I'll Be Your Soldier

I'll Be There For You

Remus's POV
Friday night was a nightmare. Of course the Prewett twins decide to throw a party in the common room to celebrate surviving the first week of school, which meant it would be impossible for anyone to sleep because of the noise. I almost asked Dorcas to sneak me into Hufflepuff common room when I heard about the party. I didn't though, she would have gotten the wrong idea and either Padfoot or Wormtail would have been crushed, depending on who has the crush. I found Lily at the party and we decided to pass the time playing Wizard Chess. Apparently the only reason she was here instead of studying was because of Em and Marls. She was forced as well.
"I can't believe Potter forced you to go to a party the night before the moon." Lily stated.
"Well, it was more Padfoot than Prongs, but it's fine. It's not like I would be sleeping or anything if I wasn't here." I replied.
"Why do you hang out with them, Remus? You deserve so much better than those two gits. I mean, you and Peter and Frank could all do so much better than Potter and Black."
"Padfoot and Prongs aren't as bad as they appear to be. They're the best friends I could ever have. I mean, I'm a monster and even at such a young age they accepted me and still do. It's very honorable of them."
"You are not a monster, Remus. Don't listen to Houlihan or any other person who speaks lowly of what you are. They don't know anything."
"Lily, forgive me, but while we're on the topic of questionable friends, can we talk about Snape?"
"Remus, Sev has been my best friend since I was a little girl. I expected more from you."
"I don't hate him, Lily, but it's becoming harder and harder to ignore the fact that he hangs out with Lucius Malfoy and his goons."
"Says the guy who is friends with the people who bully him."
"We don't bully him. We don't treat him right, but he is not a victim. He fights back, Lily. Maybe at the beginning he was a victim, but now he's been using spells on us that even I have never heard of."
"I don't want to talk about this, Remus. Not once has he said something bad to me or about me and I'm a Muggleborn, which are who Death Eaters hate the most. Meanwhile, your friends go out of their way to antagonize him. Potter and Black hex him, Peter cheers them on, and you and Frank just stand there and don't do anything. Look, we all do things we aren't particularly proud of, but does that mean that we're all bad people? No."
"The difference is that Severus Snape is hanging out with people who have done everything except gotten a Dark Mark to show their allegiance to You-Know-Who. Padfoot and Prongs, in the end, have principles."
"A bully with principles?! That makes everything so much better!!" I sighed, but stopped arguing. It's no use. The only way Lily will see that Snape has changed for the worse will be when he turns on her. There's nothing I can do about it without losing her friendship as well. She beat me at Wizard Chess and stalked off afterwards. I turned around to face the fireplace and sat with my back against the couch. I am exhausted. All I want to do is sleep. Yet, I can't, because of this stupid party. I hate parties. Especially loud ones. I haven't seen Prongs or Padfoot since the beginning of the party, but it's safe to say that they're either hammered or snogging a girl somewhere. Either way, they're being extremely irresponsible. Idiots.
"Hey Remus." Mary said as she sat beside me, holding two Butterbeers in her hands. She gave me one and I smiled in thanks.
"Hi Mary, enjoying the party?" I asked.
"Yeah, I was dancing with Em and Marlene, but both of them are kinda tipsy and they started to get really handsy with the guys around us and I felt really uncomfortable, so I left. Now that I'm saying it out loud, I really think I should go back and monitor them."
"You just gotta let them go, that's what I've decided to do with Padfoot and Prongs this year. Last year I tried to look out for them, but they'd always end up double teaming me and I just have no patience for that anymore."
"How is it that we're the designated drivers and we don't even have to drive?"
"I don't know what that means."
"It's a Muggle term for someone who doesn't drink at parties so they can get their drunk friends home safely."
"Ah, I totally agree. What about Lily? I bet she'd love to take over for you if you want."
"Nah, believe it or not, Lily can really drink. It's only, like, once or twice a year, but whenever she's angry or annoyed she just downs shots of Firewhiskey. She's very laid back when drunk and can't hold her alcohol at all, so normally she's the one I have to track down."
"I would have thought Em would have been the one who couldn't hold her alcohol. She's very tiny."
"Remus, have you met Em? She's a major party girl, she's practically built up an immunity." We heard a shout and jumped up, turning around to see Padfoot cheering someone on.
"Yeah Prongsie!! You go!!" He slurred. Mary and I shared a look and rushed over to whatever was happening. I walked past Padfoot, who was stumbling over to the couch, to see Prongs pushing a girl up against a wall, making out with her. I grimaced and it took both Mary and I to pull him off her. You could imagine our shock when we saw the girl Prongs had been snogging had fiery red hair and was wearing a Prefect badge.
