The Marauders Year Five Part 2 #Wattys2017

O.W.L.s

O.W.L.s

"Ohhh, ohhh that was terrible, it was terrible." Peter was moaning, clutching his head in his hands as he walked up the stairs of the castle behind James and Remus, followed by Sirius. He clutched his extra parchment and the quill, sick to his stomach. "I'm sure I've gotten a Troll. I'm just sure of it."

James shrugged, "It could've been worse. Can't believe Flitwick expected us to remember what charm he used on the blasted pineapple that made it dance on the first day, though. That was bleedin' five years ago! Good thing that one was for extra credit."

"It was tarantallegra, same as you'd use on a person," Remus replied.

"Guess we know at least one of us will be getting an Outstanding," said Sirius.

Remus flushed. "I told you lot to start studying back in the fall when I did, it's not my fault you waited until last month."

"Next time we listen to Moony," James declared.

Peter started grilling Remus on what the answers were to various questions, groaning when he found he'd gotten one wrong. James felt like he'd done alright - he didn't expect to be getting an Outstanding by any means, but most of the answers Remus was giving Peter were the ones that he'd put down, so he was fairly certain he'd get an Exceeds Expectations at least on the exam and that was enough to get into the advanced sessions with Flitwick, which were required in order to get into the auror training program, so James felt better about himself there.

Sirius stayed quiet as they compared how they'd done, not weighing in until Remus asked, "How'd you do, Padfoot?"

Sirius shrugged, "Alright, I s'pose, by the sounds of it. Guess we'll see when we get the results." He ran ahead then and gave the Fat Lady the password to get into the common room.

James looked at Remus and shrugged.

They studied all the harder for the Potions exam, though, blasting through it all afternoon until it was time to go to the Charms practical exam, which would be immediately followed by a jaunt into the dungeons to the Potions classroom to do their practical for that class as well. Sirius participated in the Potions revising - and the boys took turns reading off ingredients lists and identifying the potion and what the purpose was based on the ingredients in it. Surprisingly, James did the best of the four of them on this exercise. He was quick to attribute the new found Potions talent to the fact that he had Lily Evans as a partner.

"But all you do is stare at her through half the class," Sirius complained.

James shrugged, "Well, while I stare at her she does the Potions prepwork and I can just picture her cutting up all these ingredients and remember what we were doing that day, what she was saying... Lily Evans, the ultimate mnemonic device."

"Well bloody hell, that would never work with Severus Snape."

"Nor with Peter," intoned Remus. He smiled at Peter, "No offense Wormtail."

"None taken," Peter squeaked.

When it was time to go down for the practical exams, they left a bit early because Remus was still sore from the moon and the stairs were a lot on his knees and they joined the queue in the entrance hall once again, and milled about with the others. James looked about to spot Lily Evans, and spotted her in a cluster with Marlene McKinnon and some other girls by the giant hour glasses that counted the house points. She had her hair in braids and Jasper Odair stood beside her, a great lunk of a thing, holding her hand without actually paying her any attention, just looking about.