potions
Lily and Clem had made Slughorn's ‘Slug Club’ and it was all Lily could talk about. She was treating it as if she was a part of an elite society. OWLS exams were quickly approaching and Clem felt like Remus and Sirius were avoiding her, she didn’t know why but she just never saw them. Lily would hang out with James and Peter but even she didn’t see them much the past few days.
“Hey Lils?” Clem called, staring up at her ceiling, fidgeting with the pages of her book.
“Yeah?” She replied from the bathroom.
“Do you know where Sirius and Remus have been?” She asked. Lily paused for a moment, closing her eyes, and took a deep breath.
“Uh… no” She spat out her toothpaste and turned off the light.
“I’m sure they’re around somewhere” She continued, getting under her sheets.
“It’s just, we are supposed to start our study group and I haven’t seen them, plus I still have Remus’ gift,” Clem said softly, turning onto her side to face Lily.
She gave a comforting smile.
“I’m sure we will see them tomorrow in class, don’t stress too much.” Lily answered calmly. She reached over to turn off her lamp.
“Good night Clem, don’t think about it too much okay?”
“Night Lils” she replied softly.
She was in fact going to continue to stress about it. She didn’t know where they were and no one else seemed to care. James and Peter acted as if it was a monthly occurrence. Which maybe it was which was why she felt that she was the only one affected. She had just started hanging out with them 2 months ago anyway. She tossed and turned for a few hours, looking at her clock in frustration, 3:30 am. She sighed and slipped on her slipped and coat, sneaking out of her room and went downstairs.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself Moony?” A familiar voice asked quietly.
“I’ll be fine. Go to bed mate.” She stopped where she was on the stairs. She knew who was speaking and was nervous to interrupt. Footsteps began to come closer.
“You too James, go to bed.” A sigh came.
“Okay mate. See you in the morning.”
She hid around the corner, watching James and Sirius heading to bed.
Quietly, she began to make her way downstairs, trying to ignore Remus and give him privacy. The fire was still going, only a little, but enough to light the corner with the sofas. Remus’ record player was downstairs as well, the volume on low but something was playing. She continued to sneak around to the kitchen area and started making herself tea.
“Clem?” Remus whispered, she didn’t even hear him get up but now he was at the doorway. She turned around quickly, startled.
“Sorry,” He continued, “Didn’t me to startle you. Why are you up so late?” He asked, crossing his arms. She couldn’t see his face since his back was to the light from the fire. Only his silhouette was seen.
“I couldn’t sleep.” She croaked, the kettle began to hiss quietly, pouring her water into the mug. “Me neither.” He replied, his footsteps quietly getting closer.
She reached for a tea bag, his hand reaching above hers and picking two handing her one. “How have you been?” He asked, sliding a mug next to hers.
“I’ve been okay, me and Lils got into Slughorn’s club.” He grinned slightly.
“So I heard, James was telling me it’s all Lily can talk about.”
She nodded, pouring water into his cup.
“Thanks” he replied.
“You’re telling me, I feel like my ear will fall off sometimes.” She turned towards the fire, allowing light to hit his face. She only got a quick glance at his face and that’s when she realized why he had been gone. A new scratch had appeared above his eyebrow tracing to his temple. She quickly put her mug down on the nearby table, getting close to him. Her hands hovered around his face.
“Remus, your face.” She said softly, her voice filled with concern. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
“I know. Not the best look” She searched his eyes for an answer, nothing. Her hands still hovering.
“Don’t worry about it okay? I’m okay, trust me.” He smiled slightly.
He began to make his way towards the couch again, Clem following close behind. As he reached for his book again his sleeve pulled upwards, she could see more scratches along his arm. Without thinking she grabbed his wrist carefully, scooching closer to him, and pulled the sleeve up slightly.
“Remus? What happened?” He yanked his arm away and pulled the sleeve down.
“It’s not what you think okay? Please just drop it.” He snapped.
She pushed herself away from him and nodded.
“I’m sorry” She said quietly, avoiding eye contact.