"You see, I told you she couldn't hold her alcohol." Mary stated between fits of laughter. I recovered from my shock and started to chuckle as Prongs moved to snog Lily again. Lily looked quite relaxed.
"What the hell, you guys?" Prongs exclaimed as Mary and I continued to hold him back. Frank and Alice had joined the small crowd gaping at the two and Frank took Mary's place as she walked over to Lily.
"Okayyyy Miss Evans, I think you have had enough for one day. Time to go to bed." Mary said and led the stumbling Lily to the girls' dorms. Frank, Alice, and I all turned to Prongs who hasn't stopped smiling like a kid in a candy shop since we pulled him off Lily.
"How in the world did you manage that, James?" Alice asked.
"What do you mean?" Prongs asked.
"I think she means that there is no way Lily would have kissed you soberly, so how did this happen?" Frank explained and Prongs giggled. Giggled.
"Well, she was talking to Wormtail and I got jealous so I took her by the wrist and dragged her away and started snogging her against the wall."
"Prongs, you didn't?!" I groaned.
"I so did, Moony." Frank and I finally let him go and he went to go join Padfoot at the couches where it seems we all have congregated. Frank, Alice, and I followed to find Mary, Em, Marls, and Wormtail there as well. I took my seat directly in front of the fire and turned around so the flames could warm my back.
"MOONY!! I'm so glad you're here!!" Padfoot exclaimed from his seat on the couch beside Em.
"Why?" I asked.
"We're gonna play Never Have I Ever. You have to take a sip from your cup if you did it, most sober person wins. You can be the scorekeeper since you're sober." I nodded and conjured a quill and parchment. I scribbled down the names of everyone playing and the started, Mary first.
"Never have I ever kissed someone on the first date." Mary stated. I guess she decided she would drink after all. Everyone took a sip except Frank and Wormtail.
"That's sweet." Alice cooed, she's very affectionate after a few drinks.
"My turn. Never have I ever skipped class." Frank said. Mary and Alice both didn't take a sip.
"Never have I ever fancied Marls." Prongs said and I looked at Padfoot and Wormtail, waiting to see who would take a sip. Frank, Em, and Wormtail all took a sip.
"Marls is totally my girl crush." Em slurred and everyone looked at either Wormtail or Frank for some sort of explanation.
"Rad." Marls said.
"I liked her in Third Year for a few weeks. That was before I got to know Alice." Frank said and Alice blushed. I turned to Wormtail.
"I liked her in First Year since she was one of the only girls who talked to me and she was always hanging out with us and I thought she was cool. I fancy someone else now." I knew Padfoot could never like Dorcas. Dorcas is too nice, Padfoot likes feisty girls, like Marls. Of course Padfoot would lie during a drinking game when the only people who will probably remember this tomorrow are me or Mary or Frank. Typical. I dared a glance at Padfoot who was shooting daggers at his cup.
"Never have I ever kissed a person I wasn't related to." Wormtail said, blushing as everyone took a sip besides Frank.
"Really, Longbottom? I'm shocked. Didn't you date that Ravenclaw?" Padfoot asked.
"Yes." Frank answered.
"And you didn't snog her? Not once?"
"No, I just never found the right moment."
"No wonder you two broke up. My turn. Never have I ever been in a serious relationship."
"Define serious." Marls ordered.
"Called the other person my boyfriend or girlfriend." Em, Marls, Frank, and Alice all took a sip.
"Really, McKinnon? I'm disappointed in you. I thought you were like me and Prongsie over here."
"Sorry Black, but I had a boyfriend over the summer."
"Never have I ever hit on someone while on a date." Alice interjected excitedly. Prongs, Padfoot, Em, and Marls took a sip.
"Never have I ever lost someone close to me." Em said. Prongs, Marls, and Mary took a sip.
"Dad, when I was 10." Prongs said.
"James's dad, he was practically my second dad." Marls stated.
"My grandma and I were very close and she died a few years ago." Mary said. The game continued for several more rounds, I pulling Prongs and Padfoot out once they were getting dangerously drunk, and Wormtail won. After that, Wormtail and Frank assisted me in dragging the two boys up the stairs. The moment Prongs and Padfoot were on their beds they were out. Frank and Wormtail turned in as well, but Marls seemed to think she was still gonna party so I returned to the party. Mary, Alice, and Em had gone up at the same time as me, but when I returned Marls was gone as well. I looked around for someone I knew and finally stumbled upon Fabian Prewett.
