Second chance a new choice

Another year at Hogwarts

Finally! Term starts tomorrow. No more sitting around with just Lupin for company. Severus scratched the top of one hand as sweat slicked his palms. I can see Lily again. She can yell at me all she wants. I don't care. Severus waited outside for the thestral-drawn carriages to arrive, students in tow.

I can't believe I'm happy for school to start. How many times did I contemplate wrecking the train midway through Scotland when I taught?

Every other year coming back was a two-edged sword—I got away from that useless toe rag Tobias but returned to the Marauders' daily torments.

I can't focus anymore—boredom's addled what wit I have left. So many incoherent thoughts—I can't get anything useful out of them.

"Severus." Lupin joined him. "I can understand you don't like my friends, but I hope you won't be mad at me for staying friends with them."

"Quiet, Remus. You're going to be in enough trouble for sticking to me."

"Oh... Severus, are you worried about me?"

"Hardly." Severus snorted.

"May I ask, why?"

"Because now you'll be the one to pay when I find toads in my bag instead of books." Severus smirked. "You'll have no excuse for allowing such childish behavior anymore. Even if your friends do it, I'll blame you for not stopping them."

"I can't watch them every second. Besides, you could just send Lily after them. At least they respect her."

"They're your so-called friends, Remus Lupin." And Lily's likely too angry with me to stop the Marauders, anyway.

Lupin's nervous laugh betrayed dread for what was to come when his friends arrived.

Leather-winged horses topped the horizon and halted at the grounds' entrance. Severus reached to caress the nearest thestral.

"You can see them?" whispered Lupin.

"Obviously." I've seen too much death not to.

"Sev! Sev!" Lily shoved through the crowd of students that flooded from the carriages.

"Over here," Severus called and waved.

Lily pushed between two boys, nearly making Regulus Black fall flat on his nose as she stormed past, arms outstretched. She enveloped Severus in a tight hug.

He stiffened, relaxed, and returned the gesture.

"Don't you ever do something like that to me again!" Lily scolded. "Merlin, you scared me! You know that?"

"I'll try my best not to," said Severus.

"Moony!" Potter, Pettigrew and Sirius Black pushed toward Lupin.

Black plucked Lupin from the ground as though he weighed less than a feather. "Moony, you survived! That's amazing!" He wrapped Lupin in a bear hug.

"Easy, Pad. He didn't survive just for you to smother him," said Potter.

Black set Lupin down and draped one arm over Potter and Lupin's shoulders, drawing them closer. "I was worried. You know life without me is quite ghastly."

"More like peaceful," Lupin grumbled, but his smile belied his words. "I actually got some work done for once."

"How horrible!" Potter feigned shock and disgust. "Padfoot, I think he's gone insane being trapped at school with Snively!"