Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Cost To Enter the Great Hall

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Despite their failed attempt to stay up all night Remus had to admit somehow all his friends found the energy to pull off what they labeled Year One's Farewell Prank. It should have worried Remus none of them would say one word about what the prank would be, but he had spent the last few days having too much fun with his friends to give it much thought. None of them asked about his disappearances if anything they seemed more hung up on Lily than on why he had been sick again. It was a big relief, well not about them teasing him about Lily but that they weren't asking him any other questions. Even Sirius had dropped the subject of Remus' dad visiting which seemed to physically cause him pain, and he appreciated their efforts on the matter a lot.

Sure he was confused as to why they had ceased prying about his disappearances, but he was much too delighted about it to really question it further. Besides with Professor Blatvnik gone and the Slytherins and Gryffindors miraculously leaving each other alone, he was finding Hogwarts to be pretty peaceful. Sure he was worried about going home and even more so about Lily and her books on werewolves but his dad really did seem to want to be better and Lily hadn't said a single word about werewolves to him so he was convinced it would be alright.

After all, it was just random that she chose werewolves to write about for her extra credit project to Professor Blatvnik. Even though the professor had left Hogwarts. It was possible he had assigned her the extra credit right away and perhaps he even told her for it to be on werewolves, that certainly sounded like him though it wasn't very comforting. Still if Lily had come to any conclusions in her research she hadn't said anything and she would have if she knew, of course, she would have. Even kind Lily would have a problem being friends with a werewolf, she didn't know she just couldn't!

"Remus you're looking a little peaky there mate...Remus stop staring and pass the salt." Sirius hollered into his ear despite sitting right next to him. Remus jumped and quickly did so nearly dropping the salt, and Sirius snickered at him.

"Not quite so amused in the bright light of day huh?" He teased.

"How can you be so awake right now? You nearly stayed up all night." Remus replied mildly but suppressed a smile knowing the slight reminder Remus had beat Sirius at staying up would annoy him. Why everything had to be a contest, he didn't quite understand, but it was funny enough to get his friends worked up over losing at times.

"Nearly! I did stay up all night."

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did! Technically anything past midnight is morning." Sirius pointed out victoriously, Remus couldn't help laughing at him which earned him a playful nudge. Then quite suddenly James and Peter re-appeared back from the 'loo' and were sitting across from them looking entirely too innocent which caused Remus groaned.

"What did you two do?"

"Why whatever do you mean?"

"Nothing of course."

"Why Remus I think you're seeing things. Must be the little sleep you got last night." Sirius pointed out now having the same innocent yet guilty look on his face. Of course, it had to be that stupid prank they announced they'd carry out during breakfast but wouldn't tell him about. He spun around on the bench looking for signs of disaster but none came. He looked at the Slytherin table where the early risers were already seated, about one-fourth of the house, but nothing was happening. He turned back to his friends, who had come extra early to breakfast, and who were all focused on studying their still empty plates, far too focused. But nothing happened ...and still, nothing happened.

"Remus quit squirming around in your seat. It looks like you have ants in your pants." James emphasized the statement in such a way that Remus was convinced they had repeated the prank from earlier in the year and accused them of that assumption with horror in a hushed tone.

"Now Remus we have more creativity than that to repeat a prank," James said sounding scandalized at the notion.

"Patricia told them that a good prankster never repeats their pranks," Peter exclaimed proudly.

"That's right I did!" Patricia called from down the table waving at them. She had sworn they would go into the forbidden forest with her next year which Remus was not looking forward to. James grinned and waved back with Sirius and even Peter who didn't seem quite so scared of her anymore. Also, this time James' cheeks weren't red at the sight of Patricia and Remus realized when they hung out with her several times in the past few days he had seemed quite normal with her. Remus just hoped he would get over his crush on Lily, which he still denied, as quickly, for James' own sake and sanity.

"Patricia don't encourage them." Kinglsey admonished her quietly, though they could still clearly hear his naturally loud voice. Patricia merely shrugged and winked at them.

"I can't wait till she takes us to the forbidden forest next year," James whispered eagerly and Remus not wanting to get into this conversation again changed the topic quickly.

"You two claim you don't repeat pranks over. But you already repeated the Slytherin swamp prank." He whispered getting dirty looks from his friends, who actually seemed offended. They were so ridiculous!

"That was different."

"A matter of pride."

"Honestly Potter I thought we trained him better than this."

"Goodness Black you're right! He should know better by now." Remus rolled his eyes as Sirius and James tuttered at him.

"I know better." Peter grinned.

"Too true you are dear pupil," Sirius replied sounding very posh and proper. He even lifted his pinky as he sipped his tea causing Peter to snort into his.

"Our star pupil." James finished in just as posh tones mirroring Sirius in drinking his tea.

"Do I even want to know?" Dorcas asked from down the opposite side of the table, but she sounded amused. Not missing a beat James and Sirius turned to her in perfect synchronization still holding their teacups with their pinkies in the air.

"You mustn't stick your nose where it doesn't belong my dear."

"Only members of our secret society are privy to that information." Dorcas laughed but Marlene looked annoyed then grinned and whispered something in Dorcas' ear which made her laugh harder. James and Sirius colored slightly knowing when they became the other side of the joke and for a few minutes, they drank their tea and nibbled on rolls provided before breakfast in peace. For a few blissful minutes anyways.

"DENIED!" Boomed a voice suddenly, echoing throughout the hall so loudly that for an instant Remus thought it was a howler.

