Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) - Book One (Marauder Era)

Chapter Seven - Not Gonna Bite

"S--sorry!" Remus gasped out, clutching his side. "N... n--nightmare. Sorry." He wished they'd go back to their beds and stop looking. Had he said anything...? He didn't think he talked in his sleep but couldn't be sure, and certainly couldn't ask anyone. "Sorry," he said again for good measure.

"Least it's just the weekend tomorrow," Spinnet grumbled before returning to his bed. Struthers followed, and then Potter and Pettigrew withdraw, leaving only Black still watching Remus for a couple seconds and then he, too, left. Remus shut his curtains again and then curled up, clutching his stomach, one fist in his mouth as he tried to stifle the crying.

*

Nobody had set alarms for the morning and Remus didn't wake up until nearly ten, the only one left in the dorm. He got out of bed feeling heavy and tired, the moon pulling at him already. He stumbled around to get dressed, at first in a uniform then remembering it was Saturday. He put on a battered pair of jeans and a long-sleeved top that was one of his newer pieces of clothing, which meant it was far too big for him, the hem hanging past his thighs, the sleeves covering his hands. At home he didn't care about wearing too-big clothes since the only ones who saw him were his parents. Now he felt embarrassed by it. Everyone else had clothes that fit them, it was just another mark setting him apart.

It's even my own fault, he thought as he finally began unpacking his clothes. If I wasn't a werewolf, Dad could have stayed at his better-paying job at the Ministry... As he unpacked he couldn't help but take notice of Black's clothing. It looked expensive and nice. When Remus hung up his robes he couldn't help but reach over and feel a shirt that looked like silk. It felt silky. There were so many clothes though they all looked very similar. They all screamed rich pureblood! Of course, Potter was a rich pureblood too and his clothes were vastly different, at least the outfit he wore on the train had been.

Shaking his head, Remus did his best to find places for his clothes. Black had an exorbitant amount so it helped that Remus hardly had anything. He managed to fit what he had in the drawers and a small corner of the hanging section, then he pulled on socks and shoes (old trainers, falling apart) and went down to the Great Hall, not sure when food stopped being served. Apparently ten-thirty wasn't one of the meal times so, his stomach growling since he missed dinner the night before, Remus began the climb back up to the Gryffindor tower. There he ate candy to fill up his stomach and finished off his DADA essay, and began working on the Herbology one. When noon hit, he happily took his book down to the Great Hall to get some real food.

The afternoon was spent at the back of the library, finishing up all essays he had been given and then just reading a fictional book, losing himself in another world. It was pure bliss, a huge difference from his first two days. Nothing was dumped on him, nobody called him stupid. He was clear in the back so he didn't expect anyone to really come by except since it was the weekend the library was a little more crowded than before. A few students passed by him, giving him odd looks for sitting in the corner on the floor like that. He kept reading, ignoring them.

At supper he was aware of one of the teachers watching him and he glanced up to see Dedenne's eyes on him. He frowned and then bent low over his plate, carefully eating. A few seats down the table he could hear Black and Potter discussing the pranks they had pulled that day which seemed to include itching powder on some toilet seats, and a few dungbombs in the entrance hall (which explained the lingering scent he had caught when he walked through). After Remus filled his belly he went up to his dorm to pack a bag, not sure what to take... not sure what to expect. He didn't know how long he'd be waiting till the moon rose so he took a book. Waiting for the moon was always the worst part. He also packed a chocolate bar, and a bottle of water. Then, after thinking for a few second, picked up a towel.