Chapter Two
Remus sat down in the same compartment he had been in last year. It was currently deserted. Where were James, Sirius, and Peter? He began to feel nervous. Was he in the right compartment? Had they decided they no longer wanted to be friends with him? Or maybe...
His thoughts were broken apart as he heard the familiar laughter of Sirius an James approaching.
"Oh, you should have seen that." Sirius was laughing hysterically as he entered, with a slightly crestfallen James next to him.
"What happened?" Remus asked, getting up to stand next to his friends.
"Well..." Sirius put his arm around Remus and pulled him close, whispering in his ear.
"James just asked Lily Evans out and she flat out refused him."
Sirius released Remus, and began to howl with laughter once more, but the feeling of Sirius so close to Remus was leaving the werewolf feeling slightly dazed.
"Oh shut up you git." James sighed sitting down.
A few moments later Peter rushed in, looking slightly out of breath.
"Where have you been Peter?" Sirius asked, welcoming him in.
"Oh, forgot some of my stuff at home. Had to run back for it. By the way what are the Slytherins doing?" Peter panted.
"What?" James questioned, looking up for the first time.
"There's a load of Slytherins still outside the train. They look like they're plotting something evil." Peter replied pointing over his shoulder.
"Ahh, don't worry about those idiots right now." James spoke, brightening up. "We have a full year of torment laid ahead for them."
Remus shook his head as he took a seat next to James as the train began to pull out. Sirius peered out the window.
"Damn. Looks like they made it onto the train."
Remus laughed a little as Peter sat down next to them.
"Shut up and sit down Siri." James replied. "Now, Remy, what did you do over break?"
The four boys enjoyed laughs and exchanged jokes as the train sped quickly towards their school and home. They all were extremely happy to be back in the other's company.
"Well we'd better be getting our robes on," James said, standing and stretching.
Remus picked up his robes from where they had been resting on his lap, and went over to the compartment door. The other three turned their backs as they went to their trunks.
Remus pulled off his shirt underneath, and was just about to replace it with another when he heard the door open. He turned just in time to have a hand placed over his mouth and two more around waist. He began to struggle but the door had already closed without a sound.
Remus was surprised to see Lucius Malfoy and Ashton Nott.
((AN: I don't know their Nott's, Macnair's, Goyle's or Crabbe's real first names. I couldn't find them anywhere in the fourth or fifth book.))
He looked around and saw the faces of Rodolphus Lestrange, Bellatrix Black, Severus Snape, Briar Macnair, Narcissa Black, Xannon Crabbe, and Aymery Crabbe. They were all staring at him, and Remus then realized he still didn't have his shirt on. He blushed a bright crimson and then tried to wiggle out of Malfoy's and Nott's grasp.
"Come on Lucius." Bellatrix spoke exasperated. "They're going to notice he's gone soon."
"Shut up Bella." Malfoy ordered and then pushed Remus down and kissed him full on.
Remus began to struggle against him, which caused laughter from the Slytherins.
"What's the matter?" Lucius teased as he broke for air.
He kissed Remus again, his tongue wiggling into Lupin's mouth.
The door suddenly crashed open, and Malfoy jumped off of Remus. Lupin lay on the ground, shocked. He could see James, Sirius and Peter enter though. Peter let out an audible gasp.
"You're going to wish that had never happened." James hissed, pulling out his wand.
Before he could hex the Slytherin, Sirius had jumped on top of him, fists flying.
"Siri! No!" James yelled, grabbing the back of Sirius' robes. "Peter...erg... Get Remus out of here!"
Bella and Narcissa catcalled at Remus as Peter hoisted up under his arms, and hauled him out.
Crabbe and Goyle were advancing on James and Sirius.
"God damn it!" James yelled using one hand to hex the two Slytherins, while still trying
to get Sirius from killing Lucius.
Finally James grabbed both of Sirius' arms and pulled him out.
"You lay a hand on him and I'll freaking kill you!" Sirius screamed at the Slytherins.
Lucius was still lying on the ground, his nose broken and bleeding, two black eyes blooming on his face.
"Sorry Black, we didn't realize he was your boyfriend." Nott called as he helped Lucius to his feet.
James slammed the door shut, and threw Sirius down in a seat.
"What is your problem?" James asked.
"Did you see what they were doing to him?" Sirius replied, looking very angry.
"You should have just hexed him and let him be! I thought Sirius Black had more common sense that that! A hex will disappear after awhile! Broken noses will be noticed! And you weren't going to stop at that I daresay."
Sirius opened his mouth to reply, but Remus cut them off.
"I'm alright, really. Just stop yelling, okay?" Remus spoke quietly.
The other three boys all turned to look at the still shirtless werewolf. Peter frowned.
"Remus, where did you get those scars?"
"It doesn't matter..." Remus whispered, pulling his shirt over his head.
The four didn't talk on the rest of the way.
