Remus awoke with disjointed memories and pain from the night that had just past. He wasn't entirely too sure how long he had slept, he remembered Madam Pomfrey collecting him from the Whomping Willow but everything else remained a blur.
Exam season stress had made this full moon much worse than usual and the evidence of that was the additions to his gallery of scars on his body.
One new deep gash that stretched along his neck line, just beneath his Adam's apple, was already fading due to Madam Pomfrey's incredible healing essence. Several more littered his body and especially his hands too. Sadly, these scars would never fully disappear; the healing essence would close the smallest of wounds and speed up the healing progress for larger wounds. However, there was no remedy for scars caused by 'magic', especially ones so deep.
Supposedly the Marauders had attempted to visit him that morning, but were ushered away by Madam Pomfrey. Sirius then came a second time with the excuse of needing to give Remus his 'Defence Against The Dark Arts' as an attempt to gossip together. Predictably, Madam Pomfrey again shooed him out, knowing this to be one of the boys' most common excuses to join their friend.
Even though his head pounded, Remus tried to catch up on some revision to pass the dragging time. Concentrating wasn't easy, so when some hushed voices could be heard from behind the curtain Madam Pomfrey placed beside his bed to hide him from other students, Remus found himself quickly distracted.
"I'm sorry but he can't have any visitors." Remus heard Madam Pomfrey loudly whisper to the visitor.
"So he is here then?" A soft, calm voice that wasn't regular in the wing was heard.
"Pardon?"
"Remus Lupin, he is here then." Then Remus realised, no one could make his day brighter by saying his name than this person.
"I - Miss McGonagall you cannot go -"
Remus didn't have time to react. Instead all he could do was watch as the curtain flung aside. Time seemed to pause right then.
Ophelia had tears in her eyes. The tears shimmered against her blue eyes, making it impossible not to notice them. Before he could get lost in those eyes and feel worse about the upset he had caused, Remus turned his attention back to his revision - or at least tried to.
"Rem?" The nickname left Ophelia's mouth with a quavering voice.
Remus couldn't bring himself to look back up to Ophelia. Not whilst he laid on the hospital bed shamefully.
"Rem, please." A sniffle was heard, Remus couldn't tell whether Ophelia was now crying because he didn't want to see that. He didn't want to see that hatred.
"Remus. Please just look at me." The use of his full name was like a fatal stab to his heart. She was disgusted with him, Remus was now sure of it.
"Rem-"
"Just leave." Remus interrupted Ophelia this time, but refused to look at her nevertheless.
"No." Ophelia's voice didn't waver this time.
"Go."
"I'm not going Rem."
"PLEASE GO." Remus yelled.
"I can't. Please just look at me." Ophelia answered calmly, deep down she knew that Remus wouldn't ever mean to yell. It just wasn't in his nature. Slowly, Remus lifted his head up until his chocolate eyes met the glassy blue eyes of Ophelia. "Hey Rem."
"Can you go now?" Remus pleaded, hoping that maybe if Ophelia walked out those doors they wouldn't have to discuss the inevitable and all would be forgotten. Rather wishful thinking, but it was what he wanted.
"Rem, please."
"Stop saying please." Remus groaned, growing frustrated that Ophelia wouldn't leave even if a part of him wanted her to stay.
"Why?"
"I don't deserve the politeness."
"And why's that?"
"Because I said so." His words hung in the air alone for a few moments, like both of them were waiting for the other to speak first. That's when Ophelia decided she couldn't take it much longer.
"Because you're a werewolf you mean?" The tears that Remus had hoped were gone, resurfaced onto Ophelia's eyes. That was when Remus realised this was the first time he had seen Ophelia cry. A usually bubbly girl who cared more about others than herself was crying because she saw Remus for what he truly was. A monster.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Don't lie to me." A single tear slipped down Ophelia's cheek, and for once she didn't hesitate to let it continue to fall.
"So you want the truth?" Remus spoke firmly, his voice raising with each word. "I'm a monster! A beast! A disgrace to society!" Remus shouted, he didn't want to shout but it just continued to happpen.
