Author's Note: Thanks again to the readers and reviewers (SilverKnight7,
Tonks208, LiteraryLuminary, Lunaris, Eizoku, Mavelus, and anyone I forgot
to mention because I uploaded this before you reviewed or before I was
notified that you reviewed)!
You, too, Squeaky. You gave me some ideas for this chapter (like the last one) and I thank you for that (but the mistletoe idea was MINE!!). Oh yeah, you still need to let me borrow a hammer since you couldn't IM me it over AIM. My muse decided to hibernate and it isn't helping much.
Kind of Remus angst-y. He's confused about his "feelings" (which have been developing since the beginning of their fourth year) for our dear Sirius, among other things that can't and won't mentioned in this chapter. Damn hormones and damn author. *winks*
~*~*~
"James! For Merlin's sake, stop chasing Evans around with that mistletoe!" Remus hollered over Lily's threatening screams and James' laughter. Remus sank back into the armchair, closing his eyes. "That's their SIXTH time around the common room . . ."
Peter watched as James ran after Lily, waving a branch of mistletoe in front of him. "Do you think they'll ever get tired and give up?"
"Nah," Sirius chirped, sitting next to the blazing fire. "James wouldn't stop until Evans gave up and Evans wouldn't stop until James stopped chasing her."
The small blonde boy continued to watch the scene, however. "Why doesn't Evans just use her wand?" he asked.
Sirius smirked, his azure eyes gleaming mischievously. " 'Cause Remmie and I snatched it when she wasn't paying attention."
"Oh . . ."
"Ninth time," Remus announced, voice filled with boredom. He frowned, becoming rather annoyed with James' display. "Can I have permission to throw something that's REALLY hard at James? Please?!?" he begged desperately.
Sirius grinned. "What? Are you jealous that James has a girlfriend and you don't?" He asked slyly.
Remus snorted. "That's you, Seer," he retorted, blushing slightly. "I'm not interested in girls . . ." He received a strange look from both Sirius and Peter and quickly added, "At this age." They seemed to accept that, to his relief.
"This is getting old," he muttered darkly. Giving an agitated huff, he flopped down on the floor next to Sirius, winking at him, much to Sirius' confusion.
He followed James' movements with his eyes, tapping his foot impatiently. Seven paces . . .
Just after Lily passed by, Remus stuck his foot out. "Think fast, James," he said loudly, tripping him. James hit the floor with an "oof" and Remus grabbed the mistletoe from his hand as Sirius broke into laughter and Peter chuckled softly.
James pushed himself up into a sitting position, glaring daggers at him. "Remus, couldn't you tell Evans and I were having the time of our lives?! This was the beginning of our loving relationship. And you ruined it!"
Lily stalked over to them, fuming. Dragging James up to his feet, she slapped him hard across the face. "You have a lot to learn about women, Potter," she hissed. "Never, ever do that to me again."
Sirius snickered and James gave him a lethal glare. "You couldn't have done any better, Sirius, so shut it." He turned to Remus, pointing a finger at him. "And you . . . I'll get my revenge later."
"Yeah, right. I'd like to see you try," Remus challenged. He leaned back, spreading himself out on the floor and closed his eyes.
James followed his example and lay down beside him, forgetting his supposed grudge. "What should we do next?" he asked.
Peter climbed down from his perch on the sofa and joined them on the floor. "Snowball fight?" he proposed.
"Too boring," Sirius said. "Besides, we've done that a million times."
Remus twiddled his thumbs, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm bored."
"Me too," James murmured.
"Me three," Peter added.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Well . . ." he started.
Remus got up, heading to the stairs. "I'm going to read for awhile," he said over his shoulder.
James perked a little. "The book I gave you today?" he asked hopefully.
"Yup." Remus trotted up the stairs, disappearing from view.
James sat up, leaning closer to Sirius and Peter. "Should we prank him?"
Sirius smiled innocently. "What have you got in mind, James?"
The three gathered in a tight circle, talking in hushed voices.
~*~*~
Remus flipped through the book, not really bothering to read. It was simply an excuse to get away from everyone. His mind was slightly muddled and he couldn't think properly . . . Why?
The full moon was two days away but he never became this . . . out of touch with reality before previous transformations. And he couldn't help but feel a little . . . a lot . . . depressed.
And if he could think about something, it was . . . him . . .
"This is confusing . . ." he muttered to himself, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach. "What's wrong with me?" All he could conclude to was the transformations and hormones. He tossed the book onto the floor, a little too roughly, and fell back into his pillows. His eyes closed and he drifted off into oblivion.
Moments later, James pushed the door open and skipped into the dormitory. "Hey, Remmie!" he exclaimed. Remus didn't move. He frowned slightly. "Remus, we need you to come down to the common room. Sirius hexed the Christmas tree ornaments to chase Evans around and we can't find the counter spell." There wasn't an answer.
James went over to Remus' bed, giving his side a gentle poke. When he didn't respond, James turned back and left, going down the stairs. "Hey, um, guys? Forget the prank, I think something's wrong with Remus . . ."
