A Tale of Two Puppies
Title: A Tale of Two Puppies
Previous Parts: Prologue, Chapter 1 - Sorted, Chapter 2 - And Rat Makes Four
Author’s Notes: Rem’s POV.
A Tale of Two Puppies
Chapter 3 - What’s In A Name? (1)
“Remus!” Peter squeaked the moment the brunet climbed through the portrait hole. “You’re back!”
“Is it good to see you, mate,” James grinned as Remus sat beside him on the couch. “I thought the light had left the world when you went away.” He clapped a dramatic hand to his forehead, then peered out at Remus from underneath it. “We pined.”
Remus grinned, fighting a laugh. It was good to have friends. He’d just have to be careful, so he could keep them.
“How’s your mum?” Peter asked.
“Better, I think,” Remus managed to get out. He hated lying. “But it comes and goes.”
“It’s not contagious, is it?” James asked, giving him a look.
“No!” said Remus quickly, then, “Why?”
“You’re looking a bit peaky,” James replied. “Thought you might be coming down with something.”
“Oh,” Remus breathed an inner sigh of relief. “Must just be tired. I didn’t get much sleep.”
James nodded, seeming to accept this. “Must be hungry, too. You missed dinner. Pete, could you go down to the kitchen and beg something for your starving mates?”
“Erm…” Peter hesitated. He had been the most excited of the four to discover the hidden entrance to the kitchens (courtesy of Andromeda Black) in their first week, and the most eager to frequent the house elves’ domain, but he was also the most likely to get lost if left on his own.
“I have faith in you, Pete,” James smiled encouragingly.
Peter nodded in a resolute fashion, rose, and headed out through the portrait hole.
Well, well, thought Remus. Look who’s turning on the charm to worm his way out of work. Methinks Sirius is rubbing off on James a bit much. Speaking of the Devil... “Where’s Siri?”
James flinched. “Upstairs studying, actually. You should go let him know you’re back. He’s been kinda down since you left.”
Remus mock-gasped, though he really was a little startled: Sirius didn’t study. “Studying? Our Siri? It must be serious, no pun intended. I’ll see him immediately. We might have to owl St. Mungo’s.”
“Actually,” James put out a hand to stop Remus getting up. “I need to talk to you. Before you go see him. I didn’t want to bring it up around Peter, but, um, there’s something you should hear. Then, by all means, go see him. Help him study. Astronomy test Wednesday, and it just won’t sink into his thick head. Surprising, really, what with his name, and all, but - ”
“James.” Remus gave the dark-haired boy a stern look.
“Right.” James ran a hand through his already mussed hair. “Well, it’s like this...”
* * * * *
Tuesday’s sunrise found Remus in the owlery, sending a letter to his mother to let her know he was back in his dormitory.
He was usually an early riser, but it had been a long time since he’d been up before the sun. He just hadn’t been able to sleep. There were too many thoughts buzzing around in his head, all of them clamoring for attention.
Chief on his mind was his curse. He’d been far too excited to be allowed to attend school to give much thought to what would happen when he actually arrived. He hadn’t thought about having friends, hadn’t counted on having to account for his absences to people who would care, since all the teachers already knew. He felt terrible lying to his friends, but he was even more terrified of them finding out. He’d only known the three boys a few weeks, but he already felt closer to them than anyone he’d ever known. He’d never really had any friends before, and he was happier than he’d ever been when he was with them, especially Sirius and James. But Sirius and James were not fools, far from it, and they were bound to figure it out sooner or later. And then what? Would he lose them? Would they abandon him? Would they shun him? He didn’t know if he could bear it.
The sun was well up by the time Remus left the owlery, heading straight for breakfast, still thinking.
He hadn’t had a chance to talk to Sirius the night before. He wasn’t even sure he should. What would he say, anyhow? Should he apologize? Ask for an explanation? He hadn’t even been there. He shouldn’t butt it. He’d just have to be careful to call his friend ‘Sirius’ instead of ‘Siri’. If Sirius wanted to explain, he would, and that was all there was to it.
And with that decided, Remus proceeded towards the Great Hall, turning his mind to the worries of catching up in his lessons.
* * * * *
“Really, Professor, I’m sure one of my friends can help me catch up.”
Potions had just ended, and Remus had been called to the teacher’s desk to discuss make-up work. He’d assumed James and Sirius could help him get up to date since, despite their lack of studying, they both seemed to understand everything perfectly, with the glaring exception of Sirius and Astronomy. However, Professor Slughorn was proving difficult.
“I’m sure they could as well, Mr. Lupin. Mr. Black and Mr. Potter are having no difficulty with this course. However, I feel their notes might be somewhat lacking, and, given your dubious skills in the subject, if you’ll pardon my saying so - ” here Remus felt himself turn red in embarrassment - “I feel you would be more likely to flourish under the tutelage of someone who has displayed an obvious flair for the art of potion-making.”
