Introducing Remus Lupin, a self-hating, half-blood werewolf who hasn't experienced human touch for six years; Sirius Black, a rebellious pureblood who doesn't know how it feels to be loved; Peter Pettigrew, an anxious halfblood with a dark past who...
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Remus checked the blank space underneath his message one last time before turning to climb into his bed. He'd known it would still be blank—he'd been listening out for the sound of a message arriving all evening and hadn't heard anything—but he checked, anyway. Why wasn't Sirius answering him? Was he okay? He must be. Peter would have let them know if he'd had an alarm for him. Surely he can't have been busy all evening. His parents had to let him sleep at some point.
The logical explanation was that Sirius had been lying, and he was too scared to tell him, but Remus desperately didn't want to believe that. Maybe he was just mad at Remus for accusing him. Somehow, that would be preferable. After everything with Lyall, Remus couldn't cope with being lied to. Especially by someone who was supposed to care about him.
Sleep eluded him for what felt like hours as he tossed and turned in his bed, trying in vain to find a comfortable position and keep his thoughts away from Sirius, but he was finally drifting off when he was startled back to full wakefulness by a quiet pop which was quickly followed by a voice he would recognise anywhere, whispering from somewhere within the darkness.
'Moons? You awake?'
'Sirius? What are you doing here?'
Remus asked the question despite being pretty sure he knew the answer, and it made his heart clench painfully in his chest.
'One sec. Peony, I want you to go home and keep an eye on my parents. If either of them goes looking for me, come and get me, okay?'
'Yes, Master Sirius. Peony is being the best spy so Master can talk to his Mister Remus without beings catched.'
There was another quiet pop, followed by footsteps crossing the room to his desk. Then Remus heard the sound of his chair being pulled out.
'I didn't want to tell you in the notebook. Can we turn the light on? Or will your mum notice?'
Remus shook his head automatically, then remembered Sirius couldn't see him. 'You can turn it on. She's in bed. The switch is by the door, on the right.'
More footsteps, followed by a click, and Remus screwed his eyes closed against the bright light while they adjusted. When he opened them again, Sirius was back in the chair, watching him, and his face was... Gods, he was wearing the mask he used when he was scared. The one that hid his emotions from view. Not a good sign.
'What is it?' Remus asked. If Sirius was about to break his heart, he didn't want to drag it out.
'You were right. I was lying. But it wasn't because I thought you couldn't handle the truth. It was because I couldn't handle telling you. I couldn't bear to see you look at me the way you looked at James after Christmas.'
After Christmas? Remus swallowed, lowering his gaze to his hands, which were twisted up in his bedcovers. 'You told someone about me.'
It wasn't a question, but Sirius answered like it was. 'Not yet, and not on purpose. I'll do everything I can not to, but I don't know if I can stop it. Gods, I'm so sorry, Remus. I should have just left you alone. I'm so dangerous to you, but I didn't know. You have to believe that. I didn't know, I swear.'
