www.memory
by Nox
Disclaimer: If after all this time of reading fanfiction you still don't understand that I don't own any of these people, you are probably the one on the plane who watches when they do the belt bit. (by the way, if you can catch the reference with "the belt bit," you are my new best friend. In title only.)
Chapter 4: The Last of the Presents
www.memory
I'll be waiting for you patiently
If you ever feel the need just click on me
At www.memory
-Alan Jackson
It was nearly noon when the party finally broke up. James and Sirius had gotten drunk on punch and were now singing "the Innkeeper's Daughter" with linked arms. Remus assumed they were certain someone had spiked the punch, but Remus had tested it and it wasn't spiked. Apparently sugar has the same effect as alcohol when taken in large amounts.
While the last people stopped laughing at Sirius and James and went down to lunch, Remus brought his gifts to the dorm. He put the chocolate and the quill on his bedside table and put everything else in his trunk (taking extra care of the camera). Then he sat down on his bed to eat is bowl of ice cream.
He had not begun, however, when he noticed that there were two packages on his bed that he had somehow overlooked when he came into the room. One was at the foot of his bed and immaculately wrapped in red with a gold ribbon. The other was in the center of his bed and somewhat oddly wrapped in what looked like a brown paper bag and twine.
While the red and gold package was more pleasing to the eye, the brown package was much more intriguing to Remus for some unknown reason. Putting down his ice cream, he picked up the brown package and slid a small roll of parchment from underneath the twine. The roll was sealed. There was no crest, just a dot of black wax. Remus tore the seal and unrolled the parchment. He scanned the thick, bold lettering and gave a quick glance to the bottom of the page. It was from Sirius.
Remus,
I know we already gave you your present (I really hope you like it), but I had been planning to give this to you all along. When we decided to give you a group gift I knew I couldn't give you this in front of the others. Well, at least not in front of Peter. I'm sure that James would understand. Anyway, that's aside from the point. The point is that I was planning to give this to you anyway.
I really hope you like this. I must admit that it wasn't hard to find. It isn't rare or an antique. Nor is it special in any way other than the fact that I gave it to you (snort just a little bit of humour there… ha ha… ok maybe it wasn't all that funny, but I try. Here I go… I'm off rambling again… ok I'll shut up now).
Well, open up and enjoy!
Who else but,
Sirius
Chuckling slightly to himself, Remus put aside the parchment and carefully opened the package in his lap. Remus slid the paper off to reveal a beautiful leather-bound book. The dark brown leather was soft and flexible in his hands. At the base of the cover were three words in large gold calligraphy: Remus John Lupin.
Remus opened the book to the first page and found another short note from Sirius.
This journal was given to Remus Lupin by Sirius Black on the 10th of March, 1972. May he enjoy its many pages and place within them, you know, pictures and stuff.
Remus chuckled again. He told himself that as soon as he figured out how to develop the pictures from his new camera, he would place the picture taken of the Marauders today on the first page under Sirius's marvelous introduction.
After setting the journal in the drawer of his bedside table, Remus moved on to the elaborately wrapped package that remained untouched at the foot of his four-poster. Wedged under the thick gold ribbon, was a small bit of folded parchment. It read To Remus. Opening the parchment, Remus found a note from Evan Holbrook, a second year Ravenclaw whom Remus occasionally saw in the Library.
Remus:
I hope these come in handy in the future. I hope you do not feel pressured in any way by my assumptions. However, if my choice of gift has startled you, please read it all the same. You may find it more helpful than you could possibly imagine.
Evan Holbrook
Remus put down the note, but did not open the package. Why would I feel pressured? Remus thought, his eyebrows furrowed together. He was a bit wary of Evan's gift, but he opened it anyway.
Very slowly.
What fell onto the bed covers was nothing dangerous. It was a book. It wasn't new, but it could not have been older than a few years. The brown leather binding was a little worn around the edges, but not much. It was second-hand, obviously, but that did not bother Remus. He flipped it over to read the title. His jaw dropped.
Homosexuality in Both the Muggle and Wizarding World Throughout History and Modern Times
Fourth Edition
By Vyvyan Wilde
Remus just gaped open-mouthed at the book before him. He opened and shut his mouth repeatedly, as if trying to ask "Why?" to the air. At long last, he let out a sigh. So that's what he meant by 'pressured by his assumption,' Remus thought with the ghost of a growl.
