Accidents happen
A/N: Hey out there reading public! Sorry for the wait! Siblings can be annoying huh? Especially when they hog the computer for hours! I hope there are still people out there reading and whoever's around, thanks! So, without further ado, I present chapter 10!
Disclaimer: I am not J.K Rowling thereby I don't own Hogwarts or any of the characters you all know and love, however, I may make up a few of my own along the way and come up with some other stuff to so if you don't recognize it then it's probably mine, though, if you want I'll tell you exactly what's what, I mean, if it really bothers you or something (although I honestly can't see why it would, I mean, it is called fanfiction after all). I do own Professor Ronts, Professor Sune and Sam.)
Chapter 10
Once the owl was out of sight, he stuffed his quill and his parchment back in his robes and, just as he was about to head back out he heard footsteps, about 5 people it sounded like and that alone was enough to make him turn around.
It was a group of boys, all laughing about something but stopping dead at the sight of him. The apparently leader of their group stepped forth and snarled, "It's you!"
Remus stepped back in surprise "Me?"
"Yeah…you're the love potion bloke! We 'ere just talkin' 'bout you…" he said, coming closer. His little gang mimicked him and started to in circle Remus.
He took another step back "That was an- (sigh) look, just…let me pass, I haven't done anything to you!"
"Shut up!" the leader suddenly lunged forward and pinned him to the back wall.
Remus stared at him; he was an enormous guy, much bigger then him with his gaunt figure. This boy was almost a gorilla with his huge arms, flat nose and beady eyes that were glaring at him furiously.
Remus bit the inside of his mouth "Dammit! Perfect time to leave my wand upstairs!" he thought as the group now surrounded them. He tried to think of how to talk out of this, seeing as their difference in size would make a fist fight uneven, when the gorilla-boy spoke.
"We don't like yer kind around here…" he breathed angrily, but it was what he added at the end that stopped Remus thought process, "…fagot…"
Remus glared back it him, all too aware of how small he was compared to him "Don't call me that! I'm not gay! It was an accident and if you had more than one brain cell you'd know that!" he said before he could stop himself.
To his surprise the group laughed; a horrible, mocking laugh. The gorilla kid turned back to him "You got guts…don't see much of that in you fruits huh…well, lets see how they look on the outside then, eh?"
However, before anyone could so much as breath, a raspy voice said "WHAT ARE YOU KIDS DOIN' UP THERE?! CAN'T YOU LOT READ?! I PUT UP A SIGN 'NO ONE IN THE OWLERY TILL 7 PM!' FIXIN' THE HOLE IN THE ROOF BUT OH, THE HEAD MASTER'LL LOVE TO SEE YOU ALL!"
One of the gang gasped "It's Filch!"
"Let's get outta here!"
The gorilla looked around as his friends ran out the back way then looked back at Remus "You got lucky this time fag…" and slammed his head in the wall behind him "but believe me, you won't be so lucky next time…" he muttered before joining his friends.
Remus rubbed the back of his head. No blood, but that did leave a big bump. Never had he been so happy to hear Filch, who cares if he was about to get in trouble, at least he wasn't dead!
However, once more, the unexpected happened. Instead of hearing Filch's insane-ish muttering about torturing students coming up the steps, there was a moment's pause before he saw the top of a boy's head peek over the edge of the platform "…Are they gone?" he whispered.
Remus blinked "Um, yeah?"
"Ah good!" the other boy said happily, now dropping his worried whisper and hopping up to him.
He had a bowl like hair cut in his brown-blond hair and striking green eyes. He smiled cheerfully and held a hand out to help Remus to his feet. Remus stared at him in surprise before accepting the help.
"Whew, quite a lot this time eh? Oh, let me introduce myself, I'm Tim McCannon. Timmy if you like. Boy, that Filch impression gets 'em every time!" he made a face and yelled "'NO DUNG BOMBS IN THE HALLWAYS!!!'" almost in an exact vision of Filch's rasping voice.
Remus stared at him, still completely baffled as he laughed about the stupidity of other.
He slowly shook of the confusion and remember his manners "Yes…um, well, thanks for that. I'd forgotten to take my wand with me when I came up-"
"Oh well, can't have that. Not with people like 'em walkin' about!" Tim said cheerfully still.
