Halloween 1971
The year progressed, and October was drawing to a close meaning Halloween was fast approaching. To put it simply, the whole castle was brimming with crazed excitement. Dumbledoor, ever trying to prove his worth to his students, granted them a day off to celebrate the age-old event. For the older years, this meant a party, the night before Halloween, so their free day could be used to sleep off the previous night's fun.
So on Thursday the 30th of October 1971, Remus looked on wistfully to the Gryfindore older years as they skived off their lessons for the day to decorate the common room with cotton spiderwebs and fake skellingtons. (Distinctly muggle-ish, Remus observed with some interest.) Remus supposed he could also refuse to go to class. Still, he abstained to avoid his fellow Marauders from asking him questions, forcing himself to suffer through a whole day of classes when the entire castle was flowing with excitement.
Sirius shared his disdain of forced child labor of the mind. “Urg, it’s so unfair. Why are the seventh years getting a four-day weekend? While we’re here forced to do lessons!” Sirius said this with exaggerated dramatics, falling face-first into his arms on the desk, hiding his face from view. Professor Flitwick gave him a stern warning for not paying attention, however, his eyes remained kind.
“We do get three days off, Sirius. It’s hardly our fault if the teachers don’t want to fight any of the seventh years to actually come to class. And besides, we’re here because we care about our education” James said in his too-posh accent, portraying him as the prestigious mummy's boy he was. Even Sirius rolled his eyes at James (along with the remaining two Marauders) who was renowned for agreeing with James’ every word. But, they couldn’t have more different opinions when it came to work ethic.
“Come off it Sirius, just two more hours then we’re free” Remus chimed in lazily leaning back on his chair.
“Yeah, does anyone want to come with me to the kitchen after class?” - Peter looked at the three respective marauders around him - “I want to make Caramel apples.”
“Do you even know where the Kitchen is?” Sirius’ tone was slightly accusing, however, his head tilted to the side revealing his curiosity.
“Yes.”
“What!” James whisper-yelled at Peter’s nonchalant attitude, “And you didn’t tell us. I feel betrayed!” James put his hand to his head to feign faintness and fell dramatically so that he was draped across Sirius’ back.
“I’m telling you now.” Peter blinked. “Does that mean you’re in or not?”
“I can’t speak for these fannies, but I sure as hell know I am.” Looking off to the distance, Remus whispered wistfully, “I love caramel.” Then quickly turned to hit Sirius lightly over the head who had snorted a laugh at Remus.
“Ow,” Sirius said, rubbing his head. “Why does everyone keep abusing me?”
“So it’s settled then!” James said excitedly, interrupting Sirius’ sulk.
“ADVENTURE!”
“Mr Black that's going to have to be a detention now, you can’t yell across the classroom.” Flitwick continued with the class as though he had not just reprimanded a student.
“Peter, why are you leading us too!” James’ voice was getting dangerously close to a wine.
Sirius nodded, “It feels weird being this far down in the castle.”
“You can say that again.” Remus agreed. “I haven’t even been to this half of the castle yet.” After their last lesson of the day, Peter had led them down towards what he said was ‘the heart’ of the castle. It certainly felt like it to Remus, the halls were warm and lit with soft glowing torches. For the first time, Remus considered what it would have been like to have been placed in a different house; he felt as though Hufflepuff wouldn’t have been so bad, safe, and intimate. Not that he didn’t like the luxurious red and gold of Gryffindor Tower, no, he loved it. The loud laughter and silly pranks everyone got involved in started feeling like home to Remus.
“Hush,”- Peter interrupted his thoughts -“we’re almost there”
“Almost where” James was actually winning now.
Not too long after, the group of pre-teen boys came to a halt in front of an inconspicuous painting of a bowl of fruit. Ignoring the three other boys' noises of curiosity, Peter took out his wand and tapped it to a pair on the painting, “Reveilo.”
“What. The. Actual. Fuck.” Remus was in utter shock as the painting let out a low groan before swinging open. Inside was a narrow and low ceilinged staircase that led down further into the kitchen. The sound of pots and pans at work wafted up the stairs along with the sound of their dinner being cooked.
