A/n- Here's part seven, sorry to keep leaving you all off on cliffhangers!

Disclaimer- I own no part of Harry Potter or anything you recognize for that matter. And I do wish I was making a profit, but alas, I am a poor starving writer.... o_O

Rating- PG-13 for swearing (Bad James! Dad!)

Chapter Keywords- Blackmail, sarcasm, Quidditch rivalry, very VERY mad James, Lily, Romolus memories.


Seeing Grey - Part VII - Moondust



Early November came, along with renewed angers and a healthy Sirius. Now that the majority of the Gryffindor team was pitted against Remus, they refused to follow his plays, and their scores showed it. With Sirius gone for two of the games, they hadn't lasted over twenty minutes. Upon his return, things didn't prove to be much better. Four games had gone by, and not once had they managed a win. But Remus had other things on his mind, more important than a suffering Quidditch team.


Ah man, I could have told you that. Romolus said with a shake of his head.

Everyone knows about the Gryffindor-Slytherin thing. he said over a cup of tea one day when Remus had managed to sneak out. Hell, it's been around since the founders themselves.


Things didn't go very well with the Slytherin situation either. The Slytherins themselves didn't mind, many actually accepted him as though he were a native to their House. And the Ravenclaw's were logical enough to see that possibly it was ok for him to be friends with Lily. But many of the Gryffindors refused to budge from their customs. James had gone into overdrive, constantly trying to find some way to get back at Remus.

Will you just please lay off? You can have her! Remus snapped one night. It did nothing to damper James' determination to find blackmail, and it only got worse.

And on top of that, Remus had his most dreaded assignment due on Carlison's desk in a week.


Describe, in no less than one scroll, the many ways to dispose of and destroy a werewolf.



Do you not See it now? Mendell asked, pulling him behind as the rest of the class disbanded. She was smiling at him in her usual airy way, hovering about as though she kenw the Secret of the Universe.

See what?

Your curse has given you gifts before. You're strength, for one. Has that not helped you?

Remus asked, annoyed by her constant insistence that he was changing.

You are too Blind to See... she mumbled, letting him go with a reluctant sigh.



Remus, you alright? Sirius asked at the end of the month. He hastily stuffed the note inside his pocket, remembering the full circle in the the corner, and nodded.

he said in a dry tone. Sirius peered at him for a minute, and frowned.

Something's up. I've seen that look on James before, you're hiding something.

Not at all.

You're a bad liar, you know that? Remus bit his lip, and shrugged.

If you are hiding something, I swear on my life, James is gonna find out.


Lily... Can I talk to you a minute? He pulled her aside after potions that afternoon, frowning.

Don't ask why or anything, but do you like James? At all?

She bit her tongue in thought, scrunched her face, and shrugged.

A little bit. He is cute. she admitted.

Well he's been obsessing over you for three years. Remus blurted out, watching as his friends walked by at a safe distance. Lily's eyes went wide, and she smiled in an embarrassed sort of way.

Ask him out, he's driving me insane. Remus pleaded. It was his one chance to get James off his back, one shot at keeping him from finding out...

Lily considered it, told him she'd think about it, and dashed off with a Slytherin girl she had befriended recently.

God, if anyone finds out... he mumbled, walking away and scribbling out the rest of his essay for Defense. His stomach had been upset during the entire project, but he fought back his disgust and slapped it down on Carlison's desk minutes later without a wince.

There. Happy now? he snapped, sitting down in his seat with Peter next to him.

I've decided to start our unit on Dark creatures a bit early. Carlison said with a nasty smile.



Running a bit late, are you? Nurse Ahmand said with a smirk, escorting him down to the Willow.

I was down in Hogsmeade, there's a rumor going about that the shack is haunted. Wonder how that came about? she mused in a joking manner.

So I'm loud when I transform, happens to everyone.

No, didn't mean it like that... she said hastily, smiling. It's a good cover-up. No one would get curious to visit a Shrieking Shack, now would they?

They chatted for a while in the darkening sky, and finally parted as Remus froze the Whomping Willow with his stick. Back at the castle, James squinted with all his might from the Owrly window, and let out a strangled sort of gasp.