He seemed to be a very cheery person and the smile he wore seemed to make him very rosy cheeked. Once on his feet, Remus and Tim walked out of the Owlery together.
"Er, yeah…I'm Remus by the way." He said, forgetting he didn't say his name back.
Tim grinned, "I know you alright! Who doesn't?"
Remus frowned "Oh right…I forgot, I'm Hogwarts latest gossip victim…"
Tim patted him on the back "Ah no worries! Personally, we all respect you for it. A bit underhanded but worth it I bet! Genius man, genius!"
Remus raised an eyebrow "We? We who?"
Tim smiled "You know, us! People like us I mean. Oh and don't worry about them, we've all got your back. I mean, we gotta stick up for our own eh?"
Remus still looked confused but didn't say anything as Tim continued.
"Can't even begin to say how lucky you are…Sirius Black! Ha! You've got some serious nerve; we revere you for that one!" Tim said happily "I mean everyone's got their eye on him! He's got a nice arse, eh? I'm surprised no one's done the potion thing sooner! It's brilliant!"
Slow realization dawned on Remus as he listened to Tim babble happily.
"Now, you and me are friends now right? Good, so you can be honest with me, right?" he asked.
Remus couldn't answer, his voice snagged in his throat, but Tim didn't seem to notice and went on "Right. Ok, so be honest…what's he like in bed? You have gone all the way with him right? And you, you've actually gotten a look at the goods! Ha, you get a pat on the back for that one!"
A look of horror was plastered on Remus face, as he went red, "No…way…"
Tim seemed to notice his silence now and asked, "Hey, are you ok?"
Remus didn't answer, instead he ran straight across the field and to the castle, not caring who or what he ran into, just running as far away as possible, trying to run out of this horrible nightmare that turned out to be his life.
"One of their own?! But I'm not! I'M NOT GAY!!!" he thought as he went.
Those boys who attacked him for that reason, the one who saved him, for that reason! Was that all he was now?! Since when did everything that happened to you depend on your sexual orientation?!?
---
James and Peter walked ahead to lunch "So where'd Remus disappear to now?" James asked.
Peter shrugged "I dunno. He said he was goin' to the Owlery real quick and he didn't come back after."
James frowned "That's unusual…"
As they walked in they noticed there was someone at their end of the table…it was Remus! And…he appeared to be trying to drown himself in his soup?
"Um, Rem…you ok?" James said, pulling him up right.
Remus looked dreadfully pale and seemed sick "…No James, I'm not…"
Peter stared at him in surprise "Blimey! Remus what happened to you?!"
He didn't answer right away; he took a deep breath then asked slowly "Have I ever done anything truly bad? I mean REALLY bad?"
Both his friends stared at him "Um…what do you mean?"
"Anything bad enough…to deserve…this…torture…" he muttered and went back to his soup.
After a long while, Peter and James were able to prod what had happened a while ago in the Owlery out of him.
"…You know, now that I think about it, it's a lot like being a werewolf…there's some who like you, tons that don't and more that just want you dead! Only this is worse, far worse…" Remus murmured after he'd finished telling them.
Peter tilted his head in confusion "How?"
He looked up "…At least as a werewolf you can threaten to bite them!"
James whistled "Wow…that's rough mate…so they think you're 'one of them' then?"
"Yeah…dammit this isn't fair! I…what am I gonna do?" he buried his face in his arms.
As if on cue for a bad movie, Sirius came up and sat next to Remus "Hey." He said cheerfully.
Remus lifted his face but put it back once he saw who it was "Oh god…"
A concerned look came to Sirius' face "Hey are you ok? Does you stomach hurt? Fever?" he lifted Remus' head and put his hand to his forehead.
Just as he did this a group passed them, Tim was walking amongst them. He smiled his cheery smile, waving to him as he passed their table "Hey Remus!" and winked as he left.
Remus banged his head on the table "Why…me?!" then sat very still.
