the cadence of part time poets

Chapter 32: Prongs

Band on the run, band on the run,
And the jailer man and sailor Sam,
Were searching everyone;
For the band on the run, band on the run,
For the band on the run...

- "Band on the Run" Wings, 1973

Castle Hall was imposing enough during the daytime with its stone columns and endless front steps, but come nightfall the building really took after its namesake, appearing as a daunting stone palace that looked as though it housed more than a few blood-sucking creatures. Situated at the very heart of Hawkings' campus, the only building older than the hall was the church itself, which had been built before the boarding school for Britain's most well-to-do children had even been conceptualised. The only modern-looking thing about it was the flat roof, which made for very good pranking as far as Sirius was concerned.

"It always looks so creepy," James said as they skirted around the bushes lining the driveway and made their way up the pavement.

"I think I saw someone in the window!" Peter whimpered, pointing to one of the old stained-glass windows. All the windows were sitting dark, as the hall normally was past sundown.

"Pretty sure it was just your torch's reflection, Pete," Remus said. Peter looked down at the metal flashlight in his hand and clicked it off for good measure.

"No one's around, you ninny," Sirius hissed, the first one on the steps and zipping up them with about as much energy as a jackrabbit on dexys.

Peter scowled after him bitterly. "If Filch catches us I'm letting him skin you first."

All four of them went up the stairs together, their trainers scuffing across the stone until they made it to the top flagstones. Bending down in front of one of the double doors, Remus snapped his fingers at Sirius until he handed him the hairpins.

"You think Mary's going to start noticing she's missing a few of these?" He asked, bending them into the right shape before sliding the bits of metal into the lock.

"Nah," Sirius said, leaning back against the wall next to him and clicking the spring of his lighter; "girls always have an endless supply of 'em."

"Yeah but you plucked those ones right out of her hair today," James mused.

"I know. Thought she was going to murder me when her hair puffed up like that."

James and Sirius shared a cheeky fist-bump before James turned his back to the front doors while he kept watch of the front lawn. Peter did the same, though he appeared distinctly more nervous about the whole affair; it was one thing to break into an empty church or his own AV room after hours, another to bust into the Headmistress's office when anyone could just happen upon them.

The thrill should've bothered him—he didn't have time to spend another month in detention if he was going to beat Sirius come exam time—but Remus was too delighted by the idea of the prank to care all that much for nerves. It was a simple task really, apart from the manual labour, and no one would get hurt so even if they were caught the punishment couldn't be that bad. Right?

"Jesus, Lupin, I thought you said you were an expert on breaking and entering?" Sirius huffed when Remus failed to get the door open after several minutes.

"I never said anything about being an expert," he shot, "you just always assume whatever's most convenient! Why don't you stop your whinging and get me some light?"

Instead of reaching for Peter's torch, Sirius bent down next to him and clicked the lighter on, holding it next to the door handle where he was working. It was a pathetic attempt but Remus knew without even seeing his face that he was just being an ass anyway.