Class of 1978

Chapter 7: Threats And The Sort

I'm taking over my body, back in control, no more shotty,
I bet a lot of me was lost, T's uncrossed and I's undotted.
I fought it a lot and it seems a lot like flesh is all I got.
Not anymore, flesh out the door, swat!
(Holding On To You- Twenty One Pilots)

"C'mon Remus! You can't miss Hogsmeade on Halloween!"

The boy in question gave a non-committal shrug and sunk further into the armchair by the fire, turning the page of his Potions textbook, the crackle of paper lost in the general rumble of noise that seemed ever present in the Common Room. "I have rounds that night."

James pinned him down with a look that oozed exasperation. "Moony, I'm not stupid. You have rounds at night okay, I think it's perfectly acceptable to go to Hogsmeade during daylight hours."

"You and Pete go on," he suggested lamely. "I have to catch up on Potions, I'm way behind."

The other boy frankly looked scandalized. He addressed Peter, who was currently pouring over his Transfiguration essay. "Please tell me you didn't hear that Wormy. It'll mean I'm hallucinating."

"'Fraid not." Peter didn't even bother raising his head.

"I see how much we, as friends, mean to you Moony," he deadpanned, wiping away an imaginary tear.

"You all mean plenty. But OWLs mean more."

James glared at him some more. "You are coming with us and that's final."

"Why are you so insistent on me going?"

"I paid a lot of Galleons to have a couple of Hippogriffs maul you and there's no refund," was his blunt reply.

"James."

"Remus."

"James."

"Alright," he huffed. "It's because I've had it with you moping. And if it was infectious I would've stuck you in quarantine ages ago. We're going to go, raid Zonko's and Honeydukes' as per tradition, maybe flirt with Rosermeta and watch her go red and use our new merchandise on Slytherins, a certain slimy one included."

"The two of you skipped Hogmeade last time because I didn't want to go," Remus narrowed his eyes at him. "And then snuck out later that night when you thought I was asleep." He smiled a little here as James's eyebrows shot up and he could see the latter contemplating his observation skills. "So what's different now?"

"It's Halloween," James stressed, stretching it out.

"James." A droll stare.

"Remus." A nonchalant expression.

"James." A meaningful look.

"Remus?" Slightly hesitant.

"So your intense need to go to Hogsmeade is completely devoted to the usual pranking and goofing off?" At James's vigorous nodding, he continued, "So it has nothing to do with the certain red head who is going on her first date? The certain red head whom you're infatuated with?"

"I'm not infatuated with her!" James squawked, his ears burning bright red like they always did when he was embarrassed. "How the actual fuck did we get here? This is about the lads and Hogsmeade without any birds in the equation."

"I sense a flower in this particular equation though."

"Remus, I am close to getting on my knees and begging you to shut up and nod happily and make the list of merch we have to get like you always do," James replied in all seriousness.