Part I - The Beginning
"Potter!" McGonagall tutted in frustration. "Did you and Mr. Black intend to turn up to my lesson before the end of winter?" She asked, her lack of amusement clear in her voice.
"Sorry, Professor." James looked down, evidently trying to hide his smile. "We got... Sidetracked."
"Sorry, Professor." Sirius mumbled, eyes also on the ground. Sat near the middle of the left side of the classroom, Remus Lupin rolled his eyes.
"Well, sit down and take your places. Be warned, you two, this is your final warning." She said, turning away and continuing the lesson. James and Sirius sat down, and Peter's head turned to James quickly.
"Where've you been?" He asked eagerly. Remus glanced at Peter. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. It was always the same look. That of admiring some sort of hero. He caught Sirius' eyes and, like the raven-haired boy, fought the urge to smirk, turning his head towards the desk.
"James caught sight of Evans... Filch caught us setting Dungbombs off." He said, voice turning a little mocking. "We've been running for ten minutes. All because Prongs couldn't keep his heart in his chest." Sirius laughed, and Remus chuckled a little, despite himself. They hurriedly quietened themselves, as McGonagall turned to them once more.
"Potter, tell me the properties of a Metamorphmagus." She asked, clearly knowing he hadn't been listening.
"Erm... Metamorphmagi are shapeshifters." James stated simply.
"Emotions." Remus whispered discreetly.
"Their abilities change with their emotions." The statement sounded more like a question.
"Yes... Examples?" McGonagall asked. James glanced at Remus with a helpless look. Remus looked a little confused too.
"Erm." James gulped slightly.
"Hmm. Does anybody know the answer?" McGonagall asked to the class at large, receiving only silence in response.. "Well. I would have expected better from my N.E.W.T class." She frowned. She then explained the effects of emotions on Metamorphmagi. Sirius looked across the room, to where Lily Evans was sat, with Marlene and Emmeline. He smirked, and turned to Remus. Remus raised an eyebrow and followed where Sirius' gaze had been. He saw the girls, and rolled his eyes.
It was snowing in the Great Hall. Thankfully, the snowflakes disappeared before they got to the table or the ground, meaning they could eat unimpaired. Despite this, people still jumped up, attempting to touch the snowflakes. Remus, however, was just trying to concentrate on the textbook before him. He turned the page magically, muttering "turn" every time he needed the page turning, so his hand was free to write down notes. His hand moved over the parchment on the table, his usually neat handwriting now messy with the speed of his hand. He groaned as he looked down and saw spots of ink dot his shirt. He blotted, then folded his piece of parchment, tucking it into his breast pocket. He was about to stand, when he heard the familiar barking laugh that accompanied one of James' jokes, or something Sirius himself had said. Following Sirius and James into the hall was Peter, goggling at them yet again. Remus turned and looked at them. Then, slowly, his gaze turned to the Slytherin table. Snape was sat there, with Avery and Nott. All three were looking at James, Sirius and Peter with massive reproach, as if they wished nothing more than to see the three boys die right there. Actually, Remus thought, I'd better make sure that doesn't happen. He stood, and walked pointedly towards the grand doors at the end of the hall, grabbing Sirius and James' arms as he did, dragging them out. Peter, loyal as ever, followed. He dragged them out, into the courtyard. "What the heck, Moony?" Sirius rounded on him. "We weren't doing anything!" Sirius growled deeply.
"Just breathing's enough provocation from you two for the Slytherins." Remus sighed, looking about the courtyard, snowing the same as inside. He felt colder though, and shivered a little.
"Well, let them try. We could beat them any day." James shrugged, smirking arrogantly.
Remus groaned. "Merlin, there's no getting through those skulls." He mumbled.
"Are you going to dock points from us, Prefect?" Sirius smirked, and Remus rolled his eyes.
"I've a good mind to." Remus said, but laughed when he saw James and Sirius smirking. "Oh shut up."