"Hey, Fabian, do you know where Marls is?" I asked.
"Yeah, Gideon took her to our dorm room since she passed out right after you left and he can't get into the girls' dorm. Don't worry, she's in good hands." Fabian explained. I nodded and returned to my own dorm where I was so tired that I don't even remember falling asleep, but I did.
Marlene's POV
I woke up in a stranger's bed and instantly groaned from the hangover. After collecting my bearings, I quickly checked to see if I was wearing clothes, which I was, thank goodness. I looked around and saw Fabian passed out on the bed beside me and Gideon laying on a cot he must have conjured. I felt a blush creep up my face as I realized I was sleeping in my ex's bed. He must have saw me unconscious last night and brought me up here. That is so sweet and so mortifying at the same time, that I immediately scrambled out of the bed and ran out the door, grabbing my shoes on the way. As I left the room and quietly went down the stairs, I ran into James who looked 100 times worse than me.
"Marls? What are you doing in the boys' dorms?" James asked, running a hand through his hair in an attempt to flatten it after his shower.
"I must have passed out or something and Gideon took me up to his dorm." I answered.
"You didn't..."
"No, I was dressed when I woke up."
"Good. Um, Marls, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Last night, I snogged someone. I think it was Evans, but I can't completely remember. Do you?" I thought back to last night, which is hazy, but then some of it came back. I had been talking to Em and we were getting some Firewhiskey when James stormed over to Lily and Peter. James grabbed Lily's wrist and in one swift movement had her pinned up against the wall, snogging. I burst out laughing.
"James, she's gonna kill you."
"That's what I was afraid of." I patted him on the back and we separated to our own dorms. When I entered my dorm I was bombarded with 1,001 questions. Alice was first.
"Where were you? I was so worried!!" She exclaimed and I winced at the volume of her voice.
"Quiet. I was sleeping in the Seventh Year boys' dorm, completely clothed. I assume Gideon took me there when I passed out or something since it was his bed I was sleeping in." I explained.
"Aww, that's so sweet. Are you getting back together?" Mary asked.
"No, I didn't even talk to him. I left while everyone was still asleep."
"Of course you did. I'm gonna go barf." Alice said and ran off. Em entered at the same time.
"Did you? No!!" We asked each other at the same time.
"I was barfing. Did I completely freak you out last night by saying you're my girl crush?" Em asked, seemingly worried.
"No, I'm hot, I'd be offended if you didn't find me attractive." I replied.
"Good, because I do know you're straight and I-"
"Em, it's okay." She nodded and ran to get changed. I turned to Lily who has been oddly quiet, staring at the wall in front of her. I walked over to her and sat beside her on her bed.
"Marls, the worst thing happened to me last night." She muttered.
"I know, but it could be worse." I replied.
"How could it be worse?"
"James isn't a complete arse."
"To you, maybe. He's never gonna let me live this one down."
"I actually already spoke to him. He seemed to be afraid of what your reaction would be."
"He damn right should be. He had absolutely no right to snog me, Marls. I have told him time and time again that I don't like him and the moment I'm drunk-"
"Lils, I love you, but if you continue insinuating that James would have taken complete advantage of you had Remus and Mary not come by, I will hex you."
"I know, it wasn't just him, it was me. I should not have been drinking and I didn't stop him either. Even Potter is decent enough to not take full advantage, but I won't let him know I think that. He is not getting off that easy."
"Okay, but can you not chew him out today? It's a moon and Remus doesn't need the extra stress."
"Yeah, I know. Come on, change, I want to eat."
"How can you even be thinking about food right now?" Em asked as she trudged out from behind her curtain. I rubbed my temples as I stood up and went to my own stuff.
"I don't know, but I woke up early today and puked up everything I have eaten since I got here, so I think it would be best if I got some nutrients in me." I've been surprisingly good when it comes to vomit this morning, nothing yet. I do have a splitting headache though. I followed Mary and Lily down to breakfast, Alice still throwing up and Em too hungover to eat. James looked up when we arrived.
"I am so pissed off right now, Potter, but we will have words tomorrow when Remus is better." Lily whispered and James shook his head. I sat next to him and Lily next to me as Mary sat beside Remus across the table.
James's POV
It was incredibly stupid of Padfoot, Wormtail, and I to think we could all get drunk the night before a full moon. Padfoot is so hungover that he hasn't been able to leave the bathroom all morning. Wormtail isn't too bad, but I am completely shot. As the group began to disperse after breakfast, Marls grabbed me and Wormtail and walked way out of earshot of everyone else.
