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Remus huddled in the hideaway and tried not to worry about how his father hadn't sent him any letters since the first one months ago. Maybe his father found things easier when he pretended Remus didn't exist. Remus knew he wouldn't be going home over winter break, that he'd be at the castle bothering Madam Pomfrey who wouldn't get to celebrate with her family because of him. Because he'd be transforming too close to Christmas for her to safely go home for the holidays.
He tried not to worry about Sirius, who would be going home in about a week to his explosive and abusive mother. Who would have to face a dementor alone, he had now learned more about such horrible creatures and knew poor Sirius would only have his cousin Andromeda to make the holidays bearable. But he failed at not worrying about both things, and found himself in an awful mood as he gave up on his hiding spot and walked the grounds, the setting sun behind him. With the thin layer of snow on the ground and the winter chill in the air, Remus was hardly dressed for the weather in his thin school robes. However, he hardly noticed this as he was so lost in his thoughts.
"Ello there, Remus," came a deep jovial shout that stopped Remus in his tracks.
He looked up towards the friendly booming voice, surprised to see he had wandered near Hagrid's hut. The groundskeeper waved at him with such sincere happiness that Remus felt a little cheered and walked over to the towering man. The groundskeeper of Hogwarts was dressed in his typical thick dragonhide slacks and his moleskin overcoat. Hagrid's hair had been recently trimmed so that the shaggy mane now seemed more tamed and did not quite reach his shoulders.
"Hello, sir. How are you?"
He was met by Hagrid's deep guffawing.
"' Sir,' ee says! Not much of ere sir. Just call me Hagrid, that will do."
Remus smiled sheepishly.
"Alright then, Hagrid. How are you?"
"Good I..." he trailed off suddenly, as loud barks echoed through the evening air. Remus was tackled onto the cold ground, a slobbery tongue meeting his cheek with unrestrained glee.
"Off Brutus, you ol mutt!" Hagrid shouted sternly, yanking the massive dog off Remus. Now with the snow leaving him wet and shivering, Remus tried to pull clumps of the dogs' fur off of himself. Unfortunately, Brutus had an extremely thick beige coat that seemed to stick to everything due to the sheer amount of slobber the dog seemed able to produce. The constant companion to the gamekeeper came up to the shoulders of most first year students. The dog whined and sat by his master's side. The dog's tail thumped from side to side as he watched Remus clearly wanting to jump on him again. Remus felt a little awkward as Hagrid helped him up, unsure if Brutus was just that friendly or if this had something to do with what he was once a month.
Remus didn't have to wonder long, however, as Brutus suddenly barked again and bounded up the hill intercepting Peter, James, and Sirius who were running down it dressed in their winter robes. Brutus started towards Peter but Sirius' delighted cry made him change course and he happily plowed Sirius over into the snow. Hagrid went running after him but Sirius' laughs were as loud and happy as Brutus' barks and the groundskeeper simply shook his head bemused.
"He sher likes yer."
"I sure like him!" Sirius laughed, with James' help finally getting to his feet. Remus wondered if he had time to run away from them all, but the Forbidden Forest seemed like the only place to hide, and he didn't wish to go in there in the slightest.
"Well, yer all welcome to come in fore a cup o tea if yer like," Hagrid said invitingly, gesturing to the little hut. He didn't seem to know the other's names, perhaps not having seen them since their first day at Hogwarts. Remus decided not to run away again and walked towards them instead, introducing Hagrid to Peter, James, and Sirius.
"My dad told me to tell you hi when I got the chance," James explained with a broad grin. "I actually meant to stop by sooner but the months have been flying by."
"Oh, that's alright. They always do yer first couple o years. Then yer OWLS and NEWTS happen yer last few years and it's all over for you know it."
"But I heard you didn't graduate," Sirius interjected with an unbelievable lack of tact. Hagrid's warm and inviting air dimmed some as his expression changed into shame and a guardedness.
"I've seen enough students pass by to know."
Sirius realized he had offended Hagrid and looked remorseful.
"Well, my cousins are all a bunch of nitwits. I don't know why I ever listen to them," Sirius explained, trying to make up for his insensitive comment. Hagrid seemed to have thick skin because he bounced back quite quickly, his smile truly a contagious one.