Later that evening, the four Gryffindors, or Marauders, as they'd stylised themselves, were sat in the Common Room. Remus was sat in the lush armchair, closest to the fire, while Sirius and James were lounged on the sofa. Peter was sat with his elbow perched on the table, supporting his chubby frame, as he sat on the carpet, face illuminated in the reflected light of the flames. Remus had his nose buried in a book, mostly just to be kept out of the conversation, which revolved mainly around girls. Peter was also surprisingly moot, too. "What about you, Moony?" Sirius asked, causing Remus to look up. "Who's taken your fancy?" Sirius asked, watching Remus carefully.
"Hmm?" Remus asked, then shrugged "No-one." He mumbled non-committally. He avoided Sirius' gaze, looking at the fire.
"Really?" Sirius asked, smirking. "Your look says different." Remus blushed a little.
"Well, take it from me. There's no-one." He shrugged, standing up. James looked at him, also smirking.
"Come on!" He encouraged. "Tell us!" He insisted. Remus shook his head.
"I'm telling you, there's no-one!" Remus insisted, his voice becoming more high-pitched and frustrated. Peter was still silent, staring at the fire. Sirius stood, and approached Remus, smirking. Remus backed away a few steps.
"Come on, Moony. It's just us." Sirius said, clearly seeing that Remus was uncomfortable. He put a hand on Remus' arm. Remus shrugged him off quickly.
"There's no-one." He insisted. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you all tomorrow." Remus walked up to their dorm without another word. James glanced at Sirius who frowned.
"Well... Something's wrong." James stated, sighing.
Remus heard them come in, but did not react. All three boys were very quiet, and Remus' curtains obstructed them from view, and him from theirs. Remus was sat on his bed, textbook on his knees, pages illuminated by wandlight. He paused when he heard the door open, and three pairs of footsteps step in. He could tell by their hushed breathing and voices that they thought Remus was asleep. Remus frowned, and closed his eyes. "Remus?" A soft whisper snapped his eyes open. He was now laid down, and he checked his watch quickly Three hours?! He blinked disbelievingly. Remus scrabbled to sit up, looking towards where the voice had emanated from, somewhere behind the curtains. He grasped blindly, still blinking sleep out of his eyes. He got the curtains, and pulled them back. Sirius was stood there, wearing his bed-robes, looking uncomfortable.
"Sirius? What in Merlin's name are you doing?" Remus asked, looking at him.
"Erm... I couldn't sleep." Sirius mumbled, looking down.
"And you thought you'd come over here?" Remus asked, smiling softly.
"Erm... I guess." Sirius shrugged. Remus looked down at himself, noticing that he was still dressed in school robes. He chuckled at himself, looking down at the book, still on his lap.
"Well, sit down. No good you just standing out there." Remus smiled softly, and Sirius sat on the edge of his bed. Remus watched him, though Sirius was avoiding his gaze. "What're you doing for Christmas?" Remus asked, trying to put some sort of subject on the table.
"I'm staying... Not gonna ruin the Potters' Christmas." Sirius shrugged.
"They love having you." Remus said, frowning. Sirius turned to him.
"But I'm not family." Sirius shrugged. "Anyway, what are you doing?"
"I... Don't know... I could go home." Remus shrugged. "Or I could stay." Remus sighed. He looked at Sirius. "I don't know." Sirius smiled.
"Hmm... Well, you've got a week to decide." Sirius said brightly. Remus nodded.
"Yeah, I have." Remus said, smiling. Sirius looked down for a minute.
"Are you still annoyed at me?" He asked quietly. Remus blinked, then remembered their previous conversation.
"Erm... No. Not annoyed." Remus said carefully. "Just... There is no-one." Remus shrugged.
"Why?" Sirius asked, looking at him. Sirius turned his body so he was sat fully on the bed, and facing Remus. Remus met his gaze and shrugged.
"I dunno. There just... Isn't." Remus shrugged again. "What about you? McKinnon, no doubt." He smirked.
