The Girl Who Cried Wolf || Remus Lupin

CHAPTER SEVEN

'Sis, don't tell me you're replacing me with Moony?' Sirius ambushed Astrid along a corridor one day, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she made her way to the Potion's class they shared. Sirius was, of course, referring to the fact that Remus and Astrid had been seen together more in the past 2 weeks than they had ever been. The two had grown closer ever since they found out they both had the same 'condition.'

The fact that she knew someone else like her was out there helped Astrid slowly come back into herself, becoming more sarcastic and lively like she had been before summer. Remus was also comforted by Astrid, getting used to the small burgundy-haired being close to his side at most times, even if he did find it surprising at first since Astrid usually stuck to Sirius' side.

'Oh, don't tell me you're jealous, bro?' Astrid smirked up to him but started to question herself when Sirius' smirk didn't reach his eyes.

'Just a bit.'

'I'm sorry I haven't been spending as much time with you, Sirius. Remus' presence just gives me comfort, after everything it's actually nice to know there's someone like me.' Astrid reached down and interlaced their fingers, swinging their hands as they continued down the corridor.

'I know you feel comfortable with him but just don't forget about your brother.' Sirius reached up their intertwined hands and kissed her hand platonically, to show her he wasn't mad. It was at that point they made it into the Potion's class where most of the class where already seated, including Remus.

He watched as Astrid pulled Sirius in for a hug, inside he assured himself it was strictly platonic between them as it always had been but he couldn't held a slight feeling of jealousy tugging on his insides. Remus hadn't exactly planned to catch feelings for Astrid but it was particularly hard not to get flustered by her when she was constantly leaning on his shoulder.

'You alright, Moony?' James voice snapped his eyes away from the two, switching to his best friends face who had his eyes now glued to what he had just been staring at.

Remus coughed and turned to look down at his desk, knocking his knuckles off the wood lightly every couple of seconds , 'yeah, 'm fine.'

'Sure you are, Moony. Can't believe you fancy Astrid, though.' Remus coughed again at this comment and looked and James incredulously.

'What are you on about, James? It's Astrid, I've known her for like a million years.'

'Yeah, Moony, we're not that old and you've never spent this much time alone together. Don't tell me you have snogged her already?'

'Merlin, James, no!' Remus shouted almost a little too loudly and everyone turned to face him to which he coughed awkwardly again, waiting for Slughorn to begin teaching them about whatever potion was on the schedule for today.

The class was long and boring with Remus turning every so often to see Astrid laughing at a joke Sirius made or vice-versa. If the day continued like this it was going to be long. 'Merlin, Moony, they're basically brother and sister, they literally call each other brother and sister so stop growling like the jealous werewolf you are and get to work. I'll give you chocolate if you're a good boy.' James' voice interrupted Remus' thoughts again.

'Was I actually growling?'

And since when was James a voice of reason in the world?

'Alright, class. That's it for today but I want a few of you to stay behind for a few moments.' Slughorn announced and those who weren't in the Slug Club immediately groaned and got out of their seats, thankful that it was the end of the day. That left just a few of the class, Astrid, James, Sirius and Remus included.

Poor Peter.

Slughorn announced an annual Slug Club meeting in a few weeks, right before the next full moon actually. Both Remus and Astrid's moods darkened a bit after that but they could be thankful that another day of classes was over.

There was a slight September breeze that day but the temperature was still relatively high for Scotland, leading most of the students to be outside, including the marauders and Astrid. James was feeling much like Remus had been earlier as he watched Lily and Severus sitting under a tree, laughing every so often.

'What does she see in him?' James wondered out loud and the group turned to him.

Remus scoffed, 'they're practically brother and sister, sure, James?'

'Very funny,' James replied in a snarky voice, raising his eyebrows as he saw Astrid sprawled across both Sirius and Remus, her legs across Sirius' lap and her head in Remus', who played with her hair while she hummed softly at the feeling. Sirius had also noticed the scene that they had got themselves into, smirking slightly before beginning to throw daisy's in Astrid's long locks.

James sighed and looked back to Lily and Severus, to find Lily gone and suddenly shoved Sirius in the shoulder who looked at him, annoyed to be disturbed from his peace and asking 'what?'

'Come with me a minute, Sirius, I want to mess with Snivellous.'

'Merlin, you two are still such children,' Astrid butted into their conversation with her eyes closed, still silently appreciating Remus' fingers brushing her scalp.

'I'm coming too,' Peter frantically stood up, not wanting to be left to third wheel the two werewolves who were oddly touchy all the time now.

Severus sat all alone as he suddenly saw a mischievous looking James and Sirius approaching him, followed swiftly by Peter. This filled him with a sense of dread as he got up and drew his wand from his pocket only to have James shout an 'expelliarmus!' ridding Severus of his protection again.

Meanwhile Astrid sat beginning to fidget slightly in Remus' lap. 'You okay?' He asked.

'Yeah, just worried.'

'Why?'

'You know what James is like over Lily, how much he hates Snape and Sirius is enough of a twit to do whatever they are going to do him willingly. Sometimes I don't even think they realise they're bullying him.' Astrid stood up, shaking the daisies from her hair and pulling Remus up beside her before turning to leave their comfortable little spot against a tree by the lake. 'Come on.'

It didn't take the pair long before they were standing in the midst of a crowd cheering as the greasy-haired boy was hanging in the air upside down. 'Who wants me to take off Snivellous' trousers?' James asked to the crowd and they cheered louder.

'Merlin, he really isn't holding back this time,' Remus said under his breath while he watched the scene unfold.

Astrid heard him, 'Remus we need to do something, this is just outright awful! JAMES, BLOODY HELL, GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!'

Lily must have heard the chanting and cheering as she was walking back to Severus as she came running down the hill, also shouting at James to stop what he was doing. 'Potter!'

'I don't need your help, you filthy mud blood!' Severus shouted spitefully and both Astrid and Lily's jaws dropped in shock in the exact same moment. The ginger-haired girls eyes welled up and she whipped her head around, leaving as quickly as she came.

'You've done it now, James!' Astrid shouted at the stupid boy and followed her close friend shortly after.