Time Interned
Chapter 14: Cowardly Gryffindor

After dinner, James ran to Quidditch practice. He was in for an earful for having missed the weekend practices, even after Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey had vouched for his absence. The coming game against Ravenclaw would be vital to their chances of thrashing Slytherin, a goal that was every Gryffindor's dearest hope. Their scrimmage game went well, James's team winning by several hundred points and getting the Snitch. If they managed to play so well during the real game, Slytherin would have no chance of beating their lead.

The team's Captain and star Chaser struggled up the hill from the pitch, wishing he could just fly on his broom back to Gryffindor tower, but all brooms had to be secured in the Gryffindor lockers. It was a stupid rule, James decided as he fell into the hot bath around ten o'clock. He was still sore from Saturday night's epic battle with Moony and the last thing his sore muscles needed was to have Marsh intentionally aiming bludgers at him.

He dragged himself from the bath, dressed and fell asleep the instant he hit the pillow. Even Sirius' snoring wasn't enough to keep him awake. Despite his fatigue, dreams came to him, filling his mind with images of bludgers with glowing yellow eyes flying at him, their seams ripping open like mouths and glistening teeth latching onto his arm.

Gasping, James shot up in bed, his arms raised protectively, but there was no bludger and there was no werewolf stalking him. Remus was asleep, though dreaming with fits equal to his own, which was nothing new for Remus. It was slightly worrying to James, though, whose comfortable life had never caused him nightmares.

As he fell back on his pillow, he worried that Moony's odd behaviour at the full moon might return the next month when he was back home with his parents. The Lupins were loving parents and wonderful people. Most couples would have arranged with the Ministry to have their child removed to some far distant place after learning he'd been bitten by a werewolf, but the Lupins kept him close and raised him with kindness. If he went home and started threatening them and destroying their home before the moon was even close to rising, James could not imagine the heartbreak they would feel. He had to hope that it was temporary and Remus would outgrow it by the December full moon.

He closed his eyes and fell back into a dreamless sleep, waking only when Sirius physically lifted one side of the mattress and rolled him onto the floor.

"What the hell?!" James swore as he tried to untangle himself from his bedding.

"You are going to make us all late, young man," Sirius said sternly, fists on his hips.

"Fuck off."

"Such language, I'm offended. Aren't you, Mr Moony?"

"Tremendously affronted, Mr Padfoot," Remus replied, his face perfectly straight. "Mr Wormtail?"

"I am beside myself with shock, Mr Moony," Peter shook his head sadly.

"Really, Mr Prongs, you ought to be ashamed," Sirius informed him, sounding as stern as Professor McGonagall. He waved his wand and the sheets unwound from the boy's body, settling in a heap on the boy's bed. "Now, I do wish you would move your ass. You've slept through breakfast and it's nearly time for Defence Against the Dark Arts. I would hate to deprive Mr Moony of his lovely French lass, as he has already threatened bodily harm to those who stand between them."

"Yeah, yeah," James shoved his glasses onto his face and found his clothes, while the others laughed their way down to the common room.

They ran through the corridors, arriving in the classroom just before the door magically shut with the start of class. Professor Morven had no humour for tardiness, and was more than willing to lock students out of the room if they were unable to arrive on time. Mione moved over for Remus, who dropped, panting into his chair. James and Sirius followed, and fell into the seats in front of them. Morven eyed them with dislike, but could say nothing as they were in their seats punctually for the start of his lecture.

"Your Runes notes," Mione said and handed him a scroll.

"Thanks," he smiled. "When you have time, we can finish the Welsh translation."

"Oh," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper as Morven began taking roll. "I completed it over the weekend. I hope you don't mind."

He did mind. He was supposed to complete half of the translation for his share of the grade. He also wanted to spend more time alone with her, away from the distraction of his friends. She saw the disappointment on his face and chose to interpret it academically.

"If you do not believe I translated it accurately, I can give you the original and you can see if you come up with something different," she offered.

"No, it's fine," he said, not brave enough to tell her the real reason for his long face. He was a Gryffindor, dammit; he should have courage enough to ask a girl out. They had laughed it off, but his friends took his threats seriously enough. Sirius was going to back off and let Lupin have a shot at her. All he had to do was actually try.

