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Remus J. Lupin ([info]slowburn_alpha) wrote in [info]hogwarts_dawn,
@ 2021-06-13 16:03:00

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Entry tags:character: fenrir greyback, character: james potter, character: regulus black, character: remus lupin

RP: Remus
Who: Remus Lupin (open to all, feel free to add a tail)
When: Sunday, 13 June
Where: Infirmary
What: Remus feels like he's dying and is afraid he isn't.


Though he was sure he hadn't been burned, Remus felt like his skin was on fire. Something was burning it's way through him when he woke from a fever-dream of broken memories, remembered voices recommending he be left to die. But, this time they were telling Regulus and Sirius instead of Remus' parents. He remembered vague words spoken -- he thought -- in reality of birds and talon punctures and poison. But, his brain was muddled and fogged from fever that followed out of his dreams and into reality.

Part of him was sure the curse that was a part of him must be warring with the poison inside his veins. Why else would he feel as though even opening his eyes, which felt like they were burning under his eyelids, was too much of an effort for the lack of strength in his body. He wasn't sure if he'd been given anything, but he doubted it would do much good if he had. He metabolized most potions too quickly unless they were built with werewolf physiology in mind. So, that ruled out pretty much everything but what was brewed for him once a month.

As the events of the previous evening came back to him, he started to worry. Not for himself. But for the others. Regulus. Sirius. James. Peter. Lily, Harry. Lilu. Fenrir.

And that was the clearest sign something was seriously wrong with him. Despite the worry, he couldn't bring himself to even attempt getting out of bed. Getting up to check on his people, his pack and friends, was too much effort. Instead, he was content to simply lay there, drift in and out of sleep, and hope to see those faces when he woke between bouts of feverish sleep.


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Regulus/Remus
[info]te_regulus
2021-06-14 12:15 am UTC (link)
Regulus didn't have much time, not when so many people were infected and their best chance at making a great potion was currently lying on a bed. Everything else had been put on hold and all research was geared toward those birds, their poison and any potion that might fixed it. They had tried the beozar stone, but to no avail, so the books were their only solution. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Regulus stopped in the infirmary a few times.

Remus had been asleep the first few times, but the third he was conscious. "I am very crossed with you," Regulus said as he approached the bed. "I don't even know what happened, but I'm certain that you did something extremely stupid to get yourself injured, because there's absolutely no way that a bird should have been able to get that close to you."

He brushed Remus' hair aside. "I can't stay long, but I wanted to see how you were doing."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-14 12:50 am UTC (link)
It was tired and weak, but a small smile brightened Remus' expression at hearing Regulus' scolding. A quiet huff that could have been a laugh escaped him. "I'm afraid I was a bit of a Gryffindor," he admitted, lifting his hand to reach for Regulus. "It was me or Sirius. I could take the hit better than he could have. Probably still can. Once this burns through my system, I'll be fine."

He knew what the whispers were when they thought he was asleep. No cure. Likely to die. But, Remus had beaten the odds once before, when he wasn't quite four. He wasn't ready to give up now. Not when he finally had everything that truly mattered. Remus had too much to live for now. And too much faith in the man at the side of his bed to believe it was all for lost before they'd even tried.

"I'm better now that I can see you're okay. You are okay, yes? And Sirius? The others?"

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]te_regulus
2021-06-14 01:03 am UTC (link)
"This won't burn through your system," he said, gravely. "We're not sure what kind of poison it is, but nothing we have at our disposal seems to be working. You aren't the only one affected and it seems to work at different speeds depending on how deep the wound is, but unless we find an antidote, everyone who is infected will die."

He nodded. "Tired, but fine. We're looking into what these birds are. We have even posted in those journals to see if anyone around the world might know them, but we haven't heard anything. Either they are ignoring us or they truly have no idea what they are."

He hesitated for a moment, but he wasn't one to sugarcoat the situation. "You, Lucius, Theo, Severus, Albus and Peter are all infected. Peter and Theo had more superficial wounds and are doing better, but- We're all trying to research magical creatures to figure out what they are. Harry has trapped a few birds alive to see if that helps us. We have a few dead ones that we're studying. The rest have been thrown in the pit with the troll. He enjoyed the meal," he said, trying to go for humour but failing. He squeezed Remus' hand. "I'll find the cure. I won't rest until I do and then I will hex you for being so stupid. I hope you know that."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-14 01:30 am UTC (link)
"I know you will." Remus chuckled softly, fingers curling around Regulus'. "Just like you know I'd do it again if I had to. For him. For you." He wasn't going to say the words he wanted to. Not from a sickbed when the implications were too much like 'good-bye'. "And, you're one to talk, throwing yourself into the fray to save Marlene. I remember that part, too."

Teasing gave him a chance to digest what Regulus was saying. It was concerning that so many of those who might be able to thoroughly research this were also the ones worst hit by it. But, Remus still wasn't ready to call it a loss. They would figure this out. Regulus and Harry wouldn't give up on them. Smiling softly, he nodded. "All right. Bring me what notes you've got. I may not be able to help with the potion part, but I can try to figure out what these birds are. They're not something from our time, not something I recognize, at least. So, we'll have to go back further. Did the Troll really eat them? If so, monitor him. If he doesn't get sick and die, maybe there's something there we can use."

