The boys huddled under the invisibility cloak as they snuck into the Gryffindor common room. They were worn weary from the nights adventures and the bottom of their cloaks, trousers and socks were muddy, wet and beginning to dry leaving a horrible feeling. They had almost made it to the foot of the stairs that led up to the dormitories when a voice sounded.
"And where have you four been?" Lily asked, standing up from the red armchair. She waited for a moment, the dying fire glowing on her face. "I know you have that bloody invisibility cloak, Potter. There's no use hiding from me."
"Don't say a word," James hissed looking at his friends from underneath the invisibility cloak. "She might not notice us."
"You dick!" Sirius said exasperated.
"What?"
"You said don't talk, which prompted you to talk therefore defying the entire notion of not talking!" Sirius said.
"Oh,"
"Did that make some kind of sense that I'm not in on?" Peter asked.
Remus rolled his eyes and proceeded to remove the cloak and hand it to James who smiled sweetly at Lily.
"Ah," He said. "Evans, shouldn't you be in bed getting your beauty sleep?"
"Shouldn't you?" Lily snapped.
James pulled a face. "Now, I'm hurt."
Sirius patted James' shoulder. "Get over it you big lump."
Lily turned her attention towards Remus whilst she tied her dressing gown belt. "I thought you would have had more sense than to let these... Idiots lead you into something stupid. I told McGonagall that it was you who set of those explosions in the courtyard,"
"Oh, Evans! Say you didn't!" James wailed.
"I don't think she's lying," Sirius said. "That means detention for you,"
"And for you," Lily said snapping her head towards the handsome boy. "Don't you dare think that I would miss out Sirius Black, James Potter's magnificent friend. I know you had a part to play in it. McGonagall is furious. You're looking at months of detention. Or even worse, suspension and supervision."
"Excuse me?" Sirius said. "We were just attacked by a horde of spiders! Cut us some credit!"
"Giant spiders?" Lily scoffed, folding her arms.
"It's true," James said earnestly. "In the Forbidden Forest."
"Don't be preposterous," Lily said. "First years are not allowed to go into the Forbidden Forest."
"Yes, but that's according to the rules," Sirius said mildly. "And do not forget that rules exist mainly to be broken and if not battered to pieces with a goblin made axe."
Lily folded her arms. "Students are not permitted to go into the forbidden forest unaccompanied, at night and evade suspension." She said.
"What are you going to do?" James challenged. "Rat us out to McGonagall?"
"Mate, I wouldn't taunt her," Sirius said. "She's probably got her speech all lined up for McGonagall tomorrow."
"Too right," Lily said folding her arms. "Sweet dreams boys," She said crossing them to the foot of the girl's dormitories. She turned to them, her hand on the stone wall. "Who knows, this might be the last night you ever spend here." She turned and went up the stairs.
Remus looked devastated, James and Sirius looked at each other frowning. Peter stood confused and a little lost.
"Evans," James said finally. He sighed as Lily made her way back down the stairs. "Listen, please don't tell McGonagall. We won't do it again."
"Do what? Sneak out at night and go to the forbidden forest, or get caught?" Lily asked her hands on her hips.
"Either," Sirius interjected. James pushed his face away from them as he stared up at Lily.
"Shut it Black," Lily said drearily. "Potter, you have probably broken about fifty school rules. How can I let that slide?"
"You don't... I mean... I know you'll do what is right," James said. "Because I trust your judgement."
Lily bit her lip, looking at James. She shook her head and turned away, walking up the stairs and disappearing into the girls dormitories, a faint click of the door sounding. Sirius turned to James.
"That was sly," He said.
"That was manipulation," Remus said sadly.
James rounded to him, his glasses flashing in the cinder light of the fire. "Would you rather be expelled?" He asked.
Remus' eyes widened. "No," He said. "No of course not. No."
"Then shut up," James said. "You've been a wet blanket all day and it's not cool anymore."
"Cool it," Sirius said. "It's not his fault that Lily doesn't like you."
James grinned. "Yeah, I guess." He turned, tucking the invisibility cloak under his arm and bounding up the stairs. Sirius and Peter followed leaving Remus to his thoughts. He pondered for a moment before following his friends up to the dormitory.
