Author's Note- Here's Chapter 2. The writing style's a little hurried. What do you think of it? Constructive Criticism is appreciated.
PS- This is to thank Qoheleth and Meem 2011 for their generous reviews.
I agree with you that the characterization of Remus (or Moony) is rather sloppy and definitely contains room for improvement. However, I feel that the Remus we know and love didn't really emerge until he knew it in his heart that his friends wouldn't desert him no matter what. Even so, I will definitely keep what you have said in mind.
Amicis Aeternum, in Latin, means "Eternal Friends" or "Friends Forever". It is an interesting little quirk I thought would increase the significance of the story.
PPS- I apologise for anybody receiving more than one alert for this. Owing to technical problems with my computer, I had to repost this quite a few times.
Can anyone guess which story particular James was reading? Thanks.
DISCLAIMER- All rights to J.K.R and respective publishers.
CH. 2- He's Hiding Something
"He's hiding something."
The remaining Marauders were staring at the spot in the Charms Corridor where their most level-headed member had disappeared from. Well, one of them was staring. James was (much to Sirius's disgust) immersed in a copy of The Tales of Beadle the Bard. Peter was fishing Fudge Flies out of a box.
Sirius was restlessly pacing the length of the corridor, clearly distressed by Remus' latest disappearance. "I tell, you he's hiding something!"
James looked up from his book with a bored look on his face.
"You finished?" Sirius pretended not to hear him.
"He goes off at least once a month for about three days, returning with scars and bite marks, looking as if someone beat the hell out of him!"
"He says his mother's ill." Peter supplied, looking up from what might have been his three hundredth sweet.
Sirius swore under his breath.
"Every month, all months of the year? If you ask me, Remus is the one who looks sick. All pale and clammy!"
James sighed and snapped his book shut.
"I agree with you. But if he wants to tell us, he'll tell us. It is probably something… private."
Sirius was still fuming. "But we're his best mates! He can trust us!"
"Yes, but…" James was saved the need of an intense argument by a yell from his Quidditch Captain. He tossed his book to Peter, summoned his Nimbus 1700 with an 'Accio!' and hurried off after the voice. Peter ran after him.
Sirius, for once, didn't follow. His mind was still fixed on Remus's monthly disappearance. He knew something was up, and intended to find out what.
(A week later)
"James, wait up!"
Remus Lupin was laughing as he tried to catch up with his friend.
"James! Where are you?"
"Back here!" Remus wheeled around, rolling his eyes at the slightly smaller, messy-haired boy.
"Sneak up on me, did you?" he said while James laughed. "Where are Sirius and Pete?"
"Pete's in the kitchens, Sirius is, I've no idea how, in the library." James responded, still grinning.
Remus concealed a snort of laughter. "Wasn't he allergic to books?" he managed.
"Apparently, he's only allergic to books written for academic purposes. Not for… well, whatever he's reading, but I'm sure it won't help us pass potions." James grinned back at him. He was sure his friend was researching prank ideas, but refrained from sharing his theory. He knew Remus wouldn't approve.
It was a week-end. Remus didn't have lessons, and James (miraculously) didn't have Quidditch practice and/or detention. This meant a paradise of pranks, jokes, ridiculous schemes to leave the Slytherins with donkey-ears or worse, and some "overall bonding time" for four brothers-in-all-but-blood, pranksters extraordinaire.
Right?
WRONG!
Sirius still had his butt stuck in the library (and judging by the 'A's and 'P's and even 'D's he was getting in his classes, he wasn't studying). Without his lame Serious/Sirius jokes or overall juvenile nature, there was something… incomplete. They were a quartet, after all, not a trio.
Remus sighed. "And what are we to do?"
James shrugged.
"Plan another prank? Lock Filch in Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom? Steal Dumbledore's Sherbet Lemons? You're the mastermind." He said.
"The extremely unwilling mastermind." Remus retorted, barely concealing his grin.
James smirked. "Oh but Remy, you love us too much not to enjoy it!" he whined.
"I do NOT love you guys." He then stared at his friend's puppy-dog expression. "Okay, maybe just a little…" he paused to took a deep breath before yelling, "AND WHAT HAVE I SAID ABOUT CALLING ME 'REMY'?!"
James' grin grew, if possible even wider. "Whatever, Rems." He then frowned, adopting an almost brooding expression. "Say, do you think the house-elves use Thyme in the kitchens?"
Remus rolled his eyes. "Yes, because we really nead to spice up our diet."
"What? No, no, that's not what I- I mean, doesn't Tincture of Thyme, when cured with salamander blood for two nights, react with minced daisy roots,?"
Remus frowned. "What are you getting at?"
"I think a mixture of Thyme and Salamander Blood closely resembles the blood of a Shrivelfig, which is another ingredient in the Shrinking Solution. I also believe that Professor Slughorn will be teaching his third-years to brew that particular concoction Monday morning."
Remus's brow furrowed. "Yes but- Oh. Oh no. You don't mean-" Comprehension dawned on his face. "You could burn their faces right off!"
"Nonsense, the explosion will only char their eyebrows at most, and those can grow back. Besides, Slughorn will be there to mop things up."
