And They Were Poets

Wednesday 15th September 1971

The whispers didn’t end. Wherever Remus went they followed. Wherever Remus didn’t go, they still followed. He found himself in class and despite doing his best at avoiding absolutely everything and everyone, he was still confronted by everyone. Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws, and Slytherins, and other Gryffindors. They all asked him the same question. They all asked each other the same question. It was just an endless cycle. A cycle only consisting of;

“Do you think it’s true? Did they really use the killing curse on each other?”

Where they had heard that? Remus couldn’t say. The few people who had actually seen the body despite how little or much were the ones under the fire the most. And of course that just had to mean that room number 14, consisting of Peter, Remus, Sirius, Wes, and James, was also under the questioning of almost anybody they passed by.

James and Sirius were quite good with the attention, smiling and talking politely while looking like they could burn down the next person who dared ask them something in private. Peter avoided conversation entirely. He simply ran away the second he was spoken to by someone even the slightest bit unfamiliar and that only led to another round of rumours of people questioning whether or not he knew something. He didn’t, of course, but rumours grew fast in Hogwarts.

Then there was Wes, who simply threw the question back at whoever was asking but ten times more dramatically, “Oh my god, really? They did that? Really used the killing curse? You have to really mean it to able to do it, are you serious?” and that would continue for the next ten minutes.

Lastly, Remus ignored absolutely everything regarding the situation. He didn’t let a word out and people would soon get bored by his behaviour and leave. That went on for the start of their second week at Hogwarts. Remus already regretted having agreed to come but it was far too late to turn back now.

“If someone comes up to me anymore today I just might cry,” James stated quite firmly during lunch one day.

When Wednesday had come around, the whispers and people had become less frequent but they were still there. Always there and Remus had the feeling they wouldn’t be going away anytime soon. Maybe they never would.

“I don’t think that’s proper grammar,” Peter muttered, out of breath after spending the day running away from everyone once again.

“Oh, shut it, Pete, I don’t want you lecturing me on grammar.” James had his head down, laying on the table, eyes closed like he might fall asleep any minute.

For the first time in days, the four friends were back to sitting together with only each other. Their big group slowly became smaller until they were the same as they had been the first day. Wes and Mary were nowhere to be seen in the great hall, Lily and Marlene were chatting together, their heads so close you could easily mistake that they were kissing. And then there were the four. Peter and Remus sitting across from James and Sirius. It felt quite lovely. Though Remus would rather die than admit how he felt.

“Lupin.” A voice called from behind, ending up with the conversation falling short. Remus reluctantly turned around, following the frozen gazes of James and Sirius. He recognized that voice though he hoped to be wrong. Maybe someone who sounded similar.

But the platinum blond locks didn’t lie. He stood over Remus like a giant, whether he was standing or sitting down. Compared to average height, Lucius Malfoy could easily be mistaken as a half-giant.

“‘ell yeh want?” Remus spoke, almost choking out his words. Even to him, they sounded like a foreign language. Not a word left his mouth that he could understand. It hadn’t been like this the first time they’d met or even the second when Remus had almost got his ear hexed off. But now— he simply spoke words with no meaning.

Lucius sent a glare to somewhere behind the young Gryffindor before turning back to look at him, “We need to talk. Follow, quietly. Sirius, sit. And watch your friends quietly.” There was almost something sounding like a short growl that came from Sirius’ throat before Remus heard him fall back to his seat.

Remus wasn’t hexed. He knew that much, but for some reason he followed after the blond without a word after he had dramatically flipped his robe and started walking to the exit. Remus followed. He couldn’t look behind him, something was stopping him from doing that. So he just let his feet lead. And they did.

They led him down multiple sets of stairs and down long and deep and dark dingy hallways. They led him down into the dungeons where he could finally move freely. But he decided to continue and follow. He followed Lucius into an empty abandoned classroom that stood exactly opposite to Potions.

The Slytherin then took out his wand and without a word, cast some kind of spells Remus was still unfamiliar with. After he’d finished, he looked Remus dead in the eye with a calm expression and said, “Sirius is a fool.” he simply states, shaking his head in disappointment, “to stick around mudbloods and blood traitors alike. If Narcissa hadn’t told me to let you live you would long since be dead. But I value this relationship enough.”

Remus had been lost since the first word. He had no idea what was been spoken about or if he even wanted to truly understand.

