Saturday 26th April 1975
“Remus Lupin, put that book down at once!” Madam Pomfrey’s shrill, tired voice echoed across the infirmary floor. Remus dropped the heavy textbook, looking up, startled.
“Can you see through the screen?!” He called back. He had thought he was practically alone.
“No,” she replied, “I just know you too well.” She appeared, stepping around the pale green hospital screens. It was lighter, beyond them – Pomfrey had cast a spell which created a capsule of darkness around Remus’s bed. So that he could get some sleep, she said.
She snatched the book up, now, giving him a stern look. “I had hoped you’d be resting your eyes, not straining them.”
“I can see in the dark,” he shrugged. It was true – no matter how much punishment his body took, his eyes remained perfect, better than perfect, even.
“No excuse.” Madam Pomfrey tutted. “As you’re up, I suppose you’re ready for visitors?”
“Yeah, of course!” He sat up, eagerly, straightening his night shirt.
“Come on, then,” she called to James, Sirius and Peter, who appeared single-file from behind the screen. “Not too much noise, and no books!”
“Why can’t you have books?” James asked, leaning over the end of the bed frame.
“Because it’s Moony,” Sirius said, flinging himself bodily across the small single bed, right over Remus’s legs. “He doesn’t understand moderation.”
“I just want to revise,” Remus sighed, rubbing the back of his head, “I mean, I’m at school, it’s what I’m supposed to do.” He accepted a chocolate frog from Peter, who was handing them out.
“You don’t want to burn out though,” Sirius said, his own mouth full of chocolate, “You’re miles ahead of the rest of the class, and exams aren’t for ages.”
“They’re two weeks away,” James said, nibbling at his own piece of chocolate, surprisingly daintily. “You could do with being a bit better prepared, Black.”
“Oh, I am sorry,” Sirius rolled his blue eyes dramatically, rolling onto his back. Remus winced. “I forgot you’d joined the swot club too.”
“One afternoon in the library does not make me a swot!” James frowned, clearly deeply offended.
“Don’t listen to him, James,” Remus grinned, “I’m proud of you. Thanks for the frogs, Pete.”
“Oh, they’re not from me,” Peter said, settling into the armchair beside the bed, “Dezzie says she hopes you get well soon.”
Remus, Peter and James all turned their heads at once.
“Dezzie.” Sirius said, sitting up. “You mean Desdemona?”
“Er… yeah?” Peter stopped chomping chocolate and started looking nervous. “She asked me why I couldn’t see her today, so I told her I was seeing Moony. What?!” He looked from James to Sirius, “I didn’t say anything about why he was sick, I just said—”
“You idiot!” Sirius jumped down from the bed.
“Sirius!” Remus hissed – if they were too loud Madam Pomfrey would chase them out, “It’s fine. Really.”
“It’s not fine!” Sirius seethed, he was standing over Peter now, “You can’t go telling everyone Remus is in the hospital wing! Not everyone is as slow on the uptake as you! Doesn’t the word ‘secret’ mean anything to you?!”
“You know it does,” Peter said, jutting out his chin, his lower lip trembling, “I’ve kept all sorts of…” he glanced furtively at Remus, then changed tact, “Anyway, Dezzie’s not everyone, she’s my girlfriend.”
