The confession
Remus stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom connected to their dorm and tightened the tie on his Gryffindor uniform. He could hear the others steps up the stairs and entering the room. James called his name.
“Oi! Remus?”
“Here” Remus said in a monotone voice. Neither Peter nor James seemed to have noticed the tone on his voice, but Sirius did. A concerned look came over his face but he chose not to acknowledge it. Instead, he decided to make sure his friend was healthy instead, both physically and psychologically.
“Here. Thought you might want something to eat since you missed breakfast.” Sirius handed Remus the ham and cheese sandwich which he gratefully accepted.
“Thanks.”
“No problem, mate.” James smiled at him. “Come on, lets get to class so Professor McGonagall doesn't give us another detention. I think she might be on the war path with us after our last prank.”
Sirius smiled at the thought of McGonagall chasing a laser pointer with her eyes. She hadn't been able to give them detention for it but she had warned them to do anything of that sort again. Which was the reason to Sirius contemplating bringing a cardboard box to a future lesson. “You're probably right Padfoot. Why don't you and Peter go ahead and get to class. I think Remus needs to get his stuff and I need to find my transfiguration book.”
“Yea, sure. Come on Wormtail, time for about a hundred moving stair.” James laughed while Peter glared at him. Ever since one of the stairs had caught him by surprise last week James hadn't stopped teasing him about it.
As soon as the echo James and Peters footsteps had disappeared into the distance Remus looked at Sirius with a sigh.
“Why did you want them to go ahead? And don't come with that bullshit about our books. My bag is right there, and I put your transfigurations book in your bag yesterday, but you knew both of those things.” Remus face made it clear to Sirius that he had no way of getting out of this but telling him the truth. Sirius looked at the floor and sighed.
“I'm worried about you. You're uuh...having more nightmares than usually, and the fact that you having nightmares is your normal is concerning to begin with! This time it was... it was... you were. I don't know how to explain it. I guess intense is the best word. You were turning around in your bed, no... not just turning. You were moving so vigorously and mumbling something. At least it started as mumbling but then you started screaming. I hardly managed to wake you up.”
“I'm sorry. I didn't...” Sirius cut him off.
“Stop. Don't even go there.”
“But...”
“Don't! Do you want to have nightmares?” Sirius looked at Remus with a mixture of anger and sympathy.
“No, of course not!” Remus said surprised “Why would I? It's not directly fun.”
“Exactly! So don't apologise for something you can't control.” Sirius calmed down and the look on his face changed. It was no longer angry or sympathetic but concerned for his best friend. “How are you doing? For real?”
“I... I'm... I'm” The words got stuck in his throat and tears started streaming down his face. “I can't. I... I can't... I can't do... do it.” Sirius immediately embraced Remus whose knees gave away. He sunk into a pile on the floor tightly embraced in Sirius arms desperately clinging to him as if his life depended on it.
“Okay, okay. You'll be okay.” Sirius continued hugging Remus not caring that his nails were digging into his arm. They sat like that for a while. When they finally got up from the floor Professor McGonagalls class was almost over so they walked down the stairs but never entered the classroom. Instead they waited outside for Peter and James to go to their next class. Before they left, McGonagall entered the corridor behind them.
“Mr Black, Mr Lupin. Come here.” Her voice was strict. They turned around and entered her classroom. She sat down at her desk and looked at them. “Will either of you tell me why you were skipping class, or will I have to wait until I hear about your latest prank?” Remus opened is mouth to answer bur Sirius cut him off.
“Remus wasn't feeling well and I didn't want to leave him alone.” He left his answer short not wanting to give any details Remus wanted to keep private. McGonagalls expression immediately changed from strict to caring.
“Are you all right?” She looked at Remus with concern. He already had to go through so much every full moon and now when it wasn't even close he wasn't feeling well. He didn't deserve this.
“I, I will be. I think I was just a bit tired.” He shrugged his shoulders. Professor McGonagall did not accept this answer.
“I don't believe you. I want to, but I don't. Tell me what's going on, please.” She looked at Remus. She was concerned for him. Remus sighed. In an attempt to make him more comfortable McGonagall moved two chairs with a flick of her wand and opened one of her drawers picking up some biscuits. “Take as many as you'd like.” She gave the two boys a weak smile. Remus glanced at Sirius who gave him a nod encouraging him to sit down and tell the truth. That’s what he did with Sirius buy his side the entire time. He told McGonagall about the nightmares, how he had trouble concentrating and how he was always scared. Scared that he might hurt someone
James and Peter had left the potions classroom and was back in the corridors. They were wondering where Remus and Sirius had gone, they never showed up. That’s when the door to Professor McGonagalls classroom opened and McGonagall stepped outside closely followed by Remus and Sirius. She led the two boys the hospital wing where they talked to Madam Pomfrey about what help she could offer Remus.