In Herbology on Monday all students involved in the mini-battle the day before didn't even acknowledge that had happened except for after class when one of the Hufflepuffs told Remus his spell that made her sneeze rose petals was incredible, and Sirius informed one of the Hufflepuff boys that his tongue-swelling curse was brilliant. Handshakes were given, and that was that. Remus was a little surprised that James and Sirius seemed to let the whole thing slide though he certainly felt glad they didn't have more enemies.

Remus still spent as much as his spare time hiding away from the rest of the student body (just in case) and on Tuesday evening as he made his way to the fourth floor he couldn't help but notice how many piles of... stuff... there was laying about the corridors. No wonder Filch was getting mad about it.

Ten minutes later he was on the purple couch, trying his best to empty himself. Fawley reached out to touch his head. He concentrated as hard as he could and then memories were yanked forward. Peter's lip quivering at the insulting snowmen on his birthday, the duel with the Hufflepuffs, that very morning in History when Sirius decided to attempt the engorging charm and blew up his inkpot sending ink splattering onto almost every student in the class...

When Remus came out of the memories his head was hurting worse than usual. While it was normally a dull ache all over, this time he also had a sharp stabby sort of pain behind his eyes. He bent over, pressing his hands against his eyes, moaning a little.

"Remus..." He peeked through his fingers, flinching a little at the light, and waited for Fawley to say whatever she had to say. To his absolute shock she said, "You've made progress."

"I what? But-you still s-saw everything."

She had a huge smile on her face, leaning in towards him. "Yes. But when I tried to access your memories I felt a little bit of pressure... your brain did not yield to the command so easily. It was only a little bit. But it was there."

"I d-don't understand? Pressure?"

"It's like... you put your finger in water it just goes in, yes? You-press your finger against gelatin and it will still go in it's just you have to put a little bit of extra pressure. Normally, when I access your thoughts, it's like water. This time I actually had to push a little."

"Oh... so you still accessed it p-pretty easily?"

Fawley shook her head. "Stop putting yourself down. It is very impressive."

Remus rubbed between his eyes as the sharp pain came and went. "It-has been... loads of lessons already."

"This is your fourteenth," she answered.

He made a surprised sort of noise. Fourteen? Already? He squinted, counting on his fingers. His first lesson had been the last Tuesday of September... taking away the two full moons, and the two Tuesdays he had been at home for Christmas... "Fourteen," he mumbled. "How l-long does it normally-"

"No," she said sharply, and he shrank back. Her face then softened. "I will not sit back and let you insult yourself once again. I've told you how many times it will take you a long time to be able to do anything? I wasn't expecting anything like this until the end of this school year, perhaps not until the beginning of next." She tucked some of her hair behind one ear, sitting back. "You don't expect to be able to do fifth year spells now do you? Then don't expect to be able to get Occlumency like that." She snapped her fingers. "Most Occlumens or Legilimens aren't even trained until after school; it's not a subject taught here. So don't cause yourself stress, and feel proud for being able to do what you did tonight. Understand?"

He slowly nodded. "Y-yes, ma'am."

They tried some more but he couldn't repeat it, and despite her confidence in him he felt very disappointed with himself. Just before he left, she asked if they'd be meeting up next week. Tuesday night wasn't the full moon, but Monday was, so he'd be recovering on Tuesday. He wasn't sure how to answer.

"I-I think so. I suppose if it's a bad one I won't be able to. I'm not... expecting it to be bad."

"All right, thank you. I hope this weekend goes well for you."

"Thank you, Ms. Fawley."

()

On Thursday Slughorn had everyone pair up so they could work on a potion called the Sticking Solution. Essentially glue for witches and wizards who couldn't do sticking charms very well (or didn't want to). As soon as Slughorn began talking about how important safety was, Remus practically saw the Lumos spell go off in James and Sirius's eyes. Of course they paired up right away and Remus could hear them whispering plans.

He didn't particularly want to be with Peter since Peter wasn't very great, however the only other option was Lily but she was already with Snape. Beyond them, Remus could see Mulciber and Avery both glaring at the odd pair, whispering about what Snape was doing hanging 'round a mudblood.