"Tell me you didn't send the Slytherins howlers!" He hissed horrified, not only would that anger the Slytherins but it would cause the Great Hall to be annoyingly loud for the entirety of breakfast! James and Sirius turned to him with such delight that he realized he had just made a terrible mistake.

"I do think there's hope for him after all James."

"What a brilliant idea Remus! Next year for sure." Remus tried not to groan audibly as loud banging on the doors into the Great Hall echoed loudly.

"Why can't I open the doors!" Yes, it was definitely coming from outside the Great Hall, muffled shouts and banging as, no doubt Slytherins, tried and failed to enter.

"DENIED!" Came a high pitched voice, failing this time to sound deep, which Remus thought sounded a lot like Peeves.

"How do we get in?"

"Move let me try."

"Open the bloody doors already." Every student in the Great Hall had gone quiet to listen to the struggle of the students, meaning everyone could hear them quite well.

"Only upon a compliment will you be allowed entrance." Came the high pitched voice again which certainly sounded like it was coming from in the doors.

"Uh ...you're a good door?" By this time most of the students already in the Great Hall had failed at staying silent and were laughing, besides the Slytherins already at their table.

"No you buffoon compliment a Gryffindor." Whether the students on the other side of the door did or not Remus couldn't tell since the students inside were laughing too hard. Only the voice of the door, or perhaps a pesky poltergeist somehow could be heard, and that was quite enough.

"DENIED!" More students laughed. Remus looked at his friends who were all doubled over roaring with laughter, very few at the Gryffindor table weren't laughing to some degree. Even Kingsley was chuckling behind his hand! Well, Gryffindor's defeat to the Slytherin team at Quidditch and at the House Cup was certainly felt strongly throughout his house.

"I'M SORRY BUT I WON'T ACCEPT JAMES HAS PRETTY EYES! AND YOU HAVE THE UGLIEST EYES I'VE EVER SEEN"

"I'M SORRY BUT I WON'T ACCEPT KINGSLEY MAKES MY HEART SKIP A BEAT."

"NO, I WON'T ACCEPT DORCAS ISN'T A WANKER. ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU ARE A TOSSER!"

"I MOST CERTAINLY WON'T ACCEPT THAT YOU HAVE VULGAR DREAMS ABOUT YOUR MOTHER SHE'S NOT EVEN A GRYFFINDOR!"

Whether the supposed compliments the voice boomed across the hall were actually suggestions from the Slytherins or not, Remus highly suspected not, the tirade of compliments and insults to the students on the other side of the door continued. Soon the door or Peeves dissolved into simply insulting them and Lily shot James and Sirius a particularly nasty glare when the voice in the door declared that Severus' nose was too big for school and his hair far too greasy.

Then, Professor Flitwick, who was the one Professor that was monitoring the students who got to breakfast early, finally managed to open the door and ten Slytherins students all red-faced were standing there to the great amusement of most students. Thankfully Severus wasn't among that group and didn't show up until breakfast was well underway. However for the rest of the meal anytime a Slytherin entered at least a few laughs followed whether the student realized it or not. Of course, James, Sirius, and Peter were all quite pleased with themselves claiming innocence when Flitwick came to talk to them and later still when McGonnagal did as breakfast progressed.

"I don't know why they always suspect us, Peter," James said quite loudly sounding scandalized. Remus rolled his eyes and bit back a smile, he would not encourage such behavior!

"Why indeed?" Came Prefect Liam's dry tone. But with the points tallied for the year already, he didn't look quite as upset as Remus would expect him too. He even smiled slightly and shook his head as James and Sirius tried to defend themselves not seeming to realize Liam had no intention of getting them in trouble, this time. Remus finished his last meal at Hogwarts for the year and he just couldn't believe it was over. The entire year had felt much too short and much too long all at once.

He wasn't looking forward to lying to his father about not having friends and keeping his head down all summer but it would be nice to be home for a while. Much more peaceful and hopefully not as dangerous as Hogwarts had been this year. Of course, it would also be lonelier, a lot lonelier.

Maybe his dad would be better but he'd never be better enough to understand, to understand him. Nor would his dad let him visit any of his friends. He chanced a glance at Sirius and jumped when he found his eyes intently on him. He quickly offered the boy a smile which he returned though Remus thought he could detect a sadness in his eyes which he wished desperately wasn't there. He suspected Sirius' summer would be even worse than his own and he could only hope his friend, who had fought tooth and nail to have the enchanted mirror to speak with Remus first, would keep his own head down and escape to James' home if needed.

"Oi Remus. Remus." He glanced at Peter who gave him one of his nervous smiles and pointed behind him. He whipped around realizing the hall had gone quiet and Dumbledore was at the podium clearing his throat and closing off the year officially with some final remarks. He tried to pay attention especially when the headmaster discussed the dangers outside of Hogwarts and stressed vigilance and caution. There was the usual mention of peace amongst the houses being important and a rather pointed remark that students would be punished who were caught fuelling animosity, Remus even felt the headmaster's eyes on the Gryffindor table. How James and Sirius could just sit there grinning, Peter had appropriately shrunken some at the gaze, was beyond Remus.

"Everyone have a wonderful summer and we will see your smiling faces back here in the fall and set to work once more filling your heads with the information you have forgotten over the break." A lot of students laughed at that then everyone was bustling about out of the Great Hall, a swarm of students sweeping everyone outside and onwards to the Hogwart express. Remus got separated from the others in the chaos but managed to turn and look back at the castle feeling a sense of loss and longing but above all a sense of the uttermost confusion at how fast Hogwarts had become his home.