...
Peter woke up suddenly, drenched in sweat and images of spiders locked in his head. He shifted slightly in his bed sheets and frowned. There was a noise coming from the other end of the room. It sounded like sobbing. Who was crying? Peter cried out in a grunted humour before sleep took its pleasant hold again. The noise stopped abruptly. Peter continued frowning until his face was sore and then he drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Remus waited until he heard Peter's snore before looking back at the picture of his family. The half-moon outside shone through the drapes and made his skin burn and itch, like he wanted to pull at it and scratch and weep. He bit into his pillow stifling another sob, before dissolving into tears once more.
...
James was annoyed. Really annoyed. Aside from McGonagall giving him detention for the end of the school year, she had not acknowledged Lily's claims that he was responsible especially when no one had seen him. The detention was for disrupting class. Most of the students hadn't even believed James when he said that he had caused half the frozen lake to fall into itself. Those who did believe him now followed him around as if he was some sort of idol. He was in a bad mood all week.
"It's like they don't even recognise who I am!" He cried out.
"Don't worry mate," Sirius said stuffing a forkful of sausage into his mouth and picking up his goblet. "You have six more years to make a name for yourself."
"That's not the point," James said. "They don't know who I am!"
"Yeah..." Remus said not looking up from his work. "Wait, who are you?"
"Funny, har har har," James said in mock laughter.
"Yes, I thought so," Remus said. "There," He finished the paragraph and handed it to Peter. "That's it marked with some notes to put into your conclusion. Write it out before Charms so I can go over it again and make sure you haven't done anything stupid to mess it up." He handed Peter the parchment.
"Remus," Peter said, breathing a sigh of relief. "You are a lifesaver, a gift to men, a god, a... A..."
"What Peter would like to say," Sirius said, interrupting. "Is that he fancies the pants off you and will be quite happy to take you out anytime soon."
Remus rolled his eyes. "One, I hope I'm a gift to women, not men, two, I'm hardly a lifesaver, and three, don't leave it until the morning it needs to be handed in to ask me about it." He said.
"Gift to women eh? Got your eye on someone?" Sirius asked nudging Remus who was trying to pile some scrambled eggs onto his fork.
"Sirius, if you want to ask Sarah out go ahead," Remus said.
Sirius practically coughed on his pumpkin juice. "WHO TOLD YOU THAT?"
"No one," Remus frowned. "I just thought it was a bit obvious. I rather thought you and Ms Thompskin would have made a wonderful couple."
"She's not my type," Sirius shrugged.
"And what is your type?" Remus asked.
"Not idiots," Sirius grumbled.
"That's you out of the running Peter," James said.
Remus checked his watch. "Class will be starting in a few minutes," He said wearily getting to his feet.
"Urgh!" Sirius grunted.
Remus raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
"Yes," Sirius said. "Xeno."
"What about him?"
"Nargles."
"Nargles?" Remus asked.
"Yes apparently my hair is full of them."
"What are they?"
"Haven't the foggiest,"
"Right," Remus frowned. "He can't be that bad,"
"He is," Sirius muttered. "He sprouted some bullshit about you being some sort of Derickwalgonsnatcher. Whatever the hell that is. What is it?"
Remus shrugged, his expression vacant. "Not sure," He replied. "He sure does have an imagination,"
"Tell me about it!" Sirius said. "He claimed that Professor Hagrid was half giant. I mean come on! He may be on the larger side, but I'm pretty sure it was an engorgio charm that went wrong."
"What was he trying to make-" Remus frowned then shuddered. "Forget it," He said. "I don't want to know. Coming?"
"To class?" James asked. "Not a chance. I want to go down and watch the Quidditch trials."
Remus rolled his eyes and left the three boys to their breakfast. James yawned and leaned on the table.
"Don't go to sleep," Sirius warned. "The house-elves will have a field day when they realise that they have to clean to as well as all the plates and cutlery,"
"I'm just resting my eyes," James muttered.
"Go to bed earlier," Peter suggested.
