Chapter Text
REMUS
“Where do you live, then?” James asked, frowning down at Peter’s shoddily sketched map of Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts grounds.
“Er,” Remus surveyed the parchment, “About there.” He said, pointing at a random blank spot about halfway between the castle and Hogsmeade. “There’s a forest and my house is just inside it.”
“Right, shouldn’t be too hard to find it,” Sirius traced his finger along a shaky line that was supposed to be the main road. “Can you see the house from the road?” He turned to Remus. Remus nodded, slightly confused,
“There’s a path. I think it’s invisible unless you actually know it’s there.”
“Great,” James clapped his hands together, “Now we know it’s there, it should be easy.” He, Sirius and Peter exchanged excited grins
“Sorry,” Remus cut in, “What are you talking about? What should be easy?”
“Coming to your house!” Peter beamed. Remus stared at them in disbelief.
“You’re all mental! You can’t come to my house. You won’t be able to get in. The door is magically sealed. My Grandparents are the only people who can get past it!”
“Ah, dear Remus,” Sirius patted his shoulder, “We three happen to be rather good at breaking the rules and evading detection.”
“We’ve gotten detention for every single prank we’ve done.” Peter deadpanned. Sirius looked agitated but Remus thought it was rather funny.
“Yes, but the important thing is that we haven’t been caught in the act . We only ever get found out after the prank is over,” Sirius snapped. “Anyway,” He said to Remus, “Over the summer holidays, we can research unlocking charms and spells so we can get through! Then we’ll be able to come and visit you!” Sirius grinned at him.
Remus frowned, “I don’t know… it sounds pretty stupid, if you ask me. I mean, if you’re caught-”
“We won’t be!” James insisted, “Look, mate, we’re doing this whether you like it or not. After all, someone needs to teach you magic!”
“Teach me magic?” Remus spluttered, bewildered. The three Gryffinors nodded eagerly. He was completely speechless.
“If you can’t come to Hogwarts, then we’ll bring Hogwarts to you!” Sirius looked extremely proud of himself. Remus was in a state of utter disbelief.
“Right,” James said, “Back to business. We’ll have to-”
“I don’t have a wand.” Remus found his voice. James turned to him, beaming,
“We’ve got some old ones in my attic! I owled Mum a while ago to ask if I could have one and she said I could! So that’s your wand sorted.”
James spoke about it so casually that Remus could hardly comprehend what he had said. Remus was in complete shock. These boys, two of whom had only known him for the better part of an hour, had been planning for months to help Remus. They were risking serious punishment should any of them be caught, but none of them seemed very inclined to care about potential consequences.
James began talking again, something about lesson plans and who was best at which subjects, but Remus wasn’t listening. He was staring at his three new friends in wonder.
James was gesturing exuberantly with his hands as he explained his plans. Remus was reminded of the muggle football coaches he’d seen on TV when he and Da had watched the World Cup. James, Remus was beginning to discover, was the heart of the Marauders. He was kind, strong and just. He sort of reminded Remus of Peter Pevensie, from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He was the brave king of Gryffindor.
And, if James was the Captain, then Sirius was his first mate. Sirius and James seemed to understand each other in a way that exceeded all else. They could communicate through a single twitch of an eyebrow, or a tilt of the head. Sirius matched James’ brazen enthusiasm with regal fervour. He carried himself in a way that suggested he was always ten steps ahead and completely untouchable. Remus was inexplicably drawn to him. He was drawn to the thoughtful, deeply loyal person that was hidden beneath the exterior of harsh humour and cold stares.
Peter was the quiet party in the group. He was thoughtful but slightly timid. He was a part of the group, that was clear, but he rarely contributed to the conversation, and when he did, Sirius was often quick to shoot him down. Remus found that he rather liked Peter. He was calmer than James and Sirius, and seemed to be more conscious of getting in trouble than the other two. They were both things Remus appreciated greatly.
Remus and Peter exchanged an exasperated look as James and Sirius began to talk louder and louder, building on each other’s ideas. Peter leaned closer to Remus,
“They’re always like this,” He whispered. Remus huffed a laugh.
