Sirius,
I managed to rescue my trunk, so I've got my Hogwarts robes, even if they are a little charred. I'm fresh out of muggle clothes though, apart from some awful slacks and a vest, so I might have to nab a few bits and bobs from you when I get back there. The rest of the record collection is officially gone, unfortunately, but I believe that you are in possession of my Queen, Beatles, Led Zep and Bowie LPs, so the basics are all still there!
I've found a place in the Lake District. Its not ideal, but it will do. Almost everything is sorted here, so I'm heading over to Hogwarts in 3 days time. Mum is fine and settling well, I've found someone to help her out around here.
And I don't think I've contracted any gangrene, thank Merlin. There's a few cuts that are going to scar worse than if Mme Pomfrey had healed them, but nothing life threatening, and no permanent deformities to worry about.
My hands? They're not very special hands, Pads. In fact I would say they are remarkably average, except for a couple of scars across the knuckles, which are hardly something to miss. I miss your hair. I have nothing to get in my eyes when I'm sat quietly on the sofa at the moment. I keep finding myself waiting for you to rush in, and jump on the settee right next to me, so that I get a face full of your hair.
I guess I'll be seeing you Sunday morning, then.
Loopy Lupin xx
Life without Remus was getting slowly more frustrating for James Potter. Partially because the marauders seemed to get in significantly more trouble without the level headed friend, partially because it meant there was no one to cheat off in DADA.
However, mostly because the moaning of one Sirius Black was driving him up the wall. James had never really realised how much time the two canines spent together, having assumed that Sirius was with women whenever he wasn't with James. But no, apparently he'd been spending time with the third marauder, and now expected the stag to spend this time with him.
However, James had better things to do with his days and nights. Like sleep. Or stalk Lily. Or dream about stalking Lily. Not to mention he was relatively sure that they had collected enough detentions to keep them inside every night until the turn of the millennium.
Yes, James realised, whilst perhaps Remus Lupin was not the most popular or well known marauder, he served a definitive purpose in the school - primarily as a companion for the nuisance that was a bored Black.
"Jaaaaaaames" The boy whined, lying upside down on his four poster. "Can we go outside? There's nothing to do in here." He moaned, hands digging into his hair.
"No. Read a book or something." James muttered, poring over his transfiguration homework, due in... James glanced at his watch... 3 hours ago. He glanced at Sirius, whose face had assumed the 'Black Scowl". James sighed, unwilling to deal with his friend in this mood. "Fine then. Don't do anything. Just mope, and scowl, and moan about how shiteoric life is. But don't expect me to pay attention. I've spent all day with you, and we've pranked, we've joked, we've laughed and we've flirted - not with each other, mind - but I need a break. I love you, mate, but there is definitely such a thing as over-exposure to Sirius Black."
Sirius glared once more, before relaxing his face into a pout and rolling onto his front. "Remus is never over-exposed to me."
"That's because Remus has the patience of a patron saint. I, however, do not. Why don't you go and grab a girl... guy... whatever to go and 'over expose' if you're that bored." James replied, grabbing another piece of parchment as he scrawled about the transformation of plant pots to feathers. Why any individual would feel the need to do this piece of magic, he did not know. He did, however, know that he needed to get this essay done before McGonnagal hexed him so hard he couldn't walk for a week.
"Urgh. Fine. If I must." Sirius groaned, pulling himself slowly off the bed. "You need to work on being a better listeny friend." He grumbled, moving to the door.
"Hypocrite."
"Overgrown dear."
"Smelly mongrel."
"Four eyes."
"That one hurt, right here." James cried dramatically, throwing his hands to clasp over his chest. He got a flick of the Vs in response, and laughed as he watched his friend move down the stairs, hearing the barritone voice rumble "why hello, darling, I don't believe we've had the chance to get acquainted" at some poor unassuming Gryffindor.
James looked down at the scrolls once more, realising that there was dog slobber over his transfiguration text. Grumbling about mangy mongrels and saliva issues, he wiped the book off, before grudgingly returning to his work.
Sirius huffed angrily as he rolled once more in his sleep, glaring at his mattress. It was lumpy. And cold. And, in general, unwelcoming. He punched it once more, before glancing with envy across to the bed across the room.
It was common knowledge that Remus Lupin had been gifted with the most comfortable bed in the Marauders' layer. Even James had admitted that their was something strangely comforting about the werewolf's soft bed. Sirius had several theories as to how this had happened, most of which ended with Remus romancing House Elves. Although Sirius had considered following his wolfy friend's romantic lead in order to get a comfier bed, he had never followed through.
Their small hands scared him.
However, the bed was now taunting him with its comfy exterior. The moonlight glinted off the rich throws enticingly, highlighting the smooth lines of the velvet fabric, whilst the plush pillows breathed pliably. Sirius groaned with frustration, sitting up in his lumpy, rough bed.
Sirius had spent many a night in Remus' bed. Whenever there was an angry letter from home, or a romantic rendezvous gone wrong, or a horrific encounter with an angry puffin, Sirius would find refuge in the soft sheets, as his wolfy friend listened to the problems of the world. Occasionally, one could find Sirius returning the favour, listening aptly as Remus let loose, huffing about the issue of the day.
In the absence of his tawny friend, however, Sirius had yet to inhabit the soft sheets, instead confined to his own rough, lumpy, scratchy covers. He glanced over at the pliable bed once more and sighed, deciding to give in to his desires.
He crept out of his own bed softly, padding slowly across the cold wooden floors until he stood inches away from his friend's bed. Looking uncertainly at the ethereal bed, Sirius hesitated momentarily, touching the throws lightly before throwing caution to the wind and diving into the large bed.
The dog couldn't help but huff angrily when the bed didn't quite meet his expectations. The sheets were as soft as ever, the mattress as comforting and the pillows as buxom. But the large bed was missing the inherent smell which usually surrounded the four poster.
The smell of pine needles, and soft spices, and chocolate. The smell of old novels, and pear cider, and occasionally the soft undertone of cigarette smoke, plus something that was completely unique. The smell of Remus.
Sirius' couldn't help but sigh as he realised that his canine senses missed the smell of his closest friend. He inhaled sharply, hoping to find some trace of his wolfy friend in the sheets that had been cleaned countless times over the summer. His lips turned downwards as his nose picked up the scent of flowers, and apples, and detergent. This was not right.
He huffed once more, burrowing his head in the pillows, before he gasped gleefully in remembrance. Reaching underneath the piles of pillows, he found a small, soft blanket, unwashed as usual.
Remus' comfort blanket had remained under his pillow since the end of first year. The lupine often used it to cover his face in the mornings after the full moon, when even the thick curtains around his bed couldn't block out the tiny rays of light that cut his corneas. A source of comfort, of solitude, of relaxation.
An unwashed source of comfort, of solitude, of relaxation. Sirius buried his nose into the soft fabric, sighing gratefully as the scent of his friend washed over him, easing the tense muscles with its calming influence. It had been 3 long months since Sirius had inhaled the drug that was Remus' scent, and he now lapped greedily at it, inhaling deeply through his nose for several long, blissful minutes, until finally the scent of his lupine companion brushed the boy into a comfortable, deep sleep.
Rem,
Come home. Please. Sirius is slowly driving me insane. I don't know how you put up with the oaf.
Peter says hi.
Prongsyboy
SORRY ITS SHORT! I'm in a mad rush, sorry i haven't responded to reviews, FF issues plus a massive workload has prevented me from getting anything done.
Sorry for spelling mistakes et cetera, I haven't read through it as a whole today... =(
