Title: Where are they?

Theme: Stalling for time

Year: 4th

"Bloody Hell," a normally controlled Remus said, "Bloody Hell. Where are they?"

He had been standing inside of Professor McGonagall classroom, pacing about for the past ten minutes. She had been patiently waiting until she finally spoke up.

"Mr. Lupin, you don understand that the detention has already begun." She paused, waiting for a response. When she received none, she continued. "And, by Hogwarts rule, if they do not come in the next ten minutes, the four of you will have to do three weeks of detention instead of one."

"But, Professor," Peter, who had been sitting in the back, whined, "We haven't even done anything."

"I understand Mr. Pettigrew," She said sternly, reprimanding him, "But it is the rules, and you must understand that."

Remus continued pacing.

one minutes later, he finally said something. "I swear professor, Sirius said the two of them would be here soon."

"And you trust Mr. Black with the incriminates of time?" She asked, a small smile passing across her face.

Maybe not the best idea to listen to Sirius.

"What did they have to do that would make them so late?" Professor McGonagall asked innocently.

Remus was at a fork in the road. Tell the truth, or make up some story that could possibly stall for time. He chose the latter.

"Well. . . "Remus started, feeling nervous as he was not what you'd call a great liar, "They were supposed to go talk to Professor Slughorn about some potion they weren't able to get in class."

She was silent for a moment. "I didn't know Horace spoke to students on Tuesday nights. Unless, of course, they were at the Three Broomsticks."

Shit. He had forgotten that also. His lie had suddenly became transparent, so he added on the truth. "Yeah. . . I don't think they knew that either. But Sirius could be helping James apologize to Lily-"

"-for the prank he had performed on her that not only made her decidedly irritable, but also landed you four in detention?" Professor McGonagall finished, one eyebrow raised.

"Yeah." Remus said, scratching the back of his neck. Next time, He's going with Prongs. Remus was never good at stalling for time like Sirius.

"How interesting. I would be surprised to see Mr. Potter come to detention and not have a red handprint on his face."

Though she was one of the greatest, severest, most powerful teacher in all of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall had an interesting wit that no one could ignore.

Minutes passed. Remus started pacing, Peter started drawing on his arm, and Professor McGonagall continued grading papers. Remus could not stop watching the clock as the hands continued to move. It was mesmerizing to him.

"Here!" Sirius yelled from down the hall, and there was loud footsteps echoing in the corridors.

"We're here!" James shouted when they made it through the door. It was no use. Two small seconds had past since it turned eight o'clock. Two more weeks.

"How was talking to Horace, boys?" Professor McGonagall said, winking at Remus. Astounding. She was keeping up the ruse.

"Great." They both said at the same time, averting their eyes.

"Why James!" She exclaimed, "How did you receive a bloody lip and a slap in the face?"

He was a sight for sore eyes, Remus thought, agreeing with her idea from earlier. His lip was puffed out and bloody, his glasses were askew, and a handprint was etched on his face, looking red hot and new.

James narrowed his eyes, meeting Remus'. "You told her, didn't you?"

Remus shrugged.

"Did she accept your apology?" Professor McGonagall asked, ignoring his intensity.

"Yeah," Sirius said before James could get a word out, "after seeing James' face clearly."

"Honestly James," She said, becoming completely serious, "you cannot continue these games. Someday, she will be legitimately hurt."

James clenched his fist. "They've never been games."

Silence fell over the room for quite sometime before McGonagall said, "Remus. Peter. You are free to go. I will not be seeing, I would hope, for the next two weeks after class, correct?"

Remus smiled. Sometimes, McGonagall breaks the rules.

"Wait, what about us?" Sirius asked, confused.

"You were late. They weren't. Now sit down."