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

Chapter One Hundred-Eighteen - Still And Always Remus

Author note: just CW for continued discussion of what's been happening, plus Remus scratching at himself.

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The Marauder dynamic had changed, at least for the time being. Nobody seemed to know what to say or how to act. It hadn't even been like this even after the lycanthropy reveal, though Remus knew he was a bit more willing to talk about that then Sirius was about his parents.

Remus stayed under his bed all evening feeling protected and safe by the cramped quarters, and didn't see the others until around curfew when they returned. Well, James and Peter returned. Sirius didn't come back until nearly ten pm. That's when James said Remus was still missing, and Sirius looked under Remus's bed.

"I'm fine."

"He's fine," Sirius said, straightening up.

James bent over. "Have you been there the whole time?" Remus nodded. "Oh. Sorry. Didn't... erm, didn't realize."

"What's he doing under his bed?" Spinnet asked.

"None of your business," Sirius said, voice so icy that it could have froze the entire dorm. Spinnet seemed to agree since he remained silent.

Remus didn't move, not even to get into his bed. He slept fitfully underneath, having horrible dreams of Sirius being tortured with the Cruciatus curse. The the third time he woke up he banged his head against one of the slats, and had to cover his mouth to stop himself from crying out. That's when he finally slithered out and got into his bed properly, mostly so if he had more nightmares he wouldn't wake anyone up.

He did have another, at around four in the morning. He bolted upright, a scream tearing from his throat followed by a sob. He hunched over, biting into his sleeve to stop anymore sounds from coming out while also listening. He could hear Sirius moving... but the other boy didn't come over. Once he felt that Sirius had gone back to sleep (or was pretending) he got his bag and went to get a long, hot shower. Despite being only about five-thirty when he was done, he got dressed, gathered his things, and left not only the dorm but the common room. He went to the nearby secret stairwell and sat there, staring blankly at a half-finished scroll of homework.

His head throbbed and his body felt hot, and it was too difficult to concentrate on doing anything besides mulling everything over. There was a lot of hate and anger boiling inside of him made worse by the fact he didn't know what was going to happen to the Marauders now. If Sirius wanted to avoid them. If Peter wanted to avoid Remus. Pete hadn't responded at all to the fact Remus was under the bed. Hadn't said hello or goodnight or anything.

And when the four sat down to breakfast in the Great Hall, Peter kept his eyes on his plate. In any case, Remus's other fear wasn't happening: Sirius was with them. He was still stiff and quiet, but at least he was there.

The morning continued like that, feeling worse with each moment that passed. The silence was painful and felt unending, like a thick fog that wrapped itself around them. The free period after History was the worst and Remus wanted to tear himself apart to make it stop. He tried desperately to think of something that could fix it. Something. Anything! But nothing came to mind, and the four went to lunch in the same awkward, miserable silence. James and Peter on one side, Sirius and Remus on the other, none of them really talking.

Then suddenly James put his fork down, leaned forward, and opened his mouth to say something. Remus had no idea what was coming and was surprised when James announced quietly, "Let's play a prank tomorrow. A big one."

Sirius, Peter, and Remus all stared at him in silence.

"Come on guys," James added, almost in a pleading way.