Remus curled his fingers in, hands forming fists. He wanted to curse both those Slytherins so bad for calling Lily that! The wolf inside of him began trying to climb out, clawing at his mind and soul; it took a lot of effort to keep it tamped down. He was unaware that his entire frame began trembling.

"...mus? Hey, Remus?" Peter tugged hard at Remus's sleeve, and then gave a little cry when Remus spun around; his eyes were blazing with animalistic fury. "I'm s-s-s-s-s-" Peter couldn't even talk, and seeing him like that pulled human-Remus completely back.

"Oh-P-Peter, I'm s-sorry," Remus stammered out, mind in a flurry for an excuse. Peter straightened up, but still looked scared. "I-I guess I'm not feeling well."

Peter grabbed his potions book, frowning. "You looked mad not sick."

Remus took his own book, mumbling incoherently as a response. A corner of his mind still remained with the Slytherins. He wondered if Snape knew his dorm-mates called Lily that. Did he defend her in the common room? He was even more distracted than usual while they worked, and their sticking solution could barely cling to the spoon Slughorn stirred into their cauldron. He gave a rather disappointed sigh and moved on to the next desk.

James and Sirius were yammering on about their Plan as they left class but Remus barely heard them. He watched Lily and Snape walking ahead of them. Snape was telling Lily how impressed he was-as always-by her potion-making ability, and she responded with how he was much better than her. Then as if sensing someone was watching them, Snape looked over his shoulder. Remus averted his gaze, but not quick enough.

"What are you staring at?" Snape demanded, turning fully around.

"We weren't staring," James replied, assuming it was for him.

"Why'd anyone stare are you, Big Nose?" Sirius asked, folding his arms.

"As if anyone could without getting blinded by the light shining off that grease puddle you call hair," James added. Sirius gave him a high five.

Snape's cheeks tinted, and Lily took a step forward. "Leave him alone, you bullies," she said haughtily. Remus felt supremely guilty for starting this, albeit accidentally

"Bullies?" James raised his eyebrows so high they threatened to disappear into the mop on top of him. "That's rich."

Snape's scowl deepened. "Rich is the only thing you've got going for you anyway."

James glared. "Is that your attempt at an insult? I've heard better from a jarvey."

"Talking to jarveys, eh? That explains your level of intellect," Snape retorted.

Lily stomped her foot. "Just leave him alone!"

Sirius snorted. "He's the one that complained about us staring which we weren't. I dunno what's got your wand in a knot, Snape, thinking everyone's looking at you all the time."

Remus shifted uncomfortably, rubbing his elbow with his other hand. "L-let's just go."

"Yes, listen to Loopy and go," Snape grumbled, flapping his hand in a 'shoo!' manner.

Lily paled a little. "Severus," she whispered.

Sirius had his wand out now. "Don't call him that."

Remus reached out, pushing Sirius's hand down. "Let's go," he said, firmer now. Sirius scrunched his face up in confusion. "Please."

James snapped his arm out, whispering a spell quietly, hitting Snape with the hairy bat-bogey hex. Snape stumbled back as they came out of his nose. James, Sirius, and Peter howled with laughter, and Remus's lips twitched into a smile. Snape batted at one of them with his book, and Lily shrieked as globs went everywhere.

"EWWWW!" James shouted, and Peter practically choked with laughter at that. "Come on then, lads." He gave Lily a smirk as he grabbed Sirius, strutting down the corridor. Lily tried to get rid of the bats but she was having a little bit of trouble. Snape got his wand out but every time he opened his mouth to use a counterspell, one of the bats would fly to his mouth.

Ewwww indeed, Remus thought as he hurried after his friends. He looked back, and saw Lily was looking at him with extreme annoyance. He quickly turned to face ahead of him, shame burning on his face.

()

At study group, Lily barely spoke to Remus and he felt in near tears by the end. He walked silently behind Lily and Twycross, thinking over their encounter after Potions, trying to figure out how he could have changed it, done it different, fixed it. He hugged some books to his chest as he went, trying not to stare at the waterfall of red hair before him.

