The Marauders: Year 2

Remus sighed as he collapsed into the armchair. This year two other Gryffindors were staying behind, a Seventh Year, whom he didn't know at all other than as being beyond mad when it came to studying for his N.E.W.T.s, and someone else. Remus had held out a bit of hope that it might be Lily, but he'd seen her climbing into the school carriages when he'd gone down to see the other Marauders off.

Pulling some of his school books over, Remus opened his Herbology textbook, deciding to get the worst over with first. Only Pete would find plants so bloody interesting, Remus thought wryly. After nearly an hour, he sat up from his previously slouched over the book position, and stretched his arms up to crack his back.

"Studying?" A very familiar voice came from behind him, sending pleasant little goose bumps down his neck.

"Ar... er..." he stuttered. "Yes?"

Melissa Watts laughed, "Are you asking or telling me?"

"What are you doing here?" Remus blurted out as she walked around the couch and sat next to him.

"Nothing, and I must admit, it's dreadfully boring. Although far better than that Herbology work. Ugh."

"You know what I mean, here at Hogwarts."

She smiled at him, "Because I'm not anywhere else."

He chuckled, "Is it going to be two weeks of mind games with you then?"

"That could definitely be enjoyable. Anyway, I figured we might as well try and forget about this silly disagreement between James and Lily that's keeping all of us from being friendly, especially as we're the only two sane Gryffindors here. Morton over there is an absolute lunatic about those N.E.W.T.s, possibly scarier than Lily."

He chuckled again, "Not possible."

She grinned wickedly, "I know."

Remus fully surveyed her for the first time since she'd joined him, "You do realize you're sopping wet?"

"Alice left something important behind, I had to chase the carriage nearly all the way down to the gate to get it to her," she laughed a bit as she shook her head, spraying water droplets all over both of them.

This is what Sirius will never understand, Remus thought. Every time I'm with her... I don't want to, what was that stupid idea of his? Drag her off medieval maiden style? That idiot... no... I just want to... sit with her. I want to sit with her until we're both dead and rotting. That'd be just wonderful. He nearly chuckled out loud. And a bit morbid.

Melissa gave him an odd look, "Alright then, Lupin?"

"Smashing, just smashing, Mel," he grinned back at her.

"You aren't really planning on doing homework for all of the holiday, are you?" Something akin to a worried glance flitted across her features.

"Well, not all of the holiday, no." He put down his book entirely and leaned back against the plush cushions. "This is somewhat odd though, I've rarely ever seen you without one of the Gryffindor Five... unless you're escaping from Lily in the library and then you just tend to ramble like a lunatic about what how nutters she is." Remus winces, Way to go, Remmy. Alienate the girl entirely. You just called her a madwoman.

To his surprise Melissa burst into laughter, "I suppose I do tend to seem a bit loopy after several hours studying with Lily. I'm just not much of a studier and she won't let me get away with it."

"How do you get those grades then?"

"Well, I do actually do all my homework, but studying? No, I hate it. I just pay attention in class. Seems to work well enough. I get the same grades whether Lily is all over me to study or I completely forget there's a test."

"Ugh. Another Sirius," Remus groaned.

"Huh?"

"Sirius. The boy never studies but he always scrapes by somehow. It's the most annoying thing ever. I swear, the three of us want to kill him anytime we've got exams." Remus trailed off and the two sat in a somewhat uncomfortable silence for a few minutes.

"So what do you want to do?" they said in unison. Remus offered a small smile and Melissa grinned back.

"Well... I was left with the task of somehow procuring a rooster before the end of holidays," Melissa offered.

"A... rooster?"

"As in cock-a-doodle-doo, yes," she grinned wickedly.

"Sweet Merlin, who told you to procure a rooster?"

"Lily."

"Oh, this can't be good."

She upped the wicked grin a notch, "Never is."

~~*~~

Three days later, it was Christmas Eve and Melissa and Remus were sitting quietly in the library. Remus was finishing up his holiday homework and Melissa had her feet propped up on the table as she read the Arithmancy Advocate Weekly.