“Er… Professor?” Remus often felt Slughorn just liked to hear himself talk.
“Dear Miss Lily Evans has agreed to help you. I spoke with her earlier. She’s already run along to your next lesson, of course, but she said you could meet tonight. She’ll find you at dinner.”
“Oh.” There wasn’t really anything left to say. “All right.”
“Run along then, Mr. Lupin. Off you go to your next lesson.”
“Yes, Professor.” Remus gathered his things and headed for History of Magic.
* * * * *
“Lupin?”
Remus turned at the sound of his name. “Oh, hi, Evans,” he greeted the redheaded girl behind him.
“You done with your dinner?”
“Yeah, I’m done.” Remus stood.
“Where are you going?” Sirius demanded.
“With Evans.”
“Where?”
“To study for Potions.”
“Why?”
“I told you, Sirius, to study for Potions. If you recall, I told you earlier as well. I said Slughorn had spoken to Evans about it.”
“No you didn’t.”
“Yes I did. When I got to History of Magic and you asked me what Slughorn had said. Back me up, James.”
Silence.
“James?”
Remus turned away from Sirius to see why James wasn’t answering, and found the scruffy-haired boy staring at Evans, a loaded fork forgotten halfway to his mouth. Evans was ignoring him.
“You said ‘someone’, Rem, not ‘Evans’. You never said she was going to be working with you.”
“So? What does it matter who it is?”
“She’s a girl, Rem.”
“I’d noticed.”
“You can’t be alone with a girl.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s a girl!” Sirius said, as though he couldn’t quite understand why Remus wasn’t getting it.
“Sirius, stop behaving as though you were five,” Remus snapped.
“It’s not like I’ve got cooties, Black,” Evans chipped in acidly at this point.
“Hmph,” Sirius snorted. “You just keep your girly hands off my Rem.”
“Sirius!” Remus gritted. Honestly! You’d think he was jealous! “I don’t know what your deal is, but I’m going. With Evans. Go do something useful, like studying for Astronomy.”
“But - ”
“Stop, Sirius.”
“Fine,” Sirius grumbled after a brief staring contest, and turned back to his dinner, pouting a little.
“Good boy,” Remus grinned, and couldn’t help reaching out to pat Sirius on the head a like a dog.
Sirius swatted half-heartedly at the hand.
Remus’s grin grew, and before he could stop himself, he’d ruffled the silky dark hair.
“Hey!” Sirius’s shout of indignation followed Remus and Evans (both laughing) as they left the Great Hall.
* * * * *
Much later that evening Remus entered the library on James’s instructions. The hazel-eyed boy had said Sirius was in the Abyss of Words (as the two black-haired boys had dubbed Remus’s sanctuary). He had looked like he was desperate to ask about Evans, but, as the girl had returned to the Common Room with Remus, questions - or interrogations, more like - would have to wait.
Sirius wasn’t hard to find. He’d chosen to sit at the table closest to the door, in the seat nearest his escape. He was scowling at a text book, several charts and pages of notes spread around him. Remus was reminded rather strongly of himself.
“You’re studying awfully hard, Sirius,” Remus commented, amused. “What’s the big occasion?”
“We have that Astronomy test tomorrow night, and you know perfectly well I’m utter rubbish at this.” Sirius’s wave took in the charts and notes as well as the book. His eyes were still scanning the page.
Remus pulled out the seat on the other side of the table, making himself comfortable.
“Are you still upset about dinner?” Sirius asked, not looking up. “With Evans?”
“Of course not, Sirius,” Remus chuckled. “Evans and I had a bit of a laugh over it, actually.”
Sirius stuck a finger in his book and looked up. “Then why are you calling me ‘Sirius’ all of a sudden? You never call me that unless you’re brassed off about something. What’ve I done?”
“Nothing... I think.” Remus looked at him suspiciously for a moment.
“Then...”
“James told me you had a go at Pete for calling you ‘Siri’,” Remus explained, wondering if it was a good idea to go into it. “You should have told me it bothered you, I never would have called you that. I just heard your, um... Andromeda using it, so I thought it was okay. I’m really sorry.”
“It doesn’t bother me!”
Remus raised an eyebrow.
“I mean,” Sirius was turning an interesting shade of red. “It bothered me when Pete said it, and it does sometimes irk me when Romy uses it, but I don’t mind if it’s you. I kinda liked it, I mean, well, just...” he buried his nose in his book again, and Remus could just barely make out the muttered, “just call me ‘Siri’ if you want.”
Remus couldn’t help but grin. “All right... Siri.”
