Second Year - Birthday Boys
Remus Lupin
It’s Remus’s birthday and he feels entirely the same, just as the year before. He’s in the infirmary because of a leg that’s been hurting more than usual. He always has spasms of pain he thinks it’s because of his scars. Adding to the fact he’s grown a couple inches since last year, and the wolf doesn’t react well to change.
“You're officially a teenager,” Madam Pomfrey smiles. Remus gives a slight smile back. “Now I know this is your least favorite part, but I need you to drink this” she hands over a small green potion.
Remus takes a hold of it sighing before he takes it. Choking on the taste he swallows it down.
“Think I’d get used to it” he huffs a laugh, scrunching up his face at the taste lingering on his tongue.
“I'm sorry” Poppy clicks her tongue, “feel better?”
“Mhm” Remus hums . “See you next week poppy” Remus mumbles, getting up from the bed.
“Happy birthday Remus “ she says warmly, “can I hug you?”
Remus gives her a short nod. Before poppy wraps her arms around you “I’m so proud of you Remus” she says into his fluffy hair.
Proud? What does she have to be proud about? I’m only here because I’m different.
“Thanks” Remus mumbles as he pulls away from the hug. “Make sure to give James the same treatment for his birthday, before they start nagging me about you picking favorites “ he laughs dryly.
“Noted” she curls her lips into a smile. Remus leaves and heads to the great hall.
“Helô” Remus greets Peter as he sits down.
“Happy birthday Remus, you alright? “ Peter asks
“Yup” Remus nods.
“Hiya birthday boy” Sirius sits down next to him “feeling okay?” He tilts his head. Remus grabs a pancake from the table and nods again.
“Can't believe you and jamsie here are becoming teenagers” Sirius brings a hand to his chest dramatically.
“ gwthio i ffwrdd” Remus mumbles, cutting into his pancake. “No birthday parties this year”
“Oh alright,” Sirius pouts.
“I mean it” Remus says bitterly .
“Whatever you want moony” Sirius ruffles Remus's hair, earning a glare from Remus.
The day goes on and Remus feels more and more tired as time passes by. He just wants to sleep. Doesn’t help that the moon is creeping up on him.
Remus sits on his bed. As his three friends enter the room giggling. Remus rolls his eyes at their giddiness.
“We got something for you moony” James coos. “Well?” Remus squints “what is it, I’m not going to a birthday party so don’t even try-“
The three boys dump a box of chocolate in Remus’s lap and his eyes instantly widen. “Jesus, didn’t have to steal the whole store”
“Anything for you moons” Sirius smiles. Moons? Remus does quite enjoy the nickname. The constant reminder of the moon isn’t his exact cup of tea. But he does find some comfort in it.
Remus rips open a candy bar “Thanks” he says through chews. Sirius scrunches up his face. “Budge up” remus glares.
Sirius looks away. “Can I have one?” Questions James. “No” Remus says blankly.
“Pleaseee” James extends the word while holding his hands together. “Fine “ remus gives in grudgingly .
James picks his hands at the chocolate “not that one. Nope not that one. Mine " Remus says as he goes through the chocolate.
“Here” Remus passes him a bar of white chocolate. “Thankyou moony” James smiles. Sirius grabs a chocolate along with Peter.
“I’m going to go to bed” Remus states flatly.
“What? Nights just begun” James recalls .
“I’m tired, moons in a week and I for one want all the sleep I can get” Remus groans tiredly.
The room instantly goes quiet at the mention of the moon.
Remus grabs the chocolate from his bed and puts it in his bed stand drawer.
“Thank you guys. Really thanks” Remus smiles lightly. “Nos da” . Remus’s welsh has made more of an appearance recently . He doesn’t mind it, he actually feels more comfortable talking in welsh. Partly because nobody understands him. And partly because it comes like first nature to him.
James potter:
James is officially thirteen and he can hardly believe it, he got a few letters in the mail from his parents . His friends cheer him on for a happy birthday . Also a hug from madam Pomfrey which he thought was odd. Guess Remus isn’t her favorite anymore.
He always feels odd about birthdays, he feels like celebrating but at the end of the day he feels like he’s just putting on a play. An act for everyone to see a happy celebration.
“Ah hem” Sirius clears his throat, he’s standing on the bench. “It’s this boy right here “ he points to James, “birthday, so do with that information you must” he smiles.
This gets a few birthday wishes from a few people. “Happy birthday James” smiles lily. James instantly feels his heart race. “Thank - thank you” he chokes out.
“Anything planned?” Questions Marlene. “I don’t think so” James answers, “really whatever these three want” he points to his friend.
“I want to throw a party,” Sirius adds.
The day goes on and James is in the common room, Sirius and Peter are nowhere to be seen, and Remus is trying to keep him distracted by talking about music artists.
The two sit on the rug . “David Bowie's new album ‘Aladdin sane’ came out last month. I wanted to get ‘the rise and fall of ziggy stardust and the spiders from mars’ during the holidays but it was all sold out” he goes on rambling . Remus doesn’t talk much but when he does it’s usually about David Bowie
“Cool” James mumbles “do you know where Peter and Sirius are?”
“Thought you caught on by now that I’m trying to distract you” Remus says blankly.
“Oh I have, I’m just curious, “ James smiles. “We’ll then be distracted, who’s your favorite music artist?” Remus asks.
“I like the Beatles “ James turns his defection to remus.
“Figured” he smiles lightly. “Oh there they are” Remus points to Sirius who’s holding something and Peter.
“Did you distract him?” Peter asks coming up to remjis
“Sorta , he’s a hard one to distract “ Remus sighs.
“Am not!” James defends “Sirius what do you have there?” he shoots his gaze back to Sirius l.
“Ever heard of a surprise potter?” Sirius glares, he holds something in his hands, a purple cover over it.
“I'm going to be surprised, just show me”
“Fine” Sirius gives in, walking over and placing the object on the rug. He swiped off the purple cover and it revealed a cake writing out.
‘Happy birthday James’
“Woah, where did you get this?”
“Nicked it from the kitchen “
James widens his eyes, adjusting his birthday.
“Would’ve done the same for Moony if he didn’t hate birthdays.” Sirius coos.
“I don’t like cake," Remus says bluntly.
“Nutter this one” he looks back at James.
“Alright, didn’t have candles like the muggles do but make a wish anyway “
The three boys sing happy birthday and James blows on the imaginary candle.
“Thanks really , this means the world to me” James smiles. “Don’t go getting soppy on us jamesie” Sirius laughs.
Peter pokes his finger at the frosting and smears on James’s face. “Peter!”
“What that’s what the muggles do, right moony?”
“Yes” Remus replies, poking his finger at the cake, rubbing it into James cheek.
Sirius joins in”
“Alright! alright!” James laughs moving his face away from their fingers.
“Enough” he wipes the chocolate off his face. “You lot are insane”
“One of my best qualities “ Sirius grins.
James glares at him dipping his finger in the frosting and pokes it to sirisus nose.
“Hey no! That’s against the rules, only the birthday boy gets frosting on his face, right moony?” Sirius complains
“I think muggles are all for this ” Remus snorts , James smiles moving his finger to smear more frosting on Sirius’s face.
“Just eat the bloody cake” Sirius dodges his finger.
“Alright, thanks mate” James smiles warmly.