You coulda had class, you coulda been a contender - James

[Remus Lupin]

Charlie, you shoulda looked out for me

15 September 1977

Remus looked up at the sound of the door opening, giving a roll of his eyes as he saw it was James. But when James requested Remus to come with him, not Sirius? Clearly something was up. This was Transfiguration with Minne, not the class to just randomly pull him out of. Not only did Remus particularly enjoy this class, but their Head of House was sure to put a stop to any antics that James was trying to pull. It was to his surprising when not only did she agree, but gave Remus a look when he didn't immediately start to leave. Sighing, Remus gathered his bag, shooting a confused look to Sirius before he followed James out into the hall.

Perhaps this was because he had been well, avoiding James. Not too much so that his friend would notice, but he just needed some space. James wasn't in class because he had this time to do Head Boy duties, something Remus was still trying to cope with. Still, he shot James a grin before saying, "You couldn't have pulled me out of Potions later today? I see enough of Slughorn as is without losing my mind in his class twice a week." The subject was fine, but Remus had secretly hoped he had failed the O.W.L.'s so he could have avoided in the future.

Loosening his tie, it hit him that James seemed a bit..off. "Speaking of, why take me instead of Sirius? Please don't say you need help covering up something before Lily finds out, I am obligated to tell her if you make me carry a body."

[James Potter]

James had been in the library for about ten minutes when he packed up his things and started down to the Ground Floor. Specifically: the Transfiguration Wing. He'd laid the Code of Conduct out, willing himself the energy and focus to commit it to memory. He knew most of the punishments due to personal experience, but there were a few - like not being able to have more than one pet - that he'd not run into before. He'd memorized longer lists before for practical exams in Potions, but James simply couldn't focus.

How was it that he was supposed to be on the enforcing side of all of this now? Had Dumbledore really been so disappointed in him so far that he was trying to force model behavior on him? He hadn't gotten a straight answer out of the man about his appointment, and wanted to do a good job of things - for his parents, Remus, and Lily, mainly - but...who's going to take me seriously about this? He and his mates had, over the years, broken nearly every rule in the damned book - and for good reasons! If they'd followed the rules, he and Sirius and Pete would never have become animagi, and Remus would be alone in the Forest each full moon. If they'd followed the rules, they would've missed out on so many nights of levity that otherwise would've been dampened by obligations of homework. If they'd followed the rules...their time at Hogwarts couldn't have meant as much to them as it did, for they'd be missing everything they'd done to make it theirs.

Who was he to demand that others conform? Who was he to stop others from making lifelong friends through misadventures that could only come through not taking the rules to heart?

The struggle of wanting to do well to make those he cared about proud, while not taking away what he felt were important opportunities for his fellow students, was encroaching on his generally genial attitude. There had been plenty of reasons for him to stress out in the past, surely, but this was...different.

Because he knew who should've been Head Boy.

And while he hadn't asked for this, and while Remus had been nothing but polite about it, James knew that the situation was still bugging his mate, just like it was bugging him. He didn't have much of a plan by the time he'd disrupted Minnie's 7th year class, but thankfully she was trying to trust Dumbledore's decision in appointing him, apparently, for she went along with his request more easily than he'd expected. James shot an apologetic look to Sirius as Remus came to join him, but this was something the pair of them needed to figure out on their own.

James chuckled at Remus' tease, giving a nod as he shot his mate a grin back. "Next time, promise." He swallowed, shoving his hands in his trouser pockets in an attempt to disguise his nervous energy, as they started walking down the corridor...with no destination yet in mind. He gave another laugh as the bloke went on, shaking his head quickly. "Nah mate, no bodies, nothing to hide from Evans either - " Besides my inevitability of disappointing her. "I just - er - I was hoping I could ask your advice."

[Remus Lupin]

He wasn't supposed to feel this sort of resintment towards one of his best friends. It wasn't James' fault that he had been appointed Head Boy instead of Remus. It would have sucked to have say, Wilkes for a Head Boy. But Lily could hold her own, and Remus had never doubted that the girl was going to get the position. But he had let himself hope that he would get Head Boy. He deserved it, there wasn't any question of that. And franky, Dumbledore's reasoning to him about why he wouldn't be Head Boy had been a jab to his ego. Being denied something because of his condition, by the same person who gave him so much despite it.

