Summary: Just a little fic, Remus ruminates over the Marauders animagus forms on the way home after POA
Disclaimer: I own nothing and am making no money from this
Moony Wormtail Padfoot Prongs
Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs,
Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs.
The trains motion and noises seemed to speak the words to me, reminding me of my friends.
The last week was the first time I'd heard the names in a long time. Reminders of a past life, so it seemed, When we were at school the names were a must, it was Marauder talk and though many knew, few understood where the nick names had come from.
Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot Prongs. It was only now looking back it hit me how appropriate the nicknames and Animagus were. Of course that shouldn't surprise me; your animagus is the animal that suits you and your personality best. And with us it was spot on.
Wormtail, a rat. Peter, even as a human, scurried everywhere, head down and shoulders scrunched as though believing that making himself smaller he would be less likely to be seen. That's why having James and Sirius as friends was so useful; having big friends meant people didn't mess with him. Peter was the sneaky one of the group, sly and secretive. And yet, if caught with James and Sirius in the middle of a prank, he'd immediately try to get to the back of the group or out of the way altogether, squeezing himself through small holes to get to freedom if allowed and if not would stand on one leg chewing his fingernails, eyes flicking around to look for a way out. Then he committed the ultimate betrayal, he betrayed his friends. The rat suited Peter.
Prongs, a stag, the most noble of beasts. Our leader. I suppose James was the most noble of the four of us, a pureblood whose parents were known to be on the right side. Someone who would be proud to carry on the Potter name to future generations. You could tell it in the way he walked, the way he held himself, a pride in whom he was and where he came from, an arrogance in a way but not in a bad way. And then the stag qualities came out when he realised how much in love he was with Lily, it was made clear to others that she was out of bounds you could almost imagine him lowering his antlers ready to do battle with anyone who dared to encroach on that which he presumed was his. And then in later life 'take Harry and go' standing to face Voldermort alone to give his wife and child chance to escape, unfortunately Voldermort had more than antlers to attack.
Padfoot, a dog. Not Just any dog, my pack mate, my protector. Sirius grew up in a family where it was everyman for himself and that was one reason why he didn't fit in. Sirius wanted a family, in more than name, and that was what he got with the Marauders. Once he found us (and we found him) he assumed the role of protector. No one hurt his family, he would stand between them and any attacker, and that is why the big black dog suited him so much. Sirius led the attempt to become animagi to give me help when I transformed and it was he who was the unanimous choice for the Potters secret keeper. When little Harry was born, I knew by the look on Sirius' face that this wasn't a rival, no this was one more member of the family to protect and look after. I realise now it must have really hurt him that we even considered the idea that he had betrayed us all. And yet, it was protecting Harry that caused him to break out of Azkaban, made him a fugitive and it was protecting Harry that made him jump in front of me last night.
Moony, me, a werewolf. An outcast, living in shadows and secrets. Until I was found out. It was ironic that the thing that made me a monster that was shown by my boggart alone to be my greatest fear, became my nickname, a term of endearment, acceptance and love.
Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, not just names but memories, personalities and family.