She placed her feet up on the coffee table, holding her mug tight to her chest, and watched the fire. Remus on the other side of the sofa reading his book. He sighed heavily and closed his book.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. It’s just a sensitive subject for me.” He said calmly, she turned to look at him.
“I’m not hurting myself, I promise you.” She nodded and took a sip of her tea.
“I’ve just been out with Sirius for a few days is all.”
She continued to only nod, not saying anything. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing. He didn’t look good. His face looked thinner, his eyes were sunken in, and dark circles more prominent. You could tell he hadn’t been sleeping much.
“Are you sure nothing is going on?” She asked quietly. He gave a soft smile and nodded.
“I’m okay, I’ve just been sick and Sirius has been helping me out.”
That made her feel better.
“You started feeling sick at Three Broomsticks?” She asked, he nodded.
“Had Peter take me to Promfrey.”
“Okay,” She said, “I’m sorry for bugging you about it.”
He shooed his hand, as to say it was fine, as he sipped his drink.
“It’s nice that you worry, no one else besides James, Sirius, and Peter do.” He replied.
“What are you listening to?” She asks, motioning to the record player.
“Just some Jazz, James got me this vinyl last Christmas.” He smiled, remembering past Christmas’ with his friends.
“James being a good gift giver surprises me. I’d think Sirius would be slightly better.”
Remus chuckled and shook his head.
“James gets the most thoughtful gifts.” Clem smiled slightly, trying to imagine all of them shopping for each other. A sight she would kill to see.
“What are you smirking about?” Remus asked, his nose still thick into his book.
“Nothing, just can’t imagine James shopping and actually picking out a thoughtful gift.”
Remus smiled. “You’d be surprised.” He replied.
“Are you good with gifts?” She asked, taking a small sip. He chuckled.
“Terrible, I’m the worst one actually. Worse than Peter.” He whispered the last part, grinning. “Really?” She said in disbelief.
She crossed her arms and sunk further into the couch. She took a deep sigh and closed her eyes. Listening to the music quietly playing in the background. The fire kept her feet warm as she snuggled into her jacket.
“Don’t fall asleep out here, trust me. James will terrorize you.” Remus mumbled teasingly.
She checked her watch, 5:30 am.
“We’ve been out here for two hours talking.” She replied, “Might as well just stay up.”
Remus tilted his head slightly and shut his book.
“Come with me.” He said, grabbing his coat from the coat rack.
She followed him quietly up to the astronomy tower, the sun just starting to come up over the mountains.
“Wow” she marveled, “This is incredible.”
She continued to stare at the scenery in awe of how gorgeous her school was. The sun and clouds reflected on the lake almost like glass. The birds chirping softly, trees rustling in the wind. The clouds are painted in pink and purple. Remus took a deep breath, enjoying the crisp morning air, Clem doing the same. Her hands dangling off the railing.
He dug a familiar box out of his coat and placed a cigarette in his mouth, the box still opened, and he offered her one. She slid one out and pinched it between her two fingers. He cupped his hand around his face, to shield the cigarette from the wind while bringing the flame to light the tip. He held out the lighter, keeping it shielded from the wind. Clem popped it in her mouth and brought herself closer to the flame, she locked eyes with him while waiting for it to light. His hanging on his bottom lip. He gave a comforting smile and shoved his lighter back into his pocket.
“Are you going to come to study with us tonight?” Clem asked.
Remus took a second to think. He preferred to study alone, but he also liked the idea of studying with friends and making memories that weren’t full of pranks or teasing.
“I think so, only once a week though, I prefer to study by myself so I can focus.”
Clem nodded slowly.
“Me too, I think I’ll study with everyone once a week, same for just me and Lily, then the rest of my time alone.”
Remus raised his eyebrows.
“How many times a week do you study Bones? Merlin's beard.” He teased.
He traced his hand along the scratch, his raising his eyebrows made it sting a little. She watched as he did this, placing a gentle hand to bring his down.
“Don’t pick at it or touch it. It could get infected.”
She said with a slightly stern tone, she took a long drag, thinking about his question.
“I think 3 to 4 times a week for 3 to 6 hours a night? Depends on how much homework I have, McGonagall is being ruthless this year.” She complained.
