Forever A Marauder

Five: Remus

REMUS

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"Are you alright?" Remus nudged Sirius' arm with his elbow. Sirius' head shot up out of his hands. He looked at Remus without replying, raking his fingers through his hair to push it back from his eyes. His fingers wiggled on his chin rapidly and he sucked in a deep breath. 

"No. No I'm not, mate." He breathed. Peter sat up on James' bed, using one of the posts to aid him. James tilted his head to look at his best friend. 

"What's up, Sirius?" James' soft voice made Sirius squeeze his eyes shut. Remus knew that when James used that tone, he meant business. Sirius shook his head, releasing a short, humorless laugh.

"I don't know what to do. I ran away! I wasn't thinking. I...I don't know." He replied, still shaking his head slowly. James squeezed his shoulder and shook him slightly.

"You're going to live at my house now. My mom adores you and my dad likes you too! We'll take care of ya." James tried a smile. Sirius' mouth twitched, but he didn't smile back. 

"This is probably the biggest decision of my life. I can't go back, not now. My parents probably disowned me by now. Even Regulus knows that's what would happen. That's what he told me," Sirius grumbled. "And Calysta's bloody mother is a Death Eater! She would get along with my family real well." He mocked. 

"Don't worry about her, Sirius. She's well taken care of." Peter added softly. Sirius threw his hands up.

"I can't not worry about her. She doesn't have anyone except her brother and us!"

"We're worried too. It's not everyday you find out your mum is working for the darkest wizard in history. Something could happen with her having a direct connection to them," James shook his head. Remus caught James' eye over Sirius' back and glared at him. "Forget that last part." James corrected, his cheeks burning. 

"It doesn't matter now. We can't protect her when she's away from us. We're the Marauders! We're supposed to take care of each other." Sirius sighed exasperatedly. 

"Remember what she said her dad told her? Her brother's house is protected by Aurors! Her dad must have sent the Ministry a letter about Cal's mum. He must have found out and mailed them using the Ministry's owls. Aurors don't just protect any house unless there is some major problem. And the best Auror escorted her! That doesn't happen to just anyone." Remus pointed out. Sirius blew out a shaky breath from his mouth.

"I know you're right, Moony, but I still can't help but worry. She just got here at the beginning of the year and already she's had this dumped on her!"

"And you've got your family to worry about. They aren't just going to let you simply run away. They might do something." Peter twiddled his thumbs nervously. Sirius scoffed.

"They've wanted me out of that place since I was sorted into Gryffindor." His voice held a hint of sarcasm. James pursed his lips and their chatter was replaced with silence. 

"Let's get some sleep. We go back tomorrow." Peter slunk off James' bed and fell into the chair near James' bed. 

~~~~~

Euphemia brought the four Marauder boys to the train station. Fleamont, James' father, accompanied them as well because he wanted to be there for Sirius if his family were to arrive as well. At James' request, his parents would stay until they found Calysta. 

The final whistle blew from the train's engine room. Within twenty minutes the trolley would roll by their compartment. After that, a student or two would chase after it, not having their money available when it first passed them. It was the same repeated events that Remus had grown accustomed to. Finally the sliding door was opened by a girl, no taller than the chin of the boy she stood next to.