FIRST YEAR - The Full Moon
As the first week of classes continued Remus began to look more and more tired, he’d fall asleep doing homework and read over his textbooks late into the night, he would beat James to being first awake then go on to miss breakfast.
Most mornings James or Sirius would bring him a piece of toast with various toppings to ensure he had eaten, otherwise he might not have until dinner. His head was constantly in one book or another.
Peter’s prediction that the year would be fun, was proven when the weekend came and Remus slept in on Saturday morning. Sirius who was far from a morning person, leaving it to the absolute last minute to get out of bed every day was also sleeping in Saturday, so it was just Peter and James at breakfast that day.
Later when Sirius had woken, the three spent the day lounging around the fireplace of the common room playing wizard cheese until dinner. Part of James was worried about his friend that hadn’t left his bed, but the other part tried to respect his privacy.
“Where have you been?” Sirius however chose to investigate the poor boy as soon as he joined them in the great hall. “If not for the fact you sit with us at meals, I’d have forgotten we even had a fourth roommate.”
Remus frowned at that but was too exhausted to respond.
“Don’t be mean Sirius. I wouldn’t blame him for avoiding you. I’d hate to room with someone as loud as you.” Lily buttered. Over the term since they had met, James was learning more about Lily's personality, that although behaving spectacularly in front of teachers had a sharp mind.
“Someone like Marlene you mean?” A dark skinned girl with curly hair that sat beside lily started laughing at her own joke. Lily turned her attention to the group of girls she sat with, leaving James to stare at her with admiration as everyone around him continued joking about Sirius until they moved onto another topic.
James’ parents met at Hogwarts and he’d always been a romantic so finding his own love at school was always something he’d always dreamt of. Every time he saw Lily smile, he felt drawn to her like a moth to flames.
Sunday was similar to Saturday in that James was the first awake, so went for a run around the quidditch pitch. His mum had suggested years ago that morning runs would help him feel level. An outlet for his energy.
At breakfast James and Peter would sneak food for Sirius and Remus. Sirius as he would be rather h-angry in the mornings and Remus because he otherwise would have forgotten to eat.
By late afternoon, Remus said he was going for a walk and insisted on going alone when his friends offered to join him.
When it had gotten dark and Remus had yet to return, James insisted on looking for him.
“We’re not allowed out of our dorms after dark.” Peter had explained while he lied comfortably in his bed. Peter was a believer that Remus enjoyed his alone time so wasn’t worried. Sirius however was encouraged to search for Remus after finding out it was against the rules.
“Exactly,” Sirius had declared jumping from the couch he’d been lazily resting on moments before, “we wouldn’t want Lupin to get in any trouble.”
“What about you? You already have detention with McGonagall after you didn’t do your homework.” Peter flipped a page in his book, looking bored.
“I have a way to not get caught.” The two other boys looked to James with curiosity.
James then realized he would now have to show his friends his idea.
“Is that…” “an invisibility cloak.” Sirius finished for Peter when James showed them what had been hidden at the bottom of his trunk.
“Got it from my dad.” The three boys looked upon the fabric in awe for several moments before someone knocked on the door forcing James to stuff the material beneath his pajama shirt.
Frank Longbottom, a fourth year prefix was waiting on the other side of the door and explained that Remus had fallen ill and would spend the night in the infirmary. He instructed the boys not to worry as Remus would return within a day or two.
Naturally once he left all they wanted to do was go in search of Remus, but James was starting to get the feeling Remus did not wish to be found. With help from a tired Peter who wanted to go to bed, James convinced Sirius not to search for Remus until the morning.
-Monday morning-
Remus wasn’t in Potions nor in Transfiguration that afternoon. James had tried to stop by the infirmary with Sirius around lunch but was refused entry by Madam Pomfrey who insisted they return to the great hall.
Sirius who was less than a fan of all things hospitals was slightly pleased he wouldn’t have to enter, but was also concerned about Remus.
Remus returned after both Sirius and Peter were in dreamland that night. He snuck quietly into the dorm and limped over to the bathroom. Minutes later he came out and found James sat on his bed. The two started at each other silently until James braved to speak.
“Alright?” He nodded to Remus’ left hand that was freshly covered with a bandage that wrapped up his arm and under his sweater.
After standing still for several moments, Remus frowned and slipped into his bed wordlessly. Closing the curtains as he went.