𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐙𝐄𝐒 ☾ r. lupin

₃₀ gyffindors to the rescue

"ERM, MOONY," James started, staring at his pinky finger. He pointed at it and frowned a bit. "What's with the string?" He finished.

Remus looked up from his book, brushing his hair out of his face. He wiggled his pinky a little, letting the little red string dangle from it. His lips pulled up a bit at it, watching as it swung as he moved.

"Rhiannon told me to put it on," he responded, placing his book down next to him.

Rhiannon had told Remus that the string represented fate. She was really believed in fate, soulmates, and star placements. Remus less so, but he still liked listening to her rant about it. The way her face lit up, how her voice sounded light, how she didn't stutter. Rhiannon was like the sunshine that Remus had been without.

"Yeah, why?" James questioned, leaning his elbows onto his thighs and leaning forward.

Remus shrugged. "It's supposed to signify soulmates, I think. That's how Rhi explained it," he said.

"Huh. Think I could get Lily to do it?" James asked.

Remus laughed and shook his head. "Good luck with that one, mate."

James smiled and turned away, grabbing his own workbook and working on herbology homework. He pushed his glasses further up his nose and grabbed a piece of parchment, placing it on the table.

The two sat in silence for a bit, merely doing their own thing. Remus thought it was nice, relishing in the silence of the dark common room. The fire was blazing, letting the room be filled with warmth. It tended to get cold during the fall and winter months. The fireplace really came in handy then.

There was a slight tapping on the portrait door a few minutes later, making Remus and James look up from their books. The tapping stopped for a moment before the portrait opened a bit, allowing for three people to sneak in. 

Thalia.

Remus' heart skipped a beat for a second but he tried to focus on the other people walking through the door. Celina and Marya followed Thalia into the room, dressed in their flannel pajama's still. James' eyebrows shot up, staring at the girls as they walked in.

"Potter we need your help," Celina whispered, still standing in the doorway.

James looked at Remus for a second before he turned us attention back to the girls. "What for?" He questioned, closing his book and putting it down.

"It's Lily..." Thalia trailed off, staring at him. James' own heart skipped a beat as he stood up, placing his slippers back onto his feet.

"What happened?" He asked, walking forward.

Remus was out of his seat at this point, too. He might not like Thalia but this was about Lily.

Thalia shot Remus a quick look before she looked at James again, explaining the situation. Apparently the Ravenclaw's were all hanging out with Maeve in the common room when Severus and a couple of his friends walked out. Thalia heard Lily's name slip out of their mouths more than once. And they never went out this late, either.

"Where?" James asked, moving closer to the door. Celina placed her hand on his shoulder, making him pause.

"That's why we're here," she started, looking over at Thalia. When she gave Celina a quick nod she continued. "We need the map."

Remus' eyebrows shot up, as did James'. How'd they know about the map?

"Remus go get it from upstairs," James said. "And fast."

Remus nodded and jogged upstairs, going underneath James' bed to grab it. He grabbed his wand from his nightstand as he left, too. Remus ran down the stairs, not caring about noise at this point. He couldn't believe they hadn't realized that Lily wasn't in her room, she was never out this late.

"Let's go," Remus said, nodding at the group. Everyone went out the door, being careful about Filch. James grabbed the map from Remus and quickly whispered 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good.' The map came to life, the ink spreading out as they searched it. A group of name tags came up, showing none other than Snape and Lily.

Thalia's breath hitched in her throat as she saw the map morph and move. She couldn't believe that the Marauder's had made this. The map was made of powerful magic, advanced magic. Thalia didn't think even the seventh years would be able to pull this off. 

The group made their way through the shadows of the school, making James and Celina the lookout. After an excruciatingly long time, they finally made their way down to the dungeons. James and Remus were in the front of the girls, the map in their hands as they stood in front of the abandoned classroom door. 

"Ready?" James asked, placing his hand on the door. Thalia, Celina, and Marya all grabbed their wands and gave James a nod, watching as he opened the door. There was the group of Slytherins all surrounding a angry looking Lily. 

All of their heads turned towards the door as the other group walked in, wands pointed towards them. Lily sighed and closed her eyes, shaking her head. 

"What the hell is going on?" Thalia asked, gripping her wand. Her eyes raked over each student. The two most noticeable to her being Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape. Her eyes narrowed as Lucius smirked at her. 

"Ah, if it isn't the blood traitor," he sneered, turning around so he was looking at her. Remus noticed that her hand had formed a fist near her thigh, her knuckles becoming white. 

What did he mean blood traitor?

"Just give us Lily," she said, staring him down. Lucius turned around and gripped Lily's shoulder, pushing her forward a bit. She flinched at the contact but followed, opening her eyes and staring at her friends. 

James was furious, but Marya was holding him back, motioning at Thalia to hurry. Lucius still had his hand clenched around Lily's shoulder, tightening it by the second. Lily looked uncomfortable. 

"Merlin, Lucius, knock it off," Thalia said, motioning her wand towards his hand clamped on the red head's shoulder. 

"Or what, Frilio?" He asked, taking his own wand out. 

"You more than know what I'm capable of, Malfoy," Thalia said between her clenched teeth. Lucius looked away and smirked at his friends, allowing Thalia to cast stupefy. Malfoy was on the ground in mere seconds. Lily took her cue and ran towards the group, crashing into Celina. 

"Leave," Thalia said, holding her wand. 

"What?" Remus asked, staring at her in shock. What did she mean leave?

"I said leave, Lupin. All of you. Let me handle this," she said, rolling her shoulders back. Her hair was slowly turning black, the roots of her hair already a dark shade of it. Remus stayed planted in his spot, wand still in hand. He had stashed the map in his pocket. 

"No," he said, standing his ground. 

"Lupin, leave!" She yelled, swiveling her body around. 

The next moment she was on the ground and screaming. 

_____ A/N _____

hello babes ! i feel like this is cliche, but i'm losing brain cells, so. anywayyy i got a summer job which is fun, i think. idk, i start on the 10th which will be greatttt. oh well, enjoy the chapter :P

remember to eat and drink water !

<3