"Out," Madame Pince said, showing up in their corner pointing towards the door with her wand. "I'm closing up for the evening."

The two packed up their bags as she walked off and started towards the exit.

"Evening, Madame Pince," Remus called over to the circulation desk, hoping that she'd forgive him for speaking so loudly in the library.

"Happy Christmas, ma'am," Melissa chimed after him. Both were surprised when the librarian left out a rare, small smile and bid them both to have a good evening and a happy Christmas.

"You know," Melissa began as they walked towards Gryffindor Tower, "I've had my doubts that she was really human, but perhaps I was wrong."

"What did you think she was?" Remus asked, grinning.

"A droid, possibly, or maybe a robot," Mel replied, grinning right back.

"A what or a what?"

"Muggle things," she smiled conspiratorially.

He shook his head slightly, "Right. Ok then. Oh hell- I mean, uh, sorry, it's just... Filch."

Melissa burst into laughter, "I'm not Alice, 'oh hell' is a regular part of my vocabulary. Why do you look so worried, skin his cat again, did you?"

"How did you- " he was cut off as he felt the girl grab his robe and pull him into a nearby door.

"I find it best to avoid the old git whenever possible," she whispered in his ear, causing Remus to suppress a shiver and thank Merlin it was pitch black in... well, wherever they were.

"Where are we?"

"I reckon I don't exactly know," she whispered.

"How do you not know?"

"Oh well... it's a broom closet. It moves, we could still be where we were, or it could dump us somewhere entirely diff-" Her voice stopped as they both felt a weird sensation very similar to traveling by Floo powder. "Scratch that, I suspect we've moved." He felt her hand move past him and turn the knob. A moment later, light flooded in and the two students spilled out, looking somewhat disheveled.

Melissa laughed, "Well this looks right wrong, doesn't it?"

Remus blanched, but she just giggled.

"Oh, you're act far too old for twelve sometimes Remus. Come on, we're down by the kitchen, let's start back upstairs."

He looked around and realized she was right, he could recognize the portrait of the fruit bowl that his the kitchens just down the hall to his left.

"How'd you know about that broom closet?" he inquired.

"Oh, it's a useful little thing. Peter and I were talking about it once. He's dead certain it runs on some sort of pattern, but I'm dead certain it doesn't. I think it just likes some people and comes to help them when they need it. Maybe one of the founders was a troublemaker at heart. At any rate, many times I've been far from a hidden passageway and needed a quick exit and then, what do you know? It just turns up." She affectionately patted the old wooden door. A moment later, it disappeared from sight.

"Why haven't I ever really noticed it?" Remus asked, looking at the now very solid wall.

"I think it has a bit of a concealment charm on it, not very strong, but if you aren't looking for it, or at least aware of its existence, then it's a lot harder to find. Come on, I want to get to bed before Father Christmas comes," she started off at a jog towards Gryffindor Tower.

Remus quickly and easily caught up with her. "Father Christmas?" he teased with a smirk.

"Oh... bite me, wolf boy," she teased right back. "Do all of you witch and wizard raised's have to mock me about that."

Remus was momentarily taken aback, no one had ever teased him about that before, but then he thought about it. Why not? It's just another part of me. And I know that she'd never actually say it in front of anyone else. Well... maybe the Marauder's, but that's only because she knows that they know.

"Where?" he asked, bearing his teeth and looking at her neck.

"I thought you were a werewolf, not a vampire," she giggled as she slowed down to a walk.

"I vant to sook your blooooood," he drawled, causing her to collapse in a fit of giggles.

"Oh that was just... terrible," she spit out in between laughter.

Remus let his face fall and tried to look downtrodden, only succeeding in failing spectacularly and joining in her laughter.

When they'd regained their composure they both started back off for the Common Room.

"How'd you know about the cat?" Remus asked her as they rounded the final corner.

"Didn't for sure until just now. Rebecca and Tessa got detention for that stunt you guys pulled, I believe. Both were livid about it. Becca is still plotting revenge." Without really glancing at the Fat Lady, Melissa recited, "Hollyberries."