"Meh. She's said no too often." Sirius shrugged, smirking. Remus watched him, then looked away when he noticed Sirius watching him back. He looked away too. "Erm... I'll go to sleep..." Sirius said and stood, then smiled fleetingly at Remus. "See you tomorrow, Moony."
Lily Evans walked into the Great Hall early the next morning. There were only ten or so students sat along the house tables, most with pieces of parchments on the tables, writing hurriedly. One however, was writing perfectly calmly, and Lily smiled softly, as she walked over and sat next to Remus. Remus looked over at her and smiled softly. "Good morning, Lily. How are you?" He asked, looking away from his Transfiguration homework, towards her. Remus saw her eyes first, as usual, as the bright, vibrant green captured him once more. He blinked, then smiled softly. Suddenly, breakfast appeared on the table, and, as if on cue, Sirius, James and Peter strode in, and Lily stood. "Stay." Remus said quietly, smiling softly. Lily looked conflicted.
"James... Won't want me here..." She frowned tightly, beginning to leave.
"But I do." Remus said quietly. "And James does too, though he's too proud to admit it." Remus watched her. She was looking at James, an unsure expression on her face.
"I don't want to be here, Remus." Lily sighed and strode away. Remus could only watch, and sighed, as the other three Marauders walked over. Remus looked back at them and plastered on a smile.
Lily wandered away from the Great Hall. She felt bad for how she'd treated that situation. She knew that Remus wasn't always as comfortable around the other 'Marauders', as they'd named themselves, as he seemed. She glanced back, and could see the smile on his face being strained every time the others weren't looking at him. She knew he loved them like brothers, but recently... Well, recently, things had been different. Remus had been more distant from his friends, more isolated from everyone. Lily frowned softly. It was an unfortunate fact of their world that Remus could have no feasible life in the outside world, owing to his condition. It wasn't fair, Lily knew that. He was kinder, more intelligent and more skilled than just about any of them, but it didn't matter, because he was a werewolf? Sometimes, she thought that there was more justice in her world. She sighed, and reached the Gryffindor Common Room, looking at the only slightly populated room. Marlene was there, and so was Emmeline. They seemed to be in animated conversation, and she walked over to her friends. They nodded in acknowledgement of her presence, still talking about something. Lily could only pick up traces of it. From what she could tell, it was about the oncoming Christmas party. Lily rolled her eyes. Marlene was planning on taking Sirius, obviously. She knew she liked him, even if she was too proud to admit it. Emmeline was talking about Remus, causing Lily to raise her eyebrows. That was... Interesting. She'd have to talk to him about that. "And you, Evans," Marlene turned to Lily, "can go with James." She sounded like it was an order. Lily frowned at her.
"No, thank you." She answered, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, come on, Lily!" Emmeline smiled encouragingly, `"When are you going to give him a chance?"
"When hell freezes over." She sighed softly. The other two girls rolled there eyes, shrugged, and went back to talking amongst themselves.
Later that evening, the Marauders were sat on the couch, Sirius and James chatting away about various plans for pranks. Peter occasionally chipped in, while Remus just sat on the couch, reading. Sirius was lain on the couch, and he had his legs on Remus' lap, and Remus sat a little uncomfortably, frowning behind the cover of his book. Sirius was yawning, and James was talking absent-mindedly about Quidditch. Everything was fine, until the sound of two pairs of feet coming down from the Girl's Dormitory. Marlene and Emmeline, Remus guessed, from the faint voices. "Prongs... Incoming." Sirius grinned at James.
"I can hear them, Pads." James replied, smirking. Remus rolled his eyes. Peter giggled a little bit, inspiring a small laugh from Remus. Sirius caught Peter's eye and winked. Marlene came down first, followed by Emmeline. Marlene stood in front of Sirius, looking at how he was lain. She frowned softly, but shook his head. "Alright, listen you lot." She started, looking at Sirius and James. "The party's in a few weeks... And we all know how the dates are gonna work, right? Sirius, you'll go with me." She wasn't asking, more informing. Sirius smirked softly at this revelation. "James, you'll go with Evans, once we bring her round."