"You're not, Rem." A second tear fell. "You're really not."
"Please go." Remus could no longer hold any eye contact with Ophelia. Seeing those eyes that would make him smile each day look so broken because of him was too much to handle. Instead he focused on his own hands, a painting of grey and white lines drawn by the monster that was a part of him. Now, more than ever, they stood out to him more like a warning not to let anyone in.
"Remus John Lupin, I'm not going anywhere." Ophelia wiped away the tears that laid rest on her cheek, deciding to forget about her own emotions and instead focus on Remus. When Remus didn't lift his head or answer her, Ophelia took a seat on the edge of his bed. "I feel like I've said please more times than I have my entire life." She chuckled, hoping it would raise some sort of reaction from Remus. "But Rem, please. Let me in." As a final attempt to gain Remus' attention, Ophelia took ahold of one of Remus' hands in her own before letting the tears fall once more.
"Why are you crying Fi?" Remus' voice sounded tired and hoarse. "You're saying goodbye aren't you?"
"For goodness sake Rem, no I'm not."
"Oh."
"I'm crying because you're such a fool." Ophelia began to wave her hands around, placing them on her head then pulling them away in frustration. "You're a damn fucking fool Remus Lupin." She spoke through her teeth whilst still biting on to her lip, praying that they wouldn't start bleeding due to the force. "You are such a fool for thinking you're a-a monster, merlin I hate that word. You're not one, ok?"
Remus swallowed the lump that seemed to become suffocating in his throat, he wanted to speak but words were just stuck. Instead he found himself listening to Ophelia intently, wanting to tell her she was wrong but selfishly found he enjoyed hearing these words.
"I am a werewolf though. You've seen the books, the notes and heard the stories. You know how vicious they are, how ugly they are. How ugly I am." Remus touched his scars on his hand, gaining Ophelia's attention. Neglecting her manic hand explanations to trace over the lines littering Remus' hands, Ophelia returned to squeezing Remus' hand whilst she tried to reassure him.
"You are a werewolf once a month, and even then that isn't you. No. The real Rem is the one that reads classic books, shares his chocolate, pranks people with his lunatic friends, has a heart full of kindness and love, is insanely intelligent and hard working, and that's just the start of it. You're the greatest friend I could ever ask for. You need to see that Rem. You need to see how the werewolf isn't Remus John-" Ophelia was interrupted by a hug, one of the warmest hugs she had ever felt.
It took every ounce of energy Remus had but he needed to wrap Ophelia in his arms. Forcing himself to sit upright he wrapped his arms around the side of Ophelia's waist with a firm grip, squeezing her more as the scent of her favourite tea filled his nose. Ophelia relaxed into the hug, the pairs first hug, resting her forehead against his shoulder.
"Thank you." Remus whispered into Ophelia's hair.
"I've done absolutely nothing to deserve a thank you Rem." Ophelia murmured the words into his shoulder. "I just wish I knew sooner, maybe I could have helped."
"You wouldn't be able to help Fi, nobody can." Remus sighed whilst he pulled back from the hug, trying to refrain from flinching as his bones cracked. Ophelia noticed though.
"This is so unfair." Ophelia's eyes filled with tears once more whilst they flicked across each scar that was visible to her.
"Don't cry Fi, please don't."
"I will cry because it's so cruel, you really don't deserve this. I wish I could take it away from you."
"I wish you could just take away the scars."
"No Rem, you shouldn't be ashamed. These scars are a roadmap of your survival. They are a reminder of the times where the moon tried to break you, but failed because the real you fought back." Ophelia spoke strongly, even though tears still fell.
"You're too pure for this world."
"I'm really not. We all have some dark secrets or pasts that haunt us. But all I care about is making sure others don't feel alone. So let me help you in some sort of way." One part of Ophelia felt hypocritical for not telling Remus about her past now, but then a part of her told her that her past struggles were incomparable to his. He was strong, he continued to fight and live his life. Ophelia hadn't, instead letting others conquer her.
