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

Chapter Thirty-Nine - Andy and Siri

"Not stupid," James cut in with a surprisingly dark voice. "Maybe you should talk to McGonagall?"

"No. No... I messed some other stuff up in the essay anyway," he lied. They definitely didn't buy it.

"You never mess up that sort of thing," Peter said, wriggling a bit. "You're the smartest one in the school."

"Let me see it," James said. No, commanded. He had an Authority sort of voice there.

Remus grabbed for his bag, yanking it close. He regretted saying anything, going down this rabbit hole. It led to a bad place, a possible reveal of the real reason she despised him. He just hoped he could pull himself away before pieces started being put together and someone yelled 'off with his head!'. "Just forget it."

"It can't be worse than mine," Peter pointed out.

Sirius reached and Remus jumped up, the bag swinging, accidentally whacking against Sirius. "I said forget it! I'm just being a baby." He looked so panicked it worried the other three. They exchanged glances, silently agreeing not to put any more pressure on their small friend. Remus nearly sighed with relief when they got up, apologizing for upsetting him.

*

Flying lessons the next day turned out better than Remus expected. A lot better. Hooch asked him if he felt all right to fly to which Remus replied no, and was allowed to sit out. He sat down on James's spread out cloak, the two of them watching everyone else. James glumly, Remus happily. Maybe I can get out of next week's lesson! he thought hopefully, as that would be the last one and he'd never have to get on a broom again in his life. James seemed to sense Remus's thought and said next year when he could bring his new broom, he'd give Remus proper lessons. It's not the school broom, but Remus didn't say anything in response. He watched Lily flying around. She was trying dives, similar to the one she made at the game the week before. Snape was watching her too, a smile on his face until he sensed he was being watched; when he spotted Remus the smile turned into a deep scowl.

Remus looked back at Lily who was flying higher than anyone else in the class then she dove down, pulling up last second, the end of her robe brushing against the grass. Hooch clapped, shouting encouragement.

"Oh sure, she shows off and it's all keen job!" James spat out.

"Because she's got permission to d-do that in today's class. While you didn't when you tried," Remus snickered.

"Tomato, tomahto."

It had been snowing when class started but now it began coming down harder so Hooch ended the class ten minutes early. Sirius and Peter landed with big grins on their faces, Sirius teasing James the entire way back to the castle. James grumbled and griped, shaking the dirt off the cloak they'd been sitting on. Once they reached the castle, in the courtyard, they found a much older Slytherin student waiting, her eyes locked on the four Gryffindors.

Remus felt a chill go down his spine as the girl unfolded her arms, walking right towards them. She looked very refined and haughty, her brown hair swept back in a beautiful, curly sort of bun without a wisp of hair out of place. Her Slytherin uniform was spotless, not a speck of dust anywhere, and especially not on her well-polished Prefects badge.

Remus hesitated, afraid that she had seen them tripping the Slytherins or any of the other things his friends had done, or perhaps she was related to Mulciber. But when the other boys noticed her, a great big grin spread on Sirius's face. He ran over, and the two of them actually hugged. As soon as they pulled apart, the girl began flicking off bits of dirt that had transferred from Sirius's robes to hers. At the start of school, his uniform had been as perfect as hers, but he had long given up trying to keep them clean.