The Comfort of Knowledge, Chapter 4
Remus was settling in nicely.
His kind, studious nature charmed the professors and attracted many admirers—none of whom could seem to get their intent across to Remus. Consequently, the majority of students began to assume that, for all his cleverness, Remus Lupin must be fairly inexperienced when it came to the opposite sex.
Although this was, in fact, an accurate assumption, the idea of becoming experienced did not much appeal to Remus. He genuinely did not (unlike many of his classmates) desire to be the center of attention and expressing interest in any of the girls would likely just provide more fodder for gossip.
It was unsurprising, then, that the boy in question was currently seated next to Terry Shane who, sharing three of the most challenging classes with Remus—Potions, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts—proved to be as intellectually stimulated as his new fifth year friend. As a result, studying became the primary reason for their regular meetings. That, and Remus found he got along very well with the other boy.
Breakfast had just finished that day when Terry waved him over to the Ravenclaw table—holding up his partially finished essay due in the following Monday. Remus had smiled in response and walked quietly to the other table—warmly welcomed by all of the house's students.
The sound of the large double doors swinging open turned the entirety of the room's occupants towards three figures standing at the entrance.
"Can't seem to enter anywhere quietly, can they?" Terry chuckled softly.
Remus smiled in response as he looked over at the small group of boys.
James Potter was making a scene of apologizing profusely to Professor McGonagall for disturbing the Saturday morning study hall while Peter Pettigrew stood snickering a few feet behind him.
Sirius Black, on the other hand, was abnormally quiet as he scanned the Gryffindor table with a strangely intense look on his face.
When the black-haired sixth year finally looked towards the Ravenclaw table, he immediately grinned upon seeing Remus.
Only after Remus had held up his hand in a friendly wave and turned back to his essay did Sirius' eyes flicker towards Terry.
The arrogant grin was immediately replaced by a scowl.
It had been three weeks since the two had taken their walk outside. They rarely found time to see each other, much less talk—occupying separate dorms and attending different classes did not prove to work in their favor.
As he and his friends took a seat at the end of the Gryffindor table, the sound of a squeaky voice interrupted Sirius' thoughts on Remus…and the bloody studious Ravenclaws.
"Er…Sirius…what exactly are we doing in an optional Study Hall?"
"What do you think, Peter? We're studying." He said this with a mischievous look directed at James.
"What he means, Peter, is that we are researching for an upcoming…event. I suspect you have something in mind, Mr. Black?" If the surrounding students could have heard their conversation, even the most oblivious person would not have missed the devilish tone in James Potter's voice.
He leaned forward, making sure no one was listening in.
"Do I dare hope it has something to do with our dear friends over there?" The bespectacled boy looked over and stared pointedly at Severus Snape and the other Slytherins.
Sirius gave him one of his haughty smiles in answer.
"Just wait. Come Monday morning, they will be hiding in their little Slytherin lair—below us—where they belong."
James' eyes sparkled in anticipation.
In truth, it was not necessary for Sirius to bring his two friends to the Great Hall to discuss his latest idea for a prank but unfortunately it seemed that this was the place Remus chose to frequent the most on Saturday mornings…and Sirius was anxious to see the other boy.
He made sure Peter was absorbed in James' detailed recount of last year's quidditch match against the Slytherins before looking discreetly in the direction of the Ravenclaw table once more.
Sirius watched as Remus' bit his quill without thinking, his brow scrunched up slightly in concentration.
He smiled as he thought back to the eager boy at the bookshop.
Yes, his young friend may have grown taller and lost many of his boyish features, but he was sure the other was still the same shy, passionate person he had connected with on that otherwise dark day.
Quite suddenly, Sirius wished that his plan involved something that could take place that very morning—he was not sure why, but he wanted to show Remus how…creative (and downright disobedient) he could be without getting caught.
He quickly turned his attention back to his friends and with an elbow to James' ribs, indicated he was ready to reveal his plan.
Snivellus better enjoy his peaceful morning.
After four hours of writing and revising, Remus released a sigh in satisfaction.
"Finished?"
He looked up to see Terry had cleaned up his own area and appeared to have been watching Remus for quite some time.
"Yeah, I think it will do," he replied.
"I don't know, Remus…your eighteen pages might not cut it," Terry said playfully.
Remus released one of his deep, pleasant chuckles and began packing up his supplies.
Within moments he was bidding farewell to his Ravenclaw friend and agreeing to meet before the upcoming DADA practice exam.
Remus walked slowly to the entrance of the hall and up the stairs to the library—absorbed in a book that Terry had lent him about the exploits of one wizard in France.
Studying a picture of the man holding up an odd looking creature that Remus was trying his hardest to identify, the golden-eyed boy did not notice the approaching students until it was too late.
His books and supplies were scattered about the hall as he crashed head on into a very solid figure.
Remus stood up as quickly as he could manage.
"Please excuse me. I really should learn to be patient enough to wait until I'm actually inside the library before reading…"
The boy he bumped into did not look forgiving.
He had greasy, black hair and an unpleasant glower on his sallow face. Remus remembered seeing him seated among other older students at the Slytherin table.
The older boy looked Remus up and down once and pushed past roughly.
Remus looked over at another pale, pointed face that was looking down at him disdainfully; the boy towered over him in height and harshly hissed at him to watch where he was going.
Unlike the other two, the third figure looked distinctly familiar.
The boy appeared to recognize Remus as well and was clearly about to say something scathing when a couple of seventh year Ravenclaws rounded the corner and narrowed their eyes at him.
The boy glared hard at Remus but followed his friends without having uttered a single word.
Remus frowned for a moment, trying to remember where he might have seen the older Slytherin but before long was picking up his belongings—his mind once more occupied with thoughts of the library.
"Okay Sirius, neither one of us knows what it looks like, so you'll have to go get the book while Peter and I get the ingredients for the serum. We'll meet back in the common room when we're finished."
James, Sirius, and Peter were all standing in the center of their dormitory, books and notes spread out around them.
"Alright. Give me the cloak and you two take the map. You shouldn't run into any trouble…I doubt anyone will be monitoring the dungeons at this hour."
The messy haired boy turned, reached into his trunk, and tossed his friend the cloak.
Outside of the common room, Sirius wrapped the cloak around himself and began walking purposefully in the direction of the library.
It was half past one and after much planning and debating he and his friends had finally perfected their newest plan. He felt the familiar burst of anticipation building up inside him.
He turned left down the final hall and carefully opened the door to the library. Heading straight to the restricted section, he set about finding the necessary book to aid in their activities.
Although the shelves were abundant in their supply of books, it was not long before Sirius had what he needed tucked securely under his arm. He made his way back to the exit with a look of smug satisfaction on his handsome face.
As he neared the doors, however, Sirius noticed something he must have overlooked on his way in.
There was a light coming from the other side of the library.
Curious as to who would be up so late, Sirius stepped quietly towards the dim light at the far side of the room.
His eyes widened in surprise when he saw who it was.
Light skin and shining hair were highlighted by the flickering light of the candles.
Remus was sat at a table, a book open in front of him.
Sirius walked closer, about to remove his cloak, but stopped short.
The candlelight was playing across the contours of Remus' face. It danced sensually over his smooth skin and when it caught his eyes, the tiny flecks of gold lit up. The boy's fingers were tracing over a picture as he read the opposite page.
Sirius had never seen such a captivating sight.
Stepping closer, and with his breath slightly hitched, he simply watched.