Sirius looked in alarm at James and Peter but they too stared at their friend in surprise. Slowly Remus got to his feet and held his head that pounded painfully from the strikes it just took "I…I'm gonna go…"
Sirius made to follow but James shot him a look that told him to stay seated as Remus left. Once he was gone Sirius rounded on the other two "Alright, what's going on?" he demanded.
Peter and James exchanged looks "Oh…well…he's just…havin' a bit of trouble…with people…" Peter said slowly.
Sirius frowned "Is he alright? What do you mean?"
James sighed "Welllll…not everyone likes, you know, the idea of you two…being together, like this…"
Sirius' frowned deepened "Oh, I see…no, I know what you mean, I ran into a group like that on my way here. Trying to pick a fight with me because I'm with Rem…I think they call 'em 'gay bashers' or something like that…they're bugging Remus to?"
Peter nodded "Yeah, he got out of it ok, but now he doesn't feel too good."
Sirius frowned "I'll go talk to him."
"Um, I don't think that's such a good idea at the moment! Here, just let me talk to him." James said hurriedly.
"After all, it's my fault you guys are in a relationship anyway. Least I can do is fix it…" he added in his head as he went out the Great Hall.
---
But the rest of that day, no matter how hard he tried to get a hold of Remus, he sat far away from them, seemingly lost in his own thoughts and was the first to bolt out of every class.
James clenched his teeth "Dammit Remus, stop avoiding me!" he muttered angrily, trying to catch up with him as he slipped through the people in the hall for the 4th time.
He pushed his way passed people annoyedly "Get outta the way, midget! Those first years just keep getting smaller…" it was almost as if people were trying to get in his way!
"I said move you- Lily!" he stopped when he spotted red hair amongst all the chattering people.
At her name she turned around and a smile came to her face "Oh, hello James."
James tried to smile but his face didn't listen "Lily, um, hi! Uh…"
A confused look passed her green eyes "Where you off to in such a hurry? Do you need help?"
At that comment his thoughts came back, "No! I mean, I was looking for my friend Remus, I need to talk to him."
"Oh him? Yeah, I feel bad for him, he seems really pale these days, is he alright? I mean, other than…you know, the whole potion thing…" she looked around to as if trying to find him too.
James sighed "Well it's…hard to explain…I mean, he's been asking me for help but I think everything's gone all wrong! And it's all my fault…"
"What do you mean?" she asked, not in a curious way but rather, a concerned way, as if she wanted to help.
James sighed again, only this time with guilt "Well…I told him when Sirius was getting restless just to pretend to like him, you know, so the idiot wouldn't go off and do something stupid. I told Remus just to go along with whatever Sirius said and now…well…I think that's about to backfire…"
Lily nodded "Oh, I see…it's not pretend anymore is it?"
"Well that's- wait what?"
"You know, he started out pretending to like Sirius, but then as they went on together, he actually started to fall for him?"
James blinked "Er, well actually, I was gonna say he's just gettin' bullied for pretending but…what makes you think that?"
Lily rolled her eyes "Oh James, anyone with eyes can see that sort of think happening." (Yeah, just look at all the reviews saying that!)
James looked at the ground thoughtfully, he'd never thought of that. Could Remus actually be falling for Sirius? But then why was he complaining about it? And he knew about the potion, he knew everything Sirius said was bologna! Still…what if it were true?
James looked up "Oh no…I gotta go talk to him! If that's true, then he's just setting himself up for disaster!"
Lily made a face "Oh? And just what do you plan to tell him?"
He shrugged "I dunno, something! Anything! I just gotta try talking him out of this before the antidote's ready."
Lily sighed, "Well James, to be honest, if Remus loves Sirius for real, I don't think there's really anything you could do about it."
He frowned, "Whaddya mean? Course there is; there has to be something!"
She frowned back "No, there isn't. I mean, think about it this way, you have feelings for me right? Well, if someone told you not to feel them anymore, would you?"
James paused "…Well…no, I…I don't think I could…"
Lily nodded "Yep and why do you think that?"
He scratched the back of his head nervously "Well…I mean, it's not really anything I can control…"
Again, she nodded "Exactly. See? You can't tell Remus how to feel and he can't make himself not feel a certain way either. Emotions like that are really just out of our hands."
