The report about the attack in Yorkshire was heard, not only in the Gryffindor common room, but in the Ravenclaw common room as well. The Slytherins and the Hufflepuffs read all about it in The Prophet the next morning. Some, to use a fairly accurate phrase, read it and wept. One Slytherin girl had been notified of her grandparents' murders. A boy from Ravenclaw had his older brother and his brother's wife reported dead to him. They were taken home immediately by morose parents, plucked from amongst the other students in their grief. It was not only these two students that were stolen away and apparently hidden from the danger of going to a magic school in the midst of a wizarding war. Many student left on the train that Easter holidays, not intending to return. Gideon and Fabian had received a letter from their mother, who was adamant that they come home. The twins sent back a letter in protest, and it was agreed that they could at least stay until the end of that year.
Alice had gotten what would be considered the best of news in light of the current situation. Her cousin's case of Dragon Pox had worsened. Seeking treatment, her aunt, as well as the rest of her children, had left their home on the day before the doomed picnic. They had gone to Saint Mungo's in London, where cousin got the right care. He was better now, apparently, and Alice's Aunt had no friends or other family that had died in the attack. It was sad that not everyone could be so lucky.
"I don't understand it", said Sirius, speaking of the leaving students, as he sat in the common room one afternoon "They would be ten times as safe here than at home".
"But they don't understand it either", said James in explanation, "Almost everyone going home has at least one Muggle parent. And the Muggles don't know what's going on in the wizarding world. They probably think that if their kids are back home in the Muggle world they will be safer".
"But they won't be!" Sirius said exasperatedly, "Muggles are one of the main targets!"
"Sirius, we know", said Remus, trying to sooth his friend, "But they are scared and worried. Imagine if the people you cared about most were off in a completely different place, full of things you don't understand, and suddenly that world has very dangerous people in it. Would you want your loved ones to stay there?"
"No, but the world, magical or not, will always have dangerous people in it", Sirius explained, frustrated.
"But these peoples' view of things are twisted by fear", said Remus, "And fear can make people do stupid things".
##
Later that week, after most students whose parents wanted them home had left, and the third term of the year had begun, Sirius discovered a new notice on the common room board as he left for breakfast. As his friends gathered to read the notice, Sirius saw that it informed them of an Apparition course available for all sixth year students.
"Well I know I'm definitely going to", he told his fellow Marauders, "Imagine not having to walk."
Besides, he had been legally capable of Apparition since early November, having turned 17 on the 3rd. His birthday had passed without much fanfare at all from his parents, and while James and the others had held a small dormitory party, they hadn't even been able to smuggle in any Firewhiskey. Legally being able to Apparate, and practice magic outside of school, were the only things Sirius saw to gain from becoming of age while still at Hogwarts.
"That is a brilliant point, Padfoot, which is exactly why I'm going to learn how to Apparate too", agreed James, who was also freshly 17, and would be able to Apparate as soon as he learned how.
"You do realise you're still going to have to walk sometimes, don't you?" asked Remus.
Remus had turned 17 only a coupled of weeks before James, making it three Marauders who could legally Apparate. Peter was the odd one out, who's birthday was in early August during the summer holidays.
"Walk while we can Apparate, never!" said James.
"Whatever you think", said Remus, giving up, "I'll take the course. But I'm still going to actually walk. Especially since Apparition inside Hogwarts is magically impossible."
"What about you Peter?" asked Sirius.
"I don't know if I could manage it", said Peter hesitantly.
"Peter, you are going to take this Apparition course even if it kills you", said Sirius sternly.
So with that, James and Sirius frog-marched Peter over to the sign-up form and forced him to put his name down.
##
The first lesson of the course took place the next week, on a warm Wednesday afternoon. Sirius and his fellow Marauders arrived in the Great Hall, where all their lessons would be conducted. There were many students already filling the Hall. All were sixth-years, and all were relatively excited.
