I went through my day with my appearance in a disarray, not caring how I looked, just simply hoping to go through the day.
"Remus! Hey, Remus! I need to talk to you!" cried out a voice behind me as I made my way towards the Great Hall for lunch. I tried to ignore, until a hand reached out and grabbed onto the arms of my robe.
"Yes, Lily?" I sighed in irritation, knowing James would kill me if he saw us talking together as I turned to face her.
"Can we talk somewhere? In private?"
"Not now, I have to eat and then get to my next class. Very busy schedule. Very busy." I stared into her green eyes as I spoke.
"Okay, how about... in the Library after last class? Please, Remus?" she pleaded as I continued slowly towards the Hall.
"Ya, okay. After classes, Library. Got it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to eat."
We concluded our conversation as we reached the Great Hall. Sirius waved me over, but upon seeing James' face, I decided to decline and sit further off.
...
I saw Moony and waved him over. He took a step and glanced at Prongs, shaking his head, and walking further up the Gryffindor table.
"That's o-odd, w-why isn't R-Remus coming t-to join us?" stumbled Wormtail as he began to raise a piece of buttered bread to his mouth. His face was already a mess, he didn't need more of it. Nor did he need the weight. I smirked and chuckled quietly.
"Coz I don't want him over here. He betrayed me. He can't join us anymore. He's not one of us, so stop saying his name. Nickname or not, don't talk to him!" Prongs snarled.
I frowned slightly and looked over at Moony, who was munching on a slice of toast and reading a textbook, taking notes now and then. Wait? He's still doing his essay? I saw his lips moving as if he were-
"Sirius!" Prongs snapped his fingers in front of my eyes as I snapped my focus back to us.
"Ya, sorry, what?" I asked, blinking hard and tried to focus on Prongs.
"You have it?"
"Er, what?" I frowned, wondering if I have forgotten something and taking a look at Wormtail. He wasn't there anymore. Prongs must've told him to leave.
"The MAP?" Prongs glared at me and it felt like he was dragging out my soul with the look he was giving me.
"Oh, ya. Don't worry, I got it."
Patting my bag to reassure him, we walked out the Great Hall together, Prongs thumping me on the back. I snuck a glance behind me and saw Evans sitting by Moony, both of them seemed to be chatting to one another as Moony continued writing his essay.
...
"Are they gone?" I mumbled.
"Lemme check." Lily looked over towards James and Sirius, since we saw Peter leave previously.
"Well?" I snapped, "Sorry, I just-"
"They're gone now, and it's okay, I understand you want them gone" she smiled at me and pat my shoulder lightly in reassurance as I let out a great sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Lily. I just... James hates me because I talk to you and I just.. don't want to make more trouble with him. Could you just talk to him? Explain that this 'thing' he suspects we have isn't-" I was startled when she stopped me.
"I can try and talk to him, but no promises. We're still on for the Library after classes?" I nodded in reply to her question, "Great! See you then!"
Lily got up and exited the Great Hall with Severus trailing behind her. He's a strange boy, with his black, greasy-looking hair and too-big robes. It nearly made it look like he was given hand-me-downs from giants.
Chuckling to myself, the bell chimed and it was time to head to my next class.
...
"Hey Moony, did you get the Potions essay done from yesterday?" I whispered as he sat at his usual spot beside me.
"Ya, why?"
"Well... Y'see.."
"You didn't get it done, did you?" I shrugged at him and shifted about a little as he smirked.
"It's not my fault! Prongs wanted me to stay up and work on The Marauder's Map, so then we-"
"Now class, have you all finished your essays? Today they are due, you all know!"Professor Slughorn interrupted. We all mumbled except the few, like Moony, who had actually done the homework.
"That's the spirit! Now, let's get ready for today's lesson and you can all hand in your essays at the end of the class!"
Moony dug through his bag and took out his Potions essay, textbook, quills, ink bottle and some parchment. Always prepared and organized.
I looked around for my Potions things and pulled out some parchment, one of which was labelled 'Marauders Map' and quickly put it back in my bag once I found everything.
"Today, you will learn what would be created if powdered root of asphodel was added to an infusion of wormwood..." I zoned out right there and turned my attention on Moony as the Professor looked through his Potions book and told us which page to turn to.
"You alright, Moony? You seem a little off.."
"Hm? Oh, ya, ya... I'm fine. Ya.. I'm fine."
