~ The Cry of the Lone Wolf ~

-Chapter 5-

Remorse

"Mudblood? ...Muggleborn"

Remus, as well as any other well-brought up wizard knew that this was an extreme insult if you were muggle-born, apparently, Jonathan Lam wasn't naive either and an anguish glare filled his eyes.

"I suppose he can take care of himself, besides he'd better get used to the Slytherin taunts, I mean, he shouldn't need me to save him- or anyone else for such a matter!"

Remus had decided quickly, that maybe he was a bit too young to help Jonathan at this moment, he had his own problems to worry about and he wasn't planning some act of heroism so soon in this school, also he was feeling hungry and needed some lunch.

"And, Jonathan is a big boy, if he can't learn to be independent now, then what better time to learn? Moreover, I have my own problems, I shouldn't interfere with others!"

With this set he slipped off the other way, somewhere in his conscience a little guilt set in, and the more reason for him to walk even that more faster, towards the great hall for lunch.

"I'm sorry..."

***

Remus arrived ashen-faced and slightly jittery, looking about the hall suspiciously as if someone would jump out at him and accuse him for not helping Lam. He quickly recomposed himself, sauntering over to the Gryffindor table, sliding into a seat near Peter whom was chomping on his food. Remus winced, he hated people who made a noise whilst eating, and there was more vivid jaw-movements from Sirius and James, whom were slurping milk or water, or some form of liquid- purposefully, Remus thought. He flinched at their actions of anti-social behaviour, glancing down at his own plate he almost lost his appetite- but it came back again, as wolves often got hungry.

He loaded his plate, mounting the rice with chicken and the curry dripping into the grains, adding flavour to his meal. He piled some lettuce and neatly chopped tomatoes alongside cucumber, also diced carrots- he pulled a face at the broccoli which Peter ate raw.

"Food..."

Remus had a supposed glazed look about him, his jaw hanging open whilst his mouth-watered with the inhalation of the sweet, succulent smell of the rice and chicken curry coming to him.

"Asian food is bliss..."

"Have you never seen rice before?" James asked, arching his eyebrows at the drooling Remus, who's spoon was arrest in midair.

Remus mentally slapped himself once more, "yeah- I mean I have...just smells so good!" he added, sweeping some into his mouth, he gulped audibly, lunch was much better than breakfast.

"Stop gulpin'! It's so rude!" Peter prodded him, his pudgy face frowning in a displeased manner.

Remus scowled, he'd never said anything when Peter was chomping his food like a cow.

"Don't like rice?" Sirius asked, mowing his way through cake and had probably had all the sweet dishes.

Remus shook his head, stopping only to shoot Peter a dissatisfied glance, but nevertheless enjoying the plate. After, he finished, he cast a half-hearted glance towards the Slytherin table, the two blondes were there- the male muttering something and making the girl laugh. Kate and Lucy were there too, grinning like Cheshire cats and nibbling on cheese?

He swiveled his head to get a better direction of the Hufflepuff table, there was a raven-haired boy whom resembled Lam in many ways however he was slightly skinnier and without the glasses- Remus' eyes scanned the table in a bit more detail, he gasped inwardly, then cast a surly glance at the two Slytherins- where was Lam?

"Well, he's probably at the toilet- what if to clean...bloo- don't be stupid, little first-year girls can't hex, curse or hurt a boy- he's just gone to answer natures call! Yeah, that's it!"

Even so, Remus bit his lip, his sapphire gaze landing in his lap, with his fiddling hands, he looked so miserable and down-caste that even Sirius and James stopped chortling.

"You okay?" Sirius asked, his voice muffled as his jaws were slightly locked from the sticky toffee.

Remus could now taste bile in his mouth, even the waft of rice couldn't put off the acid forming in his stomach, he nodded stiffly, his pale cheeks tinting a visible crimson, he hastily pushed his plate away and decided a walk outside would do him some good, if not entirely wipe his guilty conscience.

"It's not your fault- snap out of it, what better time to learn defence? Don't worry too much!"

