Mischeif Manage (Marauders)

[JAMES MICHAEL POTTER]

Prongs walked down the hall towards his next class. He was taking his time and was awfully quite. Feet dragging along, shoulders downward, head hanging low, as if he was defeated in some kind of way. But to be honest, he was heading towards the dullest class every in existence. History of Magic. It also didn’t help that he forgot his book back in the bottom of his trunk. Okay to be honest, James never brought any of his books into class. He would just ask Moony to share his, or ask to borrow his notes. James knew that Moony would let him, if he gave him a good pat on the back and remind him that he was a good friend in deed. Finally he lifted his head up and looked at his fellow classmates around him. Many of them said hi, a few girls were checking him out, others were telling him to keep up the good work on being captain. Yup, all in a day’s work in the shoes of James M. Potter.

Coming to his next class he entered it, surprisingly before many of the students had entered and took a seat near the back. He never ever sat in front if he could help it. In front, you get called on a lot in the back you could get away sleeping and the professor would never be the wiser. He tossed his back on the desk and sat back looking around. He was already bored and the professor hadn’t even entered the room yet. Deciding to preoccupy himself with thinking of the Halloween Party that was coming up. He wasn’t thrilled about going, he wanted to go with Lily but highly doubt she would even say yes to him, but he was planning on playing the biggest prank yet. He just needed to work out the details with Padfoot, Wormtail and Moony before they could finally say it was complete. He took out a piece of parchment that had his poor excuse of handwriting and went over the details – his plan was to spend most of the class time working on this then actually paying attention. Once again, he was relying on Moony to be paying attention so he could borrow the notes later.

He was so enthralled with what was written on the parchment that he didn’t realize that a few girls that sat a few desk away were trying to get his attention. If Sirius could see him know, ignoring girls for a prank. Then again, James wasn’t into other girls. Just one – and one that was hard to get that’s for sure. James reached into his bag, without looking, and took out a quill and his ink and started to scribble more onto the parchment. After a few minutes of that he sat back and started to read it again. Making a charm like this was going to take time, but unfortunately they didn’t have time. Where was the rest of the marauders? Didn’t they have class with him? He looked around but didn’t see any of his best buds, except for those girls who were waving at him again. Looking at them weird and then getting back to his work for trying to get this charm to seem to work.

As he was doing so, the professor had walked in and the rest of the class started to take their seats. The professor then stated that everyone to take out their books and turn to page 138 and start reading on some mumble jumbo that happened years and years ago that James really had no interest in. “Bloody hell…” He whispered and put his head on his desk, his brain hurt from thinking too much. It didn’t take long before James fell asleep, about a minute into class, which was a new record for him. He had started to listen in on the professor and that’s what did it for him. No distraction or anything to keep him awake during a boring class. As he slept he drooled a little bit unto the desk, maybe one of his friends would kindly wake him up?

[• SIRIUS ORION BLACK]

Sirius decided that he was going to be late for class. Was he running late? No. Did he have some prior engagement no? His decision was based on one thing; it was Wednesday and that meant that he had history of magic. There wasn't a class at Hogwarts that was more boring than history of magic. Watching slugs race or paint drying was more interesting than sitting through one of Professor Binns' boring lectures. You'd think that the fact that Binns was a ghost would, ironically, liven up the lesson, but it didn't. It only made the lessons seem more dangerous boring because it made Sirius think that Binns had been bored to death by the subject. Sirius was to young and pretty to literally be bored to death so the less time in that class room the better.

Still, even Sirius wasn't so bold to skip class entirely, not regularly at least. After pointedly spending far more time doing his hair that necessary (which was saying a lot because he normally didn't spend any time on it at all) he slowly made his way to History of Magic, his dread increasing with every step. It was the only class that Sirius lacked the motivation to cause trouble in; it was like the vibe of the room just drained the energy from him and all he wanted to do was put his lovely head down and sleep. He couldn't remember a time he'd made it all the way through a history of magic class with out dozing off.

When Sirius had gotten to class late, but not nearly as late as he was hoping, he discovered that is best friend, James had beaten Sirius to falling asleep. Well, thought Sirius with a smirk, this simply won't do. Before Sirius acted upon his impulse, he took the time to notice the absense of his other two friends, Remus and Peter. Peter was probably stuff in a broom closet somewhere, which would obviously be the work of some Slytherins. Now Sirius was obligated to locate the kid after class and make sure he was still on one piece. Another noticeable absence was that of his friend Remus. This lack of attendance was a bit more regular the closer it got to the full moon. Even though Remus got sicker and paler as the full moon approached, Sirius couldn’t help but get more and more excited; the next full mooon would be the first time he would get to try out his anamagus abilities with a werewolf! He did feel a little guilty feeling excited while Remus dreaded the event so much, but Sirius was a stupid fifteen year old boy and could see little past how cool it was going to be!

Now, it was time to deal with the only one of Sirius’ friends who wasn’t missing in action. As James Potter was peacefully in slumberland, Sirius waltzed over to the other Gryffindor’s desk and dropped his book right next to the sleeping boys head. Nearly everyone in the room jumped and a few even feel out of their seats from shock, but Professor Binns didn't even flinch; Sirius had learned long ago that it would take nothing short of the apocalypse to break him from his monotonous lecture. Sirius would take advantage of this quirk of Binns' more often, but the boy lacked motivation and inspiration in that class. The sound of Binns’ voice was just more like a lullaby that anything else Sirius had ever heard in his life. He couldn’t blame James for falling asleep so early in the class, but he could punish him for it.