Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) Book Three (Marauders Era)

Author's note: Surprise bonus chapter this week! Also a one shot as well! I got one of Regulus out ("Still Feel The Pain"). Currently most my one shots are only on AO3 but I will eventually move them to wattpad as well haha

CW for references to Remus scratching at himself, and child abuse

-x-

When morning came and Remus returned to the dorm to get ready for the day, he found James and Peter snuggled together on the floor asleep with no sign of Sirius. Remus quietly got his things, dove into the bathroom to get ready, and then left, hoping Sirius was all right. He also hoped Sirius didn't think it was because of him that Remus had left in the night.

He didn't feel very hungry and didn't go to breakfast at all. He wandered around aimlessly until Arithmancy, which he didn't hear a word of. Nor did he hear whatever Aegis said to him as they went to Muggle Studies. He clutched his satchel to his chest, his stomach squirming as they neared the door. Would Sirius be there? He stepped inside and... the other Marauders were already inside. James and Peter were playing wand-cauldron-book while Sirius doodled in a notebook. James greeted Remus cheerfully, Peter said hello though avoided looking at his face, and Sirius glanced up and gave Remus a warm smile.

What?

After class they all headed out together, the atmosphere strange. James was making jokes, Peter was laughing at James's jokes, Sirius strode in silence at a bit of a distance with his hands in his pockets, and Remus scurried behind, wondering what was worse: Peter not looking at him or Sirius being so quiet. He did give a little quirk of his mouth at some of James's jokes but otherwise was in his own world. He hadn't spoken a word, at least not in Remus's company.

They had a free period before lunch, so they went out into a courtyard to lounge along one of the covered paths. It was still pretty chilly out so nobody else was around. Despite the freedom to chat, none of them really spoke and it was really very awkward until Sirius said he needed to go to the loo, and left. James started to follow him but Sirius turned and said he didn't need any help aiming and he'd 'be back soon'. James sat back down, and they didn't see Sirius again until lunch.

Remus wondered if he should talk to Sirius... though highly doubted Sirius would be okay with that, or even let it happen. When he was around he stuck to the group, when he disappeared he really disappeared. And hardly any words fell from his lips. Was he waiting for one of them to say something? Surely not, at least not about that. At least he wasn't sequestering himself away from them. That was one good thing.

Just as bad as Sirius's quietness was the fact Remus's worries had proved to be correct. As the day wore on, he noticed Peter now kept a little space between them at all times, and when Pete talked to him he looked anywhere but Remus's face. It weighed more and more on Remus and twisted his emotions and brain, sometimes taking over his worry about Sirius. So when Divination let out and Remus climbed down the ladder to find James waiting for him needing to talk to him privately, he had a sinking feeling it was because of Pete. During the blow up, Peter had clutched Remus's hand but that was probably just because he needed to hold onto someone, even a monster that would gut him with one swipe of the paw. Had he said something to James?

The two walked along the main corridor for a moment before veering away from everyone else and finding a place where they could chat. Remus slipped his hand up his sleeve and began scratching at his wrist as James shut the door behind them and flicked a light on his wand so they could see.

"Remus—"

"Pete asked you to talk to me, didn't he?" Remus blurted out, trying to keep the pain out of his voice and failing.