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Remus sat on the floor. He could feel his breath shaking. He did not want to do this. "James, Sirius, Peter." Remus said shakily. "I cant do this. I cant go out there."
James sat down beside him. "Remus, it will be okay. You were amazing during auditions."
Remus shook his head. He wasn't convinced he had done well. He did not want to go out there at all. Nothing could be worse than trying to quote Shakespeare. Nothing could be worse than walking out onto the temporary stage in the great hall and putting on a show.
Actually, Remus reflected, a lot could be worse. He could have bitten someone. He could have killed someone. He could have been beaten up by werewolf haters. He could have been dragged on trial for endangering a human life. He could have killed or turned his friends.
Remus watched as the slytherins flounced into the wings after their show was over. Narcissa, with her long, flowing black and blonde hair, bounced near him, throwing off the long, elegant, outer dress she had worn as Cordelia, and pronouncing rather loudly, "why on earth is Hogwarts putting on a muggle show. It was a rather ridiculous idea."
professor Slughorn, always trying to keep the peace, yet always failing, came over. "Miss Black, I decided it would be a good idea to celebrate something of the muggles. In these times, with the hatred for muggles growing stronger, it only felt right to celebrate muggle stories."
James pulled Remus up to his feet. "i know you are scared but its time to get up there." James said. He dragged Remus onto the stage. Remus tried to control his rising panic. It wasn't that bad. It wasn't the end of the world.
Remus, despite feeling sick, managed to portray Benvolio rather well.
As the four friends walked off to the side with Lily, a young woman walked over to them. She was a third year, a ravenclaw. Her eyes seemed glazed over.
"the traitor, the prisoner, the martyr, the warrior and the survivor." she said, her voice glazed over. "what?" James asked. Remus looked around, hoping to see a teacher who could help. "the roles you all shall play." she spoke coldly, her icy tones expressionless.
"beware all hallows eve, when all but one shall fall. As others rejoice in light, two of you shall be claimed by death, one by darkness and one by despair. One alone shall walk unscathed. Beware the traitor. Only two shall die. The wolf, the ultimate survivor, the dog, ever loyal, the rat, untrustworthy, the doe and the stag, the prey."
suddenly, the woman, Sybil, seemed to wake up. "a prophecy." Lily whispered. "you made a prophecy. They are really rare." Sybil looked excited. "really? I made a prophecy? My great great great grandmamma was a seer."
the five of them nodded. As Sybil walked away, Lily turned to face them. "i doubt it means much. But that was creepy." Remus nodded. He could not help but feel something was wrong. The wolf the prophecy spoke about, surely that was him?
He routed through his bag, pulling out his book.
Telling the future is rare. It is a gift afforded to few. The great Cassandra was a true seer, and while she did see the future, people mocked her. They laughed at her warnings, ridiculed her. And they perished.
And yet, it is not wise to set much store by prophecies. While occasionally there may be a real prophecy, it is probably a false alarm. A prank, a joke, something that should be ignored.
Remus shut his book. "we never talk about this again." James made them swear.
And so, many years later, after the shrieking shack day were Remus learned of Sirius's innocence, the prophecy made sense.