It wasn't supposed to be James. Not that James wasn't capable of it, because his friend was trying. But what had James ever done? He certainly hadn't spent two years as a Prefect - other during full moons - , trying to figure out a balance between breaking the rules and enforcing them. Remus had, and yet he hadn't managed to get removed from his position. So clearly, he'd done a decent enough job. Maybe being a Prefect, a good student, and a werewolf was a hell of a lot to handle. But he had done it, he still was!

Remus raised an eyebrow as James asked for his advice, because clearly this wasn't just any advice. Not school work advice, not girl issues advice (not that he was any good at that kind anyway), but something that was not worth waiting until the next time they saw each other. Remus could think of very few things that warranted a class interupption, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to discuss any of them. "Uh - yeah I guess? How can I help?"

[James Potter]

James knew he probably should've waited. Pulled Remus aside after dinner or something, not taken him out of a class he actually enjoyed. But at the same time, couldn't one of his best mates help him out here, even if it was inconvenient and - admittedly - slightly uncomfortable? Relieve some of his anxiety by speaking to his experiences? It wasn't as if he could ask Evans about this, she already had enough doubts about him in every possible way as it was. And Remus knew he wanted to do well, didn't he? Gonna do right by you by doing this right, eh?

"I just...shite mate, how've you done this for two years?" James gave an awkward laugh, hand springing to the back of his neck after an embarrassing finger gun incident in a nervous tick adopted from his brother. I don't think I'm cut out for this. He was quiet for a few moments, exhaling a loud breath as he tried to gather his thoughts as they made their aimless way down the corridor. "I don't want to f*ck this up, but at the same time - how'm I supposed to enforce things I don't believe in?" James knew he had some of the qualities that one would look for in a Head Boy, character traits that he'd shown through his Quidditch Captainship; he could lead a team (athletes --> prefects) towards a common goal (winning --> safety/discipline?), he could rally their spirits with his enthusiasm, he could build confidence and skills...But he knew he'd only been as successful as he'd been in his Captainship because he believed in it all. He believed in the power of his team, he believed they all had something unique within them that, combined, would make them unstoppable. He believed in the power of sports, in using athletics to teach discipline and self-respect, in building a natural camaraderie. He believed he could be a good captain, and while he knew he hadn't so far been perfect, he'd done a bang up job. But this?

What, Dumbledore - trying to knock down my ego? How's that going to be what's best for the school?

"I can definitely get behind some things," James continued quickly, sprouting off examples from the code. "Come prepared for class, obviously; clean up after yourself. But - but we're supposed to get on everyone for not doing Binns' homeworks? He hasn't graded anything in a century! How d'you keep your head, enforcing all this?"

[Remus Lupin]

Remus could feel himself clenching his jaw, trying to keep his head together as James finger gunned in his direction. How had he done this for two years. Sure, being a prefect wasn’t exactly a piece of cake, especially when he was one fourth of the best trouble causing team in the school. And yet James was still rattling on, finally coming to what Remus hoped was a conclusion in his statement. After a moment of silence, the two of them still walking, Remus heard the snap of his words before he realized they had been said.

”I’ve never missed an assignment in his class.” Had some of them been late? Sure. But he turned into a werewolf once a month, he had a valid reason for it. The job sucked - he had never acted like being a prefect was something he enjoyed. But it was something he was proud of. Maybe it had just been to control to his friends (which he didn’t do much of), but he had done the job well. Well enough to certainly deserve Head Boy.

Remus stopped walking, turning to face James as calmly as he could muster. ”For two years I have cited girls for wearing improper shoes with their uniforms, how many cigarettes - let alone other things - I’ve confiscated from people minding their own business. Not to mention how many things I pretend I don’t see or hear because it’s coming from one of us? I get to be known as the no-fun prefect arse of the group. You think that’s been a walk in the park?”

He turned away, giving a sigh as he shook his head. “I’ve done it because I respect Dumbledore and he chose me to help enforce the rules. So I’ve walked a very thin line and gotten away with things because I’m supposed to be the good one so they never suspect it. And I’ve done it because I wanted to. Not because I won some popularity contest.”

[James Potter]

He'd lived with Remus Lupin for long enough to know his tells. And he should've known better than to try for any levity about the situation, but that was his usual instinct. The muscles clenching in the other's jaw, the flat snap of his next words, the visible effort it was taking him to stay any sort of calm as they stopped walking...Do you want me walking on eggshells around this? He listened, though, as his friend went on; guilt was peppered on him as he was let in to what Remus had had to take on, due to the actions of himself and the other marauders. He let out a low sigh, hands retreating to the pockets of his slacks. Remus was right - over the years they hadn't made his job any easier, or made an attempt to understand it. Does it count for nothing that I'm trying now? James was about to respond in apology and thanks when Remus went somewhere he had not anticipated.