No way... he muttered, suddenly dashing off, his letter forgotten.



Hello Remus. James said with a smirk the next afternoon.

So you decided to talk to me again? Remus inquired, wondering why he was being stared at in such an odd manner.

You could say that.

Run. Remus blinked, wondering why his subconscious had just delivered that message to him.



It was common by early December to see Remus depart for the Slytherin table, but when Lily joined him at the Lions, she was greeted by many harsh stares.

Hi James. she said sweetly, sting next to him, across from Remus. He stammered a hello, and Sirius slapped himself on the forehead.

Idiot!' he mouthed when Lily wasn't looking.

Can I talk to you for a minute? she asked after a brief few words with Remus. They both left for the halls, and James came back several minutes later, face flushed in a very Gryffindor red.

Sirius grinned, Peter burst out laughing, and Lily walked away chuckling to herself.

Good going James. Sirius said with a huge grin.



Several nights later, when the others were all off playing Quidditch, Remus sat in the dorm doing his homework. But for some reason, his gaze kept straying off his paper and towards James' bed. After being fed up with his lack of attention, he walked over, and looked around for whatever kept making him divert his gaze. Under his bed, he found a small silver box, the lock undone and a piece of paper poking out. Lifting the paper to open the container, he let out a strangled gasp, and sat down on the floor, eyes wide in panic.

Oh my God... he finally managed, and emptied all missing his notes and the lunar charts onto the floor carefully. Eyes blurring, he stuffed them in his bed drawer, and raced for the statue of the funny-looking witch.


He found out! Remus cried the minute Romolus answered the door. His brother cursed loudly, and shuffled him inside. After a short explanation full of four-letter words, Remus had his head in his arms on the table, nearly crying like the child he denied ever being.

I blew it! he muttered.

It'll be fine... He's your friend. Don't-

It's no use Rom, he found out! He'll tell everyone... He's pissed at me! I ruined it! he yelled, face red and eyes irritated. His brother finally sat down, let out a deep sigh, and shook his head.

We need to go to Dumbledore, he might be able to do something...

I can't... It's over. We have to leave. Once the school finds out, everyone in the whole community will know. We have to get out of here.



Remus, run! Romolus shouted, his footsteps echoing from the staircase. The small boy wasted no time in grabbing his backpack, flying out the front door in a speed not reached by any child his age. His eyes started to leak as he looked back every few steps, waiting for his brother to come with him. Even outside of the city bounds, he would look back, waiting to see his brother right behind him like always. Romolus was never behind him anymore.



Get outa here you little brat!

He grabbed a armful of bread, and swung up on the escape ladder of the old village tenant building. He smiled, and munched on the bread thoughtfully as the shop owner failed ot find the thief.

See Rommie, I can make it on my own. he told no one, face burning red. I can make it... he dug into his pocket as he said this, pulling out an odl photo. Long ago he had torn the sides off, where his parents had been, so it left just him and Romolus, arm and arm, laughing at a parade. The picture was worn, yellowed at the edges with a tea stain on one side, but he treasured it. Over a year ago the police had come to their home looking for them, and they had split up. For a year both had been evading lost child programs and social services, on their own.

For a year, Remus had doubted if he would ever have a family again.



What can we do? Remus asked a while later, still in a very obvious state of panic. Romolus was pacing back and forth across the floor, scratching at his hair.

Are you sure he knows for certain? If he just suspects it, there might be a chance.

He's had this look, like he... I'm almost certain he knows.

Then prove him wrong. Rom said with a glint in his eyes. Do something a werewolf never would, I don't know... What's a dead giveaway?

Obvious one would be touching silver... Don't you even suggest it! You have no frickin clue how much that hurts! Remus protested, wincing in memory of the silver bullet. Reflexivly his hand went to his forehead, and he traced the tiny whitish scar over with his fingers.

It's that, or we have to skip the country or live as Muggles. Once the wizards all find out, we're blacklisted.

God... This sucks. Remus mumbled, slouching in his seat.



he said at dinner, biting his lip as he sat across from James. Him and Sirius were both looking at him oddly, and Peter kept diverting his gaze.

