[identity profile] shutupeccles.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] small_gifts
Title: Remorse
Author/Artist: [livejournal.com profile] shutupeccles
Recipient: [livejournal.com profile] cackling_madly
Rating: PG-13
Contents or warnings (highlight to view): * cheeky and articulate teenage boys using MWPP era appropriate slang, minor swearing, drug and sexual references *
Word count: 1937
Summary: Padfoot eavesdrops because he’s worried about Moony. Inefficient spell casting garbles the communication and Padfoot’s overreacts. Padfoot is certain he’s blown any chance of convincing Moony’s parents he isn’t an utter twat, or of becoming more than a friend to Moony, after that whole Snape-in-the-Shrieking-Shack debacle. A bout of un-Black behaviour puts things to rights. Wormtail and Prongs provide moral support and comic relief as good friends should.
Notes: Horklumps and Graphorns feature in Newt Scamander’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.




The door closed softly behind Moony. Prongs counted to 183 in his head before sneaky footsteps followed Moony out of the dorm. “And there goes Padfoot,” Prongs announced for Wormtail’s benefit.

“Three minutes,” Wormtail replied. “He’s learning patience.”

“He’s rather acutely attuned to Moony’s moods of late. Have you noticed?”

“Rather,” agreed Wormtail. “Perhaps their cycles have synchronised.”

The friends chuckled in the darkness and silently wondered whether the other two were secretly getting together, or merely hoping to.

________________________________________


Padfoot could tell Moony was in a tizz about something. Moony in a tizz wasn’t much different from Moony outside a tizz unless you knew what to look for, unlike Padfoot, Wormtail, or Prongs. Potter’s tizzes were legendary, Moony’s rare. This must be a doozy since Padfoot found Moony kneeling by the common room fireplace and talking to his dad. Moony only called home via Floo when he couldn’t confide in the Marauders or Dumbledore about something. Padfoot often used the Floo to sneak into Grimmauld Place and rearrange the furniture since he’d moved out. Prongs would simply ask Mummy Potter for more socks or simply say “hi” through the fireplace because he couldn’t be arsed with owls. The Pettigrews had theirs disconnected after Padfoot convinced Wormtail to transport the Marauders to Nicaragua during a sleepover. The Potters were the only Marauder parents that liked Sirius. He wanted Moony’s to like him. Sirius wanted Remus to like him, love him, get off on him and with him. Sirius Black wanted Remus Lupin like James Potter wanted Lily Evans. He just didn’t make a West End production of it.

Moony’s current mood must be a shocker. For obvious reasons his secrecy charms were impeccable. Not tonight though. Snippets of conversation escaped his private bubble and Padfoot did not like what he heard.

“…prefer everyone to Sirius…Regulus the calmer, quiet, athletic academic…other Slytherins…despite everything, I love Severus and…”

Padfoot stared at the back of Moony’s head and thought ‘You bastard!’ repeating that thought as he climbed the stairs to their dorm. “Bastard,” he said loudly enough to wake his true and proper friends.

“So you know what’s bothering Moony then?” Wormtail asked without a hint of drowsiness. The buggers hadn’t even been asleep!

“That letter he got from his parents, saying how they ‘disapprove’ of me knowing why he’s Moony because ‘those Blacks can’t be trusted’…”

“The one you stole from his pocket while he was taking a piss,” Prongs said to hurry Padfoot along.

“He’s downstairs assuring them he prefers everyone else in Hogwarts to me.”

Wormtail sat forward and rested both elbows on his knees as he stared at Padfoot. “That can’t be right.”

“He gave my git of a brother a glowing endorsement and then confessed to…” It was too horrible to repeat. Padfoot would put a stop to this Slytherin-loving nonsense. The next full moon was only days away. He’d make damn certain Moony would never be snogging Snivellus effing Snape!

“You saying he’s hot for someone else?” asked Prongs.

“Piss off,” Padfoot replied weakly then he realised he may have dropped himself in it. “Someone other than who?” he asked Prongs.

“You, you tit!”

“What are we going to do about it?” Wormtail asked as though this was something Marauding could fix.

We aren’t doing anything Wormtail. This requires a solo mission.”

________________________________________


Prongs tailed Padfoot while Wormtail stayed close to Moony. Padfoot, the cunning sod, distracted Prongs by placing Evans in his path. If Wormtail hadn’t gone rat and scarpered out of the tunnel to tell Prongs what he’d learned then Severus Snape would be a dead git or worse, a werewolf.