“Language… but I second that statement.” James said sparing a glance at Peter, “How did you find this place”
Flipping his imaginary hair over his shoulder -“A Magician never reveals his secrets-” Peter said with exaggerated confidence.
“What does that even mean,” Sirius was, also, now winning.
Peter shrugged, “I don’t know. I heard some muggle born say it”
“That is because it is a muggle saying.” Remus had an annoyed air about him as the other three boys turned to look at him expectantly. Over the time that they had been friends, Remus felt as though half of the time he was explaining the significance of every little muggle thing while he had to try and figure out what was going on with all the magical affairs. No one would explain how the painting could talk, he was expected to just know, and it was starting to get annoying.
“Thank you for the sarcasm Remus, it’s much appreciated,” James said, rolling his eyes.
“You’re welcome”
The staircase stopped to reveal a large room with counters and cupboards lining three of the four rooms as well as a large island that ran down the center with some stools to sit on. There were four ovens to the wall to their right with large stainless steel pots full of cooking food that they’ll be served at dinner. Overall the kitchen looked pretty ordinary. But Remus stood there in utter overwhelm as it was not witches or wizards that manned the kitchen, the food was not even cooking itself like Remus had half expected. No, pottering about the kitchen was about 15 creatures with large eyes, pointed noses and big floppy ears dressed in rags. It was horrendous.
“Good afternoon Masters Potter, Pettigrew, Black, and Lupin. What can Iggy help you with?” One of the creatures who was closest to the stairs turned to address them, much to Remus’ horror to find out that they could talk.
“AAAHHH! What the fuck is that!” Admittedly that was probably not the best response when he saw the other three boys turned and gave him a weird look. The creature just blinked up at Remus without any emotion. Remus was thoroughly unsettled.
“Remus stop being rude,” Sirius’ tone was clipped, Serious
“It is ok, Master Black. Master Lupin does not know what Iggy is. Iggy is a House elf, Master lupin. House elves live to serve. What can I help you with?” The creature, elf, Iggy said. Again without any emotion.
Swiftly swooping in to prevent Remus from making a complete fool of himself, Peter asked, “Do you think you could set out some ingredients so that we could make caramel apples, please?” to the house elf.
Over the next hour or so the four boys sat in the sweltering kitchen carefully constructing their caramel apples. It became a bit of a routine for them, James would go and was the apples before carefully drying each one and setting them aside for Sirius to poke the sticks into the apple’s core and then pass them off to either Remus or Peter to carefully cover them in the sweet liquid before setting them on a tray to be put in the fridge. Eventually, a different house elf to the one that spoke to them earlier came to inform them that dinner had started and that it would be best if they were on their way. So with grumbling bellies and cheerful hearts, they made their way up to the hall
This happy moment was short-lived for Remus, however, as Lily turned to talk to them as they took a seat, “Where the hell have you guys been? You’re late for dinner.” Her voice was overly shrill and instantly activated Remus’ fight or flight instinct.
“None of your business.” Remus’ tone was short, clearly bothered by her.
“I still don’t get why you’re not talking to her,” Peter asked again, for weeks now he had been trying to understand why the two were no longer speaking, to no such luck
“That is also none of your business”
After dinner the first-year Gryffindor boys made their way back up to their common room where the night’s party was just starting to get underway. There was loud muggle music and tables that lined walls filled with sweats and party food as well as a table full of bottles of alcohol. The liquor table was being supervised by a seventh year, warding away anyone who they deemed as being ‘too young’ to drink, this was just turning away anyone who was not a sixth or seventh year. Remus noted that most of the students in attendants were Gryfindores but he supposed the other houses must have been holding their own parties.
“I can’t wait until we can host our own parties.” Sirius vibrated with excitement. “I bet they are going to be awesome”
James nodded in agreement and the boys spent the next three hours jumping out at people. Spilling drinks and coursing havoc wherever they could. Peter spent a lot of his time over at the sweet table eating chocolate and fizzy sweets. Remus went over to join him when Sirius got up on James’ shoulders and started parading around the room yelling nonsense. Remus and Peter spent the next half hour or so daring each other to see how many Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans they could fit in their mouths at once and giggling at each other’s faces. When it became clear that Peter was going to throw up if he had another bean he announced that he was going for a walk to get some air and go down to the kitchen to get their caramel apples from the fridge, leaving Remus alone to do as he pleased.
