The Comfort of Knowledge, Chapter 6
"Wait! Remus—your book!"
With his arm still in his father's grasp, Remus turned to see his black haired friend running towards them.
Both boys smiled when their eyes met.
"Almost forgot your book," Sirius whispered.
"But—" Remus began.
"A gift…for making you late," he said softly, leaning close.
An unfamiliar feeling came over Remus as he carefully took the book and tried to keep it from getting wet.
"Thanks." He whispered back with a smile. He playfully grasped hands with Sirius before he was once again yanked into the pouring rain.
"I distinctly remember telling you to stay put."
Remus felt another rough tug on his arm and he held the book closer under his robes.
"You don't belong among wizards, Remus."
The small boy felt the sting of his father's words but knew all too well that his father did not want to hear a response of any sort. Remus merely turned his gaze to the ground and continued to allow himself to be pulled down street after street.
"Remind me, Remus. Remind me of the rules," his father said harshly as they reached the house and he shoved Remus in.
Another moment of silence passed before he heard his father whisper in a dangerously quiet voice.
"I'll remind you."
Remus sprung up in bed.
With his mind still fuzzy from the dream, it took him a moment to realize where he was.
The morning sunrise was beginning to shine through the infirmary windows and onto the numerous beds aligned on either side. He touched his hand lightly to his ribs. His transformation had been especially painful the night before. Remus did not have to test for bruises to know that it had been painful though.
He always dreamt of his father after that sort of night…when Remus was at his weakest.
He remembered his father's cold eyes boring into him in the dream and shuddered.
"That was a long time ago," he whispered to himself.
Remus laid back down and closed his eyes. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he fell into another fitful sleep.
"Hang on…is that your Potions essay? That's not due until after the holidays! Sirius, are you feeling okay?"
"I just thought I'd get a head start on it…for a change."
James continued to stare at Sirius with a rather blank expression on his face.
"I have something good planned for when we get back…just need to get this stuff out of the way."
James blinked suspiciously at him but did not have time to further question his friend. Sirius, James and Peter had come to the Great Hall to share their last breakfast together before James and Peter caught the train home for the holidays. His two friends, who both could not understand why Sirius wanted to stay alone (unless of course there was a lady involved), had finished their food within minutes and were already anxious to head to the station.
After instructing Sirius to put his mind to better use over the break, the two boys went on their way—leaving Sirius alone with his thoughts.
In reality, he did not have anything planned for the Slytherins—not that thinking up a new prank before the holidays were up would be any sort of a challenge for him—but his sole reason for returning to the Great Hall with his essay had been to look for Remus again.
For the second day in a row the smaller boy was absent from all meals. The majority of students were leaving that day and those who weren't were getting ready for a trip to Hogsmeade. Sirius felt disappointment wash over him as it suddenly occurred to him that the other boy might have gone home early.
He reluctantly began walking towards Hogsmeade on his own, his feet mindlessly kicking snow as he went.
It had been a month since Sirius and his friends had performed their little stunt and Sirius still had yet to speak to Remus. He watched him at meals and in the common room, trying to get his attention, but the other boy rarely made eye contact with him anymore. Sirius still felt the strange sort of guilt that he'd first felt after the prank. He had been determined to talk to Remus about it over the holidays.
As he reached Hogsmeade, Sirius wandered into the first shop he saw. It was clear to any onlookers that he was not really interested in buying anything that day. He walked around distractedly for awhile before moving on to the next shop.
A few hours passed by in this manner before Sirius came to the final shop on the street and felt himself automatically turn around.
He was just beginning to resign himself to the fact that he would not be able to apologize to Remus like he'd planned when a flash of gold caught his eye and made him look up.
Remus.
And Severus Snape.
He felt his heart begin to race and he walked closer, prepared to ignore (for the time being) that Remus was standing next to the greasy Slytherin.
Sirius' excitement immediately turned to anger though when he saw what appeared to be cuts and bruises covering his friend's face. He sprinted towards the pair, his wand out and a curse at the tip of his tongue.
Without asking any questions Sirius grabbed the back of Severus' robes and shoved him in the opposite direction – away from Remus.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Snape?" Sirius yelled, pointing his wand at the Slytherin.
Remus eyes widened in surprise and he quickly stepped forward, grabbing Sirius' arm.
"Sirius, this isn't necessary, Severus hasn't—"
"No need, Lupin," Snape cut in sharply. He glared at Sirius for a moment longer then—much to Sirius' surprise—simply stalked off angrily.
Sirius looked ready to follow but Remus' grip became firm and with reluctance, Sirius lowered his wand and turned to look at his smaller friend.
"Why did you stop me?"
"Severus was just answering a question for me, he's done nothing wrong."
"Then who hurt you? Whoever it is..."
"You'll curse them?" Remus asked softly.
Sirius hesitated for a moment.
"The Slytherins have tried to do worse to us, Remus."
The smaller boy sighed.
"I know, Sirius, it's just that there are other ways to…" he looked as if he wanted to go on, but shook his head instead. "Never mind. What's done is done."
Sirius hesitated.
"Are you angry with me, Remus?"
"No Sirius, I'm not angry with you."
"But you were, weren't you? You haven't spoken to me in ages."
"I've just been a little…busy lately."
Sirius wanted to ask Remus for more information but he could tell that the other boy was uncomfortable with the subject and decided to drop it.
"You're staying for the holidays then?" he asked, a little bit awkwardly.
Remus nodded his head.
Sirius felt his excitement from earlier return.
"Up for getting a drink before you head back?" he asked quickly.
Remus smiled and looked as if he would, in fact, like to when a high-pitched voice squealed from across the street.
"SIRIUS! HEY SIRIUS!"
Sirius turned to see who it was and groaned…trying to remember the waving blonde's name.
"Maybe another time," Remus said, lips twitching.
"But I don't even—" Sirius began.
"SIRIUS!" The girl was hastily making her way across the street.
Remus laughed softly. "See you back at the common room…?"
Despite his annoyance at being interrupted, Sirius couldn't help but smile at the sight of Remus laughing.
"Yeah, see you."