No Control // Wolfstar

Thirty Nine

Sunday. It had become Remus' new favorite day of the week.

January is coming to an end shortly. The weather still remains as it did in November, but things were changing. Paranoia struck Hogwarts and students were fearful that they could be the next one attacked. There was a low murmur running through the corridors that it was somebody working for You-Know-Who in the castle.

Sunlight pours through the windows of the Room of Requirement with a serenity that eased Remus' mind. He sits with his back against the armrest and Sirius leans against him, between his legs. Sirius was sketching, lying his head on Remus' chest comfortably. Remus props his book on top of Sirius' head, his legs extended all the way out. They wear matching motorcycle socks Hope had gifted Remus through the mail.

Remus has read the same sentence four times over without realizing it, staring blankly at the page.

"Stop thinking about it," Sirius says as he outlines treetops.

Remus sighs, pushing his book to the side. He plays with Sirius' hair, braiding it like his mum taught him to do for her as a child. It was poorly done, tragic really. "I'm sorry," he groans ruffling Sirius' hair. "I just can't let you be accused of this. There's something that just doesn't click. It's near impossible for Snape to cast a spell at the Whomping Willow and then curse Lisa. The timing just doesn't add up. Which means Lisa had to have casted the first spell." He throws his head back, "But you would've seen or heard her do that. Ugh!"

"You're overthinking it."

"Or someone else had to have been there. Avery? One of them perhaps?" Sirius bites his lip uneasily. "What do you think? Are you sure you don't remember seeing anybody cast the spell?"

"I don't know."

"What direction it came from?"

"I said I don't know." Sirius sits up, turning to face Remus. "Just...let me figure it out on my own. Please?"

Remus runs a hand through his hair, flexing his arm behind his head. "You know I trust you."

Sirius lays back down, rubbing his hand over Remus' knee. "I know you do..."

*

*

*

Lily was becoming more interested in James recently, but not in the way he wanted. The more she thought about that night, the less she remembered. Whenever she came close to a theory, something was flawed. It was an endless cycle that tortured her mind. She observed James closely, watching his mannerisms and the way he interacts with the Marauders. They trusted him with every fiber of their being. It would be so easy for him to lie and never be doubted. The feeling was unsettling in Lily's mind.

James wrings his hand on the towel, pulling open to door of the lavatory. "Shit!" he gasps bumping into Lily. "Hello Lily."

"James," Lily replies curtly. "I've been thinking."

"You're finally ready to be my girlfriend?"

"No." James chuckles, beginning to walk down the corridor with her right by his side. "If you were following Sirius that night, how come you showed up so late?"

"I ran into Peeves. It's not so easy sneaking out of the castle, you know."

"That's what I suspected. But I've seen you before - you and Peter out late at night running across the grounds. I know this wasn't the first time you've snuck out." James picks up the face, his stride twice as long as her own. "You show up exactly after it happened but didn't see anything? There's no possible way that you could've shown up as fast as you did but not have seen anything."