I've learned something today. Remus is a true genius in Astrology. I guess all the nights he had studied the moon had paid off for him. I never knew he was so good in Astrology before. He taught me how to recognize three different galaxies at once without a sweat during lunch.
James Potter:
I've learned something today, something important that all men kind should learn for themselves. I hate all the hates and deaths cause by men. Sirius and I were walking the ground, and somehow, we ended up in Hagrid's hut. Hagrid had shown us a wolf pup. The pup was so small and badly injured by someone, Hagrid had to put him down.
We buried him in the forest.
When Sirius and I came back to our room, the curtain drawn around Remus's bed. And Peter said he's been in there since dinner.
I didn't tell Remus, but I think he knew. He can smell the death on us. Somehow.
Sirius Black:
I've learned something today. There are two types of werewolves: one of human and the other of real wolf.
Long, long time ago, before the age of sorcerers and witches, during the Lost Ages, there were magical wolves. As the time passed, most wolves lost their powers, except the lunar lupines. They mostly lost their power to transform themselves into different animals or even into humans, but kept the power to transform the others into wolves with the help of the moon.
When these remarkable creatures and humans contacted each other, it was the year de horribles. The title "werewolves" were given to the lunar lupines and the humans who contacted them, and they were killed upon sight, even though they were harmless.
The wolf werewolves retreated out of the sight, and the human werewolves were lost and alone without their guides. Scared and confused with rage, the human werewolves turned against their own specie, the humans, during the full moon to revenge the ones that were killed.
The wolf werewolves are not vicious killing monsters, only the human nature combined with the lunar magic brought out the worst in them. Eventually, the ties between the wolf werewolves and human werewolves weaken.
But never broken.
On the night of the full moon, the wolves and the humans would run together side by side as they did thousands of years ago as one pack. They said that without the pack, the lone wolf would never survive.
Just like that little pup we buried today. Hagrid said the pup must been left behind. All alone.
Remus was all alone during his transformation. And that got me thinking. Me? Thinking? But all the time I spent spying on Remus in the library years before had its worth. I knew what I could do for him.
Remus Lupin:
I saw flashes of images I do not understand, and this strange voice kept calling or telling me something. Whispering against my ears day and night, in class and in my bed. It hisses in my head, and sometimes I jerk awake from wherever I was to find myself leaning against a wall, not knowing what had happened for last two and a half hours.
I found myself lingering near the Hospital Wing, until Madame Pomfrey came out and drag me inside with the look of hers.
"What's the matter, Mr. Lupin? Aren't you feeling well?"
"No. I mean, yes."
"I somehow doubt that you were hanging out in this wing, if you were feeling well. I heard your pacing for last forty minutes." She reached out and set him down on a chair.
"Now, do you want to tell me what's bothering you?" Looking down at him, she mocked stern teacher. "Or do I have to pry it out of you? Come on, love, tell me."
"It's-it's nothing important really, Madame Pomfrey. I've-I've been losing track of time sometimes." I looked up at her timidly, not sure what her reaction would be.
"Go on," she didn't show any of her emotion, and I went on.
"Sometimes I hear whispers. I can't make out what-what it's saying. It's like I am daydreaming, but not by my own will somehow. Like I-I am…I am not sure, not really. Do you think there's anything matter with me?"
My eyes starred at her kind brown eyes for any answer. She seemed to think, hard, then she said, "Have you been getting enough sleep?"
"I think so. The usual anyway."
"How much?"
"How much do I sleep? Uhh…" I started to count with my hand, "Five hours." I looked up at her face, and asked, "Is that not normal amount? Maybe I sleep six then. I do have a tendency to fall asleep after dinner in the library sometimes."
"I think, Remus, that you are not getting enough sleep. That's why your body is falling asleep to get that eight hours sleep a day. Why don't you try sleeping in early? I think that would fix your problem."
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey. I'll try that." I've got up from the chair and started to walk out, until I remembered why I wasn't getting enough sleep in first place.
"Madam Pomfrey? There's one problem with that." I cleared my throat lightly.
"You are nocturnal."
I nodded. It was very hard for me to fall asleep at night, when my brain was going overdrive. I guessed the wolf in me longs the night. I am not a morning person, and it takes every discipline for me to get up in the morning and go on the day. There were countless times; I sat up in my bed, listening to the silence of my dorm. Sometimes I look out the window to pass the time, the other times, I simply read books.
"I guess, I could give a book that might help you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What is going on here?"
I didn't look up, and neither did Sirius, nor Peter.
"I said, what is going on here?" James stood in the doorway looking over his eyeglasses at us. His dirty face telling his Quidditch practice went well.
"We're reading, four eyes. Now shut up and sit down and read something, or go away. We are busy," Sirius said to his best friend, not even looking up from his book. I had to smile at the disdainful look on James's face and Peter's snickering.
"I can see you are reading," James gestured toward Peter and me, but he pointed his broomstick at Sirius, "but what are you doing?"
