Always // James Potter

Chapter 3

"Bloody hell, someone could've woken me up this morning," Aurora huffed as she moved to sit next to Remus against the oak tree that looked out onto the edge of the Black Lake. She had woken late that morning and had just made it to her first potions class of the year in time. Remus had smiled at her frazzled state and silently handed her a raspberry muffin he had taken from the Great Hall.

"Sorry Rory, but you looked tired and we knew you'd be up before potions," Marlene said, a remorseful look on her face.

"Yeah, yeah, it's fine," she replied waving her hand dismissively. "Just don't do it again I thought old Sluggie was gonna go on about tardiness if I was late again this year. Especially since it's the first day of lessons."

Marlene grinned at her, before raising two fingers in a salute. Grinning back she turned to look at Remus who was now tracing patterns on her thighs with his fingers. Moving her hands to his hair, she gently guided his head into his lap. Knowing that the full moon was the next day, Aurora knew Remus was just holding on, only for the sake of playing a normal wizard to the rest of their friends and Hogwarts.

Of course, the only four people who knew were Aurora, Sirius, James and Peter. Aurora's heart broke a little bit every month when she saw how badly Remus was affected before and after the full moon. Taking on her non-official role of 'mother hen' in second year meant that Aurora was the only person allowed to touch or heal Remus in the days before and after. Anyone else and Moony would stir, unhappy with being looked after. However both Remus and Moony seemed to have a special place in their hearts for Aurora.

Titling down slightly so her face was just in front of Remus' she judged him gently in the back of her head with his knee to get his attention before she spoke.

"Hey love, how you doing?"

Remus didn't open his eyes but slightly tipped his head in acknowledgment before answering. "But tired, nothing I can't deal with though."

Aurora hummed in disagreement before responding back. "Why don't you go back to the dorms and sleep for the rest of the day. We only have double Transfiguration left and I can take notes for you. Minnie will understand anyway."

She looked back down at Remus waiting for his answer as he rolled the options through his head. "I don't wanna be a burden darling, it's okay I'll be fine for the rest of the day and I have to take tomorrow off anyway. I can't ask you to take notes for me both days."

Aurora rolled her eyes before answering back, a definitive tone to her voice. "Rem, I'm not arguing with you on this. Honestly, it's no trouble I'll just duplicate the notes I took for myself. I can even ask Minnie for help, I'm sure she knows a charm for that."

With that, she gently pushed a groaning Remus off her lap before passing him his bag as he stood up. "Thanks love, I owe you a million."

"I'll add it to the 'Debts Remus John Lupin owes me' list," Aurorateased, a cheeky grin falling across her face. More seriously, she added, "I'll come up to the dorm as soon as class finishes to check on you."

Remus responded with a gentle smile before turning and making his way back up to the castle. Looking at her watch, the one James had given her last year for her birthday, she realised that she would be late for transfiguration if they didn't hurry. Grabbing Marlenes' arm and pulling her off the ground they ran up the hill, James, Sirius and Lily not far behind.

Pushing the door open to the boy's dorm, Aurora gently tiptoed in, her spare arm full of transfiguration notes for Remus. She set the stack of papers down on the desk in the corner of the room and quickly glanced over the blank piece of parchment sitting gently in the middle of the desk. Aurora gently picked it up and muttered the words only she and her 4 boys knew. Ink ran over the pages and soon the grounds of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade sat in front of her. A grin crossed her face as she inspected the charm work she and Remus had performed on the parchment.

Sensing another person in the room, Remus' eyes fluttered open and he lifted his head slightly before muttering a quiet "Hey you." Aurora turned at the sound and smiled gently at the sight of Remus sprawled across his bed, feet hanging off the ends. Making her way over to the bed she kicked off her shoes and pulled back the covers before moving to settle in next to Remus.

Looking over Aurora, Remus frowned, lines forming on his forehead. Noticing this Aurora questioned him, voice laced with concern. "What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

Shaking his head, Remus responded "You haven't changed," his statement sounding more like a question.

Looking down at her school clothes, Aurora shrugged before responding "Oh, I forgot to go back to my dorm first." Seeing Remus' frown deepen at this Aurora quickly spoke again. "It's fine Rem I'll just borrow some of James' clothes."

Turning away, Remus questioned Aurora about her day whilst she pulled a pair of James' boxers on and pulled his spare quidditch jersey over her head. Snuggling into Remus' side, Aurora's body relaxed into Remus' body instantly, his hand moving up to stroke her head gently. Looking down at his Rory, Remus smiled at her all too familiar brown eyes.

"Hey, Rory?"

Without moving, she responded, her hand now making gentle patterns across the doona that lay over her legs. "Yeah Rem?"

"What's up with you and James?" Being the type of friend he was, Remus knew exactly what was happening and his heart ached for his best friend. He had noticed every time Aurora blushed at a joke or comment made by James, or the way she stuttered when he called her beautiful. He also hadn't missed the way James' attention had been on another girl since day one, missing the girl right in front of him.

Caught by surprise by his direct question, Aurora sat up quickly, her fingers playing nervously with the edge of the doona. Feeling her eyes morphing to grey, Aurora cursed her morphmagus ability for giving herself away so easily.

"I don't know what you're talking about Remus."

Sighing, Remus crossed his arms before speaking again. "Rory, I'm your best friend am I not?" At her nod, he continued, "I'm not stupid I see the way you look at him and have since second year. I know you don't like to talk about your feelings but I don't want you to get hurt darling. We both know how oblivious James is and I'm just worried he'll end up hurting you by accident."

Huffing, Aurora lay back down, burrowing her head into the nook of Remus's shoulder. "I know Rem I just don't wanna talk about it ok."

Looking down at the girl next to him, Remus responded in a gentle tone "Okay Rory, I'll be here if you ever want to talk about it. You should sleep, we'll both have a late-night tomorrow"

Nodding in acknowledgement, Aurora closed her eyes, breathing on the comforting scents of parchment, wood and chocolate. Reaching for his wand, Remus flicked it, closing the curtains around them before closing his eyes.

"Oi Moons were heading down to breakfast. Want us to get the house elves to bring something up for you?

Rolling over out of Remus' grip, Aurora swings her legs off the bed before pulling open the curtains and stepping out into the bright light of the room. "Hey boys."

At the sound of her voice, the three boys caught sight of the girl and James stopped for a moment, his breath caught in his throat. Standing in front of him was his best friend wearing nothing but his quidditch jersey and boxers. Her tanned legs stood out, the smooth skin shining in the morning light. Realising he had been staring, he shook his head, reminding himself of Lily, the girl he had always wanted to be with.

"I'll see you boys in transfiguration and potions but I probably won't be around this afternoon. I'm gonna go see Poppy and make sure we have everything for tonight. I'll come back to the dorm at 8 after dinner okay?"

Looping an arm over Aurora, Sirius grinned down at the girl he called his sister. "Of course princess. If you're not at dinner I'll grab you something from the kitchens on the way back."

Sending a grateful smile Sirius' way, she headed out the door, picking her crinkled uniform off the floor on the way out.

That night, the moon rose, welcoming the creatures of the night. Beneath it's glow, a rat, a dog, a stag, a fox and a werewolf ran, playing and nipping at each other as the night wore on.