“Merlin, how do you deal with it all the time?” He replied. Peter chuckled and shook his head, smiling,
“Do you want to play chess?” Peter asked. Remus raised an eyebrow,
“What, now?”
“Yeah.”
“Won’t they be upset if we do?” Remus tilted his head towards James and Sirius. Peter rolled his eyes,
“They won’t even notice we’re not listening. Once they get like this, it’s best just to let them talk themselves to exhaustion.”
Remus laughed,
“Alright, go on then.”
Peter grabbed his wand and quietly summoned his chess board. He set it up between the two of them and they began to play. Sirius and James talked on, now hunched over a long piece of parchment, taking turns to scribble things down onto it.
Remus smiled to himself. This was everything he had ever wanted. This feeling of friendship and camaraderie. Remus knew in that moment that he would do everything in his power to hold on to it. Now he had it, he was not letting it go.
✴︎ ☾ ✴︎
“CHECKMATE!” Peter proclaimed, puffing out his chest. Remus groaned and rolled backwards, covering his face with his hands.
“How are you so good at this?!” He asked, his voice muffled. Peter cackled loudly and started singing a victory chant.
“Oi!” Sirius called, “What are you doing?”
Remus sat up, “Losing.” He muttered bitterly. Peter snorted. Sirius looked supremely agitated, levelling a glare at Peter.
“Well stop. Pay attention, for Merlin’s sake.” He snapped. Remus immediately felt guilty. Sirius was doing all of this for him, the least he could do was pay attention.
“Sorry, Sirius,” He said, sincerely, “Go on, I’m listening.” He shuffled closer to Sirius and bent his head so he could read the parchment. Sirius smiled, pleased.
“Okay, so, starting next year, I’ll sneak to your house straight after classes two nights a week, and then on Sundays, all three of us will come down.” Sirius side-eyed Peter with a slight frown, Remus wondered what he was so annoyed about. James cut in quickly,
“Would be Saturday, but I can’t because I’ll have Quidditch!” He said cheerily.
“Exactly,” Sirius grinned, “So, three times a week, we’ll teach you magic! And then the rest of the time you’ll be able to read the school books and practice the stuff by yourself.”
Remus was once again baffled and awed by his new friends. He hadn’t felt cared about in such a way since his Mam was alive.
“I- thank you. For all of this.” Remus whispered, feeling the creeping tendrils of tears beginning to form. Sirius lit up and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Remus, we-”
BANG!
The door flew open. Professor McGonagall stood before them, her face red with anger and her hair falling out of her severe bun in a way that made her look slightly barmy.
“You.” She hissed. Remus couldn’t be sure whether this was directed at him or Sirius. Sirius leaned back lazily and smiled pleasantly at the fuming teacher,
“Hello, Professor, how can we help you?” He asked. Remus was impressed. You had to have some serious nerve to talk to Professor McGonagall like that.
“Thirty points from Gryffindor, Mr Black. And detention every night until the end of term!” McGonagall stepped into the room, glaring daggers at Peter and James.
“Mr Potter, Mr Pettigrew, ten points from Gryffindor each. And detention tonight.” Peter and James both bowed their heads remorsefully, but Remus caught the playful wink James threw his way.
“Please, Professor,” Remus spoke up, “It wasn’t any of their faults! It was me! I forced them to let me in!” He pleaded, desperate to defend his friends. His fellow Marauders. He had taken an oath, after all.
“Do not lie to me.” She said sharply and Remus withdrew. Professor McGonagall stormed over to him and pulled him up harshly by his upper arm. “Now you listen to me, Mr Lu-”
“REMUS JOHN LUPIN!”
Oh no.
Remus’ Da stood in the doorway, his chest heaving, looking angrier than Remus had ever seen him. Remus sighed,
“Hi Da.” He mumbled.
James, Sirius and Peter’s jaws dropped.
“Professor Lupin is your dad?!” Sirius exclaimed, staring at Remus. Remus shrugged, his face burning with shame.