As a member of a Pureblood family, Sirius had always known he would learn to Apparate, and now at seventeen, he would be allowed to Apparate almost anywhere. It was the same for James. He had many cousins in his family, and they were all at least ten years older than him, and he had grown up seeing them use this unique power, always longing for the day when he could appear wherever he wanted at will.
Remus was also eager to learn. Being Half-blood, he had experienced his fair share of long journeys in a Muggle car, and he welcomed the opportunity to speed his travels. Peter was the only one of the Marauders who was hesitant to become a licensed Apparator. Both his parents where Muggles, and as he had told his friends, Muggles looked forward to learning how to drive cars at roughly the same age as wizards learned to Apparate. Getting a car license, he explained, was more his goal, as it would be easier and apparently less dangerous. Nevertheless, Peter accompanied his three friends to the first lesson.
When the four boys entered the Hall, they saw that all the heads of houses were at the front of the room, as well as a man Sirius assumed was the Apparition instructor. The instructor was very small and frail looking. His hair was a pale grey, and he seemed half transparent from where Sirius was standing. Sirius wondered if all the man's Apparating had worn down his very existence.
"Good morning all", said the wizard when everyone was finally quiet, "I am Wilkie Twycross, and I will be your apparition instructor for the rest of the course. Usually, it is impossible to Apparate inside Hogwarts" - "Damn it!" said James - "As well as to and from the castle. However, your Headmaster has lifted all the necessary spells in this Hall, in order for us to continue our lesson."
"I told you that you couldn't Apparate in here", said Remus to James.
"I know, I know", James said frustratedly, "I forgot about that."
"Now if I could have everyone with a clear space of five feet in front of them, we can get on with the method of apparition", the wispy instructor called across the Hall.
They was lots of commotion as everybody scrambled to get their own space. Eventually, everyone had a spot to themselves. Sirius had landed himself between James and Peter, whilst Remus was in front of them, paying close attention to the front of the room. When all the students were settled, Twycross waved his wand and a wooden hoops appeared on the floor before each of them.
"It is important to remember the three D's while learning to Apparate. They are Destination, Determination, and Deliberation".
"Right", Sirius muttered to James, "Desperation, Detonation, and Dementation."
The two friends sniggered at this remark. Twycross continued to blab one about each step, elaborating on their meanings and uses in Apparition.
"First, you must focus on your destination. Where is it you want to go? What does is look like? Next you must find the determination within yourself to get there. You need to get there, let the want to go to your chosen destination fill up inside of you. Then step forward and turn with deliberation."
Sirius was trying to figure out how best he could manage to Apparate. He doubted he would get it on his first go, but he thought that it would probably only be a short time before his could. Wilkie Twycross began to count down to when the student needed to make their first attempt at landing in the hoop.
"One"
Sirius looked at the middle of the hoop with great concentration.
"Two"
He started to glare at it. He tried to feel some kind of longing to be in the hoop.
"Three"
Sirius turned on the spot as they had been told to do and nearly fell over. He looked around. He hadn't move at all. Neither had anyone else in the hall. Peter had sort of jumped towards his hoop and had fallen on his face. The students tried again and again, in fact, it wasn't until their fifth go that they had some kind of break through.
There was a disgruntled cry of agony and shock. Sirius looked up to see Mary MacDonald lying on the ground with blood pouring out of her arm. The heads of house rushed over. Sirius could see through a gap between their cloaks that McGonagall was casting a healing spell on Mary's arm. The skin was slowly knitting itself back together over the open wound. After a minute or two, McGonagall took Mary up to the hospital wing to have her arm checked.
"Nothing to worry about", said Twycross, "She just splinched herself. Sometimes body parts or skin tissue can be left behind or damaged when a lack of determination is shown. Now if we just try another few times, we can conclude our first lesson".
"So Jamesy, remember that lack of determination results in detonation, leading to dementation", laughed Sirius as he began to spin around again.