maple syrup | remus lupin [1]

85. don't let go

CLAUDIA WAS IN the Great Hall when James stormed her way. At first the troubled look on his face confused her, but that confusion changed into concern as she realised that something was wrong.

Which it surely was.

"What's going on?" She asked, immediately panicking internally as she - for the millionth time that morning - thought about the fact that the full moon had been the night before and that she knew nothing about how it went.

"It's Remus, he...he's," James said in an attempt at explaining it all, but he couldn't find the words.

"Explain on the way," Claudia said quickly, standing up and completely abandoning her food.

As the pair walked hastily to the Marauders' dorm, James explained what had happened the night before.

Apparently Severus Snape had grown suspicious of Remus and his strange behaviours of skipping class, having scars and suddenly ending up in the hospital wing - suspicions that had in turn caused him to wonder if maybe Remus was a werewolf.

And, Snape being just who Snape was, had of course not been quiet about this, which inevitably led to Sirius hearing about it.

And, Sirius being just who Sirius was, had decided to put the boy in his place. Only he did it in the worst possible way - because the night before Sirius had tricked Snape into going to the Shrieking Shack.

Remus had transformed and his little visit could've cost Snape his life, but thankfully James was there in time to save the day.

However, this had caused a complete mess to fall over the group of four Gryffindor boys - specifically over Remus.

Because he now felt he couldn't take being a werewolf any longer.

First, his favourite person in the whole wide world had every reason to hate him, and now a boy had almost been killed by him.

Remus was simply not okay. He wouldn't talk, and when he did all he did was yell at the boys to leave him alone.

James knew that he needed Claudia.

"A little warning," James whispered as they stood outside the dorm were Remus resided, alone after kicking all of them out. "He's...very upset."

Claudia nodded, "Thank you, Jamie."

James gave her a sad smile, before he headed down the stairs to most presumably find Sirius, who had been gone ever since James had finished yelling at him the night before.

Claudia opened the door, it making a painful noise in the process.

"I don't want to talk," Remus said quietly from where he sat down on his bed with his head in his hands, his arms propped up against his knees as his back faced Claudia.

At first Claudia, for just a second, figured that maybe he needed a moment alone. Maybe she would only make things worse by staying.

But, she didn't go. Instead she walked towards him slowly and sat down next to him.