Chapter Text
The first years gathered around them like moths, pulled by the words of the two fourth years. The grass was damp. The moon was high. The Shrieking Shack loomed in the distance, half-obscured by fog and superstition.
Sirius lounged on a low stone wall, picking at a splinter in his wand. Every inch of him was the picture of casual danger. Terror. Whether his own, or that to inflict on poor first-years, no one would know. “You lot really planning to go near it?”
The smallest Hufflepuff swallowed hard. “They say it’s just abandoned.”
Remus snorted. “Abandoned buildings don’t scream at night.”
The children shifted uneasily. One of them looked over his shoulder.
“Fourth year like us,” Sirius said, nodding solemnly toward the Shack. “Thought he could prove it was all nonsense. Said he was going to write an exposé or something. Real type-A sort. Had a notebook and everything.”
Remus folded his arms. “He brought a comb, too.”
“A comb,” Sirius repeated, eyes wide with mock horror. “Like that would help.”
They let the silence stretch for a moment. It was just long enough to make it even more dramatic.
“No one heard him go in,” Remus murmured. “But the screaming…everyone heard that.”
“Blood-curdling,” Sirius added. “He staggered out at dawn, robes torn, twitching like a cursed doll.”
“Hair completely white,” said Remus. He attempted to keep his eyes serious. “Won’t go near mirrors anymore.”
“Now he just floats through the dungeons muttering about product ingredients,” Sirius said, barely holding it together.
There was a beat of stunned silence. One of the first years whimpered. And then, they were gone, completely against going anywhere near the Shack. Which was good, as neither Sirius or Remus wanted people near it.
And then Sirius cracked first. His shoulders were shaking. Laughter spilled out in helpless gasps. He leaned on Remus like a lifeline. Remus followed, cackling into the sleeve of his jumper. The two of them were breathless with amusement as the first years fled in a clatter of panicked footsteps.
Across the courtyard, a dark figure scowled from the shadows of the castle entrance. His arms were crossed. He obviously was annoyed with their constant lies that somehow led back to him.
“Did you see their faces?” Sirius wheezed, wiping his eyes.
Remus grinned. “Do you think we should start replacing his shite with purple shampoo?”
“That’d be brilliant actually.”
They howled again. The Shack loomed behind them, silent as ever. Neither of them thought anything different about it. Because neither of them would dream about exposing what actually happens on the full moon.