Loverboy

"What are you doing here?"

Sitting alone in the Gryffindor Common Room, Olivia worked on her homework. Marlene had come by between classes to drop off her notes and homework for her friend. It wasn't that Ollie didn't want to go to class, specifically. She was just too embarrassed by the past two days, and frustrated with Remus. She loved him. She really did. She just couldn't stand being mad at her best friend. Even worse was that they were seriously fighting. This never happened; their arguments were usually playful, lighthearted. They tended to only last for a few hours at most.

Just as she was thinking about how she was going to apologize to Remus, the entire House began flooding in the room. The stairway to the girl's dormitories was blocked off within seconds, and Olivia, not wanting to be pestered by everyone, took to her only good option: the boy's. She scooped up her parchment, and, in the blink of an eye, slipped up the stairway, into the boy's dorms.

She saw the hanging sign that read "Year 5." She opened the door, seeing that it was empty. Well, no shit, Sherlock, she thought, rolling her eyes at herself. They were all in class. She stepped in, shutting the door behind her. She knew that when the school was founded, girls were believed to be more trustworthy than boys, so girls could go in either dormitory, while boys were stuck in their own.

She threw her belongings on James's bed, indicated by the relentlessly messy sheets, and the shimmer of his Invisibility Cloak sticking out of his trunk. She sank down, relieved, onto his bed. She began deciding exactly how she ought to apologize to Remus. Just then, realization kicked in. The full moon was in three days; he was just having a bad cycle of his lycanthropy. When he was going to transform soon, he grew tired, irritable, and hostile. He also often became violently sick in the day, and his friends wished he wouldn't have to do it alone.

Then, a wave of memory came back to Olivia from a week prior. She and Sirius were researching how to become Animagi, so they could transform with Remus every month and go with him to comfort him. "Oh my god," she said out loud, not realizing.

She was on her feet, about to reach for the door handle when-

"Ollie? What are you doing here?"

Sirius looked at his friend in surprise. Ollie looked guiltily at him. "Lock the door." He obeyed, cautiously. He gave her a confused look, and she elaborated. "Remember, a week ago, when we were reading up on how to become Animagi?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I- I think we can do it."

"What?"

Olivia laughed quietly. "Sirius, if we become Animagi- you, me, James, and Peter - then Remus doesn't have to go in there alone. He won't hurt us if we're animals. Sirius, we- we can help him, if only a little." She laughed in ecstasy at this realization. Sirius looked blankly for a moment before processing her words.

He wrapped her in a hug, which was unexpected, to be sure, but quite welcome. Then, they broke apart, and Ollie ran to open the door. "Wait," Sirius said, grabbing her arm. Olivia turned to face him as he stepped closer. "How about we just... Don't tell him. Surprise him once we've done it, so if we can't, he won't be disappointed."

"And if we can," Ollie picked up, "he'll be ecstatic! So, we tell James and Peter, then if we actually do it, we show Remus! Oh my god, Sirius, you're a genius. Fucking brilliant."

"So, where do we start, once we tell James and Peter?"

"I'll ask Professor Sprout if she'd like some help with the Mandrakes. I can swipe four or five leaves for us. I remember, we read up on it."

The two agreed, and Sirius went to go and open the door. Olivia grabbed his hand as they went down, the duo entirely forgetting Ollie's Transfiguration notes. Just as their luck would have it, as they entered the common room, everyone glanced over. Peter stared, his eyes wider than saucers. Remus looked uncomfortable at the sight, and James stood up and began congratulating Sirius.

"No, no, no," Sirius said. "We- We didn't-"

"We were just talking," Olivia explained. "I needed a second alone, and I couldn't get to the girl's dorms, so I just went to the boy's. I mean, you guys are kinda like my best friends, so, I dunno. Sirius, like, showed up (which, I mean, what would I expect, it's his dorm).We were talking about- something." The boys glanced at each other, and she snapped, "No, not- Not that, you dirty fucks."

The boys shrugged, and all looked relieved; none wanted anyone in the friend group to start dating, so that there wouldn't be a nasty breakup that would destroy the friendship. Nobody wanted to have to pick sides. And luckily, they never would have to choose one friend over another. Ever.

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A/N: oki so...new chapter!! I've been so productive lately; I've gotten out three chapters, I'm doing my art project, I'm honestly considering rewriting my ela essay bc I missed something that would have brought my grade higher. Well, actually, it wouldn't, since I got a hundred on it, but still. I also threw a party today, so like, babes been poppin off over here. But I've decided how I'll end the story so it lines up with canon, and Jesus Christ, ur gonna cry. I promise you. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but just telling you guys. Anyways, see you next chapter and byeeeee 😘 -Cat 💜

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