Purple Roses

Chapter 2 - Feasts

The great hall was filled with chatter and laughter.

Sirius had gotten used to James' endless talking, and found it quite entertaining. They joked and laughed as if they were old friends, whilst Remus and Peter sat next to them, laughing with them but not talking much. Peter was too shy to engage in the conversation whereas Remus was simply too invested in eating the food that had appeared on the table roughly five minutes ago. "Damn Remus, you're eating like a wolf who hasn't caught prey in a week, calm down, the food won't run away." James laughed. Sirius glanced over at Remus and nodded, agreeing with James with his infamous grin plastered on his face.

Remus' body tensed up as his eyes shot up staring at James in fear. "Relax Lupin. It was just a silly remak, enjoy your food." James laughed after seeing Remus' reaction. Not thinking anything of it but that Remus probably just felt embarrassed to be called out like that.

"Didn't eat yet today." Remus mumbled barely audible, but the others heard him.

"What, why?" Sirius asked, rather concerned for his new friend. He knew all too well what it was like not being fed as punishment, and he hoped there was some other explanation for it. He didn't want any of his new friends having to know what that feels like.

"Uh, didn't get any, got up too late and Foster is strict about missing breakfast. At lunch I was simply too nervous to eat." Remus spoke quietly, hoping no one would press about who Foster was, but of course they did. James and Sirius were very nosy after all. That much Remus could already tell.

Peter sat back and listened, Sirius looked eager to ask the question, but James got to it first.

"Who's Foster?"

"Oh, uh, the woman who was in charge of all the boys in the home. A stick in the mud if you ask me.", Remus answered.

"The home?", Sirius asked.

Remus sighed. He explained how his family had abandoned him at a young age and how he lived in a boys home ever since then. He left out quite a few details however, such as why his parents abandoned him, or how he didn't have any friends in the home, or how Foster would often hit them or throw things at them if they stepped out of line. He knew the others would already pity him, he didn't want more pity than absolutely necessary.

All three boys looked shocked. Yet none of them asked more questions, knowing he wouldn't want to share more. At least not yet.

But Sirius was determined to find out what else had happened, after he noticed how easily Remus would flinch at loud noises or random objects being thrown around during the feast.

Sirius was happy that he had mastered masking his reactions to things that reminded him of how his mother abused him, not wanting to show weakness.

'I have to be tough.' He thought to himself. 'It'll be easier than explaining everything and risking severe punishment from mother.'

After the feast the four new friends and all the other first years were led to their dorm rooms.

They were located in a tower and the door was a painting of a fat lady.

The common room was way bigger than anyone had suspected. And once again, Sirius was astonished how beautiful it looked, even with everything being black, grey and white.

The ceilings were tall, the walls were filled with banners with lions on them. On the stone floor there was a large rug that covered almost the entire floor.

There were multiple tables and armchairs.

In one of the walls there was a fireplace that never stopped burning. Around the fireplace there were 3 couches standing in a U shape.