"Popularity contest?" The dig at him was hardly lost on James, and got under his skin enough to get his voice raising, showing his offense and hurt to the idea. Was this honestly what Remus thought had happened? That he'd petitioned to sweep the title out from under his friend's more worthy feet? Not that even you know exactly why you got it. "You know I didn't ask for this. You're seriously mad at me?" James knew things had been a bit awkward between the two of them since their letters arrived over the summer, but he figured that they were at a good enough place to trust each other. "Look - I'm sorry if I didn't take it seriously before, but I'm trying to understand and do this well." In part, for you. "You're better at all of this than I am, I thought I could come to you. I thought we were on the same team here, mate." He'd been putting the work in; sure, the Code of Conduct was still on his list, but he'd helped plan every meeting (and good Merlin, why were there so many), was doing what he could to get to know the prefects he and Evans were charged with mentoring and supervising and - speaking of Evans - he had been doing his best to not be over enthusiastic about their new forced proximity. What more could he do without learning from those who knew this business already?

[Remus Lupin]

Perhaps he had gone too far. The way James’ voiced had changed was enough indication, and Remus stared at him in silence. No, James hadn’t asked for the position - that was clear. Remus had wanted it, he had asked Dumbledore to change his mind. If Dumbledore wouldn’t let him be Head Boy, he certainly wasn’t about to offer a position as a teacher here at the school. And he’d honestly believed he had a chance at a future after Hogwarts was over. But clearly he had been wrong.

”No, we aren’t a team. Everyone here is fine and I’m the bloody werewolf,” he hissed, turning sharply down the hall. He knew he shouldn’t be this angry at James, of all people. It wasn’t his fault he had been selected. Remus pushed into the first empty classroom he came across, dropping his bag on the first desk as he entered. It wasn’t long before the door opened behind him, and Remus sighed.

”You didn’t ask for it, and you don’t deserve it. I should have been the one to get the badge in my letter. Instead I was the one going home to tell my mother not to get her hopes up,” he said quietly, turning to look at James. ”I’ve asked myself daily why it was you. Because you’ve been a good Quidditch captain? Clearly you can be a leader, and you’ve got the heroism on your record for saving that Snake. Do you have any idea what I had to deal with after that stunt at the lake in fifth year?”

Remus turned and pushed a desk away from him, cursing under his breath. This was his brother, not the man who had taken his dreams away from him. ”Dumbledore told me before school ended last year that I wasn’t going to be Head Boy.”

[James Potter]

For f*ck's sake.

James threw his arms up behind his friend as the lad stalked away, having brought his furry little problem into what was rapidly becoming the most painful argument the pair had had. (Granted, they hardly ever argued about anything serious, but Remus saying they weren't on the same team hurt. After growing up as an only child, James had leapt onto the opportunity to have a band of brothers at school; they were the marauders, they were a team, no matter what. He'd be a fool to think that Remus didn't have his differences from the rest of them, given his situation, but he was part of them. They'd long accepted him - but after all of these years, what more could they do to get him to accept himself?)

While part of him desperately didn't want to, he followed Remus into the classroom he'd disappeared into. It wasn't long until more of Remus' true thoughts and feelings about their predicament were thrown at him. The statements pelted James like Bludgers, but what was different between here and on the pitch was that he had no defense. Because the strange thing was...

James had been thinking these same things.

And he'd figured many others had.

For as much of a shock as the appointment had been to him, he knew it must've been worse for the seventh year prefects who thought they would get it. But he'd thought...he'd thought Remus, of all people, wouldn't be thinking this about him. The bloke knew him better than most, after all. Remus knew that he was more than the sum of his parts. But if even Remus couldn't understand the logic behind him being in this position, which apparently he'd been thinking long and hard about...Maybe he's right. James had thought that his brother could get on board, that they could make the best of it. He'd thought Remus could believe in him to pull this off. He swallowed and shook his head, uncomfortable to say the least, and took a perch on one of the desks, foot skimming the ground as a leg swung, betraying his agitation.

A stiff silence fell between them, one that James didn't feel confident in breaking. Because what could he say? Spout off his own good qualities when Remus had already dissected them all and found him wanting still? He looked to the stones, not wanting to meet Remus' eye and see the pain and disappointment surely in them. He was brought slightly out of his funk, though, at Remus' muttered swearing and admission. So you knew it wasn't going to be you? And you're still this pissed? James sighed, looking over at him. "That's sh*t, Remus. He's going nutty, must be."