"Now not all of them. Yer cousin Andromeda is a real treat. She and Ted have visited me several times. Such a nice couple they are."
It was Hagrid's turn to say something he ought not to, because Sirius clearly did not know this information. He took a staggering step back, his eyes widening in what would have been a comedic fashion if he didn't look so horrified.
"Ted? Do you mean Ted Tonks? As in Muggle-born Hufflepuff Ted Tonks?"
"I should not have said that. I should not have said that." Hagrid groaned, shaking his head, looking very guilty.
"Ted Tonks!" shrieked Sirius, much more upset than Remus thought necessary. It quite hurt to hear Sirius so bothered by his cousin dating a Muggle-born. Apparently, he wasn't the only one to think so, because James punched Sirius' arm quite hard.
"What's the matter with that?" James asked, casting a pointed look at Remus whose face went hot and he quickly ducked it.
His three roommates thought he was Muggle-born, and Remus hadn't actually corrected their misconception. He figured it made more sense for him not to have much knowledge of the wizarding world, rather than them realize his father just hadn't cared enough to properly inform him. He figured it would be hard to explain why his father had thought that would be a waste of time, as Remus was never supposed to have been here. Sirius followed James' gaze and paled.
"Oh, bollucks. I didn't mean it like that, Remus. It's just well...well Drommie is a Black and...my aunt would be livid if she found out."
Hagrid had gone quiet while they were talking back and forth, but he shook his head again hearing the cause of Sirius' concern.
"No one else knows. None of yer should know. They been keepin it a secret," he explained, and Sirius relaxed. Though by the way he was pressing his lips tightly together, he was still very displeased about it. Remus was glad when Hagrid invited them again into his hut as he was beginning to freeze and the topic changed to more pleasant things like what Christmas was like at Hogwarts.
He knew that James had only asked because they all knew Remus would be staying behind. But by the end of Hagrid's explanations of the party and feast, the other three were wishing they had signed up to stay behind too.
"Well, you'd know I'd stay if I had the choice, mate," Sirius added with a wistful grin.
"I would, but my family parties are legendary and I'd probably make my mum cry if I didn't go home," James mumbled unhelpfully.
"Me too!" Peter chimed in. "My mom and dad are really excited to see me. Er, not that...yours aren't, Remus. I just meant..."
"No, it's ok. I don't mind you guys leaving. Really, it's fine." Remus truly meant this because if they stayed he'd have to come up with another excuse for his disappearance.
In fact, it was a huge relief everyone he knew fairly well would be leaving for the holidays, since it made things easier. Plus, the loneliness aspect of it didn't bother him. Remus was certainly used to being alone. Hagrid patted Remus' back lightly, but with enough force to almost slam his head into the table they were all crowded around.
"You can come to visit me if yer like," the kind man offered before getting up to get the teapot that was screaming curses now that it was ready. In fact, the curses it was spewing were rather rude ones that Professor Sprout, who was a stickler on language, would not at all appreciate. Remus found the sound amusing, but kept his face neutral as the other three, who had possibly grown up with such kitchenware, didn't seem to register it as anything special. Either that or they were all still feeling mildly guilty about leaving Remus alone.
"I'll be sure to do that, Hagrid. See, I won't be alone."
"I serpose I could ask Dumbledore if you could help me in the Forbidden Forest. That would sher make yer holidays eventful," Hagrid mused, pouring them all something that looked like a liquid mud into their large mugs. James and Sirius immediately wrinkled their noses and pushed theirs away. Peter pretended to sip it and quickly set it back down.
Realizing Hagrid was watching them expectantly, Remus picked up his mug and drained it. A thick substance ran down his throat, and it was only years of similarly unpleasant medicinal potions that kept him from throwing up. At least it was warm though, because even with the fireplace heating up the whole hut Remus was still cold from earlier. So he forced himself to finish it, the earthy aftertaste strong as the rock-hard scones the gamekeeper also had produced. Sirius, James, and Peter were looking at Remus with a mixture of awe and horror, though it may have also been because they thought he'd be going into the Forbidden Forest without them.
It was no secret James and Sirius wanted to go into the forest and had contemplated doing so on several occasions. But no one could enter the forest without getting horribly lost except Hagrid or without alerting the gamekeeper, and even James and Sirius weren't that stupid.