James slowly nodded "That…makes a lot of sense…" he looked up at Lily "You're way too smart for your own good sometimes Evans."
She shrugged humbly "It's a gift."
However, this did put James in a spot "What if he does love him? What if this stupid ordeal breaks up the Marauders?" he thought.
---
Remus had gone up to the common room, originally to get some sleep, but also, he just didn't feel like talking about it. If anything, he really wanted to be alone but there were too many people for it. And at least in his sleep, this whole problem disappeared!
However, as tired as he felt, his mind was too full of thoughts to let him get some sleep.
"How do I get out of this…I can't just 'break it off' with Sirius, he may do something crazy! But if I stay with him any longer and he keeps talking to me with so much fake care and concern and love I…I'm being a total idiot! And what's worse, now I've got people trying to beat me up because of it!" he thought horribly as he lay in his bed.
He had the argument again and again in his head, but it was always the same:
"You love him."
"No I don't."
"You do."
"I don't!"
"You do!"
"NO, I don't!"
"Yes, you do!"
"I SAID I DON'T!!"
And every time, after the argument, he got no closer to what he felt and got more tired then ever! All this mess was just too draining but no matter how often he wished he could rest he just couldn't get to sleep.
---
The next few days were no better for everyone's favorite werewolf as he went about the school.
If anyone was concerned for him it was Sirius, who tried desperately to talk to him, but he too was ditched. Remus kept mostly to himself, he felt sick half the time and didn't know what to do.
As for the people around him, that group he met in the Owlery seemed to be a shadow but were never able to do anything because of the crowds or because a teacher was around.
However, on a Saturday afternoon, there was neither…
Remus tended to go outside and pace the grounds, trying to clear his head and get rid of the ache in his stomach. He didn't seem to notice there was no one around until a harsh voice yelled "Hey fagot!"
He turned quickly on his heel to see the gorilla and his lackeys come up.
The leader cracked his knuckles "No place to hide this time…"
Remus quickly pulled out his wand but a lackey yelled "Expelliarmus!" and it flew 10 feet away. He looked back at them in a panic; there really wasn't a place to hide this time, no Tim to save him either.
So, being completely outnumbered with no possible way of defense, he did the only sensible thing that was embedded in his instincts, he ran for it. As he ran he heard the gorilla over his shoulder yell, "Let's get him!" and heard the running feet behind him. He closed his eyes and coxed himself to go faster.
A group of humans, far too many for one wolf alone to take was chasing him, jeering and pointing those strange sticks at his hind legs.
A few spells whizzed by his ears and around his ankles but never actually hitting him as he kept running. He knew if he stopped to look back, even for a second, they'd get him.
"Looks like I was right…" he thought miserably "Just like being a werewolf only you're the only one who's afraid!"
His legs were starting to ache and his side began cramping. However, as the pain in his side got to its breaking point, the jeering stopped and the running mob behind him cease to follow. It took a moment for him to realize this but he didn't want to stop running to see what kept them, so he glanced over his shoulder as he ran.
Some were still trying to shoot spells at him but missed because he was to far away. Before he could wonder what had made them stop he was suddenly knocked off his feet.
Remus picked himself off the ground and realized just as a branch was about to knock him in the head, this was the Whomping Willow! He ducked the incoming branch and crawled forward "If I could just get it in the knot…" he thought.
He rolled to evade as the tree flung it's trunk to the ground in an attempt to squish him. But even as he made this little progress he was forced back by another branch that hit him in the nose. He got to his feet and stumbled back holding it tight as blood came down but he didn't back away far enough. A second branch a came and got him right in the gut. Winded, he nearly fell over but a third branch got him in the face. Branches from the tree seemed to be everywhere; he could hardly see what was going on! Blood came from a scrape on his forehead and fell over his eye but before he could stagger away from the tree a final branch came and got him right in the head and all became black to him…
---
"Oh Remus…" a voice whispered in concern.
He heard the voice and was tempted to open his eyes to see who was there but couldn't force them to open because the pounding in his head was just too horrible…however; it was soothed slightly by a soft touch as two hands gently touched his head in a comforting way.
