Chapter 12 - What's the matter with Remus?
It wasn't as though that was the last time Remus disappeared without a trace. Over the next few months, Remus went to visit his mother at least three times, James was really starting to worry about her, she must have been really ill. But it wasn't only his mother that was ill; Remus was looking terrible, tired, drawn and pale. James supposed that the task of looking after his mother was wearing him thin. His smile had lost its mischievous quality and had been replaced with a vague sort of gesture, only slightly reminiscent of the grin it had once been. His manner hadn't changed much. He still wanted to be involved in every hare-brained scheme Sirius or James came up with, and he always carried off his part with every semblance of enthusiasm and cheerfulness, but James noticed that it wasn't quite the same anymore. He seemed cheerful enough, but James could tell that if this façade were scratched away they'd find a very sad Remus Lupin.
James went home for Easter, (Cara had threatened never to speak to him if he didn't), but he didn't get to spend much time with his family, as the absolutely huge pile of homework they'd been given just didn't seem to end. Still, it was nice to see her again, and his parents (and the bag of galleons his dad slipped him behind his mother's back was very useful too) and he was a bit sad to leave them. Never mind, it wouldn't be long until summer, as he told a tearful Cara several times on Platform 9¾ at the end of the holiday.
Back at the castle, he greeted his three friends happily. As sad as he was to leave his family, it was great to be at Hogwarts. He predicted that this last term would be big for the Marauders. He couldn't have been more right, but he didn't know it yet.
It only took a week into the new term for Remus to disappear. James wished he'd tell them before he went to visit his mother. But Remus had just been home; surely he didn't need to return only a week later. He wondered if Remus' mother had taken a turn for the worst. James was staring out of the common room window as he contemplated this. It was beautiful night, the stars were bright and clear and the full moon was throwing a pale, shivery light onto the grounds. James glanced casually around, he wasn't really looking, he was too deep in thought, wondering what on earth could be wrong with Mrs Lupin, but out of the corner of his eye, he could have sworn he'd seen the branches of the Whomping Willow flailing madly, but who'd be out at that time, if the Marauders didn't dare venture out onto the grounds this late, then no one else was likely to. He turned his head to get a better look at the Willow, but it was perfectly still, and looked completely harmless. James shook his head, what was wrong with him he was seeing things. He mentally shook himself and went down to the dormitory, but he just couldn't shake the feeling of unease.
The next day, James, Sirius and Peter went down to breakfast. Sirius was telling Peter all about the time put muggle itching powder in his teacher's trousers at primary school. James was still thinking about Remus' disappearance, until Sirius snapped him out of it. He was wearing a thoughtful expression (one he seldom wore in class, so James predicted he'd have a detention by the end of the day) as he suggested putting itching powder in Snape's robes. James couldn't see the harm in it, and agreed, and the three of them walked to the Great Hall together, happily plotting how to get the itching powder into Snape's robes, Sirius was only the ideas man, and the mundane processes of practicality was always left to James and Remus, Peter was useless. All he was good for was telling them how clever they were for thinking up such a great trick.
Remus was at breakfast that morning, but he looked terrible. He looked more ill than James had ever seen him. He gave them a vague smile and gestured to the seats he'd saved for them.
"How's your mum?" James asked, as soon as they sat down. He was very worried, and he was sure that at least some of his concern showed in his voice and face. "She's feeling better now, thank you." Remus' reply was prompt enough, but James saw through it, he wasn't telling the truth. He wondered whether his mum was really ill, if she was she must be seriously unwell, and he contemplated the idea that maybe something else was going on. He snapped himself out of his thoughts, deciding that Remus would tell them what was going on in his own time and joined in the conversation. Remus seemed to have come up with a plan to get the itching powder into Snape's robes.
The plan itself was simple; it was going to be the execution that would be the problem. James (as the quietest) would be under the invisibility cloak; while the other three caused a distraction he would pour it down his neck. There was no way Sirius could be trusted to be silent, he'd have giggled, Peter would have been too terrified and Remus, well, he wouldn't have been able to bring himself to do it. He was simply too nice.
It didn't go too badly either, Sirius swapped Snape's wand for a fake one before he went to charms, and while he tried to cast the 'Alohomora' or unlocking charm that Sirius had used to let the redcap out in Defence against the Dark Arts with a rubber fish, James sneaked into the class under the cloak. He tiptoed behind Snape, avoiding touching anyone or anything, and tipped a large amount of the muggle itching powder down the neck of the robes of Snape, who was already muttering curses under his breath. He snuck back out of the door, taking off his cloak, joining his friends who were watching the action, first destroying the evidence by transfiguring it into a quill (fortunately James really had a knack for Transfiguration).
Then the fireworks started. Snape swore loudly, and everyone's eyes turned to look at him. He was wriggling about like a fish out of water, writhing and shouting, trying to scratch himself in five places at once. The good thing about itching powder is that wizards rarely have any idea how to deal with it. At least, James thought all eyes were on Snape, but he felt someone's eyes on the back of his head and he turned to look and found himself staring into those brilliant emerald green eyes again and felt himself blush and turn away. It was almost like being naked. He felt sure that Lily knew he'd done it, but how could she, and how could she know they were going to be there. He made a mental note to ask the others if they were telling her their plans, but why on earth would they?
