Chapter Eleven

Remus' POV

His promise didn't make it that far. By the time dinner rolled around, the words of his mates and his rumbling stomach finally brought him to make the journey downstairs. He was glad that the news hadn't made it around to the school; he didn't know what he would do if everyone found out. The knowledge that he was a werewolf was torture enough; to know that he had attacked someone? He must be expelled from the school!

Professor Dippet seemed to see it as an accident, however, and didn't hold it against him. That he was very thankful for, because, as much of a miserable state he was in, he couldn't bear to part with the school. He had no life to return to.

At first, James and Peter pestered him to talk to Sirius, seeing as he didn't want to keep it a secret. They stopped quickly, however, when they were rewarded the cold shoulder. Remus heard them, and he heard them loud and clear, but he didn't think he was ready for it. He wasn't quite sure if he wanted to cry or die or attack or even possibly do all three at the thought.

He felt like an idiot each time, but he found himself mentally preparing. He would go through what he wanted to say, then play through the worst and best case scenarios in his head. Most nights, it would leave him never wanting to talk to Sirius again, but occasionally, it left him with hope that he could somehow mend their broken friendship.

James and Peter had gone to see him two other times, and upon each visit they promptly gave an excuse as to why Remus couldn't make it.

"He understands," they assured him when he returned. They seemed happy enough; maybe Sirius's injuries weren't as bad as they made them out to be. Maybe he's just healing fast... he thought.

After a week of desperately preparing himself and kicking himself in the butt, he finally made the decision to talk to Sirius and explain what was going on. He owed him at least that much.

He didn't want James and Peter to go with him. "Just by myself, okay? It'll be easier, I think," he said. The other two agreed, and saw him off.

Sirius' POV

"He's here." The door swung open and Remus in the doorway, looking torn, guilty, and sorry.

"Moony..." Sirius said softly. Despite the heavy medications he was being treated with, it was still difficult for him to talk.

"Um... hi." Remus didn't move, but switched his gaze to the floor.

"Finally made time to come see me, eh?" Sirius joked. Remus seemed to wince at his words.

"Yeah. Hey, sorry about that, mate."

"I understand." What Sirius didn't understand was why Remus wouldn't move his bloody feet and enter the room. It was making him feel awkward. "Are you... sick or something? Don't seem right."

"Of a sort," Remus muttered.

"Well... you going to come in?"

"Oh, sorry." He seemed genuinely surprised to find that he was still standing in the doorway. "Em... so how have you been doing? Recovering alright?"

"Oh yeah, I've been fine. Food's been great, why don't you try some?" Sirius motioned to the still fill platter at his bedside. Remus paled and declined the offer immediately.

"Ah, no, that's alright, it's yours. Need to keep your strength up, right?"

"So, how's school going?"

"Teachers pushing us harder than ever, of course. Been up to my neck studying, that's why I couldn't find time to come visit you. N.E.W.T.'s coming up in about two weeks now."

Sirius groaned. "Seriously? Next time you visit you need to bring me some books or something so I can study."

"Er... don't you need a bit more recovery for that?"

"What? No! I'm fine," Sirius assured him. "Healing just fine. See—ouch—I can almost move my arm in a complete circle." He attempted to show Remus, but finally gave up and hid his arm beneath the covers of the bed. "Well, almost. It's getting there."

Remus let out a laugh, but it seemed tight and forced.

"Something worrying you?"

"Well... um... how to put this..." Remus suddenly turned beet red and he muttered something inaudible. He turned his face away and let out a fake cough.

"Prongs and Wormtail said you had something to say about how I em... ended up like this." Sirius figured this was what it was about. The look on Remus' face told him he was right.

"Well... the thing is... What do you remember?" he asked quietly.

Sirius screwed up his face and dug. "Well... we talked... right? And there I was a fight? I think? Anyways, we were mad at each other, I'm sure. And then... well... that's like... it." All his concentration focused on his memory, it was becoming difficult to talk again. He focused intently on the covers of his bed, and Remus twisted his hands in his lap.

"So you don't know why we were mad."

"Well... no."

Remus hitched his breath and Sirius looked up, not sure why that was such a big deal. Without another word, Remus leaped up and practically bounded from the room.

"Hey!" Sirius mustered all the strength he could and called after him. There was no response.

Sirius sighed and shrunk back in his covers, his mind whirling in circles. What had happened? What were they fighting over? Why was Remus so upset? Sirius scrunched up his eyes and desperately tried to pull the memories from his mind. When nothing new came, he gave up and instead took to watching the doorway, waiting for Remus to come back.

He didn't.

Sorry for the extremely short chapter U.U One more chapter to go, and then I've used up all my pre-written chapters. Anyways, thanks for the reviews!