The Marauders and the Year it All Began

Chapter Eight: Denial

The harsh cold of winter was dying down, but the chill was still very much prevalent. Nevertheless, even the cold could not bring down James's mood as he came back from the Owlery.

"Why are you smiling like you've just pulled a prank?" Lily sounded a little nervous running into a happy-looking James.

"Can't I just be happy?"

"You're never just happy, something had to have happened." She paused but eventually decided she would rather not know all the details. "Just tell me that no one is hurt?"

"Oh, no one is hurt, quite the opposite actually." James turned on his heel and continued his walk to the Gryffindor Tower.

"You make no sense, Potter!" Lily yelled after him.

"It's more fun that way, Evans!" he yelled back without turning her way. Once in the common room, James spotted Remus reading on the couch. Running up behind him, James grabbed his shoulders and shook them eagerly. "Remus I have news!"

"You don't need to dislocate my shoulders to tell me your news."

"Oh," James said, as he stopped shaking him. "Sorry."

"It's fine," Remus laughed. "What's your news?"

"My mum is getting released from St. Mungo's tomorrow, they said she's going to be fine."

"That's great, James!" Remus said with a smile. "I know you were very worried about her. When are you going to tell Sirius and Peter."

"Well," James scratched the back of his neck, "I never actually told them she was sick."

"Not even Sirius?" Remus was surprised because they told each other everything.

"Well after I talked to you, I knew the rest of them wouldn't understand. Besides, I didn't want to worry them for no reason." James paused for a second, sucking in air after his spiel. "Please don't tell them."

"I won't, but I think you should."

"I'll think about it," James said sincerely. "You can go back to reading now, I've got to finish my Potions homework."

"You're gonna do your own homework?"

"About that–" James started.

"I'm not giving you my essay," Remus said firmly. "I let you copy last time, you've got to do your own work at some point in time."

"I wasn't even going to copy," James lied. "I just wanted to... reference it?"

"Sure you did, but either way, you can't see it. I've already turned it in"

"Moony! How am I supposed to do a whole foot of parchment before tomorrow," James was fishing for sympathy and Remus could tell, but even so, he gave in.

"I'll revise it for you before you turn it in, but that's it."

"You're the best! Thank you, Remus." James rushed up the stairs before Remus could change his mind. To his surprise, Sirius was in the dorm already, sitting at the desk writing something.

"Why're you so happy?" Sirius laughed.

"I just got good news," James told a half-lie to avoid talking about his mother.

"What's the news?"

"Um," James paused trying to think of something. "Remus agreed to revise my Potions essay."

"That's not very exciting," Sirius said but did not press further. "Wait a minute!" James tensed, fearing that Sirius would press for details further. "You haven't started your essay yet? It's due tomorrow!"