Written for The Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition

[Season 9] - Round 5: We All Have Our Flaws

Team: Chudley Cannons

Position: Beater 1 - Your character must show this flaw: Hypocrisy

Prompts:

2. (word) fleeting

7. (dialogue) "I wouldn't blame you if you hated me."

10. (pairing) Remus/Sirius

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Written for Chudley Cannon Team Challenge

Include an epigraph at the beginning of your story.

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Thanks to Ashleigh and Ray for betaing!

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TW: homophobic parent and homophobic comments. Correction camp (mentioned)

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Word count: 1855

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Mother is her

son's first god; she

must teach him the most

important lesson of all —

how to love.

- T. F. Hodge

Hope fought back tears as she cradled the little boy in her arms. Now was not the time to cry, not when Remus needed her to be strong. But so far it proved difficult.

His first full moon had been just a couple of days ago. Hope had been on the other side of the door, forced to hear her only son scream in pain and unable to help. He had asked why it hurt, again and again and again, but she didn't know how to explain to Remus that now he was the Big Bad Wolf Lyall had told him about.

It was hard to imagine how someone as little and precious as her Remus could look like someone such as Greyback. That so many people would look at him and see a monster instead of a clever little boy. That the people of the Wizarding World would hunt him down and lock him up the first chance they got.

She glanced at her son. He was curled into a ball and clutching his favourite toy tightly. His breathing was strained, and Hope knew in that moment, that she would do anything to make her little boy happy.

.:lll:.

Hope glanced at the postcard on the table. All the cards had a star theme, and this one had a picture of the constellation, Canis Major. She really shouldn't look. It was private, and it was for Remus.

Remus had received a postcard like this one every day since coming home for the summer holidays after his sixth year at Hogwarts. He always turned red when reading them and smiled in a way that made him look like the happiest person on Earth! But he would never let her see.

Hope had concluded two things. The first was that her son had gotten his very first girlfriend. The second was that no matter who she was, Hope knew she liked her already. How could she not like his mysterious girlfriend? She clearly made her son very happy, and that was all that mattered.

Hope really shouldn't look at their private postcard exchange, but it was too tempting. She quickly glanced around to make sure no one was around, then carefully picked up the card.

They say everything will be alright, and with you next to me, I know it will.

She heard footsteps and quickly put the card down, then immediately pretended to busy herself as Remus entered the kitchen. Despite it being the middle of summer, he had a red blanket wrapped around himself and took careful steps towards the table.

Hope glanced with the corner of her eye as Remus picked up the postcard and promptly began blushing. She smiled to herself as she began preparing breakfast.

"Remember Sirius is coming over later," Remus said, biting his lip.

"Of course," Hope said. Sirius was Remus' best friend, so if anyone knew anything about his secret girlfriend, it had to be him.

She smiled again. If anyone could compete with whoever wrote those postcards, it was Sirius. He was able to make Remus happy in a way that no one else seemed to be able to, and was even coming over later to take care of him before and after the full moon.

Hope was happy Remus had such great people in his life.

.:lll:.

A few hours later, as Hope was knitting in the living room, Sirius stepped out from the fireplace. Hope started in her seat; she still wasn't used to some forms of magic her son and his friends used.

Sirius waved his wand, and a moment later he was fully cleaned and beaming at her. Hope got up to give him a proper welcome.

"Hope! How's my favourite mother of my favourite person doing today?" He took her hand and placed a kiss on it like a proper gentleman.

Hope chuckled. She could easily understand why Remus liked him so much, and why he talked about him all the time. "I'm doing quite alright, thank you. How about yourself?"

"Spectacular, now that I'm here."

"I'm sure Remus feels the same way, he's been looking forward to your visit… speaking of Remus, there's something I wanted to ask you."

"Yes?" Sirius said slowly, raising an eyebrow.

"You wouldn't happen to know who Remus' secret girlfriend is, would you? The one who sends him postcards every day?"

"Mum!" Remus had stepped into the living room, still with the blanket wrapped around himself. Sirius smiled softly at him and Remus smiled back, before glancing at Hope. "I already told you I don't have a secret girlfriend."

"And I don't believe you," Hope chuckled. "Why else would you refuse to let me read the postcards? And, by the way, don't think I haven't noticed how every time you read them, your whole face lights up. You're clearly smitten."

"Really?" Sirius smiled, looking to be enjoying himself a bit too much. "You know, Hope, I do know Remus' secret girlfriend…" he stopped for dramatic effect and winked at Remus. "I can't tell you her name, but I promise you she's the most gorgeous, most wonderful and smartest person I have ever met. Did I mention gorgeous?"

