“Going to haunt the passage all night then, Pettigrew?” Potter asked pointedly. “There’s nothing to fear… except the werewolf in the corner.”

            The tall boy let out a bark-like laugh, Pettigrew gave a nervous giggle, and although the scowl never left Moony’s face, his lip quirked a bit.

            James felt his stomach give a sick jolt. So they were friends still. He could not understand why she preferred the company of Snivellus over him, but it always sent a hot jolt of anger coursing through his veins. 

             James was sure that his friends were just as bewildered as he was. “What d’you mean?”

            “I mean,” Celia said, moving to sit on the window sill between James and Lupin’s chairs, “that I know that you four know more about this school than half the staff do, and it’s no secret that you were sneaking around today after McGonagall forbade it.”

               “Are you alright?” she eyed him concernedly. “You’re looking rather pale.”

            “I’m fine,” he said, somewhat irritably, hoping she’d get the hint and let him brood in peace.

            “Almost as pale as Remus."