“Good news, everybody!” James yelled excitedly, slamming the door as he entered the dorm room. All three boys that were already in it, jumped at the sound, and looked up to see James with a head full of messy curls, and glasses askew. He ripped them off before they could fall off of his nose. “The full moon is on the fifteenth next month!”

Sirius, Peter and Remus stared at him. “...Great.”

James’s nose was pink with excitement, “...don’t you guys understand what this means?”

Once again the other three just shrugged, their lips in thin lines. 

“I already knew...the date….” Remus whispered awkwardly, “I memorised the moon cycle…”

James seemed to ignore this as he continued bouncing up and down on his heels. 

“Please enlighten us, James, we are dying to know- AH!” Sirius dodged the pillow that was aimed for his head. 

“This means we have two whole weeks of summer holidays before Remus has to...you know.” 

“Oh, oh, oh, yes!” Peter started jumping up and down excitedly, “I get it now!”

“Yes!” James pumped his fist into the air, “You lot have to come to my house! My mum has been dying to meet all of you, and I want to finally show you that weird room I found in my house! And we can play Quidditch all day, and eat ice cream and we can annoy the old lady that lives across the street- you know the one with the chihuahua?” 

“Oh.” Remus looked startled, “Maybe...I...How did you know when the full moon takes place?”

James looked at him like it was obvious, “I looked up the moon cycle in the library.”

“Oh.” Remus said again. 

“So?” James looked around at his friends, “Are you in or are you in?”

“Yes!” Peter grinned, “I’m in!”

“I...I mean, yes.” Remus started smiling slightly, “Of course...that would be...great.”

Sirius shrugged, his eyes downcast, “I….I promised Reggie I wouldn’t...”

The others looked away solemnly. 

“It would only be two weeks.” James said pouting, “Your parents would allow it wouldn’t they?”

Sirius looked thoughtful, “I...assume so. I haven’t been particularly disappointing lately, just the usual amount. Besides I haven’t annoyed my cousins in...a while so that should be fine. It’s not like my parents would miss me, right?”

“So is that a yes?” James asked excitedly. 

“I think so.” Sirius started to grin. 

“Heck yeah!” James and Peter chorused high fiving. Remus jumped in too, holding his hand out for a group highfive, and laughing as he watched his friends scramble together like a flock of pigeons. 

It seemed like maybe this year the summer holidays might not even be that bad…

_ _ _ _ 

“Have you talked to Gideon recently?” James asked a few days later at supper. Sirius and Peter were in the middle of discussing some elaborately strange thing that only the two of them understood so Remus assumed it was him who was being addressed. 

“Hm?” He looked up at his friend, “Not really…Why?”

“No reason.” James said shrugging, “I just thought maybe you would want to….you seem to...you seem to like him that's all.” 

Remus blushed, and he couldn’t help but feel like James was implying...something. 

“He’s nice.” Remus said defensively. “So is Fabian. They’re both...nice. I like both of them.” 

“Well maybe you should talk to them a bit.” James suggested, “Maybe you could ask what they’re doing during this summer. Or you could talk about exchanging letters.”

Remus narrowed his eyes, “What are you talking about? Why are you so obsessed with me talking to Gideon?”

“No reason.” James repeated, “I just...think you two could be good friends that's all.”

“Fine I’ll talk to him.” Remus said eventually hoping his blush would leave, “But not because you asked me to!”

James smirked and took a sip of pumpkin juice. 

That same evening Remus decided to wait in the common room, while the marauders went upstairs to their dorm. While they would be packing for the summer holidays he would be anxiously awaiting the Prewett twins to show up. He knew they always came to the common room at around eight pm to meet with Emmeline Vance who was their closest friend, and somewhat of a strange spirit. As he had expected she showed up sometime around seven forty-five and sat down at a couch opposite him, opening a sketchbook and pulling out a pencil. Remus tried not to let on that he was watching her, or his surprise at seeing her using a pencil instead of a quill. 

