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Chapter 90: “End of first year”
🕑 Added 2024-03-05 15:54:34 +0000 UTCThe exam results finally came in. To the relief of Peter and Toby, who were the most nervous, they all passed with good grades.
James, as he expected got a perfect score in Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Charms. In the other subjects, he managed to score no lower than 90 points.
These incredible marks allowed him to become the best student of the year in his year taking into account the four houses.
Suddenly, his cupboards were empty. James already had everything packed in his trunk. The other marauders also had their luggage ready to go home.
James and all the students received notes warning them not to use magic during the vacations, 'How annoying...' thought James with a grimace. If he obeys the letter he will have to devote himself to flying his broomstick and reading books.
'I have to practice at Grandpa's house...' thought James, who didn't plan to go two months without casting spells.
"Two months without magic. How will I live?" asked Sirius regretfully.
Toby looked at him strangely. He thought it was a short time. Besides, they didn't need to use magic to live day to day. At least he did, since he always lived in the Muggle community.
James and the others left the dormitories and the castle with the other first-year students. Hagrid was already there to take them on the boats across the lake.
They then boarded the Hogwarts Express, but not before saying goodbye to Hagrid, "Bye, Hagrid. See you in two months," said James, and the others also said goodbye.
"Goodbye, boys. Enjoy your vacations," said Hagrid a little sadly, as he patted James' hand which almost knocked him over.
Generally, Hagrid's years at Hogwarts were spent minding his own business, talking a bit with Dumbledore and the odd professor. A bit of a loner you might say.
However, this year was different. Since he met James and the others his hut was visited regularly, and the boys listened attentively to his stories and especially to information about magical creatures, something Hagrid liked to tell, as he would like to be a professor of this subject at Hogwarts, although he didn't tell them this.
"See you soon, Hagrid!" said Sirius, dodging Hagrid's pat and running towards the train.
During the trip on the Hogwarts Express, they chatted and laughed, remembering the best jokes of the marauders and many other things, meanwhile, the countryside landscape was getting greener and less wild.
They ate chocolate frogs, dragees of all flavors, sped past Muggle towns, took off their wizarding clothes, and put on normal robes. Finally, they got off at platform 9¾ at King's Cross station.
'It was a good year...' thought James in a strange mood as he walked with the others towards the solid wall to break through.
He was finally able to fulfill one of the regrets of his life as Edward Rothschild: going to a normal school (though he didn't know he would end up going to a magical school).
"Careful, James," said Lupin, tugging at his clothes. James, who was absorbed in his thoughts came back to reality. He noticed that right at the barrier there was a guard, who only let two or three people through so that they wouldn't draw attention to themselves by bursting out of a solid wall and alarming the Muggles.
After waiting a few minutes in line, everyone was on the other side, "They have to come home in the summer," said James as he pushed his cart.
"I'll go!" said Toby in an excited tone. It would be the first time he would be going to a friend's house in the summer. At Christmas, James had invited him, but he couldn't go because he didn't want to leave Lupin alone.
"Me too!" nodded Peter enthusiastically. James' practice room was great, they could fly and play lots of things without fear of a Muggle seeing them.
"I can't..." said Lupin without explanation. James said nothing. He knew the reason why he couldn't go home. One of the things he couldn't accomplish this year was to talk about Lupin's lycanthropy, he always put the subject off, and later he didn't want to argue with his friend.
"I wish I could go... but I doubt my mother would give me permission," said Sirius dejectedly, looking towards a middle-aged woman with a dignified bearing and a deep frown on her face.
"I have to go now, bye," said Sirius, saying goodbye hurriedly and heading in the direction of the woman, who as soon as she saw Sirius started to rant with an angry expression.
'Poor...' thought James and the others as they saw Sirius with his mother, who seemed to be angry for some reason that only pureblood extremists would understand.
"Bye, James!"
"See you, Potter!"
James was surprised that Gryffindor boys he barely knows were waving goodbye to him with a smile. He quickly returned the gesture a bit incredulously.
"Why are you making that face? Ever since you crushed Rabastan in the duel your reputation increased rapidly," Lupin commented with a slight smile.
"They only salute me because I made them a lot of money," said James.
After searching for a few seconds he could see his parents. At the sight of them, he felt a strange feeling, not like Sirius, who seemed unhappy to see his mother. On the contrary, James was very happy to see them.