“Alright, let me get straight to the point.” He should have done that in the first place. “You may be a mudblood but you’re quite smart, yes?”

No. It was the second week into school and Remus was absolutely certain he was already failing but somehow, this moment didn’t seem like the best of times to point that out, so he stayed quiet as the blond continued.

“I simply want you to frame Sirius.”

Why was Sirius being name-dropped so much in this one-way conversation? “For what?”

“For murder.”

If Remus didn’t look shocked he didn’t know how else he would have looked. His eyes were wide, his mouth was agape, and he was leaning forward like just a push and he would fall. “Sohrry?”

“I want you to give me a hand in framing my future cousin-in-law for the murder of Gryffindor's sixth years; Rayn Laughalot and Sophie Allister.”

Those names had haunted Remus for almost a week straight but he had not even once thought they would come up in a situation such as this. Whatever this situation was. Because what the actual— “What?”

Lucius was growing irritated now, “are you also deaf on top of being impure? I was not aware mudbloods were—”

“No, I heard you the first time. Just…” Lucius’s annoyance clearly grew at being interrupted but for some odd reason, he let it slide and kept quiet as Remus spoke. “I just want to know why you want me to frame my fr— Sirius for bloody murder.” His voice was clear as day again. It always was when he couldn’t keep up the accent. He’d started using it after one of the guys who smoked fags near his house had said that he was easily recognized as an outsider because of the way he spoke. So he’d taken up and then grown into that habit but sometimes the accent slipped. And he wasn’t in control of when it did.

A smirk fell upon Lucius’s lips like he was expecting something from Remus if he told him the why. “Because he’s a blood traitor for just sticking around you bunch and I would rather marry into a loyal pure-blood family.”

“But if I’m a what-do-you-call-it, mudblood? Why ask me?”

“Oh, I don’t think you understood. This wasn’t a question. It’s a decision and quite a simple one at that.” There was a dramatic hair flip of long hair after that and then a burst of silence.

Well, this was awkward… Remus let his eyes wander around the room, biting his lip and fiddling with his thumbs. Couldn’t he just leave and pretend like this had never happened? Why was Lucius even talking to him in the first place? The atmosphere told Remus all he needed to know about how the elder felt towards him yet he had still picked him up and led him into a room alone.

It was strange, for certain. Maybe even stranger with this sudden request pointing itself at Remus.

He didn’t have to think about his answer very hard but he also thought about it harder than he had about many other things. Because what sixteen-year-old in their right mind asked an eleven-year-old to frame their girlfriend's cousin?

It hurt Remus’ brain just thinking about it.

A few more minutes passed, and Lucius finally spoke again, with an obnoxious smile, “You can think it over. Have your answer ready by Saturday.” Well, that was an oddly specific date. Remus couldn’t help but point out in his head.

And then with a swish of his wand, Lucius was escaping the empty classroom without waiting for a response. Remus started dreading for when Saturday would arrive.

__________

Friday 17th September 1971

“What does mudblood mean?” Sirius choked on his juice.

Two days passed and the stress of what Lucius would do to him if he said no kept piling and piling and Remus couldn’t take it anymore. It was a rare afternoon when all the first years of room fourteen found themselves in their dorm.

And it wasn’t even quiet for Remus to not be able to contain his thoughts. No, James and Peter were playing wizarding chess and Sirius was there as a referee? And they were all as loud as always. Thank god the walls were soundproof— who knows how many people would have complained if they weren’t.

Remus had again continued with drawing his map, adding more places, and then going over the ones already put down to make them darker and easier to see on paper. But then his quill broke and he ended up just blankly staring at the wall and the thoughts he had been able to keep away since Wednesday started to flood in.

If he was being honest, when he asked the question he had been almost positive he wouldn’t be heard. But of course, that moment just had to have been the one moment when the group was silent. And now they were even more silent than silent. Like no one was breathing.

Remus wanted to bang his head against the wall.

“Where did you hear that?” Asked James, who was patting Sirius on the back in an effort to calm his coughing fit.

Peter shot his head up from contemplating his next move to also staring holes in the back of the other's head, “Did someone call you that?” The silence was enough for an answer, resulting in the chubby boy letting out a loud gasp. “No! Didn’t you say your dad was a wizard, though?” Remus had no idea what that had to do with it and only lowered his head more, knowing fully well he was still visible.

“They…” Sirius got through his coughs, his voice now sore, “Some people who are really focused on blood purity also use it to address half-bloods.”