"Not tonight, dear," the Fat Lady replied, her friend Violet, also in the frame, giggling.

"Huh?" Melissa said, turning her attention to the portrait. "What do you mean 'not tonight'?"

"Surely you know what holiday it is," the Fat Lady held up a sprig of some sort of plant over their heads. "If you want to gain entrance, you'll need to keep up the holiday spirit."

"The holiday spirit?" Remus repeated, absolutely baffled, and then leaned forwards to take a better look at the plant. He shot back from the portrait as though it were on fire and then realizing his proximity to Melissa, took a step away from her too. "Mistletoe?" he squeaked.

Melissa's eyes widened. "You're daft," she told the portrait. "The password is hollyberries, let us in."

"Nope," Violet giggled tipsily. Remus then noticed the empty box of chocolate liqueurs littering the bottom the frame and bit back a groan. The Fat Lady's friend Violet visiting always made things more difficult, but when they were hammered... he did let out a groan.

"Come now, kissing below the mistletoe is a sign for good fertility," Violet chimed.

This time Melissa squeaked, "Fertility. You're beyond daft! I'm a Second Year!"

"Well, Vi, what are we to do with it if everyone refuses?" the Fat Lady asked.

"Let the boys have it if they like it," Violet relented sadly. "That young Mr. Morton seemed keen on the idea when his Ravenclaw girlfriend was waiting out here earlier."

Melissa and Remus exchanged gagging glances.

"Some Gryffindors," Violet huffed. "Even a few of the Ravenclaws were willing to give into the holiday cheer. But your lot," she was addressing the Fat Lady now, "seems to have no spines at all."

"No spines at all?" Melissa interrupted the portraits huffily, with her hands angrily placed on her hips. "No spines at all?" she repeated slightly louder. "The password is hollyberries, you old loon." And as she said it, she took a step towards Remus and gave him a very quick kiss on the cheek. She looked up at the portrait defiantly. "Now let us in."

The Fat Lady's eyes widened in a pleased shock and she swung open immediately.

"No spines, my arse, Vi. Every single one of them is a Gryffindor through and through." Remus and Melissa both heard the Fat Lady retort as the two scrambled through the portrait hole.

The two of them made it to the middle of the Common Room and stood midway between the two stairs the ascended into their respective dormitories.

"Well... er," Remus stuttered, his cheeks still flushed. He chanced a quick glance over at her and saw that the back of her neck seemed unnaturally red, for some reason that made him want to smile.

Melissa seemed to be staring resolutely down at her shoes. "Ah, yes, well, good night, Remus. See you in the morning." Then she bounded quickly up the stairs.

Remus listened to her retreating footsteps and leaned against the wall in shock, pulling his hand up to the side of his face where her lips had grazed his cheeks. He shook his head as though trying to clear it and felt a very dopey grin slide across his face. Perhaps Sirius isn't completely mental, he thought, standing still for a moment before starting up the steps. Thank Merlin for mistletoe.

~~*~~

The following day, Remus was a bit worried about going down to the Common Room. What if we spend the rest of the break avoiding one another because of that incident last night? Oh, you stupid, stupid portrait and your bloody 'holiday cheer'. He grimaced. Come on, prove you're a Gryffindor, you big chicken, and go downstairs. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and started down the steps. Just be nonchalant, nonchalant, nonchalant, noncha-.

"Morning, Remus," Melissa called cheerily. "Want a Hershey's bar?" She held out a thin, wrapped bar to him.

"A what?"

"It's a Muggle sweet, my mum sent me a bunch for Christmas," she smiled. "She always forgets I hate chocolate."

"How can you hate chocolate?" he asked, looking at her as though she'd just suggested he go hug Snape.

"Well, not all chocolate, but bars of pure chocolate. Yuck," she made an amusing face and he snorted through his mouthful of chocolate.

Suddenly her face perked up, "Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas," he mumbled right back through the chocolate. She laughed.

"You know, it really is a shame that our groups of friends don't seem to hang out much anymore. This whole Lily, James thing is just madness. They need to snog and get it over with."

