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

Chapter Thirty-One - The Source Of Magic?

Author's note: CW for emetophobia

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The next few days were a whirl of classes, homework, pranks, an awful meetup with Snape for their project which ended with both boys kicked out of the library and banned for twenty-four hours, and an extremely uncomfortable session with Jean-Marie on Thursday evening, minutes after Remus's ban was up. It was uncomfortable because Remus kept thinking how sparkly Jean-Marie's eyes were and how nice his little mustache looked. It made Remus feel hot and squirmy, and he was glad when their tutoring session ended so he could run away.

A hand wrapped around his wrist, preventing him from fleeing.

"Ah, I was—I was having a—" Jean-Marie frowned as he tried to figure out how to say what he wanted. "The Hogsmeade visit."

"Erm, um, what about it?" Remus felt hotter with the other boy's fingers clutching his wrist like that.

Jean-Marie's forehead wrinkled as he thought. "I was wondering if you would—would—show me the town? I have—it is not—ah—it is new to me."

He let go and Remus took a step back, resisting the urge to clutch his wrist. "Oh. Um, I—I'm sorry but I've never—I've not been there either," he lied. "Only the train station. This will be my first year going." And I won't even be able to be there for the first visit.

"Ah. I see."

"One of the fourth years could probably give you a proper tour."

"Tour? Rip?"

Remus tried not to smile. "No. Tour. Ah. Une visite."

His bright eyes got brighter. "Yes!" Then his face dulled slightly. "You cannot?"

"No, I—I've never been."

"Oh. I understand." A big smile. "Thank you. We will meet again on Monday."

"Yes, see you on Monday."

Remus turned knowing someone was nearby since he had heard footsteps, however he was still very startled to find Sirius standing right there. He jumped, then clutched his chest while Sirius giggled, promising he hadn't meant to spook him. Then he grabbed Remus's sleeve and dragged him off. Remus yelped a goodbye to Jean-Marie and stumbled along behind Sirius, assuming he was needed for a prank.

"Where are the others?" he asked when they left the library and found a relatively empty corridor.

"Huh? Oh, James is in detention, remember?"

"Oh, right, I forgot about that."

"Peter's on a date."

Remus dropped his satchel. "What?"

Sirius began laughing, grabbing the satchel before Remus could pick it up. "With Lily. At least, that's what I was teasing him about. No, she's helping him with some homework since you were off with Mr. Baguette."

"Jean-Marie."

"Baguette."

"Sirius, you know French, you could surely come up with something—"

"Tête de noeud," said Sirius with a smirk. Dickhead.

Remus smacked his arm rather hard. "Twat."

"That's a good insult too."

Remus smacked him again. "Give me my satchel back, jerk." Sirius twined the strap around his arm multiple times until the satchel was tucked under his arm. "Please, you're stinking it up, you don't deodorize yourself."