"I go to my bed as early as I can!" James replied.
"3 o'clock in the morning is not a suitable time to think about going to bed. Not when you have to get up at 7." Sirius said. "What do you do? Explore the castle?"
"Don't be ridiculous," James said. "I go out onto the grounds as well. It's really cool. My dad said there were all these secret passageways and shit that lead out of the castle. He wouldn't tell me which ones though. Maybe I can wring it out of him during the summer holidays."
Sirius wasn't listening. A student had entered crying their eyes out her friends huddled around her, protecting her as they made their way up to teachers table. A set of words were exchanged between Professor McGonagall and the girls' friend before the Transfiguration professor took the girl by the shoulders and led her into a small room out with the great hall.
"What's up with her?" Sirius asked.
James looked up beadily. "Beats me,"
"It's Grace Selbeck." Lily said, sitting near them, her hands curled around the Daily Prophet. "Her brother Gregory has just died. Found to have been tortured and killed by V-v- You-Know-Who." She bit her lips looking down at the newspaper where the young fresh face of Gregory Selbeck was staring out waving happily. "He was only 18 years old."
Sirius and James looked at each other. "Listen, Evans'," James said, trying to be slick. "We can't mourn everyone who dies. If we did, the world would stop completely."
"You think I don't know that Potter?" Lily asked. "God you're such a prat. Grow a set and act like a decent human being." She folded the newspaper and left the great hall, looking annoyed.
She had almost reached the stairs leading down to potions when she heard her name being called by a familiar voice.
"Lily?"
She turned to see Remus standing at the top of the stairs. Her annoyed demeanour evaporated quickly into a smile. "Hey Remus."
"Been talking to James again?" He asked.
"Can you tell?" She replied, haughtily.
"Just a bit," Remus gave a chuckle. "Is Grace alright?"
Lily shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I'm not a close friend."
"But you still care enough to cry over her brother's death," Remus said, wiping a little tear from Lily's cheek.
"Yeah, well, I'm a sap." Lily shrugged.
"No one said that," Remus said.
"Mm. I'm pretty sure that's what everybody thinks," She replied. "How are you?"
Remus shrugged. "A little tired. I think I feel another dose of the flu coming down on me."
"Ah well Madame Pomfrey will fix it in a heartbeat," She said kindly.
"James... James isn't all that bad." Remus said.
"He is," Lily said stiffly.
"He really isn't." Remus said. "I mean, he's willing to talk to anyone, he's a bit stupid and big-headed but... He stands up for those who matter to him the most."
"Remus, that's not the point," Lily sighed exasperated. "He may play the good guy, but his acts towards Severus and others are just pitiful. All because they're different! I can't imagine how much it would hurt to be turned away by someone because you were different."
"Yeah... Me neither," Remus grumbled.
Lily smiled. "I think it's sweet that you stand up for him though. Anyone would be unworthy to have you as a friend."
"I seriously doubt it," Remus said.
Lily shook her head sadly. "Of course you do," She said. "Isn't it your birthday soon?"
Remus blushed. "No," He said.
"I'm sure it is, sometime in March?"
"No," Remus said, his cheeks growing redder.
"You're saying you don't have a birthday?" Lily asked.
"No... I mean... Yes... I mean..." Remus was trying to think, his eyes widening slightly.
"You're a terrible liar Remus," She said.
"I know, but that makes me so much cuter." He teased. "Come on, class."
He walked down the stairs for a bit before turning to see if Lily was following. She had held back to wait for Severus, so he in turn waited. Severus walked down the stairs, his face hidden by the frame of thick greasy hair.
"Morning Severus," Remus said politely.
He said nothing in return until Lily elbowed him in the ribs. He grunted; "Good morning Lupin,"
Remus watched Lily and Severus walk into the classroom and realised that James and Sirius and Peter were not coming to class, he went inside and sat by himself feeling abandoned.
I really don't care much for this chapter. It's probably the weakest by far. Sorry about that, I was sort of half writing half trying to finish my report which is due in for tomorrow morning. This was written in one go so... It goes upeth!
Lots of love and please leave a review
Sironaflett o.x.o