antidote
The next few days surprisingly passed peacefully. Sirius decided to ignore his feelings for now, after all, they had bigger problems. Remus tried not to show it, but Sirius could see how stressed he was due to the upcoming full moon.
Even though Sirius told him that he could go through one full moon in his body, Remus didn't care. He had always considered his condition a burden and was extremely grateful for what his friends did to help him. But transforming instead of Remus was too much. After all, Sirius didn't know what he was signing up for.
One day, James even heard Remus begging the nurse if something could be done to make them switch back before the full moon. Remus was terrified about it. But he tried not to show it. He even agreed to teach him how to transform into padfoot so that the boys would think he was okay.
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One afternoon, when the Marauders were lounging in their dorm as usual, they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Dumbledore is asking the two of you to come to his office" Kingsley said as James opened the door for him "Remus, Sirius, he says you have to come there alone"
Moments later, both of them were climbing the towers to the school principal's office.
"Do you think he found out that I replaced his shampoo with pink dye in our third year?"
"I don't think so" said Remus, thinking about something else.
"Maybe the elves told him about how Peter and I stole that wine from the kitchen"
"They promised they wouldn't do it"
"Do you think he found out about James trying to feed Minnie catnip?"
"I'm sure that- wait... James did what?"
"Oh right, you were sick then. Forget what I just said!"
"Sirius I- I just wanna know how-, why-, I... well, nevermind, I don't want to know" Remus withdrew when he stopped in front of the door.
„So what, do we go in?”
"I think so"
"Hello, sir?"
"Oh, hello boys, I have great news"
"What is it, sir?" Remus asked
"Your antidote is ready, all the ingredients arrived this morning."
Sirius frowned. What? Antidote? Ready? But it was supposed to be a chance for Remus for at least a little less pain. At least one full moon without-
"We will give them to you tomorrow, before the full moon. Minerva Mcgonagall, will tell you tomorrow when you should go to Madam Pomfrey. And she will explain everything to you in more detail there."
Sirius looked at Remus, who was still processing the headmaster's words, and Sirius had probably never seen so much relief in someone's eyes. But why did Remus looked like that? Why was he relieved that tomorrow he would have to endure torture again?
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"Remus? Oh, Sirius, it's you. What is it?" James asked sleepily when his friend came to him at night while the others were sleeping, "You should be happy, man. You'll be back in your body tomorrow."
"Yes, I know but... full moon"
"What about it? If you two switch back, you won't have to go through turning into a werewolf."
"I know, but, Remus... I just thought I'd free him from this pain this once. James I- I was ready to do it."
"Oh, Sirius... come here. That's really very wonderful of you, but this transformation... you know how brutal this thing is, right? Moons don't want you to do this for him"
"I know, but... maybe I'll tell him tomorrow that we'll drink the antidote after transformation or-"
"Pads, no. I know how you feel, it also hurts me that Remus has to go through such torture, but respect his will, okay? Maybe go to sleep now?"
"I-okay"
And Sirus went back to bed. But he still didn't agree with what James said.
He looked to the side, at Remus's bed. He slept there, exhausted, with his mouth open. It was Sirius's body, but it definitely emanated Remus's energy.
Then Sirius looked at his hands, Remus's hands. Covered in delicate scars, each one the result of hours of pain. Why did Moony have to endure this? Why did so much harm happen to such a wonderful person? Such a beautiful person? With such a beautiful soul? Why couldn't Sirius take away this pain from him? Why?
Sirius closes his eyes and Remus appears in his imagination. Remus. Remus's smile. Remus's hands. Remus's voice. Remus. Remus. Remus. Remus. Remus.
At this moment Sirius lets himself be honest. He is in love with Remus. He loves Remus Lupin.
He. Loves. Moony.
...
And he will do everything so that Moony doesn't have to go through torture at least once.