Remus nearly choked on his chocolate, "My sentiments exactly." He was pleased to realize that whatever had happened last night wasn't going to effect how they behaved towards one another today. "You know, I meant to ask you, why did you stay for the holiday?"

For the first time since the start of the break, Remus saw the slightly guarded façade that Melissa had taken to keeping up recently sag slightly, her grin faltered and a darkness permeated her eyes, but a moment later it was gone. Had he blinked, Remus knew he would've missed it.

She let out her breath softly and smiled wistfully. "It's safer for me here."

"Huh?"

"It's just safer for me here, for now anyway... what about you? Why are you here?"

"I'd rather be here," Remus said, with a slight shrug. Melissa's mouth formed a small 'o' and she looked off into the fire the house elves had prepared. He just shrugged again. "Things got... difficult when I was bit. My parents aren't really... bad... they just don't know what to do anymore. At first, they went to every length to try every cure... but when that didn't work. My dad didn't take it well. My mum is alright when it's just the two of us..." He shook his head, trying to clear it of the memories. "But it's Christmas, so let's not talk about why we're both here."

"You know, here isn't so bad. When Lily's parents were having those rows last year, she was so upset about spending Christmas alone, but when we all got back, she said it was one of her favorite Christmas's ever."

The two sat in a companionable silence for several moments until Melissa pulled out a book and Remus began his essay on Compostura Charms.

~~*~~

"We never found that rooster," Remus commented at breakfast on the last day of the holiday.

"Oh Merlin," Melissa muttered. "I completely forgot about the rooster." She chuckled. "Maybe Lily can transfigure one of our desks this time."

"Did she ever get a new one? After the whole... lizard thing," Remus asked as he joined her laughter.

"Before she even got back from the Hospital Wing, those house elves are so prompt! Then Professor McGonagall showed up and put an anti-transformation charm on it."

"Are you ever going to tell me what the rooster is for?"

She looked at him, grinned and then looked around the Great Hall, "Awfully different during the holiday, isn't it?"

There House tables were all still there, although they had been done away with for the Christmas Feast, and at each table sat less than five, with the exception of Ravenclaw, where there were still less than ten, students. They were the only two at the Gryffindor table as Morton and his girlfriend were both sitting at the Ravenclaw table.

He gave her a look, "Yeah, it is."

She finished up her breakfast and sighed, "Well, it's been fun, Remus, but I've got to go do two weeks worth of homework. It was lovely procrastinating but it appears I'm out of time. Lily is going to be all over me when they get back... no rooster and my homework's not done." She grinned and disappeared from the table a moment later. He watched her go, shaking his head slightly over his unbelievable luck that led her to stay at Hogwarts over the break.

He felt the bench stir as someone slipped into the seat next to him.

"Trixie, hello," Remus said as he slid back into the real world.

"Hello Remus," she smiled slightly. "You know, I really just came over to say hello, didn't have anything else planned."

"Trixie McGonagall at a loss for words, the world must've stopped spinning," he teased gently.

Her face froze for a second and he suddenly remembered when this loss for words had begun, causing him to fight the urge to kick himself.

She forced a grin back on, "Well... wonders never cease, I suppose."

"So... how are you? I haven't seen you outside of class much."

She shrugged, "Getting by... I've come to the conclusion I really don't like the holidays. My Aunt Lola offered to let me stay for Christmas but... I decided to stay with Aunt Minnie instead."

"Oh." Oh? All you can come up with is oh? Come on Remus, you're supposed to be pretty intelligent. Come up with something to make her forget all this pain for a minute or two. Is that even possible?... Probably not...

Trixie sighed and her shoulders slumped a bit, "Sorry Remus, I think I'll go back to my Common Room now. Aunt Minnie's so worried about me... it's ridiculous... so I just try to talk to people once in a while where she can see it... so thanks."

"You don't have to go, Trixie," Remus said quickly. "I mean, if you want to, you can go, but... you really don't have to."

