Sixth School This Year
Remus was convinced Matron couldn’t be banging on his door any louder.
“Lupin!! It’s time to get up!! It’s your first day at this new school and we can’t have you be late!” She screeched. Remus groaned, rubbing his eyes. Maybe if I rub hard enough, they’ll pop out. Would still be more fun than going to this new drab school. “Remus! I’m not kidding!”
“I’m up! I’m up!” He sighed as he practically dragged himself out of bed. He picked out one of his dad’s old jumpers out of his newly washed clothes and a pair of random trousers that would hopefully go with the jumper. He brushed his teeth, trying his best not to look at the mirror. To put it lightly, Remus hated the sight of himself. All day, but especially in the morning. He splashed cold water over his face and changed quickly. Good. These sleeves cover up the scars. Can’t have lots of people thinking I’m in a shit ton of gangs on the first day of school.
Remus trudged down the stairs, worn down backpack resting not so peacefully on his shoulders, tying his vans as he hobbled down the stairs.
“How many times is Matron going to have to tell you to stop doing that until you listen?” Grant called out from his doorway. He clearly had been asleep, but likely woke up at Matron’s screaming. Poor chap.
“Never. I live life on the edge.” Remus jokes. Grant smiled.
“Hate you for waking me up.” Grant moaned.
“Blame Matron, alright? She won’t get off my damn ass with this whole school thing. I just think it’d be easier if I were home-schooled.”
“Don’t we all?” Grant shrugged. “Well, good luck, chap. I’m sure you’ll be suspended within the week.” Remus flipped him off and Grant blew a kiss, closing his door.
“There you are!” Matron called. She looked him up and down, not seeming proud. “Nice to see you cleaned up well.”
“You too.” He sarcastically smiled.
“Well, let’s go. You’re not going to get a quality education standing there.” Matron voiced, heading out the door.
“Goody.” Remus sighed.
~•~
“How the hell did I get into this school?” Remus muttered to Matron as they got out of the taxi and headed to the front of the school. The building was enormous, almost taking up two blocks with what seemed to be 4 stories.
“Lottery system. They let whoever in without any look at their track record.” Matron stopped right in front of the doors. “Remus, I need you to promise me you’ll try your best at this school. This is by far and away the best school you’ve been to and it’s hard finding places that will take you at this rate.” Matron looked Remus in his eyes, which wasn't a common accurance, so Remus held his gaze alongside hers Remus was nodding along, half listening to Matron, half dazing off.
If Remus was being completely frank, he hated moving schools. Half the time it wasn’t even his fault. It was circumstances he happened to be a part of and couldn’t control. But he was hoping to find some peace at this school. No matter how much he hated the size of the building.
“I’ll try.”
Matron nodded and continued walking.
~•~
Remus hated the school. Everything was too posh. The kids had upper class accents, The teachers were all dressed formally, and the school didn’t look completely run down.
“How do these kids not die everyday from the overwhelming fanciness?”
“I’m not sure myself.” A voice chirped up. Remus jerked his head and came eye to eye with a boy his age. He had a bush of dirty blonde hair, chocolate brown eyes, and lots of freckles. Far more than Remus. He was much shorter than Remus, but most boys his age were. The boy had a wide smile and didn’t seem bothered by Remus’s quite obvious pissy mood. “Sorry if I scared you.” He laughed. “I’m Peter. Peter Pettigrew. I’m in year 11. Headmaster Dumbledore assigned me to be your guide until you learned the ropes.” Remus was shocked by his optimism. Most boys his age, Grant being the exception, were miserable.
“I’m Remus. Remus Lupin.” Remus replied, reaching his hand out to shake Peters. Peter took his hand, giving it a firm shake.
“Well…I’ll show you the ropes. It’s a little hard to learn all about, but you’ll get used to it.” Peter explained, getting out a map from his backpack and handing it to Remus. It was basically a blueprint detailing each room. “You’ve got your schedule, right?” Remus nodded. “Well, since you’re also a year eleven, basically all of our classes are on the top level. We don’t have elevators, unfortunately, so it’s a little bit of a hassle. Free block can be wherever, you’re form is typically with a teacher in your year if you’re a new student. Lunch is on the ground floor, it’s actually just down the hall, art, music, and phys. ed are scattered around, but art and music are on the same floor as our year and phys. ed is in typically on the rugby field, but it can change based off of weather or if there's rugby practice. You’ll get used to it.”
“The fuck…” Remus questioned.
“What?” Peter asked.
“Nothing… nothing.” Remus quickly responded. The question now taking up Remus's mind was how the hell he was going to manage all of this information without his mind exploding
“Sure, sure…Well that’s Smithson! I can take you to your form class if you want! Who do you have?”
“Uhhh…McGonogal?”
