A/N- This is for Rue-the-Marauder, who gave the idea for Remus' stress building up over time and just exploding, as shown in Chapter 10 of Reading the Chamber of Secrets. She had more to her story, though, and I wanted to write her a chapter in this- it's more of a one-shot, really. I'm quite proud of it.
That said, I would also like to open the floodgates for requests. Whether it be an addition to this fic or a one-shot all it's own, I will do my best to write something for you. It doesn't even have to be about the Marauders. I found it was great, writing for someone to fufil a request yet going my own way with it. This also comes with a warning that I have absolutely no idea when it may be finished, but if you give me a propmt I agree to do, it will be done... eventually. That said, on to the chapter!
Disclaimer- You really think that this amateur piece of work belongs to J. K.? Hah. Hahahaha. Good one.
I'll Tell you Later
Chapter 3- Boom
"Poor Remy. Lots of stress just builds up, and then... boom."
Thursday morning dawned bright and sunny, a fact that made every self-respecting teen or pre-teen in the castle groan as they set about getting ready for classes at the ungodly time of the morning.
"Oi, Pete! Geddup, we've got Charms first this morning!" Sirius yelled - much too loudly, in Remus' opinion.
The loud snoring continued.
He and James exchanged a glance - a sleepy, 'what can you do?' - and wished Sirius good luck as they stumbled off toward the showers. Ten minutes later as Remus walked out of the loo combing his dripping hair, he still heard the water pouring in James' shower. He hoped the other boy hadn't fallen asleep while he was in there again.
Remus shook his head like a wet dog, something that the other boys found extremely amusing given his... condition.
He resumed combing as he entered the dorm that the Marauders shared. Sirius seemed to be at his wit's end, and it appeared that Peter was soaked by water, covered in a few thrown pillows, and an alarm clock was ringing annoyingly. Remus even saw the bottom of a tuba sticking out from under the bed, and he wondered how he hadn't heard this, one room away.
"I don't know what the hell will wake him up anymore; he sleeps like a dead rock!"
Not bothering to point out that rocks weren't alive to begin with to earn the status of being dead, he crept up to the bed, and said in a whisper:
"They're serving bacon at breakfast."
The two boys stepped back, and James was just coming back from his shower in time to see the miracle of how fast Peter could move when there was food to be eaten. He zoomed out of the room, leaving an honest-to-Merlin draft in his wake that fluttered the hair and robes on the three boys, shaking their heads in silent amusement.
They finished getting ready and headed down. Remus was stuck in between the two as they went on and on about something- Pirates versus Ninjas, or something ridiculous like that. Sirius was siding with Pirates, and James, Ninjas.
"What do you think, Remy? The suave marauders of olde-"
"I heard that silent 'e' on the end, Sirius," Remus glared accusingly. He already had a headache from their debate, and the ringing of that alarm clock was still reverbarating in his head.
"It's cooler that way!" Sirius protested. "Anyway, the suave marauders of olde, fighting with swords for their loot-" He grinned rougishly, stepping in front of Remus to hold an imaginary sword at the ready for battle. Remus continued to walk passed him.
"Or," James now took up the narration, "The silent creepers of the night, swooping around and assasinating people before they know what hit them! Hwaaaah!" He too struck a pose, his hands flat and in a sill karate move, one leg hanging by the knee in the air. Remus continued on by passed him, too.
"You know, Ninjas sound awful Slytherin, to me." Sirius said snidely, jogging to catch up with Remus. "Pirates face their enemies fairly, brave like true Gryffindors." He smirked at James' gobsmacked expression.
"Yeah? Well... Ninjas are just cooler! They keep to the shadows, and can never lose."
"Yeah, slithering like snakes."
"I'll have you kn-"
Remus barged through the Great Hall doors, trying to calm his raging headache. Unfortunately, most of the school was in here, chatting away as if perfectly okay with the fact that they were making someone's headache worse. He grumbled to himself and sat down.
"Oh, hey Remus."