He absently turned a page in his book, without reading it. 

Finally after what seemed like ages the portrait hole swung open and two figures stepped inside, a taller figure and a somewhat shorter figure. Remus could immediately feel his face start to heat up. What should he do? How should he address them? How should he address Gideon? What should he even say?

“Remus Lupin?”

Remus looked up and saw that Gideon had stopped in front of him. Fabian left to go talk to Emmeline and the shorter twin sat down next to Remus. 

“Yeah...uh hey.” Remus closed his book and tried to wipe his sweaty hands off on his trousers without actually letting on that that was what he was doing. “How are you?”

“Good…” Gideon lip turned up at the corner. “You’re never here around this time...at least not alone…?”

“Oh, yeah.” Remus nervously tapped his foot on the ground, “I wanted to talk to you alone.”

Gideon’s eyes seemed to widen the tiniest of a fraction, and his lips curled up a little bit more. “Sure.” 

“Uh...right. Yes.” Remus took a couple deep breaths but that didn’t seem to help. What was he doing? What did he even expect to get from this conversation?

Damn James.
Damn him, damn him, damn him-
“I uh...right. Ok. Uh...I’m not exactly sure what I even want to say to be honest,” He laughed nervously, “But er...I was wondering if over the holidays you would...maybe...want to exchange letters? Or...It’s fine if you don’t. I understand. I don’t even know why-”

“Sure.” Gideon interrupted him, “I would like that.”

“You would?” Remus asked.

“Yeah.” Gideons blue eyes seemed to sparkle, “Are you...travelling alot or…?”

“Oh, no. I’m at home, the whole time. So...it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Good.” Gideon smiled, “I’ll be glad to hear from you.”

Remus could feel himself starting to blush at that, “Me too.”

“Good.” Gideon said again. 

“Good.” Remus repeated grinning.

They looked at each other for another moment, and Remus wondered about what James had said. Why had he even been invested in this? He thought...they would be good friends? What was that supposed to mean?

Gideon had really clear blue eyes though, so Remus honestly couldn’t bring himself to mind. 

“Well, see you around Remus.” Gideon said, at last. 

Remus almost didn’t want the moment to end, “Yeah. See you around.”

_ _ _ _

“It’s weird,” Peter whispered that evening as the marauders each lay in their respectable beds, “Being back in this position.”

“Laying down you mean?” Sirius asked, even though he knew exactly what the other boy meant. 

Peter threw a pillow at him, “No. I didn’t mean physically. Just….I can’t believe another year is over.”

“I can.” Remus said tiredly, “This year just went on and on didn’t it.”

“That’s not a bad thing.” James interjected, “You’re saying that like it’s a bad thing.”

“I’m just tired I suppose.”

They all lay in silence for another minute or two each enjoying the quiet dark.  

“You know what would have improved the year?” James said. 

“Pranking Snivellus.” He and Sirius replied in unison.

“Just gotta do it more next year, right?” Peter said. 

“Oh stop with the Snape bullying,” Remus sighed, “Just forget about him. 

Sirius sprung up from his bed, “He showed the whole class your scars, Remus! He called you….er...that weird muggle monster thing.”

“Frankenstein.” Remus said dryly, “And I remember what he did.” 

“Either way.” James said trying to diffuse the sudden tension that had erupted, “It’s been nice overall hasn’t it? The year?”

They all nodded in agreement. 

“We should play a game.” James said, clearing his throat. “As a sort of...celebration! You know as one does on the last day of school.”

“Can’t we just sleep?” Remus asked, rolling over in his bed. 

Three pillows were flung in his direction. 

“I take that as a no.”

“Hmm...truth or dare?” Sirius asked doubtedly, “Not sure if i’ll be able to think of anything good…”

“No...” 

“How about,” Peter said, “We each state one of our favorite memories of the year and one of our least favorite.”

“How about,” Remus said, “We play a game of who can fall asleep first. Wanna bet I win?”

“Shut up, Lupin.”