There were no enchanted ornaments chasing Lily Evans around. That was simply a way to drag Remus into their trap. And at this moment, that prank was set on hold.
Sirius gave James a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know . . . I guess I just have a bad feeling about it or something." Peter and Sirius joined him as they walked up the stairs. They entered into the dorm, finding Remus fast asleep on his bed.
Peter wandered over to his bed, looking down at the sleeping boy. "He doesn't look like something's wrong with him," he commented. Sirius nodded in agreement.
But it didn't take much to get their attention. Remus' lips twitched and his hands trembled slightly, eyebrows furrowing. He released a shuddering breath as a tear leaked from his closed eye, trailing down his cheek. The tear was followed by another tear, which was followed by another, and another, and so on.
"R - Remus?" James asked apprehensively.
Remus slowly opened his eyes and turned over onto his side so his back was facing them.
"Remus, what's wrong?"
The young werewolf curled into a fetal position, shivering. "I - I don't know," he answered honestly.
There was a sudden tap and the four looked up. There was another tap and Peter finally pointed to the window. "An owl," he said. Sure enough, there was an owl, dusty grey, with a small envelope tied to one leg. He opened the window, letting the skittish owl dart in.
Remus glanced at the owl that had perched on the footboard of his bed, pushing himself up on an elbow while wiping at his tears. "Hello, Dusk," he said weakly to the owl. "Letter from Mum and Dad?" he asked. The owl gave a hoot and snapped the string that kept the envelope tied to her leg. It landed softly on the bed. Remus managed a small smile. "Thanks." He ignored the perplexed looks from his friends.
He expected to see the owl fly off but, instead, she stayed put. They must want a reply, he thought. He reached over and took the envelope and then settled back down in his pillows. He broke the seal and unfolded the letter, reading silently.
Dear Remus,
We've managed to get an appointment for you on the second of January. Please make arrangements to come home the morning of December 31. Write back and give us an update.
Love,
Mum.
Remus snorted softly. "It's about time," he murmured. He reluctantly climbed out of bed and over to his trunk. He removed a piece of parchment and a quill, starting to scribble out a reply to the letter until he noticed the three pairs of eyes staring at him.
"What's about time?" Sirius asked slowly.
Remus shot them a glare. "Nothing," he snapped. "Now, I'd like to write this letter without everyone watching, so would you three please leave?"
Silently, they retreated from the dorm, the looks on their face etched with worry and confusion. "Something's wrong . . ." Sirius whispered. James and Peter nodded. "This hasn't been a very happy Christmas for him."
"But what can we do?" Peter asked sadly.
James looked down. "I don't think we can do anything . . ."
You, too, Squeaky. You gave me some ideas for this chapter (like the last one) and I thank you for that (but the mistletoe idea was MINE!!). Oh yeah, you still need to let me borrow a hammer since you couldn't IM me it over AIM. My muse decided to hibernate and it isn't helping much.
Kind of Remus angst-y. He's confused about his "feelings" (which have been developing since the beginning of their fourth year) for our dear Sirius, among other things that can't and won't mentioned in this chapter. Damn hormones and damn author. *winks*
~*~*~
"James! For Merlin's sake, stop chasing Evans around with that mistletoe!" Remus hollered over Lily's threatening screams and James' laughter. Remus sank back into the armchair, closing his eyes. "That's their SIXTH time around the common room . . ."
Peter watched as James ran after Lily, waving a branch of mistletoe in front of him. "Do you think they'll ever get tired and give up?"
"Nah," Sirius chirped, sitting next to the blazing fire. "James wouldn't stop until Evans gave up and Evans wouldn't stop until James stopped chasing her."
The small blonde boy continued to watch the scene, however. "Why doesn't Evans just use her wand?" he asked.
Sirius smirked, his azure eyes gleaming mischievously. " 'Cause Remmie and I snatched it when she wasn't paying attention."
"Oh . . ."
"Ninth time," Remus announced, voice filled with boredom. He frowned, becoming rather annoyed with James' display. "Can I have permission to throw something that's REALLY hard at James? Please?!?" he begged desperately.
Sirius grinned. "What? Are you jealous that James has a girlfriend and you don't?" He asked slyly.
Remus snorted. "That's you, Seer," he retorted, blushing slightly. "I'm not interested in girls . . ." He received a strange look from both Sirius and Peter and quickly added, "At this age." They seemed to accept that, to his relief.
"This is getting old," he muttered darkly. Giving an agitated huff, he flopped down on the floor next to Sirius, winking at him, much to Sirius' confusion.
He followed James' movements with his eyes, tapping his foot impatiently. Seven paces . . .
Just after Lily passed by, Remus stuck his foot out. "Think fast, James," he said loudly, tripping him. James hit the floor with an "oof" and Remus grabbed the mistletoe from his hand as Sirius broke into laughter and Peter chuckled softly.
James pushed himself up into a sitting position, glaring daggers at him. "Remus, couldn't you tell Evans and I were having the time of our lives?! This was the beginning of our loving relationship. And you ruined it!"
