Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I wish I did, as I'd be fuggin' RICH, but I don't. I also don't own the idea of Time-Turners. Also, if you're offended by male/male relationships, historical inaccuracies or my batshit-insane writing, please turn back now as I don't want to scar your delightfully virgin little mind.
Author's Notes: Hey, guys. This is my first fanfic attempt. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Constructive criticism or praise is appreciated! Flames are not.
Remus knew that if any of the teachers could help him get what he needed, it was Professor McGonagall. He'd asked for a fuller schedule and had gotten it. Now he needed a way to 'cope,' as it were. That was why he was seated at the other side of her desk, after all.
"Professor, you know how my schedule will be next year. I thought perhaps it would be a good idea to apply for a Time-Turner, as I don't want to miss or drop any of my classes. It's my last year, I won't have a chance to go and take them again."
"I can help you with the paperwork, Mr. Lupin, but I must stress that you are, by no means, to allow Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew or James Potter to know you have possession of it," she said flatly, staring at Remus over the top of her glasses, searching for any sign that he was planning on doing just that.
"Of course not, Professor."
"They must never see it."
"I wouldn't--"
"Or hear of it."
"I know--"
"Or even suspect that you possess one. The consequences of this would be heinous."
Remus couldn't help but smile a little. He knew what Sirius and James would do if they found out he'd applied for a Time-Turner, much less gotten one. The first things they would think of is pranks and mischief. At least Peter's plots would involve the kitchens and not using it to lay an elaborate trap for Severus Snape.
"I understand, Professor. I promise you, I will keep it hidden from them if I'm allowed to use one."
"Very well. I can finish the request for you and vouch for your trustworthiness. You should head back to your dorm, it's nearly time to get ready to go." Professor McGonagall straightened the papers out on her desk with a short tap and got out her quill and inkpot.
"Thank you, Professor!" Remus lifted his bookbag to one shoulder and shot out of his chair, sprinting towards the Gryffindor common room. He stopped long enough to shout the password to the Fat Lady--she'd taken to flowers for passwords as of recently, the newest being "Bluebells"--and looked for the other Marauders in the common room before heading up the stairs to the dorm he shared with them.
The door opening was met with a chorus of "Moony!" "Remus!" and "You're late, were you at the kitchens?" followed by James bringing Remus up to speed on his latest prank and resuming pantomiming what must have been Severus' reaction to it. Remus found it hard to concentrate on anything that they were saying and began staring at a spot just left of James Potter's head.
All too quickly, the clock chimed and it was time to get on the train home.
As usual, the Marauders noisily occupied one room of the Express. Sirius sat beside James--who was playing with his hair and commenting loudly on the last Quidditch match--and stared at Remus, who sat directly across from him. Peter, who sat next to Remus, was nodding and listening to James's tirade about the Slytherin Beater trying to aim the Bludger for his bollocks.
"So, Remus, why so quiet?" Sirius crossed his legs at the ankles and leaned back in his seat, doing his damnedest to look like some kind of King or God. "You've been getting this far-off look to you all day. You wouldn't be hiding something, would you?"
Remus made a noise that sounded an awful lot like a dog choking on a bone and looked at Sirius. "Hiding something? What on earth would I hide from you lot, Padfoot?"
Sirius paused for a minute and then leaned forward, putting his hands on his knees. He gave Remus a suspicious look. "I know you're hiding something, Moony, now cough up. Who is it?"
Remus' shock was apparent. The only thing that kept James from elbowing Sirius and telling him to back off was Remus's laughter over the idea. "I'm not hiding anyone, Sirius Black. And even if I were, what would it matter?"
Sirius didn't have an answer to that. He spent the rest of the train ride contemplating the question in silence, which James called 'bloody unlike him,' and Peter attributed to Sirius needing time to think and maybe get in a good meal and night of sleep. Remus spent the rest of the ride joking with James and Peter and planning new pranks for the next school year.
When it was time to get off the train, Remus hugged each of his friends goodbye and vowed to send each of them letters over the summer. He walked immediately towards the familiar sight of the fireplaces that connected to the floo network, eager to get home.
John and Neassa Lupin looked up as their son stepped out of the fireplace and shook the soot out of his hair, then addressed them. "Hey, Mum, Dad," Remus smiled broadly as he brushed his clothes clean of the black-grey dust. "I have so much to tell you. I don't even know where to start--"
"You can start by sitting down, son." John's slight smirk let Remus know he wasn't angry, but revealed nothing of what the elder Lupin was going to do once his son moved into place on his favorite chair. "Your mother and I were talking and we've come to a conclusion. While we're thrilled that you've got your friends, we realized that we hadn't had--" John looked to his wife for a few moments of courage "--the talk."
"The... Talk?" Oh no.
"Yes, son. The talk."
"What, you mean the, erm, one about the birds?" Remus was blushing.
"That'd be the one." John was as well.
"I already know about that. They kind of teach that in school."
"Oh. So you know about the, uh--"
"The parts, yeah. And the things to protect from... Things."
"That's good. That's good!" John Lupin started to nod his head without really knowing why. "And you know you can always come to us if you need any--"
"Any help or advice, yes. I, erm, certainly will if I ever need it. But I wonder why you waited so long?"
"We put it off because of your condition." Neassa was the one who replied this time. "We didn't mean to, really, but we just thought it would be easier the longer we waited, and here it is, you're nearing seventeen and we have yet to sit down and explain things to you."
Remus paused a little bit, carefully considering his next few words before he spoke. "You didn't really need to tell me about how to have safe, erm. Relations."
"Of course we did, Remmy. You--"
"No, Mum, I mean I don't actually need to worry about it."
"Why do you suppose not?" She looked at her husband, unsure of what their son was saying. John, of course, just shrugged his shoulders. "All boys your age who are active should worry about it."
"Not ALL boys, Mum." He looked at his parents pointedly, praying that they got his hint.
His mother got it first, after a long pause. "Oh. Oh, that, Remus?"
"Yeah. Well, you don't need to worry about it. I won't need to worry about passing on my--well, you know. My 'condition.'"
"Oh, Remus." John Lupin still hadn't understood what his wife had, so she shooed Remus up to his room and attempted to explain things in a little greater detail to her husband.
John's realization as to what Remus had just admitted was punctuated with a loud "FUCK!" followed by the sounds of something glass breaking on the floor.
Remus J. Lupin was gay.
