Chapter 4
4.
"Pssst have you heard about the Potter guy?" Someone further down the Gryffindor table whispered to the person sat across from him.
"Yeah apparently he bribed himself onto the quidditch team."
Remus couldn't help but roll his eyes, some people really needed to look around before gossiping.
"What you rolling your eyes for Moony?" James asked around a mouthful of toast, crumbs flying out of his mouth.
Remus glared at James when some of the crumbs landed on him, "That's disgusting." He brushed them off and pushed his plate away.
"I'm going over to Reg, see you guys later." He stood up and started making his way towards the Slytherin table.
"Rem." Regulus greeted him before taking a bite of his toast, much more politely than James had.
"What-" Barty's eyes had widened when Remus had approached but now his jaw was hanging open.
"Regulus, care to explain?" Evan asked, his eyes nervously darting to Remus, as if he thought he'd lunge over the table and stab him.
"What is there to explain?"
"Why are you letting a Gryffindor sit at our table?!" Barty regained his voice and whisper yelled.
Regulus only shrugged and turned his head to Remus, asking why he'd come over.
"Do you know Patrick?" Remus answered the question, with a question.
"That obnoxious Gryffindor?" Evan wrinkled his nose, Barty pulling the same expression.
"Yes, why?" Regulus asked after swallowing the last bite of his toast.
"Well, I've heard that he slept with a teacher to get good grades."
Barty rested his elbows on the table and leant forward with a smile, "Tell us more, which teacher?"
Remus smiled back, "You know that really old one that got fired last year for no reason?"
"That one?" Evan gasped, smiling at this new information to spread across the school.
"Yes, that one." Remus couldn't contain his matching smile.
"Pretty good bit of gossip, why tell us though?" Evan asked, trying to understand why.
"Well Reg said you lot like gossip so I thought I'd be nice." Remus shrugged, sharing a quick glance with Regulus before standing up, he patted Regulus' shoulder before walking back to his table.
"Are you sure he's not one of us?" Barty asked as he watched Remus' retreating back.
"He almost was, but got put in Gryffindor instead." Regulus allowed himself a small smile at the idea of a Slytherin Remus.
"That's why you let him sit down." Evan realised, then burst out laughing, Barty joining in a few seconds later.
"Hey Moony, you know that teacher that got fired last year?" Peter rolled over on the floor to face Remus in his armchair.
"The old one?" Remus asked, knowing full well where this was going.
"Yeah, guess what he got fired for." Peter grinned, thinking he was about to break some earth shattering news.
"Uh he wasn't doing his job properly?"
"No! He was sleeping with a student." Peter's smile widened as he watched Remus excitedly.
"Oh really? Who?" Remus raised an eyebrow and glanced at the sofa where Regulus was reading, James's head in his lap with Lily also dozing off on his other side.
Remus met Regulus' eyes and returned the small grin sent his way.
Peter sat up, drawing his attention back to him, "You'll never guess."
"Uhh dunno, you'll have to tell me."
"Patrick."
"The Gryffindor?" Remus feigned his surprise, raising his eyebrows in fake shock.
"Yep, isn't that so weird? Apparently he was doing it to get better grades."
"Oh wow, that's pretty bad isn't it Reg?" Remus asked Regulus, causing him to also have to feign surprise.
"That is quite bad." Regulus nodded and went back to reading his book, one hand combing through James's hair.
Patrick wasn't seen for a few weeks after that, but when he did finally reappear, he constantly avoided everyone and went deathly pale when people cornered him to ask about whether the rumours were true or not.