Chapter 14
Back to the Shed
"I can't believe you got 115 percent on your Transfiguration exam," James exclaimed to Remus, "It's impossible!"
"Not to mention 110 percent in Charms," said Sirius mystified.
Remus flushed with embarrassment and mumbled something along the lines of, "You both did well too."
The boys sat comfortably in their compartment on the scarlet train chugging its way back to London, reminiscing about their first wonderful year at Hogwarts.
"Did you see Filch's face when he saw cat stuck to the wall with bat bile!" Sirius crowed.
Remus frowned, he never approved to any sort of cruelty to animals, even evil ones. He had not approved of that prank.
"I glad the school year is over though," Peter sighed and stretched, "No more schoolwork, or teachers breathing down your neck."
"Yeah," James agreed, picking cautiously at a box of jelly beans, "School is fine, but nothing beats home. Lazing around, Quidditch, swimming, Quidditch…"
Sirius and Remus shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Neither was looking forward to going home, but neither wanted to ruin the mood by mentioning it.
As the countryside became more familiar, James tried to explain to Sirius and Peter what a telephone was.
"My mum's allergic to owls, so we have to use the Muggle telephone," he started, handing his three friends his telephone number, "Find a phone, press these numbers in and then you can talk to me."
Sirius looked highly skeptical and Peter looked hopelessly befuddled, but they stuffed the slips of parchment in their pockets along with Remus.
"I asked mum and dad, and they said you all could stay with us for a coupla weeks in the summer if you wanted," James said brightly.
Sirius perked up, "That'd be great!"
"If I'm allowed…" Remus said doubtfully.
"I only live right down the road from you James," Peter rolled his eyes at the offer.
The train halted and the boys stumbled their way through platform nine and three-quarters. They hastily exchanged addresses and said their goodbyes as each one was pulled away by their families. Peter and James to two sets of hearty, good natured looking people, and Sirius to the incredibly severe looking woman Remus recognized from the wand store. Remus searched for his family and to his great relief, finally spotted his grandmother and his parents. He had been getting strange looks from passerby because of the large black raven perched on his shoulder but all his self-consciousness melted away as he ran toward them.
"Oh Remus!" cried Zelda as she gather her grandson for a crushing embrace. Remus also enjoyed a hug from his mother.
Mr. Valent said gruffly, "Let's go," and the group loaded into to a low model Ministry car.
"So how was school, Remus," asked his mother, "Make any new friends?"
Remus nodded happily, "School was wonderful."
"Did you learn, much?" asked Zelda.
"Oh, everything!" Remus exclaimed but turned pink at Zelda's laughter.
"Shame about your Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor though, died hardly a month into the year, had to get substitutes for the rest of the term I heard," said Mr. Valent, darkening the mood considerably.
There was a moment of tense silence before Zelda said, "What of it?"
"It's strange, they said he died of food poisoning. My Department launched an inquiry on the house elves at Hogwarts. They were adamant that they prepared all the food just fine. We think we have it narrowed down to two though," Mr. Valent paused, "We have permission to execute them, but that fool Dumbledore is standing in the way."
Remus shifted nervously, leaning toward his grandmother for comfort. Though he had known him for only a short time, Professor Wilhelm had been a kind, mild man, and an excellent teacher. It made his fragile little heart ache whenever his late professor was brought up.
"Oh shut it you insensitive prat!" Zelda snapped, "You didn't have to bring that up. And executing house elves for an innocent mistake? Barbaric!"
The car ride home was silent.
Dinner was a bit more hospitable, with Zelda dotingly showering presents on Remus, who was overjoyed to receive an old Sneakoscope, a box of chocolates, several interesting looking runes, and a secondhand collection of classic Greek literature.
Remus excitedly babbled about Sirius, James, and Peter and their less illegal adventures, mostly to his grandmother, though his mother nodded patiently at times. After dinner, Zelda indulged Remus in a game of Exploding Snap and Muggle cards, before giving him one of her bone-crushing hugs and announcing that she must be getting home.
With Grandma Zelda gone, the atmosphere in the home grew considerably colder. The once distant feeling of being unwanted instantly began to well up in Remus. Summer was not going to be a pleasant affair.
What do ya think? Review! Also, thanks to my few reviewers, you make me happy inside : ) Next chapter promises to be cool. Remus gets lost in the woods! And a Marauder rescue mission!