Oh. Well, that didn’t sound good.

“Oh… Remus, did someone actually call you that?” Peter spoke again, his voice quieter and more focused now.

Remus wanted to disappear but he, unfortunately, was unable to do so. He didn’t answer which served as an answer. “Wha’s it mean?” He finally asked, his voice almost shaking.

“Well, uhm…” James started but let Sirius take over the actual speaking, “Just a slur people with full wizard families like using. They like to think non-pureblood families are less superior. Lot o’ bogus that is.”

“Oh.” Remus breathed. Of course, it meant something like that. It did sound bad and with the way Lucius said it, it couldn’t be something good. But… Remus wanted to puke.

He pulled himself up from the chair, his eyes meeting Sirius’s as he walked past him to get to his bed. And that’s when Sirius seemed to have a realization. Was it a good or bad one? To this day, Remus still can’t say.

“Did Lucius call you a mudblood?” The word came from his lips almost as smoothly as it did from Lucius’. Like he had gotten used to saying it. Hearing it too. “He’s the only unordinary guy you’ve talked to this week unless you’ve made other friends without telling us.”

Oh. Remus was considered a friend.

“Maybe.” He said because suddenly saying no or nothing seemed impossible to him. Because he couldn’t say no when someone called him a friend. Maybe was the closes he could find in his small vocabulary and so he stuck with it.

“I will fucking murder him.” Oh and now Sirius was cursing— Sirius didn't curse. He refused to curse. He corrected anyone who cursed in his presence despite the fact of if they heard him or not.

“I’d like to refrain from seeing a third dead body any time soon.” Called Peter who was weirdly enough packing up the chess set already despite the unfinished game and James also oddly, didn’t say anything about it.

“Then don’t look.” Sirius shrugged.

“Mate, I don’t think—” James was shaking his head.

And that’s how the four of them ended up in this position. Sirius laying on his bed muttering curses under his breath after he had been forbidden from going off to kill his cousin's boyfriend. Peter and James discussing how exactly to get back at Lucius without murder, and Remus sitting in the corner of his bed feeling like he had said something he shouldn’t have.

Wes had gotten back a while ago but he had entered the room just as Peter was saying, “We could burn all his clothes so he would have to go to class butt naked.” That was enough for Wes to disappear once more. He understandably did not want to be a part of whatever this was.

“We don’t know which one his dorm is though,” James brought up. They were actually thinking about it.

“We could do it to all the Slytherin guys.” Peter shrugged.

“No effence but, I think teht would b’more traumatising than a dead body,” Remus said. “No, Sirius, teht does not mean yer allowed to kill him.” He added, noticing how Sirius had perked up.

Sirius clicked his tongue in annoyance, “We could always dye his hair.” And then at the confusion, “He loves his hair more than anything. Any change would drive him mad.”

James snapped his fingers, eyes almost glowing at that, “Bloody brilliant! We could make a potion and—”

Sirius interrupted, “I know a spell, think that’d be easier, don’t know?”

“We haven’t learned any color-changing charms though?” Peter questioned, Sirius shrugged.

“My cousin taught it to me because ‘you may never know when you need green skin to get away with saying you’re sick’, should work on hair too.”

And that’s why the four of them left under James’ invisibility clock when they were certain they wouldn’t find anyone down in the common room. They passed Mr. Filch and were almost found out by Mrs. Norris but luck was on their side because right then there were footsteps on the other side of the hallway, resulting in the caretaker and his cat taking off.

“Oh shit.” Apparently, Sirius cursing didn’t only happen once and then never again. “We don’t know the password, do we?” He asked when they’d made it all the way to the Slytherin common room entrance.

There was no answer. Remus suddenly felt glad he’d tagged along, “d’yeh thenk I wuld have let yeh cumn ‘ere without the password?” His accent was overly strong whenever he was tired.

“...what?” Peter asked.

Remus sighed, “Mundus Viridi.” The wall before them slid open to reveal a narrow tunnel, lit by faint green lights. James and Sirius and Peter gawked at Remus like they’d never seen him before. For the first time, Remus was thankful that Mulciber had such a big mouth on him.

“Holy crap how’d you know that?”

“That’s not important, let’s go.” James hustled them all inside. The wall closed up behind them.

