Four To The End Book Two (Marauders Era)

Chapter One Hundred-Thirty-Three - Re'emus

Author's note: I am very close to finishing writing Remus's second year! I am currently writing chapter 151 and I am guessing I will probably be finishing it up by chapter 155/156! I'll definitely let you guys know when I finish the last chapter :)

Now on to the TW. Some cis teen boy problems mentioned after Remus goes to bed, and again when Remus is in Defense, as well as very vague internal homophobia.

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All three Marauders waited for a response while Remus silently panicked. In the moment he hadn't even thought about what he did though, in retrospect, he should have been a lot more careful. Had the Slytherins seen it? Slytherin, he corrected, as only one had been up at that point. But he couldn't 'be careful' when his friend was about to be thrown down one-and-a-half-stories and probably break all the bones in his body (or worse); he had needed to act fast. Which he did. And now this.

Then, They know now. They didn't look afraid or hateful, merely confused—waiting for an answer.

"Ah—"

He stepped back, tugging at the end of his sleeve, knowing he couldn't get out of this one. Aegis and Malfoy might have believed a strengthening solution, but not them! Perhaps he could get away with claiming it was adrenaline but...

"I—I'm—I'm st-strong," he forced out, the confession probably sounding very silly in such a small voice, from such a small person. Indeed, James and Peter both began giggling. Sirius kept up the frown and furrowed brow. "I am," he said, a little louder. "It—it's from—because I'm—you know."

"You're strong," James said, still amused. Remus nodded. "Right."

"Wait," Peter said, his amusement fading a little. "You are?"

"Yes."

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked. "You—I wouldn't believe it if you hadn't—" He stopped, frowning even more. "You held me up. You lifted me up."

"I mean I..." Remus licked his lips, eyes darting around the corridor, figuring a show of strength would be the best way to prove to them. He went over to a large, very heavy stone bench and grasped the edge with his right hand. His left shoulder was probably completely healed, but he didn't want to risk anything. Grunting slightly, he pulled the bench halfway off the ground without much trouble at all. He kept it held up for a few seconds then dropped it with a very, very loud thud.

They were staring again, this time with huge eyes and a slack jaw in Peter's case.

James immediately went over and tried to lift it with one hand. Nothing happened. Grunting, he grasped the edge with both hands and pulled upwards; he managed to get it maybe an inch off the ground before giving up.

Remus rubbed his hands together a bit then sat down on another bench, the dizziness becoming too much. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as that night, in October. But this would change things. Hopefully... not too much.

"Damn," Sirius said.

He ducked a little, wrapping the hem of his shirt around his finger now. "I—I sh-should have told you sooner..." That sounded very awkward, and probably unconvincing.

"Why didn't you?" James asked, messing up his hair as he took in what just happened.

Remus shrugged. "When we—when you asked me all th-those questions about—about it, I guess I wasn't thinking about it. Then... you—you made it clear you didn't see me as a—a—a mon—monster, or some big evil thing. I guess I was afraid if you knew what I c-could do as a—a human you might... ch-change your minds about that." He hunched over, unable to look at them anymore. "That you'd be afraid of me."