It would have to wait. Morven began his lecture and Remus could not sulk when there were notes to be taken. Why did he make DADA so boring? It was the most interesting subject at Hogwarts. It brought together all the basic aspects of magic–potions, charms and transfiguration. It could be exciting and fun and hands-on, but all Morven ever did was stand around and lecture. He didn't even tell stories from his own experience. It was like he was a living textbook regurgitating facts discovered by other people.

"If I were the DADA teacher, I would make this a lot more fun," Remus muttered.

"Yes, you will," Mione replied without thinking, her mind almost entirely focused on taking notes. He glanced at her, confused; her English was normally perfect. It struck him as odd that she would mix up the verb tenses, even if she was distracted.

The pair in front of them were having concerns of their own. Sirius elbowed James and gestured to the boy's parchment. "What's that?"

James tilted his head and tried to read his own scribbly writing. It made no sense. Why had he written on the outside of a scroll? And why was the writing so much worse than normal? It hit him like a bludger to the head. Those were the odd words he had written when hidden beneath the invisibility cloak, the words that kept repeating themselves in Mione's private research notes. They were French, which explained at least a fraction of their illegibility.

"Something we need to look up later," James whispered back.

He had completely forgotten about spending all Saturday following Mione and Snape. Sirius's distress call and the resulting injuries and fatigue had been enough to drive it from his mind. He hadn't even mentioned any of what he spied to the Marauders; they had all been so awkward following Moony's transformations. Thankfully, they were back to normal now, but he had Quidditch practice again. Someone else would have to decipher his writing and translate the words into something understandable.

Morven's lecture lasted far too long. Hermione wondered what Professor Lupin would have taught about non-verbal magic. Even Professor Snape had them practicing the art on their first day of term. It was already the last day of November and Morven still hadn't let them try it once. He was all about theory and not about the practical application; Hermione had more than enough theory from Dolores Umbridge. She had a good mind to create a Dumbledore's Army here in 1976.

"You coming?" asked Remus, breaking her from her disgruntled thoughts.

Mione looked around. All the students were leaving.

Remus offered her a hand to help her up. It was an unnecessary gentlemanly gesture, but he felt compelled to do it knowing she had seen the worst of him. She considered his hand a moment. He realised she must not want to touch him, knowing what he was, and started to drop his hand, but she slid her cool fingers onto his palm and let him pull her up. Neither pulled away once she was on her own feet, they stood holding hands for a long minute.

Sirius elbowed James in the ribs and nodded enthusiastically at the pair. James gripped his side, still sore from the twin attacks of Moony and Marsh. He wanted to punch Black, but was too happy for Remus to spoil the mood. Given a little more time, Remus wouldn't have to be bothered ripping anybody's lungs out.

"Clear out," Morven called from his lectern. "Fourth years are coming in."

Mione pulled her hand back and collected her bag. They left for lunch together. James and Sirius followed, trying to remain stealthy behind them so they could hear what was being said. They were disappointed; neither Remus nor Mione said anything until they reached the Great Hall where they said 'goodbye' and went to their separate tables. James opened his mouth to yell at Moony, but Sirius beat him to it.

"What the fuck are you doing?" he hissed and slapped Moony upside the head. "She was right there! You could have said something–asked her out, complimented her, made plans to study, fucking kissed her! Something!"

"I know," Remus said quietly.

"Then do it!" Sirius snarled. "Or I'll have to do it for you. Or maybe for me."

Remus raised an eyebrow, his blue eyes level with Sirius's.

The black haired boy shifted a bit as his friend held his eye, remembering the look of absolute bloodlust in them when Remus threatened to kill him if he dared approach Mione. That memory chilled him. They were friends, all had been forgiven, but he could not forget, no matter how much he wanted to.

Remus' stern face cracked into smiled. "You wouldn't have a chance even if you did try."

"What?!" Sirius swung a fist at him.

Remus dodged it easily, and looked at him seriously. "Really, Mr Padfoot, I am surprised at your behaviour. I have half a mind to take points from Gryffindor."