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

Chapter Forty-Four - A Normal Conversation

Remus slept.

He slept so much that when he awoke on Wednesday morning he couldn't believe how much he had slept. After James and Peter were done with their Occlumency, the Marauders had returned to their dorms where Remus changed into pajamas, crawled into bed, and fell asleep again. He woke up once to use the loo but fell asleep quickly after.

"You needed that," Peter said as they went down to breakfast, Remus marveling at what happened.

"Seriously," James agreed, flinging an arm around Remus's waist. "You look better than you have for a week now."

"How do you feel?" Sirius asked.

Remus shrugged. "Better, I guess." He did. He didn't exactly feel rested—he wasn't sure if he'd ever actually feel rested—but he did feel better, and less exhausted.

"Were you going to tell us what's going on?"

Remus looked up at Sirius, ignoring the uncomfortable shiver that went down his spine. "I already told you. Wolfsbane, full moon, the fight with Lily... it did me in."

Sirius stopped in his tracks, folding his arms. "There's obviously more than that."

Before Remus could respond, James grabbed Sirius by the arm. "Come on, twat, before all the bacon is taken. Hey, that rhymes! Hah!"

Remus wondered if James had done that for him, and had the feeling he had. Sirius glanced over his shoulder at Remus as James dragged him off, and he knew this wasn't the end of it.

He still felt rather buzzy, like there were millions of bees flying around inside of him. The buzziness grew when he saw Lily at the Gryffindor table. His head pulsed with each step, her voice hammering into his head with each pulse, reminding him that she knew; that she was like him.

It felt like everyone in the room was looking at him, even though the only people glancing his way were looking at James and Sirius.

"I've been thinking about costumes," James said after the four of them filled their plates.

"We're going as spells, right?" Pete inquired.

James waved his fork around. "I don't know how much I want to do that anymore. If you three do, we will, but hear me out. We'll probably have to explain to people what we are, like we did last year with the Mustardeers."

"Musketeers," Remus mumbled, hoping it wouldn't be too difficult to be a human today. It felt so strange that the world was simply going on around him.

"I want to go as something everyone will know without having to ask," James continued, ignoring Remus.

"Like what, animals?" Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't really want to do that."

Remus ducked his head, knowing Sirius wouldn't mind dressing up as an animal, he had only said that for Remus's sake. At least he wasn't mad at Remus, even if he wasn't pleased. "We can go as animals."

James frowned. "Nah, don't wanna go as animals. Too many people go as animals."

"What then?" Peter asked. "Famous wizards?"

"There'd still be some people wondering who we are," James said. "No matter who or what we go as, unless it is something that every single student in this entire school would know upon sight."

"So, animals," Peter said. "What else is there? Plants? Trees? Furniture?"

James opened and closed his mouth. "Er, I—I haven't figured it out yet. Was hoping you might have some ideas. I just want to be known, without a doubt."