[Remus Lupin]

Maybe it was a canine thing, or maybe it was the bond he shared with the boys he considered his brothers - but Remus didn’t have to look to know his words were not doing anything to calm James down. He wasn’t calming down himself, he could hardly expect anyone else to. It was like venom from his mouth and every word Remus hated. But anger wasn’t something he understood how to cope with, not when he was mostly angry at himself.

”He’s not nutty, he’s Dumbledore. The man who broke into my house the summer after I turned 11,” Remus spoke slowly. ”I know you already know that. But he doesn’t look at me as Remus Lupin, the student. He’s not nutty, he’s just as sane as the rest of pureblood society, on the wrong side of a battlefield.”

Remus turned to James, sighing. He owed James so much more than an apology, but it was a good place to start. ”The world outside of these walls? It’s not a safe place. But people look at it as if it’s just one battle when it’s so much more. A right to learn magic shouldn’t be limited by blood status, but most people would still agree a werewolf doesn’t have rights.”

No, not if anyone knew. It didn’t matter what the law was, it would still be the end of everything. It wasn’t just his schooling at stake in this game of secrets. Remus ran a hand through his hair, swallowing at he tried to control his emotions. ”I will always remember that morning, finding out what I had almost done and what I did do. After school is over, whose to say that dark arts loving snake isn’t going to out me? I wanted to come back and be a teacher here but I can’t even be Head Boy because of something I didn’t choose.”

Remus sunk down on the desk next to James, staring at the hem of his sleeves with feigned interest. ”I didn’t want to tell you all why I wasn’t Head Boy. I don’t want anyone’s pity, you know? Figured it would be Wilkes, but I’m damn glad it isn’t. Just, let me help you alright? Give me some of your work, because you need to sleep sometimes.”

[James Potter]

While this wasn't in any way giving James clarity on how to be a better Head Boy, he hoped that at the very least the air could clear between the two of them. He'd thought things were all right - not completely, but something that would just right itself with time - but if Remus had been carrying this anger...good that he gets it out.

    Even if it's directed at you?

James sat with that decidedly uncomfortable thought as he spoke up, essentially at a loss for what to do to make things better. The situation was stuck; over the summer Mum had confirmed that this was Dumbledore's decision, and he had been set in the decision. He'd thought this could be a fun thing for Remus and himself to share, but if they couldn't even speak about the situation without arguing...

Thankfully, Remus began to let him in.

James listened, frowning slightly, as the other marauder spoke. About Dumbledore, his acceptance to Hogwarts, the realities of being a werewolf in this day - and Snape, the looming threat of being outed once out from under the headmaster's protection. His dreams of teaching seemingly dashed by this slight. As much as James hated it, he could see the logic in his mate's assumptions. Heads and professors were the faces of the school, and his being unregistered...if that ever came out while he was in a position of authority, the Board would not rest until he'd been ousted... James scooted over a little to make room for him as Remus came to sit, the lion's calm helping him to simmer as well. This wasn't ever about you, calm down. He even chuckled a bit at Remus' admission of being "damn glad" it wasn't Wilkes, and for having caught on to just how little sleep he was getting. It felt as though he was juggling multiple jobs, from Captain to Head Boy to, oh, still being in classes and clubs!

"So I should be taking beautification potions instead of alertness ones? It's that noticeable?" James laughed a bit, elbowing him in the side. "I appreciate this, mate. All of it." If he hadn't been told this in the months since Remus had had the conversation with Dumbledore, James knew it must've been eating at him. It wasn't an easy thing to admit, but James hoped the other was feeling the same relief that he was now that the truth was out. "If you want to take something off my plate, I won't say no." James grinned, nudging him again. "And you know, we seriously have the run of the castle now. Two of us as authorities? Please. We can have some fun with this - while being good role models."

[Remus Lupin]

The more the words just tumbled out, the better he was starting to feel. As if a weight on his chest had been lifted, a feeling he’d felt over the summer when he had told Lily about his furry little secret. Keeping secrets was one of the most frustrating things to do, and he’d been forced to do it as long as he could remember. He was tired of it, he wanted a chance at a life outside of the cage of what had happened to him so long ago.

