Welcome back to another week of me being late. The schedule will all into place... I promise. It's just in theatre at my school and the fall musical is coming up. So yeah, lots of writing time, not a lot of posting. Disclaimer: Not my characters.
It was early April when the elephant in the room was finally discussed. After too many awkward situations between Remus and Sirius, Peter and James had had enough.
The plan was simple. Lock the two of them in a room together and force their friendship. Let me clarify as the author that I do not condone this method at all, and hope no one ever actually gets that treatment.
Peter and James had been planning this…idea for months now. And every day the agony of tension between the two boys would increase. Until finally all four boys snapped.
That morning went as usual, they met each other in the common rooms so they could head over to the Great Hall together. But today Sirius and Remus woke up earlier than Peter and James. Which from this experience resulted in those two never being first up again.
Remus was reading on the couch, every so often listening to other people's conversations. Sirius had come down, excited for a day of pranks and joking. He noticed Lupin on the sofa and decided to begin his pranks early.
Black wasn't too fond of Lupin. It could be for many reasons, perhaps the suspicious leaving once a month, the waking up early and heading to the library, or it could just be Black getting jealous of the ever-likable Remus Lupin. The tall boy was too tall for his liking, his hair too messy to be sorted out, and his appearance too neat to the buttons. Black could write thirty inches about every little thing he disliked about Remus, I bet James could write that much about Lily too.
So unexpectedly while Remus was chatting away with Evans, who was just delighted to be speaking to him without the presence of Potter, his robes changed into a punishing green color.
Remus had been pranked before by Sirius, and the response was normal. A little laugh and he would brush it off. But this morning was different, this was the day before he would leave for the full moon. His anger had already been spiked, and stress fueled his being at this point. So when the prank occurred he snapped.
"Sirius, can you not be an actual annoying prick for more than one second. It's pissing me off and honestly I'm warning you before I throw some spells back at you." Lily was a little taken back by the outburst, but she quickly stepped between them.
"Don't be irrational, we're all friends." She tried to mediate the dangerous glint in both Black and Lupin's eyes.
"Evans, get out of the way." Another voice came from the stairwell, two feet loudly running down the boys' dormitory stairs.
James quickly pushed Lily out of the way. Not without a protest from her and anger seeping through her face.
Potter ignored Evans though and set his hands on opposing chests pushing them away from each other. The tension between the two was rising dangerously fast and Potter would be lying if he said it didn't terrify him. He never saw a wizard fight but he hoped to go through life without seeing one. Which of course is a stupid wish when your admist a war.
"Potter, what the hell is up with these two?" Evans asked as Peter was trying his hardest to hold back Remus, who shockingly was the first to pull his wand out.
She then moved to helping Peter who answered back, "This is what miscommunication, jealousy, and different hairstyles lead to. I knew we should have locked them in a room."
"But Remus would just charm his way out!" Potter's struggle was evident in his voice as he struggled to fight back the slightly taller Sirius, who also had a few more muscles than scrawny Potter.
Unfortunately, before the two could talk it out Remus charmed Peter and moved at lightning speed to Sirius. His fists were balled, prepared to pack a powerful hit to Black's face. Black prepared himself for the impact, but it never came.
Now if you never knew, James Potter was a seeker for a year before becoming a chaser. You ever wonder how he got recommended? It indeed was for his reflexes and quick thinking, which is why before he even saw Remus break loose from Evans's arms he threw himself in the impact zone.
A satisfying crunch came from where Remus punched. Instant regret seeping through his arm, the hit's vibrations snaking up his arm. Remus opened his eyes to see Black staring at him with a shocked look, nothing seemed out of place. Until he heard a groan.
Down on the floor was poor scrawny James Fleamont Potter. He held his nose, Pettigrew was kneeling next to him. Evans was gone racing to get a prefect. Remus raked his hands through his hair repeatedly, stress walking in a line. Black's face was set with anger, a boiling rage he bit down. Lupin was ready to cry at this point, the new friendships he tried so hard to maintain went out the window with a simple monster urge.
He plopped down on the red couch, muttering statements that would send you straight to a school counselor. Black was distancing himself from Remus, resisting the urge to beat the ever-living crap out of him.
Finally Evans returned with the head girl. She heaved a very heavy sigh before kneeling next to James. His nose profusely bleeding at this point, the bridge purple and swollen. The Head girl looked at Black whose face was almost purple, Peter who knelt cautiously inspecting the nose, and Remus whose head was in his hands. The blond hair he had was even more messy than usual.