"What does it bloody look like?" Sirius said coolly as he turned a page on his book.
"A book," said the seeker.
"What does one do with a book?" asked Sirius.
"Read."
Sirius's dark blue eye met the seeker's. "Again I ask, what are you doing with a book? Are you suddenly more interested in a book than our important Quidditch practice? You missed it! I can't remember you ever missing a practice."
"Sod it, James. It's a voluntary one. It's not even official."
I had to look hard at my book to keep me still, I could imagine what Peter was doing to do the same.
"Wha-" It seemed our seeker has lost a word.
"Besides I am working on something. Can't you see I am busy. Go bugger someone else," with that our beater turned his head down to his book.
I watched as the stunned seeker going up to our dorm room.
"Oy, James. Don't forget to have a wash. You stink," Sirius shouted after him.
Peter and I looked at each other then looked at Sirius, and we both nodded.
"Hey, Sirius?" Peter asked.
"What do you need, Peter?"
"What are you reading?" I asked.
He didn't answer me, and Peter and I exchanged the look. He was being unusually not Sirius.
I looked over at his left shoulder as Peter did on the right shoulder. But before I could make out a single word, Sirius closed the book with a bang.
"Can't I read it without a distraction?" He stood up frustrated. "I am heading to the library, see you mates later," with that he left.
Peter looked at me and I at him. We sat back down at our own chair, and did not discuss it any further.
Madam Pomfrey's book on The Nocturnes was not really familiar to my situation. The chapter on nocturnal flowers was interesting. They gather their energy from the moonbeams, for their petals are too delicate for the sunbeams. Their pictures were so beautiful. Their white petals looked almost translucent blue and yet white with the moonbeam streaming down on them.
Yes, the picture had the full moon as a backdrop. I couldn't force myself to look, even the picture of the moon. I had to close the book.
"You alright?" Lily asked me suddenly from the behind.
I turned slightly toward her. "I didn't know you were still there." By then, the common room was silent and darker, the fire had gone out. Peter had gone to bed few hours earlier.
"I've came down to get my slipper," she pointed at a single slipper that was lying on the ground next to the big comfy scarlet chair. She slid onto the seat next to me and looked at the book on my lap.
"It's a bit late for reading, isn't it?" She stated.
"Hmm? Yes, I suppose I should go to bed now," but neither of us moved.
"What were you dreaming about?" Lily asked interested, as she starred at the dying fire.
"What do you mean?" I asked, puzzled.
"Just before. Don't you remember?"
"Was I sleeping?"
"Yes," she starred at my face, concerned, "are you alright?"
"I was reading. And there you were, behind me," I yawned.
"You were talking in your sleep...I guess you best be going onto bed then. Good night, Remus," and she did something, she never done before, she kissed my cheek good night.
"Good night," I said after her, feeling a bit confused. As I was gathering my books, quills and more, the portrait opened and Sirius climbed in through the hole. "Hello, Sirius. You were still out and about then?"
"Bloody Mary!" he jumped back, "Remus, mate, don't scare me like that."
"Sorry." I yawned again, and looked back at Sirius sheepishly. The room was dark, but I was sure he could see me.
"What are you doing here? It must be like…" he squinted at the grandfather clock on the wall, "bloody hell, it's nearly 2. We better go to sleep, or we will certainly miss McGonagall's class." He grab my arm, and practically drag me up to our room.
In our rush back to our bed, I forgot to ask him why on earth he was out so late, and again, what book he was reading, that made him leave. And why he won't want to tell us. I drifted off to sleep thinking of Sirius and tomorrow.
Severus Snape:
Oil and water can be mixed together if you add a little soap. It was, ironically, Sirius Black, who pointed this out to me today in Potions.
"Snape, don't you know that a little bit of soap would mix the water and your grease together? For god sake, wash it! You are stinking up the place!"
Laughter here, there from Gryffindors. I glanced at Remus next to me. He didn't seem to notice what was going on around him, as his eyes were unfocused, which was happening frequently to annoyance of me.
"Shut up, you sod. If you are so concerned about grease, you should start washing your hand for a change." I spitted out at him.
The Slytherins snickered at Black, and I was satisfied with my exchange. To my surprise, the sod didn't try to throw any more nasty remarks at me. I was bit disappointed at that. As much as I hate him, I do enjoy the challenge of coming up with more harsh response to throw at him.
I glanced at Remus again, and I saw that he was actually asleep. Only his eyes were half open in an uncanny way. I elbowed him sharply, as Professor Loden came in with his usual batch of potion instructions, and he startled himself to wake.
"Had a nice nap?" I said harsher than I initially intended.
"What?" he sounded confused.
"Don't pretend you didn't. You better pay attention, Lupin, I am not going to stand for it, if you don't pull your weight."
