Remus
11:59pm of August 31st, 1975. That was the exact moment Remus Lupin realised he was monumentally fucked.
It was only a few short hours before they where to be back on the Hogwarts Express on there way to start their 5th year at the best school for Witchcraft and Wizardry that there ever was. But who where they, you ask? Only Remus Lupin and his three best friends in the whole wild world.
There was James Potter, the unofficial leader of the group. Nothing happened at Hogwarts with out him knowing about it... or so he thought. No prank was pulled with with out his approval, no mischiefed managed with out his help. He could strut thought the endless halls like no one else, his dishevelled black hair kept in a state of disarray by the hand that just couldn't seem to help itself. Every girl was a potential conquest (not that he was likely to get even close to conquering any of them), most of all, one Lily Evans, a kind, clever muggleborn with hair the colour of autumn.
James's right hand man was the most gorgeous 15 year old at Hogwarts, male or female. Some might say Remus was biased when it came to the wizarding beauty standards of the 1970's, but enough girls (and boys) had been caught fawning over Sirius's dark, silky hair and piercing eyes for Remus to know that this wasn't an opinion exclusive to him. And yet the only person Sirius every even looked at was Marleen McKinnon. And of course the target's of their latest prank and his best friends. Though if one where to ask any of those friends they would swear that he didn't even look at them all that often, mostly preoccupied with his himself in whichever reflective surface was closest.
Peter was, what outsiders may consider, an outlier. He didn't have the brains that James possessed, the charm that radiated off of Sirius or the back braking determination that Remus forced upon himself. But none of those things made Peter any less part of the group. What he lacked in wit, charm and drive he made up for in heart. There was never a friend more fierce, a companion more courageous, a mate more motivated in his friendship. And they loved him like a brother. No, they loved him like marauder.
Last and, if he was being honest, quite possibly least was Remus Lupin himself. The werwolf that they miraculously took in as on of their own, despite knowing all about his 'furry little problem'. Even going so far as to making preparations to become illegal Anamagi in attempts to make his monthly horrors that little bit more bearable. At first he'd been worried about them finding out, scared that they would abandon him and out him to the rest of the school. But they did no such thing. In fact they hugged him a little longer, paid him a little more attention when he wasn't feeling well. And it actually took Remus longer to realise that they knew then it did for them to realise what he was.
So that was 'them'. The Marauders. Remus Lupin and his three best friends in the whole wild world. And they where all hauled up in James's room counting down the hours until they would be back on the beloved train and on their way to Hogwarts.
"You know what would really pass the time?"
"An orgy?" Sirius suggested from his place atop James's bed and Remus couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"No, you numpty. I was going to suggest sleeping."
"What?" James exclaimed while Sirius roared: "We can't sleep now!"
"And why is that again?" If he was being perfectly honest Remus was starting to get a little drowsy and it wasn't even midnight yet. A day of running around outside and playing an unfair game of Quidditch will do that to you.
"We're 15 now." James stated as if it meant something more. "We're basically adults and adults don't sleep."
"Uhh... Right." Remus was certain that that's not how adulthood works, but figured it would be more satisfying to tell them he told them so after they feel asleep on the Hogwarts Express the next day then to try to argue with them now.
"Oh come on, Moony," Sirius bounced off the bed to drape himself over Remus who was sitting on the floor, singing his nickname in a not quite out of tune fashion. "It's only 7 more hours until Prongs's parent's are expecting us to get up."
"No it's not." Remus sighed. 7 hours was a lot.
"Yeah it is, mate. It's a minute to midnight." Sirius grabbed hold of Remus face with on hand on each side, and very carefully turned it to face the clock on James's wall. Surely his intent was purely inocent... but something more happened in that moment. Something unexpected. For a split second, when Sirius's hand's cupped Remus's face, Remus's mind tricked him into thinking Sirius was about to lean in and kiss him. It was a confusing moment, seeing as Remus had never before thought anything like that. And as Sirius's hands lingered on the side of his face he found that his cheeks started to flush and his chest felt tighter.
"Merlin." Remus hissed, hoping his friends would assume it had to do with what time it was. 11:59pm. Of August 31st, 1975. That was the exact moment Remus Lupin realised he was monumentally fucked.
