Hi lovelies! I know it's been long, but uh I've got two chapters to post, so enjoy. Disclaimer: these are not my characters.
The determined hazel-eyed boy walked confidently down the corridors. Unbeknownst of where he was going, just knowing he needed to be somewhere private.
Remus, Peter, and Sirius all were trying to keep up with Potter's fast-pace. His new workout schedule had really done wonders for his speed. It was quite a sight since Potter had grown faster than Sirius now. The three boys exchanged whispers and looks with one another.
As the winding corridors continued, Sirius grew impatient and let out a groan. The boys halted to a stop, the attention focusing on Black. He looked at James, he found the familiar glint of stubbornness stuck in hazel eyes. He let out a sigh and leaned against the wall next to him.
Accidentally crashing his back into a painting with a grinning horseman, who was now frowning and scolding Sirius. Who was now sheepishly smirking and rubbing his shoulder, the other three boys laughed quietly.
Sirius faked a groan before a grinning Remus addressed Potter. "Where are you taking us?" His eyes were alight with humor and joy, a thing that was rare before he met these fools.
James looked at Remus, his determined resolve dissolving. He looked around and sighed, his narrow shoulders sagged. His eyes looked back at the lanky boy's eyes, still alight with unbidden joy.
"I'll be honest, I have no idea." A goofy grin spread across his features, his eyes scrunching under his wire brimmed glasses.
The other boys exchanged looks at that point. Lupin heaved a heavy sigh and massaged his temples, trying to contain the overwhelming amount of laughter building up in chest. He then pierced the hazel eyes once again, James sensed an oncoming lecture so he quickly spoke, "But we need to discuss a grave matter. And privately. And soon. Because I want to?"
His eyebrows were furrowed in a sign of confusion, his eyes darted up and down the corridor to find no doors that would lead to an empty classroom. He then looked around at the boys who were all busy looking around, too.
"This is why we need a map," grumbled Sirius. The boys stood in the middle of the corridor just looking around, unsure of which way to go. Not knowing where a nearby empty room would be.
But then a brilliant idea came to Sirius's mind, he met the eyes of Remus. Remus looked at him for a moment before widening his own eyes in understanding.
"Actually follow Lupin and I. We know a place." Black said before turning abruptly and pacing down the hall. Remus and Peter struggled to keep up, but Potter—of course—was doing fine.
They made twists and turns before arriving on the seventh floor. Remus walking in front of a familiar picture we've already visited. Three paces later and the bricks in the wall shifted. Creating a wooden door for the boys. James and Pettigrew stared in awe at the magical room.
The other two boys were grinning a bit, remembering the last time they were in this room. Remus did not know that this would be the new designated room for discussing his little problem.
The boys finally shuffled into a room that was identical to the Gryffindor common room, hues of red and gold everywhere. A mood-setting fire placing an enchantment of reds and oranges on everything in the room.
Peter took a seat identical to the red sofa in the common room. Black did the same but in a more boisterous manner, almost breaking Peter's nose in the jump he made. Pettigrew in response slapped his shoulder, Black threw on a sheepish grin as Remus settled down on the armchair no one sat in.
James was back to being determined, a new found confidence shining through him. He looked at Remus, hating that he had to call him out. But best friends don't act like they are ok when they aren't. Best friends are there to be your shoulder to cry on, to be the ones that call you out, and to make you feel loved when no one else will.
"Remus, you are our best friend. And we love you dearly, but please be honest with me. You've been disappearing once a month and using the excuse of your mother being gravely ill. But the days you are gone just perfectly match up with the days of a…" Potter heaved a heavy sigh, the other boys on the edge of their seats.
"full moon."
Potter bored into the head of unsuspecting Remus, almost watching the realization and the gears turning. Sirius watched Peter's reaction of slightly widened eyes, he didn't show any fear of Remus. A true friend.
"I don't want you to confirm if you can't or are too uncomfortable. But I just want to let you know that we are your best friends. We love you dearly and nothing will change that." Potter squatted in front of Remus, whose eyes were growing watery. His hands were fiddling crazily, a panic attack streaming through his brain.
Remus returned his eyesight to the loving eyes of hazel in front of him. He then quickly looked at Peter who stared back with a similar look of love. At this moment, he knew.
