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

Chapter One Hundred-Thirty-Six - A Good Repercussion To A Bad Thing

Author's note: just in case there is any confusion petalpipper is something I completely made up. Also CW for vague homophobia.

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There were six chairs waiting and they sat down—Spinnet, David, Peter, Remus, Sirius, and finally James at the end. David, Peter, and Remus all knew the three of them were sitting where they were to keep distance between Spinnet and the other two. Remus wasn't sure if the others knew what was going on. He suspected it had to do with all the fighting and sure enough...

"I have been seeing rather a lot of some of you lately," Dumbledore began, smiling benignly. "Minerva has informed me of what has been going on today with the fights and... other things. Misters Black and Spinnet, am I correct to understand the two of you got into two physical fights this afternoon?"

"Sure did," Sirius said proudly. "He's been spreading lies about Remus—"

"I have not," Spinnet argued. "I've only said the truth—"

Sirius leaned forward to look down at him. "Bugger off, Spinhead. You've been spewing more shit than a hippogriff's hind e—"

"That is enough," Dumbledore said, raising a hand. Sirius shrugged and sat back. "Mr. Spinnet." He linked his fingers together. "Morrander. Have you been saying things about Remus?"

Spinnet crossed his legs and folded his arms. "Only the truth, that he's a Saint Mungo's case that—"

"Oh, shut up!"

"Sirius," Dumbledore warned. "Let Morrander speak."

"They both should be locked up," Spinnet said, jaw tight.

"Have you been telling the other students you do not feel... safe in your dorms anymore?"

Remus knew he should sit up properly but at those words he pressed himself as far back into the chair as he could get so he could put his feet on the seat too and hug his knees. The mess had gotten worse, and he wished he never lied in the first place. Maybe things wouldn't have turned out this bad if he had only told the truth, but he had just been trying to protect Sirius!

"That's right," Spinnet confirmed. "Because I don't. Between Loopy and Black... I'm scared for my life."

Sirius laughed. "What, are you expecting to wake up to find me looming over your bed with a knife in the middle of the night? Please."

Now Spinnet leaned forward. "It wouldn't surprise me!"

"I'd be surprised if I woke up to somebody standing over me with a knife," James interjected. "Does that happen often enough to you that it isn't a surprise anymore?"

Spinnet gave Dumbledore a desperate look. "Do you see what I have to put up with?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "Morrander, I do doubt that you fear for your own life. That does seem a little extreme."

Spinnet gave a loud sniffle. "All right, maybe not for my life, but I don't feel safe around them. Look. Professor. I tried. I've tried for three years. I—I can't take it anymore." He began ticking off his fingers. "Lupin has those bloody nightmares and yes, there are the curtains, but they don't do any good when he falls out of bed." Remus put his hands over his head, trying not to get too upset. Trying not to cry. "Now he's gone and destroyed the dorm because he got a little upset—"

"Peter could have died, that is more than enough to be upset!" James snarled.

"And I did it, not him," Sirius added.

Spinnet ignored both of them. "—and frankly, half the school knows he isn't in his right mind. I don't know what he's sick with, and I trust you wouldn't let someone contagious come to the school, but I don't want to be around him anymore. And Potter... Potter's always on his high broom, acting superior, like he's better than the rest of us and deserves to be bloody worshiped! He's always pulling pranks and doing weird stuff and doesn't have any respect whatsoever for other people studying or sleeping. And he NEVER shuts UP! But Black—Merlin! He's the worst!"