Slurs and Sleeps
Regulus does not like Severus Snape. He is under the impression that no one does. Other than one Lily Evans, who is only friends with him because, apparently, they are childhood friends. Regulus doesn’t understand why anyone would willingly be within five metres of the greasy git.
That is why Regulus is so repulsed when Snivillus is standing by the Gryffindor table at breakfast. James, Remus, and Sirius are already sitting at the table, talking to Snape. They look about as disgusted as Regulus is to have him near their table.
“Ew. What is he doing at our table?” Regulus asks flatly, arching a brow.
“I can hear you, you know.” Snape says.
“Can you hear me now, mudblood?” Regulus sneers, going to sit at the table. Severus stops him, of course. James’ brows are having a party with his hairline. Sirius is grinning, he hates Snape as much as Regulus. Remus has an unreadable expression on his face.
“What did you call me?” Snape asks in his disgusting nasally voice.
“I called you what you are. Move.” Regulus replies as he pushes past him. Snape glares at him. “What, are you going to watch us eat?” Snape scoffs and storms off in a greasy fit.
“Regulus…” James starts. He looks uncomfortable, like Regulus did something wrong.
“James.” Regulus returns.
“You can’t… you can’t say that.” James states.
“Say what, exactly?” Regulus asks.
James pauses, like the word is physically painful to say. “Mudblood,” he says. Regulus arches a brow.
“And why can’t I?” Regulus inquires.
“It’s a slur, Regulus.” Remus informs him.
“Yes, I know, that git deserved it.” Regulus says.
“Okay, but would you call me a mudblood?” Remus asks. “Or Lily, or Marlene, or Mary?”
“No. You don’t deserve it.” Regulus states. Remus sighs, shaking his head. Regulus doesn’t quite know what he did wrong. “Snape is a bigoted hypocrite. Let him have a taste of his own medicine.”
“Here, here!” Sirius says.
~*~
Remus didn’t think Regulus would be like the rest of his family. Remus thought Regulus would be like Sirius, who didn’t give a sod what your blood-status is. But apparently not. Remus goes out of his way to avoid Regulus the rest of the day. He knows Regulus will notice. Remus doesn’t quite care.
See, when Regulus was sorted into Gryffindor Remus thought it meant something. Thought it meant he was like Sirius. That Regulus wouldn’t use slurs that degraded people who were anything other than pure-blooded to just their filthy blood. But Regulus has never seen Remus’ blood. Didn’t see that night when he was four. When Greyback broke into his bedroom. Made him into the monster he is today. The half-wolf half-blood that has scars all over his body. All over his mind. His soul. Regulus didn’t see the blood soaking into the hardwood floor.
Does Regulus think his blood would be brown? Stained by the dirt in his mother’s blood? Stained by his wolfishness? Does he think it will be red? Does Regulus think his own blood is gold and everyone else’s blood is the normal red. Because, god forbid, someone have the normal colour of blood. God forbid anyone have blood stained by muggles.
So, Remus avoids Regulus. Ignores him, quite frankly. If the others notice, they don’t say anything. Remus also has half the mind to avoid Sirius, seeing as he encouraged Regulus’ behaviour, but he knew he would cave, so he didn’t.
That was how it always was with Remus and Sirius. They could never ignore each other. Remus more so, because Sirius was an obnoxious prick. But, Remus doesn’t quite know what he does to get Sirius’ attention.
See, Remus doesn’t ask for attention. He doesn’t stand on tables. He doesn’t yell, or scream. He is quiet. He reads. Remus tries not to draw attention to himself. But somehow, Sirius’ attention is always drawn. Always to him. Like a moth to a flame. Or something equally as cliche.
Remus knows that James and Sirius are probably the closest of the Marauders. They are both loud. They can both obnoxious sometimes (most of the time). And they’re the closest. Which is something Remus knows that Peter is bitter about.
James and Peter are childhood friends. They lived on the same street and have been playing together since they were old enough to go to each other’s houses. And Remus knows that Peter is bitter because, even though Peter has known James for longer, Sirius knows James better.
Which is why it’s not much of a surprise when Peter finds Remus in the library.
“Hey, Pete.” Remus murmurs, glancing at Peter as he sits down in the seat across from him.
“Hi Moony.” Peter greets glumly.
“What’s up?” Remus asks.
“Oh,” Peter sighs, “you know.”
Remus’ lips twitch up. “Who’re you avoiding?” He asks.
Peter huffs. “James.”
“Ah.” Remus replies wisely.
“You?” Peter inquires.
“Regulus.” Remus replies.
“Ah.”
Remus goes back to his homework. Remus likes homework. It has become somewhat of a calming process for him. Remus knows he gets the best grade in homework out of the Marauders, seeing as he actually spends time to do it. Maybe Regulus is good at homework. Remus wouldn’t put it past him. The kid is smart. Book smart, that is. People smart is a bit iffy. People smarts are more Sirius’ forte.
“Why are you avoiding James?” Remus asks finally.
Peter shrugs. “I want to see how long it takes for him to realize I’m not there.” Remus frowns.
“I would notice in thirty seconds.” Remus murmurs, looking up at Peter, who still looks sad. Remus doesn’t like it.
“If you say so.” Peter mumbles. Remus frowns again. He makes a mental note to include Peter more.
Eventually, Remus finishes his homework and Remus and Peter go back to Gryffindor tower, Peter holding Remus’ books because Remus’ back is killing him. It gets like that nearing the full, so usually the Marauders carry his stuff for him, even if Remus insists he can hold it himself. This is one of the times Remus is thankful for his friends being thoughtful.
Once they get through the portrait hole they get bombarded by James. Or, more Peter gets bombarded by James.
“Where were you?” James asks, patring Peter down like a mother whose child just went missing and got found.
“In the library, with Moony.” Peter says quietly. But Remus can tell he’s hiding a pleased smile.
Remus spots Regulus and decides to go up to the dorm. He does not feel like seeing him right now. Remus knows that it’s stupid. But, as Sirius would say, It’s about the principal! Oh, Merlin, Remus really is spending too much time with Sirius, isn’t he?
Remus lays down on his bed. It’s the comfiest thing he has ever laid on in his whole life. Although, that might just be because he’s tired. Eh, whatever. Remus closes his eyes. He’s just resting them. He hasn’t slept very well for a couple days, he just needs to rest his eyes. Supper is in thirty minutes. He’ll be up by then.
Remus closes his eyes, opens them, closes his eyes again.
Remus lets himself drift into his first dreamless sleep in a while.
Remus wakes up two hours later with food on his bed-side table with a note in Sirius’ loopy cursive handwriting.
It reads ‘we didn’t want to wake you, you looked like you needed the sleep. We should be back soon.’
Remus smiles and crumples up the note. He smiles the rest of the way through eating his dinner.
By the time the Marauders get back, Remus is back asleep and his plate is empty on his nightstand.