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

Chapter One Hundred-Twenty-Seven - By The Lake

Author's Notes: More era appropriate negativity regarding mental health

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Thursday morning dawned, and Remus hoped maybe everyone would move on from the previous day's gossip. He, Lily, and Cassie went to breakfast and as soon as he sat down he heard the whispers again. He ate his food, trying not to appear too angry—violently stabbing his food might make him feel a bit better but certainly wouldn't help the gossip. It wasn't really so much that the students were whispering that he was crazy... he had been fairly honest with McGonagall that that didn't bother him as much as it probably should. He just hated that the students were whispering about him period. He hated being looked at, being seen. He wanted to stay in the background and now he couldn't until they found someone else to gossip about.

At least Mulciber hadn't started gossiping about what Spinnet told him, or if he did it hadn't caught on. Perhaps, Remus thought hopefully, he did, and nobody gave it much thought. All right, a bit of wishful thinking, but he clung to that hope as he went to Arithmancy. At least during that class he didn't need to deal with whispers, as Talkalot lectured and if he caught anyone whispering he'd be mad.

"Anything new?" Aegis asked as they headed to Muggle Studies. "No. Only the same thing that has been said. Why?"

"Just making sure," Remus mumbled. "We're being followed."

"Yes, I noticed."

Mulciber and Avery were at a distance, but definitely following the two of them. They whispered back and forth but were far enough away that Remus couldn't really make out anything they said. Luckily they disappeared as the boys approached their next classroom. Remus dropped his bag next to his usual seat and sank down, relieved the two Slytherins had disappeared yet worried about what they might be planning; also worried the Marauders had taken revenge out on the wrong person. It could have easily been Mulciber and Avery who messed up the locker room and library. Actually, it would make more sense to have two people involved. If it had just been Snape he would have needed to either run a lot or else sneak into the library in the middle of the night.

"Good morning!" Professor Lewis said cheerfully as she bustled in from one of the storage rooms, carrying several boxes. "I have quite the day planned for us, and I hope you're as excited as I am!" She set the boxes down then picked one up, beaming. "This is called a model. Muggles like to—yes?"

Archimedes Bottlebrush lowered his hand. "I had a question, Professor. Not about... those but something else about Muggles." He propped his elbows on his desk and grinned. "I was wondering, what do Muggles do when one of them goes crazy?"

Remus felt his face heating up.

"We have Saint Mungo's, and potions, and things, but what do Muggles do? How do they deal with lunatics?"

Lewis lowered the box. "That is a very interesting question, Mr. Bottlebrush. The history that Muggles have with asylums is quite a dark and frightening one, although our own history with treating mental issues is not exactly clean hands." She hopped up onto her desk, looking even more excited. "The—oh, yes, Mr. Potter?"

James lowered his hand. "Can I ask why Bottlebrush wants to know?"

Lewis adjusted her glasses. "I assume it's because he's curious... am I wrong?"

Bottlebrush sat up, looking innocent. "Yes, that's all."

"Why's it on your mind?" James demanded.

"Not everything has to have a reason, Potter," Bottlebrush snapped back.

Lewis clapped her hands. "Now, boys, no arguing. Mr. Potter, do you think Mr. Bottlebrush has an ulterior motive?"

"I do," James said, squaring his shoulders. "Everyone's been saying awful things about Remus lately, that he's crazy. Which is not true. But I think Bottlebrush just wants to throw it in Remus's face."