Sirius Black was already dressed for class when Remus woke up the next morning. He sat on his bed, watching his new friend sleep, feeling so very alone in the quiet dormitory.
Remus rolled over and fell out of the bed, onto his face. He lay on the cold stone floor, tangled in the green bedsheets and rubbed his eyes. "Oh, Merlin," he muttered. Remus looked up at his friend, sitting on the bed next to his. "You did get back to sleep, didn't you?"
"No," Sirius replied quietly. "Did you have a problem with the bed?"
"Too soft. I didn't want to get up this morning," Remus said, smiling. He pushed himself off the floor, and tossed the sheet back onto his bed. He stood, walked to his trunk and found his toothbrush, paste and comb.
For lack of a better thing to do, Sirius followed him into the bathroom and sat on one of the sinks.
Remus turned on the running water and splashed it on his face, before dabbing at his left eye and wincing in pain.
"You know, the nurse could probably take care of that for you, or at the very least give you a pain potion…" Sirius said, after a moment or two.
Remus laughed as he stuck the toothbrush into his mouth and started brushing. "You don't think it makes me look dangerous?"
Sirius burst into a goofy grin. "The shiner or the toothbrush? Because that toothbrush is giving me the willies," he replied.
"You're incorrigible," Remus shot back before spitting in the sink.
"What does that mean?"
Remus stopped, drawing the comb through his hair. "I… I don't know. I read it in a book somewhere. But I think it's an insult." His ginger-brown locks fell in his eyes and he pushed them back.
"I don't feel insulted. You said it too nicely."
"Fine. You're incorrigible, Siri," Remus said in mock-disgust.
"Much better, Remmy."
"Mr. Lupin, may I have a word with you?" came a warm voice from behind the 1st year Slytherins that morning.
Remus froze in his tracks. "Yes, Headmaster."
Sirius shot him another friendly glance, and went into the Great Hall.
Remus turned to look at Dumbledore as his friends left. The older man was smiling as he put his hand on Remus' shoulder.
"Well Remus, how are you feeling this morning?"
"I am well, Headmaster. What were you going to ask me about?" Remus asked.
The aged wizard sighed. "I wanted to apologize to you for not informing you of the fact that your brother would be attending school with you at this time. I had not anticipated the tension and animosity this would cause," he said, apologetically.
"It's fine, Headmaster," Remus responded, without meeting his gaze.
"You are being kind. I had heard otherwise," Albus commented knowingly.
Remus
visibly flinched. "You knew about that,
sir?"
"You will find that there is
little about this school that I do not know, Remus."
"I apologize, sir," Remus said. "I'll try to keep my temper around him from now on."
"Please do. How is your friend Mr. Black adjusting to his House?"
Remus sighed. "He was up all night, worrying about whether or not his parents would disown him. Finally woke me up at 3:30. I thought I was going to have to Stun him, sir."
"He is concerned?"
"Frantic. But I don't understand why. He said both his parents were Gryffindors. Mine… mine were Ravenclaws. Overly analytical, them. Gryffindors don't strike me as the type to desert their children at the drop of a hat. And anyways, there's nothing wrong with Slytherin."
Dumbledore nodded. "You are right, of course. Perhaps your friendship will reassure young Mr. Black during the coming months that true friendship and love can withstand these current trials," he replied. "Mr. Lupin, my office is always open to my students. This week, the password is Lemon Drops. Please come speak with me if there's anything you require my assistance for. You should get to breakfast, Remus."
"Of course, sir."
"Good day, Mr. Lupin." The Headmaster left.
Remus turned and walked into the Great Hall. He sought out Sirius and James, who were deep in conference in one of the dark corners.
"Jamie, I'm just so scared about all this. I didn't want to go into Slytherin, believe me! It just… put me there. I mean, what if Mum and Dad…" Sirius said, near tears.
"Sirius, I thought we went over all of this earlier this morning, mate," Remus said, breaking in. "Morning, James."
"Remus."
"I know, but I can't help thinking about this," he said. "I mean…"
"He's been like this all night, James. Woke me up at three bloody thirty this morning," Remus whispered. "Come on, Siri. You need something to eat." He gave his friend a gentle shove in the direction of the Slytherin Table. "Sev, please take Sirius and get him some breakfast. I'll be over in a bit."
Snape nodded and led Sirius to the table by his left elbow.
"He's worried you won't want to be his friend anymore. He's worried about everyone deserting him," Remus added.
"You're not?"
"I promised that he wasn't going to lose me."
"Why?" Remus asked, taller than the other boy. "Everyone's already deserted me. Why should I worry about something as trivial as a House? Life's unimportant labels are only as important as you make them."
James bit his lip. "Remus, I…"
"It's fine, James. Just… don't hurt him. I… I don't think he could handle it right now. See you later, Jamie," Remus said, walking away. He sat down at the Slytherin table and pulled a goblet of pumpkin juice towards him.
"Lupin, Black. What the hell are you two idiots doing?" one of the older Slytherins ask.
"What's it look like I'm doing? I'm drinking some juice and Sirius there is nearly face down in his porridge." Remus' expression was a cross between a feral wolf and a poisonous snake, and the other Slytherins took notice."
"With that Gryffindor," a prefect clarified silkily.
"He happens to have a name," Remus hissed. "And I don't recall having heard yours. So maybe you can enlighten me, before I wipe that smug smile off of your face with my right cross."
The boy with platinum blonde hair was taken aback. "Lucius Malfoy."
"I've seen you before. On Knockturn Alley. I lived there, you know. In an orphanage." He lowered his voice. "I was considered Dark. Violent. Unworthy of the teachers time and effort, but the gangs, they never left me alone. This black eye was earned from a Squib named David McKinnon, who beat me every week for having more magical ability in my little finger than he does in every bone in his body."
