The Best of Me

Chapter 15: Unbound

Remus woke up and found himself in the Headmaster's office. Memories from yesterday came back to him, making the young boy let out a sigh. Getting up, he felt his muscles aching and he realized that the full moon is tonight.

However, all musing was cut off when he heard the familiar wise voice. "Good morning, Remus. If you want to catch on breakfast you better go now." Albus Dumbledore laughed and the young werewolf wasn't surprised at the old man since he can still sense the old man was there even if he's asleep.

The auburn haired boy gave the old man an appreciative nod before greeting him, "Good morning, professor." He said and the old man softly smiled.

"Well go on, Mr. Lupin. Ms. Tonks and Mr. Weasley are in the Great Hall." The old wizard informed him and the young boy remembered that he swore to confront them. Thinking about that made all his nerves act up nervously, but he brought out his Gryffindor courage and gave a nod to the headmaster before getting up.

He realized that he still hadn't changed his clothes yet, and his nose picked up his stench and to his surprise he didn't stink. Although, he doesn't care about that. The boy then glanced at the cot he slept at, thinking that he should fix it, but to his surprise it disappeared.

He look back at the old professor who gave him a smile and a look that translates to: "Go."

Nodding to him, the boy begins to walk out the Headmaster's office and once he was out, he heard the entrance shut behind him. Shaking his head, the preteen made his way to the Great Hall, even if he was still on the stairs, he had already heard the Hogwarts' students' chatting.

Once he was near the entrance, cautiously he took a peek first before pulling his head back. The young boy let out a sigh, fixed his bed hair; although, he thinks it just became messier though.

Anyway, when he had calmed down. He entered the Great Hall. With his heightened sense, he picked up the other students' hush whispers.

"Hey, isn't he the guy who beat up both Ferrer and Ceasar?"

"Did you see how bloodied those two are after that guy had brutally attacked them."

"Well, in his defense. Those two gits are attacking his friends and attacked him."

"Remind me not to make him angry."

"Told you that there was something dangerous about him."

"Although, despite that. It was cool that he dodged all of Ceasar and Ferrer's spell and beat them up with using his fists only."

Okay, that comment made Remus flinched a little bit, but he didn't let that bothered him though, as he proceeds on walking with his head held high just a bit.

"Yeah, Wizards tend to forget that fists can also be fatal."

"Agreed."

The whispers still continued, some comments would kinda pierced him while some were stupid that he wanted to roll his eyes at those students who commented those stupid things.

Remus let out a sigh and ignored them, he just sat himself at the end of his house's table. He felt himself running away like a chicken, but that would be cowardly... Suddenly, he felt himself get tackled by two people and he looked behind him to see both Bill and Tonks.

"Remus!" Both of them shouted, pulling away, but they continued on inspecting him. "Are you okay? We were worried?" Tonks stammered out, inspecting his face while the redhead who was besides him held his right shoulder.

Then, he spoke up. "We were worried about you, mate." The Weasley said, giving the young werewolf's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "We're glad nothing happened to you." He said in relief and once again, the redhead gave the Lupin a reassuring squeeze.

While those two were worried about him. Remus was quiet troughout his two friends' inspection of him, all the words left his mouth and all he could do was stupidly glanced at them. He had noticed the bandages wrapped around Tonks's head under her hood and he saw the cast wrapped around Bill's wrist.

He let out a pathetic chuckle, "You two are injured yet you're still worried about me..." He sighed and the two kids in front of him stopped inspecting him.

Their eyes were wide opened, but a pair of steel gray eyes narrowed at him. But, her hard gaze turned soft.

"Remus, we're worried because you're our friend." She gently said to him and besides her, the redhead nodded.

Bill reached out his hand and placed it on top of the young werewolf's auburn hair. Then, he suddenly ruffled it making the Lupin cursed at him and swatted the Weasley's annoying hand. The redhead only laughed in response, "Yeah, mate. How many times we have to say that to your stubborn head." He huffed, pulling back his hand and crossed both of his arms in front of his chest.

Although, he knew that, but... "Was I scary?" He blurted out making the two in front if him confused, so he added. "Did I looked like a monster when I was beating up both Ceasar and Ferrer?"

When he said this, both of his friends' face softened. Tonks let out a sigh, "Remus, why would you think that?" She asked and the young werewolf flinched. He can't tell them, no way, but yet–

However, all his thoughts were cut off when Bill snorted. "Why would we think you're a monster. Those two guys deserved it; though, I admit you went overboard, but knowing you, I knew you would stop." He said and Remus decided that it wouldn't be a great idea to them that part of him wanted to kill those two jerks, but his friend was right. He tried to stop himself, but the wolf's anger and his own anger overwhelmed him.

Then, the redhead smiled. "Besides, a monster won't feel guilt after hurting someone. You're one of the kindest and selfless person I met Remus, so saying you're a monster felt wrong." He said, shrugging both his shoulders and something in the Lupin warmed up.

Although, he snorted. To tell the truth, he wasn't afraid of his wolf side, at some point he even accepted it when he entered his old pack, but what he was afraid of the most is to be like Greyback. A real monster... Because of that, he loathed his other self again.

The boy let out a sigh, letting himself gaze up to his friends' faces and he saw a smile on Tonks' face.

The girl still has that gentle and reassuring look, "Bill is right, Remus. You're not a monster. You're Remus Lupin! A student of Hogwarts, our friend and the mischief master." She declared with a finger pointing towards the young werewolf's nose and suddenly she made an unexpected move and booped his nose. This made the auburn haired boy smiled slightly.

Then, Tonks beamed up. "Oh, there's that smile that I like from my favorite boy!" She laughed and Bill who was besides her let out an offended gasped.

"Hey, I thought I was you're favourite boy!" He shouted, pointing an accusing finger towards the girl who let out a chuckle in response. The girl then shook her head in amusement and her face softened, as a large smile appeared on her face.

"Of course you are my favourite boy too, Bill." She said; then, suddenly she swung an arm around the two boys. Although, because of how tall they are and how short the girl is, both Remus and Bill were now bending down. Although, Remus was the one who needs to lean more down.

Then, the smile on Tonks' heartshaped face became bigger, "Both of you guys are my favourite boys!" She laughed and Bill tried to pry away from the girl's hug, but he failed though and let the girl hugged him.

Remus' eyes glistened with tears, but he didn't let them fall. Although, a tear slip down from his eyes and he quickly wiped them away before his two friends could noticed it. A smile then made its way to the young werewolf's face.

"Yeah..." He muttered while letting out a relaxed sigh, "Thank you."

A/N: Sorry, if this chapter was short. Although, I'm satisfied with it. Anyway, thank you for reading this fanfic of mine. :)