Remus took this opportunity to look around the room and watch as people got more and more intoxicated, making mistakes they wished they hadn’t tomorrow, like the fifth-year boy who was currently chugging a bottle of fire whisky while he stood on a coffee table. Groups of students standing around cheering him on. When his eyes did another sweep of the Room, Remus noticed that the seventh year that was previously supervising the alcohol at the beginning of the party had vacated their spot, leaving bottles on bottles of gleaming liquids unattended, up for the grabbing. Remus did a quick look at the surrounding students and deemed it safe to approach. Remus swiftly walked, weaving his way through the students, up to the table, swiping any random bottle that had any liquid in it as he went past. Remus sat on a window seal in a far and secluded corner enjoying the fresh breeze the open window offered, unscrewing the cap he took a long gulp of the golden liquid and winced as it assaulted his throat on the way down. As the liquor settled in his stomach a warm feeling bloomed within Remus making him feel safe and comforted.
“Should you be drinking that young man?” Remus was drawn back to reality where his mind had wandered off to by an older student who had approached him.
“Fuck off.” Remus retorted.
“Ooh feisty, I like you,” The older student said before throwing over his shoulder as he walked away, “be safe little man.”
--
Remus really wasn’t in the mood for a chat so when a third year Ravenclaw girl with long straight black hair and deep brown eyes approached him he had to suppress an eye roll.
“Hey,” The girl said. Remus noted that her words were slightly slurred and concluded she had also been drinking.
“Hi,” Remus answered awkwardly with, he supposed, an equally slurred voice.
“I’m Ella.”
“Remus.”
“Funny name,” The girl, Ella, said through batted lashes.
“Thanks.” Remus decidedly ignored her flirty tone.
“I’m Pretty drunk,” She said again through fluttery eyelashes
“Congratulations.” Remus’ tone was dry but Ella was undeterred.
“No, I mean like are you as well?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Cool.”
“Cool.”
“So… Wanna Make out?” The whole interaction was highly awkward and quite painful to be in, but Remus reckoned he had nothing better to do.
“Sure why not.” He said and had a brief moment of regret when Ella’s face split into a shit eating grin. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the small bathroom in the corner of the common room. This bathroom was small, it had a toilet opposite the door and a sink on the adjoining wall. If Remus put his arms out straight in any direction he would have been able to touch the walls. That didn’t matter though when she pushed him up against the door and slid her hand under his shirt. He placed his hands on her hips and lent up to brush his lips against hers, she smiled against him and kissed back. They stayed like this for a little while before Remus felt Ella gently nibbling at his bottom lip and he opened to allow for her toung to enter. Now Remus was not sure what he expected his first kiss would be like but this seemed fitting to him, overly slimy (her tongue was literally everywhere), wet, warm, in the low light of a dingy toilet with a party going on the other side of the door.
Remus wasn’t sure how long they had been there together but eventually they pulled apart. “You’re pretty cute, I guess I’ll see you around some time?” Ella said as she straightened her clothes and reached around Remus to open the door.
Remus just shrugged, “Seemingly.” They went to the same school after all.
Ella cocked her head. “You’re not much of a chatter are you?”
“Nope,” Remus said, popping the ‘P’.
“Merlin, Remus, are you drunk?” James said as soon as Remus had walked (stumbled) through the door to their dorm. After Remus had left the bathroom he had noticed the party had slowed down considerably and that his roommates were nowhere to be seen. Rmeus had decided to go for a fag before heading up to the dorm. The three sober marauders were all sitting on James’ bed looking at quidditch magazines and eating the caramel apples they had made earlier. Sirius was looking at Remus with that confused awe he got whenever Remus did something that the others didn’t.
“Barate me tomorrow, no earlier than 11 AM.” Remus said before flopping on his bed, still fully clothed, and drawing the curtains. “I’m going to bed."