Mischief Managed Y2 Part 2: The Truth of the Tournament

Chapter Ten: The Unofficial Clubhouse

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James helped Remus breathe for several minutes until the werewolf realized he could take a trembling breath and inhaled deeply, breathing on his own. Realizing Lupin was alright, Potter collapsed next to him on the grass.

"Merlin's beard! That was scary...you usually go through this alone, mate?" James asked, his tone shaky once more. Remus was pretty sure his friend was crying.

"Uh...uh I guess...they usually aren't this...bad," Remus explained faintly, though he knew that wasn't entirely true, especially back when he had been much smaller. He could quite vividly still remember similar feelings, similar experiences happening to him when he was little. Back then his mum had just held his little trembling body to hers, shaking as she told him to listen to her heartbeat as she hummed until he could breathe properly again.

"My...mum used to help..." Remus explained, trying not to feel like a moron and failing.

"Lily said it's called anxiety...muggles go pretty mental about it...But I guess there are some wizards in Sweden who are ahead of the times or something...they've come up with this whole way of helping, only it doesn't use wands...so most wizards think it's rubbish. But blimey, I guess it isn't, huh?" James asked happily. "I'll have to tell Lily her research paid off. She'll be happy about that. She's really cute when she goes off about her research...only she thinks I'm teasing her when I say that.. she almost hexed me because of it. I don't understand her, mate. I'm just trying to be nice to her, yeah?"

"I'm s-sorry, James," Remus cried, hiding his face from his friend which was silly since the chaser was crying too. He just felt so humiliated!

"What for? Oh that...well you can't help it, can you? I'd be...well, I mean you got good reason to panic, you know? Only...mmmm...will it...make you panic...ifIaskyousomthin?" James asked in a rush, sounding uneasy as he twisted slightly so he could look at Remus who peaked at him through his fingers.

"I...I don't think so."

"What caused it...you to panic that is?"

Remus hesitated but he knew if he didn't say something he might likely start panicking again and that was a thoroughly unpleasant thought. "...the shack...I...it's not a 'cool place' for me..." he explained, watching through his fingers as James realized what he meant and lightly slapped his hand to his forehead.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Only...do you think we could make it better? Make it a place of happy memories?" the positive boy suggested hopefully. 

"James, have you forgotten my blood is over that place...it's...I m-mark it," Remus snapped, utterly horrified. 

James shifted uncomfortably and went pale. "Oh...yeah...but I mean we could clean it..."

"Every month? James, that doesn't seem practical..."

"Would it help you? And actually, think before you answer, okay? Because I will personally clean it all by myself once a week, hell every day if it would actually help you," James said solemnly, then seemed to realize how embarrassing what he said was because he buried his face in his hands the tips of his ears pink.

"Thank you, James." Remus was sincerely touched by the offer, ashamed but appreciative nonetheless. "But, I...I don't know...if it's possible to have good m-memories there..."

"But could that help?" James asked desperately. 

Remus realized how badly his friend wanted to do something, anything to help. The werewolf hated to be self-centred since he was already being horribly selfish by allowing himself to have friends anyway. "I...we can try, James, thanks. But I don't...you lot, well you've got to let me clean it myself..."