Tuesday 30th October 1973
With Halloween and the traditional Hogwarts feast looming, Remus was keen to have the word-swapping spell perfected in time in order to have maximum reach.
“It’s fine, Moony, we all know what we’re doing.” James said, returning from quidditch practice covered in mud and soaking wet. The evenings were getting darkest and Remus hardly ever went to watch the team practice any more, though Sirius and Peter usually did. Mary always went too, to watch Marlene. She was following them everywhere, these days.
“I just think we should test it,” Remus bit his lip, watching Sirius cast a drying spell on James.
“Oh no.” Peter said, folding his arms, “I won’t be your guinea pig this time. Last time I couldn’t get rid of that patch of purple hair for weeks!”
“I’d forgotten about that,” Sirius said, dreamily, “That worked really well, once we’d figured out the kinks.”
“Do it on him.” Peter pointed at Sirius, “It’s his turn.”
“Don’t whinge, Pete,” Sirius groaned. He flopped down on his bed. “Do it on me, Moony, I’m not a coward.”
“Ok, fine,” Remus withdrew his wand. Sirius leapt up,
“Wait, you want to do it now?!”
“Well, the sooner the better…”
“What about the counter-jinx?!”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’ve got that sorted,” Remus let a smile creep onto his face. He knew for certain that the counter-jinx worked, but it was too much fun to watch Sirius squirm.
“Oh for goodness’ sake.” James sighed, getting out of his quidditch gear, “Do it to me, Lupin, I don’t mind. Only I don’t want to say any of the words on that awful list of yours. Can you do it for something else?”
“If you like,” Remus replied.
“Yeah, about this list, Moony…” Sirius said, picking it up off the bedside table,
“What?”
“Well… it’s really long.”
“Yeah,” Remus raised an eyebrow, “What’s your point? They’re all insults for non-purebloods, aren’t they?”
“Yeah,” Sirius said, scratching his chin, “Yeah, they are, but, um… well I just didn’t think there were so many. Never seen them all written out like that. And anyway, where did you hear all of these?!”
“Where’d you think?” Remus met Sirius’s eyes, deliberately. He’d been waiting for something like this. “Don’t be a girl about it, Black, it doesn’t bother me. Right, James, what word do you want to swap?”
“Evans.” Sirius said, suddenly, “Sick of hearing that come out of his mouth.”
“Ok,” Remus smiled, “Then change it to what?”
“Don’t tell me!” James said, “We’ll do a blind test so we know it definitely works. Pick something Black hasn’t come up with yet.”
Remus nodded, scribbled something onto a piece of parchment, then raised his wand, concentrating. He flicked his wand sharply at James and uttered the incantation.
All four of them stood by, silently, watching.
“Er…” Remus said, “Did you feel anything?”
“Nope.” James looked down at himself, as if he expected to see something different.
“Well, say it, then!” Sirius urged.
“Her full name,” Remus added.
James cleared his throat theatrically, squaring his shoulders. He outstretched one arm and placed a hand on his chest as though he were about to make some grand announcement,
