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"No I still did not enjoy yesterday, but I have to say—this chocolate is good," Remus said, sitting on the edge of his bed.
The Marauders were lounging around—which was something the four was very good at—doing nothing but talking about whatever came to mind with ease. But unlike most students who hung inside, the boys were on the wooden bridge that led down to Hagrid's Hut.
It held a beautiful view, overlooking the forest and the sea of pine trees. It was aesthetically pleasing but the boys were not there to admire the view.
James grinned. "At least you like the chocolate."
"Oh come on!" Sirius said, waving his hand dramatically. "Practically ten girls threw cards and candy at you. Doesn't that mean anything?"
"Nope," Remus said truthfully, looking at one of the cards. "It just means those girls have kind manners and would most likely make good friends. Oi, read this one."
James snatched it from his hand and read it out loud.
"Dear Remus,
I for one think you are an extremely bright person and kind to others. I think it's great how you help others when they're struggling. I've seen you work with Pettigrew during Potions class and find that you're really sweet. I would love to get to know you better.
Vanessa Cox."
"They just had to add me in, didn't they?" Peter grumbled unhappily, frowning at his piece of chocolate. "Is my struggle really that noticeable that even girls like her notice?"
"I think these cards are ridiculous," Remus said and scoffed in disbelief. "I still am not very fond of that holiday. And don't worry, Pete. You're missing the point."
James and Sirius laughed while Peter nodded in understanding; but even he could not help but grin as he looked down at his own pile.
"All these letters are the same, James. They say the same thing!" Remus pointed out and tossed yet another one aside.
James raised his eyebrow and snatched two different letters from Remus's pile and read them out loud.
"Dear Remus,
know I do not know you very well but I would love to get to know you more. It is just the fact that I cannot find you when you are not always with your friends. We should spend some time together.
Claurice Hounder."
James picked up the other and read out loud.
"Dear Remus,
I adore the way you can answer any question flawlessly and I love your sarcasm. I really want to talk to you but I can't find the courage too. Out of your other friends, I admire you the most. I hope that we talk at least once and have a conversation that's not actually awkward.
Doreen Flit."
"I haven't even talked to Doreen Flit since the beginning of the train ride to Hogwarts, mate. And we literally had a five worded conversation!" Remus said as James threw back the cards with a smug expression.
"Well, see? These cards don't say the same thing! They're completely different," James said, stuffing his face in more chocolate.
"Same difference," Remus muttered, waving his hand dismissively.
James, Sirius, and Peter all laughed at Remus's nonchalance.
"I am just glad we don't have those damn clouds hovering above our heads that rained sparkles and sprayed perfume," Sirius mumbled and shot Remus a glare. "I think I lost a bit of my dignity there."
Remus threw Sirius, Peter, and James a smirk and proceeded to toss away all his letters though he kept all the chocolate and other candy and gifts.
"I don't want to go to class tomorrow!" James groaned as he recalled their Monday classes.
"I can't wait to see Professor Minnie's expression," Sirius laughed and flipped open a box of flavored beans. "She looked like she was going to blast our heads off! Too bad, really. I wanted to give her a Valentine's Day card..."
"Er..." Peter said, lost for words.
"You really had to provoke her, didn't you Sirius?" Remus said disapprovingly and frowned."I don't think you should call Professor McGonagall 'Professor Minnie'. You'll just get her more mad if that's possible."
"Remy," Sirius said in an almost convincing serious tone. "your Prefect-Remus is showing again."
James shook his head. "We can't have that now, can we?"
Peter however interjected his opinion.
"I don't think having Remus as a Prefect is all that bad. We have some advantage here if Remus does become a Prefect. I mean think about it, if he is, we won't get in as much trouble if it were someone else."
"True," Sirius said thoughtfully.
"Good call, Peter," James added.
As the four decided to relax in one of the bridges that overlooked the beautiful snow covered forest, they were beginning to feel the cold. The Marauders flared up the collars of their jackets and shoved their hands in the pockets of the jacket trying to stay warm.
"As m-much as I enjoy t-the view, I also like to keep the feeling in my fingers," Sirius chattered and wrapped his scarf tighter.
"It's nice," Remus countered swiftly. "It's definitely warmer than it had been in a while. But what do you expect? It's the middle of February."
"No, you're immune to cold," Sirius pouted and folded his arms across his chest.
Not long after Sirius had finished his statement, Frank Longbottom came sprinting towards them with a copy of the Daily Prophet.
"What is it?" Remus asked concerned as he caught the first year's expression.
"It's that...well..." Frank tumbled over his words as he fought to catch his breath at the same time.
"Who, Frank?" James asked, sitting up a bit impatiently.
"Well, You-Know-Who, he's on the move, they say! A murder has been committed eight miles from Dufftown!" Frank panted as if he had literally ran to the bridge just to deliver the news.
Remus read and reread the article and shook his head.
"This is terrible really...I feel bad for the family who had to endure the pain from the loss," Remus said but faltered as the rest stopped to stare at him.
"I think once he gets more power, there's going to be a little chance of stopping him," Frank said fretfully, gnawing at his lip. "He's a madman, that You-Know-Who, but he's a madman with a plan and a wicked determination to finish whatever business he started. The Wizarding World won't stand a chance alone against him let alone the Ministry of Magic."