It was strange; he felt this had happened to him before…
He groaned, that damn pounding got worse as he tried to think of where he'd heard this, when this had last happened. Slowly, trying to see passed the blinding light of what had to be the sun; he saw a figure standing over him.
He couldn't make the person out, but the comfort he felt from their gentle hands made him think of only one person who'd ever been so concerned and tender with him "Mom?" he murmured.
There was a deep chuckle, which definitely ruled out his mother "Try again."
As his eyes adjusted to the blinding light the figure slowly got more defined, taller, black hair…those stormy gray eyes stared at him with relief though a bit of concern was still mixed in them.
"Sirius? Wh-where am I?" he muttered softly, the pounding in his head making him sleepy.
A sad smile crossed Sirius face "Hospital wing. It's alright you don't move, you're safe now. You've been unconscious for about 2 hours or so. Nasty knock to the head you got, Madam Pomfrey fixed your ribs though and you leg minded fine."
Remus looked confused "My leg?"
"Yeah, when you got knocked out the Willow…well, let's just say it was very upset and the branches took it out on you." He said softly.
He nodded "Yes, I can see that happening…well, what happened after? You know, to the other guys."
The look of concern vanished completely and anger took its place "The bastards were sent to detention for 'deliberate attempt to injure a student'. Ha! If you ask me, they should've been tied to a rock and dropped in the middle of the lake! Or whipped in the back until-"
"Careful Sirius, you're starting to sound like Filch. Ha, ha- Ah." he grabbed his head, laughing didn't help the pounding.
"I told you don't move!" Sirius said worry once more in his main emotion. He returned to the soft action of rubbing his head, helping the pound dull once more. Remus closed his eyes "Hm…"
Sirius looked down at him "What?"
He sighed eyes still closed "Well…this feels…familiar. Like, this has happened some other time to me. Being in a hospital bed…really familiar…wait."
-Flashback-
"Oh Remus…" a voice whispered, it sounded strained as though it'd been used for crying and it was laced with concern.
His head pounded horribly, but two hands…two very soft and gentle hands rubbed his poor head and moved his hair about. He felt tender kisses on his forehead and would occasionally feel a tear hit his face and yet all the voice would say was 'Oh Remus'.
He struggled to force his eyes open "Uhhh…m-mum?" he whispered.
He felt weak, his arms like jelly, his head aching and his side…it felt strange, too strange to put into words…as though it'd been numbed and cut off or something…
The woman who looked down at him had his eyes, but hair was a gold-ish blond. Her face was lined with worry marks while her face was stained with tears. A sad smile came to her lips as she looked at him "Hi honey…how are you f-feelin'?" she whispered, her voice shook and her eyes seemed unusually bright.
The small boy Remus closed his eyes for a minute "Oh…my head hurts mum…where am I?"
She rubbed his head "St. Mungo's. It's alright now, don't you move, you're safe. You've been asleep for a while now sweetie…oh, mommy's just so glad your alive!" tears ran down her face as she gently hugged his head.
Remus tried to understand but couldn't "Alive? What happened to me?"
The look of concern vanished from her face and sheer loathing took its place "That monster! He…honey, you were out playing in the field again, where daddy told you not to play, weren't you?"
A look of guilt crossed his face "I-I didn't mean to mommy I…I'm sorry…"
She sighed and rubbed his head "Oh baby…it's ok…just…there was rumor of a werewolf lurking around so we…we just wanted you close…"
He nearly sat up at that "A werewolf?"
She nodded, tears forming in her eyes "Yes…and…the healers thought you weren't going to make it…you lost so much blood-" her voice hitched and she covered her face in her hands.
He felt guilt and sadness beyond all reason; not for breaking his parents rule or even the fact that he'd gotten bitten. No, it was because his strong mother was now reduced to tears…and it was all his fault.
"Mum don't cry, please. I-I'm sorry! Mommy don't cry, I-I'll make it up to you, I promise! I'll do my chores and, and I'll work really hard when I start school-"
At the word school her tears got harder. "Oh honey, y-y-you d-d-don't un-un-understand! Y-you- you g-got bit!" she sobbed angrily into her hands.
He blinked "I know, but they stopped the bleeding, I'm all better."
"No, you're not…you…you're a werewolf too now." A new voice said.
