Third year - Tokens Of Appreciation
Remus Lupin
It’s a week before Christmas break and Remus is impatiently waiting to go home. He’s brushing his teeth before bed from his dorm bathroom.
“Are you sure you can’t come over just for a day?” James asks Sirius from his bed. . Sirius rolls his eyes as he's standing up by his wardrobe. Picking out his pajamas.
“I’m one hundred percent sure they won’t let me” Sirius hums, placing his neat clothes on top of the wardrobe .
“You could always just sneak out,” Peter adds. “That’s what I do” Peter is sitting next to James, his head resting against his shoulder .
Nobody’s asked Remus to come over this year. He figures they've just given up trying to get him to go.
“You sneak out?” Sirius questions.
“Yup. Mum doesn’t even notice “ he hums.
“Lucky . mother will definitely notice.”
“ What about your brother?” Peter suggests.
“What about him?” Sirius asks.turning to Peter. James turns his head to Peter as well. His jaw clenched.
Remus spits out his toothpaste into the sink and takes his gargle and pours it into its cap.
“I’m just saying . Doesn’t he have friends “
“So?” Sirius squints, his eyebrows furrowed. Remus takes the shot of gargle . Swishing it around in his mouth.
“Does he go to their houses? Cause if he does that could help you out”
“Yeah he does. Oh Pete you’re a genius. Now I just have to get Reg to go along with it.”
“Yeah.” Peter smiles.
“Moons any idea how I’ll get reg to agree to help me he's not exactly very agreeable to people” Sirius makes his way to the bathroom door frame
Remus stomach churns as attention points onto him. He looks at Sirius and his eyes wide and he does this small gesture with his eyebrows that makes Remus even more sick to his stomach .
“No” Remus says blankly.
“Cmon moony. Please , I know there’s an answer in that smart head of yours” Sirius grabs onto his hand holding in his. Sirius’s hands are cold and gentle Remus can’t help but not pull away.
“Nope nothing” Remus starts to tease. A short grin plastered on his face
Sirius looks up to his blue eyes looking right into Remus’s. He has a small smile on his face as he pesters Remus.
“Remus Lupin. I beg of you. You and my brother are very alike. y’know ? So you can work your way into his thought process.” Sirius lets go of Remus’s hands and Remus feels his chest tighten.
“How are we very alike?” Remus questions.
“We’ll first of all you’re both mean to me-“ Sirius starts.
“Alright that’s all I need to know. We’re basically the same person ” Remus interrupts him jokingly . Sirius laughs, his cheeks turning red.
“And you both like to read. And you’ve both have similar humor”
“Humor? Me?” Remus furrows his brows.
“Yes you. So please?”
“Just ask him, Sirius. I’ve hardly had a conversation with your brother “
“Fine I’ll just ask him and if it fails I’m blaming you” Sirius pokes his finger to Remus’s arm. Before he exits the too,
“I’ll hold you to that” Remus responds
***
Remus James and Peter walk patiently behind sirius.
“Okay let’s get this over with. I am starving. “ Sirius says as he walks up to his brother in the great hall.
“Regulus “ Sirius clears his throat. “Can I talk to you?”
Regulus turns around. “Jesus. What is this an intervention? “ he looks at the rest of them behind Sirius.
“Sure looks like one. What did you do reggy?” Barty adds sitting next to regulus.
“Shut up. nothing” regulus hushes him.
“What? No. This is not an intervention . I just want to ask you something “ Sirius affirms
Regulus squints at him. He swings his legs over the bench to face Sirius. His hands folded neatly on his lap.
“Well what is it? I’m trying to eat.” He asks.
“We’ll uh. “ Sirius brings his hand to the back of his neck and he looks around. Remus can basically feel Sirius’s anxiousness radiating off of him.
Regulus’s face softens from its usual tenseness . “Do you want to talk in private?” Regulus questions his soft voice. Sirius nods.
The five of them walk into the hall. And Remus quite literally wants to leave. He has no clue why he’s tagging along.
