When morning came, the four boys practically leapt into their uniforms, huge grins on all their faces which they tried their best to wipe away as they went down the stairs. In the Great Hall they chose seats a fair distance from the underwear, one that gave them all a good view of most the tables. Especially the teachers' table. Remus wondered what Dedenne would do. She wouldn't claim them as hers, he knew that completely, but he knew she'd give a terrific reaction. Is this bad of me? he wondered as he piled sausages on his plate. Then he remembered all his Ps and Ds, and the little bit of sympathy disappeared.
About twenty minutes later the Great Hall was fair full, as full as it would get at any point during breakfast, so James flicked his wand, sending the spell shooting upward. Remus tried his best not to watch--tried not to give away--but out of the corner of his eye he saw the yellow. Soon there were whispers and loud giggling. Now he finally looked up, casually glimpsing Dedenne as his eyes traveled upward. She hadn't looked yet. Drat. Still, there was her underwear, flapping proudly from the rafters, absolutely humongous.
The entire hall began laughing, fingers pointing. Now Remus glanced to the teachers again and yes her face was going redder and redder as she realized just what was going on. He quickly looked back up in case she spotted him. That'd give it away. James and Sirius were laughing hard, pounding their fists against the table, while Peter had his fist shoved in his mouth, tears going down his round cheeks. Remus finally gave into the laughter, sliding down in his seat a bit, covering his face while he wheezed.
Then Flitwick was trying to get the underwear down. The bra and panties pulled at the twine attached the the rafter and they were all stretched out for a moment then SNAP! The twine went and the underwear went fluttering down to the Hufflepuff table.
"They like yellow, so it fits!" Sirius said very loudly as the Hufflepuffs shrieked, several of them flailing away from the cloth. Then the underwear jerked up and went flying through the air, to the teachers' table, shrinking as they went until they were normal sized, dripping bits of this and that from where they landed on the table, in some food. Then whoosh, through a side door.
"Ooh, here comes McGonagall," Peter whispered.
Indeed she was walking stiffly down the aisle, her eyes locked on the four of them. "Did you lot have anything to do with this?" she demanded when she came close enough. Only to James and Sirius, really. Remus sat up straight again, trying to stop himself from giggling any more. He wasn't sure if they'd be caught or not. He didn't think they left any evidence behind.
Sirius fluttered his eyelashes. "Really, Professor, just because someone's caused some mayhem, does it automatically make it us?"
"Yes," she replied flatly. "Whose--undergarments--were those?"
"No idea," James said with a shrug. "We didn't do it."
"They were pretty big though, maybe Hagrid's got a girlfriend?" Sirius suggested sweetly.
"Five points from Gryffindor for your cheek, Mr. Black," McGonagall snapped, clearly not having any of it. "I'll ask you again--"
"Honest, Professor! Neither one of us put the underwear up there!" James said, crossing his hand over his heart. "Jolly good one, though, wish we had thought of it." McGonagall gave them a narrowed look then swept back up to the teachers' table where Dedenne still looked quite apoplectic.
McGonagall still seemed cross with them in Transfiguration even when James managed to transfigure his piece of driftwood into a roughly done statue of a lion. They were having a rather artsy class, attempting figures out of wood. Subject matter up to the student, so it came to no surprise that James's became a lion. McGonagall just looked at the Gryffindor symbol and gave a long sigh as if it were too much for her to deal with.
"How come she complicated Evans's stupid thing but not mine?" James grumbled on their way out of class, his lion in his hands.
Lily was a little ways ahead of them and heard this. Her piece of wood had become a lovely flower. Petunia flower, so Remus knew what she planned to do with it. He hoped her sister would appreciate it... "Yours looks like you threw it through a woodchipper and it happened to become a lion," she sneered. "Plus we all know you put the underwear up in the rafters."
"Mine's massive compared to yours!" James snarled.
"You mean your ego? I agree." Lily looked at the wooden petunia flower in her hand. "Besides, mine's beautiful. Oh, Remus, yours is lovely!"
"Th--thanks," he mumbled. He was cradling a wooden cat. "It's for Mum, she really likes cats." He often wondered how it felt for her son to turn into a canine, but they hadn't ever really talked much about it. He knew his mother had a cat before--before the bite. Apparently after the lycanthropy took hold the cat kept trying to attack Remus so they had to give it away.