He stuffed his fists into the pockets of his robes, letting the September breeze envelope him and resulting his cloak to fly on the wings of the wind.

***

Remus took out his potions ingredients and placed them silently upon the beaten surface of the desk, took one step back from the desk where the small pewter cauldron was, empty for the moment and awaited the teachers' instructions.

A young and wild looking warlock entered the classroom, his electric blue robes and his piercing blue eyes took them all astray, alarming though his appearance was, he seemed slightly twitchy and whisked his platinum blonde tresses from his eyes, gazing upon each student intently- his gaze rested so obviously on Remus that he felt ready to shout.

"Yeah, go on tell everyone you get the FREAK this year!" Remus inwardly growled, fidgeting restlessly.

After an age it appeared that the teachers' gaze moved upon some of the other students, with no interest whatsoever compared to the vain electrifying glance he'd thrown at Remus.

"You will need to work in pairs- NOT NOW!" his low voice thundered, as the students had began shuffling and hurriedly whispering and pointing at the pairs they would choose, "for your impudence I decide who you will work with!"

The class immediately became silent and allowed him to take charge with mutual unspoken dislike. Remus personally hated him for his unfair attitude which had multiplied considerably by the way he had spoken, his thin, course lips barely lifted to utter his low growl of a voice.

With another rustle of his cloak, the warlock approached Remus and dragging behind him was a glowering Sirius, a scowl plastered upon his fairly innocent features, his ebony tresses flying into his glowering eyes which seemed on fire within.

"Oh no! Not Black!"

Remus gulped inwardly, but the dark haired boy's face features lightened up when he saw Remus, and punched the air.

"I though he hated me?"

"Oh god!" Sirius grinned, whispering to Remus, "I'm so glad I'm with you, and not some stingy Slytherin!"

"Oh, ehm, me too!" Remus answered, plastering a small smile upon his pale face.

Sirius gave him a reviewing look, as if asking him questions, "are you okay?" he asked finally, his eyebrows knotted in concern.

"No, I'm fine...just fine," Remus grinned, another fake mask coming upon his face, it seemed to have worked before, "besides- I'm glad to have you as a friend..."

***

"Oh man, I just can't believe he paired me up with that greasy moron!" James fumed, rambling on about how Professor Byson- the warlock, had paired up James with Severus Snape, a dislikable Slytherin whom Sirius was totally sure a vampire.
"What are you doing, Sirius?" James asked, quite irate with Sirius who seemed to be checking James' neck.

"Just being careful, incase he left a love bite!" Sirius snickered at his own joke.

"You know Sirius, you say very bad jokes!" James told him, taking Sirius' hands off his own scrawny neck.

"Well you play bad jokes!" Sirius retorted, grinning at Remus whom couldn't help but smile along.

"Well Sirius, you are a bad joke!" James bickered, grinning as Sirius was pausing for a reply, "hah, I won!"

Remus and Peter just exchanged long-suffering glances at one another, having a feeling that they would have to get used to that.

***

Arriving at the warm Gryffindor common room, his guilt resurfaced at a hundred degrees, and there was no way that Remus could dampen it or disown it- he couldn't even live with it!
Without another word, he fumed out of the Gryffindor common room, feeling extremely angry at everyone, but mostly himself.
He was so busy cursing under his breath, he hadn't noticed that a Hufflepuff first year was heading his way- apparently the other boy hadn't seen him either which resulted in a collision between the two first years.

"Blind fools!" Remus hissed, he rubbed his head, causing his side parting to fall into his eyes again- just when he'd managed it once more! He bit the inside of his cheek so hard, it almost made him bleed.

"Remember, I am stone...no emotion...no weakness.."

The thought for once didn't help as stones were hard, and the surface his head had hit was hard, where a dull pain was winding it's way.

"Sorry," Remus murmured, even in a situation like this, Remus still managed to regain his graceful composure.

"You better be!" a bitter voice answered, it was strange for a Hufflepuff's answer, but Remus shrugged.