"What are your names?" The seventh year stood up and looked around the common room, not surprised at the sight of the red even as a Hufflepuff. Ironically, a majority of the problems she investigates happen in the Gryffindor tower. She blames it on their pride.
"I'm Peter Pettigrew, that's Sirius Black, over there's Remus Lupin, Lily Evans, and finally the bleeding boy is James Potter." Peter bravely spoke up for all of them. Evans was now searching through her Charms book for any charm that may help Potter. Not that she really cared for him.
"Thank you, Pettigrew. Evans, go with Potter to the infirmary. Peter tell me what happened, and you two sit quietly on the sofas." Potter threw on a teasing grin, as Evans' face settled into disgust. Peter sat down and retold the events, Remus still not looking up, and Black still purple.
"You're free to go Peter. You two follow me." The head girl led them up to the seventh-floor corridor, on the left corner. She paced around three times in front of the picture of Barnabas the Barmy. Remus was still forlorn, but Sirius had to stifle a laugh as the girl expectedly stared at the portrait.
"Was that supposed to do something?" He said teasingly. She shot him a warning look before huffing. She fiddled with her thumbs when some loud noises came from the wall and a metal door morphed into view.
Black's eyebrows were raised and even the upset Remus was in awe. The head girl released a sigh before ushering the two teenagers inside. Black scanned the room once he entered, Remus picked at his fingernails, and still raked his fingers through his hair.
The room was large, large enough for all of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Light wooden flooring, hanging succulents, ivy covered posts, yellow wallpaper, and brown leather couches made the room cozy. Obviously the head girl designed the room, a Hufflepuff banner was hung on one wall, another wall had a mirror. The room released a feeling of calmness, the soft couches beckoning for their legs to rest.
Black sighed and sat down, the head girl stood pacing a bit. Her hands were on her hips and her thick, black, curly hair flowed behind her. Black rested his head against the couch and stared up at the bleak ceiling. Even though the room was peaceful the tension between the two adolescent boys was high.
Remus softly sat on the opposite side of the couch. Black let out a sort of growl, the desperate anger boiling in his throat. A feeling of word vomit was on Sirius's tongue.
"You two will enjoy the company of each other for the next day. From what I've heard, you two have unresolved issues with the other." The head girl said, her voice sure of the plan. It wasn't bad, in fact it was perfect for the situation at least in her mind.
But the second the girl left the room, Sirius didn't hold back. He shouted and shouted, while Remus silently let his tears fall. He made sure to avoid Sirius's eyes, afraid that he'd be showing too much emotion.
Eventually Sirius sat down, his anger finally released and his voice sore. He noticed the unmoved and unflinched Remus. The settled anger began to simmer again. But Remus bit his lip to keep his sobs in. His efforts were futile when a strangled noise reverberated through his chest.
Black looked at the ruffled hair, his mind remembering the haggard look of Remus, the state of dark circles, which were darker than normal. He didn't want to feel pity for the boy that just punched James, but even his heart wasn't as Black as his family's.
He put his head in his hands to refrain himself from rubbing Remus's shoulders. He didn't want to comfort the adolescent that he spent yelling at for so long. He didn't want to comfort the person who took James away from him. He didn't want to be Remus's second friend because of James. He didn't want that.
Silence enveloped the room for quite some time before Remus lifted his head. The dark circles still existed but now his eyes were red and swollen. His hair was hopeless and Sirius was still. Remus sighed silently before standing up. He walked at his usual pace, the oval shape of his steps fitting perfectly, which caught Black's attention.
"Look, Sirius, I'm sorry. It was never my intention to hurt James. I don't like hurting people, it's just…I can't control it per say." Remus talked to his reflection, watching the expressions that washed over Black behind him. His bravery hid when he had to discuss his furry little problem.
"What do you mean you can't control it?" Sirius watched the lanky boy's unsure face. The furrowed eyebrows set with worry and anxiety. It reminded him of Peter a bit, except there was no bond with Remus.
"It's sort of a private issue I face. I might be able to tell you if we become better friends. But I understand if you never want to talk to me again and disown me as a friend." Remus spoke confidently, attempting to hide his sadness at the thought of not ever being able to be friends with James, Peter, and Sirius.
The silence came back like a foe, and tension suffocated the room. Remus thought that this was the end of their talk and he bit back the emotion. He prepared himself for the sentence that ended their relationship, but silence just followed him like a train.