And here was James, making him laugh like Remus hadn’t just been an absolute arse to him. “Give me the patrol schedules, that should give you some time,” Remus replied, standing so he could look at his brother. “You do deserve this you know, you’re one of the best people I know. And hopefully Lily hasn’t been too hard on you about anything...”

There was another secret he’d been keeping, and that was telling the Marauders that Lily knew about his condition, or about some of what happened with Severus in their fourth year. He didn’t really know how to bring it up, even though he hadn’t told Lily anything she didn’t deserve to know. Their secrets were safe with him, he’d never tell anyone about what they did for him even though it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him.

”Dumbledore said if I was Head Boy, keeping my monthly disappearances from being noticed would be difficult and my secret would likely get out,” he began, as he nervously scratched the back of his neck. “I told him I was willing to take that chance, let myself feel like maybe he’d take that chance too.” Of course their Headmaster couldn’t take the chance, and Remus felt he shouldn’t have even asked. Dumbledore had already given him so much more than he had ever thought he would get out of his life, and James was right, the two of them could have some fun with this.

“There’s another thing I have to tell you, and I hope you aren’t mad about it. But over this summer I told Lily that I’m a - you know - werewolf.”

[James Potter]

Hearing his brother laugh was doing more to calm James' nerves than anything else could. At least I'm still good for something. The air that had been so thick with anger and unease was breathable again, and he nodded an agreement to Remus' offer. Since he wasn't on particularly amazing and close terms with the majority of the prefects, attempting to put them into appropriate pairings for patrols was something of a looming nightmare on his to-do list. But James wasn't expecting the heartfelt commendation that came from the other marauder when Remus took his feet; James couldn't meet his eye by the end, an uncomfortable flush reddening his neck at mention of Evans being...difficult to work with.

Even if this wasn't something James particularly wanted to discuss - he did his best to ignore and avoid it - Remus had been honest with him. He deserved the same respect. "Thanks, mate." He cleared his throat, looking to his knees, the chalkboard, his fingers messing unnecessarily with his watch, anywhere but his brother's eye. "I - er - I don't think she means to be hard on me. But this whole thing just is hard. And worse than I thought it would be, since she and Wood are...you know. So it's more just...having to deal with that, on top of the rest." His initial shock about the unlikely pair had worn off, but the hurt - showing itself more as anger, less embarrassing, wasn't it? - hardly had. He'd fooled himself into thinking that this was the year for things to work out between him and Lily. He knew that now. But how could they even be friends if they couldn't talk about her seeing someone else without him having to dig deep to not fly off the handle? And while he'd never admit it, what'd hurt more than Tommy kissing her that day on the train, was how she'd just seemed so nonchalant about it all. As if it didn't matter to her to practically snog someone in front of him. As if she thought that he wouldn't care.

Yeah...fooled yourself into believing she would.

He was relieved when Remus abruptly swapped topics, not wanting to dwell on things he couldn't change. "You're braver than he is, mate. I think you could've gotten away with it. Pretty great track record, shite he wouldn't give you the chance. But we'll make the best of this, always find a way to do that," James assured him. He raised his brow, though, as Remus piped up again. What else could be eating at you? Hadn't they dredged everything up from the depths of their souls? James didn't know what to expect, but certainly wasn't expecting what he heard. He knew that Remus and Lily were close, had been since early on at Hogwarts, so it made sense that he would want her to know the truth about him. But why was Remus telling him this? "Yeah? Why would I be mad?" James chuckled a bit, looking up at the bloke. "It's your story, mate - I just hope she was good about it."

[Remus Lupin]

Remus hadn’t expected James to react in this way, his brother looking anywhere but at him as he spoke. He felt a twinge if guilt as James mentioned the Head Girls relationship, something Remus has been aware of before the start of the year. He’d neglected to mention it, a mistake he didn’t want to repeat. But it hadn’t seemed like it was James’ business - and it still really wasn’t. Just because they were working together didn’t mean somehow James was entitled to the conversations he had with Lily. “I don’t think I can help with...that,” he managed out as he looked to the ground, “There’s a lot about Lily you don’t know about.”

It was easier to change the subject, especially when he needed to tell James about his conversation with Dumbledore. He hadn’t said a thing back in May when he’d been summoned to their Headmasters office, and he probably should have. “We can pull off much better pranks with two of us on the inside, don’t know what the man was thinking.”

