachers to avoid, and Hogsmeade village. They both, James in particular, seemed to enjoy having an attentive audience. This irritated Nita and Kit, yet they both listened patiently, as they knew they would need the information.

Suddenly, the portrait hole opened again and a woman with black hair tied back into a tight bun entered carrying two gigantic bags. Remus rushed over and immediately relieved her of one of them. She and Remus then brought them over to the table in front of Nita and Kit.

"Thank you, Lupin," she briskly replied. Next, she addressed Nita and Kit. "I am Professor McGonagall, and I have gotten all of your school supplies. Dumbledore has informed the staff of your situation and we shall not expect too much of you academically, however, while you are here I do not want you tainting Gryffindor's reputation."

Kit decided that this would not be a teacher to mouth off to.

McGonagall went on, "Furthermore, if you two do not wish to get into trouble or draw attention to yourselves I suggest that you do not spend much time with Potter and Black."

"Professor, you're breaking our hearts," said James in mock sorrow.

"Do you two find your behavior today, or any other day of the year, acceptable?" she demanded.

"Of course. We're perfect angels," Sirius told her straight-faced.

Remus went over to James and Sirius and began to play with the air above their heads.

"What in Merlin's name are you doing, Moony?" Sirius questioned.

"I'm fixing your angelic halos; they were crooked," Remus cheerfully replied.

The three boys laughed and Nita saw a flicker of a smile on McGonagall's face. Despite what she had said, Nita could discern that she, like Dumbledore, was fond of them.

"Well, angels, be certain not to tell anyone that Kit and Nita are from the future," instructed McGonagall.

"But, Professor-" Remus began.

She interrupted him, "Don't worry, Lupin; you are allowed to tell Sapphire."

He appeared relieved. "Thank you."

Professor McGonagall nodded and left.

"Who's Sapphire?" Kit asked.

James joked, "The future Mrs. Lupin."

Remus flushed as the portrait hole opened again. A girl their age came in this time. Kit caught himself staring at her for a second. She was a curvy girl with golden hair and sapphire blue eyes.

"This is Sapphire," Sirius stated.

Sapphire looked at Nita and Kit with interest. "I don't think we've met." She extended her hand. "I'm Sapphire McGonagall, as Sirius just informed you."

Nita and Kit shook her hand and introduced themselves.

"You haven't met them because they're from the future. They came here by accident," Remus explained to her.

Her eyes grew wide. "Oh, I am so sorry. You must be terribly frightened; I certainly would be."

Nita shrugged. I am not worried at the moment, she thought.

"We've been in worse situations," replied Kit.

Sapphire offered, "Shall I go downstairs and have Peter help me bring you all up some dinner. You must be starved." She added to Remus in concern, "And you need your strength tonight."

Everyone nodded and she scampered off.

"What was she talking about?" Nita asked Remus.

Remus exchanged glances with Sirius and James. Sirius answered, "If we told you we'd have to kill you."

"Er...OK," said Nita. I better change the subject. "Is Sapphire related to Professor McGonagall?"

James responded, "Yep, she's her niece."

"Dumbledore told you to room with her," Sirius reminded Nita. He added, "And her best friend, Stella Lation. As well as, Olivia Luts and," he smirked at James, "Lily Evans."

I hope they're friendly, Nita thought.

Sirius seemed to be able to read her expression. "Olivia is annoying, but Lily and Stella are nice, and you'd have to be very thick to dislike Saphy."

Sapphire came through the portrait hole again with a chubby boy behind her assisting her in carrying five plates. Nita and Kit correctly assumed that this was Peter.

"They had only deserts left," stated Sapphie apologetically.

"That's all right," replied Kit digging into his plate eagerly. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Sapphire responded.

Nita saw Peter look at her and Kit and whisper to James and Sirius, "Who are they?"

"Kit and Nita," James volunteered. "They're OK."

After eating in silence for a few moments Sapphire remarked to the four Hogwarts boys, "You should get going."

They glanced out the window at the setting sun and nodded. Remus told Kit, "Our dorm is up the staircase on the left and our door is labeled fifth years."

"Right," responded Kit. "But where are you going?"

"Out," James said shortly.

Sapphire hugged Remus. "I'll stay up and wait for you," she vowed.

He shook his head. "You need your rest. Don't sacrifice your sleep for me."

"I'd sacrifice everything for you. Anyway, I'll be too worried to sleep," she truthfully said.

That's the sweetest thing I ever heard, thought Nita.

"Very well," Remus caved in. He smiled and kissed her forehead gently. "You're the greatest."

"Moony, we have to go," Peter stated urgently.

"I know," Remus responded regretfully, and the four boys exited.

Do you think Sapphire would tell us where they went? She obviously knows, Nita said to Kit.

I doubt it. I mean, they refused to tell us, so why would she? answered Kit.

Sapphire addressed Nita, "Kit is clearly staying with the Marauders. Where are you to stay?"

Nita shifted awkwardly. "Dumbledore said I should stay with you and your dormmates," she mumbled.

"Splendid!" exclaimed Sapphire. "Let's go get you settled." She helped Nita carry her bag up the staircase on the right and Kit was left alone.

Not knowing what else to do, Kit carried his bag up to his new dorm. He could instantly decipher whose bed was whose.

In the left corner was an unmade bed and the wall beside it was covered with moving posters of what had to be Quidditch. It was James'.

In the corner on the right was another unmade bed with all sorts of odds and ends surrounding it. On the wall there was only one photograph, which was of a good-looking family with cruel eyes that had many holes in it as if darts had been thrown at it. It was Sirius'.

The bed next to Sirius' had to be Remus', for not only was it the only one that was neatly made with a bookshelf beside it, but on the wall was a photo of a younger Remus with a man and a woman that looked like his parents and a picture of Remus at his current age with Sapphire. Kit realised that Remus looked cheerful in both pictures, yet equally as ill. Whatever is the matter with him he has had to suffer it for a long time. thought Kit sympathetically.

Finally, the bed beside James' was made, yet wrinkled like it had been jumped on with a teddy bear on it. It was Peter's.

He collapsed onto the only empty bed to wait for his dormmates to return.

But they did not come back...