James and Sirius top of their class?

[Sam Brown]

No: HPFGUIDX 5379

In a recent discussion it was said that Lupin and Hermione 
aren't 'true' parallels because Hermione is top of all of her 
classes, whilst Lupin wasn't because James and Sirius, on the 
evidence of McGonagall (I think?).

What if McGonagall just meant that James and Sirius were the top of 
Transfiguration in their class, or possibly even their whole year? 
It's fitting that two students who mastered Animagi magic would be 
excellent at Transfiguration. And it leaves room for the 
Lupin/Hermione parallel... Lupin could be top in other subjects, I 
can imagine him being excellent at the History of Magic (which Sirius 
and James, being in my mind the more 'active' of the Marauders, would 
find boring and, like Harry, not perform particularly well at).

Anyway, just me being obsessive (again).

--> Sam