“So what is it? And why are all your minions here?” Regulus asks.
“They’re not my minions, they’re my friends. They just know what I’m asking you.”
Regulus’s eyes shoot to James for a second sending a glare right towards him. Before looking away. James looks down to the ground nervously . Remus' brain puzzles for a moment .what the hells the matter with these two? He wonders before he looks back to Sirius .
His stance is tense and Remus can see his chest moving up and down in unproportional breaths.
~~~
James potter
“Well?” Regulus asks. James is looking at him and all he can feel is his stomach tied up in knots as he thinks of the last time he talked to him
“Uhm. “ Sirius hesitates for a moment “y’know how you go over to pandora’s and Evans sometimes.” He blurts out.
“Yeah?”
“I was wondering if I could tell mum and dad that I was going with you . When I’d actually go to James” Sirius immediately shuts his mouth after his sentence. Sealing his lips shut.
“So you want me to help you sneak out?” Regulus asks blankly. His eyes motioning back to James’s for a moment. James bites on the inside of his cheek to keep his thoughts out of his head.
“Yes,” Peter answers for Sirius.
Regulus bursts out laughing and the rest of the boys look at each other in confusion.
Sirius laughs along nervously.
Regulus wipes his eyes. His face is flushed red and James can’t help but smile at his laughter. Though he feels nervousness in his chest of what his answer will be.
“Oh god. "Regulus sighs, still slightly laughing. James can’t help but think about how pretty he is while he laughs .
“So what is it? Will you go along with it because i und-“
“Sure” regulus grins slightly.
“Then why are you laughing at me?” Sirius questions
“Because you’re funny” regulus huffs one more laugh. Sirius smiles lightly before it registers in his head that he's actually going.
“Oh my godric. James I get to go over to your house. Oh my Merlin. Thanks reg” Sirius jumps to regulus and pulls him into a hug kissing his cheek .
“I will change my mind if you don’t stop this now.” Regulus grumbles. Sirius let’s go kissing his head once more.
“Muah . Thank you reg thank you”
“Yeah . yeah” regulus wipes his face where Sirius kissed. “Gross” he mutters..
“It’s not gross. it’s a token of my appreciation”
“I don’t want your tokens and I. Pretty sure the saying is ‘token of gratitude’ “ regulus glares at Sirius’s.
“Alright. “ Sirius smiles “thanks Reggie”
“It’s whatever “ regulus shrugs. “are we done here because I have breakfast “
“Oh and I wanted to know if you would join us for a trip to honeydukes.”
“With all of you?” Regulus questions. His eyes pointed to the rest of them.
“Yeah we’re all going before holiday. They let us go on trips but Sirius and Remus can’t go because they need a parent signature. So we thought we’d all go together next week before break” James rambles on . He looks at regulus and Regulus’s eyes meet his.
“Oh”
Oh. James feels his stomach twist once more. Of course he doesn’t want to go . Why would he want to go with me? We’re not friends.
“No thanks. I’m uh- busy”
“Reg-“
“I don't want to go with your stupid friends” regulus argues
James feels sick wants to leave. He wants to exit this hallway as soon as possible
“I’m starving . Breakfast. See you” James blurts out. Leaving the four of them in the hall. Making his way to the great hall .
I'm so stupid how could I be so stupid.
~~~
Remus Lupin
Remus watches James leave the hallway and he can’t help but feel stumped.
“Reg you don’t have to go. But you don’t have to be rude . James he’s - sensitive “
“I don’t care”
“See it’s stuff like that . That makes people leave rooms.”
“I’m not being nice to your dumb friends .
Remus shares a glance with Peter whose mouth is formed into a straight line.
“I don’t want you upsetting James .”
“How am I upsetting him? I'm literally helping you out so you two can be together. What more do you want from me” Regulus’s face is turning red. He looks as though he’s on the verge of tears.
