Chapter Seven- After the Moon

"Remus, buddy?"

Remus could hear James' voice, scuttling in and out of his brain like a rat in a room full of holes…rat…Wormtail…full moon…friends…

"FULL MOON!"

He was vaguely aware that someone screamed, and then that it was his own voice, but he still looked around widely, trying to convince himself otherwise. Sirius hurried over to his bed and sat on the edge, his face pale with worry.

"Are you alright, mate?" he asked quietly, studying Remus with intensely grey eyes.

"O-of course." Remus said slowly, unsure of himself. "I…I just realised it had been the full moon."

"Yeah, it had." came Peter's voice, squeaky. "It was a good one, though."

Remus felt his bones and muscles protest that it hadn't been a good full moon, but he shook the thought away.

"Are you guys alright?" Remus asked.

"Of course." said James, running his hands through his hair and leaning on the bed post of Sirius' bed, which was next to Remus'. He was wearing his Quidditch robes, and Remus wondered what he'd missed whilst he was asleep… "We're always okay, Moony. I think you're getting used to us now. You know, recognise us straight away."

"Although you still try to eat me." hissed Peter quietly, but Remus could hear. He shot him a dark look, which the others didn't see, and Peter mouthed an apology quickly before returning to his essay he had on his lap.

"I'm sure I've been doing that for a while…recognising you, that is."

"Oh yeah, you have," Sirius said, "but it usually takes you a while." He moved inches closer to Remus, who sighed and just wanted to lean on him. His body ached so much, and his eyes threatened to close.

"Moony, why don't you sleep?" James mumbled, looking concerned. Sirius nodded in agreement, and fluffed the boy's pillow for him.

"If you insist…" Remus huffed, and leaned back into his bed, pulling the covers back over him. "'Night."

"Goodnight Moony."

The hands were soft that were waking him, and Remus momentarily wondered who it could be before common sense kicked in- Sirius was always the one who'd wake him up if he overslept.

"Moony, you need to get up, mate." came his voice. "You'll be late for class."

"Idunwannagetupp."

"Moony, c'mon."

"Nuuuuh!Idunwannagetupp! Goway."

"No, mate. Get up now, of I will be forced to tickle you."

Before Remus could even reply, he felt Sirius' warm hands spread over his stomach and an irritable but not ignorable sensation came over him- tickling.

"No! No! Have mercy!" Remus screamed childishly as Sirius laughed. "Please!"

"Get up then!" Sirius said with a cheeky grin, and slowly stopped tickling the werewolf, who was flushed with laughter and lack of breath. He looked undignified, spread out across his bed with his clothes a mess, his hair sticking up at odd angles from a worried sleep.

Remus got up and pulled his school clothes from his trunk, grabbing his wand and the bandages that lay on his bedside table, and went to the bathroom.

"Let me know if you need any help with the bandages, Moony." Sirius called out as the door slammed, and Remus' muffled reply was an 'okay'. Sirius sat down on his bed, adjusting his red and gold tie a little out of boredom. He ruffled up his brown, wavy hair, but then tried to make it stay down…it never really knew what it was doing, Sirius thought, regarding his hair. It's not as messy as James', but not as neat as Peters.

He heard the taps run, and then shut off again with a loud moan of pain.

"Moony?"

"I need some help."

Without another word, Sirius unlocked the bathroom door with his wand, and was suddenly blinded by bright, yellow, unflattering light. Remus stood in the very middle of the large, tiled bathroom, with a towel clutched around his thin body.

"I can't get at it without straining other parts of my body." Remus sniffed, feeling ridiculous. Sirius' face was his usual, slightly cocky smile, but this time it was tinged with sadness. He moved closer to Remus and took the bandages from his hands, unravelling them and then looking at Remus.

"Um, just look at my body. It's obvious where you need to bandage, Padfoot." he said with a touch of coldness, and then he blushed a deep pink. "I'm sorry, I'm just a bit grouchy. Full moon and that."

"It's alright Moony." Sirius replied, and looked down at the large gash on the boy's hip. It was an angry dark red, the edges sore and peeling, with the other skin around it bruised and blue-ish, tinged with yellow and green. He gently wrapped Remus' small hips with a white cloth before keeping it in place with a plaster. Remus laughed a little at Sirius' awkwardness with the disinfectant.

"You put that on before you put on the bandage, Padfoot. It's too late now, you silly mutt." His voice was kind, if not slightly tired, and Sirius apologised casually before embracing the werewolf in a tight hug. "Sirius, let go, you're hurting me. And I haven't got a shirt on." Sirius quickly let go, going red with embarrassment, and headed for the door. "Thank you, Padfoot." Remus mumbled.

"Anytime, Moony." Sirius said simply, and shut the door.

"Potter! You need to set a time for the new auditions!"

It was Erin Cole, a small girl in Gryffindor, who was standing on the Quidditch Pitch, broom in hand and blonde hair whipping around her face. James stifled his anger and turned on the spot to face her.

"Yeah, of course, Cole. Just give me time to actually arrange it, yeah?" he replied sourly, running a hand through his black hair and adjusting his glasses. Other members of the old team were arriving at the pitch now, including Kit and Storm, Seeker and Keeper respectively.

"I guess Clarence Lornton won't be playing?" Kit asked as she walked towards James, pushing her dark red hair from her face and gripping tighter on her wand. "You know, since his parent's death and stuff…?"

"He's talked to Remus about it, who's told me he said he won't be playing Beater, and will probably not come back until the last term."

"So we'll-"

"I'll, Cole." James snapped, feeling his temper rise up. Stay calm, he heard Remus' voice say. She'll back off if you're stern but nice. Kill her with kindness. "I will audition a new beater, and we also need another Chaser, as Russell Crown has backed out this year to focus on his NEWTs."

"Oh right." Cole said simply, fastening up her robe.

"I'll put up a few posters about the try outs, 'kay? I'll think of a convenient date."

And with a swift nod at the other members of the remaining team, and left as quickly as he could up to the castle.