He glanced up. "Hey Lily," He offered wearily to the redhead, currently munching on some toast.
"Hey, are you okay?" She asked, keeping her voice down, looking concerned. He smiled at her gratefully.
"Got a bit of a headache."
Lily grimaced knowingly. "Sorry," she said, barely audible. "I hope you feel better."
Remus nodded and smiled again in thanks, and was just thinking that maybe this morning wouldn't be so bad-
"Hey, EVANS!"
"Oh, Merlin," The two sighed at the same time.
James was rushing over, already pulling a hand through his hair. Sirius trailed at a good distance behind, a smirk on his face.
"You're looking exceptionally beautiful today, Evans," James complimented, a charming smile on his face. She waited, her arms crossed tightly, glaring daggers out of green eyes. James faltered. "Well, not that you're not always exceptionally beautiful, because you are, and I didn't mean it to come out like that... I- I mean-" He was blushing, not even meeting her eyes anymore. He trudged away. "Well, I bulloxed that up." He said, as he got back to Sirius. The straighter-haired one snickered in response.
No one but Remus had noticed the pleased look that had come into Lily's eyes when James said she always looked beautiful. He doubted she knew it herself.
He made to stand, and she gave him a one-armed hug. "Thanks again," he said, walking away. Denial is not just a river, Lily.
He made his way to charms, arriving at the locked classroom door fifteen minutes early. He tapped his foot impatiently - which was odd, normally he was a very patient young man - until Flitwick opened his door. He gave a high pitched sqeak that went straight to Remus' raw headache. He tried not to show his wince.
Five minutes later, after everyone had piled into the classroom, Flitwick started the lesson. He was nice, friendly, intelligent, and Remus respected the man. Held him in high reguard. But the voice...
The worst class to have during headaches.
A few misplaced cheering charms later, Remus was saddled with a limp and giggly James, who couldn't seem to walk on his own. His knees were weak from the happy endorphins the spell created and let loose, and Remus had to keep him upright.
"Ha ha, look at those walls, Rem-em... memy!" James laughed and pointed at a perfectly normal stretch of wall, causing many odd looks. "Aren't they so funny? Haha, ha ha! Hey woah, walls, stop mov-vi-ving..." He rocked back and fourth, his eyes growing wide. He stumbled and took a dive for the floor. It took all of what Remus had to keep him from hitting the ground, yanking him back up into standing position.
"A little help, here, Sirius?" Remus gritted out, trying to keep balance for both himself, and the boy on a happy-high. Sirius looked over, looking content with the world.
"Yeah, sure Rem," He said, smiling, reaching over to grab James' right arm.
Remus almost wished he'd been hit by a charm, too, so he wouldn't have to deal with the negative emotions from this headache. But, he was always the responsible one, so just as his partner was getting ready to cast, he looked over and saw James hit the ground, laughing madly. He sighed, pushed Peter over to work with Yangleton, from Ravenclaw, and asked Flitwick if he could take James to the Hospital wing. Sirius complacently tagged along.
As they dragged a drunk-looking James into the Hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey was busy healing another giggling student- Oh, that's right, Remus remembered. Greenly got hit with one, too.
Pomfrey rolled her eyes at her new patient, and guestured for them to drop him off on the bed across from the blonde girl she was tending to. The matron was grumbling under her breath, and Remus heard something about not teaching cheering charms until at least next year, when they can hold a wand straight and know not to put so much power into it grumble grumble.
Pomfrey was normally sweet, if not a bit stern. She must be having the same sort of day I am, Remus thought.
He and Sirius waited until Pomfrey had healed James, and by them Sirius' charm had worn off and the bell was just ringing. They hurried to be able to make it to their next classes- Divination for the darker haired ones, Arithmancy for the lighter.
Complex algorithms and theories on how to make spells work and creating new ones did not agree with the pounding in Remus' temples. He collapsed at the lunch table an hour and a half later, stuffing a roll in his face after eating nothing for breakfast.