"Right... well, anyways, as I was saying, Prongs and I were working on the Marauders Map and then we agreed to-"
"Mister Black, could you come switch seats with Mister Snape, please?" I mumbled under my breath and reluctantly grabbed my things and switched with Snivelly.
Sitting down, I realized that the slimeball sits with Tom, Lestrange, Lucius, and that other guy. We all sighed in annoyance as I slumped in my new chair.
Must be covered in slime with the amount of grease sitting in it every Potions class. The group of Slytherins were murmuring to each other from behind me, so I did what I do best. Eavesdrop.
"I can't believe he's making a Gryffindor sit at the Slytherin table!" Riddle hissed at the others as I scowled, trying to ignore them.
"I know! Why this one? Couldn't it have been the other one instead? Or keep Severus and get rid of Bellatrix?"
"Hey! I'm right beside you, Luc-y!" Bellatrix spoke up, taunting Lucius as I tried not to laugh more than a quiet giggle.
"My name is Lucius!"
"I know, I'm just playing with my food and- Ow! Tom.. Why'd you do that?" Bellatrix pouted.
"It was Avery, not me, Bella. I would never hurt you. Gryffindors, on the other hand..."
I lost track after that as I was given another quiz on Herbs and Fungi. I sighed, heard the others do the same, and got to the quiz. I found myself wishing I was beside Moony, him being a lot more clever than myself.
...
The bell chimed as I finished packing my things and I practically ran out the door and up towards the Library where Lily would be waiting for me. I wonder what she wants to talk about? Why in private, for that matter? I hope it's not about what I think it's about.
Well, long as it involves me getting into more trouble with James, I'm okay.
...
Moony practically ran out of the Potions class while I was finishing packing. Where's he off to in such a hurry? Probably needed to go to the lavatory. Must've been holding it in awhile then.
I stuffed the rest into my bag and went up towards the Library to meet Prongs to enchant the Marauders Map.
...
I heard another pair of footsteps hurrying behind me when I was halfway to the Library, maybe more. It could very well be James, better not look though.
Speeding up, I stumbled slightly but recomposed myself shortly after. I had to get to the Library.
...
I was nearly halfway to the Library, maybe more, when I saw someone ahead of me stumble slightly. They straightened themself and continued onward. They must be going to meet someone too. Maybe get help with homework. I won't stop them though.
...
I got to the Library and walked along the bookshelves.
"Lily?" I whispered so Madam Pince would know I'm not to stir up touble.
"Over here, Remus. At the back! Quick, I see someone coming!" she hushed, peeking her head out from the back.
Quickly stumbling over to her, I hid behind the bookcase.
...
"Lily?" I heard someone whisper to get a response. Someone rushed behind a bookcase and I lost sight to look for Prongs.
Not being able to find him, I sat at a desk and had to wait.
...
"Alright, what d'you need to talk to me about now?"
"Well, I was worried about you."
"Why would you be worried? I'm perfectly fine, I swear it!"
"Then you were asleep on the couch by the fireplace because...?"
"How'd you know about that?" I frowned as I tried to think of how she could know I had slept there. Well, she must've passed by when she went to breakfast this morning, which I missed. "Okay, nevermind that first question. And you know why, don't you?"
"Yes, I know, it's because James, that prat, is jealous and think we're together. Which is why I had a talk with him, telling him we aren't. That's not what I wanted to talk to you about though."
"Then why do you need to talk to me? Something wrong?"
"Not with me, no, but you. You okay? You look horribly miserable! Sorry, but you do. I want you to know that I'm here for you, okay?" her emerald eyes met mine again and I smiled a little.
"Ya, I'm okay. Thanks, but you should stop talking to me... Well, not that I don't like you, but-" I was suddenly speechless as she embraced me in a hug. Frozen, I eventually started patting her back.
"It's okay, Remus. I'll take care of James if he gives you any trouble, got it?" she released me and gave me a smile with a sort of look in them that looked familiar.
"Okay, ya... See you later, Lily!" a wide smile broke across my face as she left me behind the bookcase.
...
Evans left just before Prongs approached me.
"Alright, let's look for those books!" Prongs grinned, a gleam in his eye, as we roamed the bookshelves. We came across some books and looked over them.
When I was looking up from a book we had come across, another student passed by us. Sort of looked like Moony, too difficult to tell though, having gone by so fast.
