September 1971
The boys had settled into their rooms quickly.
Remus didn’t bring much, mostly clothes. Peter had decorated his share of the room with magical action figures that moved and talked. Sirius’s section was filled with muggle books he’d brought from home, a record player, vinyl’s and even a shelf filled with CD’s and an CD player. He had a whole separate trunk for his uniform – it was custom tailored he explained.
James’s corner on the other hand was a complete mess. There were posters of quidditch stars all over the walls, as well as cuts outs from the Daily Prophet and signed autographs. He shoved his trunk full of clothes somewhere under his bed, every now and then it’d peek out, and James would kick it again. He’d swapped out his Hogwarts’s issued blanket for a quilt he brought from home. It was hand stitched by his mother.
Sirius had stared at it, almost as if he was trying to ignite the quilt on fire with his eyes.
Remus was called to McGonagall’s office again a few days later.
James’s was currently waiting outside her office, in fact. He’d told Remus he’d accompany him to and from, ignoring Sirius’s dismayed reaction.
Despite James constantly trying to befriend Remus, the other boy seemed to do anything to avoid him. Not just James, but everyone else. And really, it wouldn’t have bothered James. He knew when to push people, knew when to stop.
It was just that every time James glanced over at Remus while the other three boys were talking in their room, Remus had a painful look in eyes. He looked as though he was longing for some kind of interaction, and yet, when he was given that chance, he refused to take it.
He was keeping something from them, no doubt.
But really, how bad could it be?
“Still here?” Remus’s voice brought James’s back.
James nodded, as the two began walking to Herbology.
“What’d she want?” James tried to start a conversation, but Remus made it really hard to continue. “Nothing much.” He replied quietly. They didn’t speak again until they reached the greenhouse.
“Excited for Herbology?” Remus shrugged at that. James was becoming more frustrated, trying to understand why Remus behaved the way he did.
“Do you not like us, or something?” James hoped it sounded casual.
Probably didn’t, because Remus froze in his tracks.
“No! No, it’s not that…” Remus tried to form words, but every time he began a new sentence, he stopped.
“It’s okay if you don’t, y’know. Just tell us and we’ll back off.”
It may have been simple, but it gave Remus that push he needed.
“It’s not you guys.” He took an deep sigh before he spoke again. “Well, your alright and so is that round boy. Not so much the other one.” He didn’t know their names even, in an way, that was hurtful.
“I do want to be friends, but I’m an complicated guy. Too many secrets, and I’m scared I’ll let them slip.”
“We’re 11 Remus.”
James laughed, what kind of 11-year-old didn’t make friends because he was an overly complicated man? Wasn’t that a thing for 40-year-olds?
Remus didn’t partake in the humor.
“What can I say? If you can’t accept me for who I am, no point in being friends.” Remus smiled as he said that all playfully and teasing.
But James knew, what he said next would decide whether Remus would give being friends a chance.
“You don’t have to tell us anything. And if you do, I’m sure it’ll be nice to have someone to talk to.”
James watched Remus think.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yeah.”
They walked in the greenhouse, late and each lost 5 house points.
But when Remus asked if James would partner up with him, he would’ve happily lost all the house points in the world.
-
“Think any girls are cute?”
James and Remus were supposed to be repotting Mimbulus Mimbletonia. One partner was to carefully transfer the plant while the other ensure it settled properly in the fresh soil. They had to avoid getting sprayed by its defensive stink sap.
Remus was repotting it, while James was supposed to watch out for any sign of uncomfortability. However, he was too focused on chatting instead.
“Dunno, they all look the same.”
Remus was concentrating very hard, being gentle in his movements.
James was taken aback by this piece of information. He frowned and Remus ignored him.
“Isn’t there even one girl who stuck out to you?”
“No.”
“Atleast think before you answer!”
Remus pretend to ponder deep in thought, stroking an imaginary beard and then saying “No” again.
“Oh wait, there was someone actually.”
Jackpot! Patience was an virtue James had been practicing and now he’d reap his sow.
“It was that girl, with the fire-hair.”
James jaw dropped.
“No way dude! You can’t choose her! Anyone but her, I’ve got dibs.”
“Relax, I don’t like her. She just stuck out to me.”
Just then, the girl in question appeared before James.
“What’s this about having dibs on me?” She didn’t seem too happy at the idea of being objectified, but really, was there an female who was okay with that?
“Nothing Evans! Spoke out of turn.” He calmly responded, grinning.
Evans flicked his forehead, before going back to her partner.
“Don’t make it so obvious…” Remus muttered, disturbed by the look on James’s face.
“I’m a very subtle person!” James tried to defend himself, but he really should’ve been paying attention to the Mimbletonia.
Because it had just squirted all over the table, drenching Remus and James both.
The aftermath was unfortunate. They got laughed at, lost even more points and had to hit the showers despite having quidditch next. Remus glared at James, before they both dissolved into laughter.
Sirius and Peter stared at them, wishing they were any one of the two rather than themselves in that moment.