23.
The first couple days of classes were rather harder than the three boys from Gryffindor, had originally thought they would be. It seemed a bit more difficult to fully integrate into the rhythm and schedule of Hogwarts than it had been the previous year, though they only thought so because there was a full moon looming ever closer, and well they each had two more classes than they had the years before.
In all of their classes it seemed as though the teachers had decided that the third-years were now capable of performing spells which were much more difficult than they were used to. Even James was having trouble in Transfiguration, though admittedly not nearly as much trouble as the rest of his classmates.
During their walks to and from classes the three of them would make note of the rooms, corridors, stairways, and secret passageways which they encountered in order for the map that they wanted to create, to be the most accurate. Remus had an idea for the map, but he wasn't sure that it would work; he would have to do some research in the library before he told the others about it.
James was being rather odd, it seemed as though he had gotten even more obsessed with Quidditch (if that was even possible), and now it was all he could talk about. Even his school essays had at least three things having to do with Quidditch in them, he couldn't seem to help himself and the other two weren't sure that he would even if he wanted to. Sirius teased him mercilessly about it—even though he was obsessed as well—and the two of them would often end up wrestling on the floor of either the common room or their dorm. These "wrestling matches" would only end when they had either begun laughing so hard that neither could breathe, or when one of the prefects stormed over and forcefully separated them. Remus often thought that the two of them could have been brothers; they were so similar in their thinking and in what they considered funny that it was rather shocking that they weren't…they even looked similar, well apart from the eyes. They were so similar that there were times when Remus felt like an outsider. Someone who didn't quite belong, even though they had accepted him when so many other wouldn't have and they did so many things together, just the three of them; yet there was no doubting that James and Sirius were closer to each other than they were to anyone else.
Remus hadn't really had a chance to talk to Severus yet, it was only the first week though, so he wasn't too worried about that. What worried Remus were the looks which he sometimes caught Peter giving him…looks of absolute and complete loathing. He knew that Peter wasn't going to simply ignore him, he would have to be careful when he went places alone, or else he was pretty sure that Peter would be there waiting for him.
Currently, Remus was in the library working on a rather large stack of books which he was looking through to help him find spells for both the prank that they wanted to pull at the end of the week; as well as something that would help him place people on the map and would be able to show them actually moving around the castle. He sighed wearily and stretched—popping several joints in the process—he set down his quill and glanced at the books that he still needed to go through. Remus looked at his watch and grimaced when he saw that the library would be closing shortly. He ran a hand through his hair—making it stick up in odd places—then he gathered an armful of his books, returned the others to their proper shelves, grabbed his book-bag, and then made his way towards the door.
Remus decided to make a detour to the kitchens and grab a snack for himself as well as for the other two who were sure to be hungry about now anyway. He had just turned the corner to head down the stairs to the portrait which concealed the kitchens, when he came face-to-face with non-other than Peter. He opened his mouth to apologize, but was cut off by a shove from the other boy which sent him crashing into the wall. Remus dropped his books and hastily scrambled in his pockets for his wand, grabbing it; he drew it out and managed to cast a stinging hex at Peter before his wand was knocked out of his hand. One solid punch later, he was on all fours trying to breathe as a sharp pain shot through his ribs.
Remus had not spent the summer cowering in a corner; he had learned a few things about defending oneself and now was as good a time as any to show Peter that he would not be pushed around again simply for being a monster. Something was growing inside Remus, stretching and pulling at his skin. Making him angry and wanting nothing more than to hurt the person responsible for his torment through the last part of the year. His hands curled into fists, his eyes became wild and angry, he pulled himself to his feet and stood there glaring at Peter. His eyes found those of the other boy and he stared into them, defiance and a cold fury radiating from him; he would not let Peter hurt him this year. Not again. Remus charged at Peter, his fist connecting with Peter's jaw and actually succeeding in making the bigger boy stagger backwards a few feet.
Peter was shocked, he hadn't thought that the freak would or even could fight back. Yet here he was, standing in front of him, looking angrier than Peter had ever seen him and the monster had just punched him. Peter was not going to let that go unpunished. When the half-breed came charging towards him, he simply stepped out of the way. Sending Remus tumbling down two flights of stairs to land in a heap at the bottom, Peter tossed the freak's books and bag down the stairs after him and smirked when the freak didn't move. He hoped that it was hurt, even if he knew that it probably wouldn't have died from that fall...it would at least have a few broken bones, and if not, then Peter could always make sure that that happened later. After all, he had the whole of this year to torment the monster. Oh Peter was very much looking forward to this year, very much indeed.
Thank you for reading, this latest chapter. Please review, and I hope that this story will continue to be at least interesting. Thanks again and you are all awesome!