The entire table quieted, and even the Hufflepuffs at the table beside them paid attention.
"You don't scare me, Malfoy. Your kind, with your preset rules and your aristocratic airs. You think that social standing and a matter of purity of blood faze me? I hate your kind, for that it did to me," he continued quietly. "I spent a year on the streets of London. The slums, the dark alleyways, the rainy nights when you thought you were going to die of hypothermia, because your dear pureblood parents abandoned you? That is fear, Malfoy. At 5, I learned to fear because I thought I was alone. At 6, I lost my fear forever when I knew it was true. I stopped crying at age 7, when I realized that no one in the world cared. I am stronger than you will ever be," he said, getting up and advancing on the smug 16 year old. "And now, I have found some people who do care. And you will not take them away from me. I will do what I want, when I want to, and with whom I choose. You will leave Sirius alone, you will leave James alone, you will leave Severus alone, you will leave Lily alone, and you'll leave the rest of my year mates alone. Their lives are their own choice. They will be allowed to make their own alliances, and pursue their own lives. You will not interfere, or you will rue the day Remus Lupin ever came to Hogwarts. Is that crystal clear?"
The older boy swallowed, then forced a pompous smirk. "Of course."
Remus sat back down and avoided the rest of the table until breakfast was over. Snape pushed a plate of toast to Remus, who nodded and smothered a piece in orange marmalade. He caught the brief supportive smile on Severus' face, and returned it.
Sirius did not hear from his parents until that Saturday, at breakfast. Flocks of owls dropped post in front of the students, including one in the Slytherin's eggs. Sirius just stared at it. "Remmy."
Remus swept back his hair and looked. "Sirius, did you know there's an envelope in your breakfast?" he asked amused.
"It's from Mum and Dad."
Severus reached over and pulled it out. "Did you want me to read it, Sirius?"
In response, the worried first year just stared at where the letter had been.
Remus nodded. "Good suggestion, Sev. It would probably help."
Sev nodded in turn and opened the envelope, skimming the letter. He cleared his throat, then read aloud. "'My dearest Sirius, I must tell you that your father and I found your House assignment as a bit of a shock. We had always assumed that you would be a Gryffindor with your friend Jamie. Don't get us wrong, Sirius. We had just hoped that you would be in our House.' Does everyone hate us?"
Remus rolled his eyes. "Definitely not helping, Sev. Nix the commentary."
"'But it doesn't matter. You are our son, and nothing in this world will ever separate you from our love. It is unconditional, and we will always support you in every endeavour that life leads you to.' Oh my gods. This is too saccharine," Sev concluded, with a grimace on his face.
Remus ripped the letter from Snape and finished reading the letter. "It's indisputable, Sirius. They love you, regardless of House. What did I tell you?" He handed it to Sirius, who read it slowly. The werewolf looked away, unable to stand the joy on his best friend's face.
"Remus, are you okay?" Sev asked from his spot to Remus' right.
The lycanthrope had been looking at his juice, then pushed himself up from his chair and walked out of the Great Hall.
Footsteps pounded behind him as the Slytherin jogged to catch up. "Remus… where are you going?" Snape asked.
Remus' heart was pounding in his ears and he couldn't seem to get enough oxygen. He slumped against the wall, sinking to the floor in a small huddle. "I… I don't know."
"Pull yourself together," Snape said, grabbing the collar of Remus' shirt. "Do you really want Malfoy to see you like this? How you lose the ability to function because you can't stand to see other people are loved more than you?"
Remus shuddered, forcing away memories of the beatings, but did not shed a tear.
"What's the matter? Is poor Remus upset by something? Is he lonely?" Romulus asked in a babying tone from a few meters away. He was alone, and it looked as though he had slipped out of breakfast after them.
Remus pushed Snape's hands away, got to his feet and drew his wand. "Not as lonely as your parents will be when I'm done rearranging your internal organs," he hissed as Snape grabbed Remus' hand.
"Not here, not now," he hissed in Remus' right ear. "It's only the first week of school."
"What have we here?" asked a cool voice from behind them. "Allenson, 5 points from Ravenclaw for baiting another student."
"Who are you? This isn't your affair."
"I am Lucius Malfoy. 6th Year Slytherin prefect. And you have just lost another 2 points for your disrespect. Now get out of my sight before you find Ravenclaw in negative numbers," he replied, sweeping closer.
The Ravenclaw walked away.
"Please tell me that you actually know the Gastricontortionus curse?" Malfoy asked as Snape removed his hand.
"Yeah. I read about it in 1001 Disfiguring Hexes. Never practiced it, though, cause it has the unfortunate side effect of death when cast," Remus replied, replacing his wand.
"Don't worry. Most spells are a matter of force, not necessarily of practice. If you need it, I have the next in the series. Do try to stay out of trouble. Snape. Lupin."
*
So… here we have Nice!Lucius. Interesting how a little threat like that can take a 6th year down a notch. Or three. Lucius likes him, simply because he's ballsy. That's not bravery… that's being pissed off, and taking a calculated risk… and it is my personal belief that Remus would have called Lucius on it. Now, I'm not being mean to Remus, I'm just giving him a good backstory. And does he have a backbone or what? That's the wolfish nature coming out. He is overprotective and when threatened, he means business.
Katy999- Okay. Let me send you the first bit of Heron and let's see what you think. Enjoy!
Piri Lupin-Snape- Thanks. The next bit will be along when I get more reviews. But I'll admit, this entire fic is a labor of love, and it may just be the longest I have ever written. Hope you enjoyed this bit.
Just in case anyone's interested, I do have a Yahoo group. It's listed on my author page, and I hope to see you there.
Next chapter- Secrets revealed!