"So does McGonsie, she complimented yours for ages," Sirius said. "You know, there's something cat-like about her. I dunno what I did wrong, though. She only groaned when she saw mine, took points away, and made it disappear! Honestly, taking points away for doing the work correctly isn't exactly encouraging."
"That's because you made something extremely vulgar!" Lily said, cheeks going brilliantly pink.
"Is not!" Sirius complained, folding his arms. "It's just part of the body. Nothing vulgar about the human form."
"Oh, really!" Lily sounded disgusted, not that Remus blamed her. He couldn't believe Sirius had pulled a stunt like that in class. "What's yours supposed to be?" she asked Peter.
"It was supposed to be a bird but..." It was quite lumpy and looked more like a wooden piece of coal with a few sticky out bits.
"You've got a nice tail there though," Remus said.
"Th--that's supposed to be the beak!" he wailed. "C--compared to Colgate..."
Alice Colgate was standing near them, as was Cassandra Inkwood, and Colgate had a very nicely done sparrow in her hand. Inkwood's was the only one who deviated from nature by making a decent replica of a racing broom. "Next time you'll get it," Colgate said cheerfully. "Professor McGonagall said we'd be doing this again next week."
Peter just looked at the lump of wood, shaking his head. "Yeah b--but we're also gonna be bringing those to life! What's this going to do? Roll over?"
"I really hope you don't make the same thing you did today, then," James said with a grin to Sirius who grinned right back, both of them snickering.
"You're disgusting," Inkwood said.
"Thank you," Sirius replied with a bow.
*
At lunch Dedenne still seemed out of sorts, and Remus rather wished they had Defense that day so they could see how well their revenge worked. Either way, they knew it upset her and they spent half of lunch making bets over whether or not she got her clothing back though they all pretty much agreed that she didn't. Best of all there were rumors going around that a Slytherin did it. Apparently the portrait of a vampire guarding the entrance to her rooms said it was 'someone with a green and silver tie'. When they heard this, they all quietly gave each other low fives, congratulating Pete on the absolutely brilliant idea to use another house color for a disguise. Pete pretty much glowed for the remainder of the day.
They had gotten away with it.
That evening was Occlumency and he went to the fourth floor with trepidation. Last week hadn't gone well. He still had the throbbing ache of anger and betrayal (not that she really betrayed him, it just sort of felt that way). When he went in he could tell she felt as nervous as him which gave him a bit of relief.
"Hullo," she said as he shut the door behind him. "How are you doing today?"
"Um, p--pretty good," he mumbled, scurrying over to the couch. "We pulled off a really big prank today. I think we got away with it."
Fawley smiled. "Good. You four must be keeping the teachers hopping, hmm?"
"I guess so." He sat down, heart pounding in his chest.
"Remus, dear, can we talk about last week?" She didn't even ease into it. Just threw it out onto the floor. He flinched, feeling sick. "I'm very sorry that I upset you."
He stuck his chin out, voice a little shaky. "My dad loves me."
She began twisting her cane around, sighing a little bit. "You understand why I needed to check, don't you?"
"No." Part of him did, a little tiny piece deep down inside did understand that she needed to just reassure herself, that she couldn't trust his word only, but he didn't want to admit that. "He's--he's not bad. He's a good father. He loves me. He's never hurt me."
"He hit you--"
White hot fury flared up in him. "NO!" He didn't mean to shout, it just sort of happened. "N--no, he was just--disciplining me, that's all, and I deserved it. I did!" he protested when her expression tensed. "Maybe they're right, being here is making me lax, and I can't let that happen, and he just--just--"
"Remus--"
"You're wrong." That's all he could say now, any other argument coming out as a hiccuping sob. "You're wrong."
Her hand shot out, grabbing hold of his shoulder. "Remus, please calm down. You've done nothing wrong."
He couldn't understand why she said that, she said it before. He had done something wrong. He had deserved being smacked over Christmas break--probably even deserved it over Easter. He was constantly lying to his family and taking risks--God he had showed off his hearing ability to the other three. He wanted to say all this to her but all he could do was cry because he was a baby. He could hear Mulciber and Avery chanting from the past.
