The inevitables

I said goodbye to my friends as they took the train home. I made them promise not open their gifts before Boxing Day but I had a feeling Marlene wouldn’t wait that long.

I felt bad that Peter had to ride home alone, but we couldn’t exactly leave Remus at school. Especially since he was coming to our house after.

Remus left us around seven pm, he was sweating and shaking with nerves. I wanted to say something to him, something encouraging or something. But I looked at James and he shook his head. Him knowing I knew would probably just overwhelm him even more.

“So what happens now?” I asked Sirius and James who were sitting on the couch in the common room.

“I’m going to raid the kitchens in a bit, maybe pack later.” Sirius shrugged.

“No I meant- So Remus goes to Mcgonagal and Pomfry then gets walked to the womping willow which leads to the shrieking shack for him to transform right?” I started.

“Yeah..” James said.

“So after he transforms then what? Does he roam the forest? Make animal friends? Ooh does he know any centaurs?” Maybe it was a stretch but the idea sounded exciting.

“I uh… I think he stays in the shack actually.” Sirius looked saddened. Both Sirius and James looked heartbroken.

“That doesn’t make sense.” I said. “I don’t know much about werewolves but wolves are meant to be in a pack. They’re meant to be with other animals right?”

“Yeah right.” Sirius sighed.

“So what do you want to do? Get Remus a puppy?” James asked joking a little.

“Or round up another werewolf, the ministry holds loads of them.” Sirius said, I had no idea if he was joking or not. Nor did I know how he knew that.

“You know what would be cool?” James started “if we could be animals.”

“Like animagi?” I asked.

“That would be so cool! The three of us running around the forbidden forest as animals. Remus could be like our leader! And our protector!” Sirius was basically jumping up and down.

“Four of us, Peter would come too.” James added.

“Sure sure whatever. But it would be so cool! Sneaking out with the cloak then boom animagi!” Sirius smiled.

“Wouldn’t we have to tell the ministry? How would we even learn?“ I asked.

“We’ll find a way, trust me.” Sirius grinned a mischievous grin.

* * *

I sat next to Remus in the hospital wing. I figured it was time he knew I knew. He was going to freak out anyways, might as well do it before the break of dawn.

Remus stirred and groaned in pain, I took some of Madam Pomfry’s potion and spread it on some of his scars. My mum used to teach me how address wounds when James fell off of his broom or when my father burned himself when cooking.

Madam Pomfry didn’t say anything about me being there, she just let me help heal him.

“There’s nothing else to help him?” I asked her.

“Unfortunately not yet in healing.” She sighed as if she tried to help more but no one let her.

I knew werewolves were all but exiled, I just wished people would try to understand more.

Remus opened his eyes and found me first. He looked at me and panic immediately washed over him. I never knew I could see fear until now.

“It’s ok, it’s ok I’m here to help. I’m helping Madam Pomfry heal you!” I smiled and tried to look like I was his friend and not against him. It was very easy since it was the truth. He may not have liked it but he seemed to understand that I would do no harm.

“H- how-“ Remus coughed and groaned. I probably should’ve told him not to talk. “How.. long..”

“Almost a month. No one else knows I promise. I told no one.” I said and he took my word for it. James and Sirius entered making as much noise as possible. They were supposed to be packing Remus’s things so I hoped this meant that they were done.

“Alright mate?“ James announced himself.

“Alright.” Remus tried to sit up, I helped him get settled on the pillows. He lifted a mirror to see a horrid cut across his face. I didn’t know how he got the cut because he had it before the moon. Sirius looked incredibly guilty, I’d have to ask him about it later.

“My beautiful face.” Remus croaked, he tried to laugh but he looked worried as well.

“It’s not that bad,” James said immediately “it’ll heal really fast, I bet..” he trailed off. I could tell he didn’t really believe it.

“How did-“ Sirius started in a small voice. I had no idea what he was going to ask but Madam Pomfry stopped him.

“You two back again!” They stepped back, I joined them standing at the foot of Remus’s bed. I had never seen the nurse as someone scary until now. She looked fierce and powerful that I wasn’t going to mess with. She pulled the curtain closing in on Remus’s bed. They could hear murmurs of their conversation but it wasn’t clear.

“What’d you two do to get on her bad side?!” I asked.

“Nothing!” The two said at the same time.

“Does this have something to do with his scar?” I asked but James violently shook his head as if to say STOP! STOP! DO NOT MENTION! I shut my mouth. Sirius looked defeated and guilty.

Luckily for all of us the curtain opened and Remus looked ready to go.

“Breakfast?” James asked calmly.

“Please.” Remus smiled.

We walked slowly at Remus’s pace, no one complained.

“So our house there’s two guest bedrooms as of now, the house changes to accommodate our needs a lot like Hogwarts does. I think my dad designed it like the castle, or maybe granddad designed it? Who made the house?” James asked me.

“I don’t know, someone like seven generations ago or something.” I shrugged.

“We’ll that doesn’t matter anyways.” James continued. “So the upstairs is my parents room all the way down, next is the first guest room then the second then my room. Which is sweetly decorated might I add. Across from my room is Hazels. Her room is the only one of the at side of the house because the stairs. Anyways the bathroom is in the middle of mine and Hazels room. Any questions?”

“Yeah.” I said. “You’ve had a month to explain our house, why do you choose now?”

“Because it’ll be easier to remember.” James shrugged. “And I meant Remus do you have any questions?”

“I have one… why do you have five bedrooms?” Remus asked.

“For guests.” I said, Remus chuckled under his breath like it was such a strange answer.

We ate breakfast as normal as possible. Remus scarfed down as much as possible, Sirius was uncharacteristically quiet. The conversations were dull and awkward so we were all glad when it was over. Remus and Sirius still weren’t packed, I had no idea how.

James and I decided to check with Mcgonagal that everything was in order.

“So what’d Sirius do to Remus’s face?” I asked my brother as we were on the way to Mcgonagal’s office.

“He cursed it, I think the curse must’ve effected his face somehow when Remus transformed.” James sighed.

“Why did Sirius curse him?”

“They were in a row like usual.” James shook his head. “Sometimes I don’t even know if they’re actual friends they’re always fighting!”

“That stinks. I don’t know what I would do if my friends always fought.”

“They’re like fire and ice.” James said.

“Where are you two going?” Mcgonagal stopped them.

“We’re actually looking for you Professor.” I said.

“Yes! To make sure the floo powder is all set. Remus and Sirius are uh..” James started.

“Their getting our bags.” I said. “They’ll meet us here shortly.”

James nodded, Mcgonagal looked down at us but I thought I caught a small smiled.

“The floo network is all set up. All we need is Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin.” Mcgonagal explained.

We waited about a half hour before the two boys joined our group with our bags. We stepped into the fire and the next step we took was in our home.

Our parents rushed to hug and squeeze us for as long as possible. I was so glad to see them.