Remus sighed, and there was a pause in conversation. 

“I don’t want the school year to be over.” Sirius said, quietly. Remus shifted again, forgetting about his fatigue so that he could look over at the boy in the bed next to his. “I don’t want…” Sirius’s voice trailed away. 

Remus had a feeling he was about to open up, really open up. It was strange. Sirius had spoken to them about these things before but never in a group setting. It would always be when he was alone with one of them, and usually when he was on the verge of a mental break. This was different. For once it felt like he was truly volunteering the information. 

“I don’t want to see my parents again.” His eyes were focused on the ceiling, “I’m so alone, at home. It’s like...every step I take, is being watched. Everything I say is being calculated, every move I make is being analysed. And-” His breath hitched, “I just don’t want to go back.”

The others didn’t know what to say to that. There wasn’t much you could say to comfort someone in that situation. As much as they hated it they couldn’t do anything about it. They were only kids. 

“I don’t want to go home either.” Peter admitted softly, “I would rather stay here with you lot, forever.” 

“...Your mum?” James asked tentatively. 

“I write to her every week.” Peter said, pursing his lips, “I do miss her. But...I don’t write for my own sake you know? I write because...because...she needs it. My sister writes often too. Probably even more than I do.” Peter seemed frustrated, “It’s not….it’s just not that simple. I love her, my mum, but I can’t...I don’t want to see her again. I don’t want to have to take care of her again- I don’t even know how. I don’t want to see my sister in stress all the time. I just….it’s simpler with you lot. It’s simpler here at Hogwarts. I can just…” He took a deep breath, “I can just follow what you do and everything will be fine. At home I have no one to follow.”

The wind howled outside. Remus had completely forgotten about sleep now. 

“I don’t want to go home either,” He admitted. It was weird admitting it now that he knew, that they knew. It was like he was standing in front of them naked, letting them see every last inch of his skin, every last scar. “I don’t want to worry my parents,” he went on, “I don’t want to...I don’t want to doubt whether I’ll survive the next moon. I don’t want to wake up in pain. At least here, I know I’ll get to see you guys again. It helps.”

Somehow, even though no one was saying anything Remus could feel them listening and responding. 

Then James spoke, “I don’t want to go home.” He said, “I love my parents. I love my house,  but….I love you guys more.” He laughed, “I know, I know I’m getting all girly on you, but...it’s true. When I’m at home, I don’t know how you’re doing. When I’m at home, I can’t see you...I can’t...feel what you’re feeling, and then...I don’t know what to feel by myself. Should I be happy because...because I’m privileged? I need,” James paused, “I don’t know what I need. But I think I need you, or else I just….don’t know what to do. I can’t function.” 

If this was what it was like to show all of himself, Remus almost didn’t mind. Didn’t mind being so fragile in front of his friends, because they were being fragile too. And that made it ok. 

“Goodnight lads,” Peter said, “I’ll miss you.”

“You won’t be able to get rid of us.” Remus said feeling a smile on his face, “We’ll always be there. All of us.”

“Besides,” Sirius added, “Aren’t we inhabiting the Potters mansion for two weeks?”

“Sure are.” James said, grinning too, “If you behave well I’ll even invite you back.”

They laughed, and Remus closed his eyes pleasantly,  “Alright.” He muttered after a moment of silence, “Can we sleep now?” 

_ _ _ _

“Stop pouting James, young men like you need to learn how to be gentlemen.”

“I am a gentleman!” James hissed at his father, as he pulled the ridiculously long bedspread to the corners of the bed, “I am gentle and I am a man. That doesn’t explain why I need to make all of the beds.”

“They’re your friends not ours.” His father said, though he was smiling fondly. James sighed, and his father bent down to ruffle his already messy hair. At that moment the doorbell rang, and with a quick cry of “Pete!” James rushed down the stairs to meet his friend. 

“Good to see you again, mate!” 

