It took a few days to stop being dubbed a traitor. I think part of the reason why it stopped when it did was because I was needed to answer a question or two for the upcoming Christmas prank. I knew they wanted information not only for a big prank but also so that they could get back at Mary and Lily for what they did. Normally I would have said no to their requests but I didn't want to forever be known as the traitor. Having friends was important to me. So I agreed to do research for them once more to which James clapped me on the back saying I was a 'good man.'
Before long everything was set, James and Sirius were eager as ever for dinner to perform their prank. There had been a quite literal count down to the prank not for break but rather for the prank.
It was like Christmas had arrived early for Sirius and James. The hour of their victory could not come soon enough but it did come all the same. We sat at our table near our usual spot which happened to be the perfect place to see everything in the hall. We were even lucky that night and Lily and Mary did not did not sit too far away.
"Ready?" whispered James leaning in toward the group Sirius' face split into a wicked grin.
"Of course!" he answered pulling his wand out, James following suit. They went to work quickly casting the spells saying them under their breath, they also targeted a few prefects which I did expect, and the last target was Lily and Mary. There was a quick uproar in which James and Sirius relished. The most intriguing was when Sirius mumbled another spell and Christmas music began to play.
I looked at him with surprise knowing I hadn't looked that spell up, "Where did you get that one?"
"You aren't the only one to crack open a book," answered Sirius in a low whisper a big Cheshire grin planted on his face.
Mixed in with the anger of those who were targeted was an applause and general approval from the spectators. From where I sat I could see that the caretaker was not pleased. Professor McGonagall's face was pinched with displeasure as well, but it seemed that Dumbeldore was amused by the prank and a small smile played on his lips a twinkle in his eyes.
Soon things seemed to calm down and eventually everyone made way to their rooms excluding those with red and green hair who went to see Professor Flitwick to fix the problem if they couldn't themselves.
"Bloody brilliant!" exclaimed James once we arrived in our dorm room. "The music was a perfect touch!"
"I thought so," agreed Sirius leaning back on his bed with a smug look. It was reminiscent of his 'I'm-pureblood-and-better-than-you' look but different. Though I had a feeling that if one tried to argue him on the fact that the music wasn't perfect Sirius would not be pleasant about it.
That night we didn't sleep much at all we talked of the brilliance of the prank and what fun we were going to have come next term. Many plans were made that night; I ended up being recruited to make a list of needed supplies for the new term. It was decided we were severely lacking in dung bombs. Then the idea of a detention wars came up to which I was recruited to keep track of. The goal was to see who could get the most detentions. I don't think it was one of the more brilliant ideas that James and Sirius had but there was no dissuading them so I became the neutral party to keep track of it all. It was also because I was good at keeping track of things and the neatest writing.
Staying up so late that night caused most of the train ride home to be rather subdued. Peter kept dozing off speaking some nonsense, which entertained James and Sirius. I spent a good amount of my time reading and nodding of. James and Sirius were the only ones truly awake. They whiled away the time conspiring with one another or playing exploding snap.
It was on the last leg of the journey that James and Sirius got bored and took to disturbing Peter's sleep. The used a feather from James' owl and began tickling him under his nose. I was awake enough that they didn't really get me; I always was a light sleeper. When Peter finally woke up, fairly grumpy, the train was coming to a halt.
"Looks like we're here mates," remarked James looking out the window.
I let out a stretch and stood Peter complained about why I wasn't bothered in my sleep and Sirius answered, "He wasn't really asleep you dolt!"
Peter looked to me to see if what Sirius had said was true, I nodded my head feeling bad for him seeing as he was a target at times for the jokes. James was the first to get his stuff down and bid us farewell and a Merry Christmas before he was out of the compartment.
Sirius and I were soon to follow with Peter lagging behind something of his had gotten stuck. I offered to help but he told me he had it so I wished him a Merry Christmas as well and left with Sirius.
When Sirius and I stepped off the train my dad immediately called me. He looked a bit worn and I was disappointed that my mum wasn't there with him. I turned to say goodbye to Sirius but was surprised not to see him there.
As I turned back to face my dad I saw Sirius with two others who looked a lot like him. One was younger a bit shorter he had slightly sharper features, a slighter frame with shorter hair. I guessed the boy was a younger brother whom I didn't know much about. He was more clean-cut but it looked like he was at least mildly pleased to see Sirius. The other was much taller and older. He held a strong look and square chin. His emotion wasn't apparent but he held his hand on the youngest's shoulder and barely addressed Sirius who looked a bit uncomfortable. Sirius stood straighter and looked like how he did when first met him. He reflected much of the look he had held at the beginning of the year. I silently hoped what I saw was not going to effect the second term.
Averting my eyes from Sirius and his family I could see James with his mum and dad, he was adamantly speaking with them. Though concerned about what I saw earlier I smiled glad to be going home. As I stepped down to greet my dad I was bumped into by Peter.
"Sorry," mumbled Peter.
I was about to tell Peter that it was no problem when all of a sudden a loud female voice called out "Petie!"
She was a short woman very petite with a slightly round face with blond hair. She was beaming and waving to Peter. She was paired with a rather tall man who seemed about as disconnected as Sirius' dad. He had beady eyes with a sharp nose and stringy brown hair. The pair were quite opposite of each other. I didn't linger long in watching as Peter approached them but opted to meet up with my dad.
