Remus's Morning with Peter

Two nights after the full moon and I'm just starting to feel fully recovered. Well, at least today is Saturday. I can take it easy and try to do all the school work I have to make up and have due by Monday. Peter offered to help me last night, so I've already woken him up. He's busing himself with his bag. Apparently, he just wants to take what he needs to work on and nothing else. It's not like I mind, I'm not ready to leave the dormitory just yet either. There is one more thing I have to do, after all, a promise is a promise.

I approach the bed quickly, pulling the curtains apart to let in the early light of the newly rising sun in. A rugged mess of black hair sticks out from under the soft scarlet colored sheets.

"James," I speak up in a slightly hushed tone. I only need to wake him up. There was a slight stir under the covers as he rolled over just enough so that he and I were looking at one another eye to sleepy eyes. Clearly, he wasn't giving me his full attention.

"hmm?" he barely mutters loud enough for me to hear.

"James," I restate, "It's morning. You asked me to get you up before I left, so that you could go set up the Quidditch field for tryouts before breakfast."

He blinked but didn't move or speak. I'm guessing the only things he processed are 'Quidditch' and 'breakfast'. If one can mentally sigh, believe me I'm doing it.

"You told McGonagall you would handle it. Now get up and be quiet about it." I say the last bit firmly with a head nod gesture towards the only other occupied bed in our room.

James lifts himself up slightly by his elbows. I can see the curiosity in his eyes. He still isn't awake if he hadn't caught on to that. Almost though.

"Wha-" he mutters stifling a yawn behind a fist.

"Someone," I nod towards the other bed again, "didn't get in till after midnight, apparently he's still avoiding a certain someone."

And there's the recognition look. James Potter is now awake and ready to bring life to another day.

"Peter's going to join me in the library, I'm going to help him with his history of magic report. If you want some help too, just meet us when you're done at the Quidditch pitch." I instruct him as I turn away and throw my bag over my shoulder. It's heavy. I have a lot of work to make up. I always do.

"Sirius hasn't finished his either do you want me to wake him up too Remus?" Peter asked as he closed his trunk after tossing in everything he had discarded from his school bag in it.

"No." both me and James reply at the same time. I notice James observing Sirius's bed. So he noticed what I did as soon as I woke up. Sirius went to bed without taking off his robe, necktie, or his shoes, which were poking out of his messily pulled curtains.

At least he wasn't snoring. He's been known to do that on occasion.

He must have been waiting for the common room to be clear for hours, and they say I'm the unsociable one. At least I don't stay out of the tower all night just to avoid one girl.

No matter, I really don't want to get myself involved. I let Peter lead and then give a short wave towards James, who was just beginning his morning stretches beside his bed. He gave a salute then went back to work as I turned and closed the door behind me.

It's nice walking around the castle when it's empty in the day time. When we-ugh-I do it at night sometimes, it's never this warm and cheerful. And at least you don't have to wind your way around people. Not that everyone has that problem mind, take Sirius and James, for example, they never have to move out of their way or fight to get anywhere. Students, particularly the girl students, move themselves out of their way. It's both appalling and impressive to witness.

"It's so quiet," Peter muttered. "I don't like it." We are taking a slight detour from our Library destination to the fourth floor. Apparently, Peter lost something... or found something... I really can't recall, he was talking so quickly while whispering it to me as we dressed, and when he does that it just sort of sounds like muffled squeaks because he isn't that great at enunciating.

"So what is it again?" I ask. I want to make sure this isn't some pointless endeavour. I won't be able to get him to focus on his paper after breakfast.

"What is what?" Peter stops and looks at me. I do not like the look of cluelessness on his face.

"What are you bringing me here to look at, er, ugh, help you find?" I ask crossing my arms. It's too early to deal with Peter, he can be so scatterbrained at times. Worse than James, I swear, and that's not exactly a compliment to either of them if you know what I mean.

There is a short pause as Peter processes what I asked. It's interesting watching him try to think like this, though, if Sirius was here he'd probably crack a joke about not overworking himself or he'll explode. And normally I wouldn't encourage such teasing, but with how Peter's cheeks puff out and his brow lowers, his nose wrinkles slightly and his lips slip backwards into his mouth, along with his squinting eyes, he really does look like he's about to burst.

