DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the content referenced/quoted. Warning for swearing.

10. The Prank

It's a quiet affair in the Great Hall. Too quiet.

A number of students start whispering, eyes darting between the House tables. The teachers remain silent, only breaking it to exchange a few small words before returning to their dinners.

The Marauders, usually the life and the soul of the school, are sullen, silent and sitting at opposite ends of the Gryffindor table. A battered looking Black sits alone at one end, pushing food around his plate. Remus, freshly scarred and weary, sits at the other end, a despondent James and silent Peter beside him. No one knows what happened between the boys, although there have been plenty of rumours.

Still, in such dark times, the broken Marauders does not bode well.

Abruptly, the entrance doors to the Great Hall swing open. A furious Cass Withers charges through, eyes ablaze and shoulders shaking with rage. Sirius spots her first, and hunkers down in his seat, averting his gaze. But she strides straight past him.

The witch races to the other end of the table to draw to an abrupt halt in front of Remus Lupin.

"I need to speak with you."

Remus looks up at her, opens his mouth to speak.

"No argument, move it now."

"Maybe this isn't the best-"

"Screw you, James. I'm speaking to Lupin, whether he likes it or not," Cass cuts across, "So we can have this discussion outside or here, it's up to him."

"Cass-"

"It's alright, Prongs," Remus says, standing. "I'll be back in a minute."

Cass storms off, leaving Remus to trail behind her slowly. Sirius looks up as they walk past but Remus refuses to look at him.

The doors have barely slammed shut behind them when Cass slams something into his chest. Remus startles, grabbing at the paper she's thrust at him.

"What the hell is this?"

He stares at her and then the letter she has thrown at him. Em's handwriting is scrawled across the page. Remus sighs.

"Look, I…"

"No, no, no. There's no 'Look, I' acceptable here, Lupin," Cass states, "My little sister is in tears and can't for the life of her figure out why you won't accept any of her letters, why her packages keep getting sent back, why you're refusing to talk to her. What the fuck Lupin! I thought she was your best friend."

"It's not safe," he says quietly.

"Fuck safe, she's a muggle in a wizarding world. A world where a lot of people would like to see her enslaved, tortured or dead for fun! How the fuck is your friendship not safe!"

"You don't understand…"

"No, actually Lupin, I think you'd be amazed at what I do understand," Cass prods him sharply, "She's stuck by you through everything, she's your best friend and you're throwing her to the side because of some stupid tiff with those idiots through there and whatever moronic thing Black did. She cares about you-"

"-And that's why it's not safe." Remus stares directly at Cass, pulling himself up to his full height to loom over her.

She looks up at him.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" She shoves Em's letter into his chest. "She knows, Remus, ok? So do I. We've both known for a while now about your monthly problem."

Remus' eyes widen.

"If this is some twisted way of protecting her, then you should know that you're less of a danger to her than You-Know-Who is. And that she still cares, despite your ongoing stupidity. Just don't leave it too long to let her know you care as much about her."

She turns abruptly and walks away, leaving a silent Remus standing behind her. He stares down at the parchment in his hand, lifts it to his face. A citrus scent, faded but still there, overwhelms him. He crumples the parchment in his hand.