Life choices (Remus Lupin Marauders era)

Chapter 8

I keep on some leggings and underwear under my pyjamas as I pretend to go to bed. I listen to all the girls chatter and occasionally join in with my whiteboard and pen. It dies down eventually though and I wait until I hear their soft snores before carefully pushing back the covers and slipping out of bed. I pull on a dark sweater and pull the curtains around my bed in case they wake and suddenly see me gone.

I creep out of the door and down the corridor to the portrait hole, I slip through and silently run across the passage, carrying my boots and running in just my socks to muffle the sound. Some of the portraits wake and yell out in surprise but I just ignore them and keep running.

I stop when I get to the portrait of a dark forest and a shadowy looking figure between the trees. The figure nods at me and swings open so I can climb through the small hole in the wall.

I crawl through the cramped space to where it opens up at the bottom of a tree. I use the roots to help me scramble up and arrive in the centre of the forest. I pull on and lace up my boots.

Time to feed.

I quickly set about tracking down my prey and attacking. A part of me always feels bad at what I've done, I've killed a living creature so I can function properly. After I've drained the deer I drag the carcass to where the threstrals live and drop it next to them. They tentatively head towards the meat and sniff it before munching away. I smile and stroke their flanks, letting the calm of the night wash over me.

A howl breaks my peace and shatters the calm aura of the night. The threstrals panic and start to make small whining noises, some flying away and others scattering about the place. I look towards the source of the noise and see nothing in the darkness.
Another howl and growling noises sound far off in the forest. Whatever it is, I don't want to get mixed up in anything more. Look where it got me last time, I'm a vampire now.

I flit back up up to the house through the passage. My muddy boots swinging by my side. I'm halfway back to house when there's a massive crash and a whooping sound. I duck behind a suit of armour and peer around to see Peeves crashing and sliding down the banisters.

"Oh look! It's the mute!" He shouts, pointing at me and laughing. "What are you doing out of your bed?"

I grip hold of my wand and think of a suitable spell in my mind. I smile as the perfect one appears. I point my wand up at him and start writing.

Make any more noise and tell anyone I was here I'll set the bloody baron on you. I threaten.

"He wouldn't listen to you! How can he? You can't speak!"

We actually get on pretty well, he invited me to his death day next week, did he invite you?

Peeves looks sad and shocked. "No! How'd you know 'bout that?"

As I said, we get on well, now go! And don't tell anyone.

He grumbles and glides away, looking over his shoulder to me whilst trying not to and glaring. I laugh as he flies through the wall and out of sight.

I have a good hearing and a good memory. I was sort of talking to Nick about it the other day. He was worrying about death days in general and told me that the barons was next week.

I happily walk down the corridor, oblivious to my surroundings once again. Mrs Norris comes around the corner and meows very loudly. Cats aren't as easy to shut up as ghosts though. I try to conjure up a mouse or something to distract her but she just sits in front of me and meows at the top of her lungs.

"Aye my love, what's here?" Filch appears and scoops her up in his arms. "Ah yes, the Prewetts sister. What've they put you up to eh? Why're you out here now?"

I shake my head and get out my wand to explain.

"Don't you dare threaten me! Detention!"

I frown and want to argue back but it won't help my case any more. It must be early morning by now. I hang my head, ashamed at myself for being caught.

"Boys! Detention all of you!" Comes his shrill cry. "I do love setting my own punishments." He rubs his hands in glee. "Still don't think that detention is punishment enough to though. Why can't we use the stocks?"

I look up to see who else he was talking too. The four marauders stand there, Black and Potter supporting Lupin between them.

"The five of you report to me tomorrow night for detention."

How many times does he have to say the word detention in the space of two minutes.

Perfect. Just how I wanted to end the day.