“You half-deaf idiot!” Prongs bellowed at Padfoot after hauling a quivering Snape to the infirmary. “Sirius not Severus.”

“Fuck.”

“Slightly, yeah.”

“Oh fuck.”

Prongs linked his fingers behind his head and stared at the ceiling as Padfoot became a puddle of misery on the corridor floor.

________________________________________


Wormtail offered to wait outside the Headmaster’s office. Padfoot twitchily shook his head and took out a pipe stuffed with weed. Wormtail deftly lifted the pipe from Padfoot’s trembling fingers and pocketed it. Padfoot smiled gratefully. Pleas for mercy would seem less genuine if he was off his face.

“Listen, Wormtail. Moony’s going to feel like absolute dung when he gets in, so you wait with Prongs at the infirmary.”

Wormtail’s watery eyes widened and he fidgeted with his fingers. “No one’s supposed to know what happened.”

“Like Prongs wouldn’t gloat to you about playing the hero,” Padfoot scoffed.

Wormtail grinned at that then left Padfoot to face his fate sober and alone. Padfoot leaned his head back against the wall and repeated a mantra of mild profanities under his breath until Professor McGonagall called him into Dumbledore’s office. His carefully rehearsed speech of apology congealed and refused to return to its original state.

________________________________________


John Lupin fully intended to have that Black menace expelled before taking Remus out of Hogwarts. Of all the wizards in this school, why did his son have to become stuck on the Toujours pur Emperor of Detention? Remus admitted himself that he should prefer anyone and everyone to Sirius ruddy Black. The younger brother sounded alright. John had found his name on various awards and trophies. Surely Remus would see sense after this debacle. He could not afford to think with his dick.

“Sirius effing…” John muttered wrathfully.

His wife touched his hand in a soothing gesture, which actually meant she sought comfort from him. John obliged and tried harder to be calm. Then the door opened behind them as Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall brought in the profanity. Rationality, be damned! John stood with his wand at the ready to greet his son’s ‘friend’ with an Unforgiveable Curse or two.

Black balanced his wand against both palms and placed it at John’s feet in the wizards’ gesture of surrender. “Don’t take Remus home. He deserves to be here. I don’t. I’m sorry. He… He’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of and never been able to have. I liked… I love him and now I’ve lost him forever.” Silent tears slid from the boy’s eyes while he listed all the ways he hoped to make amends.

John stared at the weeping evil incarnate and then at his wife. He lowered his wand. True Blacks did not express remorse, simply because they couldn’t feel it. John told Sirius to describe events from the beginning. The two parents and two Professors listened without interrupting.

“Something similar happened between two Ravenclaws and a Gryffindor when I attended Hogwarts,” admitted John. “None of those incidents involved a werewolf, however. Still, whatever punishment the Professors set is good enough for me.” John gave Sirius back his wand.

Professor Dumbledore nodded his approval before delving into consequences.

________________________________________


There was a soft, warm, rounded mass beside his hip when Remus woke in the infirmary. Peter must have gone rat and curled up against him to stand guard. Remus reached across to gratefully stroke Wormtail’s fur and instead encountered a shaggy, human head.

“You!” Remus said harshly and pushed Black away. He no longer thought of that turd in terms of Marauder nicknames. Black’s form of friendship deserved to be rogered by a rampant herd of Graphorns! Rage filled Remus more than fear; rage and humiliation. He launched himself at Black, knocking him to the floor. “I defended you!” Punch, pummel, pound. “Stood up for you!” Pummel, punch, kick. Pant. “Trusted, damn it Sirius, I…”

Four pairs of hands separated them. Black remained sitting on the floor with the other Marauders behind him. Of course they’d take his side!

Potter said “He knows, Moony.”

“Remus,” Mum said while letting go of his left shoulder. “It was a horrible, dangerous mistake that started with a misunderstanding.”

“You know Padfoot’s the jealous type,” Peter put in. “Remember that time my sugar quill was larger than his?”

Prongs turned his face to the side to hide a reflexive smile. Moony had to suppress his own. That was different. No one’s life or sanity had been in danger then.

“What possible link can there be between…?” Remus began to ask. His father whispered in his ear before Remus finished the question. “Oh.” Remus looked near rather than at Sirius. “You’re still an idiot. I don’t forgive you. Have you been expelled?”

“Professor Dumbledore decided to leave that up to you. Are you staying?” Sirius asked.