"Are you two and Black okay to transform tonight?" She whispered. Outside of the Marauders and Frank, Marls is the only one who knows about us being Animagi. Lily only figured out Moony was a werewolf, not about us being illegal Animagi.
"I am." Wormtail said.
"I should be fine, and if Padfoot should stop barfing he should be good too." I mentioned.
"Are you sure? I think Remus would understand if you said you couldn't do it tonight." Marls said.
"I'm sure he would, but we don't want to leave him alone. Marls, if I didn't think we could do it, then we wouldn't be doing it, okay? Trust me."
"If you say so. I'll watch for you guys, in case you need backup."
"Marls, don't do anything stupid or dangerous."
"I won't, I can cast spells from inside the castle." I nodded and spent the rest of the day sleeping and treating my hangover. Headmaster Dumbledore took Moony away when it was time and all four of us wished him luck. Once it was time, Frank cast some Charms on us to help with the hangover and wished us luck. The three of us maneuvered around the castle undetected and eventually reached our normal place.
"Good luck." I said to Wormtail as he transformed. I looked to Padfoot who still looked extremely hungover, even with the Charms.
"What if he gets on the grounds today? Prongs, I really don't think I can go all night this time. I feel horrible, and not just because of the hangover." Padfoot whispered.
"I know. I have some backup in the tower, worse comes to worst."
"Who?"
"Marls. I didn't ask her so much as she told me." He nodded and we transformed. Here goes nothing.
Lily's POV
I hated having to leave Marlene and the other girls to go on patrol, but I was covering for Remus so I had to. The last thing I saw as I left was Marlene staring out the window and Em refereeing a Wizard Chess match between Alice and Mary, completely oblivious to what was going on with one of their best friends. As I lit my wand and wandered the hallways, I thought about the guys. Frank had been down earlier, but said that he and the other guys were gonna hangout in their dorm, and that they all wanted to be alone. I think it's kinda sweet how worried they all are. I think it would be easier for them to get their minds off of it, but that's their choice. It was eerily quiet tonight, as if everyone knew a full moon was something to beware. Or it could be the fact that most of the people roaming after hours are normally older Gryffindors and most older Gryffindors are nursing hangovers this evening instead of wandering. I was about to head back when I was tapped on the shoulder. I spun around, wand at the ready, and saw it was only Severus.
"Severus, you're suppose to be in your common room." I reminded.
"I know, but I had to talk to you about something and this was the only way I could reach you without running into Black and Potter. I know a Slytherin Prefect and he told me that you had switched with Remus Lupin tonight, so I decided to find you." Severus explained.
"Oh, okay, what do you want to talk about?"
"There have been some rumors floating around about that party you Gryffindors had last night and the events that happened. One of the more popular ones is about you and James Potter snogging. Is that true?" I groaned and felt my migraine coming back.
"Yes, Sev, I was so drunk and so was he and-"
"I'll kill him. That insufferable idiot has gone way too far this time."
"Now wait a second, Sev. I agree that Potter's actions last night were not okay, but it wasn't just him. The two of us were both drunk and it wasn't like I was kicking and screaming in protest or anything."
"Are you mad? That swine had no right to attack you like that. You don't even like him. I'll take care of it, Lily. I promise you that."
"Sev, wait!!" Severus was already gone. That was a bit of an overreaction. I see where he is coming from though, he's protective over me. I'm his best friend and Potter isn't his favorite person, nor is he mine. After finishing patrol I entered the common room to see Em trying to talk Marlene into leaving her window, Mary and Alice waiting at the bottom steps for them.
"Come on, Marls. It's late. Full moons come, like, once a month. You can see the next one too. It's time for bed." Em begged as Marlene looked right through her to the grounds below us.
"Let me try. You and the others go up." I whispered to Em and she nodded, leaving with Mary and Alice. I turned to Marls and stood beside her at the window.
"You know, you can help Remus just as much by staying awake as by sleeping." I stated and she frowned at me.
"Lils, I have to watch. I can't explain why, but I do. Just let me be." She replied, her focus never breaking.
"You know, if you're so worried, we could go and stay with the boys in their dorm for a while." Her eyes slightly bugged out and she shook her head, finally breaking her gaze.
"No, you're right and so is Em. I should sleep. Let's go, leave the guys be." We went up the stairs and changed into our pajamas. I slid into bed and watched as she gazed out the window right next to her bed. I sighed, I'll take what I can get. I fell asleep, hoping Remus was okay.