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

Chapter Forty-Eight - Anxiety Attack

When Remus went into his Occlumency room he found Ms. Fawley standing by the window, hands wrapped around the top of her cane. She was facing the window, though he knew she couldn't see so he wasn't quite sure what she was doing. She turned when she heard him, and smiled.

"Good evening." She tapped her cane as she went to the couch. "How was your week?"

"Pretty good," Remus replied, sitting down next to her. "It sn--snowed a lot so I've been... out in it..."

"With your friends?" she asked. He mumbled incoherently as a response. "I'm not judging you for having friends, Remus. I may not think it's safe, however I certainly don't judge you."

When they began their lesson one of the memories... or rather, thoughts that were foremost on his mind went to her, and after she broke connection she gave a little sigh. Remus rubbed his head, waiting for her to respond. I'm starting to not understand what's so risky about having friends.

"I don't think they--they'll figure out," he blurted before she could say anything, since she was taking so long. "James and Sirius are far too f-focused on pranks and causing mischief and--and Peter..." He trailed off, not wanting to insult Peter by calling him a little on the doltish side.

Fawley folded her hands in her lap. "I think you're giving your friends too little credit. From what I've seen, Potter and Black are rather astute. Besides, Black watches you. You perhaps haven't noticed so much, however going through your memories... I can see more than just you. I can see what's around you which includes him. Watching you."

"He d-d-doesn't watch me, not anymore!" Remus protested.

Fawley pressed her lips together. "Let's try something. Focus on last night. When you were studying in your dorm room..."

Remus frowned, but obeyed, closing his eyes. Fawley put her fingertips against his head and he was pulled into the memory. Unlike the usual flipbook, this one stayed. He saw himself stretched out on his bed, reading his Transfiguration book, working on calculations. On Sirius's bed sat Sirius and James, playing cards. Peter was sitting on the floor between their beds, reading a comic book. To Remus's surprise... Sirius kept looking over at Remus-on-the-bed. His eyes staring. Watching.

Then suddenly they were in another memory, one he hadn't even been thinking of. As if Fawley could go through his head like a book. It was History class. Remus was sitting up, taking notes while Binns droned on. He sat in the front, and Sirius was a seat behind him. Usually Sirius slept through History however this time while his arms were folded over his desk with his head resting against them, his eyes were open and were definitely focused on the back of Remus's head. Watching.

Then another memory. Remus and Lily were walking down a corridor together, to their next class. The three boys were walking a little ways behind them. James and Peter were talking, however Sirius was yet again watching Remus, his eyes snapping away only when Remus turned to look at his friends, to ask them something.

Then they were back in the fourth floor classroom, on the purple sofa. Fawley's hands were withdrawing from his head. "Those were just three examples however I could give you more."

"N... no..."

He didn't understand. Why was Sirius watching him so much? Did he--did he think something was going on? Did he guess? Remus began chewing at his thumbnail, heart pounding. He jumped as Fawley's hand came back to him, however she just rested it on his arm.

"There's no way to know whether he's figured it out. I... believe he hasn't. If he has, I'm sure he would have done something. Said something to someone. If you ask me, I think he suspects that there is something different about you. If you aren't careful... he will finally reach the truth."