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

Chapter Forty-Nine - Jirius

I have never stayed there for myself. I've been there before for my mother's health. Mine has never been bad enough to wind up there. I've never been for my mental health though, if that's what you're asking. Also I do recognize your handwriting.

Sirius sent two responses. The first, in his normal handwriting: im sorry i shouldnt have asked - SB and then the second, in horrible handwriting: dunno what you mean bout my writing - JP

Remus had to cover his mouth to prevent himself from laughing.

It's okay to ask. If I didn't want to answer I wouldn't have. I'd rather be asked than have people spread gossip. - Remus J. Lupin

Back in Sirius's normal calligraphy: how come you dont just yell at people when they say it? plus wuts the J stand for? - Peter

Remus didn't even hesitate with a response: Because shouting that I'm not crazy just makes me look crazier. And it stands for Jirius. Remus Jirius Lupin. - SB

Sirius bust up at that one. Binns faltered in his lecture, blinking at Sirius. He bent over his desk, snorting and snickering while. Remus sat up in his seat, trying his best to look innocent. Binns just began droning again, as if nothing happened. Remus slumped down, hand over his face, shoulders shaking now from silent laughter.

*

To Remus's horror, Sirius talked to James and Peter sometime when Remus was away because right after curfew, the four were in their dorm and James told Remus it was fine if he needed 'alone time', that he just needed to say when he did. Remus bit his lip, eyeing Sirius who at least looked a little embarrassed. Remus just thanked them, keeping his tone polite.

He considered writing to his parents and asking if they knew anything about anxiety attacks but didn't want them knowing he had had one; he couldn't tell them why, that's for sure! Earlier, after Potions, he had gone to the library to try and research them in some medical books though was unable to find any information. He wasn't sure if it was a real medical thing or not, or something connected to his curse. Surely normal humans didn't totally freak out and feel all shaky and sweaty and upset and felt like their skin was being scraped when they were around their friends, did they? Was that part of the attack, or something else? Or did it cause the attack?

He was still thinking about this the following day. Then guilt ate away at him when he received a long letter from his mother, mostly about how much she missed him, and he was coming home for the Easter holidays, wasn't he? Included were a dozen sugar cookies in the shape of snowflakes. Because it was Peter's birthday, Remus gave him six of them which excited Peter. Remus gave James, Sirius, and Lily one each, broke up one for Arthur, keeping two for himself.

During lunch, some third year came over to the four of them to tell them they liked their Special Snowmen out in the main courtyard. Then he walked off laughing. Sirius, James, Peter, and Remus exchanged looks and then took off to the courtyard, wondering what the heck that meant. They were still fairly bundled up since the class right before lunch was Herbology, so when they burst into the snow it wasn't too awful.

In the courtyard were four snowmen of varying heights all with signs on them. From tallest to smallest: Barmy, Pratty, Pokey, Loopy. All of them wore Gryffindor scarves except for Barmy who had a Slytherin scarf on.

Sirius stormed over, yanking the green-and-silver scarf off his snowman, throwing it to the ground, stomping on it, grinding it down into the snow before spitting on it. Then he tried to push over the snowman to no avail. He dug his feet into the ground, pushing as hard as he could. James came over to help push, and Peter and Remus joined him. There was some strong spell on it as it wouldn't be knocked down. Remus thought perhaps if he ran full tilt with full werewolf strength he might he able to but of course he couldn't do that in front of anyone, so he just stood back chewing at his fingernails.