Disclaimer:Don't own, don't sue. That simple.
Warning: Slash.
Goddess of Idun: Well even I'm not sure who it was. You can decide. I've mostly decided on who it is, and it's for me to know and you to find out. Don't Worry, you'll find out later.
The Deity: Rather. I thought so myself, too. But thank you.
Gilana1: I know it might have been a bit short, but I kind of felt it was better that way.
Feelinfawkesy: Wow, 2 reviews, I feel so special now. And thanks; I've always prided myself on thoroughness. But thanks for your lovely reviews, I've enjoyed them.
Twisted Hearts and Anguished Howls
Chapter 3; Feelings
Remus woke the next morning to the sound of snores emanating from a mop of unruly black hair slumped in a chair next to his beside. The werewolf watched his friend sleeping for a few minutes before he decided to wake the Chaser.
"James. James, wake up. James. Come on, Prongs, wake up!"
No answer.
"Damnit, Prongs, WAKE UP!"
That did it. James fell out of his chair with a yelp, and sat crumpled on the floor, glaring reproachfully up at Remus with bleary hazel eyes. Remus looked down at his friend, an eyebrow raised.
"Now what the bloody hell did you do that for, Moony? I'll have you know I was having a very good dream..."
Remus rolled his eyes as James' face took on an awed, ethereal quality and he continued dreamily.
"Oh, Merlin, she was beautiful, Moony. Her hair was all down around her shoulders, it looked like fire, and her eyes-"
"Were like perfect shiny emeralds," Remus finished with amusement etched across his tired face. "You're so predictable, Prongs. Not to mention your poetic skills are a little lacking... and besides, when are you just going to give it up?"
James eye's flashed in indignation.
"Give it up? Never! I know she likes me, I just know she does, really deep down inside, she'll go out with me one day, you'll see!"
"Oh, and when will that be, Prongs, when Hell freezes over?
"Shut up Moony!" James whined, picking himself up from the floor and flopping down on the extra space in Remus' bed, turning suddenly serious eyes on the young werewolf.
"So Moony, how was the change this time?"
Remus squirmed uncomfortably and answered, avoiding James' eyes.
"Well, err- it was, uh…just about the same as usual you kn-"
"Don't lie to me Moony, I know it was worse than normal."
"Yeah, well…"
"Moony, look, I'm sorry, okay? You know we would have been there If we could, but we couldn't, and I know it's never happened before, but you know McGonagall, how she is with detentions, and it was just-"
"Unavoidable. I know." Remus looked sorrowfully at his friend. "I forgive you. The wolf shouldn't have taken it so hard, anyway, neither should I. We've only been doing this for a few months, and I've been making the change by myself for so long it shouldn't matter. So don't worry."
"But it does matter, Remus. You know that. With us there, the wolf has friends. Pack mates. Without, it just tears itself to shreds." James gestured to the bandages around his friends' arms.
Remus looked down, avoiding James' eyes again, and the black-haired boy tilted his chin up and brushed a few locks of prematurely grey-flecked light auburn hair away from Remus' forehead.
"I promise we'll be there from now on, Moony. You should never have to be alone. And you won't."
Remus felt something unknown wriggle in his stomach as he looked into James' hazel eyes, and saw a sincerity there that was rare to witness. The two young wizards gazed into each other's eyes for a moment, brief, but which felt like an eternity to both. Remus tore his gaze away from the pools of green-flecked brown, coughing violently, and James got up from the bed, glancing around uncomfortably and running his hands nervously through his hair.
"I, er- I have to go, Moony. Quidditch practice, and all that. I guess I'll uh, see you later, okay?"
Remus nodded his head dumbly, and their eyes met once again before James rushed out of the room, hands in hair and robes askew.
A few hours later, once Madam Pomfrey had deemed him healed, Remus was to be found wandering the drafty corridors aimlessly, not truly thinking, but not possessed of any true apathy, either. Remus drifted through the castle vagrantly, not stopping until he reached the stone battlements of a lone tower on the far side of the castle. He sat down on one of the inner ledges and looked out across the shadows that played across the smooth green grass, the curling wisps of smoke trailing upward from Hagrids cabin, the jagged, snow-capped mountains, the lake sparkling in the last golden rays of the dying sun, and he thought. The young werewolf thought about many things. His future, his friends' future, even the future of the entire Wizarding world. His feelings, toward one bespectacled young man, in particular. He thought about all these things, for hours, until the last shaft of sunlight had faded away to moonshine, and the stars came out to twinkle wonderingly down at the shadowed earth. Chilly evening wind played across Remus' troubled face and lifted his aureate reddish-brown hair, tousling it across his forehead, when he started at the sound of a door being slammed shut behind him, and then looked around to find one Sirius Black, looking out across the grounds mournfully. The two boys were silent for a few moments. And then-
"Nice night, eh Moony?"
"Yeah, I suppose," Remus glanced down at his feet, seemingly very interested in the midnight blue stripes on his scuffed white trainers.
"James is looking for you."
Remus glanced up at that, but disregarded it for the moment.
"How did you find me, Padfoot?"
"The map," Sirius stated simply.
"Oh," Remus replied, biting his lip worryingly.
"Don't look so upset, Moony. I don't know what old Prongs told you in the hospital wing, but we really are sorry, you know."
"I know." Remus looked at the greenhouses with sorrow in his golden-grey eyes, avoiding Sirius' blue-grey ones.
"Oh, come off it, Moony! We are sorry. Now are you going to come down to the common room anytime tonight?"
Remus sighed. He wasn't mad at any of them, yet he could never tell Sirius the real reason for why he was so somber. Trust Sirius to be that oblivious.
"So you forgive us, then?"
Remus looked up at his friend and smiled.
"Yes I forgive you, you great prat." Remus got up from his ledge, ruffling Sirius' elegantly tousled inky blue-black locks, and he threw an arm around the Animagus' shoulders in a sudden display of cheerfulness. He would just have to sort out his feelings later.
"Come on, let's get back. Want to go to the kitchens?"
"Now we're talking, Moony!" Sirius grinned, and they disappeared through the door back to the castle, arms around each others shoulders and small grins plastered on their faces, and they made their way down to the painting of the bowl of fruit behind which hid the Hogwarts kitchens, chatting goodheartedly about Quidditch, teachers, and all the other things teenage wizards talked about, and Remus was happy.
A/N:Ta da! Yes I know it's short, the final word count (according to MS word for Mac) was 1456 or so, but I just felt that it should end that way. No, you idjits, not the story, the chapter! XD
PS- I would like you all to pray for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the South. Soon, my city in Missouri will be receiving refugees from New Orleans and the surrounding area. Please pray for them all and try to donate to the Red Cross disaster relief fund, or any legitimate fund to help the victims of this tragedy. On a lighter note, I would appreciate it if you all might also pray for me, because I've got what is probably one of the worst colds the world has ever seen. Have a good day!