James grinned. "Sounds good to me." He laughed, and so did Sirius and Peter.
"I thought it would." Marlene smiled at him. "And, Rem, you'll go with Emmeline." She said, and began to turn.
"No." Remus said suddenly. He felt every eye on him. Emmeline looked at him and frowned, looking a bit hurt. "Sorry, Emmeline, but I'm not gonna go to the party." He said quietly.
"Why not? It's almost Christmas, Remus." Marlene sounded stern, angry.
"I know... But..." Remus sighed, looking down. "I just don't wanna go." He stood. "I'm going to bed." He said, and disappeared up the stairs.
"What's wrong with him?" Marlene asked, looking at Sirius, who had to move to allow Remus to leave, swinging his legs onto the table now.
Sirius shrugged. "No clue." He said, though he glanced at the dormitory. "I'll just be a sec." He said, before standing and going up the stairs. Happy no-one could see him, he knocked on the Girl's Dormitory door. Thankfully, Lily answered the door.
"Can I help?" She asked, looking behind him, obviously for James.
Sirius sighed. "Listen... Something's wrong with Remus. He won't want to talk to me. He's in our dorm... Can you go and speak to him?" He asked in a hushed voice.
Lily looked at him, frowning softly. "Of course... Why come to me, though?"
"Because... You can talk to him. He lets you in." Sirius was evidently struggling to explain things deeper than Quidditch.
"Yes, I'll talk to him. Go on, back downstairs." Lily smiled kindly at him, before venturing over to the Boy's Dormitory.
Lily walked into the dorm, looking around. The room was lit by magic candles, so the wax would never burn out. She saw Remus sat up on his bed, staring at the wall opposite. She knew he'd knew that she was there. "Remus?" She asked, in a soft voice.
"Yeah?" He asked, in a small voice. His voice was always quiet when he was thinking.
"What's the matter?" She asked, and sat on the edge of his bed.
"Nothing." He answered, almost automatically.
"Come on, Rem... Don't lie to me." She smiled softly at him. He looked at her, and she was surprised at the abject sadness in his eyes.
"They're talking about the Christmas party." He said simply, and shrugged.
"Oh? It should be fun." Lily smiled encouragingly.
"I'm not going." He said quietly.
Lily frowned, and looked at him. "Why?"
"Because... I'm sick of it, Lily. I'm sick of going to parties and seeing him—them start snogging anyone that takes their fancy." Remus said quickly, and looked away.
"Him?" Lily probed, looking at him. She was a little confused.
"I, erm... Nothing." He said, looking nervous. He looked wildly away, going slightly red.
"No, tell me, Remus." She encouraged, smiling kindly.
"Erm..." Remus looked conflicted, biting his lip. "It's... Nothing, really. Just..." He struggled, finding it hard to get through a sentence. Lily looked at him, in a moment of realisation.
"You like someone, don't you?" She whispered, grinning.
"Erm..." Remus flushed, gulping softly. "Maybe." He squeaked.
"Ooh! Who?" Lily asked, eyes alight with interest. Remus shook his head.
"No... I'm not telling." He said, looking nervous.
"I'll guess then." She grinned at him. Remus frowned and shook his head again.
"No, Lily. He'll-" He cut himself off, looking mortified. Lily's eyes went wide.
"He?" She whispered excitedly. Remus had frozen.
"Erm..." He stammered. "Y-Yeah." He mumbled, looking anywhere but at Lily.
"I can guess, now." She grinned at him.
"Shh!" Remus shushed her. "Forget about it, it's not important." He insisted, gulping. Lily giggled.
"Alright, then, I won't tell." She smiled. "It's alright, Remus. Don't worry about it. He cares about you. He saw you were sad and asked me to help." She shrugged. "Don't think he doesn't care." She said and left. Remus blinked, before slamming his face into his pillow. Great. Just what I needed for sixth year.
