Chapter 29: A Furry Little Problem
I own nothing XD. I got a few of the Marauder cuteness stuff from Tumblr :) so no I don't own that either haha.
"Hey James." James looked up to see Remus walk in lugging his Transfiguration book along with him. It had been weeks since Remus had been back and unknown the Remus the Marauders were watching him closely. They had observed everything from the way he ate to the things he did and informed each other of the odd happenings. So far though they hadn't found anything out of the ordinary. Remus Lupin was a walking talking normal wizard boy. He woke up with the other Marauders for breakfast, ate the same thing they did and to Sirius's surprise Remus Lupin did not posses a tail. He had uncovered this fact on a warm Saturday afternoon suddenly pulling down Remus's pants to the horror of the other Marauders.
"I just wanted to check," Sirius had explained hastily, while an embarrassed Remus ran for cover.
"Hey Remus." James nodded to Remus as he walked in and continued looking at his notes, but not really seeing them. If Remus found that odd, he didn't say anything. Instead he turned to Sirius who was playing around with the snitch he had stolen back from Marlene. It had been an ongoing battle for the custody of the snitch. Last James remembered Marlene had hid it in her jewelry box. It was only a matter of time she would realize it was missing and come after them. The week before Sirius had hid it in his underwear drawer and Marlene had plowed through it and still taken it back. No doubt Sirius had something worse in mind this week.
"I just saw Marlene storm out of her room looking rather furious" Remus informed him. "She knows you have it."
"Damn Blondie- could have given me another day!" Sirius jumped up searching for a new hiding spot before she could come through those doors. Remus turned to Peter last who was pretending very hard to look down at the potions book. "Need help,Peter?"
James glared at Peter hard. Today was the day, the final test and Peter had to stay in character if everything was to go through with the plan they had laid out.
"No-ugh." Peter said finally, shutting the book with a slam. "I can't take it anymore!"
"Peter!" James yelled. Everything was playing out like they had planned. On cue Remus spoke, like James expected.
"Look I'm sorry that I ditched you guys over break. I know it's why you guys have been acting so odd around me and I know I should have addressed it earlier." Remus hung his head down ashamed. "But I couldn't stay even if I wanted to! My mother was sick-"
Sirius coughed and James and Peter both glared at him. "Sorry I can't breathe over all this lying."
"Sirius!"
"Don't tell me you actually believe him?" Sirius continued. "He-"
"I'm sorry Sirius-I'll make it up to you."
"Hey guys come on." James said easily diffusing the tension. "We're just glad you're back, Remus."
Sirius grinned. "Yeah Remus, welcome back."
Peter grinned. "What say James, can you pass the goods now? Now that it's all good and clear we can push everything to the past and start fresh- what do you say?"
"Thank you guys-I don't know what to say." Remus relaxed and sat next to Peter who visibly stiffened. "What's wrong, Peter?"
"He may have been dropped off of James's broomstick." Sirius explained quickly. Peter nodded. "I'm still sore all over from the fall."
"I'm sorry, Peter." Remus smiled at Peter who smiled back and turned to James.
James pulled out the butterbeer he had gotten Gideon Prewett to buy for him and began pouring them into four goblets. He handed them around. Peter took his glass eagerly, Sirius next, all waiting in anticipation for Remus's turn. The goblet glinted silver in the dark and Remus gulped as James brought it near.
"Well, what are you waiting for then Remus?" James asked beckoning Remus to grab the goblet. "It's yours, mate."
This was the final test. If Remus passed it then it would mean that James, Sirius and Peter were wrong and that Remus wasn't a werewolf. But if he didn't...
"I can't wait this long." Peter exclaimed. "James kept it away from us all week waiting for us to make !"
Remus nodded and reached out, James, Sirius and Peter watching every move with anticipation. His fingers were almost there when the goblet slipped and hit the ground, its contents spilling everywhere.
Remus laughed nervously. "Oops. I'm a bit clumsy, I'm afraid. You guys can all drink though, I don't like butterbeer much unfortunately."
Peter, James and Sirius just stared at him the truth settling in. They were friends with a werewolf. Remus looked at them and stood up abruptly. "Or I can get another goblet or something so we can-"
"We know, Remus." James was the first to say.
