"James, we've got detention in twenty minutes," Sirius whined.
"What did you do this time?" Remus asked without looking up from his book. James gasped.
"You didn't hear about our latest masterplan?!"
"Y'know, we did get caught," Peter hesitantly said. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"We set off dungbombs in the Great Hall," he informed Remus.
"But," Peter started to protest. He was cut off by Sirius saying:
"We really need to leave, bye Remus!"
With that, all of them left, leaving their roommate with the uncanny feeling something was wrong.
"Why did you lie to him?" Peter asked as soon as they were out of earshot. Behind him, Sirius sighed.
"Remus can't know we suspect something, obviously," James explained. "If he knew we were nosing through McGonagall's documents, he'd realise we were on to something."
Peter wisely kept his mouth shut.
James could not believe his luck.
"I want you to short through these archives," McGonagall told them.
The very archives they had been trying to break into.
The door burst open.
"Peeves...statue...students...injured..." Filch panted, leaning against the doorway.
"I trust you'll be alright here for a few minutes?"
With that, their professor left her office.
James and Sirius looked at each other and promptly burst out laughing.
Peter just looked lost.
"Not in the archives, obviously," James stated, "but where would it be?"
"If she recorded anything, it's probably on her desk," remarked Sirius.
"But that pile's huge!"
"Accio documents concering Remus!" said James, ignoring Peter.
A single slip of paper drifted over to them. Self-satisfied, James smirked. Those 4th years spells were coming in handy after all.
'To James, Sirius and Peter,
As you were supposed to be sorting out the archives, meet me for detention each evening the following week. Oh, and do demonstrate that spell to Professor Flitwick so he can give you more advanced homework.
Sincerely,
Professor McGonagall.'
"Shit," Sirius said after James had read the letter to them.
"Mr. Lupin? Could you come with me for a second?" Minerva McGonagall asked her student.
"Sure, Professor."
"Are you aware of why your friends got placed in detention yesterday?" she carefully probed.
"They set of dungbombs in the Great Hall."
"While I absolutely believe they might have done that, too, it was not the reason."
Remus looked baffled. Minerva sighed.
"They were trying to break into my archives."
"Why would they do that? And why are you telling me this?" the boy questioned.
"I suspect they do not believe your excuses any longer. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"They're trying to find out my secret," Remus whispered, paling.
"Indeed. It is up to you, Mr. Lupin."
She walked away.
"I have to leave, guys. My grandmother died." Remus crossed his fingers behind his back, hoping his friends wouldn't see through the lie.
Sirius rolled his eyes, and that hope crawled in a corner and died.
"You mean the one that died in October?" James innocently asked.
"Or the one who died in January?" Peter piped up, looking scared. Remus vaguely wondered if they'd rehearsed this.
"Really, how many more grandmothers do you have?"
Apparently, it was up to Sirius to deliver the death blow.
"What's really going on? Because you're lying to us," James accused.
"I am," Remus acquiesced, gazing at the floor. "But I can't tell you. It's...I just can't."
He turned on his heel and stormed out the door, knowing the transformation would not be kind on him that night.
A/N
So, this is a collection of oneshots. I'll be doing a oneshot for each of the Marauders' seven years, and they will all feature a confession.
I'll try to update at least once or twice a week, but as you all know, life isn't always kind, and it might get in the way.
This will contain Sirius/Remus SLASH in later chapters. You are warned.
I love it when people leave a comment behind, no matter how long or short. It motivates me immensely.
I'm not the kind of evil author who only updates after reviews - you'll always get an update - but I still like them.
Thank you for reading!