road to recovery • wolfstar

0.01

"Remus, you are ok, aren't you? James and I, we're really worried," Lily asked, her voice drenched with concern. She then handed a small beaker of very watered down squash to 2 year old Harry Potter.

Remus wasn't feeling very good lately, and though he told nobody, it was so clear that something was bothering him. He had obtained a severe fear of crossing roads alone and talking on the phone; he had always had these problems, but they never worried him half as much as they were worrying now.

"Uh, y-yeah, I'm fine, why do you ask?" Remus asked, his voice cracking towards the end. He'd barely been speaking to anyone and his voice had weakened drastically. Some would think that speaking to nobody would strengthen your voice, but when you've said one full sentence in 3 weeks, you voice becomes used to not speaking.
"No you're not, that's the first proper sentence I've heard you say in ages." Sirius said, offering a mug of hot chocolate with a dollop of cream and a toasty marshmallow floating on top to Remus. Remus accepted, nodding in thanks, and put his lips to the chipped edge. Sirius Black was his house mate and best friend, along with James, Peter and Lily.

They'd all met in their first year at Hogwarts Boarding School of Talented Students. It sounds prestigious but most of the girls and boys there were rather humble and down to earth.

"I've just been really stuck for ideas with the book, I'm fine, really." Remus assured the lot, James and Lily seemed to fall for it, but Sirius saw right through. He'd ask about it when they got home.

James wiped Harry's juice covered mouth, tutting quietly to himself. Remus watched as the memories of their past came flooding back. The James that tried to do a cartwheel in the dorm room and ended up nearly breaking a wardrobe was nearly unrecognisable from this one. A father, a husband and an all round mature person.... who, still occasionally, loved pranking and being a child. But we'll just push that aside.

"Ya know, I can help you. I'll teach you how write a story of violent passion-" James started, thrusting a hand in front of him and moving it sideways.

The other three people in the room prepared themselves for a speech, excluding, of course, Harry. 2 years ago when Harry was born, Remus cried. It was the happiest he had ever been, even counting the time he got to visit Britain's best university.

"You know that's not what I write." Remus said smally, forcing a smile. Remus felt bad about doing it, but he really couldn't help it. Lots had changed in the five years since they left Hogwarts, some good, some bad, but all challenging.

"Yeah, you made me read! That's bloody fantastic!" admit Sirius, grinning broadly. Something about Sirius' smile changed everything, it made Remus feel calm, sleep came to him lullingly when he was given a lopsided one before bed. It was just so... him. That happens with every best friend though, so Remus decided to not take any notice to it.
"Shit, the pizza! It's still in the damn oven." James sprang up from his seat and started to charge to the kitchen.
"James, language! We have a child here who picks up stuff very easily!" Lily called after him. Sirius barked his treasured laugh, which made Harry clap his hands and giggle. Remus thought about what Harry would be like when he was older, and he hoped he wouldn't be like how James stared out. Arrogant and semi mean. But then the topic slowly shifted to whether Harry would like him or not. What if he found him boring?
"Remmy look sad." Harry pointed out after he jumped up on to the sofa next to Remus. Remus let a smile come to him naturally, then he brushed the side of his cheek.
"Remmy not sad, Remmy's thinking of ideas for his book!" Remus whispered in to his ear, which made Harry's eyes widen.
"Don't tell mummy or daddy. Or uncle Sirius!" Remus added as he saw Harry look in Sirius' direction.
"Why not?" Harry whispered back loudly. Remus saw Lily smile, he knew they were speaking quite loud, but that's what made it so cute.
"It's going to be a surprise. It's our secret. Pinky promise?" Remus held out his pinky and Harry locked it with his own.
"I pwomise."
"You'd be such a good dad Remus, have you found anyone to hook up with?" Lily asked, getting up from her chair to get plates ready. It had always been his dream to be a someone to another person, and maybe becoming a dad would make that come true.
"Dinner is served!" James said, prancing into the room. Sirius got up and ran to the dining room like a hungry dog while Remus just walked there.

The wonderful smell of authentic Italian pizza wafted up Remus' nose, making him exhale lovingly. Pizza was really the only thing James was good at making, but when he did, damn did it taste good!
"Really, James? Vegetables? I'm not eating those!" Sirius stuck his nose up in the air. James put an extra cherry tomato on to Sirius' plate which made him glare.
"Why, you little-"
"Vegetables yummy! You have to eat it. You grow big and strong!" Harry chuckled.
"But uncle Sirius is already big and strong." Sirius folded his arms, acting younger than Harry, and wrinkled up his features. James sat down next to Harry and started to cut up his pizza and assemble his salad in to a smiley face. What a true dad.
"No." Harry furrowed his eyebrows, which made James and Lily laugh. Sirius was always walking around shirtless whenever he could just so he could glorify his 'hot bod'.
"Cheeky little monkey, you." Sirius pinched Harry's cheek across the table.
"Well monkeys eat their food, so come on Harry." James pushed a plate towards Harry, who instantly went to the vegetables.
"James, your kid is broken, it's eating the vegetables and it's actually eating them first." Sirius looked at James in mock uncertainty, this made Lily whack him across the head.
"Our kid just enjoys the good stuff, unlike you, you 50 year old man." Lily smirked while Sirius made a huge, false gasp.
"I'm 21 years young! It's 2018, we're all about that positivity." Sirius placed his hands up for three seconds then tucked in to his food. Remus picked up his knife and fork and started to cut up his food. For some mad reason, his insides seemed to tighten and he could barely stomach anything.

"How ya feeling?" Sirius asked as he shut the front door and turned on the light. He leather jacket was dripping because of the rain lashing out outside, Remus was worse though. His jacket wasn't waterproof so it was soaked through.
"I'm fine." Remus replied. He tried to move his arms to take off his jacket, but they were frozen numb.
"Your a terrible liar, Remus Lupin." Sirius sighed, helping him take off his jacket. Any other person would've thought they were a couple, they were just really, really, really good friends. It's just what close friends do, right? Come on, right?
"I'm just not having a good time recently, it's nothing to fret about." Remus assured, pulling his features in to a smile.
"If you used the word fret then it's definitely something to worry about. We'll see my doctor tomorrow, yeah? Then I won't 'fret'." Remus watched as Sirius climbed the stairs up to his room and for a mad second, he wondered what it would be like to go with him.

ok, so like, this is a proper book. whew, this is going to take some getting used to. i'm only used to writing one shots, so i'm really sorry if this is bad. it may take some time to get on to the actual road trip bit, i don't really know though, i plan on the way. maybe that explains a lot about my past one shots.
see you next millennium.