Wednesday 15th December 1976
“Ok, so I probably won’t have time for another one of these until next term,” Remus told his study group, glancing at the nearby grandfather clock. It was almost nine o’clock in the evening. He looked up at their eager faces, and had to look down at his papers again - it was unnerving, commanding that much attention, “But I’m here almost every night anyway, so if you just had some quick questions…”
“Thanks, Lupin,” the group chorused as they began to tidy up and disband.
“Happy Christmas,” he nodded, as they dispersed off to their own corners of the common room, or else to bed.
He fancied an early night himself. It was the last week of term and he’d pretty much completed all of his work, unless his professors were feeling cruel enough to assign more in the last days before Christmas. He yawned, and stretched, leaning back on his chair with his eyes closed.
“Ahem.” Someone still sitting at the table cleared their throat awkwardly. Remus opened his eyes, embarrassed, and swung forward on his chair.
“Oh, sorry – I thought everyone had gone.”
“Sorry,” Christopher replied, clutching a book, “I just wanted to say… Merry Christmas.”
Remus felt an awkward twist of relief and guilt in his midsection. Poor Christopher.
“Thanks – Merry Christmas to you, too. Big plans?”
The younger boy shrugged,
“Just family. You?”
“Staying here.”
“Oh. Not by yourself?”
“Um… Sirius Black is staying too.”
“Of course. I heard about the stuff with his family.”
“Mm.” Remus did not want to talk about Sirius with Christopher at all, but least of all about the Black family. Christopher was pureblood too, and likely knew more than Sirius was comfortable with.
“Well,” Christopher made to stand, “See you in January, I s’pose.”
“Wait!” Remus said, quickly, reaching out but not touching him. Christopher stood up, but looked down on Remus, his eyes hopeful, Remus looked down, “I’m sorry about the way I spoke to you before the summer. I was a right git.”
Christopher did not dispute this. But he smiled,
“That’s all right. I hope it wasn’t something I… did?”
“No!” Remus shook his head, vehemently. He wished Christopher would sit down. “No, I promise, it was just me being a moody tosser. I had some other stuff going on, I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
“Ok. Well... thanks for saying so.”
Remus smiled, feeling a bit better. Christopher bit his lip, then said, “So… do you fancy a visit to Hogsmeade in the new year? The book shop has a January sale on, or we could just get a butterbeer.”
“Sorry, Chris, I can’t.” Remus felt horrible, and he saw Christopher’s face fall.
“Right. You’re probably going with Potter and Black and… what’s his face.”
“Peter. But I’m not – actually, I can’t go to Hogsmeade, I’m banned.”
“Oh. Really?”
“Really,” Remus nodded, earnestly, grateful that he didn’t have to lie.
“Is it to do with why you’re not a prefect anymore?”
“...Yeah.” Ok, that was a lie, but who was it hurting?
