The end of their fifth year. It felt like it went by in a blink of the eye. It tore the friends apart, but it also put them back together stronger than they ever felt before. They were all on track for their O.W.L's. Sirius and James managed to get their grades up to match Remus's and Peter's. She was so proud of her boys, but also kind of scared of the future. School was almost over completely, and she didn't know what she was going to do afterwards.
The boys wanted to be aurors, and she did too, she really honestly did, but how could she? Aurors had to have great grades and a complete background check. A very thorough background check. They'd never let her in.
But, she'd never tell the others that. They weren't dumb, if they were a bit of rebels, but they were not dumb. They knew the truth, but they kept playing dumb too. Remus was wrapping up the last essay of the year. They still had a week left, but it wasn't going to be too difficult after this.
"Remus! Remus!"
She sighed as she heard Siri's frantic yells. What had he done this time? Got caught by Filch roaming the halls? Put an inching spell on the teacher's underwear? The possibilities were endless. She smiled and put away her pen. She was feeling great today as usual. With them being with her on her full moons, it was nice to not have to feel awful for a week afterwards. It was Peter's turn last night. It was a little rough, but probably because his rat form was so small she could never really play with him.
Sirius burst through the doors and she immediately knew something was incredibly, incredibly wrong.
"Padfoot, something up?"
"Snape knows."
Remus smiled and chuckled, trying to think of what Snape could possibly know. Did he know of the map they were making that would show the location of everyone in Hogwarts?
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to tell him-he was saying things, and I just thought what if the Willow whomped him a bit-"
What was Sirius talking about? He was speaking faster than she ever heard him before, but it was still in that over exaggerated tone. He was by far the biggest Drama Queen she had ever met.
"Isn't that what the willow is for? Isn't that what the willow is called? I mean, it is kind of in the name. Whomping Willow. I guess I just wasn't thinking, as usual. Anyway, but he's stupid in so many ways, and he got in."
He what? Remus rose from her spot, her hands clenching around the cold metal of her bracelet. Sirius had bought it for her for Christmas, with a moon charm. James got her a book charm, and Peter got her a small wand. She had given them all cloaks that repelled hexes.
"But James saved you and it's alright. Snape isn't going to tell anyone. And if he does, I will kill him. Unless you don't want me to, but if you do, I will, because I won't let anyone hurt you."
Remus couldn't speak. She was just frozen. How could he? After everything they had been through?
"Moony."
"I…" she had to stop and take a deep breath. "I don't need you to keep people from hurting me."
"But, that's what we're here for."
"No. No you're not. You're supposed to keep me from hurting others. Including myself and you and James and Peter and Snape!"
"Moony"
"I'm done with it." Remus said, shaking her head. "I'm done with the constant pranks and getting detention because I don't have the nerve to speak up for myself! I'm tired of the 'pet names' and the teasing. I'm really tired of you, Sirius. I'm tired of the way you flip your hair and grin at girls and then shoot them all down when they finally ask you out because you were leading them on for weeks!"
"Remus, are you mad?"
"Yes! Yes I'm mad! I'm furious, I'm enraged, I'm pissed! " She yelled and stormed out of the room.
Sirius was about to go after her, but he saw the charm bracelet on the ground where she had once been.
"I'm sorry."