Taylor and Alex awoke the next morning to the sound of someone outside their door.
“Taylor! Alex! Get up! You’ll be late!” They both tumbled out of bed and quickly got ready. They grabbed their books, ran down the stairs, and out the portrait hole.
“What’s your first class, Tay?”
“Transfiguration. Yours?”
“Defense Against the Dark Arts.”
“Well, I guess I’ll see you later.”
They both ran off. Taylor to the first floor and Alex to the third.
(Lunch)
Taylor and Alex walked into the Great Hall and took their seats at the Gryffindor table.
“So, Tay how was Transfiguration?”
“It was o.k. We were transfiguring snakes into garden hoses. How was DADA?”
“Pretty good, but dueling was hard. Let me just say I don’t have Jedi reflexes.”
Just then the Marauders walked into the Great Hall. Sirius separated from the group and walked over to Taylor.
I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced,” he said smoothly. “I’m Sirius Black, and you are…?”
“Not interested,” replied Taylor.
“Tough luck, Sirius,” said James as he sat down next to Sirius and Remus and Peter took their seats next to Alex. “I’m James Potter, by the way, that’s Remus Lupin, and that’s Peter Pettigrew.”
“I’m Alexiana Carter and the smart one over there is Taylor Rabb.”
“I knew it! You’re the girl I tutor!” exclaimed Sirius. “You know, since you were so mean to me, I’m… I’m… uh, I’m not going to tutor you. Ha! Take that!”
“You know what I don’t understand?” said Alex. “I don’t get why McGonagall had him tutoring you in the first place.”
“Well, he’s not as dumb as he looks,” James replied. “He’s second only to Remus in the grades he gets.”
“Who has the best grades after Sirius?” Alex asked.
“That would be Jamie-boy,” said Sirius.
“O.K., I’ll have him tutor me then,” Taylor said.
“No can do,” said James “if I tutor you Lily might see us and think were dating and I need to stay available in case she decides to change her mind.”
“Um, o.k. Then who’s after James?”
“Some bloke named David Wood.”
“Well then he can tutor me,” Taylor said excitedly. “I’m sure he’ll do a much better job than Sirius ever would.”
“Whoa, now who said I wasn’t going to tutor you?”
“I’m afraid that was you Padfoot old friend.”
“Well, uh… I’ve reconsidered!”
As Taylor heard this she groaned and put her head in her hands. Alex then put a reassuring arm around her friend. “Come on, Tay. It won’t be that bad. Right?” she said in a less than convincing voice.
“Yeah, I’m really a nice guy when I want to be and for you… well, I’ll try.” Sirius said as he copied Alex’s action and put a comforting arm around Taylor but unfortunately for him she did not take too kindly to the action and she turned around and smacked him. She gathered her things and left the Hall.
Alex watched her go then turned toward Sirius trying hard not to laugh at the shocked expression on his face. “That was NOT a smart move, Sirius. I forgot to tell you she doesn’t like egotistical men. Just be grateful she didn’t deck you.” Alex then got up to go to her next class when Remus stopped her.
“Hey, wait! When do you and Taylor want to meet for tutoring?”
“Tonight at seven should be good unless Sirius tries to get himself killed again then we may have to reschedule,” she laughed.
When she was gone both James and Remus turned their attention to Sirius. “Why’d you go and do a stupid thing like that?” James asked.
“What! I didn’t do anything wrong! She started it! Why do I always get blamed for everything?”
“That would be because everything is your fault, Padfoot. And now, thanks to you, tutoring sessions are going to be hell.”
“Aw, come on, Remmie. They’re not going to be hell, just interesting.”
“Well, I hate to break into this conversation,” James said, “but the only thing that’s going to be interesting is the new form of detention McGonagall comes up with when we’re late for class again!”
The four Marauders quickly gathered up their books and rushed to Transfiguration.