Black on the other hand had two things stick out to him in this situation: the word disown and the thought of never talking to him again. If you haven't connected the dots, those words were uttered by his own parents. The ones that were threatening him everyday. He let out a deep breath, his mind pondering over the next course of action.
"Want to exchange?" Black said, the empty silence filled by the words. Remus perked up, before looking askance.
"Exchange what?" He said back unsure, he wasn't ready to open up yet. Mean he wasn't best friends with the bloke, how could he trust him?
"Private issues. I'll go first and it'll be something that not even Potter knows. Unless of course Potter knows yours." He said the last bit with a tidbit of bitterness. The dissatisfaction of Remus sharing secrets with Potter.
"He doesn't… but I don't think I'm ready yet." Remus wanted this friendship bad, but did he want it bad enough that he would risk his own life.
"My parents are planning on kicking me out in the fifth year, unless I-" he looked around before whispering, "unless I kill either a muggle or a muggleborn."
Remus's eyes widened as Sirius looked at his hands. He didn't want to see the eyes of the boy who might not even share his secret. The boy that he hated, well maybe not hated. Perhaps just misguided anger towards.
"I'm…" Remus sighed, it was harder than he thought. The word choking him, the thought killing him, and his heart pounding.
Sirius scooted closer to Remus, eager to hear the supposed life-altering secret. Perhaps he overshared, perhaps he made Remus insecure, or perhaps Lupin lied.
Another sigh and Remus rushed the word out, the wretched word that cursed him. The haunting nightmare that he was. The terrible monster that took his livelihood. His archenemy.
Black was taken back. The word finally registered and he backed himself to the couch. He knew a werewolf, his mother liked werewolves, his father didn't, his brother was terrified. He was mixed, they didn't bother him but now that it was Remus, perhaps.
Remus was worried, and silence greeted him again. His feet found the pattern of the floor and his mind reeled. The regret settled in his stomach and his hands tousled themselves in his unruly hair. Water began to fill his eyes, the room growing blurry and threatening to ruin Remus.
Sirius finally found his mind. The thoughts dimmed as he looked at the nervous wreck of a kid. The unruly hair, eyes, and posture reassured him of what he was going to do. Sure he may have hated Remus or was jealous, but now the idea was preposterous. To hate this boy, the genuine lovable nerd. He felt a smirk creep onto his face.
"Remus, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry but I hope you understand, it doesn't matter to me. You're still an insufferable smartarse." Lupin's ears pricked up, and the regret faded but now it was replaced with sadness again. At the thought that no amount of pity could change the stubborn Sirius's mind.
"But Remus, you are my friend. As much as we fight there is an attractive force pulling us together. See that's something that you would say, not me." He began to laugh again, blowing off the whole beast thing.
"Sirius, this isn't a joking matter. You know I'm a monster. You should be running in the other direction." Remus was leaning forward and stopped in front of Sirius. He was beckoning for Sirius to reconsider his options.
"Remus, you are not a monster. You understand that? You, Remus Lupin, are not a monster. You are someone who was put into an unfortunate situation and now have to live with that problem the rest of your life. I promise and strive to be the bestest friend I can be for you." At this point Sirius was standing in front of Remus, his eyes stone serious.
He gripped Remus's hands forcing him to look at Sirius. His amber eyes meet silver. The haggard looked even more present than before, a sense of tension left the room replaced with something new. Love.
The newfound feeling coursed through the air. The other felt this pull of friendship. Remus found someone who finally wasn't afraid of him. Who wasn't scared of what he transformed into. This child of all people accepted his monster. In fact, he promised to be his friend. He could finally have friends, and who knows maybe one day he'll tell others and become prouder of himself.
"Thank you, Sirius." He stuck his hand out which Sirius gladly shook. The urge to hug the lanky tall boy became more demanding as the silent tears subsided.
So as smoothly as he could Sirius tugged Remus into a hug. He patted his back and cracked several jokes, a majority earning sarcastic responses from Lupin.
The two were eventually let out and no one knows what happened in that room. But one thing was for sure, out of all the bonds in the marauders, Remus and Black had the second strongest, of course behind Sirius and James. No one can have a stronger bond than brothers, and that's what James and Sirius were practically.
The final formation of friendship that solidified the strongest friend group in the history of Hogwarts. Nothing shook them. Nothing stopped them. Nothing dared to.
Thanks for reading. See you next week! Happy spooky season ︎ ︎