He looked up to see a male healer with a saddened expression "Hello there. You must be Remus. I'm your healer, Manguas is the name…"
Remus looked confused as the man shook his small hand "What do you mean? You fixed me, right?"
His healer took a deep breath and slowly began to explain to him the process of becoming a werewolf and life after the bite. He used small words and spoke in a very slow, almost mournful tone, as if would've been better if Remus HAD died.
Remus stared in shock and horror at what his life would now be like.
"You…you might not get to go to a school, most teachers and parents don't approve of…well, anyway, if you just keep him locked up on the days of the moon then there should be nothing to worry about." He now addressed Remus mother, who was trying to control her sobs.
She sniffled and wiped her eyes "Oh…thank you…"
He nodded and left. Remus stared ahead in shock…it'd happened so fast…one minute he was a normal kid with a normal life and now…he was one of them…a monster…
"M-mum…where's dad?" he asked softly.
She looked up from her hands and slowly glanced at the window of the ward. Remus followed her gaze to see a man with light brown hair and a small mustache and brown eyes standing by the wall staring at it intensely as though trying to make it move with his mind. It was obvious his hair color was the result of this man and his mother's combined.
"D-dad?" he asked softly.
For a moment it didn't seem like the man heard him but then, he slowly turned around. A forced smile was on his face as he stared at his son "D-doin' alright Remus?"
Remus couldn't meet his disappointed eyes, his voice sounded like a whip. He instead stared at his blankets and gripped them tight "I…I'm sorry dad…I should've listened to you…"
He nodded but didn't say anything.
Silence.
"…D-dad?"
"Hm?"
"You…you still love me, I mean, even though I'm a…(gulp)…even if I'm not normal, anymore?" Remus asked softly.
When he asked this, his mother stared at his father apprehensively.
A sort of pleading look on her face that sounded in her voice as she said "John…"
Again he hesitated…then he straightened up and said, "Of course I do. You're my son…" but he didn't look him in the eye as he said it. The words were forced and had no meaning.
It was quiet for a loooong…then his father got up "Well…I…I have to get to work. If you're still here I'll drop by before heading home." He said with a sort of muffled fury, but Remus heard him.
"O-ok…bye dad…" he mumbled, wanting to say more but not knowing what else to say.
His father showed no sign of hearing and left the room. His mother gently moved his hair but said nothing while Remus stared at the door his father had just left out of and it was quiet for a long time.
"Mom…he doesn't mean it, does he? He…he hates me now…doesn't he?" Remus whispered.
For a moment she was silent, running her fingers lightly through his hair…then she sighed, "Remus, I can't say how your father feels but…to me, you're my baby. You'll always be my baby and no matter what happens, no matter what you do and no matter what else you become I'll always, ALWAYS…love you…"
-Flashback ends-
He gasped and bolted upright "That's it! Of course, how could I forget? She said she'll love me no matter what I am or what I do!"
A somewhat jealous sort of frown crossed Sirius face, him having not just seen his thought process "She who?"
"My mom…I wrote her a letter see and…well, I guess I know the answer." Remus mumbled.
Sirius looked relieved and confused "You wrote home? What for?"
Remus sighed "It's difficult…tell you later. Right now, I think I'll take a nap…"
And for the first time in weeks, sleep came easy to him.
Sirius watched as he turned over and closed his eyes. A thoughtful look crossed his face for a moment, wondering why Remus would write to his home when he'd never done it before…he glanced at a calendar and realization hit him hard.
"Oh! I see…" he looked back at Remus with a smile "Hm, of course…"
---
End A/N: 'WHAT?!? WHAT IS IT, TELL ME!!!' is what you may or may not be saying. Maybe you figured it out? Well, if you want to be sure, you're gonna have ta review, or I won't update! Some quick notes before I leave though, as for the beginning, I dunno about you guys but at MY school, damn near everyone's like that. I kid you not, it's a place of prejudice. So, that's were I got that. And as for the ending bit (you know, the flashback) well, I just thought it'd be nice to do a little background stuff on Rem. I've always had my assumptions and that was one. Hope you all like the story thus far, again, don't forget to review, I'll see ya then!