the cadence of part time poets

Chapter 62: Loyalty

And these children that you spit on,
As they try to change their worlds;
Their immune to your consultations,
They're quite aware of what they're going through;
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

- "Changes" David Bowie, 1971

Sunday 29th May 1977

Remus could tell his friends felt guilty after the incident with Barty. Even after he'd forgiven them, they still insisted on catering to him as though he were some wilted daisy. It was frustrating, but Remus didn't dare snap at them again. Not after what Sirius had said about his scars... And in the days that followed, Barty and the other boys stayed clear, which quickly became the sliver-lining of the whole thing. That, and the undeniable wake-up call that it'd given him. With everything finally out in the open, Remus was forced to reevaluate the way he'd been treating his mother when it came to his other relationships. He realised that not only had she become a skeleton in his closet, but a roadblock when it came to trusting his friends. They believed the rumour because he'd given them absolutely no reason not to, and it left him feeling ill. These were the people he trusted the most, and if he couldn't be honest with them, then who could he be honest with?

Marlene threw a legendary fit when she found out the truth, spending several hours begging Remus to forgive her for all the things she'd thought and—even worse—told her family. He forgave her on the first apology, but she cried until her voice turned hoarse anyway. In the end he was able to distract her with talk of her most recent read, some science fiction novel she'd devoured in less than a day. He was getting good at distractions these days, it seemed.

The boys, on the other hand, opted for a more stoic approach. Remus knew without asking that they wouldn't just accept his forgiveness and move on. Something needed to be proven—their loyalty, their support, their hatred for any and all things Barty. He let them only because it meant pranks—less time spent 'coddling Moony' and more time hiding out in their dorm room, pitching ideas back and forth while music played in the background. Remus had to admit, the plans they laid were some of their best yet; a whole week of exams interlaced with merciless pranks on not just Barty, but his roommates as well, who Sirius had generously declared guilty by association. It might've just been his way of punishing Regulus, who it turned out he'd had a nasty row with over Easter, but the pranks were harmless enough, so no one said anything.

No one except Lily of course.

"You guys are insane," she huffed, after arriving at their dorm to collect the maths notes she'd leant Peter.

"Not insane—sensible," Sirius told her, while draped out over James' bed like a cat. "These things have to be nipped in the arse quickly. Can't let Barty think he got away with messing with Moony with only a small bruise to show for it, can we?"

"There is no way you have this much time to mess around while studying. You're going to fail everything at this rate."

"Au contraire, Evans, it's only lower sixth. Which means just a few AS-levels lay between us and sweet, sweet payback." 

Lily pointed at him viciously. "AS-levels are important! Some of these tests help decide what uni's you can apply for next year! They're meant to set up your entire future!"

"Only if you dream of intellectual labour—which I do not."

"Well, what about you?" She demanded of James. "You've only just gotten back on the football team, I thought you were spending every waking moment whipping those guys into shape?"

"I am," James said, from his place next to Sirius, the same cheeky look on his face, "we planned this stuff instead of sleeping."

"And you?! I thought you didn't want to retaliate." Lily whirled on Remus, who had his back leaned up against the side of Sirius' bed.