That moron! Remus yelled in his head. How DARE he… Remus cut his thoughts off. The rational part of Remus overruled his initial reaction. How dare Evan what? How dare he assume what Remus himself had questioned once or twice before?
Remus put his head in his hands and sighed. He got off of his bed and carefully placed the book at the bottom of his trunk, only to be taken out if he felt he needed to read it. Until then, he would forget he had it. He was too young to be worrying about this, yet. Right now, he didn't want to dwell, so, sitting cross-legged, he picked up his ice cream and began to eat, savoring every spoonful.
He was in the midst of his fourth spoonful of cockroachy goodness when Sirius entered the dorm room.
"Hey, Remus," Sirius said cheerily. "Enjoying your icy creamy deliciousy foody?" He plopped down on his back at Remus's feet, his head almost Remus's lap. He looked up at Remus from his awkward position with a huge grin on his face.
"The last part of that sentence doesn't exist in any dictionary muggle or wizard, Sirius." Remus raised an eyebrow at Sirius, and then chuckled at Sirius's obvious confusion. "And yes, I am enjoying my ice cream. Would you like some?" He grinned evilly as Sirius shook his head emphatically and tried to decline politely. "By the way, thank you very much for the journal," Remus said, his devilish smile fading into a grateful half-smile. "I love it, although you could have come up with a better message in the beginning."
Sirius sat up and looked at his hands. "I couldn't think of anything better."
"What about 'May he fill it's pages with pictures and anecdotes of…" But he was cut off by Sirius raucous laughter and the loud thud that followed as Sirius fell off the bed and onto the floor, holding his sides as though afraid they would explode out of him. "What's so funny?"
"That... WORD!" Sirius sat up gasping, trying to pull himself back onto the bed.
"What word," Remus asked, his eyebrows knit together, "anecdote?"
Sirius, halfway on the bed, fell off again in a spasm of laughter. If Remus hadn't known him, even a little, he would have thought that there was something wrong with him. Remus just sat there and watched Sirius as he rolled around kicking on the floor. When Sirius finally calmed down a bit, he just lay on his back with his right hand resting on his chest as he calmed his breathing.
"Anyway…" Remus started slowly, "thank you very much for the journal, Sirius. The wording actually makes it better, in my opinion. It's just so… you. I'll never be able to forget who gave it to me. Well, that and you signed your name, but that's beside the point… Anyway, thanks." Remus meant it, too. It was by far his favorite gift. He didn't go around blurting it to the world, but he actually had a little bit of an addiction to paper and ink. It was one of the reasons he loved books so much. He loved to learn, yes, but the smell of paper and ink and the feel of it beneath his fingers as he turned a page made him more content than anything else in his life. He loved blank paper even more. A calm euphoria washed over him as he filled up a sheet of parchment with his writing. That was the real reason heseemed to enjoy writing essays so much, as well.
Sirius smiled at him. A real smile, not the toothy, boastful grin he showed the rest of the world, but a sweet smile that made his eyes sparkle and Remus feel like he'd conquered the world with the raise of a hand. "I'm really glad you like it," Sirius said quietly, still smiling. "I actually have a journal, myself. It helps me figure things out and keeps me jumping on you or James when I'm ticked off." Remus smiled back at him.
"Hey," Sirius said suddenly, "what's the red wrapping paper from?"
"Oh," Remus flushed a little and stumbled on what to tell him. "It was a present from Evan in Ravenclaw."
"I don't know him," pouted Sirius, certain he had met everyone in the school.
"He's a second year. You see him in the library sometimes."
"OH! You mean the tall one? Blond? Tried out for chaser on the Ravenclaw team this year?" Sirius's eyes lit up. It was preposterous to think anyone had escaped his notice.
"That's right," Remus said, glad he hadn't had to lie about the gift. "What's say we go to lunch? I'm hungry, it's open late on Saturdays, right?"
Sirius tsked. "Oh Remus, if you were ever late for anything, you would know that yes indeed lunch is open late on Saturdays for those unfortunates that don't get out of bed until two." Sirius leapt off the bed and held out an elbow. "Would the birthday boy like an escort?"
Remus chuckled and looped his arm through Sirius's. The talked and chuckled all the way to the dining hall.
A/N: OK. I am terribly sorry that it has been more than a year since I last updated this story. School this past year was hell and a half squared. Stress drove me to the brink of insanity. Anyway, I can't promise that I will be a fast updater from now on, but I will try my hardest. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.
-Nox
Review… you know you want to.