Hola amigos, as usual sorry for the giant wait and such. I've been super busy with this new crazy thing called uni. I hope you like this chapter, for all you Wolfstar shippers I promise you it's coming, promise, but it wont happen till the end of 5th/beginning of 6th, but theres a tiny bit of implied angst to sustain you. love yall

Part ten: choices, jealousy and blushing

The four marauders sat at the dining table in the hall, each with a look of conflict on their face.
"Why? Why, why, why? Can they not see that I'm not to take potions? Really? I'm just going to fail!" Remus whined.
"Oh don't be so melodramatic. We all have to do subjects don't like." James reasoned as he read the paragraph about compulsory OWLs (potions, charms, transfiguration, herbology, history of magic and defence against the dark arts).
"And history of magic! Why does it need to be compulsory it's so boring." Said Sirius.
"Yeah that's why it's compulsory, otherwise no one would take it." Explained Remus matter of factly.

"So come on then boys, what are you picking? Sirius?"
"Care of magical creatures, divination and muggle studies."
"Peter?"
"Divination, muggle studies and astronomy."
"I couldn't do astronomy." Said Sirius, "You're not meant to mix business and pleasure!" He elbowed James in the ribs provocatively; Remus rolled his eyes and Peter giggled. They all knew that that was Sirius's preferred place to take his hook ups.
"I'm surprised you're only taking three Sirius." Remus commented. Sirius was almost on a par with him academically, or would've been if he actually worked in his lessons.
"Nah, why bother. I only have to pick two so why do many more? Only Ravenclaw's will be taking many more. What six and Slytherin's five? But some Hufflepuff's won't even take any extra and most Gryffindor's will only take two or three. Why how many are you taking?"
"I'm not sure yet." Sirius looked at him oddly so Remus quickly asked James what he was going to pick.

"Divination, astronomy and care of magical creatures."
Remus sighed. "I'm still not sure what I'm going to take. I'm gunna go see what Julian's doing." He gathered up his books and walked over to the Ravenclaw table.
"I don't like that Julian boy." Sirius said, narrowing his eyes.
"Huh, and a couple of months ago you were suggesting he should join the marauders. Now what's changed?" Peter asked.
"Yeah well that was before Remus started telling him stuff he hasn't told us. I bet it's about choices. Why is he being so edgy? You don't reckon he wishes he was sorted in to Ravenclaw do you? People can't change houses can they? Maybe he'd rather be with people of a similar calibre to him. Did you hear him dig about only taking three OWLs? Do you think I should take more?"
"Oh my God leave it will you Sirius, you sound jealous. I'm sure it's for a good reason. Give him a break will you." Sirius pouted, he didn't like it when James took someone else's side over his. Especially Remus's.

….

A shadow fell over Julian and he looked up. "Oh hey you!" he said brightly, patting the bench next to him, inviting Remus to sit which he did with a sigh.
"What's wrong?" Julian asked.
Remus waved the OWL choice sheet by means of an explanation.
"I don't know how many or what to take. And I can't believe we have to take potions it's not fair!"
"Oh come on, you're not that bad."
Remus gave him a withering look. "Okay so you're the worst in our class but probably not in the whole year right?"
"Oh shut up." Remus moaned nudging Julian with his elbow. Julian leant into Remus's arm.
"What are you taking then?"
"Why do you want to know? It's not exactly going to make you feel any better is it now?"
"Oh go on just tell me!"
"Fine! Runes, arithmacy, astronomy, muggle studies, care of magical creatures and divination."
"Thanks a lot."
"I know. Well what do you want to do?"
"I dunno. Not astronomy."
"Okay… so don't take it then."
"Yeah but the thing is I think I want to take everything else."
"So why don't you then?"
"Cos I don't think I can take that many."
"It's only five. Of course you can. What about the others?"
"They're all only taking three. Sirius said why bother doing any more. And I guess he's got a point. I just don't want to stretch myself too much."
"You wouldn't be. You're super smart. You don't need me to tell you that surely?" Julian squeezed Remus's arm reassuringly.
"Well it is nice."
Julian grinned. "Stop doubting yourself. Now go on its prep soon." He shoved Remus away and smirked at him as he headed off to the Ravenclaw common room.

