"Remus?"
Remus shivered, curling tighter into the mess of blankets. A hand—warm, tender—felt his forehead. Groaning, Remus shifted his body closer to the source of warmth. He snuggled next to the girl in his bed, knowing that there was no way she could catch his illness.
"Santana said you're a werewolf."
Remus squeezed his eyes tighter, hoping this was all a fever dream. He should've seen this coming. Here he was, 16 and lying next to his one and only girlfriend, and their relationship was about to be crushed. Remus opened his tear-blurred eyes. Might as well get used to being alone.
"Yes, Brittany. I am," he whispered, rolling away from her. Remus knew he was a freak, a monster. Now the one girl he liked (loved maybe, although they were both a little young) was about to run out of the room screaming.
Brittany was quiet.
"Is that why you're sick all the time?" she asked calmly—sweetly—as if she was asking the most innocent question. Remus nodded. Brittany fell quiet again, unnerving him. Why wasn't she running away?
"Where does it all go?"
What?
Remus flipped over to face her. "What do you mean, where does it all go?" he asked, confusion overriding his fear and pain. Brittany carded a hand through his hair.
"All your fur. Where does it go?"
Remus stared incredulously. If it was anyone but Brittney, he'd think she was messing with him. "Brittany, love." Brittany smiled. She loved when he called her that. "I'm a werewolf. I don't think that matters."
Brittany shrugged. "I do. I like guys with a lot of hair."
Remus groaned. "Brittany, I'm a werewolf. I'm dangerous," he whispered desperately. Remus had to make her understand. He was a monster. He would hurt her.
Brittany laughed. "You're not dangerous," she giggled. Remus grit his teeth. Why couldn't he make her understand.
"Brittany. Every full moon I transform into a blood-hungry werewolf. One bite and I could turn you into one. If something were to ever happen to you—"
"But it won't," Brittany stated simply. "Because you're smart."
"Intelligence has nothing to do with it!" he snapped. Brittany winced, making Remus feel as if he just slapped a puppy. "Love, I'm sorry. I just…" Brittany snuggled closer, kissing his neck. It was the tactic she always used to get him to shut up. Remus rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Brittany. Stop." Brittany stared, confused. Remus had never used that tone of voice with her. It almost sounded…angry. No, not angry. Scared. She could see his lower lip trembling. Why was he crying? She didn't care if he turned into a really big dog. Brittany liked dogs. Maybe they could play fetch some time.
"I…I'm sorry, Britt," Remus gulped back tears. "I'm breaking up with you."
*Next day….
"YOU JERK!" Santana screamed, storming over to Remus. Remus barely had a moment to comprehend the situation before the Latina spitfire got up in his face. "If Brittany didn't beg me I'd spill your secret in front of the whole entire school. You broke her heart—"
"Because I love her," Remus responded coldly. "Brittany's naïve. She doesn't understand what a werewolf is. You get that, Santana. I hurt her to protect her—"
"Bullcrap. You're just too good to be seen around a dumb blo—"
Remus's hand hit her face before she could finish her sentence. It always made Brittany cry when people called her that. He even snapped at Sirius when he called her that. Santana and Remus stared at the hand in shock.
War erupted. Santana shrieked out Spanish insults as they pulled out their wands. Colors flashed as spells shot from their wands. Sirius and James, just entering the Great Hall, scrambled over to the duel. By the time they pulled the two apart, Remus and Santana were screaming at each other.
"Dude! What the heck do you think you're doing?" Sirius hollered, but Remus wasn't paying attention.
"I LOVE HER!" he yelled, trying to lunge for Santana. Sirius stared at him. He had never seen his friend lose it like this. Tears were streaming down his face. "I LOVE HER! I LET HER GO BECAUSE I LOVE HER!"
"GOOD!" Santana screeched. "GOOD! BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT WORTH HALF OF WHAT SHE IS!"
"I KNOW THAT!" With that, he collapsed in Sirius's arms. Exhaustion from the full moon and a broken heart overcame him. Remus sobbed. He didn't care if the whole school saw him cry. He was tired of being what he was.
Sirius held his friend, glaring up at Santana. She was staring, jaw to the floor. "Haven't you caused enough damage?" he growled. Raising her arms in defeat, rolling her eyes, she walked back to the Slytherin table where Brittany was sitting. Brittany, although she was a Hufflepuff, had always sat either with Santana or Remus. Now, she was staring at Remus. Why was he being so stupid? He loved her. She loved him. Was this a boy thing? Shouldn't someone rub him behind the ears? It always worked with her dog.
Rachel rushed over. "Oh my gosh. Sirius, is Remus okay—"
"Not right now, Rachel," Sirius snapped. Gently, he lifted Remus up in his arms, shooting a death glare at anyone unlucky enough to be caught chuckling. By now, Remus had slipped into unconsciousness. Sirius glanced down and sighed. Poor guy. He had loved her. Stupid Santana. Why'd she have to go and ruin everything?
"What happened?" Rachel asked, trotting next to Sirius. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"None of your business, Berry," he growled. Rachel, miraculously, was quiet the rest of the way to the common room.
"Is it because he's a werewolf?" she asked. Sirius turned on her so suddenly Rachel scampered back five steps.
"How'd you find out?" he whispered. He was staring at her with such ferocity Rachel felt tears in her eyes.
"S-Santana—"
Swiftly, but gently, Sirius laid Remus on the couch, then raced back to the Great Hall. He was not going to let some freakin' girl ruin his best friend's life.
"SANTANA!"