Of Deer and Flowers

Chapter four

Mischievous pranksters

September 30

Dear Kate,

We're almost finished with our project, and our DADA studies are getting very interesting. Today in the library Remus said something that makes me doubt everything I've learned . . .

It was a rainy day and Lily, Christy, Remus, and Peter were huddled in the back corner of the library with the girls in high-backed chairs and the boys on the window seat. Remus's head was leaning against the window and it was apparent he wasn't paying a lick of attention.

"Got it!" Christy said, putting the finishing touches on their report.

"have you had Marshwick's latest class yet?" Lily asked double checking the essay.

"Nope," Peter answered, "we have her tomorrow first thing. Anything interesting on the agenda?"

"Yeah," Lily's eyes brightened, "did you know werewolves are allergic to garlic?" Remus snorted then burst out laughing. "Remus what is wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry," he laughed, "but it's just not true!"

"What!" Christy asked. Remus continued to laugh.

"It's vampires who're allergic to garlic!"

"How do you know?"

"Um . . . there's one in my hometown."

"Really Peter asked, "then how come you never said anything before?"

"I . . . well . . . with my mom sick and all . . ." Lily nodded. Remus had been exhausted this past week, no wonder it slipped his mind.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Silently, Remus followed Stanton until he reached the owl statue. Unfortunately the prefect seemed to have forgotten something. He turned around just in time to catch Remus backing up.

"Can I help you?"

"Um . . . I . . . I was looking for Lily."

"Evans?"

"Yeah, we were working on a Herbology report and Peter and I, he's working on it with us. Well, we got into an argument and I wanted to check her notes."

"Stay there, I'll get her." Stanton turned, walked back down the hall, and whispered the password. Just barely could Remus hear it.

"Socrates." Backing up Remus ducked back around the corner as soon as the Prefect was out of sight. The corridors were dark considering it was after hours, and Remus was nearly lost until he spotted the familiar suit of armor at the top of the stairs on the third floor.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Shush." The passage they were in was long and Dark. Jams carefully juggled a back of smuggled Zonko's items while keeping an ear out for the caretaker.

"Hush."

"Will you shut up!"

"We're going to get caught!" James looked around and skirted across a corridor.

"So what's the password Remus?"

"It's . . ."

"Shut up! Do you want to get caught by Filch?" It continued this way for several minutes. With Remus pointing the way and Sirius begging to know what the Ravenclaw password was, James was astounded they hadn't yet been found out.

"Mrreeow."

"What is it my sweet?" James jerked his head up. That voice was just around the corner. It belonged to Filch. Panicking Peter squeaked and the padding of cat's paws came closer.

"Run!"