He knew that this was his family. That these people truly loved him for who he was. They weren't scared of him, they welcomed him. Just like Sirius did, he wondered how they could be so perfect. How did they love so easily? How were they so brave? How was he so lucky to have them?
He let the sobs take over him, finally releasing the stress of his situation. James soothed him with sweet talk and rubbing his back. Sirius and Peter came over and sat on opposite arms of the couch. Each placing a hand on his back and comforting him.
The square of friendship and love coursed through the Room of Requirement. The setting of the fireplace and warm colors gave them pride in who they were.
But to say that there were no repercussions would be a lie. The boys had to sign an agreement never to speak about his condition, or they would all be expelled. But the boys never dared to cross that line. Aware of the situation.
And with new information that other people knew at Hogwarts, they built the shrieking shack. Then came the Whomping Willow. A tunnel to connect both, keeping Remus on school grounds during his terrible time of the month.
Pomfrey and McGonagall took care of him. Taking him to and from the house. Ensuring the boy was safe and healthy. To show that he was loved.
However the three boys saw to Remus's health, both physical and mental. Reporting to the others anything he may have said that was harmful to himself. Especially after Remus called himself a monster every time the monster urges began.
Eventually their ways affected Remus, he began to see himself in a new light. Their light. One that shone with a thousand little stars of love, and was seen even through the day. Their little words encourage him to have confidence in who he is.
That left only one other who knew the furry little secret. They grew suspicious after their friend had set them up with a theory, the clues lead straight to the answer.
It was a brisk February day, just a few days before leap day, and a chill sat unsettled on Remus's shoulders. He felt paranoid for an odd reason, he had never before, but now it felt as if someone was watching him walk across the training grounds.
He shook his head from the thought and proceeded to James, who was zipping through the air. It was Potter's new stress-relief habit, at this point James was creating a different stress-relief habit every week. None of the stress was going away.
As he watched James, he noticed a blur of red and black hair. He squinted a bit to find Lily and Snape, Lily was talking animatedly about something while Snape was staring in Remus's direction. A thrill went through his spine, the aching worry pressing deeply into his mind.
A little later that same day, after Potter was left in the common room to groan, he joined Peter in the library. Evans was focused on her Transfigurations textbook when he entered. Her eyes peeled up and tentatively watched him sit down.
Her eyes darted back down to the book. Thoughts were racing throughout her mind. The previous conversation she had with Snape replaying in her mind.
It was dusk and they just reached the dungeons when he turned to Lily unexpectedly. His black soulful eyes were narrowed into slits, his hair glistened with grease, and his nose was hooked.
He yanked Evans closer, she couldn't help but cringe at the smell of his unwashed hair. Although she knew it wasn't his fault, his mother couldn't afford simple necessities like shampoo.
"I think Remus Lupin is a werewolf." Snape whispered into her ear, his face scrunching in disgust at the word. Lily's eyes widened in shock, her heart beat fastening and drumming through her mind.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, calming her brain and rapid heartbeat. Her voice weakly trembled back, "What makes you think that?"
Lily purposely glared at Snape, she lectured him about gossip. But he always used real gossip, never fake stories. So she knew that at this moment he was at least somewhat true.
"Well, his monthly disappearances line up with the full moon. Plus, he has many scars and is too private and reserved. He has to be." He gripped her arms and she flinched, his grip was controlling almost. She brushed it aside, he just was scared.
"Sev, he's visiting his sick mother once a month. Who cares if it happens to be on a full moon night? You sound a bit paranoid to me." Lily playfully shook his grip off of her, a flitting smile appearing for a split second.
"Lily, you have to believe me. He's a monster. He's not like us wizards. He's- he can kill people." Severus was begging Lily to listen, but she wouldn't tolerate this. After all she may not like Remus's friends but that doesn't make him the bad guy.
"Sev, that's enough. He's just like me, a little quiet and reserved. He's absolutely harmless, just because someone's different doesn't make them a monster." Severus looked at the emerald eyes that stared back at him with concern, whether it was for him or for Remus he didn't know. But he would follow Lily Evans to the ends of the Earth and back.
"But Lily, he's not safe. He's untrustworthy, Lily." His voice was wavering a bit, the sound of Lily on his tongue sounding like a plea. A plea for her to turn her back on her friend just because of a minor difference, it reminded her of the blood purists threatening her life.