He squeezed Regulus' hand as best he could. "I have absolute in faith in you, cariad. You'll figure it out. And I can help. At least a little." Remus winked, a slow, tired approximation of his usual teasing. "And when I'm cured, you can take me home to yell out properly."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]te_regulus
2021-06-14 03:11 am UTC (link)
"You didn't do it for me. If my brother is careless, you shouldn't risk your life to protect his." Really what was wrong with everyone? "I can't even blame your being a Gryffindor. Lucius protecting Draco is the only one makes sense. Well, Peter is a Gryffindor too, but Theo? What is wrong with the man? Risking his life for Evans." The world would be a better place without her around as shown by history. "I did not get into the fray. I made sure that our one and only healer didn't do something stupid and reached safety."

Regulus snorted. "This is my third trip here and you've been asleep the first two times. I'm not sure that you can stay awake." Any sort of alacrity disappeared. "It will get worse, Remus. You won't be able to concentrate and we can't risk missing anything. I'm giving Peter some books. He can read it to you or work with you, but we can't trust you to find the solution while you're in pain." Regulus hinted a smile. "The poison seemed to be in their talons, with a gland in their legs. We've kept those to study. If only Severus were better- We'll still monitor the troll."

Leaning down, he kissed Remus' forehead. "You can help by getting some sleep. The more active you are, the faster the poison spreads. I'll speak with McKinnon to see if there's anything she can do to slow it down, maybe even petrifying all of you until we have an antidote."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-14 03:35 am UTC (link)
"No, I didn't do it for you this time. But, I would if i had to," Remus said firmly. Somehow, in a scant four months, Regulus had become someone Remus would die to protect. He wasn't sure when it had happened. But, he couldn't regret it, either. "And Sirius wasn't being careless. He just doesn't have eyes in the back of his head." Remus had lost his friends once. He wouldn't do it again if he was there to stop it from happening.

Unconsciously licking his lips to ease the dryness of his mouth, Remus sighed. "Then I will rest and take breaks. Peter and I can work together. I'm sure he'll be happy to keep an eye on me for you so you can be assured I won't overdo. But, if my options are sleeping and waiting here to learn if I'm going to die, the restlessness will do as much damage as any so-called activity. I can't find a solution. Even I know that. But, I might be able to identify the birds. I may not have my future self's experience, but I'm still the best one here when it comes magical creatures."

His eyes fluttered at the feel of Regulus' lips, a balm to his fevered skin. "Tell her to take my metabolism into account," he advised quietly. "It's fuzzy, but this hit me fast. It could be because of how many talons I got stabbed with, or how deep. But, it couldn't have been more than minutes before it felt like everything drained out of me."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]te_regulus
2021-06-14 07:03 pm UTC (link)
Regulus sighed. "How am I supposed to yell at you if you say something like that? On the other hand, I will do my best not to do anything stupid that will require you to die," he said. "I cannot guarantee the same about Sirius." On the other hand, he also knew that he could talk until he was blue in the face, but Remus would still protect Sirius.

"Do you need something to drink?" He knew that McKinnon was a little too busy to notice the little things, especially when her patients could just ask the house elves. "Sure, I'll send a book you two can review." He'd take his sweet time with it and see how Peter was feeling. He might not be up to reading either.

Regulus squeezed Remus' hand. "I'll tell her, but you will need to be a good patient for her. I know that it's not in your nature to sit back and wait, but we'll wake you up with a cure. I promise."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-14 07:40 pm UTC (link)
"And I will do my best not to die protecting either of you, or anyone else," Remus promised, managing to will enough strength into his arm to raise it long enough to brush his fingertips against Regulus' cheek. "Got too much to live for, now. I think I know what to do with that last room, too. We need training space. Somewhere secured we can experiment with new spells, too. Just in case."

He almost refused the offer of a drink, not wanting to be a burden. But, then he remembered their conversation about helping each other. So, he nodded. "Water would be good. Thank you."

Regulus acquiesced a little too easily to giving Remus something to do instead of just laying around doing nothing, waiting to see if he was going to die or not. But, Remus was too tired to argue about what was, in consequence, a pointless exercise. He knew his mind wasn't clear. And he trusted Regulus. "Since it's you asking, I'll try not to go entirely mental laying here doing nothing all day. Just...promise me you won't work yourself into a stupor for this cure. You can't help anyone if you don't take care of yourself, too. At least, listen to Kreacher when he tries to remind you about little things like food and sleep."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]te_regulus
2021-06-14 07:58 pm UTC (link)
"That seems like a good compromise," he said, smiling a little bit. This was their usual banter, even if the situation was anything but normal. "Sounds like we might have to move the library to the formal side of the house, put the practice room above the office and beneath the potion room. This leaves us one empty floor in case we need it. You might get sick of me and need your own bedroom for a night or two." And no more than that as far as he was concerned.