In the common room he half expected Lily to just go up to her dorm however she went over to Inkwood and Colgate, sitting with them. Remus bit his lip, debating whether he should talk to her or not. What did he even do? Apologize? He wasn't the one who used the hex and he hadn't laughed... He glanced around the room for his other friends but didn't see-no, Peter was sitting on the stairs leading up to the boys' dorms, reading a comic book.

Remus eyed Lily once more then went over to Peter who jumped, nearly tossing the comic book. "Just you!" he breathed out. "You can go on up."

"What are you-" Remus stopped, realizing what Peter was doing. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Lookout?"

"Uh-huh."

Remus climbed up the stairs, cautiously going into the dorm. To his surprise it was completely empty, however he could hear soft voices in the bathroom and the smell of fire. He dumped his books onto his bed and went to the bathroom, finding Sirius and James kneeling on the floor with a cauldron bubbling away between them.

"Heya!" James smiled brightly. "Not brewing it in the dorm this time."

Sirius tapped the side of his head. "Smart, eh?"

Remus couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes. "You're n-not supposed to be brewing potions like this either." But he didn't care and his tone came across that way. "What're you making? The sticking solution?"

"Yup, gonna use it tomorrow after Defense," Sirius said, stirring the cauldron carefully.

"It'll stay like this until then, according to the book," James added as he added in a carefully measured tablespoon of cleaver pulp.

Remus sat down in a cross-legged position. "What's the plan?"

James's eyes sparkled. "Pouring it down one of the staircases or across a floor and getting people stuck there."

"If one person gets stuck, nobody else will go on it," Remus pointed out.

"See, if a whole group of people are walking enough should get stuck that it'll be funny," replied Sirius, sitting back on his heels. "We'll do it somewhere near where a class lets out."

"Should work out well enough." James wiped from sweat from his forehead and bent in to peer at the liquid. "Okay it needs to stop boiling about now." Sirius hauled the cauldron off the fire and stirred some more, while James dumped water onto the fire to get rid of it. "Just gotta stir for like, five minutes straight, then we add the rest of the cobwebs."

"Do you need any help?" Remus offered as James set the timer on his fancy watch.

Sirius and James looked at each other. "Er, no offense little buddy but-I mean, we want this potion to work," James said with an apologetic smile.

Remus couldn't even argue that, though the sticking solution wasn't anywhere near as smelly as some of the others; most the ingredients were fairly benign when it came to assaulting his nose. "Understandable." He watched them take turns stirring until the timer went off, and then Sirius carefully unwrapped some spider webs, letting them drift down into the potion. After the strands disappeared, James stirred again then withdrew the spoon, scooting over to the corner of the bathroom, letting a small drop glop onto the floor. He pressed a knut down onto the droplet, waited a few seconds, then tried to move the knut which wouldn't budge.

"Perfect!" James laughed.

()

The next afternoon, however, things weren't so perfect. As soon as Defense was over the four boys hurried up to the tower to get the cauldron which had been kept under James's bed. Now they were faced with an issue none of them had properly thought through.

"How are we going to get it through the common room?" Peter asked. "Everyone will see us."

They couldn't just fill up smaller jars because none of the stuff they had were properly spelled to keep the sticking solution from... well, sticking to the jars. Plus they didn't have enough jars for as much as they wanted to use.

Sirius bent out their window. "How about we lower it down with magic?"

James smacked Sirius's back. "Brilliant! Okay, you three can go down and I'll lower it with the levitation spell."

"But-I don't think it will work, it's so far down!" Remus, against his better judgement, leaned out the window. It made him dizzy. "It's too far, I don't think you're good enough to use the spell at that distance!"

James was scowling now. "Don't be thick! Of course I am, I'm brilliant with the levitation spell! And you can use it from your side. Between us-both geniuses-it'll work. Go on! I think we should dump this in the dungeons, outside the Slytherin common room!"

"Why don't we use rope?" Remus asked as James yanked him away from the window.

"Do you have a whole castle tower's height worth of rope hidden away somewhere?" James inquired and Remus shook his head. "Okay then. Off you go, hurry up."

