Mischief Managed Y3: Anthem of Lamentation

Chapter Four: Unclear Signs and Warnings

Summary:

What's worse than one missing friend? Two.

James is pretty sure he will never be happy again and you can quote him on that.

Only...it's probably a good thing no one did because a letter leaves his hopes soaring and his head spinning. It's time to call for reinforcements.

But first, he needs to survive a conversation with his parents, always dangerous nowadays with all the secrets he's hiding. Only to protect Remus he puts himself on the gallows which leaves him biting off more than he can chew.

Song: Liar by The Arcadian Wild

I sense there's trouble ahead

It's clear by the signs and the warning

That should tell where all blame is due

So why are they pointing at my head?

.................................................

Throughout the following week, James' mum made a valiant effort to lift his spirits and prevent them from hitting rock bottom. He confided in her the little he could of the situation, and his mum did her utmost to console him. She conveyed to him that, although it was far from ideal, many families had resorted to living off the grid in these troubling times. Although she hesitated to mention it, she explained how the evidence of alcoholism found at 'Frank's' old house hinted at deeper issues lurking beneath the surface.

He had wanted to snap back with a sarcastic, "No, duh," but he knew they were just trying to help. He tried to let the words help; he genuinely did, but what they thought a consequence of the war, James knew with certainty had more to do with a bigot's son being a werewolf.

He continued to voice his concerns, desperately clinging to the hope his mum's calm and confident reassurances would ease his inner conflict. Deep down, he wanted to trust her completely, but she didn't have the full picture. James knew his parents weren't entirely convinced he was being honest with them. He couldn't blame them, considering he was withholding certain truths. Each time he spoke about his missing friend, he was forced to use the name Frank instead of Remus, a constant reminder of the facade he had created. This left James torn between his unwavering loyalty to his friend and his obligation to his parents. The act of lying to them felt like a betrayal; every question he dodged somehow reminded him of getting slammed with a bludger. He despised the scarcity of details he could share, the weight of his friends' secrets a necessary yet unwelcome burden.

The ongoing emotional turmoil made him miss Corbyn, and he wished he had spoken to him at the beginning of his second year. At least the DADA professor would return as the Care of Magical Creatures professor. Regardless of how summer ended, he sensed he would need the man's wise counsel. After all, Corbyn accepted Remus, lycanthropy and all. James groaned whenever he reminded himself he hadn't yet tried to gauge his parents' stance on dark creatures, haunted by their potentially unfavourable responses.

He still felt somewhat foolish for breaking down in front of Peter, but when he wrote to his friend, the reply he received offered no judgment—only understanding. Peter had even written Lily, Patricia, and the Prewetts, asking if they had heard from Remus. And because his mate was a lifesaver who knew James needed some cheering up, he'd included Lily's letter. As he unfolded her letter and re-read her familiar looping penmanship, a tiny spark of joy illuminated what was becoming a crummy summer.

Dear Peter,

Thank you for writing to me. I haven't heard anything from you boys all summer. No one informed me Remus didn't have the mirror, which is why I hadn't reached out. It is very concerning if he genuinely doesn't have it, so please let me know whether you're being truthful or just avoiding sharing. I can't stress enough how worried I am about him. Of course, if you're not being honest, I'll be cross, but less so than if I know no one has heard from him yet, especially considering how late in the month it is.