An AU of sorts- what if James had been too late? For the Ultimate Battle Competition Round 1. Prompt: Marauder Era
The day after the full moon smells like sickness and salve and blood. Remus knows it well. He doesn't remember a time before it. He sits up in bed in the hospital wing, wincing as he feels the sting of his wounds full force. So much worse than last time, he thinks.
And then he remembers.
He looks to his right and he sees the next bed has the curtains pulled around them but he knows who is laying in it. He knows because he is the one who put Severus Snape there.
Remus is shaking now, even his teeth are rattling in his mouth, and otherwise he is frozen in place, not knowing what to do or who to talk to. He wonders if he can muster up the strength to find Madame Pomfrey, or even Professor McGonagall. He reaches out to grip the nightstand. His nails are caked with blood. For once he hopes to Merlin that it's his.
Just as he's about to get onto his feet, the hospital wing door opens and the Marauders come in stumbling over each other as though they couldn't decide who should go in first. Peter finally approaches the bed first while the other two hang back and it is then that Remus finally fixes his gaze on Sirius' guilty face.
"You," Remus growls, his voice made even more sinister from lack of use.
"Moony," James says quietly.
"Shut up."
The strength Remus had been struggling to find comes raging from the pit of his stomach and spreading out through his limbs. He rises to his feet and practically lunges at Sirius, and it is as if the wolf still has a hold. Perhaps that's what happens after a first bite. Perhaps it makes you more of a monster than you already are.
James tries to get between his two friends but to no avail. Only a sharp stinging hex from Madame Pomfrey separates them and it's not long before she ushers the three boys out, reprimanding them for what must be the thousandth time about respecting visiting hours.
"And now you are unwelcome even then," she finishes. "You've done enough, I think."
Peter objects in a small voice. "But…"
"Leave!" Madame Pomfrey closes the door on them and rounds on Remus to get back in bed.
Remus protests, his fists still looking for a deserving place to land, but it seems his pillow will have to do for now.
He allows the nurse to medicate him with something bitter and hot. Something to help him sleep, she says. Something to help the pain.
But Remus hasn't felt pain like this. Pain of not remembering and yet, knowing far too much. Knowing that he's ruined a life just feet away from him.
As he feels his mind going numb, he still manages to gesture toward Snape's bed. "Will he… is he… did I?"
"It's taken care of," Madame Pomfrey says.
"What does that mean?"
"Professor Dumbledore will talk to you both when you wake up."
Remus falls asleep before he can protest.
Severus is awake the next bed over. He hears it all. The bite still bleeds.
He doubt it will ever stop.