"I don't want you to get hurt." Remus spoke, pulling Ophelia out of her negative thoughts.
"Remus I'm not planning on sitting in front of a werewolf screaming for you to bite me I'm not stupid." Ophelia answered in a playful banter manner, mirroring what a normal conversation between the two would be like before she knew he was a werewolf.
"I don't mean that though. Even as a human I can hurt you, I hurt you back on Valentine's Day by yelling at you. That was the werewolf in me and I don't want to see you get hurt again."
"You won't hurt me because I understand. Well I don't fully understand the pain you go through but I can attempt to imagine it. Friends stick together ok? Even through our ugliest times."
"Can I give you another hug?" Remus let the words slip out, all he wanted was to be in the warm embrace of Ophelia again. "Well, uh, could you hug me as I don't think I can move again." Ophelia chuckled at this.
"You don't have to ever ask twice." Ophelia stood from the bottom of the bed and walked up to the top before leaning down to give him one more hug. "Does anyone else know?"
"Yes, the boys have known since second year and Lily has implied she knows but we don't talk about it."
"Lily's too clever for us, honestly think she could be a Ravenclaw." Ophelia giggled as she spoke, remembering the moment Lily worked out who Ophelia 'was'. "To be honest you could be a Ravenclaw too Rem, you're crazy smart."
"How did you work, um, my monthly problem out?" Remus hated compliments, so brushed past it to ask a question that was creeping in his head.
"Oh, well it was-"
"FUCKING SNIVELLUS SHITTING COCKFACE ARSEHOLE SNAPE." A deep yell told the pair that they weren't alone any longer. Both swung their heads around to see Sirius looking extremely red faced, James with clenched fists and Peter looking unsure on how to be.
"Fi, you're ok!" Peter smiled at seeing the girl looking relatively ok other than teary eyes.
"Um, why wouldn't I be?" Ophelia looked at all three boys perplexed. "And what has Severus done now?"
"That's what we want to know, one minute you're sat with him." James spoke first.
"You were sat with Snape?" Remus questioned Ophelia, shocked by the action.
"It's not a crime is it?" Ophelia laughed but stopped when she saw how serious James and Sirius looked over the matter.
"Anyway, you were with him, next thing you're rushing out the hall looking all flustered and then Severus comes up taunting us saying how we've lost you forever. We were coming to ask Moony for help or if he'd seen you, and there you are." James continued.
"So what did he do? We thought he'd poisoned you with one of his creepy potions or somethings." Sirius still had his arms crossed but now leant against a cabinet close to Remus' bed.
"He, um." Ophelia looked at Remus from the side almost as if she wanted his permission to tell them she knew.
"James." Peter tugged on James arm whilst muttering. "She knows."
"Oh my Merlin, Fi knows!" James jumped knees first onto the bed where Remus laid and Ophelia sat. "Wait how do you know?"
"If you had let me finish. Severus-"
"Snivellus." Sirius covered the word with a cough.
"Severus", Ophelia enunciated the name still showing care to the Slytherin, "accidentally pulled out some revision notes on werewolves, then he spoke a bit about them and it all started to click."
"Accident my arse." James scoffed.
"I can see that now." Ophelia felt Remus shiver slightly beside her. "Rem, don't worry I wouldn't even dare to tell him. Even if I hated you, which there's almost no chance of that happening."
Remus nodded in response, knowing that words would never be enough to show his gratitude. Ophelia could sense James' dying need to talk, aided by his fidgeting feet.
"Go on James, just say it then." Ophelia rolled her eyes knowing what words James was about to give her.
"I told you so." James yelled whilst sticking his tongue out.
"Merlin you're so childish James." Remus gruffly chuckled.
"Oh Rem, let the toddler have his moment. You feeling better now JamJam?" Ophelia spoke in a tone like you hear a mother speak to her baby.
"Much FiFi." James clapped his hands together. "But I'll be better once we score an awesome prank on him."
"Oh he deserves one." Sirius agreed.
"I kind of agree, but I don't want to be a bully." Peter shuffled around on his feet.
