The cowardly werewolf ~Wolfstar~ Finished

Catch him

James was sat alone in the playground, feeling oddly subdued. Peter had buggered off, so had Remus and his best mate, whom he loved more than life itself, was lying in bed, possibly dead if not horrendously ill. That's where Lily found him, his arms wrapped around his knees, his normal swagger melted away. "Potter? Where are your mates?"

He shrugged stubbornly, not in the mood for their usual banter. Sensing this, Lily sat down beside him, something she'd never normally do, but she felt it was ok today. Tentatively, she stuck her head on his shoulder, her chin in his sticking-out collar bones and he didn't reject or do anything stupid, he just leaned on her in return, his cold cheek against her warm, soft one. "James? What's wrong? You're not being a prat today."

"I guess not," he replied, not quite up to smile at the fact Lily Evans was leaning on his shoulder. "I'm just worried about Sirius, you know. It was a full moon last night, so Remus was up and about and Severus was running into trouble, so Padfoot saved him and got bitten in the process." He sucked in his breath, the icy wind freezing it into a big cloud like a dragon. Lily grew quiet, processing what was going on.

"Poor Remus," she said sadly, huddling unknowingly into James for warmth when he looked down at her in amazement. "What? He ought to be feeling pretty guilty, don't you think?"

"Yeah, but Sirius is sure to feel worse" he mumbled. On one hand, he loved Lily and being this close to her and it being this nice was a dream come true, whereas he hated her to see him in such a vulnerable state.

"I'm sure he'll forgive him. They're close enough friends, don't you think? You'd better not be holding a grudge against him."

"He attacked my best mate Lils. I know it wasn't him, but... I don't know, who is to blame then?"

"No one!" she said, grabbing his hand. "No one is to blame. It was a horrible accident and both of them are going to need a friend." He nodded, and squeezed her hand, leaves fluttering at his feet. He looked up at the trees, distracted, then at the top of Gryffindor tower. At first, he thought it was just Sirius, having a cigarette like he often did. Then he remembered, and looked again, realising it was Remus.

"What's he doing up there?" he said absentmindedly. When Lily looked at him, confused, he pointed to the boy looking down at the floor beneath with a scared expression. 

"Jesus Christ- REMUS!" She called, jumping up and waving her hands to get his attention. James joined her at her side, realising what was going on.

"Oh my God, he wouldn't be able to see us, he's half-blind- REMUS! GET OFF!"  But he wasn't looking. Remus dropped his wand, not noticing it rolling down the stairs, and swung one leg over the waist-height barrier. This wasn't so bad. He swung the other leg over. Now all that was left to do was jump. 

"LILY! GET MCGONAGALL" he shouted, crazily thinking that he could catch him and save his life. Luckily, Lily had a few tricks up her sleeve.

"Arresto Momentum!" she cried, slowing him down so he drifted to the ground, as light as a feather, before running off to fetch McGonagall. James caught hold of his shoulders and then pulled him close, supporting his head like a newborn baby, even though his feet dragged a little on the floor. Remus gasped and wrapped his arms around his friend's neck, sobbing into his friend's shoulder. 

"It's ok Moony" he whispered into the back of his head, letting his feet down so that he was standing and hugging instead of using him as a frame. "It's ok."

"It's not" he choked, leaning away from James for a minute, showing his redraw eyes, bloodshot and painful looking. "It's not ok, is it? I bit Sirius- I bit Sirius, James, he could have died, and instead, he's a werewolf, I did that, I bit someone, when I promised I never would." Lily came back and looked at James over Remus's shoulder, her eyes filled with emotion that he couldn't read. But when he looked down (well, up) at the man who had been reduced to tears, he couldn't help but wonder how he could have thought of blaming him for anything. And besides, Sirius wouldn't have wanted him to be blamed, he'd be comforting him right now if he could. McGonagall came outside, panting from running hysterically.