Blackmail Worries

'What's wrong with you? You think we're going to beg for your attention just because you're having a bad day? If you don't wanna come... don't!'

None of the other students was taking notice of the two Gryffindor boys' dispute, as always. Remus understood, that disagreements between James and Sirius counted as one of their most typical features, along with their clever ideas and altogether pleasing personalities.

'Exemplary students,' Professor McGonagall had once called them, 'but like fire and water when it comes to opinions or attitude. It is clear that Mr. Black was raised in... shall we call it a more traditional household, while Mr. Potter's views are rather ahead of his time.'

For whatever reason she was discussing such things with him, Remus had not been able to find out. However, he was generally thankful that someone was keeping him company, waiting for the full moon to rise. Professor McGonagall could be as patient as a cat when it came to staying in the Shrieking Shack until he had fully turned into the raving monster that came out only once every four weeks. Duty, she had once called it, to oversee a second-year's outdoor activities at night. How he would manage the next full moon without her guidance was totally beyond him. Then again, it was probably expected of a second-year werewolf to find his way into his own cage. With a sigh Remus reminded himself that, at some point, he would have started going out to the Whomping Willow, through the dark tunnel, and into the Shrieking Shack all alone anyway. There was no point denying it. If you were a werewolf, you were on your own.

'He is stubborn, annoying, foolish, and sulking for no reason,' James suddenly said aloud, having noticed that his friend's attention had drifted from the scene at hand. 'Moon-howler, are you with us?'

'Don't say that,' replied Remus quietly. 'Besides, I'm thinking. James... maybe he is right. Maybe we should not put too much hope in seeing Professor McGonagall again.'

'That's not his point!' retorted James, angry that Remus was not entirely on his side. 'He is just trying to make us ask what's wrong with him. But he's been doing that all day now. I'm sick of it.'

'Hm,' said Remus pensively. 'He never seemed the type, though. What if he's got something huge on his mind and just can't share?'

'He ought to share or stop being a pest,' replied James grumpily. 'I'm not running after him, in any case. I'd rather go to the library.'

'Excellent idea,' said Remus with relief. 'A bit of work can only be good - for all three of us.' He side-glanced at Peter.

James stared.

'Who's talking about working?' he said, grinning. 'I am going to look for something entirely different. You know...?' He looked around.

'I know,' said Remus quickly. 'On Transfiguration methods. Don't you think that's a bit dangerous, seeing as no one will believe you're doing homework while McGonagall's away?'

James kept grinning. 'Aw,' he said. 'Is the ickle wolflad getting nervous about our... plans?'

'I've been against this from the beginning,' said Remus quietly. 'It is very dangerous. I don't want you to come to harm.'

'And I want to know what's so difficult about this transformation,' said James loftily. 'I won't stop till I haven't at least tried to do it myself.'

'You're mad,' said Remus, as quietly. 'What need is there to -'

'Quiet,' said James suddenly, his eyes narrowing playfully to small slits. 'I am sensing blackmail.'

'Hu?' Remus stopped, just as James had done, giving his friend a mystified stare. 'Blackmail? What are you talking about?'

James looked back at him, putting a finger to his lips. 'How hard is that to understand?' he said after a small while, his face changing into a broad grin. 'I. am sensing blackmail. A. Black. Male. There's not too many of them around.'

It dawned on Remus that he was being had on. He gave his friend a puzzled grin and then turned.

'No, I don't mind you making fun of my name while I'm not around,' said Sirius, standing only a few steps behind Remus and James, his arms crossed in front of his chest. 'Potter, you are an idiot.'

'Shut up,' said James happily. 'You've decided to join us then?'

'I have decided that I can't let you blow yourself up all by yourself,' replied Sirius earnestly. 'It's going to be such a laugh.'

'Git,' muttered James, but he was still grinning.

The second floor corridor leading to the Hogwarts library, which was Madame Pince's domicile, was deserted. Remus assumed that the first-years, who usually occupied most classrooms in this section, were all having prep time lessons in the Great Hall. Peter voiced the thought, before he had finished it.

'Firsties having a good time with Robertson, are they?' he said.

'No, stupid!' was James's off-hand reply. 'Robertson's teaching Slytherins at the moment. Didn't you see Nott and his likes walk into the dungeons only minutes ago?'

'I am glad prep time's over for today,' said Sirius thoughtfully. 'Robertson's a git. Incapable of doing a single lesson worth attending. Even Peter's bored, and that's saying something.'

'He is slightly misplaced in a school,' Remus admitted. 'A Potions Master should know certain things.'

Sirius frowned, suddenly looking very pensive.

'How to boil a kettle of water, for instance,' said Peter matter-of-factly.'

'Oh, but he can do that,' said James, grinning. 'He just keeps boiling the kettle as well.'

They laughed all the way up to the library. Having arrived there Remus noted, much to his surprise, that Madame Pince had left her usual supervising position behind the large librarian's desk and vanished behind the numerous shelves in the back end of the library. Sirius and Peter settled down on their usual places and James walked a few rows of shelves down, wanting to see whether the librarian was busy or not. He returned a little while later, clearing the line for opening the more dangerous books.

'She's talking to someone somewhere behind the Restricted Section shelf,' he mumbled. 'Dunno who. But they seem rather involved in their conversation. Seriously-'

Sirius looked up, earning himself a grin.

'Is it Professor Binns?' asked Remus curiously. 'I mean his ghost? Is it him?'

