The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

16. The Moon Can Make You Loopy

The next week goes swimmingly, until one midnight Astronomy lesson, when our class is called to observe the moon. Now, not being all too determine to leave my bed, I arrive rather grumpily with the girls to Professor Sinistra's class.

She might just be the only one unaffected by the cold on the tower, "Now looking up, can anyone tell me what the moon's faze tomorrow will be?"

"Full moon Professor." Says a voice from the back.

"Good, and for extra points, can anyone tell me what species are affected by this?"

Hands shoot into the air, but I honestly cannot be bothered to waste energy and move mine.

"Miss Novak?"

"Werewolves." I sigh.

"Good, but I prefer if next time you'd willingly participate in lessons." Ha ha, like that will happen.

We are about to get on with the lesson, when a boy spits, "Foul creatures, deserve to be put down, the lot of them."

"What?" I turn calmly to face him, and I can just hear Marlene cursing under her breath.

"They're disgusting half-breeds, Novak. They should be hunted and tagged like the mutts they are."

Perhaps it was the heat of the moment, but all I can remember doing is taking my- VERY heavy- Astronomy book in my hand and throwing it at the boy's head.
I'm a bit sensitive when it comes to these matters... well maybe more than a bit.

"Novak! Detention!" The professor roars, rushing to the boy, who is holding his hands to a bleeding nose.
The class is quickly dismissed.

Lily pulls me down the stairs, laughing, "I didn't know you had it in you Lin!"

"Yeah..." I feel kind of numb, is that normal?

"You okay?"

"Um," my heart is pounding, "i think I'm going to have a heart-attack."

She waves her hand dismissively, "Nah, it's just the adrenaline."

"That doesn't make me feel any better."

The prospect of sleep is getting brighter and brighter the nearer we get to the common room, and I can almost feel the warmth of my pillows. Remus, James, Peter and Sirius are still up, completing their homework by the fire. Remus holds out a folded piece of parchment as I pass him, "How did Astronomy go? Not very good by the fact you got a detention slip."

The note reads in loopy slanted handwriting:
Class- Astronomy.
Time- 00:40.
Reason for detention- Assault of a student.
Punishment- See head of house before dinner.

Just my luck, it must have been sent ahead.
Sirius sounds thoroughly amused, "May I ask why you got this?"

I smirk, getting quite used to the adrenaline, "Supporting werewolf rights and whatnot."

"So?.." James pushes.

"She threw her book at a kid because he made a derogatory comment about werewolves." Lily grins next to me.

The boys all glance at Lupin for a fraction of a second, who seems to be trying hard to suppress a grin.
Strange.
Peter smiles, "Y'know what? You're pretty cool Novak."

*

By morning the adrenaline wears off completely, and I'm left with the bitter realisation that I have a detention.
The third detention in my school career.
Ma might just kill me.
I can't help staring at the slip all through breakfast.