"Ok, I might let you pull one prank on him but nothing evil. A nice harmless prank if that's even possible." Fi smiled, more so to Peter.
"Anything's possible with Moony as our mastermind and you as our secret weapon Fi." Sirius winked.
"Wait Moony, for the moon? Not for pulling moonies at parties?" Ophelia suddenly realised the connection. "Guys that's kinda cruel naming him after the moon." Ophelia shook her head in disbelief and laughter at the ridiculousness of the Marauders.
"He suits the name though!" Sirius mocked.
"Honestly I'm just used to you maniacs, that's all." Remus chuckled, to be honest the name did bother him initially because he saw it as a taunt. Now though, it was an inside joke that proved he had a family.
"How you feeling Moony?" James changed the topic quickly back to checking how Remus was.
"Tired, sore and frustrated." Remus replied.
Suddenly Ophelia began to feel like she was overstaying her welcome, like this was a private moment that they shared monthly; not something that she should be a part of.
"I'll leave you guys, let you have your time together." Ophelia stood to leave but her hand was grabbed by Remus' calloused hands.
"Don't go yet. They won't mind, will you guys?" Remus asked.
"It's ok Rem, I've got some stuff to do anyway. I can come back later though?" Ophelia smiled, reassuring Remus that Ophelia wasn't just trying to run away from the monster he was.
"If you wouldn't mind. I don't think I can deal with these idiots again." Remus chuckled.
"Of course I'll come. You three look after him and Rem, remember you're not a monster you're Remus John Lupin."
All four boys smiled as Ophelia left the hospital wing, all feeling happy that the 'secret' was revealed to probably the most caring person they knew.
"Maybe we shouldn't prank Snivellus." James chuckled to himself as he spoke.
"What!" Sirius yelled.
"Merlin James are you feeling ok?" Remus jokingly asked.
"Well, come on if it wasn't for Snivellus, Fi wouldn't have found out." James explained.
"Shall we give him some shampoo then? As a thank you?" Peter asked, not meaning to be condescending and rude but it earned laughs from everybody else. "What?"
"Pete, you're amazing. That's probably the best prank idea ever, so simple but so brilliant." Sirius mocked wiping tears away from his eyes.
"Right you three boys have been here less than twenty minutes and you're already causing too much noise. Come on out." Madam Pomfrey appeared behind Sirius after having her thoughts interrupted for the hundredth time since the Marauders arrived.
The matron had also heard the conversation between Ophelia and Remus; in reality she knew that if she followed the 'textbook' she should have asked Ophelia to leave. But she couldn't do that, it wasn't morally right. Remus needs Ophelia probably as much as Ophelia needs Remus - they both just hadn't realised it yet.
"Ok, ok. We're going." Sirius blew a kiss to Remus, who just rolled his eyes in response.
"See you later Moony." Peter waved and followed Sirius out.
"Poppy give me one minute." James pleaded.
"With the use of my first name, I'll give you only thirty seconds." Madam Pomfrey scolded James, but deep down loved the Marauder's relationship with herself and each other.
"So?" Remus looked at James who had that mischievous glint in his eye.
"Soooooo, Fi didn't see you as a monster hm?" James brushed his chin with fingers, acting like he was deep in thought.
"I guess not, no." Remus answered, waiting for something else to happen though due to James' usual actions.
"I TOLD YOU SO!" James jumped off the bed in excitement. "Oh my Merlin, I got to say that twice in one day!" James pumped his fist into the air out of excitement.
"You look way too pleased with yourself." Remus wanted to act annoyed, but he couldn't. He couldn't even act annoyed around his friends simply because of how much they meant to him.
"Oh I am." James clapped. "See you later Moony, hey Poppy," James called as he began to leave the hospital wing. "I was forty three seconds, you're welcome!"
Remus laughed once again at the boys antics whilst watching the door close. That smile from the laugh stayed on his face once he thought of Ophelia; of Fi knowing the truth and still accepting him. Ophelia had reminded him he was still loveable.
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