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

Chapter Seventy-Eight - Confundus

Remus trudged miserably into Occlumency, exhausted, vaguely hungry. He hadn't eaten much that day, spending most his meal time with books. He hadn't gotten much sleep the night before either: James and Sirius hadn't come back in till nearly three in the morning. Remus halfway wanted to ask to cancel these lessons until after exams however he also needed them, needed to learn Occlumency as soon as possible. Unfortunately Fawley noticed how tired he looked and wanted to talk for a bit before the got started. He skirted around the truth, saying he looked this way due to staying up for mischief making. She believed him until she went into his memories full of cramming.

"You resisted a little again," she said when she broke contact after a few minutes. The words should have been encouraging however she sounded worried. "You seem to be quite intent on studying."

"Yes... w-well, the exams are c-coming up in a few weeks," he replied, rubbing his temples since his head was still hurting a bit. His stomach hurt a bit too from lack of food.

Fawley drummed her fingers against the arm of the couch. "You're a very intelligent boy. I'm sure you'll pass everything with flying colors."

He wasn't sure if she'd definitely see the letter from his mother but there was a chance, or else see his thoughts about the whole thing, so there wasn't really a way to keep this from her. He might as well say. So he shared his fears about being kept home if his grades weren't good enough then told her about the bit in the letter. Fawley replied that what Hope wrote didn't necessarily mean she intended to try to keep him home just because of his grades.

"I imagine it's very difficult for her, you're her child whom she obviously loves very much. It can't be easy to be separated from you like this, with your safety in someone else's hands instead of her own."

"I know," he grumbled, probably lot huffier than he meant, but he did know this, he know how hard it was for her, she said so in almost every single letter. "But th--that's why I want good grades. That way they can know, they can see that it's good I go here."

"I understand." Fawley rubbed her chin in thought. "May I say something?"

"Er, of--course?"

She scooted closer, tilting her head with a rather conspiratorial look on her face. "I have a possible idea that you could use if your mother gets very insistent on you remaining at home. I... don't wish to encourage this sort of... falsehood..."

"I don't mind falsehood," he said brightly. "Not if it keeps me here."

Fawley laughed. "It is not necessarily a lie. However, you could... mention..." She hesitated, as if she didn't really want to say. Remus began to grow both excited and nervous wondering what on earth she could possibly say! "You never know when something to aid werewolves will be discovered."

"Er..." He deflated a little. That definitely wasn't what he had been expecting.

Fawley took hold of his hand. "I suspect that it would most likely be a werewolf who would discover such a possibility."

"I d-don't under..." He trailed off, eyes going wide. "Are you s-s-suggesting that--I t-tell my m-m-mother--"

"No, no, no, not tell. Merely..." She stroked her own cheek in thought, tilting her head upwards towards the ceiling as she figured out which word to use. "...imply. Who knows? You're extremely intelligent, you may very well one day find something one day. With a proper education of course."

Remus just sat very still, letting her words settle in him. That could work. Implying... suggesting... hinting... If his mother was so intent on keeping him at home (which he kinda figured would be happening this summer) then, well, he could... imply... that... a cure could come from almost anyone, why not a werewolf? Why not him? Course that still meant having the best grades possible. If he went home with almost all Os except for Defense and Potions then--well, he'd have to get the best grade possible in Potions too, because that'd be a probable agency for a cure. Could he pull an O? What if he did extra credit? Would Slughorn accept extra credit? If he--if he could plug up his nose then--then he'd do better!