“Oh! Professor McGonagall? I have her too! Almost all of my friends do too, if you want to meet them! But it’s totally up to you!” Peter said. Remus nodded, not seeing the point in declining the offer. Worse comes to worst, he hates all of his friends and loses the only person he knows.
Peter started to walk up the stairs and Remus followed behind.
One thing Remus knew for sure was that he was not ready for the amount of stairs he’d have to climb daily.
“How do you all manage going up and down these stairs on a daily basis?” Remus moaned.
“Again, you’ll get used to it.” Peter laughed. Remus chuckled, but he desperately needed an answer.
~•~
After what felt like a lifetime walking up the stairs, Remus and Peter finally reached the fourth floor.
“Don’t worry,” Peter panted. “It usually isn’t this bad. Since we stay up here almost all day, the traffic shouldn't be too bad. Be best if you'd get here earlier to avoid all of it.” Remus sighed, relieved to hear the news.
“Now, even though the school is mixed-gender, form groups are still same-sex, but you'll still have classes with girls.” Peter assured Remus. Remus nodded, but wasn’t too bothered by the news.
Peter than kept going on, explaining the main “cliques” of the school, different classes, and just anything he could talk about, until they reached a certain door.
“Here’s our form. We’re here for about 30 minutes, but it can vary if there’s any school wide events.” Peter explained as he opened the door for Remus, letting him in first. Remus mouthed “Thanks” to Peter and walked in. Remus looked around and the room was about as fancy as the rest of the buildings. The tables and chairs both seemed to be made of dark brown wood, and the windows had dark red curtains.
“Oy! Pete!” A voice shouted out. “Where have you been? We’ve been waiting for you!”
“I told you, dip-shit!” Peter called back.
“Language, Mr. Pettigrew.” An older lady warned from his desk. She looked up at Peter, but quickly turned her attention to Remus. “Ah, I see you brought Mr. Lupin to form. Thank you. You may sit down, Mr. Pettigrew. Mr. Lupin, if you’ll come see me.” Peter patted Remus on the shoulder.
“When she’s done with you, come to our table. We’ve had an empty seat open the whole year that we’ve been using for our bags. But I’m sure James and Sirius can sacrifice a spot to put their bags on the ground.”
Remus smiled and told Peter he’d be there soon. Peter left and Remus came up to, who he assumed to be, Professor McGonagall.
“Hello Mr. Lupin. I’m Professor McGonagall. Your form teacher and English III teacher. I’m not sure you’ll be in my class, but you’re welcome here anytime. If you ever need anything, just come to me. I won’t make you speak in front of everyone, since I know how awkward it can be, but if you’d like me to let everybody know, just tell me and I’d be glad to.”
Remus instantly liked her. He had always had a good relationship with his English teachers, and he would hope it wouldn’t be any different with McGonagall.
“Thank you Professor. I do think I will pass on being introduced. I’m sure some of my other teachers will let the entire grade know.” Remus jokes. McGonagall smiled and extended her arm out.
“Well then, I’ll let you go off with Mr. Pettigrew and his friends. Just don’t get into as much trouble as they do.”
Remus smiled and went over to Peter. He sat down at the seat next to him, and diagonally from the boy he quickly gathered to be James, since Peter called out his name as Remus walked over. His jet black hair stood almost entirely up, only his bangs falling, with his bright hazel eyes sparkling under his round glasses. He seemed pretty fit, Remus assumed he was on the rugby team, and Remus could tell he was a sweet person. He had a smile Remus assumed melted so many girls hearts and had a hearty laugh.
Then there was the other boy.
Remus wasn’t sure who the other boy was, but he was desperate to know. His light blue eyes were hyper-fixated on painting his nails a dark red, which made his snow white skin pop. His black bangs fell perfectly in front of his face, the rest of it being pulled into a messy ponytail.
Remus wasn’t sure how long he had been staring, or how hard, but it must’ve been enough for the boy to look up. He stared right into Remus’s eyes, not breaking contact until Remus did. Remus couldn’t tell what the other boy was thinking, and he was praying to God that he couldn’t tell what Remus was thinking, because he was spiraling. Remus did eventually look away to grad something from his bag, what that thing was he wasn't entirely sure, but the staring must've been long enough for Peter and James to notice.
“You guys good?” James piped up. Remus looked up, first at Peter than James. He could feel his cheeks burning, but simply smiled.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Remus reassured, trying not to lose his mind over the fact the boy was still looking. He did eventually stop, turning James, smiling. Oh, Merlin, his smile.
“Of course Prongs!” He practically sang. Well, that’s how it sounded to Remus. The boy looked back to Remus, not seeming to want another stare down. Just to look at the boy. “What’s your name, mate?”
Remus apparently forgot how to talk now.
“Uh, I’m, uh, yeah, my, uh…” He tried his best to muster. Fuck Remus. Think. Think!!