She smiled so sadly at him that it nearly broke his heart and then quietly dismissed herself and walked quickly out of the Great Hall.

~~*~~

James heard Remus groan lightly as he eased open the door to the dormitory and entered with the other two Marauders. The full moon was approaching that evening and Remus was already too knackered to make it through the afternoon classes.

"We told Professor McGonagall that you had the flu again," Peter told his friend quietly as he leaned over his bed.

Remus smiled weakly up at them. "Thanks."

"No problem."

James crossed to his own corner of the room and unloaded his satchel. He crossed back to Remus and handed him a long piece of parchment. "Notes," he gestured at the paper. "Test on Friday. Lovely way to end the week, eh?"

"Are you ready to head off to Madame Pomfrey then, Remus?" Sirius asked, none of the usual insane glint in his eyes, only an urge to take care of his friend visible within the orbs.

"No, no, I'm fine," Remus replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Would you just stop yelling, please?"

"Oi, that's it," Sirius said. "Definitely time to go. We're not yelling, Remmy, we've been talking normal. And you know if you wait much longer, you won't look the least bit steady on your feet when we walk down there."

Remus groaned and pulled his pillow over his head.

Peter tutted and pulled it off, "Come on, Remmy. Time to go visit Madame Pomfrey."

"I'm not five, Peter," Remus hissed at him. "I'm just sick." Grumbling he pulled himself into sitting position and then slid his legs out of the bed muttering about 'good for nothing best friends and their stupid ideas... I just want to sleep...'

"Aw, you know ya love us, Remmy," Sirius beamed, tossing his shoes over to him.

"I'll show you what I know," he continued to grumble as he made his way to the door.

"He's in a right old mood, isn't he?" Peter observed.

"Usually is around now," James added, pulling open the door as Remus scowled at him.

"I'm not an invalid. I can open my own doors."

James just shrugged and grinned, "Never said you couldn't."

"See you guys tomorrow," Remus muttered back at Peter and Sirius, who were already spreading the plans for something out across the floor and eyeing the teddy bear sticking out of James's trunk with a strange glint in their eyes.

Remus slowly made his way into the Common Room and out of the portrait hole with James strolling along next to him.

"We haven't gotten much of anywhere with the animagus thing yet..." James began. "I suppose it might not be as easy as I thought, but I'm still sure we'll get it eventually. There are about ten primer spells that the-"

Remus groaned and slumped against the wall for a moment. James winced and shot out his arm to steady his friend.

I hate this! I hate that I can't help him more. I hate that this makes him so sick. I hate it. James shook his head angrily and took a deep breath. He noticed Remus doing the same. Sod off, Potter, you git. If you think it's bad, I bet I can't even imagine what Remus is going through right now. Just keep on trying to distract him. "Come on, Remus. We'll be there in a minute and you said Madame Pomfrey's got that pain potion, it'll help a bit until the moon rises."

Remus moved his head in a barely perceptible nod and continued shuffling forward, slightly bend over with one of his arms wrapped tightly around his middle and the other clutching his head.

"Anyway, I was saying, Sirius and I both have the first two primer spells done and Peter's nearly got the first one. We just need to find a little more time to help him. You know... trasnsfiguration's not really his strongest suit, although there's a tonic in there for something or other, which he already seems to have a grasp on. Something to do with plants. I hate Herbology... but anyway. Maybe by the end of this year we can keep you company. And... here we are. Let's get you inside."

Remus and James shuffled through the door into a very busy infirmary and Remus automatically headed towards the last bed in the ward, flopping himself onto it with a groan.

"I hate this." James heard him mutter into the pillow, causing James to wince again.

"Yeah... I know you do," James said softly, sitting down in the chair next to the bed. "I'll wait for Madame Pomfrey with you then, alright? Then I've got a load of homework to get to... you won't be missing anything fun tonight, that's for sure," his face had a sour expression on it at the thought of homework that caused Remus to manage a small chuckle.