"Sorry, Snape. I am sure I will get the potion right this time," I looked at him, and my disbelief must have shown, or it could have been my scowling. He added helplessly, "or I will try to get it almost right, anyway…"
"Ughh, Lupin. Just watch me." I turned, "and follow."
My sharp tongue had worked; he nodded and followed my potion instruction, or at least tried to as he had said. He stirred the final potion the wrong way and way, way too fast. The potion boiled over and burned a hole in my robe, again for the third time this week.
"Mr. Lupin. Mr. Snape. Best be careful next time. I would not want any of you with botched skin. Do be careful, please. Mr. Bale, what on earth, please put that down before you make more mass on Mr. Malfoy's desk.
"Miss Thompson, great potion success. I could see a future potion mistress here. Now, Mr. Black, please do not sleep in my class."
Our potion master Loden tried to pretend he was severe like Professor McGonagall, but everyone knew that he was a really softhearted man. He is the head of Ravenclaws, and in my opinion, too easy on everyone's potions. He never failed anyone ever. I mean, even Lupin, that hopeless boy, received decent grade in his class. He should challenge the students to strive for their limits. It would have been too easy, if I had not partnered with Lupin.
It was the beginning of our 4th year. "Lupinnnn," I hissed under my breath, and elbowed him again before he fell flat on his face. He blinked again, looking a bit wild, and then looked at me. "You were doing it again," I said as I finished our potion with success this time. I muttered to myself that please let our 4th year go by without any failing potions.
"Sorry, Snape. I didn't notice..."
"Of course, you didn't. Again. How you pass last year's exam is beyond me."
I enjoyed scorning and teaching him at the same time, in return he showed an improvement, as abysmal improvement as it were, by the middle of 4th year, he did not burn any holes in my robes. Ever since our 2nd year, our relationship had changed so that we never spoke to each other unless it was in class, or taunting at each other during hallway or Great Hall. The rivalry between the Slytherins and the Gryffindors was all time highest, as if we were living during the time of the four founders of Hogwarts.
We hated them with passion, and they, too, equally hated us with same disgust. The pranks were becoming more dangerous and were testing the boundary of dark art. We had to answer their extravagance prank with our own, but all in all, Lupin and I had always been tolerant of each other's presence. I remembered Lupin being different in our first year, and he still was, even with other Gryffindors hanging around him, in a way I couldn't really explain.
Whenever he was around me, I felt something...well...not normal. I didn't feel like I wanted to hex him, like I would feel if Black or Potter was near me. And I didn't feel like I wanted to squash him, as I felt when Pettigrew was around. Didn't feel I want to call names, as I felt toward other Gryffindors either. Maybe it was his mild manner or silence, I didn't know. It was all very confusing.
James Potter:
Sirius showed me what he had been reading and planning so far, and I merely thought he had been thinking of new way to revenge those Slytherins for the lost match, but surprisingly he wasn't.
"Animagi," he said, "could be there. With him when he transform. No, James, we won't be in any danger, because the werewolf won't harm any animals. Yes, I read about it."
"Is it proven?"
"Well...no, but I think we can try...don't you think?"
I looked at Sirius as if I hadn't seen him before. He seemed nervous yet excited. Not a good mix, and not a familiar one for someone like Sirius Black.
"Remember the pup, James?"
I nodded, "Of course, how can I forget? What is this...about the pack?" I asked as my glasses fell down to my nose, my eyes widening.
"Yes, yes it is. I think," he started to pace, "we could be his pack. His mates. The wolf's mates. Then Remus won't hurt himself anymore. I mean, then he will be able to concentrate on his work instead of lying on the infirmary bed all the time. We owe him, you know?"
I did know. After we all became good friends in our 2nd year, we all did felt bad about how we had treated Remus. He had been the nicest boy to us, although shy, but he had never told on us about your pranks to professors, even it had included him. We had alienated him, and we've never said we were sorry about it to this day.
This way we could maybe pay him back for all the nasty things we said about him. Of course, we would have to do it in secret, because Remus won't be very happy to find that we were doing something illegal, even horrified if he knew we were doing it for him.
Yes, yes, I understood that this has to be a secret. It would be great surprise, if we succeed in our transformation. I briefly thought of Lily and what she would say to this. Probably same thing Remus would say. Lily was his best friend after all. I felt little envious of Remus, because of that very reason. Sure, I had Sirius. And yes, Lily was my friend too, but she never looks at me like she looks at Remus, with the twinkle of merriment in her eyes.
No, this will be for the Marauders only.
Lord Voldemort:
Let there be death eaters. For the good will come out of the unpleasantness, I shall have to endure them. The connection to the rich and the powerful will have its use as well. Dumbledore and his Order of Phoenix were trying, but they will never succeed. Those fools didn't know the power of Dark Arts. They should throw themselves at my feet for mercy, a mercy they didn't show me.
My power strengthens every day, and my revenge shall be carried out. When I have the control over all the wizarding world, the muggle world would come to know of my presence as well.
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end of chapter 5