Author: Lucinda
Rated y/y-14, safe if you read the earlier books.
Main character: Remus Lupin, no solid 'ships in the story.
Set in Remus Lupin's 4th year
I hold no legal rights to the Harry Potter series or any specific characters from the series.
PSLS..psls..PSLS..psls..
Remus Lupin was in the library, trying to find a good reference for his report on Sigvart the Bold for History of Magic. Unlike most of the students at Hogwarts, Remus actually liked history, though he did admit that Professor Binns might not have the most engaging lecture style. He blamed it on his father being a Ravenclaw, unlike most of the Lupins, a traditionally Hufflepuff family.
As he looked over the books, he could hear voices from behind the shelf, from other students in the library. They were talking, though trying to keep it low enough Madam Pince wouldn't throw them out for being disruptive.
"… know Lupin's secret. I don't know why it took me this long to figure it out," hissed Malcom Macmillan.
Remus froze, eyes widening as his muscles tensed. His breath felt tight in his chest, only shallow wheezes in or out as he tried to keep from panicking. Nobody could find out, the fuss, the legal problems… he'd probably be killed if anyone knew he was an unregistered werewolf. And then they'd move on to taking actions against his family, and Professor McGonagall, and Headmaster Dumbledore.
"Are you quite sure?" Julianna Talbot's voice was unmistakable, especially since Remus had been trying to bury a small crush on her for the last year.
"One of the first things to come to mind for anyone when you mention Remus Lupin is the chocolate. Lupin's not only a chocolate addict to the point where even my older sister thinks it's a bit much, but Lupin apparently has good taste in chocolate. All the sixth and seventh years of the House say so," Malcom continued.
Remus blinked, wondering what chocolate had to do with anything. Not that chocolate wasn't amazing, but where was Macmillan going with this?
"So Lupin's an expert on chocolate. Big deal," Patrick Derrington snorted, almost certainly waving one hand in a lazy dismissal. The boy should have been on a stage somewhere, his every motion looking a little exaggerated, as if to be sure someone in the back row could tell what he meant.
"You noticed Lupin missed a couple days this month, days for being 'ill', right? Out for two days, with no explanation other than sick and don't pester? What can't Madame Pomphrey fix up like that?" Malcom snapped his fingers, voice filled with suspicion.
"I'm sure there are plenty of things. She's good, but nobody can fix everything," drawled Hannah Trancy, Malcom's girlfriend.
"Lupin was 'ill' a few days last month too," Malcom insisted.
Remus was certain there should be quotes around ill the way Malcom was saying it. Like he didn't believe that Remus was really ill. Of course, he hadn't been ill in the same way as most. No, he'd not spent a few days in the Hospital wing with cramps and vomiting. That would have been so much better, actually…
Instead he'd slipped out to the Shrieking Shack and transformed into a large, hairy, homicidal beast that would have ripped anybody to shreds. Even his dorm mates, even his parents. With nobody close enough to be in danger, his wolf had attacked the only living thing in the shack – himself. He'd picked up a few new scars from that, as always.
"So?" Hannah demanded.
"Lupin's mysteriously ill with something nobody talks about every month!" Malcom hissed.
Remus was sure he was going to be sick. Malcom Macmillan knew, and he was going to tell, and then everyone would know and then…. And then the Department for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures would come along and chop off his head. Considering how many Lupins were in the Department, it would probably be one of his relatives. Not that some of them didn't already know. Not that some of them hadn't shown every sign of being perfectly willing to kill him and remove the shame of his lycanthropy from the family.
"Get to the point already, Macmillan," demanded Anastasia Peabody.
Sweet Merlin, how many people were going to be told his secret shame? Remus could feel his knees going weak already, and one hand clutched at the shelf to steady himself.
"Remus Lupin is a girl!" Malcom Macmillan declared.
Whaaaaaa…? Remus felt his mind jerk to a confused halt. He blinked, looking towards where Macmillan's voice came, as if he could see the Hufflepuff through the shelves and books. Where in the world had that come from? He could feel his jaw dropping from the sheer confusion.
From the confused and incoherent sounds behind the shelf, Anastasia, Hannah and Patrick were almost as confused as Remus. After several moments, Hannah managed to demand an explanation.
"No boy is that obsessed over chocolate! Lupin broke two bones in Leonard Nott's hand when Nott tried to swipe one of Lupin's chocolate frogs the other day. Lupin's judgment on chocolate is taken as golden by quite a few people, even some of the Slytherins. Lupin was even having a discussion about chocolate ingredients and preparations with a pair of Ravenclaws the other day. Who does that, honestly," Malcom paused.
"I admit the chocolate obsession is a bit much, but that doesn't make Lupin a girl," Anastasia insisted.
"Wouldn't the other fourth year Gryffindors know? I mean, dorm rooms! I've got a cousin in Gryffindor, and Tim swears Lupin goes to the boy's side," Patrick insisted.
"Obviously they know. They must be in on the secret, must have agreed to help her keep it from the rest of the school," Malcom hissed, his voice lowering.
"Malcom, you're being silly," Hannah insisted.
"But she can't hide everything. Her chocolate obsession is a big give away. And then there's the way she gets sick every month," Malcom paused. "My aunt does the same. Her monthlies… she gets these horrible cramps and can't do much of anything for a few days each month."
"Wait… you're saying Lupin missed class because of…" Patrick stammered.
"Because she's got a horrible case of cramps with her woman's cycle every month," Malcom finished.
"But why would the Gryffindor boys hide something like that?" Anastasia insisted.
"Obviously Lupin's dating one of them," Malcom countered. "Maybe more than one."
Remus decided the book could wait. He had to leave before this conversation became too much. Not that he was sure if he'd pass out or burst into laughter… As he bit into a chocolate bar, he wondered just what was wrong with his appreciation for chocolate anyhow. Didn't everyone know chocolate made everything better?
End PS: Lupin's Secret.