"I told you, yesterday after dinner, when I was coming back from seeing you in the hospital wing, I got startled and dropped my bag of berttie bots beans."

No, I'm fairly certain that isn't quite what he tried to tell tme this morning, at least, that's not what I gathered from all the muffled squeaks. I swear I heard the words "a girl" from him, but then, I could be mistaken. Wouldn't be the first time.

"It has to be out on the landing here, near that gargoyle."

Gargoyle. That's what I heard. Alright, though I can't say I'm thrilled about this revelation. I think I would prefer it being a girl. I follow Peter out onto the landing and he makes a quick right.

"Did you know Remus," He whispers at me over his shoulder, "That this gargoyle can actually talk?" Here we go.

"I can't talk, I don't know nottin' about no talking gargoyle. Nope, not round here."

Yes, unfortuately Peter is right, the gargoyle can talk. And well, let's just say it's rather argumentative.

"But you just talked to us." Peter spoke up. Why does he have to be Peter right now? Again, mentally sighing, I'm not making it up.

This isn't my first encounter with this Gargoyle, actually I believe the majority of the students know about it. I'm rather shocked Peter didn't already know about it. But then, I am talking about Peter Pettigrew here, the boy that would never catch on to anything except for when there happens to be food around or involved.

It was during our fourth year, I believe, when this stone creature lost its gobstones. No one really knows why, but it just starting rambling one day, "rabbits, rabbits, rabbits." And when ever it is confronted or asked a question, it dodges the inquisition entirely with protests of its inability to communicate. Trust me, we marauders have no connection what-so-ever with this. Not that we haven't had our share of mishaps and well, castle 'improvements' over the years.

Well I think I'll help Peter search for his bag of what was it... oh yes, berttie beans now.

"If you can't talk then how are we talking?" Peter insisted. I think he's forgotten about his candy. A first for my books.

"I'm not talking, never have talked, never will. Don't know what you keep rambling on about."

Sirius is right, it really does have a mind like Wulfic's. I'll have to keep that in mind next time I see her around the common room. I still can't believe he stayed up all night avoiding her. It's madness, sheer madness.

"But you just did! What do you mean you can't?!" Peter squeaked at the gargoyle. Speaking of madness...

"Peter," I speak up rubbing my temple. "Just leave it alone."

"But Remus,"

"Do you want help with your paper or not, now look for your misplaced candy and then let's go to the library."

"Fine." Peter huffed at me. Peter walked around the statue and bent down.

"Got it!" He exclaimed happily hugging it to his chest looking very much like a child hugging a teddy bear. And that's about enough for me.

I turn and head back into the hallway to head to the library. I can hear Peter's scurrying footsteps behind me. We're barely out of the landing before the gargoyle begins its random rambling again.

"rabbits, rabbits, rabbits."

Madam Pince offers a welcoming smile to us as we enter. I give her a polite smile and head nod and Peter waves.

"Morning Pince." he says then dashes off towards the Muggle Studies section, most likely to look at the selection of cook books. It's his favorite section in the library. I'll indulge him for the time being, I want to get myself set up at a table first. I have a long morning ahead of me and only so long before breakfast.

I like to have an organized study area. It keeps me on track with my assignments and helps me ensure that I don't overlook one because I put the things I'm done with back into my bag. So when I clear the table, I know I'm done. I finish setting up my various piles for subjects. I have a very long day ahead.

Well I might as well get to it. I leave my things and head towards the History section. It's huge, so I'm sure I'll find enough books to share between myself and Peter so that I can write my paper on Gargor the Gall and Peter can write his on... flaming earwigs, I forgot to ask who his report is on. Just great. I guess I'll have to make a detour towards the Muggle Studdies section instead. I'll be cutting Peter's fun time short, but if he wants help with his report he'll just have to deal with it.

Note: the talking gargoyle and "flaming earwig" phrase were inspired by the OoTP video game. ^_^ I love that gargoyle on the fourth landing so much I have come up with my own explanation as to why it says what it says when it says it. Dare you to say that 5 times fast...

So, the lovely quick updates will slow, since I have to finish the next and possiably last Lily chapter and start on James's. (which I am rather looking forward too. ^_^)

please don't forget to review! - it usually can get me to work faster.