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

Chapter Fifty-Five - Bubble, Bubble, Suds and Trouble

"What did she look like? Can you imitate her face? What did she say? Was she furious? Did any of the teachers laugh? Did anyone at all laugh? Man, I wish I could have been there!"

James was bouncing up and down excitedly, a sharp contrast to Remus huddled on the bench with his arms wrapped around himself, moaning slightly. They were waiting outside McGonagall's office, a minute and a half before six.

"Project TJ was a success!" he added, turning to Remus. "Stop looking like a ghoul."

"We're going to be ghouls in a moment!"

James kept bouncing. "It was brilliant, brilliant, absolutely brilliant! As soon as I heard that song I knew, I knew we had to—oh!"

The door opened on its own and James grabbed Remus's hand, pulling him in. McGonagall sat at her desk, body stiff, mouth still in that impossibly flat line as the boys sat down.

"Hallo Professor!" James said brightly. "Did you enjoy the song?"

She flicked her wand, shutting the door. After that there was silence, except for James's excited heartbeat and Remus's terrified one. Finally, McGonagall lay her hands on her desks and looked down her nose at him. "Why?" she demanded, the word piercing the air.

"Why what?"

"Why did you do that?"

James tilted his head to one side. "Because you turn into a cat." When she remained silent, he continued with, "Have you ever heard the song before? I thought of you the moment I heard it, and wanted to share it with—"

"Silence!" she snapped and Remus cringed back. James's mouth slowly shut. "I can't even begin to—I don't—you are—" She stopped, taking in a slow, deep breath. "And you, Remus. I would have expected this from James and Sirius... but you?"

He looked up, everything a little blurry from tears. He tried to apologize, but no sound came out, and she obviously didn't want an apology anyway with the way she held her hand up. "You don't have to do everything they tell you to do, you know that, right?"

"We don't—" James started, but swallowed his words when she glowered at him.

"Five nights of detention for you," she hissed out. "For being so... discourteous, disrespectful, and impertinent towards a teacher, towards your Head of House! Twenty points from Gryffindor, and a five foot essay—"

"WHAT?!"

"—on how one should be polite and considerate towards their teachers, due in one week."

James slumped back, the essay being the worst part of the punishment.

Remus sucked in some air when she faced him, prepared for whatever she doled out. "Five nights of detention for you as well, and ten points from Gryffindor, and a five foot essay on why it is important for one to stand up for oneself."

Those words punctured his soul and he wanted to shrivel up into death.

"I am beyond disappointed in both of you." Even worse. "I cannot imagine what possessed you to think that was a proper thing to do, James, especially with the Quidditch game coming up."

"I—I'm still playing, aren't I?" he asked faintly.

She tilted her chin down, looking over her spectacles at him. "Only just. I did consider removing you from the upcoming game, however I shall be lenient. This time." With that she nodded her head towards the door. "You two may go."

They scrambled out of the room, James's hand finding Remus's and squeezing.

"I will be contacting your parents as well," she said and Remus would have frozen in place if James didn't yank him out of the room.