Remus’ Da ignored all of this and marched over to Remus, his face like thunder. He grabbed Remus harshly and yanked him towards the door.
“How dare you,” Da seethed, “After everything I’ve done for you and this is how you repay me?! Do you have any idea the danger you have put these boys in?!” Da gestured to Sirius, James and Peter.
“I’m sorry!” Remus gasped. His arm was really starting to hurt.
“That’s not good enough! You know the risks, Remus! You are a highly dangerous-”
“Let go of him! You’re hurting him!” Sirius charged forward angrily. Professor McGonagall held out an arm to stop him.
“Mr Black. You are in enough trouble as is. I suggest you quiet down unless you wish me to contact your mother.” She gave him a stern look and Sirius snapped his mouth shut.
“I’m really sorry, Professor. I shouldn’t have run,” Remus muttered quietly, “It won’t happen again.”
“Too bloody right it won’t,” Da growled, “Come on, Remus, we’re going home.”
Remus let his Da frog march him from the dormitory. As they reached the top of the stairs, Remus looked back. James, Sirius and Peter were all standing in the doorway, sadly watching him go. Remus made eye contact with Sirius who smiled softly.
‘See you next year.’ Sirius mouthed. Remus felt warmth and excitement blossom in his chest.
‘See you,’ he mouthed back.
Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes and looked between the two of them but made no comment.
Luckily, everyone was in classes, so no one was there to see Remus being dragged through Hogwarts by his furious father. The silence thickened with every passing second.
As soon as they made it beyond the wards, Da dragged Remus into apparition. They appeared on their front doorstep and Da pushed Remus inside. Once the door was shut firmly behind them, Remus’ Da went off.
He started screaming and shouting. Magic buzzed through the air and things flew off shelves in the living room, shattering on the floor.
His Da advanced on him and for a moment Remus thought there was going to be a repeat of the incident. The moment when Remus was six and a half that almost ended his parent’s marriage and caused his Mam to force his Da into sobriety. The incident in which Lyall Lupin hit his son.
Six-year-old Remus had been complaining and crying because he wasn’t allowed to go to normal school, now that he was a werewolf, and his Da had completely lost his temper. He’d already been eight drinks in and Mam was desperately trying to usher Remus from the room. But Remus had started screaming and crying and had run forward and clung onto his Da’s leg, begging to go to school.
Remus’ Da had snapped and backhanded him across the face, sending Remus tumbling to the floor, silenced by the shock.
Mam had been furious, of course. She and Remus had stayed at her parent’s house for a week while Da had sorted his drinking out and when they came back, it was as if the incident had never happened. They never spoke of it again.
But now, Remus had the very real fear of history repeating itself. His Da was screaming and advancing on Remus, his face red and splotchy with the force of his anger. He was gesturing wildly and Remus felt himself start shaking.
“YOU DISGUST ME, REMUS! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? WHAT WOULD YOUR MAM THINK OF YOU NOW, HEY? YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE-”
Da raised his hand and Remus instinctively flinched.
His Da froze, his eyes wide. He looked between his raised hand and Remus’ terrified face. His anger dissipated. He dropped his hand.
“Remus, I wasn’t- I wouldn’t. Remus I would never, ever hit you again, okay?”
Remus nodded shakily, unable to speak. Da sighed, looking deeply remorseful.
“Just- just go to your room. I need to think.”
Remus didn’t need to be told twice. He turned and ran as fast as he could up to his bedroom.
He collapsed on his bed, burying his face into his pillow. He wanted to cry but he felt completely numb, unable to produce tears. For a moment, it had really seemed like his Da was going to hit him.
Remus rolled over and stared at his ceiling. He didn’t want to think about the immense amount of trouble he was in. He didn’t want to think about the incident. In fact, he didn’t want to think about his Da at all.
Instead, he turned his thoughts to Sirius, James and Peter and their plan for next year.
His friends, the Marauders, were going to teach Remus magic.
He couldn’t wait.