Fawley pulled him into his arms, letting him cry into her blouse. He didn't even know why he started crying, just that there was something horribly deep and pulling inside that frightened and upset him. Fawley stroked his back gently until he finally managed to stop the tears after what felt like an eternity. He pulled back, wiping his eyes and nose off on his robes sleeve. He tried apologizing, but she wouldn't hear of it.
She dampened her handkerchief and began wiping at his cheeks. "You're all right," she said soothingly.
"I sh--shouldn't be crying--it's--"
"No, no, hey, it's perfectly all right to cry." Her cool fingers began raking some of his hair back from his face. "There's no shame in crying."
He gave another loud hiccuping sound then slumped back miserably. He felt stupid for what just happened. The worst part was he really couldn't figure out why. Not the feeling stupid bit, the crying. It was as though something cracked him open. Fear for his father? Anger she thought of his father in such a way? Because of one slap? One piece of discipline (which he deserved!!!!). It wasn't as though his father was slapping him around just because.
He shivered a bit, from her nails gently scraping against his scalp. It felt good. Soothing. It felt a little like a hairbrush, but different--kinda better, since it was someone's hand. Actually touching him like this, knowing he's a werewolf. He almost wanted to lean back into her and had to fight off the urge.
"How about this. We make a deal." Shhh, shhh, shhh, her fingers through his hair. "If anything happens you tell me. And I won't purposely go looking. If something happens, you lie, and I accidentally see it, I can't control that."
"Okay," he whispered, eyes closed. Is this what dogs felt like being petted? That sent a sickening lurch in his stomach. "I just... he--he loves me."
Fawley made a quiet sound, almost like another sigh. "I know."
After a few more minutes they started in on the lesson. Remus wanted to, determined to get this Occlumency thing down. It only took a couple of tries before his head hurt too much so they ended early. He made his way to the dorms, not really paying much attention to where he walked. Down one corridor he heard some hushed arguing which he initially ignored until he realized one of the voices belonged to Lily which was strange since she was supposed to be at study group. He hesitated, creeping back to the end of the hall. She was arguing with Snape. He kept telling her she didn't understand, she kept saying he should help her understand. Remus chewed at his thumbnail, knowing it was wrong to eavesdrop like this... Lily deserved her privacy. It wasn't his business. Plus he was exhausted from the emotions earlier.
He turned, planning on going, until, "...ven in Gryffindor you need to be careful of who you're friends with!" Snape hissed out in his nasally, sneery, stupid voice.
"You can't tell me who to be friends with, Severus!" Lily snapped. Remus stopped then leaned back against the wall. Snape was doing what now?! "You have no right, especially not with the way you're acting!"
"In the wizarding world status is--is more important than you could ever imagine..."
"I don't care about status!" It sounded like she stomped her foot. "If you're telling me Cassie and Remus aren't good enough for me--"
"They're--you just need to be careful." Snape sounded a bit crawly now, begging, as if he were afraid she'd yell at him again. "That's all I'm meaning."
Remus clenched his teeth, feeling rather ill. He knew Snape was saying that he wasn't good enough because he was half-and-half, however... he couldn't help but feel the truth: that he wasn't good enough because of the wolf blood in him. He wasn't. Lily should be careful. They shouldn't be friends, he shouldn't even be anywhere near humans. He wasn't one.
"I don't care if they're half-blood, or less!" Her voice climbed even higher. "You're half-blood, aren't you?"
"It's not--"
"I'm not even... even... blood at all!" Her words were very sharp, Remus could practically feel them stabbing into Snape which the greasy git deserved. "Oh! Wait no, I know, I am, aren't I? I'm Mudblood."
Remus's hand flattened against his mouth, trying to stop himself from gasping out. Snape did gasp. "Where did you--"
"Slytherins," Lily spat out. "That's where! Those awful bullies. Mulciber, and--and Avery. That's what I am, isn't it?"
"No! No! Lils, no, never--"
"But I am. That makes me less."
"No!"
"It sure sounds that way!" Her voice sounded shaky now, like she was trying not to cry. "I just don't get what the big deal is about blood! So what if my parents aren't magical? So what if Cassie's father isn't magical? Or Remus's mother? Why do you care? They're both more magical than me!"
"I--I don't. I swear, I don't."
It didn't sound like that to Remus, and apparently not to Lily either. "Then why are you so anxious about them being my friends? You think they're going to drag me down? Wouldn't I be the one to drag them down?"
