Edited 3/2/2022

Chapter Eighteen, Apprenticeships

With the start of the Marauders Sixth Year dawned a rather special occasion for all Hogwarts students if they so choose: Apprenticeships. A few students made full use of this, those being the Marauders which had surprised a lot of people. Remus who wanted to become a teacher was Apprenticing under the new D.A.D.A feeling much happier now with the potion Monty and Josie had made and some laws against werewolves having been removed before the start of term. He was finally taking a proper interest into his own future as he now had one thanks to his amazing friends and his amazing betrothed, Marlene. Professor McKnowen had claimed he, Remus, had a very bright future as a D.A.D.A Professor if he put the work in and Remus was going to do just that.

Sirius and James were apprenticing under the one and only Mad-Eye Moody, who was impressed with their hard work, fairness and aptitude. Moody had also stated both Sirius and James had a bright future ahead of them as Aurors if they put the work in and knuckle down as it wasn't only about the spells they knew, it was about knowing the Law so they could uphold it, stamina and fitness tests, paperwork which they will have to complete correctly after each case and not allow personal feelings to get in the way otherwise it could mean the difference between an innocent witch or wizard being sent to Azkaban or a Death Eater or perpetrator walking free.

From that moment on instead of pulling pranks -even though they wanted to desperately as Fabian and Gideon had opened up their own Joke Shop in Diagon Alley in the summer - but instead both Sirius and James were in the library looking up all of the current and old Laws and completing the assignments Moody had set in between doing their homework, Quidditch games and practice, studying for their NEWTs next year and taking laps of the Quidditch pitch to increase their stamina. They weren't the only ones who wanted to become Aurors either, many students did but within their friend group Alice and Frank were also in the same boat as the renowned pranksters.

Marlene, who like the twins wanted to open her own shop, but a boutique for children and pregnancy after spotting similar shops in Muggle London but noticed there were none in the Wizarding World, was apprenticing under her aunt Madam Chanelle in Gladrags WizardWear. And she was thriving. Her aunt was extremely impressed with her ideas and even offered to help her set up her shop for the first few months until she found her feet, but Marlene was a natural that she had no fears her niece would struggle with the shop. Plus her shop was one of a kind and would be very popular as her own shop and the two in Diagon Alley didn't specifically cater towards that clientele even if they did make things if requested. She had no doubts her niece would soon have a second shop here in Hogsmeade and she couldn't be prouder.

Now, as for Josie and Pandora whose dream it was to become a Magizologist, they were apprenticing under the one and only Newt Scamander. He had always been impressed with Josie even when she was a small child, as she always had an affinity for Magical Creatures and he could see that as she had grown that affinity had also grown with her, as she told him all about the creatures she looked after in and around her family home. Laughing when the family of Bowtruckles were mentioned, she was so much like him that Tina sometimes joked Josie could be his secret love child which was of course not true.

He was too enamoured with Tina and Mia was too enamoured with Monty for either of them to ever stray which would be and never had been the case. This is not to say he wasn't impressed with Pandora because he was; he was impressed with her as much as he was Josie. Especially when he was introduced to her familiar Haku, a Niffler and told the story of how the two girls became friends. He was glad to know that when he was gone magical creatures would always be looked after, and perhaps they would find some he hasn't found. Now that would be interesting and if they made their own book on the creatures they'd found he'd definitely support it and buy it. Smiling at the two girls they got to work on looking after the poor Kelpie, ending up soaked in the process.

***

The months had gone by rather quickly in between their classes, Quidditch, apprenticeships, helping Regulus study for his OWLs, hanging out together and the Full Moon, they were all eagerly looking forward to the first Hogsmeade trip of the year which happened to be on Saturday 16th October. The day before the Hogsmeade trip an owl that Sirius had eagerly been waiting for flew through the open window into the dorm room where he, James, Remus and Frank were relaxing.
"What's that Padfoot?" Remus asked curiously, setting his book aside. But Sirius didn't answer him as he was staring at the parcel in his hands with anticipation but also worriedly.
"Go on Padfoot. It's going to be perfect and Josie will love it." James coaxed encouragingly, Remus sat up straighter now as he knew what that was while Frank was still confused.

"Is that it?" Remus asked.
"What is it?" Frank asked.
"What if she doesn't say yes?" Sirius asked, a worried frown marring his features.
"You're going to ask Josie to marry you?" Frank asked shocked but mainly excited for his two friends.
"Yeah, this weekend at Hogsmeade." Sirius replied.
"I wouldn't do it in The Three Broomsticks though." Remus said thoughtfully. "She doesn't like attention drawn to her like that."
"I know that's why I was thinking of having a picnic somewhere private and doing it afterwards or during." Sirius said, rolling his eyes.
"What about that large hill overlooking the mountains and the village?" Frank suggested. "It's near The Shrieking Shack but private enough so anyone who visits the Shack won't bother you."

"That's a great idea. Thanks mate." Sirius said happily, feeling slightly more at ease.
"No problem. Let's see it then." Frank asked eagerly, moving closer to Sirius's bed along with James and Remus. Even though the latter pair knew what it looked like as they along with Regulus and Monty, who had all helped Sirius pick it out in the summer. Paying the rather impatient owl and giving it some water and owl treats, Sirius turned his attention to the parcel in his hands ripping off the brown paper, and opened the box only to take out a small velvet black box. Opening it up they were all amazed at the beautiful ring that was held within.
"Josie is definitely going to love it." Frank said, clapping Sirius on the back as James and Remus gave their own declarations, although James had a frown on his face.

"You do know that I'm not taking her away from you James. Even though I'll be her husband we all know you'll come first to her. Just like Pandora knows the same thing." Sirius assured.
"I wasted and screwed up so much time going after Evans, that I don't want to lose anymore time with Josie. She's my twin, my other half. I'd be lost if anything happened to her." James mumbled unsurely.
"Nothing is going to happen to her, James. She's safe, you're safe, we're all safe. All that matters is what you do with your time now, like you have this past year. Plus, we all know it's not you favouring Josie or vice versa, it's because you're magical twins and you literally can't live without the other." Remus said wisely.

"All you have to do is look at how much she adores you and you her. But if there was anyone you'd want her to be with wouldn't you want it to be Sirius? Who adores Josie just as much as you adore her, just not in a familial way." Frank added.
"You're right." James said, shaking off his despondent thoughts. "Sorry Padfoot. I truly am happy that you are getting engaged to my little sister, as much as a big brother can be anyway, but you hurt her, you die." He said firmly, glaring at his best friend, his brother.
"I'd rather die than hurt her, James." Sirius said seriously, staring into James's hazel eyes so he knew it was the truth.

James stared at him for a second, assessing him, before he nodded and smiled a wide happy smile as he clapped Sirius in a tight manly hug.
"Good. By the way, she will definitely say yes. And we'll stop off at the kitchens early tomorrow and help you get everything before we meet the girls in the Entrance Hall." James planned, while Sirius smiled like a loon. He couldn't wait for tomorrow.