'I don't know,' said James vaguely. 'Didn't hear too much of the conversation. Besides, all that I could hear of the other person was an occasional Ook.'

Remus gave him a questioning look. 'Ook?'

'Look,' said Sirius in a low voice, 'are we going to discuss Madame Pince's inclinations or were you going to spend your time with something sensible? I don't need to be here, wasting my time with you, you know.'

'Arrogant bastard,' replied James in an off-hand voice. 'Just for your information - I found this book on magical accidents yesterday, which I was going to have a closer look at. You won't believe what you can do to yourself if a transformation goes wrong.'

Sirius seemed slightly absent, Remus found, although the taller boy often pursued his own thoughts when the four were together. Only his best friend's efforts of drawing attention to himself seemed to have some effect on his pure-blood friend. Remus noticed how James attempted to catch the Black's eye more often than necessary, probably to make sure that Sirius actually took notice of the way Derwent Shimpling had once eaten a Venomous Tentacula for a bet - and survived.

'Just look at his colour,' he said impatiently when Sirius's gaze wandered to one of the back shelves for the umpteenth time. 'Sirius! Are you with us at all? C'mon! What's wrong with you?'

'I am just thinking,' said Sirius, 'how odd it is that some things just happen. You don't expect anything to happen, but are forced to make a decision and - boom! Your world explodes.'

He was chewing the edge of his school robes, Remus noted with some surprise.

'Boooooring,' replied James impatiently. 'If you wanna be philosophical, don't do it here. We were going to -' he stopped and looked around carefully. 'We're going to find a way of helping Remus, aren't we?' he said, sounding somewhat disgruntled. 'And to be honest, you're getting on my nerves staring at the history bookshelf like a reptile all the time. What's so interesting about history?'

'Nothing,' said Sirius slowly, very pointedly, and then, without much further ado: 'I think I'm going to get some fresh air, after all.' And he left the library before any of the others could say another word.

Remus stared after him. He had got used to Sirius being sometimes moody and even irritable, but his recent dreaminess had a particularly disquieting edge to it. Therefore, after a few more minutes of stubborn reading from James's and Peter's side, Remus rose as well.

'Guess someone should go and see what he's up to,' he mumbled. 'You won't need me here anyway.'

James hesitated and then nodded. 'Yeah, go on, have a look,' he said, his voice having an edge to it. 'Me and Wormtail, we'll be fine by ourselves, won't we?'

Remus gave him a fairly surprised look.

'Who is this Wormtail?'

James grinned. Peter's face, on the other hand, assumed the shade of ripe tomatoes.

'T's not funny,' he mumbled.

Remus looked from one to the other, fairly confused. 'What?'

'Let's just say that name sprung to me when I saw him standing in the shower after flying lessons,' said James, grinning.

Now, it was Remus's turn to blush.

'I'll... go and see what Sirius is up to,' he said again quickly, leaving the library in flight-like hurry.

When he stepped into the corridor, there was a glorious mess outside. Some first-years had seen the need of taking off the portrait of Gilbert the Great, who was now separated from the picture-internal world within Hogwarts and howling pitifully in fear of what might happen if he was dropped.

The first-years were obviously fighting over something that had nothing to do with the picture, Remus noted, and one of the girls was standing absently next to Gilbert, ignoring his heartbreaking sobs, doing up her robes and hair while watching the fighting mass.

Madame Pince took a full five minutes to notice the racket right in front of her library, but she came eventually.

'What is this supposed to be?' she snarled, pulling the fighting boys apart with some force. Both received a ringing slap on each cheek, something Remus had got used to in cases where Madame Pince was involved. But, of course, the librarian seemed thoroughly disgruntled these days anyway. Remus suspected that her bad mood had something to do with the decease of Professor Binns.

Gilbert the Great was restored to his rightful place again, and it was only now that Remus recognised one of the boys to be his Slytherin classmate Severus Snape, who was no bigger than the tiny first-years, it seemed, and not in any way more disciplined either. At the moment, he was re-doing his black ponytail while Madame Pince went on scolding the small group of fighters for some minutes. Then, she stormed back into her library, leaving the boys to pursue their own purposes again.

Remus was surprised to see that the fighters had come off so lightly, seeing as tomfoolery was usually severely punished. Then again, Madame Pince was confused, and perhaps she was too troubled by other things to think about detention and letters to her students' parents and the like.

Remus continued his way up the Hogwarts staircases, hoping to find Sirius in the Gryffindor tower, sulking in a corner. He did that kind of thing, Remus had noted, although he also looked down upon people who tried to solve their problems by running off. Snape, for instance, who (Remus was sure of that) should currently be doing Potions, not wandering around in corridors, taking pictures off the wall.

But there was no problem, Remus told himself. We have done nothing to justify this kind of behaviour. There hasn't even been a serious fight recently. Not between Sirius and James, and not between Sirius and any of the other Gryffindors. And yet, he has been behaving as if there was something on his mind. Something... heavy.


Author's Notes: Finally, finally. This chapter's taken ages. Not that I am the quickest person when it comes to updates anyway. The boys' school year is proceeding and I am nearing the end of this story. And at least I now managed to get the raw versions of the next two chapters ready. That'll give me something to work on during the upcoming exam weeks.
Hope you are not too sick of waiting. I expect it must be a nuisance. Then again, we need to bridge the time until June 16th, don't we? Just drop me a threatening review or e-mail if I'm getting unbearably slow. :) Thanks and greetings to y'all.