short - "brains"
I like how we're all posting things now. Rock 'n' roll.
title: Brains
author: skelly
prompt: Something Corie said a WICKED long time ago while we were chatting on AIM.
pairings: Just some good ol' fashioned MARAUDERS GEN with a foreshadow of Sirius/Remus
word count: Around 400, perhaps?
summary: Remus is paranoid. This is the pre-animagi years.
"You're a zombie, aren't you?" Sirius asks a sickly looking Remus Lupin one morning as the Marauders traipse out of the portrait hole and down to breakfast. Looking into the mirror before he leaves, Remus notes with some dismay that he looks ancient, pale, withering. The violet shadow under his eyes overpower the rest of his face, lines etched around his mouth and a cut below his ear, extending to his jaw. Sirius is about to ask another question. Remus can tell, and avoids it by rolling his eyes. He knows that Sirius drops it and is silent.
"Yes," Remus answers placidly to fill the gap in conversation. "Brains."
James and Peter laugh before getting back to their discussion about Quidditch. James relates a story about tryouts for the Gryffindor team, how he thinks he did, when results would be posted, whether or not the pretty redhead, Evans, had seen the way he flew. Peter listens and throws in his comments when he can. Sirius, however, is scandalized at Remus' revelation.
"I knew it!" he exclaims with a grin. "You were gnawing on Hufflepuff skulls over the weekend, weren't you? No wonder they're so mindless..." Sirius smirks and nudges Remus in the side. Remus gives up as the boys pass behind a tapestry and then down another flight of stairs. He would rather not go into it.
Thankfully, James fishes for a compliment from Sirius and, rising to the occasion, Sirius re-enacts the trial from everyone's perspective, including the girls with the batty eyelashes watching from the stands. Sirius grins broadly as he fans himself the way the one with the curly hair did, adding a running commentary at the same time. It takes up the rest of the trip to the Great Hall and Remus breathes a sigh of relief.
Entering ahead, James and Peter reach the table first, still chattering loudly. Sirius holds back and looks at Remus cautiously for a split-second. He knows! He must know. It's over. He's going to tell James and Peter and they're not going to want me as a friend anymore! Remus grimaces to himself, staring at the ground, and when he looks back up the moment is gone. Sirius has turned around and is approaching the table.
He hates to admit it, but Remus is grateful. He hopes it doesn't mean anything. He hopes nothing has changed. He hopes Sirius doesn't figure anything out, and that he can go on being blissfully ignorant. It would be better than him knowing and hating him.
About now, Remus thinks he would much rather be a zombie.
title: Brains
author: skelly
prompt: Something Corie said a WICKED long time ago while we were chatting on AIM.
pairings: Just some good ol' fashioned MARAUDERS GEN with a foreshadow of Sirius/Remus
word count: Around 400, perhaps?
summary: Remus is paranoid. This is the pre-animagi years.
"You're a zombie, aren't you?" Sirius asks a sickly looking Remus Lupin one morning as the Marauders traipse out of the portrait hole and down to breakfast. Looking into the mirror before he leaves, Remus notes with some dismay that he looks ancient, pale, withering. The violet shadow under his eyes overpower the rest of his face, lines etched around his mouth and a cut below his ear, extending to his jaw. Sirius is about to ask another question. Remus can tell, and avoids it by rolling his eyes. He knows that Sirius drops it and is silent.
"Yes," Remus answers placidly to fill the gap in conversation. "Brains."
James and Peter laugh before getting back to their discussion about Quidditch. James relates a story about tryouts for the Gryffindor team, how he thinks he did, when results would be posted, whether or not the pretty redhead, Evans, had seen the way he flew. Peter listens and throws in his comments when he can. Sirius, however, is scandalized at Remus' revelation.
"I knew it!" he exclaims with a grin. "You were gnawing on Hufflepuff skulls over the weekend, weren't you? No wonder they're so mindless..." Sirius smirks and nudges Remus in the side. Remus gives up as the boys pass behind a tapestry and then down another flight of stairs. He would rather not go into it.
Thankfully, James fishes for a compliment from Sirius and, rising to the occasion, Sirius re-enacts the trial from everyone's perspective, including the girls with the batty eyelashes watching from the stands. Sirius grins broadly as he fans himself the way the one with the curly hair did, adding a running commentary at the same time. It takes up the rest of the trip to the Great Hall and Remus breathes a sigh of relief.
Entering ahead, James and Peter reach the table first, still chattering loudly. Sirius holds back and looks at Remus cautiously for a split-second. He knows! He must know. It's over. He's going to tell James and Peter and they're not going to want me as a friend anymore! Remus grimaces to himself, staring at the ground, and when he looks back up the moment is gone. Sirius has turned around and is approaching the table.
He hates to admit it, but Remus is grateful. He hopes it doesn't mean anything. He hopes nothing has changed. He hopes Sirius doesn't figure anything out, and that he can go on being blissfully ignorant. It would be better than him knowing and hating him.
About now, Remus thinks he would much rather be a zombie.