TBC
(1) From William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Previous Parts: Prologue, Chapter 1 - Sorted, Chapter 2 - And Rat Makes Four
Author’s Notes: Rem’s POV.
A Tale of Two Puppies
Chapter 3 - What’s In A Name? (1)
“Remus!” Peter squeaked the moment the brunet climbed through the portrait hole. “You’re back!”
“Is it good to see you, mate,” James grinned as Remus sat beside him on the couch. “I thought the light had left the world when you went away.” He clapped a dramatic hand to his forehead, then peered out at Remus from underneath it. “We pined.”
Remus grinned, fighting a laugh. It was good to have friends. He’d just have to be careful, so he could keep them.
“How’s your mum?” Peter asked.
“Better, I think,” Remus managed to get out. He hated lying. “But it comes and goes.”
“It’s not contagious, is it?” James asked, giving him a look.
“No!” said Remus quickly, then, “Why?”
“You’re looking a bit peaky,” James replied. “Thought you might be coming down with something.”
“Oh,” Remus breathed an inner sigh of relief. “Must just be tired. I didn’t get much sleep.”
James nodded, seeming to accept this. “Must be hungry, too. You missed dinner. Pete, could you go down to the kitchen and beg something for your starving mates?”
“Erm…” Peter hesitated. He had been the most excited of the four to discover the hidden entrance to the kitchens (courtesy of Andromeda Black) in their first week, and the most eager to frequent the house elves’ domain, but he was also the most likely to get lost if left on his own.
“I have faith in you, Pete,” James smiled encouragingly.
Peter nodded in a resolute fashion, rose, and headed out through the portrait hole.
Well, well, thought Remus. Look who’s turning on the charm to worm his way out of work. Methinks Sirius is rubbing off on James a bit much. Speaking of the Devil... “Where’s Siri?”
James flinched. “Upstairs studying, actually. You should go let him know you’re back. He’s been kinda down since you left.”
Remus mock-gasped, though he really was a little startled: Sirius didn’t study. “Studying? Our Siri? It must be serious, no pun intended. I’ll see him immediately. We might have to owl St. Mungo’s.”
“Actually,” James put out a hand to stop Remus getting up. “I need to talk to you. Before you go see him. I didn’t want to bring it up around Peter, but, um, there’s something you should hear. Then, by all means, go see him. Help him study. Astronomy test Wednesday, and it just won’t sink into his thick head. Surprising, really, what with his name, and all, but - ”
“James.” Remus gave the dark-haired boy a stern look.
“Right.” James ran a hand through his already mussed hair. “Well, it’s like this...”
* * * * *
Tuesday’s sunrise found Remus in the owlery, sending a letter to his mother to let her know he was back in his dormitory.
He was usually an early riser, but it had been a long time since he’d been up before the sun. He just hadn’t been able to sleep. There were too many thoughts buzzing around in his head, all of them clamoring for attention.
Chief on his mind was his curse. He’d been far too excited to be allowed to attend school to give much thought to what would happen when he actually arrived. He hadn’t thought about having friends, hadn’t counted on having to account for his absences to people who would care, since all the teachers already knew. He felt terrible lying to his friends, but he was even more terrified of them finding out. He’d only known the three boys a few weeks, but he already felt closer to them than anyone he’d ever known. He’d never really had any friends before, and he was happier than he’d ever been when he was with them, especially Sirius and James. But Sirius and James were not fools, far from it, and they were bound to figure it out sooner or later. And then what? Would he lose them? Would they abandon him? Would they shun him? He didn’t know if he could bear it.
The sun was well up by the time Remus left the owlery, heading straight for breakfast, still thinking.
He hadn’t had a chance to talk to Sirius the night before. He wasn’t even sure he should. What would he say, anyhow? Should he apologize? Ask for an explanation? He hadn’t even been there. He shouldn’t butt it. He’d just have to be careful to call his friend ‘Sirius’ instead of ‘Siri’. If Sirius wanted to explain, he would, and that was all there was to it.
And with that decided, Remus proceeded towards the Great Hall, turning his mind to the worries of catching up in his lessons.
* * * * *
“Really, Professor, I’m sure one of my friends can help me catch up.”
Potions had just ended, and Remus had been called to the teacher’s desk to discuss make-up work. He’d assumed James and Sirius could help him get up to date since, despite their lack of studying, they both seemed to understand everything perfectly, with the glaring exception of Sirius and Astronomy. However, Professor Slughorn was proving difficult.
“I’m sure they could as well, Mr. Lupin. Mr. Black and Mr. Potter are having no difficulty with this course. However, I feel their notes might be somewhat lacking, and, given your dubious skills in the subject, if you’ll pardon my saying so - ” here Remus felt himself turn red in embarrassment - “I feel you would be more likely to flourish under the tutelage of someone who has displayed an obvious flair for the art of potion-making.”
