until the end || wolfstar || marauders

chapter seventeen

Remus ate the food Sirius had brought up, and told him to thank Lily for the chocolate, kissed him goodbye and went back to sleep.

For the remainder of the afternoon, Sirius had to force himself to concentrate on anything, as Remus needed the notes, yet it was always harder to concentrate on things whilst Remus was gone. It had always been like that. From the moment they began classes at Hogwarts, Sirius concentrated best when Remus was beside him. He had always thought it was because he was worried about him, and his transformation that evening, but that didn't add up; in first year, as far as he knew, Remus was visiting his Mother, who was ill. Over time, he realised that he was able to concentrate with Remus' company was because Remus made him calm. He always seemed to live life at full speed, rushing into things and not thinking, but Moony sitting next to him made everything slow down. The classes Sirius chose in 3rd year were the ones Remus chose. The homeworks he got good marks in were the ones that he and Remus had sat down to do together.

None the less, Sirius did his best to pay attention and write down every little thing the teacher said, like Remus always did, in his neatest handwriting.

When the last bell went, Sirius followed the gaggle of students up to Gryffindor tower, meeting James and Peter, who were planning on going down to the quidditch pitch for an hour or so before dark to mentor the first years who wanted to make the team the following year. Sirius would've loved that as a kid. James didn't bother asking Sirius if he wanted to join him; he knew he'd want to be with Remus. 

Sirius went upstairs to find Remus sitting up in bed, still holding a book, but fast asleep. Sirius sat down next to him and he woke up.

"Hi," He croaked, his voice thick and heavy with sleep. He put the book down on the bed next to him.

"Heya. It's 4, so you have about 2 hours. Are you hungry?"

"I'm fine," Remus assured Sirius, curling into his chest and closing his eyes again. 

Sirius put one arm around Remus and picked up the book he had been reading with the other. 'Romeo and Juliet'. Remus opened his eyes again and saw Sirius holding the book.

"It's about two lovers who had families that wouldn't let them be together. They couldn't bear to be apart, so they killed themselves."

"That's a bit like us." Sirius remarked. "Not the ending though," He added as an afterthought.

Remus chuckled and closed his eyes again. 

"I don't think Romeo and Juliet's love story is really something to aspire to."

"I dunno. They seem pretty in love." Sirius opened the book and read aloud, "'Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, for I ne'er saw true beauty till this night,' what a trou du cul prétentieux."

Remus laughed again, "It's Shakespeare, it's all written like that. I think it's beautiful."

Later that evening, Sirius escorted Remus to the hospital wing, before racing up to the dorm, where he met James and Peter. They grabbed the cloak and ran back down the stairs just in time to see Remus and Madam Pomfrey leaving the castle through the giant oak doors. 

Once again, they managed to slip outside, being careful not to slip on the muddy grass as they silently followed the Matron and their friend. It was raining and was very windy, typical Scottish weather for late October, so they had agreed that they would once again not be leaving the shack that night, much to Sirius' disappointment. He longed to chase the wolf around the forest again, running much faster than a rat or a stag could, being alone together and free. 

They waited outside the willow for Madam Pomfrey to escort Remus in, and then leave herself, before entering the tunnel, as to avoid detection, and then Peter transformed, scampered up the tree, and pressed the knot.