"Blimey Hagrid, can't you wait till after break to do that," Sirius whined, giving Hagrid his best pleading face. James followed suit and the gamekeeper seemed to find them awfully persuasive.
"I suppose I could ask. It depends on Dumbledore."
They then got into a much less pleasant conversation about the Forbidden Forest. They were just getting into dangerous territory, as James had asked what monsters lived there when they were interrupted by a knock.
"I'll get that," Hagrid called. The gamekeeper clambered over to the door, nearly taking out the table as he went. His shack seemed far too small for him, but when Remus had hinted at that Hagrid had proudly stated Dumbledore built it for him and it truly seemed to be something he treasured dearly.
"Come on in, come on in," Hagrid greeted hospitably.
Remus sat up straighter, immediately fearing it was a professor and they had accidentally stayed out past curfew. Instead, a fellow Gryffindor walked in covered in dirt. She was older than them and it took Remus a long time to remember her name: Patricia Rakepike. James and Sirius didn't seem to have the same difficulty though. In fact, they seemed to know her and both jumped to their feet looking like they wished to salute her.
Patricia could have been Lily's older sister, they both had the same red hair and the same shade of blue-green eyes. In fact, Remus wondered briefly if she was before remembering Lily saying she only had one sister and her name was Petunia.
"Hiya boys," Patricia called loudly, handing Hagrid back something none of them could make out.
"The great Patricia is gracing us with her presence," Sirius whispered to James, clutching his shoulders tightly. Both boys truly seemed star-struck and Remus covered his mouth with his sleeve biting back a laugh.
It was quite the sight to see. Patricia seemed to fully realize the effect she had on them. Peter seemed amused too, though he was typically wary of girls having been bullied terribly by them back when he was in a wizarding daycare by his home.
"Now I recognize you three." She grinned, gesturing to Peter, James, and Sirius.
"You've all been in detention more than once, especially Black and Potter. But who's this?" she asked boldly and friendly, looking over Remus. She looked as if she was trying to decipher if he was more a Black and Potter, or Pettigrew when it came to pulling pranks.
"I'm Remus. Nice to meet you," he murmured shyly, sticking his hand out to her. This seemed to confirm something for her, for she scoffed and took his hand. A jolt of electricity rushed through Remus, making his hair stand on end. They all laughed at him and his face went red, she thumped his back grinning widely.
"Beginner's mistake, kid."
James asked her what charm she used to do that but she just winked.
"You two may be promising, but not promising enough to earn my secrets."
Sirius groaned loudly and they both begged her for tips and tricks. The boys gathered around her like two puppies eagerly greeting their master. Remus bit back a laugh again and walked over to Hagrid, who had unfortunately started another pot of what he called tea.
"Patricia is a good one, she is. But she sure gets the first and second years riled up," chuckled Hagrid when he realized he had company.
"She seems...nice," Remus sighed, smoothing his hair down and trying to be a good sport about it. Hagrid smiled and handed him, much to his horror, another cup of tea.
"She's a real good student too. Especially loves to care fer magical creatures," he exclaimed with a great deal of passion so that Remus didn't have to wonder if Hagrid shared her interest or not.
He then went over to Patricia, who was laughing at Sirius and James who were now bowing down to her, pride gone in an attempt to learn some sort of trick spell or whatever it was they so desperately wanted to know.
Remus watched in awe as Hagrid handed her a cup of tea and she thanked him for it. Calming down some, she drank it much slower than Remus had with an exclamation about how good it was. James and Sirius quit groveling, stunned, and Hagrid explained what exactly was in the tea which made Remus go rather green at the gross concoction, and made Patricia smirk knowingly.
They passed a few more high-energy minutes with Patricia the center of attention before she reminded them all to head up to the castle before they ended up breaking the rules.
"I thought you didn't care about the rules," Sirius sighed dramatically, sounding betrayed. Patricia scoffed and tweaked his nose.
"Yes, but I'm not about to get caught being a bad influence on icky firsties, now am I? Well, goodnight Hagrid. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight you lot."
Then they were being ushered by the fourth year out into the freezing winter night air. Remus shivered and held his cloak tighter around him, grateful once more for Dumbledore's present, for without it he'd surely have frozen by now.
