Drops of Scarlet

By OracleVortex

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Okay, so I completely lied when I said that this probably wouldn't be about Remus x Sirius. So what? I've changed my mind and actually changed some main plots of the stories. It happens. It's still about Remus and his werewolf problems, but I've decided to add in his problems with the rest of his life as well. Also, I would like you to bear with me when I use French in this story. I'm not bilingual, so I'll use it sparingly, but it may be just bits here and there.

Whole sentences and conversations in French will be marked by a double cross. ++Enter French here.++ Okay? That way I don't have to keep putting, 'he said in French,' or 'he switched to French, saying,' etc…

Dedication is for Holly, who nicely observed that I don't update every fast, and didn't repeatedly yell 'UPDATE.' Thanks. That was very cool of you.

Cheers, all!

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Chapter One: Ursula Rayne

Remus yawned, pouring coffee into a cream-colored cup, and drinking it black. Usually he preferred tea, but under late-nights and early mornings, he really couldn't handle the subtle taste of tea. James and Peter sat across from him, cutting into large pancakes. Remus stilly watched the syrup ooze between the slices, slow and gradual like molasses. The sticky condiment dripped off of James' fork and landed on the plate with a thick plop.

"Didja 'ear?" James said thickly.

Remus blinked. "Hmm? About what?"

The messy-haired seeker swallowed. "Davey Gudgeon's eye."

"What about it?"

"Almost lost it."

Remus sighed. "How, Prongs?" He hated it when the Potter boy decided to make him drag every detail from him. It was some sort of game that James liked, but Remus easily grew tired of it.

"Got too near the whomping willow."

"Is he all right?" Remus asked.

"Yup. Serves him right though, not quick enough."

Remus glowered at the table darkly. James looked at him sideward. "It's not your fault, Moony."

"It is."

"No, it's not. Gudgeon's pretty dim."

"No one should be allowed near that thing."

James cut another thick piece of pancake and stuffed it into his mouth. "'ow we arn'"

Peter blinked at him, following the conversation. "What?"

James talked around his breakfast. "Now we aren't."

Remus stirred the contents of his cup with one finger. "Good."

"Whoa." Peter said, eyes nearly meeting his hairline. "There's Sirius."

"About time," James said, craning his neck to see over the whispering crowd. "The lazy bugger."

Sirius came into the wall, slim body entirety covered with skin-tight black leather. Muscles rippled under long sleeves, and nails on slender fingers were painted black. His waist-length hair had been loosely tied back, a pair of silver hoops shining from the top of his left war. Sirius' eyes swept across the crowed, locking gazes with Remus. The young werewolf then proceeded to choke violently on his coffee. Sirius gave a half smirk, heading to the Gryffindor table. He plunked down between James and Peter, flipping a loose stand of hair out of his sight. He watched, amused as Remus slowly stopped sputtering.

"Morning, all."

James waved his fork at him. Peter nodded greetings, staring at Sirius like he'd gone and grown horns out the side of his head.

Remus mumbled into a quickly obtained bagel, avoiding eye contact with his eccentric friend. "Good morning, Sirius."

"Looking…spiffy, Padfoot." James commented.  "Have a date?"

"No." Sirius said, preening as he buttered toast. "Just trying a new look."

"And leaving nothing to the imagination." Remus muttered.

"What was that, Moony?" Sirius said pleasantly.

The passive marauder blinked at him. "Pass the butter, please."

Sirius winked at him, handing over the dish. "You're just jealous that you can't pull it off."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Pull it off? I can… Do it, though? No, I won't…"

"You sound like a bad Yoda." Lily said, sliding in beside James. James greeted her with a light kiss.

"Who, love?"

She patted him on the cheek. "Never mind, dear." Lily glanced at Sirius. "Joining a rock band?"

"Good Lord, no!" Remus said. "Have you heard him sing?"

Sirius turned to Remus. "Have you?"

"You sing in the shower, Padfoot."

Sirius grinned. "Been spying on me, have you?"

James snorted. "Doesn't have to – you're bloody loud. And terrible."

"I am not!" The tall boy said defensively.

"What; loud or terrible?" James said wickedly. Lily smothered a giggle. Overhead the flapping of wings heralded the oncoming flight of the post owls.

Sirius examined his nails with fake interest. "I sing like an angel." He said. "You're just jealous."

"Jealous like gnomes are!"

"What? That doesn't even make sense!"

"You know what? You don't make sense!" James laughed as he went on. "If you were a girl, you'd be in a leather cat suit right now!"

"And if I were a girl, Moony would be in big trouble right now." Sirius said ominously. They all laughed and turned to the boy in question.

"Hey." James said. "Where'd he go?"

Sirius didn't say anything, seeing a swirl of russet hair and black robes leaving the hall. He bit into toast, winking at a group of girls who where staring at him from the Ravenclaw table. They blushed, giggled and looked away. He grinned.