Peter laughed, and pushed James away from him as he entered the house. He was alot tanner than James had remembered him to be, and a lot shorter too. He was carrying a small duffle bag in his hand, which James immediately took from him and slung over his shoulder, and he was wearing sandals, which was a sight that James wasn’t really prepared for. Not hiding his laughter in the slightest, he led the smaller boy up the stairs to the guest room.  Although Peter was not their exact neighbour he lived very close to James and they could see each other quite often during the holidays, yet when James had invited both Remus and Sirius to stay at his house he decided one more person could not hurt, as having the whole gang together would be best anyway. Now he had prepared the guest room, which had two beds, and space for two mattresses on the ground. They would have to fight for who could sleep where. 

Not long after Remus arrived, with his father standing by his shoulder. Unlike Peter Remus had seemed to grow taller, and was the same height as James now, which James wasn’t sure he was ok with. 

“Who gave you permission to catch up to my height?” He asked while hugging the other boy. 

Remus grinned, “Not my fault you didn’t grow. What, haven’t you eaten your greens, Potter? Hey Pete!”

“Hello!” Peter came bustling down the stairs, and smiled at the other boy, “You got tall!”

“Eh.” Remus shrugged. 

“Here let me take this,” James grabbed Remus’s backpack and hauled it over his shoulder, when his mother came to the door, wearing an apron and a dress that went to her ankles. Her black hair was pinned into a messy bun and her lips were a light pink from her lipstick. 

She wiped her hands on her apron and reached out to grab Remus's father’s hand, “Euphemia Potter, nice to meet you!”

Remus’s father nervously reached out a hand, “Oh, yes, Er Lyall...Lupin. Very nice to er...to meet you too.”

She gave him a bright smile and offered him to stay for tea, which he kindly declined, making up some obvious lie about being needed at home.

After Remus had said goodbye to his father, the three boys headed upstairs once again.

“Is this all you brought?” James asked lifting Remus’s bag up and down to show off how light it was, “You know you’re staying for two weeks right?”

“Ten days actually,” Remus corrected him, “I don’t need much.”

“If you say so…” 

About an hour later Sirius finally arrived too, accompanied by his older cousin Andromeda. 

“My parents didn’t want to take me,” Sirius explained once he’d also dropped both of his bags onto a bed, and his cousin had left, “Didn’t even say goodbye.” 

“Eh, that’s alright mate!” James said enthusiastically, “It’s not like you’ll miss them either right?”

“Right.” Sirius confirmed grinning.

“Now!” James spun around and looked at his friends intensely, “Let’s get down to business. I think I found a dungbomb in my father’s secret room- the one where I discovered the invisibility cloak.” 

“You know what that means!”

“My parents were pranksters!”

_ _ _ _ 

That evening the marauders helped the Potters prepare dinner as a sort of celebration. If it was anything James had in common with his parents it was that they thought of everything as a reason for celebration. 

James got a good score on his exams? Celebration. 

The sun was shining? Celebration. 

His friends were visiting? Celebration. 

It was almost exhausting how full of life the family was. 

“Peter dear, could you pass me a pot from that shelf over there? Thanks love,” Euepehmia said, as she bustled around the kitchen preparing for what they were going to cook. Apparently today on the menu was brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes with gravy, carrots, roast lamb and some homemade type of quiche, that James was very eager to show off. While Euphemia and James bustled around the kitchen getting all the supplies and ingredients ready, Remus stood awkwardly at the kitchen table fidgeting with his hands. He had never considered himself to be a very coordinated cook, and he couldn’t help but feel out of place as he watched James dance around the kitchen. 

“You ok?” Sirius asked him, leaning back against the kitchen table, “You’re quiet.” 

Remus couldn’t help but smile, “I’m well. It’s odd seeing James so excited about cooking huh?”

“Yeah,” Sirius smirked, “I didn’t know we had a little cook on our hands.”

“I can hear you!” James yelled setting down a pot. 

“Are you denying it?” Sirius yelled back. 

“No yelling in my kitchen!” Euphemia yelled at the both of them. They ducked their heads. “Remus dear why don’t you start peeling those carrots?”

