Chapter 2
After the class Remus just packed up his things and left in a hurry, he didn't want to be in the presence of Sirius Black any longer than he had to, he wanted to give him another chance, but not today, today it was humiliating for him. He gave the inhaler back to Sirius and power walked out of the class, ignoring the classmates greeting him and bombarding him with questions about his summer. He just needed to be out.
"Remus!" said Peter as he caught up to him. "I have so many questions, besides the obvious one! So, let me start! Tell me, how was your Summer and who was that guy!?"
Then a lively conversation started, the boys shared their fun experiences they had during the summer (Remus's were mostly made up, he was stuck at home, helping his uncle Ben with some house renovations. He won't have to wear four pairs of sock just to not freeze to death in the winter! Yaay!)
He chuckled along with Peter's animated recounting of his summer escapades, trying to push aside the lingering thoughts of Sirius.
With every step he took away from the classroom, Remus hoped to distance himself from Sirius Black, burying the unexpected feelings that had stirred within him during their encounter. He handed the inhaler back to Sirius with a curt nod and hastened his pace, his mind trying desperately to suppress the rush of emotions, hopefully the boy won't think too much of it.
"Remus, are you okay?" Peter's voice broke through his reverie.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I'm fine," Remus replied, attempting to muster a convincing smile.
Peter eyed him skeptically but chose not to pry further, instead launching into more stories of his stupid summer exploits. Remus was a little jealous, he too wished to go to Italy or France for holiday, like Peter did.
”… but i will quit yapping now, I talk way too much. Who is that black-haired guy that helped you today? You still haven’t told me.”
”I think he is a friend of Lily’s boyfriend.”
“Lily’s who?-” Peter stopped in his tracks. “L-lily has a boyfriend?”
“Yes?” Remus answered shortly with a confused look on his face.
”And it’s not you?”
”WHAT OF COURSE NOT!” Remus said so loud a few head in the hall turned in their direction. “I mean-” he started again, more quietly this time, as his surprise wore off. “Yes, it’s not me. I told you many times, Pete. I love Lily, but only as a friend. We have known each other since dipers. She was, she is my best friend my entire life. I am not interested in her romantically.” He almost whispered the last part.
Not interested in girls in general, but I won’t tell you that, Pete. Not yet, anyways. Maybe not ever, to anyone.
Oh, yes, that was one of the few thing Remus found out about himself in the summer. It was hard not to look at the contractors that came to fix up the leaky roof, they were working in the strong heat of the sun through the entire day and Remus did not pass a single oppurtunity to come up and bring them some water or food his aunt Mary prepared for them. She and his uncle thought he was interested in the labor that they were doing. That was probably why Ben, forced him to work on the house with him after the workers left. The other thing he found out that he hated manual labor, and that he never ever wants to do it again.
“Hellooo- Earth to Remus!” A small hand waved in front of his face. “You won’t even say `hi` to your little blond friend?” Remus look down and there she was.
“Oh my gods! Hello Dora, I missed you!” He bend down and hugged her. “How have you been?”
”Oh- wow, you really do have a special effect on him Pandora, he has been daydreaming and ignoring my questions! Then you came and now he is suddenly on Earth again, he seems to be more exited to see you than me!” Peter complained.
”You know that’s not true, Pete! I am just out of it because of my chaotic morning, I almost didn’t get here in time!.”
”I’m sure our tall insomniac has a good reason, right.”
”I dunno Dora, he forgot to give McGonnagal his summer asignment.” Peter’s comment was meant to be playfull, but the sheer horror that took over Remus’s face was far from amused. He went pale as panic took over him. This assigment was his gateway to the internship he needs so desperatly to get a scholarship. He took off, not a wise decision after his morning incident, but never the less. He couldn’t let his forgetfulness cost him his scholarship. Sirius Black, it’s all his fault anyways. If he had’t had distracted him this morning. He would have been fine.
When Remus got into the classroom Miss McGonnagal was wrapping up a converastion with…no other then Sirius fuckin Black. “….so, once again, thank you Mr. Black, for the oppurtunit you….”
”MISS,” Remus interrupted their conversation. “I am so sorry, but i forgot to give you… my…my-” he struggled to get words out of his mouth, he was breating heavily again, his gaze up was met with a concerned face of Sirius and a not so amused look of Miss Minerva. Instead of embarassing himself even more, he pull out his portfolio of papers and handed it to her. Once his breathing had calmed down, he began to speak again. “These are the materials, my research, experiments, everything. I even wrote a conclusion essay for you. I need you to know that i took this very seriously, i put my blood, sweat and tears into this assignment…” The matter of fact was, that Remus wasn’t even lying. He worked late nights and early mornings to achieve perfection. “And I don’t want you to think I didn’t take it seriously just because i forgot to hand it in on time.”
