Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) - Book One (Marauder Era)

Chapter Twenty - Nobody Pays Attention In History Anyway

Myrtle was very excited to help Remus and disappeared from her bathroom for about five minutes then came back to tell him Filch was currently on his way to the sixth floor. Remus thanked her and slipped out of the bathroom and waited till he saw Filch zoom by then he ran down to the ground floor to give the signal. Black and Potter disappeared into Filch's office while Remus and Pettigrew kept watch, and soon the mission was accomplished and the four of them hurried back to their common room in fits of laughter.

Remus didn't want to admit how fun that was or how entertaining it was to picture Filch's face when he came back. Apparently not only did Potter set up multiple dung bombs to go off the next time he opened his desk, Black had also stolen (filched, Remus thought with a giggle) a bunch of confiscated goods including more dung bombs and firecrackers and various jokes and pranks including three different fanged frisbees, one of which Black threw across the common room and making them need to hide out in their dorm after it hit a third year and bit her ear.

They played cards for the rest of the afternoon until Remus started panicking and trying to figure out how he could escape. He could insist he was starting to feel sick however he didn't want to use that excuse every month. So at around four-thirty he excused himself and went to the bathroom, purposely taking a long time, then when he returned he trembled and shook and began lying.

"One of the--the other students handed m-me a note from--McGonagall," he said, wiping his hands off on his jeans as if he were sweating which, really, he was a bit. "My--my mother's fallen p-pretty ill. I-I-I need to go see her."

"What?!" All three of them stared as Remus grabbed his cloak, hoping none of them saw him slip a paperback book into his pocket.

"I'm sorry--"

"You don't need to apologize, mate," Black said, scrambling to his feet. "Is it really bad?"

He felt awful telling this lie since they all looked so concerned. "Y--yes, I--I suppose so. I--er--see you later." He quickly hurried out of the dorm before they could ask anything else, and made his way to the hospital wing. It was a bit early--a good two and a half hours before sunset--however he didn't mind hanging about the house and reading.

Pomfrey took him to the Whomping Willow through the drizzle and led him through the tunnel, while having an argument about whether she should come get him in the morning. He didn't want her to, she refused to listen to him. She left him at the entrance to the house and wished him luck as he climbed up into the house. She gave him a quick anxious glance through the hole in the floor and then he closed the door.

"Home sweet home," he muttered and turned on one of the lights. He recoiled a bit at the sight of all the bloodstains on the floor and at the dark hand print on the doorway leading out into the hall. He saw his own tiny bare footprints leading out as well. I'll need to try to clean this, maybe I can convince Pomfrey to let me bring cleaning solutions here tomorrow night. He went into the kitchen and rummaged around in the fridge which he knew was connected to a fridge in Hogwarts that the house-elves kept stocked up for him. There wasn't a huge selection of food but it was pretty decent. He pulled out some sandwiches and settled in the living room with his book.

At five till seven--just before sunset--he went up to the bedroom to put his clothes an book away in the wardrobe, then came back down to wait shivering in the living room.

And wait.

And wait.

Seven-thirty went by, and then eight. Remus was incredibly bored and also angry--he hated nights like this. He didn't exactly like transforming but sitting around and waiting with nothing to do was just like nails on a chalkboard to him. He wished he could see outside at least, to see if it looked like the clouds would part anytime soon.