"Doing alright Remus?" asked my dad drawing me into a side hug.
I nodded my head and asked, "Where's mum?"
"She's at home," answered my dad as he led the way through the crowd so we could make for home. "She's been feeling under the weather lately. She didn't want to owl you about it seeing as it was so close to your break. She didn't want to ruin your fun."
"Is she going to be alright?" I asked concerned looking at my dad who kept his focus straight ahead as we weaved between people.
"She's just tired right now," answered my dad looking down at me before we flooed home. I never really enjoyed traveling by floo, I'm still not a fan of it. The spinning and blurred images mixed with the heat and soot not to mention a montage of the smells on multiple fires was enough to make one sick. It was the one time I became motion sick was from flooing.
Once the world stopped spinning I stepped out of the fireplace and brushed the soot off. I didn't stand there for long when my mum greeted me calling out "Remus," her smile was warm as ever as she hugged me tight. I hadn't realized how much I missed home until I was back among familiar smells and being hugged by my mum. "It's good to have you home," she whispered in my ear as she chocked back tears still holding me tight when my dad came in from the fireplace behind me.
"He's home for a couple of weeks, let the boy breathe," mildly joked my dad as he rubbed the top of my head.
My mum pulled out of the hug but held me there, "Let me look at you," she insisted. Her tear filled eyes scanned me over and I got to look over her for the first time. She was thinner and more pail, here eyes were slightly sunken in and there were dark circles under them, but her same smile was still there telling me that she was my mum despite the changes in her look. "You've grown a bit," she remarked with pride, "Becoming quite the young man!" She hugged me once more before saying, "Now tell me everything about school I was to hear all about your friends."
She led me to the kitchen wrapping herself tightly in a blanket. She made some tea and poured me some to have me sit down and tell her all about school. I told her all I could recall and it brought a smile to her face.
"Sounds like you have a set of very good friends," remarked my mum, "You'll want to keep them close."
I nodded my head, it was nice to have friends but at the same time being close to them could increase suspicions about the moon. There were already suspicions and it worried me.
"How have the moons been?" asked my dad breaking in to the conversation.
"John," chided my mum, "Remus just got home let him have a bit of time to forget and relax!"
"The first few went well," I admitted, "some of my best I think the wolf was curious. But the rest have been not so good. Suspicions grow too." I looked away at my last line afraid I was going to get a lecture about how to lie once more but I didn't.
"I knew it was risky," mumbled my dad.
"Better excuses is all we need," assured my mum coughing a bit, "You can say I'm sick and not worry about lying because it is true I am." My mum wheezed a bit and squeezed my hand.
It was good to be home but at the same time I was worried about my mum. Time seemed to pass much too quickly over the break. Life took on normalness like it was before I went to school, though I did find myself helping my mum around the house a bit more.
"Remus, you don't have to help me so," assured my mum.
"I don't mind," I assured with a smile as I gathered our plates from our lunch.
"I so wanted you to relax. I'm sorry I'm so sick," she apologized.
I didn't understand why she was apologizing to me, but she squeezed my arm telling me that I was a good son.
There was a moon at years end and the wolf seemed displeased to be in the shed once more seeing as I was more beaten up than usual. Not having the advanced potions that Madame Pompfrey had my scratches and bite marks healed more slowly. By the time I was to board the train to return I still had a nasty scratch on the side of my face from the jaw line down the side of my neck. I wasn't easily hidden so my dad told me to say I was reaching for a box and it fell and scratched me. I worked and worked on the lie but I wasn't sure weather I'd be believed.
"Remus!" called James from the train as I entered onto the platform. I waved to James before saying goodbye to my mum and dad. I was worried about my mum being there in the cold seeing as she was quite sick. My mum held me tight before she whispered to me to have fun.
"I will," I promised before I turned to board the train. It didn't take me long to find the compartment where James had called from with ease. Peter was already there his eyes were quite watery and he was sniffling a bit. Before I could ask Peter if he was all right he spoke up with an answer saying, "Allergies."
I nodded my head and started to see to my things when James turned around and said, "So that's your mum and da?"
"It is," I nodded my head a grim look on my face, still worried about my mum's health.
James nodded his head and turned to take a seat across from where I was going to sit which happened to be next to Peter. When James focused on me his eyes were immediately attracted to the cut on my face and neck.
"What happened?" asked James pointing to my cut.
"I was reaching for a box and it slipped and fell on me. It cut pretty bad," I sheepishly answered taking my seat across from James. I looked out the window to avoid eye contact as James looked at me skeptically and remarked, "You are one klutz Lupin."
"I guess," I answered already feeling uncomfortable by all the question through I tried not to show it.
In all honesty I really wasn't clumsy being a werewolf actually enhanced my reflexes and I think James may have known that my reflexes were sharp. I had caught things on a number of occasions, so it begged the question of why this time?
"Where's Sirius?" suddenly asked Peter his eyes still watery, but not as much as they were when I first came in.
"I was wondering the same," answered James with a hint of disappointment looking out the window of the train as it started to pull away.
We didn't see him the entire train ride back to school, it wasn't until we got to the dorm room that we saw him and he was unusually quiet. He seemed to avoid eye contact when we greeted him. He looked almost sort of torn.
"You alright mate?" asked James knowing as well as I did something was up.
"I'm fine!" snapped Sirius, "Tired 'sall." With that Sirius plopped on his bet to sleep.