It wasn't as though that was the last time Remus disappeared without a trace. Over the next few months, Remus went to visit his mother at least three times, James was really starting to worry about her, she must have been really ill. But it wasn't only his mother that was ill; Remus was looking terrible, tired, drawn and pale. James supposed that the task of looking after his mother was wearing him thin. His smile had lost its mischievous quality and had been replaced with a vague sort of gesture, only slightly reminiscent of the grin it had once been. His manner hadn't changed much. He still wanted to be involved in every hare-brained scheme Sirius or James came up with, and he always carried off his part with every semblance of enthusiasm and cheerfulness, but James noticed that it wasn't quite the same anymore. He seemed cheerful enough, but James could tell that if this façade were scratched away they'd find a very sad Remus Lupin.
James went home for Easter, (Cara had threatened never to speak to him if he didn't), but he didn't get to spend much time with his family, as the absolutely huge pile of homework they'd been given just didn't seem to end. Still, it was nice to see her again, and his parents (and the bag of galleons his dad slipped him behind his mother's back was very useful too) and he was a bit sad to leave them. Never mind, it wouldn't be long until summer, as he told a tearful Cara several times on Platform 9¾ at the end of the holiday.
Back at the castle, he greeted his three friends happily. As sad as he was to leave his family, it was great to be at Hogwarts. He predicted that this last term would be big for the Marauders. He couldn't have been more right, but he didn't know it yet.
It only took a week into the new term for Remus to disappear. James wished he'd tell them before he went to visit his mother. But Remus had just been home; surely he didn't need to return only a week later. He wondered if Remus' mother had taken a turn for the worst. James was staring out of the common room window as he contemplated this. It was beautiful night, the stars were bright and clear and the full moon was throwing a pale, shivery light onto the grounds. James glanced casually around, he wasn't really looking, he was too deep in thought, wondering what on earth could be wrong with Mrs Lupin, but out of the corner of his eye, he could have sworn he'd seen the branches of the Whomping Willow flailing madly, but who'd be out at that time, if the Marauders didn't dare venture out onto the grounds this late, then no one else was likely to. He turned his head to get a better look at the Willow, but it was perfectly still, and looked completely harmless. James shook his head, what was wrong with him he was seeing things. He mentally shook himself and went down to the dormitory, but he just couldn't shake the feeling of unease.
The next day, James, Sirius and Peter went down to breakfast. Sirius was telling Peter all about the time put muggle itching powder in his teacher's trousers at primary school. James was still thinking about Remus' disappearance, until Sirius snapped him out of it. He was wearing a thoughtful expression (one he seldom wore in class, so James predicted he'd have a detention by the end of the day) as he suggested putting itching powder in Snape's robes. James couldn't see the harm in it, and agreed, and the three of them walked to the Great Hall together, happily plotting how to get the itching powder into Snape's robes, Sirius was only the ideas man, and the mundane processes of practicality was always left to James and Remus, Peter was useless. All he was good for was telling them how clever they were for thinking up such a great trick.
Remus was at breakfast that morning, but he looked terrible. He looked more ill than James had ever seen him. He gave them a vague smile and gestured to the seats he'd saved for them.
"How's your mum?" James asked, as soon as they sat down. He was very worried, and he was sure that at least some of his concern showed in his voice and face. "She's feeling better now, thank you." Remus' reply was prompt enough, but James saw through it, he wasn't telling the truth. He wondered whether his mum was really ill, if she was she must be seriously unwell, and he contemplated the idea that maybe something else was going on. He snapped himself out of his thoughts, deciding that Remus would tell them what was going on in his own time and joined in the conversation. Remus seemed to have come up with a plan to get the itching powder into Snape's robes.
The plan itself was simple; it was going to be the execution that would be the problem. James (as the quietest) would be under the invisibility cloak; while the other three caused a distraction he would pour it down his neck. There was no way Sirius could be trusted to be silent, he'd have giggled, Peter would have been too terrified and Remus, well, he wouldn't have been able to bring himself to do it. He was simply too nice.
It didn't go too badly either, Sirius swapped Snape's wand for a fake one before he went to charms, and while he tried to cast the 'Alohomora' or unlocking charm that Sirius had used to let the redcap out in Defence against the Dark Arts with a rubber fish, James sneaked into the class under the cloak. He tiptoed behind Snape, avoiding touching anyone or anything, and tipped a large amount of the muggle itching powder down the neck of the robes of Snape, who was already muttering curses under his breath. He snuck back out of the door, taking off his cloak, joining his friends who were watching the action, first destroying the evidence by transfiguring it into a quill (fortunately James really had a knack for Transfiguration).
Then the fireworks started. Snape swore loudly, and everyone's eyes turned to look at him. He was wriggling about like a fish out of water, writhing and shouting, trying to scratch himself in five places at once. The good thing about itching powder is that wizards rarely have any idea how to deal with it. At least, James thought all eyes were on Snape, but he felt someone's eyes on the back of his head and he turned to look and found himself staring into those brilliant emerald green eyes again and felt himself blush and turn away. It was almost like being naked. He felt sure that Lily knew he'd done it, but how could she, and how could she know they were going to be there. He made a mental note to ask the others if they were telling her their plans, but why on earth would they?