…

Sirius lounged on his bed watching Remus. The werewolf had been staring at the form for a good fifteen minutes, quill hovering above it but not doing anything. Sirius, irritated by Remus, stood and grabbed the paper off him.
"Sirius no! Give it back."
"I don't see what the big deal is." He said looking at the parchment he held. Pencilled on it five of the six boxes were ticked. "Are you joking me Remus? You can't do this many. This is Julian's fault isn't it."
"What the fuck does this have to do with Julian? And why can't I? Just because you're selling yourself short doesn't mean I have to do the same! I could do all six of them if I wanted to, or don't you think I'm capable?"
"Selling myself short?! No I don't think you're not capable, you're clever Remus. Stupid crazy genius clever. But you have trouble coping with lessons without exhausting yourself as it is. And everyone always says OWLs are so much harder than you think. And I know you'd rather push yourself too far physically before you let your grades slip, and that is stupid. No one cares if you get 12 O's or 8 A's. We care that you're okay and that you're not tired all the time encase you make yourself ill. God knows you're tired enough as it is at the best of times. We just want you to be ok. We care about you. You don't have to prove anything to us so what are you trying to prove to yourself?" Sirius hardly paused for breath. Remus stared at him, wide eyes brimming with tears.
"No, no, no. Remus I'm sorry. Please don't cry!" Sirius pleaded desperately pulling the lycanthrope in to a hug, where he promptly burst in to tears.
"I just, I... You don't know what it's like. I just so much need to be good at school. For my parents sake. I can't let them think that what I am has gotten the better of me. I'm not weak. I'm not. I'm not…"
"No." Sirius crooned gently as he stroked Remus's hair. "No you're not."
Almost as quickly as he had started crying Remus stopped and pulled himself from Sirius's grip.
"Thanks." He said gruffly and promptly left the dorm. Sirius looked after him awkwardly, unsure whether he had made the situation any better or worse.

…

Sirius sat brooding staring out of the window. Peter had noticed but James was still oblivious. The short plump boy chucked a pillow at the chaser and gestured towards Sirius.
"Hey Sirius, what's up?" James asked his fellow pureblood.
"It's Remus." The other two boys exchanged glances, both wanting to know what Sirius meant but neither of them wanting to be the one to prompt him. Eventually Peter plucked up the courage.
"What do you mean?" He spoke gently as if to soothe an animal which might bite at any minute.
"Well I mean it's like he spends so much time with Julian now that we hardly ever see him." The other boys were silent. Sirius had express similar feelings a few days ago and they didn't really see why he was so bothered by it. "Well don't you think so?!"
"What is it with you about Julian all of a sudden? It's like you've got some vendetta. And if I'm honest, no not really. He's just in the library like he always is."
"Yeah but he's with Julian."
"So?"
"You're jealous aren't you Sirius?" James joked, but the look on Sirius's face made it plain that this was not a joking matter.

….

"No, no, no. Come on you can do this! It's no surprise you're not going to pass the potions practical, so you have to ace the written exam."
"Ow! Thanks Julian, no need to pull any punches ok! I need a break, let's do something I can actually understand. All this billywig and boomslang are messing up my head."
"Fine, fine, we'll do some transfiguration then, just to soothe your ego."
Remus gave him a withering look followed by a grin.

