Disclaimer: not mine. I own only the plot, and even that is only partly my property.
***
"Mum, Dad," Remus said, almost bursting with anxiety and pride, "These are my friends." He gestured at the three boys in turn, "Peter Pettigrew, James Potter, and Sirius Black." He waited as his mother beamed down at them, pleasure shining in her eyes, and his father smiled with quiet delight.
"Pleased to meet you boys," he said, extending a hand. Jacques Lupin was a mild-mannered man, who spoke in soft deep tones, rolling his 'R's and leaving his vowels open. He sounded French, and Sirius reflected that Remus sounded a bit like that, but his accent was less enhanced.
Sirius grinned and took the offered hand, musing at how similar Remus and his father were. It was almost uncanny. Jacques Lupin had the same pale gold hair as his son…almost. Sirius absentmindedly noticed that it did not contain the hints of silver, and his amber eyes were more golden and brown than green. Neither did he have that sinuous grace, but there was definitely a strong resemblance. And judging by the way that his friend was staring at his father, he loved him dearly, and was anxious for his approval.
"So I understand you kids are planning to get together sometime this summer, hey?"
Remus' mother broke through his thoughts. James grinned and nodded.
"Yep," he said, "they're all coming to mine; hopefully they can come on Monday. I would've liked it if they coulda come with me now, but I have to go to Cornwall with my parents. They're going to a wedding or something."
Remus watched happily as James wrote down his address and phone number, talking busily. Everything was going brilliantly. He took a step backward, happy just to observe. Lily and Amy soon joined the happy buzz of chatter, and holiday farewells were said.
When it was time for him to leave, Sirius and James helped Remus carry his trunk to the car. Peter had already left with his parents, and the girls had withdrawn, waving cheerily. After stowing away his trunk in the boot, Remus collapsed on the backseat, followed by cries of "See you Monday Remus!" from the two dark-haired boys. The car pulled away slowly, while the hot midday sun beat down on the world, inspiring hope and happiness in the hearts of everyone.
*
The young werewolf fell back onto his bed, breathing in the familiar smell of house and home. Feeling tired, he reflected on the car journey. His parents seemed somehow different. Happy. Not as stressed as they used to be. His mother's face had been glowing, and his father's eyes had been smiling and open, holding none of their usual concern. He did not know that they had noticed similar differences in him. The fact that, although he was still not loud or rowdy, his quietness was not that of a miserable person covering up, but of a reasonably content person who likes to listen. The fact that his eyes were no longer empty, but filled with sunshine and laughter. And that was why they were happy.
He reached instinctively for the old, cloth-bound book that he always kept by his bed, clutching it to his chest. Next year he might take it to Hogwarts. He had missed it. He had missed its old, yellowing pages, its musty, leathery smell, and most of all, the words. Remus loved words. To him they seemed like precious jewels glittering elusively, like shining waterfalls and shimmering veils of mist, like dear friends he had always known.
Dear friends. Yes. James and Sirius and Peter were his friends now. But he still loved the words. He wondered if anyone would ever replace them completely, but it was impossible to tell. A while ago he would have said no, but things had changed. Perhaps he would simply find a whole new place in his heart, where people could be. Yes, perhaps. The boys liked him. Since he had met them they had been there for him. They stood behind him when he was unsteady. They cheered him up when he felt sad. They were bright and vibrant and real.
James was steady and fun, and at times revealed an uncanny wisdom for his years, as if his future self was watching from behind his dark eyes.
Peter was light-hearted and cheerful, with that occasional flash of insight that never failed to surprise most people, although Remus would just smile inside, and remind himself of the day they had been sorted.
And then there was Sirius, always around, grinning as his deep-blue eyes sparkled, cracking jokes and playing pranks. And he made Remus feel safe; he made him feel at home.
And it was when he was with the boys that the wolf in Remus seemed furthest away, when it seemed like he was normal, when he almost forgot. And then he was happy, but the wolf would get jealous. It wanted friends too. It wanted to be free. It wanted to run and jump and shout, to feel the wind blow back its ears and ruffle its fur, to be with a pack.
Remus thought about that full moon, the time when the boys had found him in the hospital wing. He couldn't remember having such a bad transformation before. He had ached for week, remaining quiet and subdued, constantly reminded of what he was by the scars that laced his pale skin, while the worry that the wolf would get out gnawed at his mind.
He turned his head against the crisp white linen, soft on his face, dispelling the unwelcome thoughts and soothing him. He smiled. In three day's time he would be with his friends, having fun. The full moon had been just two days and nights before the end of school, so although he would have to leave a few days before the other two, he could still enjoy a three-week holiday with them.
*
That night he fell asleep, book held to his heart, thinking of friendship and all that it entailed.