Lily stalked over to them, fuming. Dragging James up to his feet, she slapped him hard across the face. "You have a lot to learn about women, Potter," she hissed. "Never, ever do that to me again."
Sirius snickered and James gave him a lethal glare. "You couldn't have done any better, Sirius, so shut it." He turned to Remus, pointing a finger at him. "And you . . . I'll get my revenge later."
"Yeah, right. I'd like to see you try," Remus challenged. He leaned back, spreading himself out on the floor and closed his eyes.
James followed his example and lay down beside him, forgetting his supposed grudge. "What should we do next?" he asked.
Peter climbed down from his perch on the sofa and joined them on the floor. "Snowball fight?" he proposed.
"Too boring," Sirius said. "Besides, we've done that a million times."
Remus twiddled his thumbs, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm bored."
"Me too," James murmured.
"Me three," Peter added.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Well . . ." he started.
Remus got up, heading to the stairs. "I'm going to read for awhile," he said over his shoulder.
James perked a little. "The book I gave you today?" he asked hopefully.
"Yup." Remus trotted up the stairs, disappearing from view.
James sat up, leaning closer to Sirius and Peter. "Should we prank him?"
Sirius smiled innocently. "What have you got in mind, James?"
The three gathered in a tight circle, talking in hushed voices.
~*~*~
Remus flipped through the book, not really bothering to read. It was simply an excuse to get away from everyone. His mind was slightly muddled and he couldn't think properly . . . Why?
The full moon was two days away but he never became this . . . out of touch with reality before previous transformations. And he couldn't help but feel a little . . . a lot . . . depressed.
And if he could think about something, it was . . . him . . .
"This is confusing . . ." he muttered to himself, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach. "What's wrong with me?" All he could conclude to was the transformations and hormones. He tossed the book onto the floor, a little too roughly, and fell back into his pillows. His eyes closed and he drifted off into oblivion.
Moments later, James pushed the door open and skipped into the dormitory. "Hey, Remmie!" he exclaimed. Remus didn't move. He frowned slightly. "Remus, we need you to come down to the common room. Sirius hexed the Christmas tree ornaments to chase Evans around and we can't find the counter spell." There wasn't an answer.
James went over to Remus' bed, giving his side a gentle poke. When he didn't respond, James turned back and left, going down the stairs. "Hey, um, guys? Forget the prank, I think something's wrong with Remus . . ."
There were no enchanted ornaments chasing Lily Evans around. That was simply a way to drag Remus into their trap. And at this moment, that prank was set on hold.
Sirius gave James a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know . . . I guess I just have a bad feeling about it or something." Peter and Sirius joined him as they walked up the stairs. They entered into the dorm, finding Remus fast asleep on his bed.
Peter wandered over to his bed, looking down at the sleeping boy. "He doesn't look like something's wrong with him," he commented. Sirius nodded in agreement.
But it didn't take much to get their attention. Remus' lips twitched and his hands trembled slightly, eyebrows furrowing. He released a shuddering breath as a tear leaked from his closed eye, trailing down his cheek. The tear was followed by another tear, which was followed by another, and another, and so on.
"R - Remus?" James asked apprehensively.
Remus slowly opened his eyes and turned over onto his side so his back was facing them.
"Remus, what's wrong?"
The young werewolf curled into a fetal position, shivering. "I - I don't know," he answered honestly.
There was a sudden tap and the four looked up. There was another tap and Peter finally pointed to the window. "An owl," he said. Sure enough, there was an owl, dusty grey, with a small envelope tied to one leg. He opened the window, letting the skittish owl dart in.
Remus glanced at the owl that had perched on the footboard of his bed, pushing himself up on an elbow while wiping at his tears. "Hello, Dusk," he said weakly to the owl. "Letter from Mum and Dad?" he asked. The owl gave a hoot and snapped the string that kept the envelope tied to her leg. It landed softly on the bed. Remus managed a small smile. "Thanks." He ignored the perplexed looks from his friends.
He expected to see the owl fly off but, instead, she stayed put. They must want a reply, he thought. He reached over and took the envelope and then settled back down in his pillows. He broke the seal and unfolded the letter, reading silently.
Dear Remus,
We've managed to get an appointment for you on the second of January. Please make arrangements to come home the morning of December 31. Write back and give us an update.
Love,
Mum.
Remus snorted softly. "It's about time," he murmured. He reluctantly climbed out of bed and over to his trunk. He removed a piece of parchment and a quill, starting to scribble out a reply to the letter until he noticed the three pairs of eyes staring at him.
"What's about time?" Sirius asked slowly.
Remus shot them a glare. "Nothing," he snapped. "Now, I'd like to write this letter without everyone watching, so would you three please leave?"
Silently, they retreated from the dorm, the looks on their face etched with worry and confusion. "Something's wrong . . ." Sirius whispered. James and Peter nodded. "This hasn't been a very happy Christmas for him."
"But what can we do?" Peter asked sadly.
James looked down. "I don't think we can do anything . . ."