Remus sat on the front steps of the school, an envelope in hand. Ignoring the address on the front, he turned it over and opened it. The seal was a picture of a sun and sword, pressed into a rich gold wax. It was his family's seal. There were two notes inside, and Remus pulled out the first. It was written in a careful cursive.

++Dearest Remus,

How is school? Is Hogwarts treating you well enough? Are your special…concerns...still being taken into consideration? If there is ever anything that you need, remember that all you need to do is ask. I apologize that we were not able to see you off at the platform on your last day of summer; your father and I have been extremely busy in the past few months. It has been terribly hard to be home as often as we were. However, the Yuletide is approaching and we are both able to stay at our winter house in France during the holidays. Would you be able to find means as to come? Should we send someone to pick you up?

Your brother is bringing a friend of his to the winter house. Perhaps you can bring these… 'marauders' that you always speak of. We, your father and I, miss you very much, and cannot wait to see you.

Love, Mother++

Remus smiled and folded the letter neatly, setting it aside and opening the second. It was in French as well, though it was slanted and messily written.

++Remus,

I wonder if it is worth it to stay at Beaubaxtons when all it causes is that we are apart. It is only The beginning of December and yet I feel as though we were apart for years. How's Hogwarts? Your friends and classes? Forgive me if I sound brief in inquiring about your well being, but I have the most exciting news, and I wanted you to be the first to hear of it. I've met this girl, and she is the most fantastic, beautiful, intelligent young woman I've ever known. Her name is Aquila and she is the very image of loveliness. She is truly exquisite, brother! I plan to bring her home on Yuletide, let her meet Mother and Father, then. Do you think they'll approve?

I would ask if you were bringing a special someone with you, but I know that it is difficult when it comes to that – in more than one way. Will this be the year when I will meet this Sirius of yours? And James and Peter as well?

Eat well, Rem, and be strong. My heart is with you always.

Love, Romulus++

Remus tucked the second letter inside the envelope and folded the lip crease with one fingertip. Tilting his head to glance briefly at the sky, he sat for a moment on the steps, completely content.

"Excuse me, Remus?"

Remus turned slowly, locking gazes with a tall brunette girl standing behind him. She let the doors fall softly shut, and she shyly approached him. "Yes; can I help you?"

She bit her lip, scuffing her shoes on the stairs before hesitantly sitting down beside him. "Um…I don't know if you remember me, but my name is-"

"Ursula." Remus said promptly, sliding the letters inside his robe. "I remember – I helped you with your creatures essay last spring."

Ursula blushed faintly, but continued on. "Wow, I can't believe that you remembered that."

"I remember everything." Remus said. He stopped and then frowned. "Well, almost everything." He waved a hand at Ursula, who was unsure of what he was talking about. "Never mind. What were you saying?" He watched her, a soft smile on his face.

Ursula curled a dark lock of hair behind one ear. "This may be a bit sudden, but do you have a date for the Yule Ball?"

Remus's smile was suddenly frozen and it dropped. "I'm sorry, but-"

"Of course, I understand." Ursula said in a rushed way, abruptly standing up. "I'm sorry to have bothered you-"

Remus stood as well. "No, it's not that…it's just…" He hesitated. "I'm not going. I can't."

"Oh." The girl stopped. "Why?"

He shrugged vaguely. "I have this…previous engagement…to attend."

"Hmm." Ursula stared suspiciously at him. "I see."

"Really, I do."

She smiled and rested a hand on his shoulder momentarily. "Of course you do, Remus. Why would you lie to me?" She opened the door to the school again. "Maybe next time." She vanished into the castle. Remus blinked and stared at the wood door for a moment.

"Of course…"

~

"Aww, look, Moony – You went and broke the poor girl's heart. Why not take the girl? She's pretty enough."

"No."

"Why not?"

Remus shifted through his charms papers, wishing he hadn't answered Sirius' Twenty Questions shpeal when he joined up with the marauders on the sunny Sunday afternoon. "Padfoot, what night is the ball on?"

"Hmm?" The other boy had been checking his appearance in the mirror hanging in the commons room. "What was that?"

"What night, you great dunderhead, what night?"

"What night?" Sirius looked puzzled for a moment, but then you could see the instant when realization dawned on him. "Of course – the full moon." He laughed. "I guess it's a little hard to dance while all fur and fang, isn't it?"

"Sirius, some days I wonder if you really realize how serious this is for me." Remus sighed.

"Oh, lay off it, Moony. You know I'm only joking around."

"But that's just it, isn't it? You act like this is all some big joke and that I like this and that I'm anything but what it is - a dark creature!"

Sirius stared at Moony through the reflection of the mirror, slowly turning and looking at him. Remus appeared to be calm on the outside, but the shivering of his quill betrayed him. "You're two separate beings, Remus. He just happened to be housing your body on the full moon."