Remus was just pulling out his textbook when a giggling couple rounded the corner. Remus looked wide eyed at Julian who let out a polite cough. The pair of sixth years pulled apart suddenly and looked awkwardly at the two boys.
"Sorry." One of them croaked and they ran off blushing, still giggling.
There was a moment's tense silence then both the third years started guffawing. Once they had stopped Julian slammed a book down on the table.
"That's it, that's the third time this week that we've almost unintentionally been a part of a foursome and I've had it!"
"Oh come on, don't be melodramatic. And we've got to, this is the only place in the library where we can practice spells. If madam Pince see's us she'll ban us. Plus everywhere else is occupied by 5th and 7th years stressing about exams."
"There has to be somewhere else, we just haven't discovered it yet. I can't do this anymore, I'm worried I'll see something that I don't want to and then I'll never be able to get my innocence back."
Remus laughed, but then thought for a moment. "Can you keep a secret?"
Julian nodded. "Come on then."

Remus insisted on covering Julian's eyes. "Oh come on I must be able to open them by now."
"Yes nearly. Ok, now you can."
Remus stepped back as Julian stared in awe. Eventually Remus couldn't take the silence.
"Ok, so what do you think? You don't like it do you?"
"What? Are you crazy? How could I not like it? And this whole room is yours?"
"Well I mean I'm always here, you know you're the only person that I've bought here. I mean, Sirius has been here, but he wasn't invited, you know how he is…" Remus trailed off.
"I'm sorry, I still can't believe how amazing this is. Why've you never bought anyone else here before?"
"Well when you're friends with Sirius, James and Peter sometimes you need a bit of headspace."

…

"Honestly Sirius calm down, we'll get it eventually."
"No we won't!" He said aggressively as he chucked his wand on the table with the scraps of paper. "I'm going to get Remus, he's the only one who can do it. Why's he not here anyway?" He stormed off before James or Peter could say anything.

Sirius headed straight for Remus's room in the library, he somehow knew that that was where he'd be. As he neared the room he hears Remus's voice recite a spell and was about to call out his name when another voice answered his friend. Julian. Suddenly Sirius didn't feel very much like seeing Remus or working on the map.

….

The four boys stared at their results papers, digesting what they meant.
"Now let me guess Remus, top marks in everything except potions?"
"Erm excuse you, you bitch! I only flunked the practical exam, I did ok in the written section! And what about you then?"
"I did ok, enough to be in the top set for the compulsory subjects I think."
"Me too." Stated James casually, as if he knew he would be.
"Peter?" Remus asked gently. "What about you?"
"Erm, not too great. I did okay in charms and defence against the dark arts."
"Well that's good isn't it?"
"Well I won't be in the same class as the rest of you for transfiguration and potions." He said sullenly.
"Ok, well maybe not transfiguration, but you'll meet loads of new friends and we'll be in the same class for potions. Look your overall grade is better than mine!"
"Oh wow really, how badly did you fail the practical Remus?"
"Oh shut up James, he did shit. More importantly they can't split us up! Not one of us should have to fend for themselves, especially not in transfiguration. We're a dynamic well-oiled quartet, do they not understand that?!" At that moment Severus Snape walked past the table. "I can't deal with this, I'm going to see Dumbledore." As he stood he stuck his leg out sending Severus sprawling on to the stone floor, the pureblood strode off without a backwards glance. James and peter followed laughing all the way, Remus looked apologetically at the prone boy but then he too followed his friends.

As they climbed the steps to the gargoyle that protected Dumbledore's quarters Remus got angsty.
"Come on, this is such a trivial matter, we shouldn't be bothering Dumbledore about it."
From nowhere behind them came the Headmaster's voice. "On the contrary Mr. Lupin I want my students to feel that they can come to me with anything. Acid drop." He said and the gargoyle sprang out of the way. "Now in you go boys." Said the wizen old man as he ushered them in and followed behind. "Please take a seat." He conjured up four chairs, "Now what is it that Mr. Lupin here deems so trifling?"

