HP: The secret of the Marauders Map

[accuscripter]

The classroom was alive with the hum of excited chatter, desks scraping against the stone floor as students moved around, exchanging gossip, jokes, and last-minute complaints about anything, including the heavy workload, tiring weather, and institutional restrictions. Sunlight filtered through the arched windows, casting long beams of light across the dusty shelves of Defense Against the Dark Arts books.

At the center of it all sat James, his usual haughty grin in place, surrounded by his closest friends, Sirius Black, the ever-rebellious troublemaker, and Lily Evans, who, despite her disapproving looks, never strayed too far from them. James twirled his wand between his fingers, laughing as Sirius mimicked a pompous Slytherin professor, drawing chuckles from the nearby students.

Suddenly, James's attention drifted to the back of the room. He leaned back in his chair, a mischievous gleam flickering in his hazel eyes. An idea formed and with a swift motion, he stood up, brushing off Lily's questioning look. Sirius, sensing trouble, smirked and followed. Lily sighed, already regretting not stopping him sooner, because she knew what he was up to as soon as she saw his direction towards to a particular someone.

He was a pale and frail-looking boy who always sat alone at the back of the class. He was hunched over a thick book titled "The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection." His fingers hovered over the words as he read, his light brown hair falling slightly over his eyes, shielding his gaunt face.

As James strode towards the back, he stopped beside the boy's desk, and with a sudden movement, he snatched the book straight from his hands.
"Oi, Worm, what are you reading?" James asked, flipping through the pages carelessly.

The boy stiffened, his fingers twitching as if itching to grab the book back, but he merely looked down, his expression unreadable.

Sirius chuckled, his eyes were glinting with mischief. He leaned in, peering over James's shoulder. Lily, however, was not amused. She placed a firm hand on James's shoulder, her green eyes narrowing.
"James," she said warningly.

James turned, grinning at her. "Relax, Evans. I'm not going to hurt him." And then he threw Sirius a quick wink. "Just a bit of fun, yeah?"
He turned back to Remus and swung the book lazily in his hand. "So, I asked you, what are you reading?" he asked crossly.
Boy's shoulders tensed. His voice was quiet, barely above a whisper, as he said,
"Give it back to me."

James cupped a hand around his ear. "Sorry, what was that?" His voice was loud enough to cut through the classroom noise.
All the students turned to watch.

James smirked, and then shouted dramatically,
"EVERYONE! QUIET! MY BOY IS TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING!"

A wave of silence spread through the whole class. All eyes were now on Remus, who was already sweating with embarrassment.
James leaned down. "Go on, then, mate. What was that?"

Remus exhaled slowly, willing himself to stay calm, and said again,
"Give it back to me."

James tilted his head, still grinning. "Hmmm…. Didn't quite catch that." Then he turned to Sirius. "Did you?"

Sirius, playing along, shook his head dramatically. "Not a word. Not even a single word!"

Then James turned to Lily, his voice full of mock concern. "Evans, did you hear anything?"

Lily said nothing, she just crossed her arms, shifting uncomfortably.

James spun toward the rest of the class. "Did anyone hear anything?"

The students, catching on, shouted in unison: "NOOOO!"

A few Gryffindors giggled; some Ravenclaws rolled their eyes. But Remus sat frozen in place, his face burning.

James tapped his chin. "Well, there's only one solution, then." He lifted the book high and moved to the front of the classroom. "Until my boy finds his voice, I'll just hold on to this, what do you all say?" the whole class started shouting with excitement and then chanting, "Remus.. Remus…"

Remus's heart pounded. He gripped the edge of his desk so tightly that his knuckles went white. He wanted the ground to open up that instant and swallow him whole. He was still looking down, his eyes shut trying to block all the voices, calling his name, then snapping of the trees, the terrible howls. Remus was shivering now.

But then, suddenly he felt a light touch on his shoulder, that brought him back to his surroundings. He flinched slightly, and lifted his gaze hesitantly.

Lily was looking down at him, offering a warm, genuine smile; a smile so rare, so kind, it took him by surprise.
"I know you can do it," she whispered encouragingly, raising her fist in a small gesture of motivation.

A strange feeling bloomed in Remus's chest. His lips parted slightly, and before he could stop himself, a tiny, almost imperceptible smile flickered across his face. Embarrassed, he quickly again bent his head down, letting his hair shield his expression.

James, as always quick to catch the tiniest shifts in people, noticed. And came back towards Remus. His expression softened and with an exaggerated motion, he dropped into a squat in front of Remus, resting his arms on the desk. His face was now leveled with Remus's downturned one.

"Oi," James said, tilting his head to look up at him.

Remus stared at his desk, determined not to meet his eyes.

James leaned in just a bit closer, and said seriously, "You're handsome, you know that?" Remus's head snapped up, his golden-brown eyes wide with shock. Before he could even process what James had said, Sirius wrapped an arm around James's shoulders, grinning.
"See? Told you. Absolute stunner."

The two of them grinned at Remus, who sat frozen, his cheeks slightly flushed, his scarred face stunned into silence. Looking from one to the other. But before anyone could react further, a firm yet amused voice echoed through the room.
"EVERYONE, BACK TO YOUR SEATS!"

James turned just in time to see Professor Galatea Merrythought stepping through the door, her sharp gray eyes twinkling with understanding beneath her wrinkled but kind face.

"POTTER!" she called, already knowing exactly who was at the center of the disturbance. James sighed dramatically and handed the book back to Remus, whispering, "We'll continue this later." This statement sent a cold shiver in Remus's spine, that was visible by his panicked face.

Professor Merrythought strode to the front, setting her books down with a loud thump. "Professor, we were just…." Before James could continue to defend himself, professor interrupted him, "It's not my first time dealing with you, Potter. Now, sit."

Hearing this, James threw her his best charming smile before plopping down beside Sirius.

Professor Merrythought let the briefest smile tug at the corner of her lips before she clapped her hands together. "Okay, everyone, open your books."

The students scrambled to obey. She waited, watching as pages flipped. Then, her voice rang clear and steady:

"Turn to page three hundred and ninety-four."
"Today, we will study Werewolves."

At this moment, Remus felt his blood run cold, a feeling of scare he had never felt before.



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