Remus’ mouth hung open dramatically, his cigarette hanging.
“That’s too much,” He replied.
She shook her head and stared out into the trees.
“It helps for me”, he shrugged.
“Have you finished your book yet?”He asked, she shook her head.
“I’ve been busy with classwork sadly.” He hummed a response, his question reminded her about his gift. She began to contemplate if she should just give it to him now, or wait.
“I actually have something for you, wait here.”
She finished her cigarette quickly and began to head back to the common room. She quickly darted through the halls, and up to her room, careful not to wake anyone. She shoved the gift into her coat and began to hurry back.
“Hey Bones” James smiled.
“Hi James.” She said quickly before leaving.
She hustled up the spiral staircase, catching her breath before approaching him again. Remus looked at her with a kind smile.
“What is it?” He asked, his eyes darting to her pocket.
“Don’t overthink it okay?”
She asked with caution, he nodded. She dug the gift out of her pocket, fixing the ribbon and twine before handing it to him.
“Please don’t open it in front of me, or read the note.”
She said quickly, still holding onto the book. His hands were on the other side of it.
“Of course.” He said softly.
“Okay, I have to get to practice, I’ll see you later?” She asked quickly, He chuckled and nodded. She flashed a quick smile and ran back down to change.
“Bye Clem” Remus called.
She popped her head up from the staircase, “I’ll see you at breakfast.” She smiled.
Remus stayed up at the tower another hour or two, finishing his current book and another cigarette. His body had been in a lot of pain for the past few days and the sun felt like a heating pad, lessening the pain.
“Hey Moony” Sirius yawned, dragging himself up the stairs.
“Had a feeling you’d be up here” He said, Remus hummed in a daze.
“How are you feeling?” He asked, leaning over the railing.
“Better” Remus replied, stretching his arms above his head, groaning slightly.
Sirius nicked a cigarette from his point and mentioned the blue parchment next to him.
“What’s that?” He asked, blowing the smoke away from them.
“Nothing,” Remus said softly.
Sirius raised a brow before leaning towards it, Remus slid it into his coat,
“Sirius, promise. It’s nothing.”
He continued, and Sirius raised his hands in surrender,
“If you say so.” He teased.
Sirius knew it was something, that looked like a gift, perhaps from a girl? Or boy? Sirius was hurting inside knowing that the gift would be cherished and that it wasn’t something from him. He had always loved Remus a little more than he should, but he was too fearful it would ruin their friendship. Besides, he doubted Remus felt the same. Sirius was wrong of course, last year Remus was utterly in love with him. But Sirius had been casually seeing and sleeping with girls so he decided to try his best to get over him. Sirius cleared his throat.
“James and I are going to go pick on Snape this morning, come with us.” He smiled.
Remus scoffed, taking the cigarette from him inhaling deeply before giving it back.
“You know how I feel about all of that Padfoot.” Sirius rolled his eyes.
“Oh come on, just come with then we can all walk to breakfast. Okay?” Sirius replied.
Remus nodded and both began to find their way to James.
“There is he!” James smiled, coming out of the common room with a big smile.
“What’s that in your pocket?”
James asked, arching his eyebrow his glance going straight past him and to his jacket. “Nothing” Remus replied, shoving his hands into his pocket.
“Let me grab my bag before we leave.”
Remus slipped his way into his room, putting his gift into one of his drawers, making sure to hide it under some of his other books and papers. The note floated out of the twine, falling to his shoe, He debated on reading it or waiting until tonight during the game when he could be alone. “Moony!” Sirius called from downstairs.
He shoved the note into his back pocket, grabbed his bag are darted downstairs.
“Sorry,” He replied, “I almost forgot something.” He lied.
Sirius hummed “If you say so” He grinned.
James was peering through one of the grand windows in the hall.
“Look! There’s Snivy! And he’s all alone. I say we pay him a visit right now!” James grinned, turning to see Sirius grinning and darting downstairs.
They ran outside, the morning dew scattered around the fields, Snape was walking alone towards the trees right outside the large courtyard. James’ grin only got larger as they got closer to him.