“James is fine. I'm sure he’s just hungry. I’ll check on him. It’s fine” Peter says. Before he left the room.
“Look I appreciate you doing this for me. But that doesn’t mean you get to be mean to my friends”
“I'm not being mean-“
“Regulus. I mean it.
“Fine I won’t be mean to your stu- friends.” Regulus looks away from Sirius.
“Thank you” Sirius smiles lightly .
“Remus?” Remus hears from down the hall . He turns his head to see a familiar redhead.
“Lily?”
“Peter told me you were over here. Mcgonagall has been looking for you. Apparently the headmaster wants to talk to you” she walks up to him.
“About what?” He questions.
“I dunno,” she shrugs. “But Mcgonagall looked like it was urgent l”
“Do you want me to walk you moons?” Sirius questions stepping closer to Remus.
“No I’ll just see you after” Remus answers, flattening out his jumper . “Didn't you say you were starving earlier?”
“They do have French toast today, and chocolate waffles,” regulus adds.
Sirius whips his head towards his brother. “French toast? And chocolate waffles. See you later moons. love you”Sirius waves bye to him.
I love you too
“Bye remus” regulus adds. He follows behind Sirius as he rushes to the great hall.
“I can walk you I already ate” lily suggests.
“It’s alright. Thank you”
“No problem. See you later.”
“See you” reminds her. Before making his way to the headmasters office. He knocks on the door. And it automatically opens.
“Mr Lupin, please come in, “ he says . He’s standing at his desk. His beard is mostly gray. And his clothes are neat and tidy. Remus always forgets that there's a headmaster at this school. He only sees him for announcements and on the first dinner of the year. And even then Remus gives him hardly any attention.
Mcgonnagall is standing next to him at his desk, her face sorrowful. And remus can’t help but wonder
“I have something to tell you that isn’t very easy to communicate. So I would like it if you could bear with me. Please.
“What is it?” Remus quints
“I have recently received the news that- “ Dumbledore covers his mouth for a moment
“What?” Remus questions ..
“Your mother has passed away. I'm so deeply sorry. Mr Lupin.” He says he’s sorry. But he doesn’t look sorry. What is he talking about? He’s supposed to see his mother next week. She can’t be.
Remus feels his heart stop beating. “What?” He asks once more
“Last night. I just got a call from your aunt”
“Why the fuck are you lying to me. Is this some sort of sick Joke” Remus stands up abruptly. The hair from under him scrapes the floor. The sound Sending Remus’s head to spike with pain.
“I would never joke about something like that. Mr Lupin I know this is a hard pill to swallow. I know how you feel”
“How could you possibly know how I feel at this very moment” Remus feels his face heat up . And his chest is heaving up and down.
“ your mother has left a will. And her house will be up for sale and all of her things will go into a storage unit. That you will have access to . And you are going to a children’s home”
“Okay Albus. Let the boy process this.” Mcgonagall
Remus can’t breathe. He needs to get out of this stupid office. Remus walks out of the office. His ears muffle the sound of Dumbledore and Mcgonagalls voices.
He walks to the common room and gets to the painting and it waits for him to say the password. Remus can’t think of anything, his mind is blank.
All he can hear is his heavy breath.
“Password please?” It asks.
“ God dammit just let me in!” Remus suddenly feels tears falling down his face. Snots running down from his nose and his face is hot in frustration.
“That is not the password “
Remus’s hands ball up in fists. Think Remus . think.
Quidditch cup. It's. quidditch cup. He remembers
“Quidditch cup” Remus answers. The painting swings open and Remus rushes to his dorm. Instantly looking for his bracelet his mother had made him years before.
“She can’t be, ” Remus sobs, digging through his bedside table. Pulling everything out not caring about the mess he’s making. Nothing
He moves onto his wardrobe. Ripping out all of his neatly folded clothes onto the ground. He can’t even see through his tears. He’s crying so hard his chest hurts. He eventually gives up looking and just cries into his hand.
“Remus?” He hears Sirius ask wearily .