"You're different!" Snape pleaded. "I promise! You're so smart! And talented! You're not like..."
He trailed off, but it was too late. "Not like what? Other Mudbloods?"
"Don't--call yourself that!"
"Don't call myself that? So, does that mean it's okay to call others that?"
"N--no... not what I... Lils, come on, be reasonable--"
"You're the one who brought this up, Sev. So tell me, make me understand, what else am I supposed to take from your helpful advice?"
Snape began breathing rather raggedly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I didn't... I just worry. I want... the best for you, that's all. You don't know what it's like. A lot of people... have... difficult feelings towards those from--from non-magical families. Or mixed families. That's why I've been trying... Well, all I meant was--in case you wanted to know. I truly am sorry. I just want... you to be... well... you know."
Lily remained quiet for a moment. "So... I should just become friends with Purebloods? Like--oh, I dunno, Potter?"
"NO!" Snape shouted so loudly that Remus jerked. "Not him! Never him, he's--he's nothing but a-a-a-a bully, a disgusting worm!"
But Lily was laughing now, so hard it made it difficult to get her words out. "Your face! That was priceless!"
"Lils--"
"Gee, I'm just pulling your leg. He is a worm, so's Black. But Remus is my friend. So is Cassie. And it's going to stay that way. And if they're not good enough for me because they're both half-bloods then that means you aren't either."
"I know..." Snape swallowed, voice trembling. "I'm sorry. I just worry about you. You're my best friend."
"I know. You're my best friend too, Sev."
"Always?"
Lily gave a tinkling laugh. "Of course, silly. Now, we better go before curfew."
Remus took off quickly, feeling a flush of guilt from listening in on all of that. He thought it quite rude of Snape to be telling Lily not to be friends with people who weren't pure, especially since he wasn't himself. He also thought it beyond awful that Mulciber or Avery had called Lily that word! He wanted revenge against them, knowing he could easily rope the others into helping him without telling them why (he didn't want anyone to know he knew what they said to Lily since he didn't know aside from overhearing that conversation).
In the common room he sat down in a chair, waiting for Lily. He wanted to at least see if she was all right. He drew his feet up onto the chair, eyes locked on the entrance until she came through. "Lily!" He hurried over, realizing he wasn't sure how to ask.
"Hullo Remus!" Her eyes were a little dull but otherwise she didn't seem too upset. "Have you been crying?"
His hand fluttered to his cheek, having forgotten all about that. "Uh--"
"Is something wrong?"
That's not at all how this was supposed to go. It was supposed to be the other way around. "I'm fine," he muttered, tugging at his sleeves. "I was worried about you."
Lily's eyes got huge now, fear spreading across her face. "I made you cry?!" she cried out, horrified.
"No! That was something else--I mean, I wasn't--wasn't crying--I mean--oh, never mind." He gave up, too flustered. "I went by the library earlier--I didn't stay--but you weren't at study group."
"No, after supper Severus wanted to chat," she said lightly. "How come you went to the library? I thought Tuesdays were your... whatever it is you do... at the hospital wing?"
"Er, yeah, I stopped by on my way back, it didn't take very long at all," he said quickly.
"That's odd, doesn't it usually take an hour?" She glanced over at the clock which said twenty till. "You must have left quite a bit ago if I didn't run into you in the halls."
"Er, yeah, she--didn't take my blood this time," he said, scrambling for lies.
"Does that have anything to do with why you were crying?"
"I w-w-w-wasn't crying!" he squeaked. "I was--sneezing. A lot." She didn't believe him one bit. "Never mind. I'm just glad you're all right then. When I didn't see you I just got a bit worried."
She stepped closer, hand on his arm. "You're such a good friend."
"So are you." He met her gaze, wanting to tell her she was a good person too, that she deserved better than someone trying to boss her around like Snape did. That her blood didn't matter one bit. He kind've wanted to hug her, but still felt uneasy about doing that, so he put his hand on her wrist and gave a gentle, hopefully comforting squeeze. She smiled. "I think I'm going to lie down, I'll s--see you tomorrow."
He went up to his dorm where his friends were lounging. As soon as he went in Sirius said he looked like he had been crying. Remus protested that he had not been crying then grabbed his stuff to get a shower, feeling quite huffy.