Remus froze and looked at them as they all stood up nervously one by one. "K-know what?" he asked looking at each of their faces.
"Look Remus," Sirius started. "It's okay-"
"What -what do you know?" Remus asked stepping back. "What- what are you-you guys talking about? I don't under-"
"Remus we know you're a werewolf." Peter said finally. There was a silence that echoed around the dorm. "Wh-what?"
"Remus, you don't need to hide it anymore." Sirius said. "We know and...it's okay. We've looked it up and-"
Remus looked down at his hands and stepped back. "I-I don't know what you-you guys are t-talking about. Is this a-"
"Remus-" James started moving towards Remus who was shaking his head. He realized he was still holding the silver goblet and from Remus's perspective it probably looked like James was trying to attack him.
"NO!" Remus yelled retreating to the opposite end of the room. "S-stay away! I- I p-promise I'll leave by the end-d of the w-week- jus't don't kick me out. P-please. I promise I wo-won't hurt anyone."
James hadn't expected Remus to look so nervous and afraid and whatever fear James had suddenly evaporated. In the weeks that they had observed Remus he hadn't been any different from before and now he looked like he was about to cry- rather than lash out and eat them (Peter's fear). Werewolf or not, he was a Marauder, James realized. He was still the same Remus Lupin as before-nothing else had changed. He looked towards Sirius and Black who's faced told him they felt the same.
"Of course we're not going to have you kicked out." Sirius rolled his eyes walking towards Remus. "Why on earth would we do that?"
Remus looked down at his hands. "Because- because I'm a m-monster."
"You're being dramatic." James grinned finding it so much easier to smile now, Remus was just so Remus. "You fold your socks Remus, forgive me if I'm not trembling at the sight of you."
Remus looked up slowly, his face a map of confusion. "So you're not-you're not afraid of me?"
"You do fold your socks." Peter cracked a smile easing up now. "And you sort out the colors too. Red, blue and dark colors on the right, white grey and the latter on the left..."
Remus looked even more confused than before. "Wait a minute-You don't...but-but I mean-w-werewolves...they're not exactly p-popular- and for all you know I could be," he trembled "d- dangerous!"
Sirius sighed. "Really Remus what part of "you fold your socks' isn't getting through?"
"But-" Remus started once more.
"And for the dangerous part-" Peter grinned. "We've lived with you for almost two years, if you were dangerous none of us would be standing here, would we?"
"Yes but-"
"And you fold your socks. What type of normal werewolf does that?" James added grinning looking at the others who broke into a laugh along with him
"And have you taken a look at yourself in the mirror?" Sirius asked poking Remus who looked bewildered that Sirius had even come near him. "I mean I would expect muscles or something..."
"Hey!" Remus protested smiling a little, "But I'm a w-werewolf. Like a real one- you get that, don't you?"
James sighed and pointed to this arm. "See this arm- it's actually shorter than my other arm but you can't tell. Especially when I twirl it like this-"
"But-"
"I'm lactose-intolerant." Peter piped in.
"But-"
"I'm OBNOXIOUS." Sirius grinned. They all burst our laughing
"And you're still our friend Remus." Peter added coming closer to Remus and giving him a small smile.
"And a Marauder." Sirius finished putting his arm around the boy who looked positively bewildered.
"You're not going to kick me out?" Remus asked finally. "Or tell everyone else or-"
"Gosh Remus what did we say about the folding socks thing?" Sirius sighed pulling open Remus's socks drawer for proof. "For Merlin's sake Peter's right, you've color coded them!"
"Very wolfish of you." James winked at Remus who looked close to tears as he watched the three of them laugh at his expense
"Sirius." Peter warned looking closely at Remus. "He's about to let it pour."
"NO REMUS!" Sirius shouted jumping onto Remus, Peter and James joining him shortly.
"We won't let you!"
"Crying is forbidden!"
"Werwolves don't cry!"
"I'm bringing the silver!"
"Okay!" Remus sighed wiping away his tears. "Okay okay!"
They all eventually settled on their beds and looked towards Remus who's bed was in the middle. "What?"