"Don't you think it's a little early to be guessing this much?" Peter asked nervously, looking frightened and fearful. "I mean...yeah, what happened to that family is horrible, but we can't be talking about Wizarding World domination or anything...right?"
"Professor Dumbledore could handle anything, don't you reckon?" James suddenly chimed in, looking thoughtful and contemplative. "So what there's a madman on the loose? It'll be taken care of before it starts to become anything serious."
"That's just it," Sirius said looking very solemn and for once serious. "Voldemort'll eventually succeed. It's something no one will be able to prevent alone. But together, maybe there's still a chance. You know, like a glimmer of hope still left."
The five sat in silence.
"What's making him so murderous?" Peter asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
"It's Voldemort! He'll kill like it's nothing!" James said, waving his hand impatiently.
"But it is strange, right? It doesn't really sound as if the Ministry is panicking," Sirius observed thoughtfully, looking at each of them in turn.
"Yet," James muttered.
"Unless the Minister doesn't want to start anything," Peter pointed out fairly.
"Sooner or later—something will start—then what would the Ministry do then?" Remus asked, frowning slightly. "But I suppose I can see it both ways."
"Yeah—it's just that one side makes more sense than the other," Sirius scoffed, earning a peculiar expression from Remus.
James had barely enough time to ponder all this when Professor Flitwick and a professor he didn't recognize came walking up to them.
"What are you doing out here in the cold?" the professor asked.
Remus took a mental note of how short and pudgy the man was but how his kind eyes shimmered.
"Can think better out here," Frank grunted roughly and did not look at him.
The other four nodded their heads for silent support.
"Er—right then," the professor said then stopped when he saw Sirius sitting among the group. "Mr. Black, what a pleasure to meet you finally."
Sirius, startled, looked up to see the taller professor looking at him with a big grin on his face and happy, dancing eyes. Confused, he knit his eyebrows.
"I'm Professor Slughorn, head of the Slytherin House; I teach Potions and I once knew your mother and father, dear boy," the professor said merrily, looking like it was a pleasure to meet Mr. and Mrs. Black. "I'm quite surprised I do not have you in the Slytherin House."
"He's with us," James said immediately, looking at Professor Slughorn evenly. "He was chosen to be in Gryffindor; it's better anyway."
Remus and Peter both exchanged looks, surprised at their bespectacled friend's audacity against authority. Peter had to work hard to contain his laughter. Sirius, on the other hand, was looking at James with fierce happiness and gratitude, something that could not be measured in one look.
Professor Slughorn seemed to have understood he said something offensive for he merely nodded in understanding and turned to Professor Flitwick.
"Children will be children."
And the pair walked off.
"I don't like him much," Frank muttered darkly, glaring at Professor Slughorn's back.
"Why?" Remus asked curiously, suddenly getting the feeling that he was intruding upon something confidential.
"Had a big disagreement. He and my mum had a row previously," Frank said tensely and looked down at his hands, something Remus did often when he was in uncomfortable situations.
Remus decided that it'd be better to drop the subject.
"Listen, Remus, you don't need to answer this, mate, but I know your dad died, right?" Frank asked nervously, fumbling with the edges of the Daily Prophet.
"Yes," Remus answered a bit more quietly this time, taking away the paper for Frank was absentmindedly folding and tearing the corners. "I suggest you keep this article."
Frank flushed. "Right—there's been some talk about—oh! About your mother!"
James, Sirius, and Peter all looked fretfully at Remus to see his reaction but to their surprise, Remus remained as calm as ever.
"Such as?" he pressed mildly.
"Your mum died!" Frank blurted out, looked at Remus and let out a muffled apology.
Remus blinked then almost instantly recovered his composure.
"Oh," Remus said without revealing any emotions. "So...er...who'd you hear that from?"
"Loads of people have been talking about it—for ages now. I don't know if their true or not," Frank said, looking pleading at Remus.
"Well, yes," Remus said, trying his best to sound nonchalant yet unable to hide his frown or sad expression. "She died a few months back."
"When?" Frank asked almost eagerly then looked apologetic once more.
"Er—Christmas," Remus answered with no hesitation.
"I'm proud of my parents but I'd be extremely proud if your parents were mine," Frank said earnestly.
Remus heaved a sigh and hauled himself to his feet looking years older; James had concerned written all over in his expression.
"Thanks."
Once the five took separate ways, James put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"You're really brave, mate," James said in a hushed tone. "Really, you're the bravest person I ever met. Even braver than my parents."
"Thanks, James," Remus said, shooting him a grateful smile. "I just don't know if I want everyone to believe they're both dead quite yet."
James murmured sympathetically.
.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
The four sat in the Common Room, working on their Transfiguration essay that was due tomorrow while Remus, who had finished the day it was assigned, was lazily flicking his wand sending sparks everywhere.
Sirius and James were finishing their closing paragraph with their final thesis statement and shot to their feet.
"DONE!" Sirius declared.
Remus looked up from his magic and rolled his eyes. "So much for putting in that extra roll of parchment. You said you would."
"Only of we didn't understand it," James disagreed, holding up his own essay and grinning.
"I think I'll be going to sleep now," Remus said getting up and stretching his cramping muscles. "See you lot later."
Thank you for sticking with this story even if it may not be the best. I hope you all have a great day!
