1976

After classes, as the Marauders headed to the common room, in an empty hall, Peter was hanging onto James and Sirius's every word, as usual. Remus felt like chunks of gray sludge were in his stomach and lodged in his throat. How could James and Sirius be so happy? And what about Peter, he was happy too. It made Remus clench his fists and teeth.

Sirius was saying, "Well, what do you think, should I try for McKinnon?"

"Sure." James told him. "She hasn't dated anyone, ever, but if you're up for a challenge…"

Sirius wriggled his eye brows, suggestively, "Oh, I am."

Remus cut in, bitterly, "Well, maybe, she's not up for having a boyfriend that would use his friend to get his enemies killed."

Sirius gave Remus an irritated look, "I said I was sorry, didn't I? I was just trying to scare him." He added to James and Peter, "Besides it was only Snivelly, no loss there."

Only Peter and Sirius laughed. James shook his head at Remus, who gave James an apologetic I can't just let it go. look.

Remus glared at Sirius, "I'm going to see Isaac, just like you should be. And, honestly, Sirius, you shouldn't be joking about me almost murdering people."

Sirius just stared at him, bored, "Hey, I didn't mean for anything like that happen. And I was only trying to lighten the mood." He added, "I mean you can't be angry at me for that or stay angry at me for what I did. I'm your friend, Moony-"

"Isaac's my friend too." Remus stated, firmly. He explained, "So are Ashley and Lily. They found me in the library this morning and Ashley promised me that she, Lily, Isaac, Frank Longbottom, Alice Garner, Silvia Stone, Alison Knott, and even Severus would keep my secret."

Sirius pointed out, "We made you the same promise-"

"Yes, and you used me to scare Severus, which, if it wasn't for James, could have gotten him killed and Isaac too because he went in to save Severus. And Argus Filch could have went in to-"

"He'd have to pretty thick…" Sirius muttered.

Remus pointed out, "It must have been awful for Argus, when he had to wait for Isaac to come back, not knowing if he was dead—I'm going!"

Remus started towards the hospital wing and only heard James inform him, "We'll be in the common room."

Remus found the Snape siblings, Alice, Alison, and Silvia, laughing at a joke Frank had told them.

Severus spotted Remus first and gave him a cold stared that Remus couldn't help feeling he deserved. Isaac noticed him next and smiled, brightly, "Remus!"

Argus gave him a suspicious look, but that's what he always did when he saw a Marauder, Ashley looked uncomfortable, while Alison, Silvia, Frank, and Alice stared at him, a little cold, but like they knew he really couldn't be blamed.

Isaac forced himself to remain cheerful. Hopefully, the others would follow suit.

Isaac commented, as Remus, hesitantly, came over, "It's nice to see you, but I don't want to keep you away from choir practice."

Remus stood a few paces away from his bed and explained, sadly, "Professor Bluebell cancelled it because everyone was worried," he motioned to Isaac and looked down, "about you."

Severus snapped, "Well, he did nearly die because of-"

"Severus!" his friends and siblings warned, although Argus didn't do it that strongly.

Severus gave them all pleading looks. After he saw Argus, who was obviously on his side, but not ready to defend it, lower his eyes, Severus rounded on Remus, "Why are you even in here-"

Isaac reached up and held Severus's arm, to get Severus to turn to him and hear, "I want him here."

Severus stressed, "Isaac, he and his friends tried to kill me-"

Isaac shook his head, "No. No one tried to kill you. Black only wanted to scare you."

Severus's eyes glistened, "No! Isaac, he wanted to kill me and then you almost got killed because you tried to save me!"

Isaac eyed Remus, who lowered his head in shame, as he struggled not to cry. Isaac felt eerie, as he couldn't help but imagine what would be happening if he had died. Neither of his siblings or his friends might have been so forgiving, now.

But would Remus still have even been in school? No, of course not. And what about Dumbledore? He probably would have been sacked before the sun came up.

Isaac gave Severus a pleading, without looking weak, look, before he turned to Remus, "Remus?"