Remus snorted. “As if I’d be allowed after…” He was interrupted by more murmuring from his father. Important words like ‘remorse’, ‘accountability’ and ‘love’ were punctuated by meaningful glances in Sirius’ direction. Sirius had taken full responsibility, an anomaly in itself, but it was something else that finally won the Lupins over. “He told Walburga that, as well as the Potters?” Remus asked quietly. His mother nodded. Remus couldn’t believe it. “You can’t honestly plan to support me once we finish school, Sirius. That’s ages away.”

“Like there’s anyone who compares to you,” Sirius said brashly.

“You don’t have any money!”

“No, but I can earn it. You can’t. Of course, if you’d rather shack up with my Slytherin brother…”

“Not on your life! I should, but I don’t. And I haven’t forgiven you.”

“You know you will Moony,” said Prongs.

“You always do,” added Wormtail.

“It’s so inevitable that we’re assuming you already have and are only making a fuss now for the sake of appearances.” Prongs was undoubtedly proud of his statement, arrogant twat. Remus didn’t know how to respond since it wasn’t entirely false.

“Clever arrogant twat,” Remus muttered. Padfoot winked at him and Remus failed to smother a smile. Lord he was sexy and naughty and bound to lead Remus further astray.

“Good grief, what have we fallen victim to?” Remus heard Mum ask Dad.

“Our omnipotent charisma,” Prongs said with emphatic flair. His grin spread through the Marauders, including Moony. He was one of them after all.

Moony’s mother stifled a chortle and said “Oh dear.”

________________________________________


“Forgiven me yet?” Padfoot asked Moony in hopes of receiving absolution and a kiss.

Wormtail tallied how many times Padfoot asked in relation to positive responses from Moony. The count reached 61:0 before Moony showed signs of weakening.

________________________________________


Moony and Padfoot sat on the couch closest to the common room fireplace and were wrapped around each other from lips to legs. The non-snogging Marauders sat on the floor in front of either armrest, flicking Horklumps back and forth across the tatty red carpet or occasionally into the crackling fire. Everyone else had cleared off.

“Remember when Moony’s parents disapproved of Padfoot?” Wormtail asked Prongs as their friends snogged.

“Indeed I do Wormtail, quite fondly in fact. It was a sunny Wednesday with a moderate south-westerly breeze. I was wearing pants...!”

Moony firmly pressed a sock-clad foot against Prongs’ cheek until he shut up.

“I think it’s time we head upstairs. Got those annoying things called ‘lessons’ in the morning,” Wormtail told Prongs rather loudly.

The other pair kept snogging and began to lay flat on the couch with Padfoot on top. Padfoot began to lift a section of Moony’s shirt.

“Right you are Wormtail,” said Prongs directly above Padfoot’s ear.

Moony swatted Prongs away without breaking suction as Prongs warned him not to get herpes. Moony’s hand slid into Padfoot’s pocket to retrieve a flavoured French-letter found in the naughty section of Honeydukes. He held it up with a flourish and hooked one leg around Padfoot’s bum as they continued snogging.

“I doubt your parents would approve of that Mr Lupin,” Prongs scolded in imitation of Professor McGonagall then fled upstairs with Wormtail before their friends took out their wands.

Date: 2012-12-15 09:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] brighty18.livejournal.com
From the beginning ( “Three minutes,” Wormtail replied. “He’s learning patience.”

“He’s rather acutely attuned to Moony’s moods of late. Have you noticed?”

“Rather,” agreed Wormtail. “Perhaps their cycles have synchronised.”
) to the very funny ending (Moony swatted Prongs away without breaking suction as Prongs warned him not to get herpes. Moony’s hand slid into Padfoot’s pocket to retrieve a flavoured French-letter found in the naughty section of Honeydukes. He held it up with a flourish and hooked one leg around Padfoot’s bum as they continued snogging.

“I doubt your parents would approve of that Mr Lupin,” Prongs scolded in imitation of Professor McGonagall then fled upstairs with Wormtail before their friends took out their wands.
) I loved this. It was the perfect blend of humor, angst, wit, and hurt-comfort, all whilst everyone remained beautifully in character.

I also have to say that I really, really love Peter here. He's funny and witty and very much deserved to be a Marauder. Sadly, you don't see that in enough stories these days. But he really had to have something going for himself or he never would have been there friend.