There had been times when Remus had both been glad to have been sorted into Gryffindor and wanted to have been sorted anywhere but there. Now was the former. Because the cold and eerie atmosphere of the Slytherin house wasn’t only around the students but it went so far as to their common room too.

It was dark, illuminated by more green lights. The walls were richly decorated by tapestries you’d think to find in ancient castles from the 1800s and not in a school. The entire sitting room was built more like a room you’d find in fantasy novels. Moving paintings in silver frames aligned the walls and despite knowing they couldn’t see him, Remus felt like all their eyes followed him with every step he took.

Unlike Gryffindor, there was still a fairly large amount of people there, Yet it was quiet. Almost too quiet. People were sitting, reading by the fire, while others were whispering to each other. When the four were brave enough to finally walk deeper into the snake's den, they almost walked in on two students doing… that.

The dorms were easy enough to find, thankfully. They stood on opposite sides of the walls. Large white more castle-like doors. One read women above it while the other read men.

They ran into the men's side and thankfully, no one was found in the hall between the rooms. The first room was found empty, and so all four of them slipped inside. Taking off the cloak, they almost together fell onto the floor, able to breathe again.

“This is intense.” Peter said, tears of stress in his eyes.

There was a choir of “yeah” and “I know” and then silence as they caught their breaths.

The dorm room had the same coldness to it as the common room. It was dark and dimly lit, with four fancy beds aligning each wall. It wasn’t all that different from the Gryffindor dorms but at the same time, it was the exact opposite.

“Come on then, we still have work to do.” James stood, brushing at his clothes despite the very cleanliness of the tiled floor. “It’s late, they’ll return soon.”

“Remus, you’re on watch.” Announced Sirius, throwing the cloak into the hands of the other boy.

Remus groaned, “Why me?” He asked yet didn’t complain as he started picking himself back up off the floor.

“Because Pete’s good at transfiguration and James needs to stay as a lookout here, for you.” Sirius rolled his eyes like it was obvious before heading to where the toilet lay.

“Uhuh,” Remus muttered, flipping the cloak on his back and walking back out the door.

It was quiet. The few people who did walk past had no reason to look for four first-year Gryffindors in one of their dorms and none seemed to have any interest in entering the first room at all. It was a few minutes of Remus just looking from side to side until something made him snap out of his trans.

It sounded like a bell. Different than the one that played in the morning and different from the one that announced the end and beginning of their classes. This was quieter. Like a silent scream. Multiple people then started heading back into their dorms. Students after students came and the hall went from empty to full in only a matter of minutes. It was like the hallways during the five-minute break between classes.

But still, no one came into the room the Gryffindors were in. Remus knew it couldn’t have been empty with the bags that had been put next to each bed and the unmade beds screamed they had been slept in before.

The hall was empty again.

Footsteps approached and before Remus could understand what was happening he was again on the floor, the cloak slipping off his back. He blinked. And blinked again. And then started to panic when he realized his gaze was met with eyes twice as dark as his.

Oh crap. They were caught.

The girl had her mouth open, trying to decipher whether this was a dream or reality. The dim lights reflected on her warm olive skin making her look more green than she was.

Remus tried to think of what to say, if he could come up with an excuse or just make it sound like he was the only one here but before he could, “Vanity!” A voice called.

The girl immediately snapped her eyes to look in the direction where the voice had come from. She clicked her eyes, turned back to Remus, and seemed to realize he really was there and not just a part of her imagination. She picked up the cloak and threw it back over Remus, to his surprise.

The Slytherin then stood up and was met by a male three times her size. His face was covered by blond curly hair and he wore a uniform Remus only recognized as quidditch because of James’ overly fascination with the sport.

“You take far too long, we’ll get caught if we don’t leave now.” His voice was hoarse and low.

“Weren’t you the one who asked me to go get your wand in the first place?” Vanity said more like a statement than a question. “And I get you’re salty because a lowly second-year beat you in place for the team, but can’t you act like a decent human being at least once in your life? But I bloody guess not.” She then started walking back towards the common room, with a quick call of, “thought you said we need to go.” Her gaze lingered in the place Remus stood for a bit longer before heading out of sight.

The blond muttered curses under his breath before following suit and leaving.

And right as they left, the door creaked open, startling Remus. “Finally! The ‘ell took y'all so long?” He whisper shouted as the others hurried under the cloak with him.

“Sorry,” James apologized, “There was a problem and then we heard voices out here so…”

“We’ll tell you later but we still have a lot more to get done so go, go, go!” Sirius hustled them all into the next room.