“Snivy!” He called out.
Snape turned slowly, pulling out his wand only to be met with James’ and Sirius’ staring him in the face. The boys shoot harmless hexes and charms at Snape, chasing him around the courtyard. A large group of students begin to pill in to watch the humiliation. The boys pin him to a tree.
“Where you gonna go Snivy?” Sirius teased.
James grinned and began to levitate Snape into the tree upside down.
“I say we tie him here and leave him till dinner!” James shouted.
Remus, pinching his fingers between his eyes. A cheer filled the courtyard, cheering the boys on and the branch wrapped around Snape's shoe. Clem and Lily were heading up the hill and began to hear the shouting, Lily looked at Clem with concern and began running up the hill, Clem not far behind.
Lily shoved James' chest.
“James knock it off! Leave him alone!” She cried Clem began to untie the branch around him. “I’m so sorry” Clem kept repeating.
Snapes' face flooded a red color from both circulation and embarrassment. He whipped out his wand, Stunning James and Sirius.
“I don’t need help from filthy Mudbloods like them!” He shouted in anger, his eyes darting at Lily and Clem.
Clem scoffed folding her hands, while Lily began o get emotional and turned away. James got angrier by the second flinging what spell he could think of at him.
“How dare you?”
“Great Merlin, you are an awful person!” He continued to spat.
Lily collected herself before turning to face them.
“Both of you are equally horrible!” She cried, shoving her way through the crowd and inside. Clem tried to contain her anger, searching for Remus, hoping he wasn’t there. But to her luck, he was. He couldn’t dare to look at her, his eyes shifting in any direction but hers. She scoffed, shaking her head, and shoved herself through him and Peter who watched all of this silently. The girls avoided the marauders at breakfast, sitting at the opposite end of the table, the two of them sitting in silence while scanning their potions books. Lily sniffled every once in a while, Clem placed a gentle hand on hers, her eyes shifting to hers slightly before going back to her textbook.
“Here we go,” She mumbled.
James was cautiously making his way over. Lily rolled her eyes as James sat next to her.
“What do you want.” Lily spat.
James’ mouth fixed into a straight line, fidgetting with his hands under the table.
“Lils, I’m sorry, I didn’t think he’d react that way.”
“What so you think I’d be fine if he hadn’t said that to me?”
She gave a frustrating groan.
“You are so stiff and thick-headed. You play tricks on a boy who did nothing to you!”
Her voice began to climb.
“Lily he’s a death eater!” He argued she rolled her eyes.
“What if he isn’t James!” She snapped, looking at him with tears growing in her eyes.
She stuffed her bag and stormed out James looked across to Clem.
“Don’t look at me, I agree with her.” She said with a stone-cold tone, flipping a page in her textbook.
James groaned, tilting his head up in the sky before turning and walking back to his friends. “What did she say? Didn’t look like it went too well.” Sirius asked concerningly, leaning his head on his hand.
James shook his head and grabbed his bag.
“It’s fine I don’t care. I can’t have this ruin my mindset with tonight.” He replied annoyed.
Sirius shrugged and grabbed a muffin.
“He has to let Lily go, at this point, she’ll never go for him.” Peter chuckled.
“I don’t know mate he has his ways.”
Sirius rolled his eyes, a slight grin picking at his face. Remus was nowhere to be seen at breakfast that morning, as Clem was leaving she scanned their table, no Remus. Which in fact did surprise her, he was always with them, she wondered where he was. As she took the longer route to her class there he was. Sitting at one of the windowsills, the light stone modeled in its gothic flair. She didn’t expect him to be sitting in one of the halls staring off. The sunlight casts a pretty shadow on the architecture. She began to turn away from him but footsteps grew closer. “Clem please, hear me out.” He says softly
“I’m late for class Lupin.” She replied.
That was the first time he had heard her call him by his last name and he hated it.
“Clem please,” He begged quietly, his face growing closer to her ear.
She continued to walk to class ignoring him as if he was a ghost. He sighed and followed her, “Stop following me.” She complained.
“We are in the same class.” He spoke dryly.
“Unless you’ve already chosen to forget of my existence.” He teased slightly.