It had been many months since he last saw them. He continued to communicate through letters, but it wasn't the same. If it had been up to him, he would have run out and hugged them both very tightly, but he could not. He was with his friends, and even though they had already seen the letter Euphemia sent him, he was still a little shy.
He noticed that his parents were having a conversation with Peter's parents. James cleared his throat and spoke, "There are my parents, do you want to meet them?" asked James, trying to act normal.
"Yeah, sure. I still don't see my parents," replied Lupin.
"Yes. I have to thank your mother for the present she gave me for my birthday..." said Toby shyly.
As Peter's parents were there, the whole group started walking. Euphemia, who was chatting happily, noticed out of the corner of her eye a particular mess of messy jet hair.
A broad smile formed on her face. She knew immediately that it was her precious son. When she saw him, she felt an enormous happiness.
Euphemia rushed to her son with a big smile, "James, look how much you have grown!" exclaimed Euphemia as she began to give him repeated kisses on his cheek and forehead.
For Euphemia, it had been six endless months without being able to see her beloved son. She had missed him so much. At first, she wanted to control herself so as not to embarrass herself in front of his friends, but she could not.
"Mum... I've missed you too," James said with difficulty because of the repeated kisses on his forehead that Euphemia was giving him. However, it didn't bother him. He would never mind the parental love shown to him by his mother.
Lupin, Peter, and Toby watched this scene with strange expressions. It was rare to see James so docile. It didn't cross any of their minds to make the slightest mockery of this. They didn't want to end up biting the dust like Rabastan.
"Honey..." said Fleamont, trying to bring his wife into the real world.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I got emotional," said Euphemia with a giggle letting James off the hook.
"Mum. Dad. These are my friends..." said James as he introduced Lupin and Toby, since Peter they had met.
"Nice to meet you," said Mr. and Mrs. Potter with a smile, happy to see that James had managed to make friends.
"M-Mr. and Mrs. Potter, thank you so much for the presents on my birthday!" said Toby gratefully, besides James and the other marauders, they were the only adults to give him a present.
"It was nothing, dear. You must visit our house for the vacation," said Euphemia with a kind smile. James had told her that Toby lived in an orphanage, so she felt sorry for the kind and shy boy.
Just then Lupin's parents arrived. His father's name was Lyall. He seemed a shy and intelligent man. He looked a few years younger than James' parents. From what little Lupin told James, his father is a wizard and in the past worked at the Ministry of Magic.
As for Lupin's mother, her name was Hope. She is a woman with light brown hair and is very kind. That impression was given to James when Lupin introduced his parents.
James knew right away that Lupin's parents cared about their son as did his parents. It was obvious that they knew their son was a werewolf, and yet they still loved him and were not prejudiced against him, or so James thought after meeting them and from what Lupin told him about them.
After chatting for a while and the adult couples got to know each other, Peter's family said their goodbyes, and the same went for the Lupin family.
The only person left to arrive was Toby's matron, who waited nervously feeling guilty about having to keep Euphemia and Fleamont waiting, who said they would stay and wait with him. James agreed.
Just then a tall woman with a mole near her mouth arrived, about 30-40 years old, "Are you ready yet?" asked the woman, looking at Toby and not greeting the Potters.
"Yes, Matron..." replied Toby meekly.
"You must be Toby's caregiver! My name is Euphemia Potter, a pleasure. My son is a friend of Toby," Euphemia introduced herself patiently.
"Caroline is my name..." said the woman with little patience. James seeing her respond that way to his kind mother, felt like pulling out his wand and throwing a Flipendo Tria at her.
"In the summer, Toby wants to come home to spend time with his friend. Can he?" asked Euphemia.
"P-please, Matron," said Toby nervously.
"No need to clarify, we will pay all his expenses," said Fleamont, joining the conversation.
For the first time a faint smile formed on Caroline's ugly face, "Oh, it's great for the boys to spend time with their friends! Of course, Toby can spend several days with your son. Just call this number, and we'll get in touch," Caroline said enthusiastically.
"That's good to hear. See you in a few days, Toby," said Euphemia, saying goodbye to the boy who smiled at Caroline's affirmative.
"Survive a couple of days with that ogre," muttered James, close behind Toby, as he followed his parents.
"Yes, of course! Bye, James!" said Toby enthusiastically.
"Hurry up, boy. We don't have all day," said Caroline, turning around and walking towards the door.
James, as he walked in the direction of his father's car, told them everything that happened in these six months cheerfully.
The first year at Hogwarts came to an end.