The boys had not really expected to get this far and now faced with the Headmaster they were at a loss for words. Eventually it was Sirius that spoke up.
"Well you see sir, looking at our grades, it seems that we won't be in the same transfiguration or potions class, and you see, there is no way that Peter will pass transfigurations without our help or that Remus and Peter will even be able to cope in potions lessons, let alone with the exams. No way at all. For the past two years we've been supporting each other and we can't stop now, not when it really counts. Imagine Professor McGonagall trying to teach Peter without us there to explain things for a second or third time. Or to tell Remus that those two ingredients he's about to mix together will cause a toxic smoke. Really it's of benefit to everyone that we stay in the same classes. Not to mention that we'll be able to help each other achieve higher OWL grades. Really I don't see how this could be a disadvantage to anyone."
Dumbledore looked thoughtfully at the boys for a minute before replying.
"Despite the fact that this would cause uproar between the students, I am inclined to allow it."
The boys looked jubilant.
"Ah, ah, ah if, and only if Professor McGonagall and Professor Slughorn are agreeable. And I must see that what you say is true and I expect you all to achieve at least an A in potions and transfiguration. That is all, now off you go."
The boys left joyously, except for Remus who muttered bitterly "It'll be a bloody miracle if I don't get a T!"

….

McGonagall did not seem happy about Dumbledore's proposal (even though Peter was in her house she wasn't fond of him or his lack of ability) she accepted begrudgingly, but she did accept. Professor Slughorn on the other hand didn't really seem to mind either way, he'd still have to teach Remus and Peter.

Despite her reservations Professor McGonagall was content to allow the boys to continue working and sitting together, Slughorn however wasn't so lenient. He paired the boys up: James with Peter (the best and worst of the four), Sirius with Lucy Edmond from Ravenclaw, although she was attractive Sirius was none to impressed because she seemed to be one of the few girls, that like Evans, could resist his looks and charms. Much to Remus's relief he was paired with Julian. Much to James's annoyance Snape and Lily were still in their class and allowed to work together. Their class also consisted of Sally Agustine and Johnathan Crawly from Hufflepuff. Janice Applebee, Narcissa and another from Slytherin and Jeremy Rose, Charlie Loff and Eric Chapman from Ravenclaw.

In their very first lesson Slughorn gave them some news that made Remus's heart sink.
"Now students, your OWLs are slightly different to your previous education, in that there will be a lot more emphasis on practical skills, and as such we will be doing a lot more of it. Beginning tomorrow! Now in your pairs you will begin to brew a draught to help the user recall forgotten memories. This process has many complex components and will take 53 days to brew. No doubt you've already realised this falls in the summer holidays, so one of you will need to take it home – however I do not wish that one person to be solely responsible, you are working as a team. This will require you to visit each other's houses during the holidays, is this possible for everyone?"
The entire class grumbled under their breath which Slughorn accepted as a yes.
"Whoo potions practical!" Remus said sarcastically causing Julian to punch his arm and grin.

…

There were only two days of term left, lessons were over and the weather was glorious. The marauders – along with most of the school – were spending their last few days outside. James, Sirius and Peter were all sunning themselves to varying degrees of success: James was wearing a tie-dye tank top and swimming trunks and had gone a delicious nutty brown which made the whites of his eyes pop even more than they did against his usually tanned skin. Sirius and Peter were not so fortunate and neither of them of them were yet as brown as he normally was in winter – but not from lack of trying. Peter wore a pair of shorts (which everyone had agreed were far too short) and a t-shirt and sun cap and had turned a marvellous shade of red – every night the other boys helped him apply copious amounts of Vickley Vacklbey's burn care whilst Peter assured them it would turn in to a tan. Sirius was the complete opposite. He too dressed in too short shorts, which were tight to boot and a tank top; both were black even though it was high summer. He lay on the grass with a reflective visor aimed at his face. For the last week and a half he had spent every spare minute half naked in the sun and his skin was still the palest creamy alabaster without even a freckle in sight. Remus had asked him several times why he bothered but Sirius had convinced himself that if he did it for long enough then he would change colour. Remus personally wasn't a fan of the sun, so he had sat in the shadow of a nearby tree with his shirtsleeves and trousers rolled up. His feet dangled in the water of the black lake and occasionally he would shriek if one of the giant octopus's tentacles tickled his foot. The summer was long and lazy and felt like it would never end: everything felt romantic and intimate in its glow.

