Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) Book Three (Marauders Era)

Chapter Eighteen - Arithmancy and Albums

Remus groaned when his alarm went off in the morning. After shutting it off he rolled over, burying his head under his pillow. He hadn't had time to take a nap before Astronomy, so he was very tired. At least Astronomy itself wasn't a very taxing class—though getting there and back could be.

Sleep, urged part of his brain.

Class, reminded another.

He sat upright with another groan. He needed to get to breakfast and then Arithmancy. Slowly, he got out of bed, being as quiet as he could as he gathered his things and tiptoed to the bathroom to get ready. When he returned to his room to put his pajamas in the laundry basket, he was shocked to see James half-dressed.

"Morning," James whispered.

"Um, m—morning?" Remus shoved his pajamas into the basket before grabbing his satchel; he had already packed it for the day the night before.

"I'll just be a minute," James promised, yanking his shirt on as he dashed out of the room. Remus wandered into the corridor, listening to James wash his face and brush his teeth. James popped out of the bathroom a moment later, going back into the dorm long enough to grab his shoes.

"What are you doing?" Remus asked as they went down the stairs.

"Going to breakfast?" suggested James, sitting on the bottom step to pull his shoes on.

"You—you don't have a lesson until nine," Remus pointed out.

Two sixth years were forced to stop on the stairs, glaring at the back of James's head. He scrunched up against the wall, giving them room to pass. "No. There." James bounced up. "Come on!" He half-dragged Remus out of the common room.

Remus went along with him, very confused. "Why are you awake so early? You can sleep in another hour."

"But then you'd have to eat breakfast alone," James said, spinning around to walk backwards.

Remus grew very warm, not sure he heard right. "Oh," was all he managed to say, happiness fluttering inside of his chest. James beamed and turned back to face ahead of them as they continued their journey down to the Great Hall. James kept up a stream of chatter the whole way, not at all perturbed by Remus's silence. That was usual for the morning. Remus couldn't fathom how James had such a never-ending well of energy. Still, it was very nice to have him for company while he ate. He didn't tell James that Lily took Arithmancy too so he probably would have sat with her otherwise, though she didn't show up until seven-thirty, rushing in to cram food in her mouth, along with Cassie.

"Good luck," James said when Remus got up.

Remus ran over to Lily and Cassie. The only other Gryffindor third year around was Twycross, who followed the three of them out of the Great Hall.

"Where's the classroom again?" Cassie asked with a yawn as they approached the Grand Stairwell.

Twycross spoke up before anyone else could. "It's on the third floor," she said in a voice that meant obviously everyone should know.

Just before the staircase began moving, Aegis jumped onto the bottom stair along with a Slytherin girl—the one he had been sitting with on the train. Alexander.

"It is near the Serpentine Corridor," Aegis said, carefully going past a group of Ravenclaws to approach Remus and the girls.

"I knew that!" Twycross huffed.

Aegis rolled his eyes at Remus who smiled. "Er, Lily, Miss Inkwood, this is—this is Themis Alexander."

Alexander looked at the girls, her mouth a little puckered. "Hello," she said stiffly.