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

Chapter Fifty-Eight - Remus And Sirius's Suspicions

Author's note: the mist woman's manor is a vague reference to the books by Sarina Langer, and when they are mentioned the names in those books will be taken from Sarina's books; she's an excellent writer and you should definitely check her stuff out sometime! She gave me permission to use her stuff as fictional books in SL, thank you!

Also I want to talk a little bit about Kirke's punishment. I thought long and hard about it and decided not to expel or suspend him from school. This is a world where wild magic stuff happens all the time. Students are turned to stone or get parts of their bodies transfigured... so I am sorry if it doesn't seem harsh enough punishment to some but I hope you can understand. Thanks!

-x-

The Marauders didn't visit Remus again that day, although Aegis did after the game. He grudgingly admitted that Gryffindor beat Ravenclaw, 160 – 10. They chatted for a while, discussing some of their homework and some other things. Mostly theories about an upcoming book they both wanted to read, the fourth in a series. They both agreed that Kaida was most likely going to be killed, but disagreed about who was going to take her place as head potion mistress of the estate.

"I have it ordered already, do you?" Aegis asked.

"N-no..." He would only be able to read it if and when it came to the Hogwarts library, or if he somehow found it for cheap in a bookstore.

"You can borrow it when I am done, if you wish," Aegis offered, and Remus happily thanked him, glad he had at least one friend who was interested in The Mist Woman's Manor series.

Pomfrey shooed Aegis out, and shortly after took Remus to the house where he slept for the remaining hour until sunset. After waking up and stripping off, he sat in front of the fireplace with a blanket around him, waiting for the transformation which never came. He slept on and off throughout the night, waking up several times feeling a near-tug in his bones... but by the time morning came, he had spent the entire night as a human.

It was still raining heavily when Pomfrey fetched him, and they sloshed across the wet grounds to the castle. Remus ached to ask her if she knew anything about James and finally gave in after he changed into dry pajamas and was situated in bed.

Pomfrey put a serving tray across his lap, saying all she really knew was that Gryffindor had lost a hundred points. Remus flinched, wondering who had lost the points. James or Kirke? Surely if James was expelled Pomfrey would know, right?

Almost as soon as he finished the eggs and toast for breakfast he heard voices out in the hospital wing. Pomfrey shouting at someone to slow down, hurried footsteps, Pomfrey telling someone they needed permission first—and then the door burst open.

Sirius ran in. Then Peter. And then—

"James!" Remus put his tray on the table and got out of bed, flinging himself against his friend, hugging him tightly. "You're all right?"

James laughed, hugging back. "I am! Furious, and wishing my parents would sue, but all right!"

Pomfrey glared in. "Ten minutes," she said.

"Please, Madame Pomfrey, I know a lot happened yesterday," Remus begged.

The nurse sighed. "Very well, half an hour. But no jumping on the bed."

The Marauders all took their usual places and this time it was Peter at the foot of the bed and Sirius next to Remus. James sat on the edge of his seat, eyes sparkling, face a little flushed as he told Remus everything. He started from the beginning, going over what Sirius had said the previous day, then filled in the ending which Remus didn't know.