During the rest of the Christmas break, James' routine didn't change much. He spent time with his parents, practiced his flying now dressed in the Puddlemere United uniform, did the homework the teachers had left, and continued reading the defensive magic book and putting spells into practice.
One day before classes started, James returned to Hogwarts. He met Sirius, who had already returned five days ago, as he wanted to leave home as soon as possible. Peter arrived on the same day as him.
"Thanks for the gift, James. The homework planner is going to be very useful to me! Sorry for not sending you a present..." said Toby when James arrived in the Gryffindor common room. He could see him looking a little embarrassed.
"You're welcome, it's okay. I hope it comes in useful," said James with a smile patting Toby's shoulder.
"Can't send you anything because I don't have an owl. Here you go. Merry Christmas," Toby said as he handed James a book. James wasn't expecting this. He took the book. Its title was as follows: History of the Quidditch League of Great Britain and Ireland.
"Oh, I've wanted to buy this book for a long time!" said James excitedly. He could see that the book was used, but he didn't say anything. He knew that Toby came from an orphanage, so buying a book would have cost him a lot.
"Thanks, Toby!" he said with a smile, and Toby nodded sheepishly.
"By the way, where's Lupin?" asked James, sitting on the edge of the bed as he opened the book.
"He told me he went to the library. Very nerdy. At this pace, he's going to turn into Lily Evans two," replied Sirius, who was looking for something in his trunk.
Lupin, unlike how lazy they were Sirius had a study routine, only sometimes it faltered, as The Marauders explored the castle and had "Missions", so he preferred to have fun with them, but he knew when to say no and go to the library, without neglecting his study.
"At the end of the month was he back in the infirmary?" asked James, looking at Toby who was the one who had stayed with Lupin. Sirius left his trunk alone and looked at Toby as he was also curious before Lupin's strange disappearances.
"Yes... one day before New Year's, he was in the infirmary all day," Toby confirmed.
"What excuse did he give you this time?" asked Sirius.
"He said he was feeling sick. He had a bit of a fever," replied Toby.
"That's strange..." commented Peter, and they all nodded at the same time.
"What's he going to do? Is he going to have a girlfriend? And that's why he's running away without us seeing him," said Sirius in a strange tone. They all shook their heads. Lupin always hung out with them or in the library. They would have noticed something like that.
A conversation about what Lupin does when he disappears once a month starts in the room. Sirius was coming up with many crazy and implausible theories.
Just as Sirius was saying that Lupin had a strange disease and had to take a potion or else he would die the door to the room opened, and in walked the person they were talking about.
They all shut their mouths, and the room went silent, something Lupin noticed as it was very strange for a boy like Sirius to shut up so suddenly.
"What's wrong?" asked Lupin with a frown and a somewhat angry tone. He was almost sure they were talking about him.
"Nothing...we were talking about..." said Sirius, looking to James to help him find an excuse.
"From the 1945 league final, where they played an English team versus an Irish team," James said quickly as he showed the book to Lupin, who snorted without believing a word of it and went to put away the books he was holding in his hands.
An awkward atmosphere lingered in the room until Toby asked if they did the homework the professors left and went back to talking normally. The only one who kept quiet was Lupin, who after a few minutes lay down on his bed and closed the curtains.
...
Monday, January 3, 1972.
Classes began, and so did Quidditch practice. James decided to dedicate two hours a day to be in the library. He would like to dedicate more time, but he couldn't. His schedule was tight, especially on the days when he had classes and quidditch training.
On Saturdays and Sundays, he could dedicate more time since he didn't have so many hours of classes and training.
At breakfast, there was the typical scene of hundreds of owls coming in, bringing with them many letters. To James's surprise, Shadow flew past the jam and sugar bowl and dropped a note on James's plate, who immediately opened it.
[James (it said in very nice, neat handwriting):
Come to Classroom 11 today. After 5 o'clock at that time, it is empty. It is located in the corridor that starts opposite the large oak entrance doors, on the first floor of the castle. Do not be late.
Gwen Shafiq]
James the last thing he expected was a letter from Gwen summoning him for a meeting later. The strangest thing of all was that she did it through a letter when they saw each other every day in the corridors or the Great Hall.
He looked towards the Slytherin table and quickly found a very striking blonde hair. Gwen looked at him subtly before turning her attention back to her friends.
'Is it so bad to talk to me in front of your house?' thought James with a strange expression, although on second thought he had insulted Gwen's best friend, so if Anastasia Nott saw Gwen talking to James it wouldn't look good at all.
"What's wrong? Did Rabastan do something?" asked Sirius, ready for a fight at any moment.
"It's nothing, don't worry," said James, stuffing the letter in one of his pockets.
After the end of the day's classes, James broke away from the group and began his search for classroom 11. Luckily, he had time, otherwise he would have been late and would have had to put up with Gwen's anger.
'This must be it,' thought James, reading a sign that had Classroom 11 carved on it. As he walked in he could see Gwen sitting at a desk as she played with her hair.
"You finally get here," said Gwen, acting annoyed.
"I'm sure it's still a few minutes to five," said James, looking at the clock in the classroom, and sure enough it was 16:57.
"You can't keep a girl waiting. You have to be there 15 minutes before the appointed time. It's basic etiquette," said Gwen, who wasn't planning on backing out.
"Fine, fine whatever you say. Next time, I'll be fifteen minutes early," said James, who knew that Gwen would not stop until she won the argument.
At this Gwen smiled happy that she had won, "What class do they teach in this classroom?" asked James, curious.
"As far as I know, Ancient Runes, a third-year class," replied Gwen.
"Speaking of Ancient Runes, what does the writing on the bracelet mean?" asked James, rolling up his sleeve and leaving his wrist exposed, where he was wearing the silver bracelet Gwen gave him for Christmas.
"I had a hard time getting the message written in ancient runes," began Gwen happy to see James wearing her gift.
"Since I had a hard time doing it, it will be your task to decipher the message," she added with a smile.
'What kind of logic is that?' thought James, rolling his eyes.
"Don't make that face. There are ancient rune books in the library. Study them and stop making jokes with Sirius Black," said Gwen, looking at James with narrowed eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about..." said James, playing dumb.
"I'm 100% sure it was you who planned the flower prank," said Gwen moving closer to James.
"Oh... that's a very high rate. The proof?" asked James with a slight smile.
"When we were kids, you always played pranks on Goyle and Crabbe and they never caught you, although I think it was because they were scared of you..... Anyway, I know you, James," said Gwen, who was sure it was James and his friends.
James looked at Gwen. He knew he couldn't hide this from her, even Penny could tell it was about them. Gwen was his childhood friend and knew him best.
"Okay, you're right... Don't tell me that wasn't a good joke," James said with a smile remembering the embarrassed and angry faces of Rabastan and his friends.
Gwen laughed and admitted that it was very funny. Especially since she didn't like Rabastan, who always wanted to start a conversation with her, something she found annoying.
They were talking for almost a full hour, catching up a bit, as it had been a long time since they had talked like that. James asked about Emily, but Gwen didn't say much about her sister, just that they had drifted apart since they were each in a different year and they were dealing with their stuff.
"See you. Next time don't be late," Gwen said goodbye as she crept out of the hall.
'Next time?" thought James.