Peter trailed back with Remus as James and Sirius circled around Patricia, seemingly deciding on annoying her into submission. The older girl was stubborn and gave them quite the run for their money but by the time they entered the castle, Remus could tell the boys were slowly wearing her down.
"Alright alright, enough you insufferable buggers!" she huffed, whacking James lightly over the head who was closest to her. He made a big deal of it dropping to the ground in fake pain, rolling around howling loudly. Patricia paled looking this way and that, but with the volume James was using it would only be a matter of time before a professor found them. Or worse, Peeves.
"Alright, alright! I'll teach you one thing. But you have to shut up the rest of the way. Got it?"
Remus wondered why she hadn't given in sooner, for suddenly Sirius and James were perfect little angels. They would have walked in silence the rest of the way back but Patricia ordered the two boys to walk ahead and much to their surprise fell back to walk with Peter and Remus.
"You two must be bloody saints to put up with them all the time."
Remus still felt awkward around the older student, but knew Peter would be more tongue-tied than him. The responsibility to respond fell on him. He tried to pretend Patricia was actually James or Sirius and, knowing she wanted such a casual response, spoke to her in a similar manner he would them.
"They are insufferable. I dare say we deserve a medal. Don't you agree, Peter?" His attempt to rope Peter into the conversation failed as the red-faced boy nodded and then dashed ahead as if Patricia was the scariest creature he'd ever been faced with. Remus sighed heavily, his discomfort growing as he now found himself alone with her.
She had a wider jaw and smaller eyes but if he squinted she looked like a tall Lily, so he tried to remain calm.
"Well, that one isn't much of a Gryffindor is he?" she chortled, watching Peter catch up to James and Sirius who kept shooting furtive looks back at them. Remus felt himself bristle at her insult.
"He really is quite brave. He just doesn't know how to talk to girls yet, is all," he exclaimed, coming immediately to Peter's defense.
"Hm, I guess the rumors about you and the letters to Sirius really were just that. You're quite the loyal one, aren't you? And brave as any true Gryffindor."
He looked away from her, finding his courage leaving him once more. He had no idea how to respond to such a thing and knew he must be very red, both from shame about the whole letter fiasco and embarrassment at a talented older student's approval.
"Oh come off it. You're the only one treating me like a regular person, don't stop now," she sighed, and that's when Remus realized why she had sent the other two up ahead. He looked at her surprised and found her cheeks were pink too. She was uncomfortable with James and Sirius' adoration, though she hid it well. Remus figured she'd like it but realized this wasn't the case at all.
"Sorry about them. I guess they just really like the pranks you pull?" He figured this is what their excitement had been about, but truthfully he hadn't been paying close enough attention to figure it out.
"Hahaha well, I have quite the reputation I suppose. Still, you'd think I was invincible the way those two look at me," she half-laughed, half-muttered.
"Do all the first years act like that?"
"Mostly. I had to tutor a group of Hufflepuffs for detention once and the boys wouldn't focus at all and kept asking me about my manual."
"Manual?"
"Yeah, that's how your friends know about all the pranks I've pulled even before you lot went here. I kept a running commentary of sorts and some moron made copies and what was supposed to be between friends ended up with the whole bloody school knowing about it," she huffed, irritated once more by her notoriety.
"Well, first-year boys are dumb," he attempted to console her, feeling apologetic for his whole grade of boys, though he only really knew three of them. Patricia laughed and looked at him amused.
"I suppose that's true. But you don't seem stupid."
He blushed again once more, at a loss with her praise. But luckily she wasn't done speaking so he didn't have to say anything.
"I suppose it's not the worst thing. But now that I'm in year four I'm starting to think about my future and I sort of want to be known for more than my past pranks, you know?"
"Hagrid said you are a really great student."
"That's because I am," she laughed. They were almost to the Fat Lady now, the other three were waiting impatiently for them. Sirius was practically jumping up and down in his excitement to learn one of the many secrets of Patricia.
"Well...I suppose if you wanted to focus on your studies more. Then...well I guess you could pass all your secrets onto a younger generation, then they would be the ones famous or infamous, however, you look at it."
Remus certainly hadn't meant much more from his statement than a friendly suggestion to help her out. But Patricia stopped walking and raised her eyebrows, amused and impressed.
"I suppose this 'younger generation' would be your friends?"