One such day James and Peter were off doing something else so it was just Sirius and Remus. Finally realising for himself that he wouldn't tan, Sirius sat next to Remus to join in with the paddling. When Remus didn't notice him sit down, Sirius leant over and nudged his shoulders against Remus's.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Oh sorry. Nothing. I just zoned out for a minute. Have you finally realised that you'll always be super pale?" Sirius grinned and nudged Remus's shoulders again, this time harder so that the other boy swayed.
"Ok so you were right and I should've listened to you in the first place. You've caught the sun though and you haven't even been in it. Look at all those tiny freckles." Sirius traced his fingers over Remus's cheeks and the bridge of his nose. A light blush crept into his cheeks where they had been touched. Suddenly the silent heat was broken by a shout.
"Remus!" The two boys jumped away as if they were guilty of something.

Both friends stood and looked towards the source. It was Julian. They stood up and moved apart. Sirius shuffled awkwardly and smiled closed mouth at Julian who nodded in return. Sirius pulled away even further. The potions partners started talking, Sirius noticed how close the boys stood and it made him feel a bit awkward. Every minute that they spoke seemed to drag on for an eternity as he stood there like an unnecessary part. He wished that he had walked away earlier, but he had left it too long now that if he did so it would seem awkward; though Remus was so deep in conversation Sirius didn't think he's notice him leave. Their indistinguishable chatter was punctuated occasionally by that laugh of Remus's that Sirius so loved. The pureblood felt an odd twang as he realised that Julian made Remus laugh a lot more frequently than he did. He then snorted. He was getting jealous that Julian was a better friend to Remus than he was, but that couldn't be the case. They had gone through a lot together and knew so much about each other – information that Julian wasn't yet privy to.

Growing bored of waiting Sirius cleared his throat loudly; this time it was Remus and Julian that started as if suddenly remembering that they weren't alone.
"Oh sorry Sirius!" Remus apologised playing with the hair on the back of his head like he always did when he was uncomfortable. The three boys looked at each other awkwardly for a few minutes until it became too tense.
"So, right then. I best be going. Bye Remus." The werewolf blushed and waved, as did Sirius and Julian in return. It was all very polite. They watched the Ravenclaw walk towards the greenhouses then they turned and headed back to the castle.
"You're very susceptible to blushing today aren't you? First me, then Julian. Whatever's gotten in to you?" Remus looked away to hide the fact that he had just flushed again.
"What do you mean? I've not been blushing." He defended.
"Look you're doing it right now!"
"Shut up! I'm not!" the werewolf shoved his friend hard then ran from him to the castle. Sirius followed in hot pursuit, Remus laughing all the way.

….

Someone shouted Remus's name across the great hall causing him to turn around and look but he couldn't see in all the chaos. Staff and students from all four houses were running about hectically with last minute papers to hand in and luggage to pack which all should've been done before the end of year feast. Hufflepuff had won and James and Sirius had not shut up about it. He heard his name again and looked round to see a waving hand and a black head of hair.
"Remus!"
"Julian, what is it?" He nearly had to shout himself to be heard over the noise. He fought against the crush of people to get closer to his friend.
"Here." Julian said leaning over several people to pass Remus a piece of parchment.
"What is it?" The werewolf asked, stretching his arm and barely managing to reach it.
"My address." Remus wasn't sure why but he blushed slightly and looked at Julian questioningly. "For potions you dummy." He said as Remus pulled further away unable to fight against the crowd. His mouth opened into an 'O' shape.
"Have a good summer!" The Ravenclaw shouted then turned away.

….

On the train the boys talked of all the plans they had for the summer, all the crazy antics they would get up to. And in their heart of hearts they all knew that they would each be as lazy as they had the year before; the letters they sent each other would be the most exciting thing they ever really did.