“Er… Professor?” Remus often felt Slughorn just liked to hear himself talk.
“Dear Miss Lily Evans has agreed to help you. I spoke with her earlier. She’s already run along to your next lesson, of course, but she said you could meet tonight. She’ll find you at dinner.”
“Oh.” There wasn’t really anything left to say. “All right.”
“Run along then, Mr. Lupin. Off you go to your next lesson.”
“Yes, Professor.” Remus gathered his things and headed for History of Magic.
* * * * *
“Lupin?”
Remus turned at the sound of his name. “Oh, hi, Evans,” he greeted the redheaded girl behind him.
“You done with your dinner?”
“Yeah, I’m done.” Remus stood.
“Where are you going?” Sirius demanded.
“With Evans.”
“Where?”
“To study for Potions.”
“Why?”
“I told you, Sirius, to study for Potions. If you recall, I told you earlier as well. I said Slughorn had spoken to Evans about it.”
“No you didn’t.”
“Yes I did. When I got to History of Magic and you asked me what Slughorn had said. Back me up, James.”
Silence.
“James?”
Remus turned away from Sirius to see why James wasn’t answering, and found the scruffy-haired boy staring at Evans, a loaded fork forgotten halfway to his mouth. Evans was ignoring him.
“You said ‘someone’, Rem, not ‘Evans’. You never said she was going to be working with you.”
“So? What does it matter who it is?”
“She’s a girl, Rem.”
“I’d noticed.”
“You can’t be alone with a girl.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s a girl!” Sirius said, as though he couldn’t quite understand why Remus wasn’t getting it.
“Sirius, stop behaving as though you were five,” Remus snapped.
“It’s not like I’ve got cooties, Black,” Evans chipped in acidly at this point.
“Hmph,” Sirius snorted. “You just keep your girly hands off my Rem.”
“Sirius!” Remus gritted. Honestly! You’d think he was jealous! “I don’t know what your deal is, but I’m going. With Evans. Go do something useful, like studying for Astronomy.”
“But - ”
“Stop, Sirius.”
“Fine,” Sirius grumbled after a brief staring contest, and turned back to his dinner, pouting a little.
“Good boy,” Remus grinned, and couldn’t help reaching out to pat Sirius on the head a like a dog.
Sirius swatted half-heartedly at the hand.
Remus’s grin grew, and before he could stop himself, he’d ruffled the silky dark hair.
“Hey!” Sirius’s shout of indignation followed Remus and Evans (both laughing) as they left the Great Hall.
* * * * *
Much later that evening Remus entered the library on James’s instructions. The hazel-eyed boy had said Sirius was in the Abyss of Words (as the two black-haired boys had dubbed Remus’s sanctuary). He had looked like he was desperate to ask about Evans, but, as the girl had returned to the Common Room with Remus, questions - or interrogations, more like - would have to wait.
Sirius wasn’t hard to find. He’d chosen to sit at the table closest to the door, in the seat nearest his escape. He was scowling at a text book, several charts and pages of notes spread around him. Remus was reminded rather strongly of himself.
“You’re studying awfully hard, Sirius,” Remus commented, amused. “What’s the big occasion?”
“We have that Astronomy test tomorrow night, and you know perfectly well I’m utter rubbish at this.” Sirius’s wave took in the charts and notes as well as the book. His eyes were still scanning the page.
Remus pulled out the seat on the other side of the table, making himself comfortable.
“Are you still upset about dinner?” Sirius asked, not looking up. “With Evans?”
“Of course not, Sirius,” Remus chuckled. “Evans and I had a bit of a laugh over it, actually.”
Sirius stuck a finger in his book and looked up. “Then why are you calling me ‘Sirius’ all of a sudden? You never call me that unless you’re brassed off about something. What’ve I done?”
“Nothing... I think.” Remus looked at him suspiciously for a moment.
“Then...”
“James told me you had a go at Pete for calling you ‘Siri’,” Remus explained, wondering if it was a good idea to go into it. “You should have told me it bothered you, I never would have called you that. I just heard your, um... Andromeda using it, so I thought it was okay. I’m really sorry.”
“It doesn’t bother me!”
Remus raised an eyebrow.
“I mean,” Sirius was turning an interesting shade of red. “It bothered me when Pete said it, and it does sometimes irk me when Romy uses it, but I don’t mind if it’s you. I kinda liked it, I mean, well, just...” he buried his nose in his book again, and Remus could just barely make out the muttered, “just call me ‘Siri’ if you want.”
Remus couldn’t help but grin. “All right... Siri.”
TBC
(1) From William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.