"Hey! Look at this one!" grinning, Prongs came over to the book I had found and wrote down the spell and what it does.
"Well done, Padfoot. Well done. We should all come up with a password to open and close it too."
"Ya! We might need help from Moony though, we aren't exactly the brightest. And we can't exactly count on Wormtail, right? He's really not all that bright." Prongs sighed once this was suggested and he pondered over it awhile.
"Ya, okay. We need Moony now. And we have to find a map of the school, then ask Portraits around the school if they have a hidden passageway behind them!"
"How? Don't think they'd answer to you, of all people. After all, it was Moony who came across the first one..." I smirked, enjoying watching him think.
"Alright, I get what you're trying to say! We need Moony, there, I said it! Happy? Now, we gotta go find him, I guess. Sooner than later..."
As we left the Library after thanking Madam Pince, we heard a cackle.
"Hahaha! Oooh, looky looky! It's Blegh and Potty! Leaving the Library again? You must need a shower! Ooh! And you got lil' wands now too! What you gonna do? Throw a spell at me? Ahaha! Here comes the shower!" cackled Peeves.
Prongs and I didn't need to hear more as we turned on our heels and began sprinting off. We didn't get very far until we got a waterball tossed at us, getting us completely drenched.
We quickly found the Portrait passage and shouted the password.
"My, my, no need to be so rude about it!" we were scolded before it swung open, leaving us to run through to the Fat Lady.
...
I just sat down as the Fat Lady opened to reveal James and Sirius, soaked from head to toe.
"What happened to you two?" I asked, barely containing a laugh.
"Shut up, Moony! We got attacked by Peeves as we left the Library." Prongs snapped.
"What is it with him and the Library?"
"Dunno, but Moony.. We need your help with the Marauders Map." Sirius panted, shivering slightly from the wet robes. At a glance, James was also shivering.
"Alright, but you need to get dry and warm first. Let's go to our dormitory, I'll turn on the heater, you two get into clean, dry clothes." I stood up again and walked myself and my bag up to the dormitory, soaking wet James and Sirius following behind.
"W-What h-happened to y-you? W-Why are you all w-w-wet?" stammered Peter, looking very startled at the sight of James and Sirius drenched in their clothes. They told him about Peeves and he quieted down, going to sleep once I turned on the heater.
All we can do is shake our heads at Peter, still a mere boy willing to try and fit in. Though I did sometimes wonder why he wasn't around with us as often. Oh well.
...
Our clothes were drying by the furnace and we were all huddled around Prongs' bed, though Wormtail was out like a light, we began to plan.
"Alright, we're going to need a map of the Grounds. Sirius, you got that handled?" Remus asked, taking control first after we had all drawn straws and his was the longest and the longest gave out the first order.
"Ya, I can do that. James, can you handle getting ahold of all the Spell books you're able to sign out from Madam Pince?" I asked, mine having been in between, so I could give out the next order.
"I can handle anything! Now Remus, can you go about finding hidden passageways and Portrait passwords? You're the nicest of us all. Don't flatter yourself now I admit to it." James had the shortest straw and had to give out the last order.
"Ya, I can do that perfectly." Remus grinned, obviously flattered to hear he's the nicest of us.
"Alright, it's settled. We have to do it all within this month. And at the end of the month, after this is all finished, we make up some passwords for The Map and decorate it a little to our own tastes." James grinned contently as Remus and I agreed.
...
Rising to go to my bed, I remembered my blanket and pillow were still at the couch. Groaning, I pulled on a shirt and opened the door to go grab them when I stumbled over something. I looked down and saw my blanket folded up neatly underneath my pillow.
Picking them up, I smiled. I knew who did this. Closing the door, I turned to find James behind me.
"Yes, James?" I could feel myself pale slightly.
"I just wanted to apologize for how I behaved the other day. Evans told me that you two aren't... And that you two are friends and.. I'm sorry." he tried managing an apologetic look, which succeeded, and I walked over to make my bed.
"It's okay, things happen between friends, right?" I smiled and James came over to help me make my bed.
"Ya, but if you do like Evans, that's okay. Just make sure you keep her in our gang and away from Snivellus, got it?" he chuckled softly as we finished making my bed.
"Ya, no worries."
"We okay now?"
"Ya, we're okay now.. Just lemme sleep!" I tossed my pillow to the head of my bed and went under the covers to fall asleep peacefully, the events of today reeling in my head, and a smile on my face.