Chapter 3: Full Moon, Secrets, and Halloween
"Guess what tonight is." Sirius said cheerfully.
Remus glared at him knowing full well what tonight was. (No pun intended)
"What?" Peeler asked coming up from behind.
"Um. Nothing Professor." James said. "Sirius was just giving Remus a hard time about you-know-what."
"Ah. I see."" Peeler said with a grin. "Have fun you four."
The quartet looked at each other funny.
"Do you think he knows?" Peter asked.
"I wouldn't be surprised." Remus said.
"If he does know, I hope he won't tell." James said worriedly.
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The next morning,
"I'm telling you guys. I saw Professor Peeler last night." Remus tried to tell the others.
"C'mon Moony. We checked after you transformed. There was no one." Sirius told him
Maybe I was seeing things. Remus thought as one minute he had seen the Professor and the next minute, he had disappeared.
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A few months later,
It was finally time for the Halloween feast. Peeler had finally finished the reviews with the upper level students and was getting ready to actually teach for the first time.
He went down to the feast where he ran into Hagrid.
"Oh. Hello Professor." Hagrid said.
"Hello Hagrid. I haven't seen you around much." Peeler told him
"Oh. Well, I've been busy bein' grounds keeper." Hagrid told him.
"Don't worry. I'm sure Dumbledore will promote you one day."
"Doubt it."
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When Peeler got to the feast, he saw the Maraudettes talking.
"C'mon Vix. We all know you like him." Spica prodded.
"I do NOT." Lily argued. "He's an arrogant, big-headed, two-faced…"
"Hello Ladies." Peeler said to them.
"Professor!" The four girls said as they realized their DADA teacher was standing behind them.
"May I ask who's arrogant, big-headed, and two-faced?" he asked with a grin.
"Potter." Lily said "What part of "No" doesn't he understand? When Spica and Melissa date Black and Remus, I'll date Potter."
"Yeah right." The other two girls said with disgust. Melissa looked a little nervous.
"You're on first name terms with Mr. Lupin?" Peeler asked.
"He's the only decent one in the bunch. Peter can be, but he's too easy to manipulate." Melissa explained.
Peeler's eyes turned towards the Slytherin table where Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa, Bellatrix, and Regulus Black were sitting.
"I really hope those boys don't pull something." Spica said thinking about the Marauders.
Just then, Peeler remembered a theory of his.
"I think Potter, Black, Pettigrew, and Lupin play pranks for one of two reasons. One, to get attention. Two, to lighten the mood."
"I never thought of it that way." Melissa said.
"Don't you dare." Sara warned. "I made the mistake of going with Pettigrew. Trust me, don't go there."
Just then, the room was covered in Orange and Black decorations. Every student and professor were wearing those colors with the exceptions of Peeler and the Slytherins. Peeler seemed to be immune to the prank. Slytherins were decked out in Red and Gold.
"That wasn't too bad." Peeler said with a grin that reminded Lily of James Potter.
She shivered.
"Is something the matter?" he asked.
"Your grin reminded me of Potter."
"You must have been thinking about him." He answered before leaving.
"Eeww." she said when her brain registered what he meant.
TBC