Remus looked up, trembling, on the verge of tears, "Isaac, I'm-"

"No." Isaac shook his head. "You do not have to be sorry." He looked away, in thought, and set his mouth in a line. He knew Sirius should feel guilty, but was it really a good idea to tell Remus that?

Remus caught on to his wondering, surprised and amazed by Isaac's generosity, and admitted, "I've talked to Sirius." Isaac could tell he wanted to go into detail, but it was painful for him to talk, to acknowledge what his friend did.

Isaac smiled at him a little, "That's good." He added, "I know he didn't mean for Severus or me to get killed by you, so, hopefully, he's can learned from all this. Besides, your secret was on the line too."

Remus nodded. Then, he looked down again, "I should be going."

Isaac started to insist that he could stay, but Severus cut in, bitterly, "I know you were a part of Black's prank, all of you."

Remus's hollow, helpless expression cut into Isaac's heart, as much as Remus's claws had into his wing/hand. Argus avoided looking at Remus, while Alice, Frank, Alison, and Silvia exchanged What do we do? glances.

Ashley pointed out, "Well, werewolves are fine around other animals-"

Remus motioned to Isaac, "Usually, but I still attacked him."

Isaac told him, "I startled you and you saw me as a human first. If I went with you, next full moon-"

"No!" Severus insisted, fearfully. "You can't be serious-"

"I would go too." Ashley confirmed.

Despite how much Severus loathed him and his friends, Remus decided he couldn't have Severus worry about his siblings every full moon. He told Isaac and Ashley, "You don't have to come-"

Isaac and Ashley immediately insisted that they wanted too and flipped from that to telling Severus to stop blaming Remus and his friends.

Remus felt like his throat and chest had been hallowed out with a spoon made of ice. He couldn't drive the siblings apart. Even during their arguing, it was obvious how deeply they cared for each other.

He walked away and said, "No, you don't need to come."

Isaac insisted that Remus stay, while Ashley did that and scolded Severus for his behavior. Just as he was closing the door, Remus heard Isaac, and eventually, Frank, Alice, Silvia, and Alison, gently, try to persuade Severus to understand Remus wasn't to blame and this Sirius didn't mean to kill anyone.

Remus felt like a bee had stung his heart, although he wouldn't let himself admit it had anything to do with the others behind the door, and the tears finally came.

The common room was out of the question now. So Remus headed for the bathroom. Better to cry alone in a stall, then to face his friends or anyone, really.

Just as he turned the corner, out of the tower, Remus's stomach sank. Right in front of him were three adults, who clearly knew who he was, because of his teary eyes: Warren Filch, Emma (originally Emma Hollings) Filch, and Father McKenzie, although Remus didn't know who he was, so he wasn't too concerned by him.

It was Warren who gave himself and Emma away as them being Argus's parents. He looked like an older version of his son, his brown hair was even brushed in a slicked back style too, without the glasses and with a more powerful air, like a charming businessman, though nothing to rival Isaac and Genevieve's power.

Emma was slim, but not petite like Genevieve. Still, Genevieve was obviously stronger. Most people were more powerful looking than Emma though. And the worried expression on her face didn't help either. She had porcelain skin, light blue, doe eyes, and bright blonde curls, pulled back in a low ponytail.

Warren and Emma had either not wanted too or not had the chance to get any wizard clothes on. Warren had on a knee length, black pea coat, a dark green sweater, with creased black pants, and black shoes. Emma had on a feminine form of his jacket, with a few fake gold accessories on it, like buttons and mini chains on the pockets Warren's didn't have, a dark blue sweater, brown corduroy bell bottoms, and dark blue flats.

Warren stated, in, oddly enough, concern, "Remus Lupin?" He glanced at his wife and Father McKenzie, "We've seen you in the choir pictures Isaac has shown us. He mentions you quite a lot. He says you can sing very well."

Remus released a soft sob, because of how gentle Warren was, even after what had happened. He pushed past them, up towards the common room, even though he still didn't want to go there.

The adults begged him to come back, assured him that they were not angry with him. Remus noted, that Emma's only line to him was, stuttered, "W-w-were n-not-t ang-gry at-t y-you." and obviously her normal speech pattern.