__________

Saturday 18th September 1971

It was Saturday. Remus was supposed to have been able to sleep longer than on weekdays. But no. Almost as soon as he had fallen asleep, he woke up to Sirius almost pushing him out of bed.

“Hng, what?” He muttered, pulling the blanket over his face.

“We need to witness our awesomeness! Breakfast is better for the best reactions instead of lunch or dinner, so come on up now.” Sirius actually then pushed Remus fully out of bed with a loud crash. “Shit, sorry.”

Remus groaned, opening his eyes to find Peter in the same exact position. Once again crawling on the floor, Wes was gone again, to no one's surprise and James was staring at himself in the mirror the same he did every morning.

After a bit longer of having Sirius in his face, Remus finally gave in and just pulled on his uniform so he wouldn’t have to choose anything else. He was led out of the dorm and through the common room in between Sirius and Peter, James like always, was in the lead.

It was still early. So early that no one else except a couple of seventh years huddles in a corner had not yet gotten down into the common room.

The Great Hall was mostly empty, a couple of students sitting here and there, and seeing no Slytherin yet down immediately made James and Sirius smile from ear to ear. They walked proudly over to the Gryffindor table in their usual arrangement and began to wait.

Remus couldn’t say how long they waited. Hours or Minutes, he didn’t know. He’d fallen back asleep almost the second he sat down. What woke him up were the loud cackles of his friends. He opened his eyes and let out a yawn, picking his head up off the table.

He followed the gazes of the people around him and suddenly he was fully awake. Slytherins were piling in one after another. Their hair went from rainbow to white. Maybe it had been a good decision to have made friends with the three other Gryffindors.

“Oh, Merlin, look at Snape!” Peter said, laughing hysterically. Severus had indeed walked in— his hair bright crimson red. Remus found Lucius fast enough, his hair was puke green. And he looked absolutely humiliated. He wouldn’t be talking to Remus any time sure, he was certain of that.

Narcissa followed Lucius in, her expression apologetic and angry.

Remus turned back toward his own table and noticed the just arriving Gryffindors and Hufflepuff snorting and cackling at each other like this was the best thing they’d seen in weeks. Remus couldn’t help but feel a little proud that he had been at least a small part of the reason.

Peter screeched from next to him and also turned back, hiding his face in the day's ‘daily prophet’. James across him rolled his eyes at something behind Remus’ back with a smirk. The next voice told him enough to know who it was.

“I know it was you.” Severus snapped.

“What’s wrong, Snivellus? Thought you’d be excited to finally be matching with Evans.” Sirius laughed, leaning his head against his hand on the table.

Severus let out a low growl, “Undo it. Now.”

“Woah, what happened to your hair?!” Peter fake gasped as he turned to look back again, “It’s an improvement, gotta say.” Remus couldn’t help but let out a laugh at that.

“Oh my god, Sev!” Lily ran over to her Slytherin friend the moment she spotted him from the doors of the great hall. “What happened?” She sounded more concerned than what one should be after someone dyed their hair.

“Your little Gryffindor buddies did this.” Answered the Slytherin. Remus gave up when the eyes piercing the back of his head became two pairs instead of one.

He tried to smile, “Can I help you?” He avoided looking at Snape and only laid his eyes on Lily.

The red— natural redhead smiled back, “Do you know who did this?” She asked, waving over at Severus but Remus kept his eyes on Lily.

He shrugged, “don’t know what you mean. Isn’t he always that red?” The others burst into laughter at that.

Lily shook his head, clearly not finding the situation as hilarious as her housemates did, “Please, Remus—”

“Stop pleading with them, Lily, just tell them to admit what they did. Stupid ungrateful lying brats— I might consider forgiving you if you agree that’s you.”

“Sev-”

“No, I just want them to admit what they did. As simple as that.”

Before another word could be spoken, Remus felt a hand on his shoulder. A hand that was far too slim to be Peter's and larger than either Sirius or James’. The hand gripped him, steadying the owner of it. “Got a problem here, lads?” If the voice hadn’t been as playful sounding as it was, it could have easily been mistaken for a professor.

Severus took a clear step back, like sizing up whoever it was, he muttered something far too quietly for it to be heard. Remus didn’t know he was capable of speaking so quietly. It fascinated him.

And before the Slytherin could move back anymore, there were two hands on his shoulders, pushing him forward to where he’d just been standing a mere second ago.

