Chapter 1
Remus barely managed to lift his heavy eyelids as it was previously the day of the full moon.
The taste of iron filled his mouth.
He expected himself to be limply lying on his uncomfortable bed at Shrieking Shack so he was rather surprised when the hospital wing greeted him. Remus’ whole body was aching and his brain felt like it was going to burst through his skull. However, the pain was imminently forgotten as panic shot up through his veins.
He looked around and saw Prongs sleeping on a bed beside his. What has he done?
The part he desperately wanted to suppress already won out over him. Remus Lupin had mauled his best friend.
One of the only people who accepted and stayed with him despite knowing what he was. A monster. And this was how he repaid that loyalty, by slaughtering James. Remus felt disgusted with himself.
He couldn't lie to himself and say he didn't expect it coming, he always knew his lycanthropy would ruin any good he had someday. He just hadn't realized that someday would be today.
Remus knew Marauders would hate him now. It was okay, he hated himself too. Such a lowlife like Remus can't afford to be in Hogwarts any longer. Remus has to flee after checking whether he has turned James or not. If he had… he just hoped he hadn’t.
That was his initial thought and he started planning to flee Hogwarts he didn't even notice scrawny-looking Severus Snape also sleeping somewhere there.
O' head was spinning with possibilities. He couldn't go to his poor parents, they've already suffered enough because of his as it is. Remus will go somewhere abandoned and die starving slowly.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when James woke up and started apologizing. He blinked, not comprehending why Prongs would apologize to Remus when he was the one who mauled James.
He usually didn't remember a so anything that happened during full moons so he just jumped to conclusions.
"What?" Remus finally managed to croak out.
James explained no, he didn't maul James but he did almost maul Snape because of Sirius' twisted idea of "prank". Hot tears ran down Remus' cheek partially out of relief, partially out of anger. There was no way Snape would shut up about his curse. He still had to flee after all just because of a person he had once considered as his brother.
Remus finally spotted Severus sleeping peacefully on one of the hospital beds. It was the first time he saw the always scowling boy at ease. Remus just stared blankly at Severus while James comforted Remus and wiped his tears saying "It's fine, It's just Snivillus. He wouldn't dare tell anyone". Prongs didn't understand Remus didn't, in fact, care whether people found out about him being lycanthrope or not, he could live with that. But he couldn't bear to infect someone else with his curse.
"Did he... Did I infect him?" Remus asked after calming down.
"Of course, not"
Remus' stiff shoulders sagged in relief as he heard that answer. He would still flee, but it was better than infecting someone and running away like a coward.
Madam Pomfrey arrived shortly after, and the kind-hearted woman she is urged them to eat a bowl of soup house elves made.