𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐙𝐄𝐒 ☾ r. lupin

₈ reflections

"YOU KNOW, you never told us what you overheard Frilio and Peter talking about," Sirius said, picking at his nails as he stared at James. Remus nodded his head as he crossed his legs, getting comfortable in the chair he had occupied.

"You both know I can just, tell you, right?" Peter asked, looking between the two of them. Sirius responded with an 'oh' and told Peter to get a move on.

He sighed and placed his elbows on his thighs, clasping his hands together as he looked at the blazing fire. "She told me that we have no regards for the people that surround us," he said, his eyes still trained on the fireplace.

Remus frowned as he looked at the boy, watching as he stayed still. James was sitting on the floor, leaning onto the wall as he stared at the group of boys. He had overheard the last bit of the conversation that Thalia and Peter had, but he wished he hadn't. There was something about the way she said it, something about the tone of her voice that made a shiver make its way up his spine.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Sirius asked, leaning forward and staring at Peter.

Peter sighed and leaned back, slouching against the couch as he looked up at the ceiling. "She said that we didn't know the consequences of our actions, that we made people feel like victims," he finished, gaze still trained on the ceiling. Remus looked at Sirius for a second, making eye contact with him before they turned back to Peter.

"What the hell does she mean 'we make people feel like victims,'" Sirius quoted. Remus nodded his head as his thoughts went rampant. Surely they couldn't be doing that, someone would have told them. Wouldn't they?

"I don't know, Sirius. It's just what she said. She walked off after that. I never got an answer back," he finished. The three boys stared at Peter for a few moments, trying to process what just happened. James knew, of course, but he didn't know what to think of it. Remus had gotten into his head again, thinking about what Thalia had said about them.

Monster.

How are they making people victims? They weren't doing anything. They've all experienced trauma in their lives, they all know what it's like to be a victim. The people who attended Hogwarts were far from that.

Monster.

Remus' thoughts didn't cease, they didn't budge even when people stared filing into the common room, chatting and talking as if nothing had happened. The boys received smiles and waves from some people, watching as they disappeared into their dorm rooms, saying goodnight to their friends. A girl even came up to them and asked if they were okay, wondering why they didn't go to dinner.

James recovered quickly, a smile spreading across his face as he answered simply with "party planning." Remus gave a tight-lipped smile at the girl as she walked away, satisfied with his answer. After all, they were The Marauders. Why else wouldn't she believe them?

__________

"You've got some nerve, Frilio," Sirius spat out, stopping as he watched the girl walk alongside Maeve Clarke. Remus' eyes watched as the girl stopped for a moment, turning around and staring right at him as he glared at her.

"Some nerve for what, Black," she said. It was a simply stated answer, not quite a question. It left Remus feeling confused, wondering what they ever did to this girl for her to hate them. It never seemed right to him, as to why people hated others for no reason. Perhaps she did have one though, a good one, too. Why wouldn't she make it known?

"For making us seem like the bullies," he said. Thalia raised an eyebrow at the boy, watching as his anger only rose. She stayed calm, merely looking at him as his anger radiated off of him in waves.

"Well, that's what you are, aren't you?" She said.

"We're nothing like that," Peter chimed in.

Remus watched as Thalia's gaze moved over to Peter's, watching as she maintained eye contact with them. He knew she wasn't going to back down from this. She never would. Because that's how she was, someone who never backed down.

Thalia hummed as she looked at the boys, clasping her hands together in front of her. "Explain then," she told them. "Explain how you're nothing like that."

"We're not a bully like Snape is," James chimed in, stepping forward so he was standing next to his friends. Remus watched as Thalia's gaze flickered over to him, merely giving him a once over before she turned to look at the other three. He became a bit self-conscious in that moment, tucking his hands into his sweater as he stared at the girl. She had a threatening look about her, like she could do something to them but wouldn't. Out of fear he didn't know, but he knew that she was capable of such things.

"I didn't mention Snape, now did I?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

"But he's right, isn't he," Sirius said.

"It doesn't matter if you're a bully like Severus is," she told them. "I only care about you four right now. Severus is a different matter."

"You're a hypocrite, you know that?" Sirius told her.

Remus watched as a certain look flickered over her face, casting a shadow of consideration to cross her eyes. "I know that already, Sirius. Say it again, maybe you can get it through your head-"

Remus didn't know what to do in that moment. He didn't know whether or not to say something, whether or not he should stop her from saying these things. But, deep down, he knew she was right. Everything they did was for their self benefit. The pranks, the jokes, the hexes. It was all selfish. It was all for themselves.

"-Oh and, Remus?" She said, staring at the tall boy. "Sometimes it's nice to get the last word in, even if that means making a fool out of yourself. Sirius knows that one well." With that, Thalia Frilio walked away with Maeve Clarke. The blue in her hair poked out as she walked, gliding across her back as she stepped forward.

Sirius growled next to Remus, stepping forward as he clenched his fists. "I'm going to kill that bitch," he said. Remus reached out and placed a hand on his chest, sigh escaping his lips as they watched her walk away.

"No, you're not," Remus said, still staring at Thalia. "Because she's right," he finished.

Sirius looked up at him with a confused expression on his face. "What do you mean 'she's right?'" He asked. Remus shrugged, tearing his gaze away from Thalia to look at his friends.

"We do, don't we? Use people for our own benefit? With the jokes and the pranks, the hexes we've placed onto Snape," he told them, "it's selfish." Remus clenched his jaw, looking over at his three friends.

He sighed and shook his head, taking his hand off of Sirius' chest. "Never mind, forget I said anything," he started, "I'm gonna go back to the common room. Too much excitement for one day." With that, he trudged back to the common room; his hands were still tucked into his sweater, shielding them from Thalia Frilio's harsh words. But, those words had already cut deep, but these scars wouldn't be noticeable.

_____ A/N _____

you know, in reality i'm pretty sure i would absolutely hate the marauders. they would most definitely be those boys who would ask you for hugs in the hallways and have the max number of people on their snapchat. but that's just my opinion. so anywayyyy hope you enjoy the chapter and have a lovely day

remember to eat and drink water !

<3