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

Chapter 137 - And The Award For Most Inbred Goes To

The weekend following the exams was full of celebration and relaxation. All the Marauders slept in on Saturday, with James being up the earliest at ten, and Remus being up last at noon; and the only reason he woke up when he did was because a school owl swooped in and dropped a letter on him. He rolled over, yanking his covers over his head.

"Five more minutes, James," he moaned.

"Hooo."

He stirred then sat up, blinking sleepily at the owl who had picked the letter up again and was trying to shove it in his face. "Nnnmmmm." Remus took it and the owl flew off. It took Remus a moment to get it open since his nails were still practically non-existent and whoever sent it had used a strong sticking spell.

It was a card. Inside was handwriting that seemed familiar until he began reading and then he realized it was his secret admirer. He closed the card quickly, peeked out from behind the curtains to make sure he was alone in the dorm, then rolled over and opened the card again.

One side held an actual note from his admirer, and the other a Shakespeare quote.

Remus. I have heard what others are saying about you. That you are not well in the head. I want to assure you I find this gossip to be poppycock. I know your friends are by your side and you are not alone, but I hope my words help you as well. Then again perhaps I am not the keenest judge on madness as what is love but a madness most discreet?

On the other side it held a quote from Romeo and Juliet with that line in it. Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs, being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes, being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers' tears. What is it else? A madness most discreet, a choking gall and a preserving sweet.

Remus read and reread the whole thing before closing the card again and staring at the ceiling. A foggy sort of image of a boy whispering this to him filled his head and he closed his eyes, snuggling against his pillow, relishing in the thought. He reached up and stroked the pillow lightly, wishing it was a boy in front of him. A cheek. A hand to hold. Maybe... a kiss...

No.

He rolled over again and jumped out of bed, burning with shame. He took a very cold shower to cool down then set off to find his friends, putting the card—and that foggy image—aside.

The Marauders had lunch (breakfast, really) before venturing outside and into the Forbidden Forest. It had been a long time since they hung out at the sleeping dragon rock, and that's where they went. Their fort was long abandoned but they simply sat on and around the rock, chattering away. James brought a fake quaffle which they kicked around. Remus even joined in, despite his weariness. He missed the ball more than not and then at one point accidentally kicked it so hard it went flying into the woods. All four sort of stood there, staring at the trees.

"You get it," Sirius said, nudging James.

"I can go get it," Remus said, stepping forward. "I lost it."

"You'll get eaten!" Peter whimpered.

Remus turned around. "What's going to try to eat a werewolf?" He spread his hands out then turned back around, going out of the clearing and farther into the woods. He used the accio spell until he could hear the ball moving and finally he was near enough that it came to him. When he bent down to pick it up, a smell hit his nose. He straightened up, nose twitching a bit, hair on the back of his neck standing on end. It felt like every last inch of him was thrumming with some sort of response to that smell.

He hesitantly knelt back down and sniffed again. He couldn't see anything and the smell seemed to be a trail, as if something had walked along the pathway. Probably more than once. Something canine-ish. With the way the smell was tugging at the wolf inside him, he almost wondered if it was a werewolf.