"Yes, but still- Don't you think it is a bit too extravagant..." Remus tried, in vain, to dissuade James, who was already tugging at his sleeve, grin dancing on his face.
"COME ON, Remus. We need to find Sirius. And I'm sure Peter's had enough to eat."
Remus let out his increasingly characteristic, long-suffering sigh, allowing himself to to be whisked away into their latest misdemeaner.
(Winter Holidays, Few weeks later)
"My mum's ill."
This comment was half-heartedly murmured as Remus left the common room yet again. For a moment, the three boys stared at the retreating figure of their friend, before the portrait swung closed. Silence overcame the common room for a few seconds. It was not long, however, until the Griffindors returned to their various activities.
Peter sighed and glanced out of the window. The moon was casting its perennial glow over the forested grounds, its beauty long and still, stars like silver fireflies dancing in the purple sky. "It's a full moon tonight." He commented.
Sirius suddenly let out a gasp. Full moon… He stood up, tugging at James, who looked up, annoyed. He whispered something into his ear. James gasped. He pulled at Peter's arm. All of a sudden, they were back at their dormitory.
James put a silencing charm on the door.
Peter, who was sitting facing Sirius, asked, "What's going on?", a confused expression plastered on his face.
Sirius took a deep breath. "Remusizawerewolf." He blurted out. Peter frowned.
"Come again?"
"Remus is a werewolf."
In any other circumstance, Sirius would've doubled over laughing at Peter's expression.
"He… what… but… but…" he stammered.
Sirius grabbed a moon chart from their last Astronomy lesson.
"Look here. All the full moons are circled. And I bet all the galleons in Gringotts that he's been missing for each and every one."
"Okay, so he disappears once a month. That doesn't mean he's a- a werewolf." Peter said, spluttering.
"Well, how else would you explain it?" asked a quiet voice behind him. Peter whirled around to see James leaning against a four-poster.
"How can you believe this anyway? It's madness!" Peter demanded.
"Actually, I've been harbouring my own suspicions. You what I told you about him having frequent nightmares? Well, last time he had one, it was the day before he last disappeared. The day before Full Moon." He paused to observe the effect of his words before continuing.
"Every month, about a week before he leaves, he becomes grouchy and ill-tempered. And the day before and after the full moon? He's so weak he can hardly get out of bed. Last time he left, he returned looking like he'd been trampled by a chimera. Said he'd tripped down the stairs. Well, we all know Remus, and he isn't that clumsy."
He glared at them beneath his glasses, daring them to disagree.
"No.." Peter muttered "No…"
"All the proof's there, Pete." Sirius sighed. "He disappears every full moon night. His boggart's the full moon, not a crystal ball like we first assumed. His has a preference for, ah, rather rare steaks. He's got a dozen other signs. Face it. Our friend Remus Lupin is a werewolf."
A distant, painful howl cut through the Hogwarts grounds.
James went pale.
"Werewolves bite and scratch themselves when isolated on transformations. His injuries... He's probably shredding himself to pieces right now… Merlin, Remus…"
Silence reigned in the dormitory.
"Well, what are we going to do about it?"
James turned sharply to Sirius's voice. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, we can't let him go on tearing himself apart, all alone, without doing anything about it, can we? How do we help him"
James shook his head sadly. "He will have no control over himself while transformed. We'd probably get killed within five minutes. And lycanthropy has no cure."
"Well, we should at least tell him we know."
"Tell him?" Peter squeaked. "Why?"'
"So that he doesn't have to lie to us anymore. Besides, he's terrible at it. If he keeps making those lames excuses, he'll be discovered before the year is out. When his mum isn't ill, some relative is. His grandmother's died four times, already. What about you, James?"
Without missing a beat, James stated, "Monday."
Peter frowned. "Monday's Christmas. You really want to confront him on Christmas Day?" he asked.
"Why not?" Sirius asked.
" 'Cause that'll be a cheerful conversion. 'Hey, Remus, Merry Christmas! By the way, do you turn into a murderous beast intent on human blood once a month?'"
Sirius chose to ignore his Peter's comment.
"The tower will be empty apart from us. Besides, it's just a couple of days away. The sooner the better, right?"
"You're impossible."
"So are you, Pete, so are you."
"Come on, you two." James said hurriedly, sensing a fight. "We'll give Remus a splendid Christmas. Get him loads of chocolate, sneak into hogsmeade, start of fireworks during the Feast, that sort of thing. He can't possibly think we hate him if we give him the time of his life!"
"And drop an Erumpent on him at bed-time." stated Peter.
"Ah, well, that can't be helped."
"Say-" Sirius grinned. "Say- how about enchanting the Suits of Armour to dangle Snivellus and his crones from the Astronomy tower by their underwear?"
James paused to consider this. "Nah- Evans would probably kill me. Let's just do something lame to all the Slytherins- Turn their robes red and gold, enchant them to sing Christmas Carols and day, make streams of holly grow out of their hair- that sort of thing."
"Suit yourself." Sirius shrugged.
That much was certain, what with lycanthropes and singing Slytherins, Christmas was going to be really interesting that year.