"And the rest of the month, Padfoot." Remus muttered. "It's like it's inside me, whispering dark things to me."

Sirius sat down beside Remus on the couch, draping one arm over the back of the couch, facing the young Gryffindor. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"No."

"Get off your chest?"

"No."

Sirius examined him for a moment, but stood. "You do know that you can tell me anything, right?"

"Yes."

"And you would, right?"

"Yes."

Sirius looked at him again, then went back to the mirror. "Now, tell me…"

Remus rolled his head back on the back of the couch. "What, Padfoot?"

"Do these pants make my butt look big?"

"Yes." Remus said blandly. "God, I could see it from halfway across the hall. Does it have it's own area code, yet?"

"You lie!"

"I do not."

"Do too!"

"No…how many cows gave their lives for those pants, anyway?"

"Moony!"

The sometimes-fuzzy boy laughed.

~

Later that evening, when Remus had drifted somewhat away from his cloudy mood, James took his turn in approaching him about Ursula. "Aren't you going to ask Ursula?"

Remus sighed. "No."

"No?" He raised an eyebrow. "She's pretty, intelligent and totally okay with the werewolf thing…"

Remus made a face. "Say that louder, would you? I don't think the ghost on the third floor heard you."

James ignored him. "She obviously likes you."

"I know that."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I can't take the risk."

"Why not? If she likes you and you like her, then—"

"No, James. I can't take the risk that I'll allow myself to fall in love with her, only to have her decide against it and leave me to die alone."

"Whoa. That's kind of extreme, don't you think? I mean, it's only one dance."

"But still, werewolves mate for life. All eternity. Ever and ever till the silver bullet bites."

The seeker looked at him curiously. "Do silver bullets really…?"

"Well," Remus said, "a normal bullet will do it, but silver tends to make it burn a lit more, considering that silver has been known as a moon metal for centuries. It's actually commonly known as Moon tears in such civilizations as the Aztecs and the—"

"Moony," James interrupted, "You're getting off topic and avoiding my original question."

Remus gave him an impish smile. "I was kind of hoping that you wouldn't notice. Why are you so concerned, anyway? What are you up to?"

"Nothing." The other boy said innocently. "Who says I have to be up to something to nose about in my friend's love life?"

"See, that's the thing, Prongs, I don't have a love life."

"Which makes me wonder why you're throwing a perfectly good girl away." James shot back.

"She's not a firework, Prongs." Remus got up from the table to put a book back on one of the shelves near the fireplace. "I won't date a girl just for kicks. Nor can I."

"You're just going to have to chance it some day, Moony."

"And when I find the right person, I will."

James noted his lack of a gender usage. "Maybe you already have and won't admit it." He suggested gently.

Remus stared at him for a moment. "And maybe…" He said slowly, unblinkingly. "Maybe, I just gave birth to puppies."

It was at that moment that Peter and Sirius decided to come into the room. "Now, now, Moony." Sirius said. "That was supposed to be our little secret." He sprawled in the armchair that Remus had vacated only moments before.

Peter settled before the table. "Puppies? Can I have one?"

James grinned at Remus and the boy sighed.

"Oh-" Remus said, suddenly, his eyes lighting up. "Are any of you free for Christmas?"

James shrugged. "Nothing to do, really."

The young werewolf smiled. "Well, my parents wrote to me this morning, and they want me to come home for a couple days. Do you want to come with me?"

"And finally meet your parents and brother?" James said. "Sure, sounds great."

Sirius pretended to be torn between two ideas. "And I was so looking forward to going back to my parents place for a while. Oh well."

Peter was shamefaced. "Sorry, Moony, but I'm going home for Christmas."

James and Sirius clapped Peter on the shoulder at the same time. "We'll take poleroids, Wormtail. Don't worry."

Remus nodded. "It's all right, maybe another time."

Peter grinned up at the three of them. "Okay."

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Just a random fact, but Remus is a latin name, meaning 'speedy oarsman' or 'fast rower.' Uh huh. So not our Remus.

Remus: Oh, I don't know.. ::examines a boat:: I reckon I could paddle that thing really fast.

Sirius: ::stares at the boat:: Why would you want to?

Remus: ::shrugs::

Of course, Remus is also the twin brother of Romulus in Roman Mythology. (Hence the reason for Remus' twin brother in this story… :P) He was suckled with his twin brother by a wolf after their parents (Rhea Silvia and Mars) abandoned them. Unfortunately, Romulus killed Remus in an argument over the building of Rome…

Remus: Whoa.

Sirius: Your name sucks. ::pulls out his wand:: I dub thee Moony—

Remus: Now wait a minute…

Sirius: ::touches him on each shoulder with the wand:: --'Man of the moon', and 'furrier than thou.'

Remus: ::laughing:: Shove it, Padfoot!

Sirius: ::grins:: Just say where!

See ya next chapter!

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