Evans put a smile on and dragged Severus back to his common rooms. Giving him a small smile before brushing away. She may love him like a- a brother, for lack of better words, but that didn't mean she would put up with his paranoia and rumors.
Her mind was frustrated with the conversation, she thought she could have protected Remus more or been kinder to Sev. Although I believe she was plenty kind to him, especially with his prejudice against such a kind-hearted soul.
As to get away from the pondering and intrusive thoughts she went to her hiding place. The mystery section in the Hogwarts' Library, where thousands of books welcomed her with curious ideas and thoughts that would consume her stress and turn it into relaxation.
But the unwanted thoughts came bustling back in when she met the yellowish eyes of Remus. The thoughts accumulated into one word: werewolf.
It seemed insensitive to ask outright, to embarrass him and upset him. She wanted to ignore the idea, to write it off as some rumor or gossip Sev heard. But she knew that Severus never believed in gossip without foolproof evidence. She closed her eyes and once again focused on her mystery book.
But not even the intense suspense and deep plot line could distract her from every twitch that came from Remus's direction. She came to the fact that she had to ask him, or it wouldn't just be the death of her but the death of their friendship.
So when Dorcas and Mary began to pack up, she pulled Remus to the side and asked him to accompany her to put her book back. It was a bit of a scheme that might not end well, but she had no choice.
Once she was in the abandoned corner and had placed the oddly dissatisfying book back, she turned on him. Her green eyes meeting yellow, she needed him to know he was ok before springing on him.
"Remus, I have a question. It is a little abrupt and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, so don't answer if you don't want to. But–" she looked at his concerned eyes, they were eagerly awaiting her question, unknowing. She sighed, before continuing, "But I was wondering if you happen to be a werewolf."
His heart pummeled like an atomic bomb, his soul shattering. He couldn't meet her eyes, his bravery gone. She was a muggleborn, she didn't know anything about werewolves except from the insensitive stories told from a fantasy.
Would she still welcome him? Would she still be his friend? Would she still joke around and trust him? All hope of her friendship was dimming, his newfound secret friendship vanishing right there down in a torrent of red hair.
"Remus, I don't care if you are. You're still just the same nerdy guy as before. Just with an- well a difference. Like me. But you're still the same guy to me and nothing will change." She spoke quietly, grazing his scarred hand cautiously. He flinched before remeeting loving green eyes. Ones that reminded him of James a few months prior, and before he knew it. He admitted it.
A small smile lit up on her face. She twisted herself to where her arm linked itself into his arm, and they walked back. She talked idly to him, not mentioning the previous conversation. But as they just barely reached the table, she stopped and peered back up at the gangly boy.
"Isn't it such irony that your father created the Werewolf Restriction Act, and here you are? It may be a bit insensitive to you but I find the irony humorous." He returned her notion with a small smile, identifying the humorous idea. The true story however haunted him day and night, Greyback Fenrir appearing in his nightmares with his grim grin.
She smiled pleasantly as she rejoined her friends. Remus watched them as they left, unaware of black scoping eyes watching his moves as he left the library content.
He hummed his way back, listening to the idle chatter of Peter. His mind's attention not on Peter but on his luck. The luck that granted him such devoted friends. It gave him James, a dire friend who just knows, Sirius, the man with a hidden heart, Peter, a lighthearted fool, and Lily, a girl that understood him.
His face twisted into a wide smile before rustling the stout boy's hair. Peter slapped his hands, before jokingly laughing at him. They entered the common room to find James tackling Sirius on the couch, a certain paper in his hands.
Remus sighed before walking over to the rambunctious boys. His love and adoration grew deeper as he watched them. He sat there before seeing a blur of red and Lily standing next to his chair.
The eyes of the marauders watched tentatively as she gave Remus a bar of chocolate, remembering when they discussed their favorite candies. Her eyes drifted to the other boys giving polite smiles to each, then landing on James her face deepened into a scowl before turning back and heading back up the girls' dormitory stairs.
Once she was gone, Sirius and Peter broke out in laughter at the look James had. A mix of adoration and anger, something which became his signature face when it came to her.
As the night progressed the boys joked and played. Lupin ate his chocolate in peace and reminisced on his friendships. His smile, pure and loving, enjoying his new home and his true family. Knowing they'll be there for him and he'll be there for them.