Closeted

He was missing again. It had to have been at least the fourth time that year. Sirius was quite worried as he roamed the grounds looking for Lupin. He and James were going to go raid the kitchens then go play some quidditch. Lupin, he was sure would want to come along. Actually, he wasn't so sure, but he wasn't sure about a lot of things about Remus Lupin. The boy was certainly a strange eleven year old.

He was much too old for his age both physically and mentally. He was intelligent, there was no doubt about that, but he was also wise and mature, something that drew Sirius in. Sirius, the loud, rambunctious, outgoing boy was completely enraptured by his quiet and studious classmate who already seemed much more mature than some of the graduating seventh years.

"I couldn't find him," James called as he jogged up to Sirius, "You have any luck?"

"Nope." Sirius tried to hide the worry from his face as he grinned at his best friend, "His loss though. Should we take Peter?"

"Nah, he just gets in the way. Let's go."

Sirius tried to rid his mind of all worry for Remus as they headed down to the kitchens. They were nearly caught by McGonagall, but they managed to dart into an abandoned classroom before she spotted them out of bounds. The corridor to the kitchens was out-of-bounds for students.

"Would Master like some tea?"

"Or perhaps a biscuit?"

"Master Lupin does not join you today. Is he ill?"

James collected the food and dropped it into sacks while Sirius fielded the house-elves' queries.

"I don't think he's ill, Bilnic, we just couldn't find him, and yes, some biscuits would be nice. You know not to tell any of the staff about our visits, right?"

"Oh! Of course Master Black," chorused the house-elves.

"Good lads. Shall we away, James?"

"We shall!" James declared, flipping a sickle in the air for the house-elves to catch as they left the kitchen, "That was a very productive trip if I do say so my--"

"Holy Warlocks! Remus?" cried Sirius running over to the petite boy hunched on all fours. His brown hair, usually so neatly combed was nearly as messy as James's and his skin was pale and warm to the touch, "Are you ill?"

"No, no! Not ill...just...please don't touch me!" He cried as Sirius tried to place a hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry. I'm alright really..." he said as he shakily got to his feet.

"I really think that you ought to go see Madame Pomfrey..." James said quietly approaching the two of them.

"I have just come from her, thank you." Remus replied, straightening his robes and smoothing his hair, "Don't worry," he cracked a smile at them, "I'm fine, really. I just need to rest...I just came back from my aunt's, you know. She's quite ill..."

"Right," said James as Lupin walked past him hurriedly.

Sirius watched him pass, his dark brows furrowed together with worry, "Did you see his eyes?" he murmured.

"What about them?" asked James, placing a hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"Nothing...nothing..."

The truth was Remus's eyes, normally the clearest cobalt blue imaginable had appeared almost yellow and they held none of the warmth and shyness of his normal glance. Instead they were cold...murderous. They were the eyes of a wolf.