“Oh, sorry, Sirius, this is Remus! He’s why I was late today. So if you want to blame someone, blame him!” Peter joked. Remus wanted to choke and hug him at the same time, but he just sat there and nodded. He was just glad to learn the other boys name. Sirius. God that's a beautiful name. He's beautiful. God, I need to shut up. Wait, no I don't. I need to fucking talk. Remus kept trying to say something, but was clearly still flustered. Why can’t I say anything? Say something! Anything! You’re sitting there like a fucking dolt!
“Yeah, this is my sixth school this year.” Remus laughed. God, of all the things to say, it’s that? We’re so screwed. Have fun having no friends, you moron. Shit they’re going to think I’m insane. Does Sirius think it’s hot? God, he is. Shit focus Remus, focus.
“Really?” James asked. Remus nodded and all three boys' jaws dropped. “Bloody hell you’re a troublemaker!” James laughed.
“We found another one, mates!” Sirius cheered. Peter cheered and gave James a high five. Remus couldn’t understand what was going on.
“Another what?” Remus asked. Sirius, James, and Peter all gave each other knowing looks.
“Should we tell him?” Sirius whispered. James and Peter both nodded and all three boys turned their whole bodies toward Remus.
“So we have a little trio with us three.”
“We’re called the marauders.”
“And we pull off these elaborate pranks every year and everybody knows its us.”
“And we’ve been looking for a fourth member.”
“Well, not really…”
“But how perfect would he be? He’s been to six schools this year. Six!”
“True.”
“I never denied he was perfect.”
The boys turned away from their small conversation and looked to Remus again.
“So, Mr. Lupin…” Sirius dramatically asked. “Could we have the honor of you joining the very exclusive, very important Marauders?”
Remus was honestly shocked to be accepted so quickly. And all he said was that he attended multiple schools. And Sirius was a hard person to say no to. Well, maybe not to most, but he was to Remus.
“I’m in.” He responded. The other boys cheered, but Remus put a finger up, silencing the other boys. “Just as long as I get a fun nickname like Prongs or whatever the fuck name James has.” The others laughed, Sirius even slapping his hand on Remus’s shoulder. His touch was warm, even comforting. It sent chills through Remus’s whole body, but he tried his best to control it.
“Well, we each actually have one.” James finally responds once they all calm down. “We just based it off of our favorite animals. I’m Prongs, AKA deer.”
“I’m Padfoot.” Sirius added. “AKA a dog. Preferably black ones.”
“And I’m Wormtail.” Peter finishes. “I don’t really think I need to explain further. The name wasn’t even my choice. James came up with it one day when we were younger and it stuck.”
“And I have no regrets, my Wormtail.” James smiled, hugging Peter, who was busying flipping him off, but still smiling. Sirius was laughing along, but was also putting away his nail polish.
“Well, what’s your favorite animal than Remus?” Sirius smiled. Remus’s stomach turned into butterflies.
“Oh, ummmm… I was always interested in werewolves as a kid. They were always so fascinating to me.”
“Hmmm…. Werewolves are certainly an interesting choice.” Peter muttered. All three boys were deep in thought. After a minute or two, James jumps up.
“Moony! Werewolves howl at the moon so…Moony!”
"You're brilliant Prongs.” Sirius smiled. “Well, Moony it is!”
“Cheers to Moony, our newest member.” Peter cheered. He held his hand up, James and Sirius grabbing it. Remus joined in once he realized they all were doing it.
“Here here!” James, Peter, and Sirius all called. Normally, Remus would be embarrassed by all the unnecessary attention, but he was having too much fun with his new friends to even notice the other boys in their form.
“Potter, are you and your little group of friends aware there’s other people here?” A boy snaps. Remus looked at the voice, and winced at the sight of it. His nose was crooked in all the wrong places, looking like it’s been broken at least 20 times. His greasy black hair was separated into sections, each greasier than the other, looking like it hadn't been brushed since the last time it was cut. It was likely a long time ago, though, as his hair fell past his shoulders, at a, quite honestly, unflattering length.
“Sorry Snivellus. We’re too busy having fun. I know that must be a foreign concept to you, but people that have actually tolerable friends will have it.” Sirius spoke up. He rolled his eyes and looked at Remus, who must’ve been clearly confused. “That’s Snape. He’s in our year, unfortunately, and is a miserable human to be around. Since you’re hanging out with us, it’s likely he’ll hate you, so I’m terribly sorry.” Sirius patted Remus on the head and smiled wide.
“It’ll be okay though, Moony. We’re much better friends. We also smell better because bathing isn’t a yearly ritual in our household.” Peter added. Remus laughed and laid his head down on Sirius and James's table. Sirius got out his book, which when Remus looked, was Carrie by Stephen King. Peter and James went back to talking about rugby, and Remus closed his eyes, trying to take a nap.
But it was nearly impossible for Remus to do so, as Sirius was toying with his hair the entire rest of form.