Hope smiled; she sounded wonderful, but Remus rolled his eyes. "He's joking, Mum. If I had a girlfriend, I would tell you."

"Oh, alright then, but you have to go lay down now."

Remus nodded slowly. He hated being reminded of his limitations regarding his health, but she knew it was better for him to relax; it would make the full moon easier.

Remus walked back to his room and Sirius bounced after him.

.:lll:.

It took a half-hour to realize what was wrong, but when she did, it became painfully obvious.

The house was utterly and completely silent. For the past few hours, she had heard whispers and giggles from Remus' room, which had been delightful. Hope was still ecstatic that Remus had made such a great friend.

But now it was unrealistically silent, and she suspected magic was involved.

Curiosity quickly got the better of her. Hope sneaked through the house, and stood outside Remus' room, pressing an ear against it. Nothing. They had definitely used some sort of spell.

Without hesitation, she opened the door.

The two boys jumped apart as if the other was made of fire. Hope stared at them, eyes wide open. Their lips were red and swollen, and both tried hiding their lap. Sirius' shirt was on the floor. Their loud breathing was the only thing that could be heard in the room.

Hope suddenly felt nauseous. She couldn't believe Remus was taking part in such— such a disgusting activity. Hope glared at Sirius. He was probably the reason Remus was acting like this; her son had been perfectly normal before they became friends.

"Get. Out!" she spat.

Sirius' head flew up, and he stared at her a few moments, then Remus. "I—"

"It's okay," Remus murmured.

Sirius stared at him. "But, Moony—"

"Just go," he pleaded.

Sirius stared for a solid minute, and Hope was about to yell at him again when he finally picked his shirt up and left the room. A few moments later they could hear the fireplace being activated.

Hope and Remus spent the next minute in silence. He hadn't looked at her, hadn't even moved an inch. They had never had trouble communicating before, but Hope simply didn't recognize the boy in front of her.

Her Remus would never do anything that disgusting, no less something that wrong. It was simply unnatural, and she wouldn't stand it.

Remus had to take a deep breath before talking.

"I'm sorry. I wouldn't blame you if you hated me."

"Oh, Remus, don't be like that." Hope shook her head and sat on his bed, though with a little distance in case it was contagious. "This is just… a fleeting thing. Something that will go over soon, alright?"

She wanted to hug him but didn't. An idea suddenly popped into her head. "My friend Donna told me of a camp her niece went to that can fix people like you. They'll probably let you in late, and hopefully, you'll turn normal before going back to school."

Remus sniffled and only spoke after a long pause.

"I don't want to go to a camp."

She hated seeing him this upset. Her heart broke for him. Not only did he have his other malady to deal with, he now had a second illness. "I know, but it's for the best, alright? They'll help you be normal."

Remus didn't respond, and eventually, Hope had to leave. She called Donna to get all the details of the camp. It would be good for him, she told herself. Learning to be normal would make him much happier later in life.

.:lll:.

The full moon had been worse than usual.

Hope had tried her best to heal Remus the Muggle way, but it had little effect on magical wounds. Eventually, she had to look through Lyall's potion supplies, and use Remus' potions' book to see what effect each had.

She had been out grocery shopping, and bought soup for Remus; it was usually the only thing he could eat this close after the full moon.

Hope opened the door to his room and dropped the bowl of soup in shock.

Remus stood up and almost fell over. "Mum, I—"

"No—" she said sternly, then pointed at Sirius, who had been in the midst of packing a suitcase. "You're not welcome here!"

"I invited him," Remus said. He was swaying slightly. Sirius walked to his side to support him. "He's helping me pack, so I can move out."

She frowned. "Why would you move out? I'm trying to help you!"

"By sending me away!"

"It will be good for you!" she snapped. "Remus, I just don't understand why you can't be normal! Why can't you just be with the girl who sent those postcards?"

"Sirius sent them."

Hope opened her mouth, closed it, then opened again. "What?"

Remus continued. "You sounded so happy for me when you thought I had a girlfriend. Why is it different when I'm with him?"

"Because…" but Hope was at a loss for words.

"You always said you would do everything to make me happy," Remus said, choking on tears. His eyes were red and puffy, and he quickly wiped them. "But when I finally find someone to be happy with, you want to take it away from me."

They looked at each other until Sirius took Remus' hand and guided him out.

Hope stared as her only son walked away, holding the hand of someone he shouldn't love; someone who made Remus much happier than she ever had

She was the only one who had caused him unhappiness, not the world around him like she had always thought. It was her own fault that Remus was leaving her now. It was her fault she was losing him.

Remus didn't even look back.

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It's my birthday today :D