Remus' parents were all kinds of awesome, too. From their anger to their understanding to their humor, they seemed very real and very much like the types of people who would have spawned a wonderful boy like Remus. And I'm glad they learned to like Sirius, too.

Great story.

Date: 2012-12-16 05:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] magnetic-pole.livejournal.com
I agree with brighty--Peter really stood out to me here. I love it when I get a sense of why he was a friend, early on.

Also, I really enjoyed this line:

“What are we going to do about it?” Wormtail asked as though this was something Marauding could fix.

Enjoyed! Maggie

Date: 2012-12-16 06:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cackling-madly.livejournal.com
OMG THANK YOU *___*

I spent the day running around and buying presents for other people and I get home and find a present of my own! :D. An awesome present, btw.

I love this! Your Marauders together (and apart) were so great and it felt just very them. I especially loved the scene in the infirmary with Remus' parents and MWPP. And James has the best line:

“Good grief, what have we fallen victim to?” Remus heard Mum ask Dad.

“Our omnipotent charisma,” Prongs said with emphatic flair. His grin spread through the Marauders, including Moony. He was one of them after all.


The end scene was great, too, and the whole fic had them acting like boys, even when two of them were making out, lol

Thanks again for this. You made my night! <3

Date: 2012-12-16 11:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laroseminuit.livejournal.com
And that, children, is why one must never half-eavesdrop. It can only lead to tears.

Although mostly laugh-related tears this time. I giggling all the way through.

Other thoughts I had while reading:

I really liked Lupin's parents.

I'm really curious as to what exactly the Marauders were getting up to in Nicaragua. Nothing good, I imagine.

A naughty section at Honeydukes... now that would be interesting.

Date: 2012-12-17 01:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pavlablack.livejournal.com
I really enjoyed this, especially the interactions between the boys. I'm usually no fan of Peter but you've written him very well. I love the conversation between him and James in the first scene, and Sirius's thoughts on Remus in the second scene, especially this part:

Sirius wanted Remus to like him, love him, get off on him and with him. Sirius Black wanted Remus Lupin like James Potter wanted Lily Evans. He just didn’t make a West End production of it.

Nicely written and good insight into both Sirius and James.

You really had me going there with Sirius overhearing Remus say "I love Severus," but it was an interesting twist on the motivation behind the prank on Snape, and it's always nice to see that done in a way that hasn't been done before. And James explaining it to Sirius was priceless:

“You half-deaf idiot!” Prongs bellowed at Padfoot after hauling a quivering Snape to the infirmary. “Sirius not Severus.”

And this was a small thing, but I loved the way you used numbers, like James counting to 183 before Sirius followed Remus out, and Peter noticing that it took 61 attempts before Remus seemed to start to forgive Sirius. I don't know—it was just a cool little touch, and I liked how it emphasized how aware and supportive James & Peter were of Remus's and Sirius's relationship.

Date: 2012-12-17 05:15 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
I thought that this was going to be good from the summary but I was actually quite disappointed with it.

Date: 2012-12-18 05:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cackling-madly.livejournal.com
Well then, it's a good thing it wasn't written for you :)
Edited Date: 2012-12-18 05:06 am (UTC)

Date: 2012-12-17 06:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mindabbles.livejournal.com
The first scene was so punchy and well done. It really set up the story. As others, Peter really stood out to me. I loved the constant energy they had as well. :)

Date: 2012-12-21 08:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] escribo.livejournal.com
I have no great love for book!Peter but oftentimes in fic he's made more human. I think you do that really well here. Good dialogue, sweet story, and a lovely gift (even if it's not for me :D). I enjoyed it!

Date: 2012-12-21 11:27 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Oh I agree that book!Peter's a complete toad but that memory of Severus and Lily first meeting Sirius and James has me convinced that, roommate or not, Padfoot and Prongs would never have included Wormtail in the Marauders if Peter was a born tool.

Thanks very much by the way ^_^

Date: 2012-12-22 06:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] liseuse.livejournal.com
I really like your Peter voice here. It's always good to see him at the beginnings of their friendships.

Date: 2013-01-15 04:08 am (UTC)
evening12: (Dress // name)
From: [personal profile] evening12
I quite liked this fic. It put a nice twist on the whole Shrieking Shack incident. Typically, its because that Sirius' hate/dislike/revenge of Severus...but how you wrote it makes great sense as well. I can very much imagine Sirius being the jealous type who'd want to take out the competition and of course being one to jump straight into plans...this one turned horribly wrong.

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