Clem rolled her eyes, slipping through the doorway.
“Ah! Ms. Bones! I got your owl, please feel free to sit with Mr, Lupin instead.” Slughorn smiled, motioning to the empty table near his desk.
She mumbled something under her breath that Remus couldn’t quite get. Clem had forgotten that she had sent an owl about no longer wanting to sit with Sirius since he talked too much and she couldn’t focus. And of course, her luck would have her sitting with the person she dreaded more than Sirius. Remus pulled out her stool before taking his own and pulled out his notebook.
“Okay class, now that we are all here! Today we will be learning about one of the most powerful potions in the world! Amortentia.” A few of the girls began to whisper, walking slightly closer to the cauldron. He closed it quickly before continuing with his lecture.
“Now, this potion doesn’t actually create love that would be impossible of course, it’s more of obsession and powerful infatuation.”
He continued to spew off information for a while and listed multiple warnings.
“Now I trust since this class is full of almost all, future aurors, none of you will be stupid enough to try this on anyone or a friend. If I hear anything of the sort you will be taking to Dumbledore.” He warned he clapped his hands together.
“Now off you go!” He smiled.
Clem gave an annoyed sigh before grabbing the materials needed and working on the potion herself.
“You know, I’m your seat partner for a reason. We do this together.” Remus chuckled, cutting up some of the ingredients.
She hummed a response and continued her task.
“I know you’re upset with James and Sirius, but you should know I had nothing to do with it Clem” he said carefully.
She took a deep breath, scrapping something into the pot.
“Can we just do this, please.” slightly annoyed.
“Clem, we really should talk about this…” Remus continued softly
“You not stopping them or saying anything to prevent it is contributing Remus.”
Clem said, anger becoming more prominent as each word escaped your mouth.
“I don’t understand why you still defend him after he called you such mean things.” Remus argued.
“Because he’s my friend.” Remus scoffed.
“Friends would never call you that.” Remus now becoming frustrated.
“He was just embarrassed and lashed out.” She continued
“Can you for one second stop defending him and look at it from our perspective?” He snapped. Clem looked at him, seeing how anger had consumed his face. He took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself.
“Someone you call a friend, called you something no one deserves to be called. Then he calls your best friend the same thing, the woman he is in love with. And he doesn’t even come to apologize to you for it. He made you cry Clem, friends should never make you cry.” He explained.
He never once looked at her during his speech, he was focused on finishing his part of the potion, throwing in the final bits. She took a deep sigh, ingesting his words, and nodded slowly. “I know, but he’s one of my closest friends” She replied, throwing in the last bits of her portion. “Clem I don’t think he’s the same person you met years ago…” He replied softly, watching her pull apart the herb.
She grabbed Slughorn’s attention, as he walked over slowly breaking from his conversation with Lily.
“I know.”
“All done are we?” Slughorn teased.
He tested it to see if the reaction was correct. All three of them take a large sniff.
Remus smelt rain, faint smoke, old books, and tea
Clem smelt lavender, firewood, pine trees, and the earth’s smell before it rains
Slughorn paused, popping the lid onto the pot.
“It’s perfect! Well done, you two! You’re free to leave early, make sure to have the research portion handed in by the next class.” He smiled, and the two began to gather their things and head out.
“Will you be at the game tonight?” She asked quietly.
Remus shook his head. “I only go to the Slytherin game for James. Not the biggest sports fan, unfortunately.”
He paused for a moment.
“Did you want me to come?” He asked it was a genuine question, not a tease.
She shook her head rather quickly.
“I was just curious” She replied.
“I can come tonight if you want me to Clem,” He said softly, looking at her sweetly.
“It’s fine Remus, if you weren’t planning on it don’t come just because I asked if you were.”
She rambled, Remus chuckled softly.
“Okay, I won’t go then. I should write the research portion of Slug anyway.” He complained.
“I’ll see you around?” Clem asked.
He smiled slightly, “I’m sure I’ll see you tonight when Sirius throws another party for James.” Remus replied.
Clem chuckled rolling her eyes, and waved goodbye before heading to her next class.