Sirius grabbed Remus's arm, hauling him off, following Peter. The three of them made their way through the castle and outside into the cold winter air. None of them had really put on anything extra, so they were very chilly by the time they went around to the side where the Gryffindor tower was. Remus craned his neck back, trying to see James. He could hear him calling, then saw him waving out the tower window.

"This is a bad idea," Remus said as the cauldron came out the window. His stomach began churning. "This is a really bad idea."

"Shut up," Sirius said. "Get your wand ready."

Remus pulled his wand out, and the three of them watched the cauldron slowly floating down towards them. It passed the sixth floor and then the fifth. It became wobbly at that point then jerked down rather quickly. Peter yelped and dove away, but James regained control of his spell.

"Wingardium leviosa!" Remus tried to get the cauldron but it was too far. The cauldron jerked again, wobbling down to the fourth floor, then the third. Remus tried again. This time he felt the spell hit, and the cauldron started rising. He panicked a little, and he sensed James panicking. The cauldron began bobbing rapidly up and down as they both tried to get control of the thing while also trying to let the other get control. Then in the blink of an eye it happened.

The cauldron-maybe one or two stories above the three boys now-wobbled... and tipped over.

Remus stared upwards for a second, as the sticking solution came pouring down, then he, Sirius, and Peter all yelled, scrambling to get out of the way. They managed to avoid most of it however the potion splattered everywhere, including on the three of them. The cauldron clanged to the ground several yards away.

Sirius began howling with laughter.

Remus sat up, looking at the globs of white on him. There was a spattering across his chest and arms, and some in his hair. Without even thinking he reached up, touching his head, and his hand stuck there. "Oh no!" He jerked his hand, whimpering in pain as it tugged at his hair.

Still laughing, Sirius got up and came over. Before Remus could stop him, Sirius took hold of his arm to help him up off the ground. "That went well," Sirius said as Remus gave a cry of protest, and tried to let go of Remus's arm. Of course he couldn't. "Oh."

"Yes oh!" Remus snapped.

"H-helllp!" Peter moaned. "I'm stuck to the ground!"

"Take off your robes," Sirius suggested, still trying to pull his hand off of Remus's arm.

"I can't, they're stuck to me!" Peter said.

"I was talking to Remus."

"I can't, the stuff's seeped through," Remus growled. "I told you this was a bad idea! I said so! I told you so but nobody listens to me, do they?! Nooo, James is too much of a genius for it not to work."

"I'm getting r-really cold!" Peter whined, still laying on the ground. "We shoulda listened to Remus."

Sirius turned to look up at the tower again, yanking Remus with him. "He better be on his way down-"

"We can't leave Pete on the ground like that, we need to get someone," Remus said.

"No way!" Sirius yelped. "We can't tell anyone!"

Remus glared then started walking back to the castle. Sirius jerked hard to keep him from going, and Remus knocked back into him. Now they were stuck together even more, very close. "SIRIUS WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!" Remus felt extremely uncomfortable having his body stuck to someone else, being right there, someone being against him, it made him feel panicky and scared. The wolf began clawing at him and since the moon was so close, it was stronger than Remus expected. That just made him even more panicky and scared.

"I w-was trying to get you to not tell..."

"We can't get out of this ourselves!" Remus protested, trying to pull away, being unable to.

Peter began shivering hard. "Guys, I'm really getting cold now."

Sirius looked at him then back at Remus who was starting to breathe heavily. "Fine, let's go get into trouble then!" Sirius snapped, then he must have noticed something in Remus's eyes began his expression changed. "Er-right, come on, let's find someone."

They stepped around the globs on the grass then made their way into the castle but didn't know what to do next. It was afternoon, so classes were still in session. Finally Remus figured they might as well go to Pomfrey. Students they passed gave them strange looks though nobody bothered them. The hospital wing was pretty much empty so they went back to her office, and Sirius knocked on the door very carefully, after making double sure his knuckles didn't have any solution on them.

Pomfrey swung the door open and stared at them huddled together, Remus's hand still on his head. "What in Merlin's name happened?"