*~~~~~~~~~*
Two weeks later, the event on board the train was beginning to fade in all the boys' memories. Sirius had stopped jumping at Malfoy every time they saw each other, and Remus had stopped blushing at the catcalls that Bella and Narcissa threw at him. All in all things were as normal as they could get for four boys living in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Sirius, Remus, and Peter were all half asleep in their porridge, when James rushed up to them, talking excitedly.
"Speak slower Jamie." Sirius yawned.
"I'mpartoftheQuidditchteam!"
"Slower Jamie." Peter said.
"I'm part oftheQuidditchteam. I'mseeker!"
"Littler slower Jamie." Remus added.
James took a deep breath.
"I'm part of the Quidditch team. I'm seeker!"
"No way." Sirius breathed.
"Awesome!" Peter squealed with excitement.
"Good job." Remus congratulated.
"My first match is this Saturday, you guys will come won't you?"
Remus nearly choked on his breakfast.
"Of course." Peter replied.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Sirius added.
"Er... I can't"
They all turned to stare at him.
"An aunt of mine died. Funeral. Have to go." Remus lied, choppily.
'Damn the moon.' he thought.
"Oh..." Sirius said, looking at James.
They exchanged a glance, before James answered.
"Don't worry about it Remy. There will be other matches. You don't have enough aunts to die to miss all my matches, right?" James joked.
"Yeah..." Remus felt a surge of guilt rise in him.
*~~~~~~~~~~*
Remus dragged himself back to his dormitory after being treated by Madam Pomfrey. It was around five in the morning and there were still a few stragglers left in the room after the party that had raged on. James and Sirius were collapsed in two chairs, girls in both their laps. Remus noted that Peter had fallen asleep in front of the fire, where he was lightly snoring. Remus crept silently through the room being careful not to wake anybody.
"That you Remy...?" Sirius asked suddenly, peering at him through one eye.
Remus froze and nodded from where he was standing.
Sirius stretched and moved the girl from off his lap. He stood and came to stand by Remus. Shadows were cast over his face by the fire, and Remus had a sudden want to be the one sitting in Sirius's lap. He shook the thought away quickly as he looked up at the other boy.
"We need to talk Remus." Sirius spoke, becoming more serious. ((XDD))
"About what?" Remus replied, feeling nervous.
"James and I know." Sirius answered bluntly.
Remus felt his heart still in his chest. They couldn't know. They would stop being friends with him then... and he would be alone and forgotten. But maybe they didn't know. Maybe Sirius was talking about something else.
"Er... What do you know?" Remus questioned, fingers crossed.
Sirius looked around and then leaned forward, so that his lips were nearly touching Remus's ear.
"Werewolf."
Remus recoiled instantly, feeling tears rush to his eyes.
"I...see... I understand then if you don't want to be friends anymore." Remus turned away from Sirius and started up to bed.
"Remy!" Sirius said quickly, putting his hand on Remus's shoulder. "Who ever said we didn't want to be friends with you anymore? We just wanted you to know you don't have to hide it anymore. We'll always be friends. We're the Marauders, remember?"
Remus turned, feeling the world lift off his shoulders, tears of joy leaking into his eyes.
"Thank you Sirius..."
"Well...er..." Sirius pulled his hand back, feeling a little uncomfortable. "You look tired. You'd better get to bed."
Remus nodded, and hurried up the stairs.
*~~~~~~~~~*
The four boys stood silently waiting for the train to come. Another year had slipped by before they could blink.
Sirius and James were arguing quite loudly over which Quidditch team had been better, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. Peter was watching the two boys closely, while Remus had his nose in a book.
Suddenly Severus Snape walked over to him. Sirius, James, and Peter all grew silently as Remus looked up at the Slytherin.
Sirius took a step towards him, and put a protective hand on Remus's shoulder.
"I was asked to deliver this." Snape sneered, and handed Remus a sheet of parchment.
Then Severus left without another word.
Remus unfolded the parchment in wonder, and began to read. It was from Lucius Malfoy.
Lupin,
On the train at this beginning of this year is only a prequel of things to come. In third year, you will be mine.
-Lucius Malfoy
"Why would he give you a blank sheet of parchment?" Sirius asked, looking confused.
"You mean you can't read it?" Lupin asked, looking up.
Sirius shook his head.
"Here, let me see." James replied, taking the parchment from Remus. "Sorry, Remy it's blank to me."
"Me too." Peter added.
"He must have spelled it so only I can read it." Remus said half to himself.
"What was it about?" Sirius asked.
"Nothing important." Remus answered, grinning up at him. "A stupid Slytherin belief."
"Ahh... Well... Here is a non-stupid Slytherin belief." Sirius said, handing Remus another sheet of parchment.
"What is it?" Remus asked, beginning to open it.
"My address. Drop me an owl over the summer, okay?" Sirius replied with a wink as he jumped on the train after James.
Author's Note: Hee, there's second year. And trust me, not only Lucius Malfoy and Sirius Black are going to be after our favorite werewolf. ^.~ Review or email at vegetaztwin@hotmail.com