A/N: Thanks as always to my reviewers who, by Minie Dumbledore's request, get pumpkin cookies in honor of October :)
Credit for this chapter idea goes to i am red john and Katniss Lestrange, who both prompted something along these lines!
~esin
Chapter Thirty-Six: The Darkening Horizon
In Defense Against the Dark Arts…
Mr. Wormtail wonders what Mr. Padfoot has against Peter Pan.
Mr. Padfoot doesn't know what Mr. Wormtail is talking about.
Mr. Moony finds that hard to believe.
Mr. Padfoot wishes Mr. Moony wouldn't be so sarcastic.
Mr. Moony wasn't being sarcastic. He was merely appalled by Mr. Padfoot's treatment of that book.
Mr. Wormtail agrees. What did it ever do to you?
What are you guys talking about?
It looks like you attacked it with a jar of ink!
Oh. Mr. Padfoot doesn't have anything in particular against it. He just doesn't want to do work.
So that means you can deface it?
Mr. Padfoot isn't even going to argue this with Mr. Moony. He knows how it will end.
What, with me winning?
Proooongs! Moony's being mean!
Mr. Wormtail doesn't think Mr. Prongs is paying us any attention.
Mr. Moony asks that Mr. Wormtail nudge Mr. Prongs. Maybe he's just lost in thought.
Mr. Prongs doesn't want to talk.
Oh.
Why not?
Mr. Prongs just isn't in the mood.
Mr. Padfoot wonders what's wrong. It's unusual that Mr. Prongs isn't in the mood for fun.
Mr. Moony is for once in agreement with Mr. Padfoot. This is unusual. What's going on, mate?
Mr. Wormtail wonders if the worst has happened.
The worst?
You know… a breakup…
Wha— OH. Noooooo! Tell me it's not true, Prongs! Tell me it's not true! Don't take us back to the place of eternal moping and longing!
What? No! Lily and I are fine!
Mr. Padfoot is very relived.
Mr. Moony would be more relieved if he wasn't once again disgusted with Mr. Padfoot's tendency for drama.
Mr. Padfoot is deliberately choosing to ignore that comment.
Mr. Wormtail wonders why Mr. Prongs is upset if it isn't about him and Lily.
Mr. Prongs wonders if any of his friends bothered to read the Prophet this morning.
Mr. Padfoot doesn't read the paper. It's too depressing. It hurts my naturally sunny disposition.
Mr. Moony doesn't have money to order the paper.
Mr. Padfoot points out that it wouldn't be difficult for Mr. Moony to borrow a paper if he was truly interested.
Mr. Moony begs Mr. Padfoot to be quiet.
And Mr. Wormtail doesn't read the paper either.
Then I guess you wouldn't have heard.
Heard what?
Just tell us, Prongs. You're acting strange. It's scary.
There was another Death Eater attack this last night.
Oh.
What happened?
Six muggles dead, a few wizards injured. No sign of the attackers. No suspects. They were in and out before the DMLE could get there.
Wow.
Yeah…
Mr. Padfoot doesn't feel in the mood for fun anymore.
No kidding.
Anyone we know?
Mr. Prongs doesn't believe so, but still… six dead.
Yeah.
Do you… do you…
What is it, Wormy?
Do you think it will come to full-out war?
Mr. Padfoot was under the impression that we already were at war.
Technically, yes. But Mr. Moony believes Mr. Wormtail was referring to the fact that the Ministry doesn't seem to be doing much about that.
True.
I don't know, Wormy. I don't know.
Mr. Moony believes there's nothing we can do but hope it doesn't come to that. There would only be more attacks, more death.
Mr. Wormtail doesn't like the sound of war.
Mr. Padfoot doesn't think it will come to that.
Why not?
Well, I don't reckon it would be in Voldemort's best interests to wage full out war. He's doing just fine without engaging us directly. Why change tactics if he doesn't have to?
Mr. Moony supposes Mr. Padfoot does have a point.
Mr. Wormtail wishes Mr. Padfoot wouldn't use that name.
Mr. Padfoot will use Voldemort's name if he wants to. He's not afraid. It's just a name.
Mr. Prongs will fight though. If it comes to war, that is.
As will Mr. Padfoot. Anything to make up for the damage my family has done. And will do.
You're not one of them Padfoot.
Yeah, you're a Marauder. You're better than them. We're your family now.
Thanks guys.
…
…
Ummmm… Mr. Padfoot suggests a change in topic.
Yeah. Good talk guys. Let's move on now.
Mr. Prongs is in complete agreement. This is too depressing for class.
Mr. Wormtail wonders if we'd like to pull some sort of caper off this weekend.
Mr. Moony wonders what Mr. Wormtail has in mind.
Mr. Wormtail didn't have anything in mind. But we ought to do something.
Mr. Padfoot actually had an idea involving this muggle invention he recently discovered…
Mr. Moony has a very, very bad feeling about this.
It's nothing bad!
Mr. Prongs doubts that very much.
As does Mr. Wormtail.
Whatever guys. It's awesome. There's this stuff called silly string…
A/N: Fun fact of the day: silly string was patented in 1972. So my mention of it here is totally legit. Hope you guys liked it and see you on Friday!
~esin