"Oh Remus, you're here. Thank goodness, the infirmary is just teeming today. That stupid potion professor, if he tests another poison on the students, I'll just..." Madame Pomfrey was off and running, more to herself than either of them, about the dangers of deranged professors and their inane exams. Both boys exchanged amused glances as she bustled over and handed Remus a steaming goblet. "Bottoms up, young man, we need to get you out of here. You're running late-"

She cut off as her gaze suddenly fixed on James, she quickly turned her eyes on Remus.

The boy made a horrid face at the taste of the elixir and then looked down at the floor, "He knows."

Her eyes widened a bit and she turned back to James, "Mr. Potter, you do understand the importance that the school not be made aware-"

"I know, Madame. I'd never tell," he interrupted her. "I just wanted to make sure he got down here alright."

A loud wail followed by what sounded like a goose honk sounded from near the entrance to the Hospital Wing causing Madame Pomfrey to throw her hands up in the air, "Not the animal transfigurations again already. Oh Merlin, some student always has to aim at another student. They just don't understand it's not made from human use." She clucked her tongue and glanced from Remus to James, sighing. "Mr. Lupin, would you mind dreadfully if Mr. Potter escorted you out? As he seems to know... it would be helpful this evening."

Remus offered her a weak smile, "That's fine Madame Pomfrey. I'll tell him what to do."

"That's a dear," she offered him a rare smile. "You know where the cloak is-" There was another loud goose honk, followed by another wail. "Well, off you go. Thank you, Mr. Potter." And she was gone.

"Escort you? You don't just stay here?" James asked his friend.

"Ah... no. Come on now James, I know you read up on... lycanthropy. I'm not exactly safe as the wolf," he said very quietly. "Would you go pull the cloak out of that wardrobe over there? It looks a little weird, but it's the only one in there. Maybe sure you don't put it on." Remus gestured over to the wardrobe across the room.

James crossed over, opened the doors and pulled out the cloak, gasping as he saw it and rushing back to Remus. "Remus, do you know what this is? Well, I mean, of course you do! My dad's got one and it's... sweet Merlin, an invisibility cloak!"

Remus smiled at his friend's excitement. "Yeah, it is. I think the potion is kicking in, I can move a little better now. Let's go before I start to get worse." Remus heaved himself off of the bed and started to cross to the entrance. "Make sure you just toss it over your arm, don't wear it or you'll go invisible."

"I know," James said, the excitement clear in his voice, "Are we? I mean, do we get to put it on?"

Remus chuckled, "Yeah, but not yet. Come on." The boys walked out to the large, wooden doors that marked the main entrance to the castle. Remus looked around and motioned to James to step closer. "Now."

A moment later the cloak was around the two boys and Remus was whispering, "Watch your feet. We're going to the Whomping Willow."

"We're what?" James asked, visibly startled.

"Shhh! Whisper, you prat. We're invisible! Come on."

"Oh Merlin," James sighed, but slowly the two shuffled down to the Whomping Willow.

"Hand me that stick, James?"

"What stick?"

"The long one to your right."

The tree, although it couldn't see them, had clearly heard them and gone from the occasionally branch whacking into the ground to an all out assault on the air particles around the tree.

"You're mad Remus. Why are we here?"

"There's a passage under the tree." He felt the stick press into his hand. "It goes to Middlebury Manor."

"The Shrieking Shack?" James said, apparently worried. "But Remus, it's considered the most severely haunted building in... the entire wizard world, isn't it? You have to spend the night in there?"

Remus, who James could feel slowly doubling up, more and more in pain, as they walked, let out a feeble laugh. "There's no ghost in there at all. That's me they hear." The boy leaned forward a bit and prodded a particular spot on the tree. "Right then, James. Get out from under the cloak. I've only got a moment before the mad thing starts thrashing again."

James removed himself from the cloth and looked at the spot of thin air where his best friend stood. "Well... good luck, Remus."

"Thanks." James saw the stick drop to the ground. "Have fun with that homework."

"Oh, bugger off," James said.

"See you tomorrow, James." And with that, James, listening carefully for the swish of cloak, assumed his friend was now beneath the tree, safe in the passage way, heading into Hogsmeade for a very long night.