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

Chapter Seventy-Three - I Won't Be Home For Christmas

Author's note: CW for child abuse

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Remus woke up slowly; first noticing the feeling of arms on him and then breathing in the scents of his friends. He woke up fully, then snuggled down deeper between James and Peter, not wanting to get up. It was still rather chilly. He just wanted to go back to sleep... his friends were so comfy...

"Remus?"

Sirius was shaking him back awake. "Huh?" he snorted, blinking in confusion.

"Don't you have class?"

Remus stared at him then looked at the clock. It was seven-forty-five and Arithmancy started at eight. He bolted upright, swearing slightly as he clamored over Peter, apologizing for accidentally kneeing him in the chin. He didn't have enough time to do anything except throw on clothes, grab his satchel, and run.

As he ran through the corridors, he swung his satchel over his shoulder and tried desperately to comb his hair with his fingers. He also tripped twice, since one of his shoes wasn't laced up, and when he finally skidded into Arithmancy at exactly eight, he had blood all over his robes. Everyone stared at him and he tried to keep his face impassive as he took his seat, doing his best not to breathe too hard, and also doing his best not to blush when Talkalot took ten points off Gryffindor for his 'unseemly' appearance.

After class, Aegis tried to talk to him but he apologized and ran off again, this time to the loo where he finally, finally, finally emptied his bladder. He tried not to let out a groan since there was someone else in the room, but Merlin it felt good. He washed his hands, tied his shoe, and then looked in the mirror. His hair stuck out at all angles and there was a rat's nest in one section. Scowling, he carded his fingers through it until the knot came free. It still looked terrible but not quite as bad.

"Your breath stinks," James told him when he finally arrived at Muggle Studies.

"I didn't have time to brush my teeth!" Remus complained. "Thank you," he added when Peter handed him a small packet of toothflossing stringmints. He popped them in, chewing and sucking quickly before Lewis started the class.

"You could have at least tried to get ready for the day," Sirius said as he reached over and began using his fingers to comb through Remus's hair, sending bolts of wobbly heat through his body. "Your tie is a disaster, your socks don't match, and your jumper is inside out."

"I—I n-needed to get to class!" he squeaked out, hoping the stammering wouldn't sound too weird. Sirius was still trying to fix his hair. It was too much.

"Being a couple of minutes late wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world," James suggested.

"Exams. Are coming. Up!" Remus snapped, unable to take it anymore and swatting Sirius's hands away even though he also wanted Sirius to never stop touching his hair. "I've never taken an Arithmancy exam before, I do not know what to expect! It is the same for all the other electives, and for Defense since I don't know what to expect from Charlemagne, and frankly if any of you had any shred of sense whatsoever—"

"Ew," James said.

"—you'd be doing more too!"

"How's the bubble stuff coming along?" James asked.

Remus groaned. "You're not even listening to me."

"Nope. Whenever you start going on about the exams I more or less ignore whatever you're saying," James replied honestly.

Lewis came into the room and Remus swallowed the stringmints, choking a little since Sirius was now untying his tie and fixing it. "You should fix your own tie," he managed to hiss out since Sirius's tie was just in one little loop.