Neither Remus, nor Peter - who had also been in the carriage - said anything to Sirius about Mary’s intel. Peter probably kept quiet because he wasn’t sure how valuable the information was. Remus kept quiet because he was a coward, and if there had to be bad news, he’d prefer that James delivered it.
And sure enough, James appeared to meet them all on the train platform with a very red looking eye, and a rumpled school uniform.
“What happened to you?” Sirius yawned, oblivious.
“Tell you later.” James murmured, before jogging over to join Lily in herding the first years in the right direction.
It was still raining lightly, and growing dark already - Remus was very glad not to be crossing the lake. Still, it was bittersweet, climbing into the horseless carriages one last time with Sirius, Mary and Marlene (Peter had decided to follow the honey and get in with Dorcas and her friends). As they pulled into the castle courtyard Remus looked up at the towering stone and wondered if this would be his final memory of arriving at Hogwarts. Perhaps they would all be back for a reunion party in ten years. That was a pleasant thought, though 1987 seemed completely impossible right then.
Remus tried to pay close attention to the sorting ceremony, the nervous line of tiny first years, the battered old hat, McGonagall’s stern but caring countenance. He tried to imprint every moment in his memory - but it wasn’t easy; there were so many distractions.
First, there was James’s eye, which he still had not explained. Then there was Regulus, who was conspicuously absent. Snape, glowering as always, his eyes never leaving the back of Lily Evans’ head. Christopher, who kept trying to catch Remus’s eye, and Sirius, who was completely unaware of everything else, and simply thrilled to be back at Hogwarts; his true home. Remus was trying to enjoy Sirius’s good mood without looking too much like he was staring. It was a real art.
Just as Dumbledore announced that dinner was served, the doors at the back of the hall flew open. All heads turned to see - except for Remus, who only needed to see the smile die on Sirius’s face to know who it was.
Regulus did not hurry to his seat, as Remus probably would have, embarrassed to draw attention. No, Regulus was a Black through and through, and walked with his usual regal bearing, slowly and with purpose, head held high. There was no evidence that James had done any damage, but Remus thought that Reg was looking even paler than usual, and dark around the eyes as if he had lost a lot of sleep lately. The sixth year Slytherins made a big show of making room for him, as if he was a guest of honour, rather than their school mate. Even Snape’s attention was momentarily diverted, as he leaned across to shake Regulus’s hand.
All of this took up only a few moments, but it left an indelible mark on the Gryffindor seventh years, as they all eyed Sirius warily.
“Mate,” James said, very quietly, “I need to tell you something, later. In private.” He glanced up at Remus and Peter as he said this, so that they knew they were included in this.
Sirius just nodded, and kept his head down for the rest of the meal, only picking at his food. Remus’s heart ached, but there was nothing he could do. His sense of separation was inadvertently exacerbated by Lily and James, who kept squeezing each other’s hands under the table. Remus didn’t know when he and Sirius would next have the chance to be alone.
After dinner it was an almost unbearable wait for Lily and James to finish up with their new duties as Head Boy and Girl. Remus was nodding in his armchair, failing to focus on his Care of Magical Creatures NEWT text, eyelids growing heavier and heavier.
“Psst, Moony,” James woke him, finally, with a gentle shake, “C’mon, we’re all heading up.”
Remus blinked, staring about himself in surprise - the common room was almost empty.
