So I've been MIA for ages and, instead of completing the stuff I've already started, I've ended up coming up with a new project. Just a series of little one-shots featuring the Marauder's, most often Sirius or Remus.
This idea was vaguely inspired by another fic I did for a competition. Here's a link if you want to check it out; /books/104563-Here-and-Now. Heart me!
Not Chocolate, but Not Bad
Remus Lupin bit his lip, trying hard not to cry too loudly. Trying not to wake his room mates, his new-found friends. Trying to pretend that he didn't wish he had his mum to give him a hug and some hot chocolate.
That had always been her remedy after a hard full moon; a hug, a kiss and a cup of hot chocolate to ease him off to sleep. But she wasn't here. She was at home whilst Remus was at Hogwarts, alone and miserable after his first full moon as a student of the school. His first full moon with no one to talk to about how it had hurt to feel his bones breaking and morphing to let out the wolf, how worried he had been that he might escape the safe confines of the shack he had been given to use or even how it felt to feel relief that the torture was over for now whilst still feeling the dreadful fear of it's inevitable return next month.
He had been enjoying Hogwarts so much with the learning, the magic and – dare he say it – the friendships. It was almost like he was normal. He'd let himself believe that he could do this and now it was crashing down around him. It was too much for him to manage without the support his parents offered. He was too... weak.
Remus fought the sobs that wrenched through his thin frame. He was letting everybody down – Dumbledore, his father, mother, James, Sirius, Peter... Everyone. They would hate him for it. They wouldn't understand. He was a failure, pathetic, not worth the air he-
"Nightmare?" a shadow whispered from next to his bed.
Remus jerked upwards and stared. Sirius.
Sirius - last name Black, favourite chocolate was coffee creams, Quidditch team was the Banff Banshee, brand new friend – was standing next to his bed with a look on his face that suspiciously resembled empathy.
Remus felt himself nod mutely. A nightmare was a good excuse for his tears. Sirius bit his lip and nodded with him.
"Sorry for waking you." he whispered back.
Sirius shrugged and then tugged at the covers on Remus's bed.
"It's all right, not like I was sleeping any way. Budge up!"
The Banff Banshee prodded Remus sharply until he moved along and then clambered into the new space created in the four poster bed.
"What are you doing?"
"Keeping the bad dreams away. You fight mine off and I'll fight yours off and then we'll both get some shut eye."
With that Sirius rolled over and was soon snoring. Remus stared at him, shocked. He wasn't as alone as he had thought. And though it was costing him his bed space, he was happy.
