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

Chapter Eighty-Three - A Whole Gay Shop?

Even though Lily wanted Remus to continue reading the book, he knew he wasn't ready. After Runes, while all the other Marauders were at James's practice and David and Spinnet were at supper, Remus went to his dorm and pushed up his mattress. He cut into it and shoved the book there, using the repair spell to hide the opening. He would read it eventually... for Lily. Just not anytime soon.

He lowered his bed and sat on the edge, rubbing his face until he forced himself to go to his desk to work on homework. He knew he should eat, but he really wasn't hungry despite not having anything for lunch. Not even the sweets in his desk tempted him. Eventually, he gave up trying to do homework, too, and folded his arms on his desk, putting his head down until it was time to go meet Jean-Marie.

It seemed to him like the next twenty-four hours would last a thousand years, especially when his friends showed up and he had to act like his usual self, which felt like an impossible feat around James. He kept wanting to grab him and shake him and demand to know why he bought the book. He couldn't even take anything out on him, as he never stole the drizzy. He and Sirius tried, but they didn't really have much time and when they did sneak in... the drizzy had tried attacking them, so they had given up.

The night did drag on, and like most of the classes during the day, Remus hardly noticed what happened in Astronomy. When he went to bed after, he realized he'd have to get notes from Lily for all of the classes that day. She would understand.

She did, the next morning; he whispered to her about not being able to focus in class and she nodded, promising to get copies of her notes to him by lunch. She'll need to add today's notes too, he thought as Talkalot lectured them on some Arithmancy points that went over his head. He considered using Arithmancy to try to figure an answer out about James, but didn't know what to even do for that. Tarot would work though, even though his cards seemed to hate him. He had them with him, since he had Divination later.

As he and Aegis walked to Muggle Studies, Remus got his cards out and began shuffling them. Direct questions weren't exactly the best however he really had no clue how to frame the question any other way. He focused on James, on the book, and the question of if James knew or not.

Aegis read from Remus's book what the card meant, even though he obviously had no idea what the question was. The seven of pentacles mostly tended to represent things to do with finances and money. Putting the time in for longer-term rewards, and looking at the bigger picture. However, it also meant being patient, to focus on the present and that he'd get his answers soon. Obviously the card was telling him to wait until Fawley, and he grouchily began shuffling them again. Hmph, some help you are, he thought miserably.

"Does it really work?" Aegis inquired.

"Um, y-yes, usually. For me it does," he said. "Do you want me to read one for you?"

Aegis hugged his satchel to his chest, eyes huge as he nodded. His cheeks were a little pink. "Yes. Although I do not wish to explain what the situation is, so I suppose it is pointless."

"We can try." Remus stopped in his tracks, still shuffling. "Here, focus your energy and thoughts towards the cards and then you pick which card feels right."

He divided the cards into two stacks and kept dividing them up until Aegis chose a card. Remus flipped it over. "The ace of swords. Here." He had Aegis hold it while he got into the book. Since he didn't know the question he couldn't interpret the card fully, so he only read out some of the meanings. "The ace of swords represents vision and truth, clarity... force..." He glanced up but Aegis kept frowning. "It means success, being assertive, and that you're on the brink of a breakthrough." That got to him, and his friend's cheeks went pinker. "New beginnings, making the correct decision—"