Peter soon joined him, and a few people nearby scooted away as though afraid he would eat their hands off if they were too close. For a small boy, he could sure eat. Remus decided to leave before he could grow too nauseated, on top of his headache.
The library should be quiet enough, he decided. Unfortunately Irma Pince had just finished yelling at two girls giggling about something in a pink journal, and had sent them out for 'disrupting the peace. She was in a foul mood, and she swooped down in all her righteous fury when he accidently dropped a book on the floor. He recieved a thorough tongue-lashing from her, and was shooed out of his sanctuary.
Care of Magical Creatures would be nice, but the sun blared into his eyes and sent stabs of pain to the center of his brain. It didn't help that they were studying Jobberknolls*, which were completely silent until they died, where it lead out a long and loud scream of every sound it had ever heard- backwards. It was maddening, and he'd be surprised if his facial muscles did anything other than wince for the rest of his life.
He sighed in relief when they got back to the cool shade of the school, out of hearing distance of the Jobberknolls. James and Sirius had started up their Pirate/Ninja debate again, and dragged Peter into it. Not wanting to risk angering either of them, Pete compromised: A Ninjirate.
The two were now trying to decide whether Peter's made up thing was closer to a ninja or a pirate.
"Well, Ninja is first in the name."
"Yeah, but Pirate has more letters in that name. That makes them superior."
Remus was close to clapping his hands over his ears and singing LALALALALA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! at the top of his lungs. It was a very close thing.
They got to potions, a double lesson of horrible fumes and melted cauldrons. Slughorn and the rest of the room were sweating at the heat, fanning themselves with their hands. The only people doing it right were Lily and Snape, because Remus had finally given up trying for the day. He sat in his chair, ankles crossed over the other and put on the table.
They were carefully removed when an acid green liquid began bubbling from Pete's cauldron.
Everyone was glad to escape when it was all over, but none so much as glad as Remus. He almost skipped. Almost.
He put off doing his homework and went straight to lie down in his comfy four-poster. He sunk into the matress and pulled his sheets up over his head, trying to relax-
And of course, that was when the other three Maruaders walked in, joking and laughing and yelling and generally having a good time.
Except for one.
Remus reached under his bed to pull out his chocolate stash. If anything could cure this, it was chocolate. Chocolate was healer of all.
He pulled out the box, brought it under the covers, and slipped off the lid.
He went still.
Crumbs of his delicious, milk-chocolate lifesaver were all that was left. A few chocolate smeared fingerprints alerted him to the culprits immediately.
His bed shook, the windows rattled in their frames, and a magical wind flung the sheets off of Remus' head. His hair flipped in the gust created by his magic swirling around him. The other three stopped and stared, wide-eyed, at Remus' loss of control.
They'd seen him mad before. Pissed. It only happened every once in a while. This was the third time it had since they'd known him.
Remus was a calm, gentle, nice individual, who bottled bad emotions up inside. Eventually, the bottle got too full, and overflowed with an outburst of pent-up agression.
They had never seen it get this bad, though.
Remus smiled maliciously at their startled expressions, and conjured a bat. Not the nocturnal animal, hanging from caves and using echolocation to find bugs. No. The aluminum, made-of-stuff-that-can-crack-skulls, baseball bat.
He let it fall heavily into his palm a few times, the smack of bat against flesh echoing throughout the room.
Luckily, the other Marauders had planned for this. (Well, Sirius and James had, anyway).
Sirius began shouting impressive-sounding orders. "Evasive manuver, code three, this is not a drill, I repeat, not a-"
The bat connected with the side of his head. James managed a silencing charm just as Remus began to yell.
"I have put up with you three ALL DAY! The noise, the headache, the stupid PIRATES AND BLOODY NINJAS! I actually like ZOMBIES, but did ANYONE BOTHER to ask what I thought? NO!" He yelled, chasing after Sirius and hitting him on the back and shoulders. "Even after I do EVERYTHING for you- homework, waking up Pete, and dragging YOUR bloody INTOXICATED-ON-CHEERING-CHARMS-ARSE up THREE flights of stairs to the hospital wing!"