The hands belonged to a tall curly red-haired boy. His smile was almost brighter than James’ which Remus was far too used to being around. He was wearing his uniform, only the robe was missing. A Gryffindor based on his tie, though.

“Do you have any evidence?” Asked the one with his hand on Remus.

Remus glanced back out of curiosity and had to take a double-take between the sudden new appearances to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. He was squatting on top of the table and he was wearing something that definitely used to be the Gryffindor uniform. Keyword: used. The robe was side-way striped with all colors rainbow, and his shirt was tied up from the bottom, so it would reach just above his belly button, he wore the skirt from the female uniform, one of the long ones that ended right below his knees, his tie was tied around his head, right by his hairline. And his hair was curly and red and the same as the one who was still preventing Snape from leaving.

The two looked the same yet absolutely different. Something Remus wasn’t used to seeing. Siblings (as they clearly were) normally looked the same or different, not both, but that’s how they looked.

“What?” Severus asked, this time loud enough for him to be heard.

“Evidence.” The one on the table repeated, “heard you blaming these guys but do you have any evidence to prove your claims?”

“No, but-”

“And thus, the argument is over. Blame them once you’ve gathered the evidence, how about that?” He smiled, hopping down off the table and squeezing himself in between Peter and Remus, placing one foot over the other.

“Just because you’re in the same house doesn’t mean you need to defend them,” Severus said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“It doesn’t,” Agreed the Gryffindor, “but we want to. We’re the kind of people who believe evidence above claims, aren’t we, Fab?” The other one nodded. “See? So if that’s all, you may leave now. Return once you’ve gathered the evidence we seek.”

“Bloody bastards, all of you,” Severus stated before taking off with his new crimson head of hair.

Lily looked back between him and the Gryffindors before starting to follow her older friend, “You’re all childish immature prats, you know that?” And then she was gone.

Once they were entirely out of sight, the brother who had kept quiet the entire exchange fell onto the floor, hugging his legs close to his chest, “I almost shit my pants. We ain’t ever doing that ever again, ya hear me, Gid?” He had clear tears in his eyes when he looked up from his knees.

The one next to Remus laughed, “Got it chief. I’m sorryyyy,” he picked himself up and also sat on the floor, petting the other's back as means of comfort. A bit while later, he seemed to remember the four first years staring down at them. He offered his hand to Peter who he was closest to and uncertainly after a long moment passed, he shook it, “Name’s Gideon, this is Fabian.” He signaled to the one next to him and then added, “Prewett. Gideon and Fabian Prewett. Fifth year.”

“James Potter !” James jumped up and almost crawled on the table to be able to shake the elder's hand, “and thanks a bunch for that. I don’t think I could have handled him for much longer.”

“‘Course, any enemy of Slytherin is a friend of ours.” Gideon smiled, shaking James’ hand, “Almost actually murdered Malfoy the other day, but this is just as good.”

And suddenly Sirius was also laying on the table to reach Gideon, “Sirius Black, sir.” He announced like it was the greatest thing he’d ever heard anyone say, “Think you could help me kick his ar— uhm, behind when no one's looking?” James let out a loud sigh at that but didn’t protest.

“For sure!” There was a sparkle in the fifth-year's eye as he continued to speak, “And though he’d rather die than admit it, we’re family so no need for the formal talk, yeah?”

Sirius blinked and then blinked again, “family?”

“Yeah, somewhere in that terribly huge family tree of yours-”

Fabian interrupted, “Cedrella is our sister's mother-in-law.”

“Oh.” Sirius breathed, pulling away, “Weasley, is it?”

“Yep, that’s them!” Announced Gideon and clearly not noticing the sudden drop in mood, he lastly offered his hand to Remus.

After a moment of silence, “Remus Lupin.” He introduced himself and then waved in Peter's direction. “Pettigrew, Peter.”

Before any more words could be switched between the six of them, a loud voice that echoed throughout the hall caught all their attention, “Prewett!”

“And that’s our cue to leave.” Gideon said without wasting a second, “If you ever need anything, come find us. Just down the hall, room four hundred seventeen. Toodles.” And he disappeared. Actually disappeared. Vanished from the spot. He was there one second and gone the next.

“It’s been a pleasure.” Fabian smiled, giving a slight bow before following his brother.

Remus was going to get anything but used to this. Ever. That he was certain of.