Sirius opened his mouth, but then Remus burst into planned tears. "S-s-s-someone dumped st-sticking solution on us! W-we were outside and-and someone-poured it out of th-the window! P-Peter's st-st-stuck to the ground and p-probably freezing to death!"

"Oh dear!" Pomfrey covered her mouth. "Do you know who?"

"N-n-n-no ma'am!" Remus sniffled loudly, tears dripping down his face.

"Why were you outside like that?" She eyed their lack of warm clothes suspiciously.

"James and-and Sirius were-tossing a ball back and f-forth in the dorm and it w-went out the window. We were out th-there looking for it.'

"Why was the window open?"

Errr... "J-James was expecting a late p-package from his parents..." Remus gave another loud sniffle.

"I see. Well, let's go try to get Mr. Pettigrew; I don't have anything to unstick you, we'll have to go to Horace for that." Pomfrey put a note up on the doors that she'd be right back, and followed the boys quickly through the castle. Once they got outside, they found James standing near Peter.

"Someone th-threw sticking solution out the w-window at us!" Remus said quickly, so James would know not to say anything too incriminating.

"What?" James's shocked voice wasn't very believable but Pomfrey was hurrying over to Peter and didn't seem to notice. But then James began laughing, seeing Remus and Sirius stuck together like they were. He was laughing so much and then windmilled his arms to stay upright, his feet not moving one bit.

"Are you stuck too?" Sirius snickered.

"Yes," James grumbled. "I ran over to Pete and got stuck. Too cold to take my shoes off."

Pomfrey was using a spell to dig up the ground under Peter then got him to his feet, bits of mud dropping off the turf glued to his back and side. Then she used the spell to dig up the ground under James's feet. "Come on, you can stay in the hospital wing until Potions is done, then I'm sure Horace will have something to dissolve the solution."

As they went back to the hospital wing, Remus just felt extremely glad this had happened today and not the next since Saturday night was the first of the full moon. Once the four boys took seats (Sirius and Remus just sort of stood there for ages until they squeezed into a chair, Remus half in Sirius's lap), Pomfrey returned to her office and as soon as she did, Sirius began talking.

"You should have seen Remus, he was incredible he just started sobbing! She totally believed it!" He must have been really excited about the whole thing since his heart seemed to be racing at a million miles an hour from what Remus could tell.

James gave Remus a thumbs up. "Good job, lil' buddy."

"What about the cauldron though? If Sirius is missing a cauldron now, it's gonna be kinda suspicious," Peter sat, swinging his legs, sending bits of dirt all over the floor.

"You're right..." James rubbed his chin and then jumped up. "If she comes back, tell her I'm in the loo. Be right back!" He took off running out of the wing, leaving the three alone.

"You really were incredible," Sirius told Remus. "I didn't know you could cry on command." Remus just shrugged. It had been easy since he'd been feeling overwhelmed and emotional as it was. "That's gonna be useful getting out of other..." Sirius gave a snort then bent forward, giggling. "Out of other sticky situations!"

Remus groaned while Pete laughed, but then Remus began laughing too. James returned shortly, whispering that the cauldron had been stuck to the ground but he had managed to get it dug out and stashed in a secret passageway.

The four chatted away while they waited for Professor Slughorn to free them. When he finally arrived, he wasn't alone. While Professor Slughorn carefully dabbed their skin and clothes with a soaked washcloth, Professor McGonagall stood before them, a stern look on her face, not believing Remus's Tall Tale as much as Pomfrey had.

"So what, you think we did this to ourselves?" Sirius asked. "Sure, yeah, we dumped it on ourselves for a good laugh."

"I wouldn't put it past you," McGonagall muttered, though not as convinced anymore.

Sirius and Remus were freed first, and Remus pulled away with great relief. The wolf had been almost hurting him, from the physical proximity to someone for so long, and it was like weight being taken off his chest. He knew he needed to be alone the rest of the night, and as soon as they could all leave, Remus skipped dinner, went straight up to the dorm rooms, pulled his pillow and blanket under his bed, and remained there until he fell asleep.