God, he told them...' With that final thought, he sucked in his pride, and swallowed. As the steaks were passed around, instead of stabbing one with his own gold fork, he picked up the silver serving one. He took in a silent gasp of air as the pain ripped through him, but he showed no signs of such torture. Across, he smiled warmly at his friends, who were watching with wide eyes.

You'd never believe the crazy idea James had. Sirius said after a moment, hitting James on the head playfully. The stupid git thought you were a werewolf, of all things. he said as Remus poked at his meat, still holding the silver fork. For an hour he had to endure the pain, and later that night, well out of the range of anyone, he cried out his misery.


James went back to his normal self after that, slightly let down that his blackmail had turned out faulty. They once again returned to wreaking havoc on the school, and to the amusement of most, managed to time a cauldron explosion right as Bane walked by. He had stormed out of the room, cursing as the little green boils popped all over his face.

You're a bunch of marauding idiots, you know that? Bane barked when he returned later, a white paste slathered all over his greasy face. The four bossy smiled guiltily, with no regret, and shrugged as one.

Marauders... Kind of catchy, isn't it? Remus pointed out.

Sirius agreed, thinking it over. It was decided as one (Peter was forced to agree) that the title Marauders fit well.



What're you up to? James asked as the holiday's drew nearer. Remus was sitting at a table by himself in the Common room, his notebook of Quidditch plays to the side, a fresh sheet of parchment in front of him.

I had an idea, but I don't know if it will work. he said as James watched him sketch a little diagram of the Gryffindor tower in perfect accuracy.

What, a map or something?

Kind of... My brother got these for me, in Hogsmeade. they only sold them for a few days. he said, holding up a box of Zonko's Real-Life Charcoal Pens.

Apparently some little girl drew a picture of a dragon, and I think it ate her. Remus said with a shrug.

What's that got to do with a map? James asked curiously, sitting down.

It was just an idea, I don't think it'll work. Remus said hastily, beginning to crumple the page. The initial idea woudl cause too much trouble, and result in far more detentions than Remus wished to serve. James took it from him, smiled maniacally, and understood what Remus had been thinking.

It'll work alright. James picked up the sketched, eyes glinting with his infamous hint of mischief, and he set himself to work, trying to recall a certain Charm that he thought might help.

No, see, you make it so only we can use it! That way we'll never get caught. he said suddenly, eyes going even wider. He took off his thin gold glasses, and set himself to a long night of writing out idea's.


Seeya! Don't forgot to send me something! James called as the carriages pulled away, towing Sirius and Peter with them. They waved enthusiastically, sticking their heads out the window, as they strolled out of view. The winter holiday's had finally come, along with a large amount of snow, and James' head was bursting with plots of pranks. The Marauders Map, as he had dubbed it, was a second priority to the fresh load of Dungbombs and other pranks waiting to be pulled in the eerily vacant school.


James, wait a minute. Remus said, grabbing the lighter before any of the large, and highly potent, Dungbombs were ignited. He paused for a minute, nodded his head to himself, and pulled out his wand.

What're you doing? James blinked as Remus muttered a long and foreign incantation.

If you just light them now, Bane would be able to trace it back to you. Come on, he knows you hate him. said Remus. I'm making them ignite only after we can long clear this place, and be in the presence of people to vouch for us. he mumbled as the wicks of all five Dungbombs turned red, then green, and back to their normal shade.

And don't touch them. They're hot. he warned right as James was about to test the wick temperature. He smiled, picked them up carefully, and hid them strategically about the room.

You'd be one hell of a force to reckon with if you could manage to get away with all your jokes. Remus remarked as they sneaked their way into Carlison's office for an equal dose of mischief.

That, my friend, is where you come in.



Sorry again about before. James said loudly above the wind. Alex Avery had gone home for the holidays, and lent his broom off so Remus could catch up on missed practices due to a leg injury he refused to have treated. A lot of second years having a snowball fight looked on from the ground as James sharpened his skills as a back-up Chaser, in turn giving Remus his needed pracctice and fine-tuning.

Nah, it's alright. I'm pretty nasty myself when I'm angry, ask my brother... Hell, I could kill someone. he said in more honesty that James would ever know.


