He watches the flickering numbers with forced interest.
47, 48, 49, 50
They're black on the greengrey screen, and Remus idly wonders if he's watching a tamed shadow.
56, 57, 58, 59
The screen blinks and it is now 23:58:00. It is not as soothing as watching a second hand pirouette on a clock face. This, he thinks, is the true evil of modern technology.
10, 11, 12, 13
They're not as effective, either, as a sedative. Speaking of which…
34, 35, 36, 37
It has now been exactly 15 minutes since the sleeping pills were supposed to have kicked in.
49, 50, 51, 52
He doesn't feel any sleepier. Stubbornly, his body is rebelling to being coerced into sleep. Always doing what it's not supposed to, his body.
5, 6, 7, 8
But he so desperately wants to go to sleep. He doesn't want to be tossing side to side, remaining perfectly immobile only to check the time.
21, 22, 23, 24
Because he knows that if he can manage to take at least 32 winks, the sun'll rise and tomorrow will call faster.
33, 34, 35, 36
Because then he will see Sirius.
42, 43, 44, 45
Then, Sirius will be home. And he won't need clocks and pills to sleep.
56, 57, 58, 59…