Chapter 53: Third Year: Davey Gudgeon
Summary:
CW for homophobic slur and a bit of swearing
Chapter Text
Winter passed into spring, and as per usual, Remus's birthday was celebrated with creative vigour by the other marauders - the customary singing at every meal time, the cake, presents. Unfortunately, McGonagall was wise to their antics this year and had a prefect watching the boys' dorms to prevent any further midnight firework displays.
Fortunately, Remus's fourteenth fell on a Hogsmeade weekend, and he felt very grown up indeed spending the afternoon in The Three Broomsticks with his friends. It soon became clear that James and Sirius had somehow bribed all of their classmates to stop by the pub too, as a steady stream of students approached their table wanting to buy Remus a butterbeer or toast his health. By the time the afternoon was over everyone in the bar knew Remus's name, and he was raucously cheered on his way out. Completely embarrassing, of course.
With his birthday out of the way, Remus threw himself into revision in preparation for the upcoming exams - he had a particular urge to do well in his new subjects, not least Care of Magical Creatures. By returning his focus to study and schoolwork, Remus slowly began to put the cruel words of Darius Barebones behind him. Yes, he was dangerous, and yes, once everyone found out what Remus was he would very likely be shunned. But until then, he had an opportunity to learn - and he wasn't going to waste it.
* * *
Sunday 7th April 1974
Remus had never met Davey Gudgeon before - as far as he knew, nor had any of the others. He never found out what the kid looked like, even. But he would remember that name until the day he died.
The whomping willow had been turned into a game during the summer of 1973 by a group of bored first years, and though it was abhorred by Filch and frowned upon by the heads of houses, no one had really said anything about it. Try to see how close you can get to the trunk before the branches took a swipe at you. Remus certainly had no inclination to play. He hated that tree.
As it was, Remus wasn't even there when it happened. It was the day after a full moon, and he was in the hospital wing, as per usual. Peter was sitting on the floor, sorting through his chocolate frog cards, murmuring to himself happily. James was marking Sirius's divination homework, and Sirius was covertly flicking his wand at James behind his back, turning his hair different colours for Remus's amusement. Blue, pink, green, yellow - it was working too; Remus found it hysterically funny, because James looked so serious, and when he was concentrating his tongue poked out between his teeth like a cat.
It was a perfectly pleasant afternoon, and Remus could almost ignore how much his bones and teeth hurt as they settled back into place for another cycle.
But then it happened. The hospital door slammed open, and a student came in shrieking;
"Madam Pomfrey! Madam Pomfrey! Help!"
Nosey as they were, Sirius and James jumped down from the bed to peer around the pale green curtains. Remus sighed, leaning back on his pillow. He was accustomed now to the ebb and flow of the hospital wing; raised voices like that usually meant a spell gone wrong. He tried to ignore it - he resented anything that reminded him he was in a hospital, and not just enjoying a lazy afternoon with his friends.
But James and Sirius remained out of view, watching whatever the scene was unfold, and when they turned back towards the bed their faces were pale and serious. The commotion had grown louder, Remus was dimly aware of someone crying.
"What is it?" He asked, more irritably than he meant to.
Sirius's mouth twisted and James shook his head, mutely, pushing his glasses up his nose. Peter finally looked up from his cards,
