5.
The figures stood there watching him, unable to bring themselves to move forward or even to speak as they saw the once brilliant, kind boy huddled on the floor before them, his eyes darting around and wild looking as though he were some kind of an animal. They instantly knew for certain now that Remus Lupin was being tormented by those who he called friends, or maybe by someone else and yet if it was someone else then why would his "friends" be allowing this to continue? They stood there, unsure of what to do, knowing that whatever was going on was wrong…no matter what the reason was.
Remus crouched on the floor, waiting in complete terror for what was to happen, he was shaking and making small scared noises that were close to whimpers if they had been audible to those present. Remus knew he had made a huge mistake in allowing himself to actually become friends with people, how could he ever have been so stupid as to think that a normal child would ever want or be willing to befriend a dark and evil creature like him. He continued shaking as he crouched on the floor, his head down as he slowly started rocking back and forth; not stopping until he felt a hand on his shoulder causing him to freeze as he realized that the hand was comforting and gentle instead of harsh and angry. Remus slowly turned his head and looked first at the hand and then up the arm until he reached the face that the hand belonged to…it was one of the people he knew would enjoy him being so vulnerable, especially as Remus hadn't managed to succeed in preventing his dorm mates from tormenting him. He gulped silently and lowered his head back down, stiffening and waiting for either the spell or the blow which was sure to come…even if the boy didn't know what Remus was, he was sure not to miss this chance for revenge and really no one would blame him for wanting to get even.
Severus frowned slightly as he noticed Remus stiffen under his hand and move his head back down, he had meant his touch to be gentle though he supposed that Remus would think that he wanted payback for what the Marauders had done so many times to him. How could he convince the boy that he wanted to help, not get even? Severus turned slightly and looked over at Lily, searching for help and not knowing what to do…how could he Severus Snape, comfort the boy who had been friends with his tormentors; he realized that Remus had never actually done anything to him and had in fact tried to stop them on more than one occasion, it was obvious that something between the Gryffindor boys had changed for now Remus was the one being tormented and he could not even escape as often as Severus did as he was in the same house and dorm as they were.
Lily walked cautiously over to Sev and Remus, concerned at the way that Remus cowered before them. After exchanging glances with her friend she knelt down next to the shaking boy and spoke softly, as one would to a frightened animal.
"Remus, it is alright. Sev and I won't hurt you. We just wanted to know what is going on, we are sorry for scaring you."
Lily tried to get a better look at him as she spoke, but he wouldn't look up from the floor. She waited but received no reply. Sev shrugged slightly and took his hand from the boy's shoulder, instead coming around next to Lily and watching Remus closely. Lily tried again to speak to Remus.
"Please let us help you Remus, who hurt you? Why don't your "friends" help you?"
Remus lifted his head slightly but didn't answer, he remembered the last time he had spoken and somehow Peter had found out, he did not want Peter to make his tongue burn again…though he didn't think Peter would do that as he hadn't seemed to like it as much as he liked to hit him. So in order to be safe, he kept silent even as he yearned to talk to them…but then if they knew what he really was then they wouldn't want to talk to or even be near him, no one would and he really couldn't blame them. He looked at them both, his eyes pleading, though even he didn't know what he was pleading for…friendship, kindness, hope, freedom? It could have been any of these things or something else entirely, Remus's eyes clenched tightly shut as he clutched at his stomach and inhaled sharply. He missed the looks of concern and alarm on the faces of Lily and Severus, he couldn't block the pain from his stomach and chest, he had to go somewhere else, he had to. Remus leapt to his feet, snatched his bag and ran as fast as his weakened body could, stumbling with every other step as he ran and ran, only wanting to get away…away from the pain, and away from himself and the monster that he knew he was.
Lily and Severus watched in alarm as the boy ran and stumbled away from them, they looked at each other and both agreed that there was something seriously wrong with Remus Lupin and they thought that they knew who was responsible. They were determined to put a stop to it, no matter what this had to be stopped.
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