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

Chapter One Hundred-Twenty-Two - Not Very Straight

Author's note: Happy birthday Julia!

Also debated whether or not to use the term straight as slang for hetero. While it was used in at least America in the 60s, I wasn't sure about the UK but decided, eh, as my friend said: with magic slang travels easier.

-x-

Remus had other visitors on the first day of the full moon with Aegis and Lily both dropping by. The Marauders tried to visit again during the afternoon free period but Pomfrey wouldn't let them anywhere near Remus's room, telling them (and Remus) that it was obvious they made it difficult for Remus to rest and they better be glad she'd consider letting them visit the next day, if Remus was still in the hospital wing.

After supper, Pomfrey took Remus to the house again and this time he stayed downstairs, not wanting to risk falling asleep in the bed and having to scramble to undress and get downstairs. For apparently no reason, as he didn't transform at all that night. He nodded into sleep a few times, jerking awake from the violent dreams, and then spent a lot of time pacing around with nothing on but the blanket Pete had given him. At one point he crept into the kitchen to get some food out of the fridge, though didn't linger in case he did turn into a wolf. Generally his wolf seemed to stay out of the kitchen unless something drew him in, and he didn't want to wake up to broken dishes all around him.

When he returned to the hospital wing in the morning, he was completely healed from the first night. The only real issue was how exhausted he was and how much his bones ached. Yet when Pomfrey woke him up around seven-thirty to tell him he had a visitor, he agreed because he was curious as to who would show up this early. Unless it was Lily or Aegis, before Arithmancy. Or one of the teachers? McGonagall? Maybe Fawley came?

It turned out to be Peter, bringing in a huge tray of food for both of them to share. Remus wasn't sure why Pete had gotten up so early to visit him until Pomfrey gave him a gentle smile and told him how lucky Remus was to have a friend like him. Peter beamed, and offered some of the breakfast to Pomfrey but she turned him down, as she had already eaten.

"I see you've recovered from your dropped trous incident," Remus said, snickering after the door shut.

Pete glowered. "If you're going to be mean, I'm leaving."

"No, sorry. Come on, sit down."

They sat together on the bed and began making their way through the enormous pile of bubble and squeak, Peter doing his best to fill Remus in on the lessons he had missed. He had forgotten most of them, though did say Astronomy had been awkward since Spring had spoken at great length about the full moon.

Remus made a face at that. "You couldn't even see it last night."

Peter's eyes went wide. "How did you know? I didn't think you could see out of the house."

He couldn't help but smile. "I didn't transform."

"Oh. Yeah. Of course. I wasn't thinking." Pete gave a little giggle at that. "So you feel all right?"

"Mostly. I'm very tired though and my bones hurt." He stretched his arms out, and yawned. "Oh, I wanted to ask you about Sunday. You were doing something and when we got here, you said it was a Muggle thing? I overheard you talking to Pomfrey. A way to... help someone who is drowning?"

"Uh-huh?"

"That seems really nifty. When did you learn that?"

Peter looked embarrassed suddenly. "Oooh. Erm. Well. Over—over the Christmas hols."

"You never said."

"No, it didn't really seem important." Peter stuck a huge forkful of egg into his mouth and kept it there for a second. "Last summer one of my Muggle cousins worked as a... ummmm... I forget what they're called but you sit by the swimming pool and keep an eye on everyone."