the case of dawna flynn - r.j lupin

two

After his introduction after the sorting as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus wondered the corridors aimlessly while everyone remained at dinner. He decided before his lessons started after the weekend he should use the time he had now to get used to the corridors again. Not in the way of trying to remember his way around, he was going to be fine with that, but him and his friends spent seven years a this school and walked these hallways what felt like hundreds of thousands of times and he'd rather get upset in an empty hallway then in one full of students he was expected to be teaching in two days. It wouldn't be great first impression.

Remus trailed, remembering a handful of pranks he and his friends would pull on unsuspecting victims, the time Sirius had been asked out by a girl in a few years younger then him and he had to deal with her wailing cries after it. Peter, James and himself had all walked away feeling pity for the girl but also they were stuck in fits of laughter at how awkward Sirius would be handling the situation and even when he passed the corridor where Lily Evans first said yes to James Potter for a date, he was handling it fine. It was when he turned the corner towards the Gryffindor tower that he felt his chest get tighter and he put his hand on the wall for support when a wave of nausea fell over him, and the other arm hung looselt at his side as he peered up the stairs towards the painting. He could see the scene play out before him as if it was actually happening then and not almost twenty years ago and Remus Lupin wanted to cry.

xXX

It was the Mauraders 3rd year at hogwarts and surprisingly they hadn't yet been to the restricted section of the library and Sirius finally decided it was time to see what all the fuss was about behind the doors.

"Moony come on." James whined as a young Remus was clutching onto the corner of the portrait for dear life.

"James no. Don't. Let me go." The werwolf pressed and James had him by the waist and was pulling at him.

"James hurry it up, we're going to be late." A young Sirius spoke in a hushed voice, him and Peter were stood under the invisibility cloak.

It was past curfew and Remus, for the first time in a while, found himself favouring sleep over late night escapades. Plus, it was only 3 days after a full moon, his body still ached.

"I'm trying Pads, why don't you try help me instead of hiding. You too Pete." James spoke through gritted teeth. Neither boy moved

"Just leave me behind," Remus almost yelled and with a deep breath to prepare himself, Remus let go of the paintings frame and him and James went flying past Sirius and Peter and down a flight of stairs, crashing loudly against the bannister.

"Who's there?" They heard the crisp voice of Argus Filch echo through the stairwell and suddenly they were covered by the cloak and all four marauders were sat huddled against the bannister, two crumpled on top of each other and supressing groans of pain. They watched as Filch and his cat who seemed as old as the day he got her plodded past them with his lamp, muttering angry curses about the four boys to himself.

When he was finally gone, James pushed Remus off of him and sat up. Sirius and Peter finally came out from under the cloak and Remus looked at his wrist which had a small cut go from the front of his palm down to the back. 

"Are you both alright?" Peter asked, holding the cloak over on shoulder. James and Remus looked at each other with pained looks and it only took a few seconds before the boys succumbed to fits of laughter, the other two laughed eventually as well as the giggles of the other two were as infectious as usual.

"We're fine, but Moony how did you know Filch was coming? You heard his ages before he even made a sound." James was curious as Remus slowly got up to his feet.

"My keen werewolf sense." He shrugged and he groaned at the pain in his wrist, a small cut dragged from one side to the other and was bleeding slightly, he imagined he must have cut it on the edge of a step. James got up after him and gasped at the pain in his left ankle.

 "I don't think we can go to the library today boys. I twisted my ankle bad." The brunette told his friends with a sad face and was now leant on Peter as a stilt.

"That's unfortunate." The werewolf muttered and glanced at the three boys still at the bottom of the steps when he got to the top. Then James realised.

"You did this on purpose, you didn't hear Filch." James yelled and went to race forward but almost collapsed at the pain in his ankle and Remus roared with laughter. "I'm going to kill you."

"I have no idea what you mean Prongs." was all the tall boy said before slipping into the crack of the open painting with a wink.

XXX

Remus looked down at the scar on his wrist and it was one of the only scars he had that weren't self inflicted by his werewolf self and he had a lot of those.

Remus finally stood up properly and turned around and almost screamed at the sight of Severus Snape impressively staring down at him from the end of his hooked nose, it was impressive because Remus towered over him.

"Severus," He said simply with a nod and stepped to the side to move past him but the man grabbed his arm and Remus shot a glare at him. They stared each other down in silence until Severus released his arm and spoke, voice monotone and dragging.

"I'm watching you Lupin.." Was all he said before he continued walking. Remus watched after him until he turned the corner and he rolled his eyes. He had the feeling Severus believed he had something to do with Sirius Blacks escape, and his suspicions were just corrected. He didn't even bother to try and explain to Severus he had as much hatred for that man as he did but he knew the greasy git wouldn't believe him so he left it and decided maybe walking the corridors wasn't such a good idea.

The tall man wiped at his eyes and gathered himself before trudging back to the teachers quarters.

He had every intention to dive into work to distract himself but once he'd locked the door it was as if all of his energy had been sucked out of him and slipping out of shoes, he climbed under the covers and cried. Alot.

It may have been twelve years but Remus still hurt.