His gaze landed upon a scrawny boy whom resembled Jonathan, but with almond shaped amber eyes and a strange grin, with sharp cheekbones.

"Yah-yah-yah," the boy laughed, "I'm Zhimeng Li!"

Remus just stared at Li and managed a weak grin, "I'm Remus Lupin." He didn't bother to tell Li about calling him Remus, because frankly the guy was enough of a jerk and Remus didn't want to be on first-name terms with him.

"Have you seen that moron?" Li asked, his pale face in a scowl his eyes narrowed.

"I've seen many." Was the answer that Remus was about to give then shook his head, "if you mean Jonathan, then it's not until after defence class."

"Idiot," Li growled, and glanced up, his eyes widened to their extent and he looked up, his jaw dropping, then he shouted up at Lam and croaked out something in Chinese Cantonese.
Lam shook his head, which was a miracle as he was hung on his robes by the collar, on one of those plaques which are meant for animal heads- he then stared at Remus and replied something back in Cantonese.
Remus was frustrated, couldn't they speak in something they could all understand?

He felt angry, Lam had spoiled his whole day, causing him to probably alienate his friends and probably snap at himself for just being hung? He grunted something and then smiled at the two boys whom seemed related.

As if reading his thoughts, Li explained to Remus that Lam was his cousin, satisfied, Remus stalked off towards the common room- feeling much happier than this morning.

***

A grey face towel was currently being mangled by an extremely distraught Remus Lupin, he wringed it right, then to the left- with a final tug it broke. Furious, Remus threw it across the room. His fury subsided and then emerged fear, he glanced a look at the night sky, the stars twinkling, as if mocking his relationship with the moon.
His heart skipped a beat.

The moon was going to be full tonight.

***

Authors Note: Ahh, sorry for the long wait- I'm an extremely *cough* busy *cough* person (more like lazy) but I wanted to make the chapter right, there was going to be a lot more in this chapter- unfortunately you'll have to wait for the next chapter for that to happen. Hopefully, you enjoyed this chapter. It seems a bit boring with not much plot, believe me- more is to come!
Now onto thank my beautiful reviewers!

Kittygirl220 ~ Well, hopefully you did finish the fourth chapter as the third chapter emerges!

Cay ~ Hehe, sorry about the cliffhanger- I didn't think it was that much of one, but hopefully you liked this chapter too! ^_^

Mia W ~ Thanks a lot for your review! I'm glad you remember Romulus, he was sorted into Ravenclaw and yes they will meet again!

ArchArtist/Writer ~ Hehe, I tried to make him seem more real. I like his bitterness, more the reason to cuddle him when he finally does break, if he breaks! Hehe! Keep reviewing!

Karine Black ~ Thank you for such a nice review, and don't be ashamed- everyone has a balance of good and bad inside them!

Rena Lupin ~ Hehe, if you notice carefully- Sirius isn't such a prick, he's just as bad as James but Remus fails to notice that! Well, hope you like this chapter!

Silver Fawkes ~ I thought my old story didn't match up to my own standard and the plot slipped from my fingers, so I had to write this one. I'm glad you do like it though!

Padfoot4ever ~ Thanks for such a nice and encouraging review!

Centauri Nebula ~ You hit the nail on the head! Yep, he hates him, hehe, keep reviewing!

Kundan ~ Hiya! I'm glad you like it- Hina emailed you yet?

Crystal Mage ~ Hey thanks, most of the ideas are elaborated, and the lunar chart doesn't change since the full moon comes a month- so it should change every month. Thanks for the compliments, your review again inspired me to hurry up with this story!

ShieldMaiden3 ~ Thanks for the review, and yeah I pride in my sarcastic Remus. And Peter, yeah, he had to be good some time- an innocent and naive child! I hope you continue to enjoy my story!

Daxius X ~ Thanks, hopefully you're working on your own fanfic as well- good luck on yours! And yes, many others are still to come, these are just an introduction for Remus to Hogwarts.