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

Chapter Sixty-Four - Easter

The trip back home was spent listening to the Muggle radio instead of talking which for Remus was a great relief as he didn't want to continue spouting lies at the moment. Instead he closed his eyes, letting the music swallow him up. Music soothes the savage beast, he thought with a small smile.

When they approached Dragon's Field, Hope grew more animated. "You're going to be so happy!" she said as they pulled into the garage. "It's wonderful."

Remus got out of the car, wondering what happened. Then when he went into the house he came to a halt, staring at a big banner stretching across the room. Happy Birthday! Magicked confetti drifted down from the ceiling, disappearing as soon as it touched the floor.

Hope came up behind him, bending down to hug him. "You didn't think we wouldn't, did you?" she laughed, kissing his cheek. "My baby boy is twelve!"

"Happy birthday," Lyall said, sounding not quite as excited as his wife. However he pulled out his wand and lit the candles that were stuck in a great big cake, then he and Hope sang 'for he's a jolly good fellow' while Remus thought of a wish.

I wish for me to be able to stay friends with them, he thought, then blew out all the candles. Hope cheered while Lyall began cutting out thick slices of the gooey chocolate-y goodness. Remus got it all over his face while his dad chattered about how the shop had been doing, and Hope talked about some magical plants she wanted for her garden. Then Remus answered their questions about school, mostly just repeating things he had already said in his many letters home. Hope glowed with pride hearing about all his good grades (almost, he barely talked about Defense; he didn't want them knowing Dedenne despised him for being a werewolf).

It felt super cozy, and made Remus happy. He had been worried that things would be weird like they had been during Christmas however already these holidays were shaping up to be a good couple weeks.

*

The first full day of the holidays was spent getting dirty out in the garden, helping his mother prepare for the upcoming planting season. Hope's garden was one of her pride and joys--especially for a Muggle woman who took care of loads of magical plants. This year she really needed some help as some weeds had grown that she was having trouble with.

"Your father's just so busy I hate to ask him," she said when she pointed the creeping ivy out to Remus.

"It's resulto ivy; rebound ivy." Remus crouched down, recognizing it from Herbology class. James and Sirius had had a fun time throwing things at the ivy, watching the items bounce all over the greenhouse until Professor Sprout shouted at them. Near the end of class Sirius had pushed James into the ivy and the entire class laughed as James bounced around until the ivy finally got him off of it. James had lay on the ground shrieking with laughter and wanting to do it again but Sprout took away points from both of them and practically shoved them out of the greenhouse.

"I've tried everything--"

"It's very resilient." He poked at a leaf, feeling its springiness as it forced his finger back. "It repels almost anything."

"I looked in the book your father gave me but couldn't find it."

Remus stood up, wiping his hands off. "You're gonna have to dig it all up."

Hope's face fell. "There are good plants underneath--" Then she just sighed. "Well, I suppose if there's nothing else."

They spent ages hacking at the ground, trying to avoid touching the ivy with the trowels because whenever they did the trowel would just bounce heavily off the plant and go flying. More than once they had to duck down to avoid being hit from a careless smack. One time Remus accidentally whacked the plant so hard the trowel flew clear over the garden wall and he had to climb over to get it while his mother laughed so hard tears came pouring out. He sat on the top of the wall, freezing up as he realized the wall was a bit higher than he thought. He didn't want to climb down, climb back up, climb down again!