“Err, ok.” Remus stumbled forwards, and clumsily took a knife and carrot from her hands, not wanting to tell her that he had never done it before. It wasn’t that he hadn’t ever helped in the kitchen, he had, but his parents were slightly overprotective and weren’t too keen on him using a knife, and perhaps adding to his collection of scars.

Sirius joined him at his side, and picked up a knife and potato and started peeling. Trying to act nonchalant Remus watched Sirius, and attempted to copy his movement. 

“Whoa, whoa,” Sirius set down his potato and peeler and softly took a hold of Remus’s wrists, “You’ll cut your fingers. Look,” His nimble fingers delicately wrapped around Remus’s, and started guiding his hands in a back and forth motion gripping the knife in a completely different way than Remus had first attempted it, “See?” Sirius smiled, “That way if you slip you won’t chop off a finger.” 

“Oh, th-” Remus swallowed feeling his face turn red, and quickly averted his gaze from Sirius’s grey eyes, “Thanks.”

Sirius quickly let go of Remus’s wrists and they returned to the task at hand, Remus desperately trying to ignore the strange feeling he got in the pit of his stomach, and the way his face wouldn’t stop growing warmer. 

“TADA!” James brandished a giant quiche, in front of the marauders setting it down on the middle of the table, “Now isn’t that beautiful?”

“Almost as beautiful as you.” Sirius smirked. 

James grinned his shit eating grin and started cutting his monstrosity, piling it onto everyone’s plates. 

“I never knew you were a chef,” Peter said, taking a bite. 

“Your first mistake.”

James sat down heavily and looked at his friends, expectantly, eyebrows raised and puppy dog eyes wide open. His mother put a comforting hand on his, “I like it dear.”

“Ugh, mum….” James groaned, “I know that.”

“I like it too.” His dad offered, ruffling his hair. 

“Ugh….dad…”

 “It’s quite good.” Remus admitted, eventually. 

“Quite?” James exclaimed jumping up again, “Loony, I have perfected this quiche from the moment my hands could shape the crust.”

“That’s your concern not ours.” Sirius said, though he looked like he was enjoying the food. 

Euphemia frowned at them lighty and scolded, “Boys, don’t be rude.” 

“Sorry.” James and Sirius bowed their heads, but not before sticking their tongues out at each other. 

The next hour or so was spent talking. The marauders knew James talked a lot, but around his parents it was like he was a radio that never shut up. He told them about their pranks at Hogwarts, their classes, their fellow students and their teachers. Time seemed to pass at double speed, and Remus seemed to find himself almost relaxing. It was strange being around people he didn’t know very well, especially when James was telling them absolutely everything with no filter, but at the same time it was great. Fleamont and Euphemia both had the same comforting energy that James possessed, and although they were old in Remus’s eyes they were youthful in the way that they talked and laughed. 

“Remus dear,” Euhpemia said after they had finished eating, and Peter and Sirius had just concluded their recount of James making a fool of himself in front of Lily, “I do hope that you’re feeling alright. James told me you get ill a lot, so if you’re starting to feel any symptoms do let me know.” She smiled warmly at Remus while her husband started grabbing their empty plates from the table and bringing them into the kitchen. 

Remus immediately felt his face turn red and he bowed his head in shame. 

Couldn’t he have one holiday, one week, one day, without his stupid lycanthropy getting in the way? 

“Mum….” James groaned again, “You’re embarrassing him!” 

Euphemia didn’t seem phased, “Oh hush, James. I’m just letting him know I have some potions he can take if he starts feeling worse. That’s all.” 

“He’ll be fine.” Sirius said suddenly defensive, “He’s strong.” 

Remus felt a foot brush his under the table, and he felt his face heat up, as he looked at Sirius and saw him glance at Remus meaningfully. 

Euphemia raised her eyebrows at Sirius in surprise for a split second before focusing back on Remus, “I don’t doubt it.”