But admitting to James that he told Lily about his furry little problem was more in depth than what his brother assumed. “She was wonderful about it, she had her suspicions of course,” he said with a smile, clearing his throat as he forced himself to look at James. “But it’s not just that I - uh, well. Obviously Severus has his suspicions about me, and he got his proof. But I told her about what happened in fourth year.”

[James Potter]

James gave a bitter chuckle at his fellow marauder's words, knowing them to be true. If Remus had wanted to help him out with Lily, he would've told him about her relationship with Wood before that train ride, so he wouldn't've come off as such an arse. Would you really have reacted differently if you'd known? Would you really have believed him? One thing to hear about it, a whole other thing to see it. While he appreciated that Remus being friends with both Lily and himself put him in an awkward position, as unrequited love unavoidably put people there, would it've killed him to give James a head's up? "Try me," he challenged to the bloke's second, unable to stop himself. 

"Anything you've been dying to pull but haven't had the opportunity?" James asked excitedly as talk turned to pranks. With the whole of Hogwarts at their fingertips, the pair could - and absolutely should, and most definitely would - concoct a few interesting shenanigans before graduation. Not worrying about being caught after hours would certainly help their mischief making, he thought with a grin.

Their discussion took another sideways turn as his friend revealed his conversation with the Head Girl about his secret. Evans had been gracious about Remus' news, evidently. Don't be so sour towards her, she's not trying to hurt you. But as soon as Remus brought up Snivellus, James' brow shot up in confusion as he met his brother's eye. Why'd Remus tell Lily that story, out of all of the better ones? Out of all of the ones that don't put Sirius in a bad light, you mean. Selfishly, James knew he came off well in that story - stopped Moony from attacking somebody, saved the snake's ungrateful scaly skin - but even so... "Had she said something about Snape telling her his theories? How much does she know?" he asked pointedly as he sat up straighter, trying to understand. Thought we buried this ages ago.

[Remus Lupin]

James’ love for Lily Evans was something Remus could understand, feelings for his redheaded friend had bubbled up in fifth year when they’d both been appointed as Prefects. Feelings he had never acted on, or spoke of to anyone. And by that point, they’d all be aware that James was hoping he’d have a chance with the muggleborn. Admitting his schoolboy crush on her would have just caused drama, and with the amount of drama that happened in their house - it was the last thing he’d wanted. He had felt that he’d gotten closer to Lily in their fifth year, and feelings had faded into a friendship he wouldn’t trade for the world. One that put him in an awkward place, because he had promised himself that he wasn’t going to ever pick a side.

James liked Lily, Lily didn’t like James. That seemed simple, and after she’d turned him down in fifth year that had seemingly been the end of it. Remus had suspected that James still had feelings for her - and in the middle of last year James had been upfront about it. It had been obvious to many with the way James reacted on the train, and Remus had kept his cool about things then. No use telling him you think he’s being a prat. The challenge James issued caught him off guard, and he crossed his arms in front of himself. “No I won’t,” he answered calmly, avoiding James’ eye. “Lily’s a person James. I know that you know that, I do. And I won’t speak for her, because that’s not my place. But she’s entitled to her feelings, even if they aren’t for you.” The air between them was uncomfortable, and he finally looked to James with a shrug. “Or maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

Chuckling to himself at James’ question, Remus shot his brother a grin. “Oh that’s an easy one,” he said as he settled onto the desk across from his friend, thoughts racing as he settled on the one prank they hadn’t pulled. “Think the Medusa’s would enjoy having snakes for hair? It’s only fair in my opinion that they at least try it out for a day. Besides, I don’t know a group more suited for transfiguration.” While he didn’t have nearly the skills of his three friends, the four of them could easily pull it off with a little practice. And the girls were practically begging to be pranked in such a manner, given the ridiculous nickname their group of four had.

Not any more ridiculous than Marauders.

    Oh shut it.

It was with hesitation that he admitted he’d told Lily about Severus, not missing the look James shot his way. The story was not the best, admittedly. “I didn’t mean to it just sort of...slipped out,” he sighed, fidgeting with the edge of the desk he was perched on. “I was telling her everyone that knew about my furry little problem, didn’t even think about it in the moment.” While he’d long ago forgiven Sirius from his actions, the ever present threat that Severus Snape knowing his secret presented was in the forefront of his mind. The snake could destroy everything he held dear, and Remus wasn’t sure that the threat of Dumbledore’s wrath was truly enough to keep it quiet. “She doesn't know everything about it, just that Severus went to the Whomping Willow and saw me - and that you saved him. I didn't tell her how he found out how to get into the willow or anything."