”Mr. Lupin, I think you are being a bit dramatic. It’s fine, I will take your work. I will make sure to read through it and send it to the company as promised. You have been nothing but excelent, throughout the last year. There is no reason for me not to take it.” She smiled, that wasn’t the reaction Remus expected from the strict teacher he knew her as. “But do not make it a habit not to put in your work on time.”
”Thank you miss!” Remus started to turn around, when the teacher stopped him.
“Wait, wait Remus. I wanted to introduce you to Mr. Black, he is an excellent student and I am sure he is going to be a successfull scientist one day.”
”Oh, you are too kind Minerva~”
Oh, you are too kind Miverva ~, Remus repeated mockingly in his head. Since when can a student call a teacher like that!
“And I am sure you will be as well, that’s why i wanted you two team up an the upcoming project or assignment, call it however you like. It is about the differences of human and animal DNA. I am sure you two could make a great team. ” Minerva, clapped her hand once. “Okay, off you go boys.” She shoed them away. “Actually, wait here Remus.” She stopped him right before he could step foot out her classroom.
Was she just acting nice infront of anther student? Will she fail him? Will she return the assignment? Remus’s body got drenched in cold sweat.
She closed the door on Sirius’s face and whispered. ”I think it would be a great idea for you to made friends with Sirius for you Remus, I talked to your aunt and she told me about your financial situation. Sirius might be your best bet to get into the internship and if you get the internship….”
”What?” Remus couldn’t help himself but to stare at his teacher. “Miss, I don’t wish to over step, but I don’t see what’s my FINANCIAL, SITUATION any of your business. And I sure as hell won’t be using SOME GUY you just paired me up with to get an internship, I am fully capable of getting it on my own, just read the project, you will see. I don’t care how smart this guy is! I don’t need him. I can make it on my own!”
”No, Mr. Lupin… you got me all wrong, Mr. Black is-”
”No. I don’t wanna hear it professor. I will make it on my own.” Remus opened the door and angrily walked out of the room.
”Just so you know, Mr. Lupin. I am doing you a favour. My pairing still stands and if you try to pull any more theatrics like this, I WILL write you a recommendation to switch to our drama course!” When she poked her head out the classroom, Remus pretended not to hear her. He was fully capable of getting the work done by himself. The only partner he ever had was Peter, why would his favourite teacher do him like this?
He decided not to think about that too much. Whatever her deal was, he was just going to push through it. He isn’t about to make an enemy out of the only teacher he liked in this godforsaken entire school.
“SOOOO Mr. Lupin” Sirius said as he put a hand over Remus’s shoulder. “Looks like we are lab partners.” He slowly looked Remus up and down. “So when are you inviting me over…so we can… you know study.” Sirius winked at Remus, who shut his down right away.
”How about… eeeh- never!” He pushed his arm off and hid his face. He could feel his face getting red. “I can do this on my own. You can just read it once i finish and present it for me.” Remus was now standing with hhis back facing Sirius, trying to conjure up a non-chalant hand gesture.
”Pff, as if.” Sirius sighed. “Hey. You are stuck with me, like it or not. And I might not seem like it, but I don’t let people do all the work. And besides, I’m here for a reason. I’m smart.”
Oh yes, the Hogwarts high-school, the school for the exceptionally talented. It took a real character to get here. Before Remus got here he had to get recommendation letters from all his old high-school teachers. That was hard. Especially his english teacher wasn’t too keen on the idea of Remus going there, but she caved in never the less. It was probably because of the pressure from all her coworkers. But Remus still had to promise her he will never write an hand write an essay ever again. His aunt and uncle were sceptical about him going there. They were worried that he wouldn’t fit in. It was a school known for it’s elite status, and they, well they were far from an elite status.
Remus first year in Hogwarts high-school was pure hell. The classes were much harder than he thought they would be. He had to push through it, prove to everyone he was good-enough for this. Fuck, he didn’t go outside at all during his first semester, he just stayied in his room and studied. But it proved to be worth it. He has now one of the top people in his science course. And he wouldn’t have it any other way. So. He didn’t need a random guy to help him. And he sure as hell didn’t need the asshole Sirius Black to help him.
Do I really hate him that much? I have known him for like 3 hours. WHATEVER FIRST IMPRESSIONS HAPPEN FOR A REASON.