Imperative (A Marauder's Era Fanfiction)

Reconciliation and Peter

A/N - This is still in their 1st year

"Madeleine." The familiar tone held a cold demeanour as his eyes scanned lazily at the robes draped lazily over her shoulders. "Remus." She replied, hugging her books so tightly into her chest that she swore they would stop her breathing. There was an awkward silence surrounding the four of them as Madeleine waited for a response from her brother. 

She looked quickly out of the corner of her eyes towards James in the hope that he might provide her some support. Instead he was now slung over the bench, apple held lazily between his hand and mouth. 

She sighed impatiently. "Remus please." Madeleine whispered hastily while casting quick glances around her at the confused looking Gryffindors. "Let me just talk to you." She pleaded, nodding her head in the direction of the large entrance doors. 

Remus' cheeks became flushed with a light pink as he hid his face beneath his hand and muttered something incomprehensible under his breath. 

"Please." She tried to beg one more time. 

"Go on mate." Sirius nudged him with his elbow, nodding his head in the direction of Madeleine. 

Remus sighed deeply before swinging his legs off the wooden bench and standing up to face her, shrugging his shoulders in confusion as he asked, "So?" 

Madeleine nodded hastily, surprised by his consent, "Um yes. Follow me." Together they trudged down the corridor and out the large wooden door, headed towards the grounds. It was a sunny day, so much so that it may have passed for summer. That is if there wasn't such a chill to the air. The tip of Madeleine's nose and her cheeks were immediately tinged pink from the icy air. The lake looked positively frozen although the small waves were still moving. 

"So you wanted to talk?" The silence was broken by Remus as he collapsed onto the grass, robes pooled around him like a puddle. 

"Yes." She replied, quickly following suit as she lowered herself gently onto the ground. "Where to start." She laughed anxiously while pulling out small green tufts, the green blades falling effortlessly through her hands. 

"I don't hate you." He avoided her gaze, instead focussing on his shoelace as he twirled it in between his fingers. 

"But-" Madeleine was stumped and lost for words, unable to understand where her brother was coming from. "Then why have you been avoiding me! And don't think I miss those subtle glances from across the classroom, they are always filled with hate." She spat, noticing Remus' eyes widen in shock at her words. "We used to be so close Remus. All those full moons... I cared for you every time!" He voice was no longer rising but instead becoming quieter and more pained as a tear threatened to fall down her cheek. "I didn't think house prejudices and friends would change you Remus. But I guess I was wrong." 

Remus now looked more guilty than anything and his shoulders were slumped downwards in defeat. Her words hung in the cold air awkwardly, only pierced by a small mumble from Remus. "I was scared Madel." He admitted quietly, finally looking her in the eyes. "It was always me and you, I was scared what would happen once I came here. I never thought i'd even get in to Hogwarts so when I finally made it and people actually... liked me... it completely shocked me. I thought you hated me, I thought you had moved on to the Slytherin bunch and it made me terrified. I'm scared to be alone." 

A silence again. Madeleine's mind swum from the confession before she thought of her response. "Me too Remus."

 He smiled at her for the first time in a long while and she responded whole heartedly, launching herself into his arms. "I always knew you weren't smart enough to be a Ravenclaw anyway." She teased, squealing as he ruffled her hair.

"Well well, whats this?" Madeleine rolled her eyes as she knew that no one, not even James Potter, could spoil how she felt right now. "Lupin finally got a girl?" He teased although Madeleine could see that he was smiling a genuine smile, an unusual action coming from him. 

"Shut up James." Remus' cheeks went bright red although he didn't try to hide it. 

"Now we are left with a problem." James' friend spoke as he appeared from behind James with his arms crossed over his chest. "Which one are we going to call Lupin?"

--

"You should have seen her face." Sirius howled as he recalled a prank he had played on some poor Hufflepuff only an hour prior. "She looked like she had seen a ghost." 

James howled with laughter and clutched his stomach as tears streamed down his cheeks. "Sirius mate that's brilliant!" Madeleine chuckled slightly but couldn't help but feel slightly empathetic towards the poor girl. She had been laughed at by James and Sirius once too. 

"I say you're next Mellie." James winked towards her, "It's almost like an initiation isn't it. Who is going to be your victim?" Madeleine pushed James' shoulder lightly and laughed lightly.

"If you're not careful Potter it could be you." 

James faked shock as he held his hand to his heart, "Me? Why Mellie I would have never thought you could be so cruel!" Madeleine opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by a pig-like squeal from behind them. 

"What the-" Sirius cursed, spinning around to face the commotion. 

There stood a small tubby boy surrounded but what appeared to be a wall of cloaked figures. He was calling out in distress as he cowered to the ground, hands plastered over his small ears as to block out the harsh taunts of the students surrounding him. 

"Madeleine-" Remus called, reaching out to pull her back as she hauled herself off the ground and towards the scene. 

"What are you doing?" She yelled, stalking over to face the large group. The silver haired boy at the font, the leader Madeleine assumed, turned to face her with a look of confusion on his face. 

"Who might you be?" His voice sent chills down Madeleine's spine. His eyes drifted down to her robes and the large Slytherin logo emblazoned upon them. "Ah, the Lupin girl." It was a statement rather than a question. 

"Yes." Madeleine huffed impatiently. "Now can you please let the boy go." She motioned to the small Gryffindor boy who by now had risen to his feet, chest heaving from fright. 

"Why?" The Slytherin leader asked simply, his cronies beginning to form a circle around Madeleine now. 

She gulped frantically, looking around for an exit. She was scanning the crowd when she noticed something that made her do a double take. His greasy hair was still the same as the day they had first met although now he was dressed in Slytherin robes. He stood to the left of the leader, looking slightly uncomfortable as he bounced on his feet. "You..." She whispered in shock. All heads turned towards him and he began to back away slowly, eyes darting around the crowd. 

"You know this girl Snape?" The student to his right asked, an air of annoyance in his voice. Snape shook his head frantically, arms raised in surrender. 

"Oi Malfoy." Madeleine sighed in relief at the appearance of her group of friends. The crowd parted to make way for the confident bunch of Gryffindors, some muttering under their breath. "Just let it go." Sirius edged forward, a smirk playing on his lips. "wouldn't want any of your inbred cousins hurting the poor lady here now would we?" James fake pouted. 

Madeleine was surprised at his confidence in the face of the large group, his smirk did not falter as the group began to disperse, some throwing curse words and insults in the direction of the Gryffindors. 

"Thanks. I was doing fine on my own though." Madeleine reassured as she dismissed his help, turning to face the cowering boy she was originally intending to save. "Whats your name?" She asked kindly as she helped him to his feet. 

"Peter." He stuttered. "Peter Pettigrew." 

A/N - Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Sorry its been so long since I last updated. As usual ... a disclaimer that I don't own the Harry Potter Universe and please comment and rate if you would like to read more x