He had started going after James with the bat now, but he was faster than Sirius and could dodge most of the hits.
"That's not all!" he continued to shout, reminding Peter of annoying commercials on his Mum's telly back at home, "You drag ME into ALL of YOUR PRANKS, and WHO gets in trouble for it? WE ALL DO. Not the two who came UP with the pranks, NO-O." He stands there, looking sarcastic, seeming not to notice when Sirius began conjuring a titanium bomb shelter. "The one who TRIES to talk you out of it gets detention too. DETENTION! I came here to learn, and NOW I'VE got DEMERITS! DEMERITS, I TELL YOU!
"But that's not even IT! Do I EVER get a 'Thank you Remus', or an, 'I'm sorry, Remus'? NO! I DON'T!"
He continued to rage as James sent a Colloportus at the door, just in case anyone tried to get in. Sirius was pushing Peter into the bomb shelter, and as James made to close the door behind them all, he saw Remus' eyes flash amber. The heavy door closed with a bang.
Sirius whistled lowly. "Wow. That's the worst I've ever seen him."
"I know," James agreed, frowning slightly. "He must have been having a really bad day. And we didn't even notice."
They were disappointed with themselves. Even Peter, who, admittedly, was the one who had eaten the chocolate, thus setting the Werewolf off.
They waited for the metal clangs to cease, which were likely Remus hitting the shelter with the bat.
... And a few more minutes, just to be safe.
But just in case, they sent out Peter first. Pete looked around, gave a sigh or relief, and gestured for the other two to emerge. They did so.
Remus was asleep, curled up tightly around his bat like it was a teddy, breathing softly. The three boys levitated him onto his bed, carefully extracted the bat, and left him alone, going downstairs to do their homework that Remus may want to look at later. Or not. These were Sirius, James, and Peter, after all; not exactly the brightest lumos from the wand.
Remus woke up the next morning, his headache back with a vengeance. It was always like that after he exploded. He kept his eyes closed for a few minutes, sighing periodically. Finally, he decided he'd best get up. He owed the other Marauders an apology for snapping like tha-
He squinted. It was much too bright to be six in the morning. Remus began to panic. He'd overslept? And the other boys hadn't woken him?
He was almost mad - before he saw his night stand. A potion rested on a folded piece of parchment. He recognized the color for what it was; A headache remedy. He downed it without a thought, and then opened the letter with a much clearer head.
Remy, it began. Remus recognized James' handwriting.
This is a Headache Remedy, as you've probably already figured out. I nicked it from Pomfrey's cupboard, and before you get on me about stealing, think: Would you really have trusted one of us to brew it right?
He had a good point. Remus forgave him for stealing the potion.
Also, we let you sleep in. We figured you deserved it, for everything you've done for us. We're going to tell all the teachers that you've got a fever - Dumbledore already knew the real reason when we went to tell him. His eyes got that little twinkle in them. I don't think he minds you skipping classes for the day. Especially since the big cheese is tomorrow.
The 'big cheese' was their code word for the full moon. Ever since Pete brought up that he wished the moon was really made out of cheese. Some muggle expression, apparently.
The handwriting suddenly switched over to Sirius':
We figure you were just PWSing; Pre Werewolf Syndrome-ing.
Remus rolled his eyes. Sirius never failed to make jokes about his 'time of the month'.
Anyway, we just wanted to say...
We're sorry.
James, Sirius,and Peter
Remus smiled. They weren't so bad.
He might just keep them around, yet.
A/N- The Jobberknoll comes from Rowling's book: Fantastic Beasts and where to find them. Her full definition below:
"The Jobberknoll (northern Europe and America) is a tiny blue, speckled bird which eats small insects. It makes no sound until the moment of it's death, at which point it lets out a long scream made up of every sound it has ever heard, regurgitated backwards. Jobberknoll feathers are used in Truth Serums and Memory Potions."