Rom, what'll happen if they find us? Nine years old and shivering in the blistering snow, Remus Lupin lit a fire by way of his stolen wand. The two reunited boys scurried up to the tiny flame, trying to stay warm.

They let mum go, I dug around in a few files at a police station somewhere south of London. They're still looking for us though... Our picture's were up at a market. he said, lips blue.

But I didn't mean to kill him...

They wont care Remus, not at all. The fact that you were defending yourself wont even occur to those idiots. We'll be sent to Muggle prison, or the Ministry will come in and... Remus started sniffling, not from the cold, but from fear that he would be separated from his brother again.

Ah, don't go crying about it. Romolus snapped, rolling his eyes. Ruefully, he sat closer to his brother for warmth, and draped part of his own battered cloak over his shoulders.

It'll be fine, we've been doin' alright this long. And besides, they'll give up eventually. he said encouragingly.

Remus asked weakly, trying to keep the fire blowing in the wind.

I'm positive.

Remus smiled, and leaned on his brother shoulder. In a manner of minutes, the shivering little werewolf was sleeping contentedly, drooling a bit.

Maybe we can go visit mum soon. he told himself, adding a bit of snowy wood to the fire they camped by in the back alley.



Remus, look- James shouted. Remus snapped back to reality, but was hit rather hard with a fast-flying Quaffle, he toppled off his broom again, and landed in the two feet of snow. James jumped down from a high distance, rushing to his friend.

Oh my God, are you alright? he asked, worried that he had caused any damage. Remus grinned, face down in the snow, and sprang up. Within minutes a full-blown snow war was under way, and each boy enlisted the aid of several passing students.



God, you call that food? Remus joked, poking at his lasagna fearfully. Romolus shrugged, and sat down at the table.

Hogwarts has spoiled you, eh? Hell, I remember when we used to take garbage and treat it like a feast. he said with a smirk. Remus laughed, glad to be rid of those days.

No, really... This isn't food. he repeated, popping a quick spell. The once crusty and over-cooked noodle was insatntly almost gourmet, dripping in thick sauce and cheese.

How'd you...

While you dug in trash, I stole magic cook books. Remus said with an evil grin.

And you let me eat scraps while you feasted? Romolus sputtered.

You never asked.


So how's Hogwarts? he asked after a while, still fuming mentally over the food issue.

Better than I thought it'd be.

Man, I wish I could go back and finish up. Four years was way too short. he said with a deep sigh, smiling in fond memory.

Why don't you? That'd be pretty cool, having you up there and all. A fifteen year old shouldn't have to have a full-time job and support his little brother. Remus pointed out.

Hell, I was never fifteen. I've been the father since, well, you killed the real one. And I don't have one regret, well, other than not being around as much as I wanted.

But you shouldn't have to worry about that stuff. said Remus, sipping his conujured tea thoughtfully. You should be worrying about girlfreinds and your hair and stuff. Quidditch rubbish, all that lot. Not your salary and how to get your troublesome brother from being expelled from Hogwarts.

Look, I don't mind. Four years of Hogwarts was enough for me, I know all the magic a seven year graduate would. We've always crammed. Romolus said with a shrug. Mum homeschooling you realy early and all, we both picked up quick.

Yeah, she never thought I'd be accepted. Remus mumbled.

Dumbledore's a good man... But hey, lighten up. It's almost Christmas, you're supposed to be cheerful eh? Stop worrying about everything, be a kid for once. he said with a laugh. Care to try that rematch at chess? I went nerd and read a strategy guide, I think I can get your goddamn-

You're a git if your going to tell me your gameplan. Remus said in a pensive tone, Summoning the Muggle set from the corner.

You know what Rem? You're too smart.

If I was smart I wouldn't have to constantly worry about someone finding out about me.





A/n- Thanks a whole lot for reading everyone! I really like having people who enjoy this, it means a lot to me. TGKTG, Lynx, VanishStar, all of you guys! I'll keep it coming as logn as someone out there is reading! Someone write to me, e-mail! I'll talk about anything!!! AlyssaC7@aol.com

o_O




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