Remus opened his mouth to protest, not at all wanting her to encourage James and Sirius more than they already were by her. She laughed and patted his shoulder in a much too familiar way for his liking. She seemed to think just because they were in the same house they were basically friends, a belief held by many Gryffindor's Remus had come to realize.
"I guess you have a point. Still, I ought to make them work for it, don't you think?"
A rather devious smile had stretched across her face now as she seemed to ponder just how to do so. Remus waited patiently, unable to walk ahead to the others as Patricia's hand prevented him from leaving her side.
He dared a glance at Sirius, who was standing at the Fat Lady facing them, his mouth was open wide in shock. James seemed to be seething in jealousy and Peter looked worried, as if afraid Remus might be needing to be rescued. He personally thought Peter's thought process was the closest to the truth. Finally, Patricia let him go, coming to a decision.
"Very well. I will teach them my ways. Well, eventually anyways. I still have the rest of this year to cause some havoc," she grinned brilliantly and wickedly. "But next year, the serious exams start and if I find your friends worthy I will impart my wisdom to them." She glanced ahead at them and laughed at their expressions.
"They are jealous of you."
"There's really no reason to be," he hurriedly replied, hoping it would stay that way. Patricia laughed and whispered something under her breath that Remus pretended not to hear completely mortified.
"You'll be quite the heartthrob when you're older. It's sure going to be a fun couple of years. Can't wait to see them chase after all of you."
Luckily she seemed to buy he hadn't heard, for she had been awfully quiet. They hurried and reached James and Sirius, who were struggling to stay quiet and still as Patricia looked them over.
Once inside the common room, she asked James and Sirius several questions about her past pranks Remus didn't understand at all. However, both boys immediately knew the answers which seemed to impress Patricia and make up her mind.
"Alright, I'll take you boys under my wing and slowly teach you my tricks. Remus here has convinced me to pass on my legacy to you all. So, if you remain worthy next year you can take over where I leave off."
Then she left them laughing, leaving James and Sirius stunned, frozen perhaps for the rest of their lives.
They'd be a warning to all other stupid first-year boys not to go after your Hogwarts idols, that they were too young to handle the power that was fourth-year magic.
Remus shook his head at them amused, figuring he'd title their statues "Dreamers Folly." Then he'd be the famous one, how ironic. He covered his mouth with his sleeve, having to work really hard this time not to laugh.
Peter was once again concerned, perhaps thinking the scary fourth year cursed his friends who had yet to move, both their mouths comically hanging open. Peter called their names while Remus saw an opportunity too good to pass.
He circled around them, both their eyes glazed over with awe and disbelief. He took a scone Hagrid had insisted he take, broke it in half with great difficulty, and stuck the pieces in both their mouths.
He smirked, feeling justified. That's what they got for not drinking the tea. This made them come back to life and they coughed and sputtered out the scones with comedic faces of disgust. Remus had to use both his hands to muffle his laughter and his whole body shook with it.
"Blah blah! Remus Lupin, if you hadn't just made our Hogwarts dreams come true I'd sock you," James exclaimed.
"Why do you keep doing that?" Sirius asked, after spitting the rest of the scone into some poor student's paper left out in the otherwise deserted common room.
"Do what?" he asked when he realized Sirius was addressing him.
"Covering up your laugh. We've heard you laugh before. It's not like you have an ugly laugh or anything."
"Who cares about that right now, Black! Remus, you are amazing! You're the best! I think I'm in love with you!" James shouted gleefully, running around the common room with enthusiasm. Sirius was a little less reluctant to let the matter go but he too was overcome with glee and soon he and James were clutching each other spinning around singing "Remus is the best. Patricia is the best~"
"If you four aren't in your dorms in the next two minutes I'm giving you detention and docking fifty house points," came the low timbre of Kingsley Shacklebolt, seventh-year prefect, and notoriously known for his temper when woken. He stood in elegant purple night robes scowling at them. Even in their giddiness James and Sirius knew better than to mess with the large Gryffindor Quidditch captain.
"Sorry, Kingsley."
"We'll go right away, Kingsley."
"Then do it," he sighed his usually calming low voice now purposely threatening. All four of them dashed to their rooms with various levels of amusement and nerves.
"Best day ever!" Sirius declared sincerely before they all fell into their respective beds and went to sleep.