"Well can we see you in your werewolf form?" Peter asked curiously. "It's just that we've-well at least I've never seen one."
"Peter, I can only transform once every month and it's," he looked down at his hands "not really pretty to watch."
"On the night of the full moon." James remembered. "Is that why you keep leaving?"
Remus nodded.
"So your mum isn't really sick then?" Sirius asked. "That was just something you made up so we wouldn't ask questions?"
Remus nodded. "I'm sorry about that-"
"Don't apologize." James smiled. "We understand."
Peter and Sirius nodded. Remus looked at them seriously. "You guys know you can't tell anyone right? If anyone else found out- I would get kicked out. Dumbledore basically risked himself letting me attend Hogwarts and- now you guys finding out and being so understanding I'm lucky, but if anyone else found out I don't think they'll take to it lightly."
"Wait, Dumbledore knows?" James asked, "He knew before us?"
"That's why you knew where the headmasters office was that day." Peter realized. "Are the other teachers on it as well."
Remus nodded. "Though I don't know how many of them are happy with it. McGonagall's been helpful and Madam Pomfrey of course."
"Good ol Minnie- who would've thought?" Sirius said thinking fondly of their Transfiguration and head of house. "You know my mum used to feed me and Regulus rubbish like about werewolves all the time. I used to tell her I hope I got bit by one just to piss her off- the look on her face if I told her I sleep in the same room as one..."
Remus, Peter and James just stared at him.
"What?" Sirius looked at them like he couldn't believe they were taking him seriously. "I was joking!"
"You guys," Remus said his voice low, eyes darting around the room "You know we can't talk about this in front of others- if anyone else knew or found out I'd be kicked out of the school..."
"We could give it a nickname." Peter suggested looking towards Remus. "So no one would find out about it even if we talked about it."
"Yeah like wolfy." James nodded. "Good idea,Peter."
"Wolfy?" Sirius laughed. "James, that's even worse than my joke."
"I don't know- that's a bit obvious." Remus smiled nervously. "But a nickname- that's a really good idea Pete, but still we have to be careful that no one pieces it together. If you guys can then-"
"As if anyone could beat the brilliant Sirius Black." Sirius boasted. "I don't think anyone's clever enough."
There was a roar of thunder and the boys looked outside. Peter squinted and walked up to the window to get a better lool. "I guess our going outisde plan is cancelled- wait is that- is that Lily?"
Sirius jumped up and Remus scooted over so Sirius could get a better look. He snuck a look at James. "So it is, the love of James's life."
James rolled his eyes. He didn't know how long he was going to keep this pretense up. Remus laughed Peter joining in on the fun-they knew and they found it oh so amusing. James finally reached the window to take a look. Her red quaffle hair was vibrant against the stormy gray outside. She was spinning around, lightly dancing in the rain, without a care in the world.
"Jamessiiiieeee?" Sirius grinned raising his brow. "Is that loveee I see?"
"It is not." James said.
"It issssss." Sirius cooed
Remus laughed playing along knowing perfectly well that James did not feel that way towards Lily Evans at all. "No way. James?"
"I'm not!" James was laughing and shaking his head berating himself for getting stuck in this mess in the first place. "I'm not."
"He is!" Peter added grinning knowing too well that it was simply not the case.
"Am not!" James protested looking away. "You all have a problem."
"I've got a sirius problem." Sirius grinned pulling James with him. "But you mate, have got a love problem."
"Oh yeah." James pointed to Remus dancing . "And you've got a furry little problem!"
"Furry little problem!" Peter jumped up. "That's it! A furry little problem!"
"A furry little problem!" Remus nodded.
"A furry little problem!" Sirius repeated.
"A furry little problem!" James finished.
"What's that?"
"Hear that?"
"What's that Remus has got?"
"A furry little problemmmmm!"
And the four of them danced around, spinning, making up quartets to a furry little problem. Even when the fifth Gryffindor boy, Micheal Duke, walked in they didn't stop. And that night when sleep finally caught up to them, Remus fell asleep a smile on his face. Sirius laughed dreaming of a dancing werewolf into the night, Peter imagined singing 'A furry little problem' in front of an adoring crowd, and James- he fell asleep dreaming of a certain red head dancing in the rain.