Regulus almost called Kreacher, but realised that there were pitchers and glasses on every night stand. He poured the water for Remus. "Let's get you sitting up so you can drink properly." The fact that Remus looked better after the full moon was not a good sign. "You're never sick, are you?" It was one of those little things he'd have to think about once this crisis was over.

He offered Remus the water when he was sitting up. "I told you, if we don't get a cure soon, you'll be petrified. You will literally have no choice but to lay here doing nothing. Right, and if you're done with the water, we can help you lay down again. If you need more, call Kreacher."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-14 08:39 pm UTC (link)
"As if I could get that sick of you." Remus would have snorted if he had the energy. "If I need a couple hours apart, I might round up the lads for a night out. But, then I'm coming home to you and our bed." Especially if he had to stay long in hospital without Regulus, the chances he got sick of him were slim when he found himself wanting more of Regulus every day. "Besides, if we move the library, we'll have to make sure any books we especially don't want public stay in the office." He couldn't imagine all the books in the Black Family Library were suitable for public consumption, after all.

Remus hated feeling like he needed help to do simple things like sitting up. He'd chafed at that feeling every month when his parents, friends, and now lover had been forced to make sure he could move. It felt like burdening others with his condition, even though he knew they didn't see it that way. But, still, he let Regulus help him up and took the glass carefully so as not to need help with actually drinking it. After a couple sips, he shook his head. "I don't think so. We thought, when I was growing up, that it was because I was never exposed, having to be so isolated. But, once I started school, it became apparent that the common illnesses that ran through the student population never seemed to hit me. I doubt I'm immune to everything. But, the curse doesn't seem to like to share my body with other things."

He took another few sips, slowly, then closed his eyes to rest a moment. "I think the curse is trying to fight this, even if it's failing. I haven't had a fever like this since the initial attack, when it took control." Pulling his eyes open, he took a couple more sips, then handed the glass back to Regulus. "I'll still be lying here useless until you have to petrify us," he pointed out, not really pouting, since that took energy, but clearly unhappy with the thought. Reaching for Regulus' hand, he shook his head. "Let me sit up a minute to look at you properly. Then I'll lay back down like a good boy. If I'm going to end up a living statue for awhile, I want every minute with you I can have and I know you have to get back to work soon."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]te_regulus
2021-06-14 08:49 pm UTC (link)
"One must always plan for the possibility. Besides, knowing that there's a room there means that we still choose to be together every night." He had always planned to have separate bedrooms with his wife, for very different reasons, but like the idea that they weren't being forced together. "We can keep those books in the office. I still want to do that in our areas. Besides, there are no laws about which books you can have. It's the beauty of having abolished all previous laws," he said with a grin.

"I really should be going." Despite the words, he sat at the edge of the bed, looking at Remus. "I'll make it up to you when this is over. Pretty sure the minister can't count this as sick days and I'll have so much overtime to need vacation," he said, joking about a future that he would make happen, regardless of the odds. "Severus is probably cursing all gods that no one is as brilliant as he is, but that just means that I'll have to work harder to ensure he survive so I can show off my skill."

He brought Remus' hand to his lips. "I'll see what I can do about potions for your fever, but it might be best to let it run its course. It might just slow it down enough for us."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-14 11:07 pm UTC (link)
"Don't waste resources on my fever," Remus admonished weakly. "We both know I'll take as few potions as I can get away with and anything Marlene's likely to suggest at this point is just going to knock me out more." And that was Remus' paranoia speaking. He hated taking anything that could knock him out or make him drowsy. Who knew what could appear even right in the Hospital Wing? He was already weak enough.

"But, I'm going to hold you to that vacation. I'm sure even once there's a cure that bedrest at home will be prescribed for at least a few days and I'm such a terrible patient, I'll need constant supervision." Had he felt more himself, there would have been a cheeky grin and teasing wink to go with the innuendo. But, what Remus managed was a bit of a smile and a spark behind glassy eyes. "And don't think I'm so out of it yet, that I didn't notice you neatly avoiding my request for you not to work yourself silly trying to save us. You can't show off your skill for Snape if you work yourself into the bed next to mine."

Remus wished he could get his arms around Regulus, give them both the reassurance of the embrace. But, since he didn't have it in him, he contented himself with holding as tightly as he could to Regulus' hand. "I'm not going anywhere," he promised. "You will find a way because you are that brilliant and then we can focus on setting up a bedroom I'll never use. I choose you, Regulus Black, every night and every day." His eyes fluttered, breathe coming on a sigh. "Even if I have to let you go for now. The sooner I let you get back to work, the sooner we can start that vacation."

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Re: Regulus/Remus
[info]te_regulus
2021-06-14 11:29 pm UTC (link)
"We make these potions for this exact reason and once things calm down, we all work to replenish them." He sighed. "Remus, knocking you out is a good thing right now. There are enough people here that nothing will happen to you, but surges of pain and adrenaline are only going to make things worse."

Regulus laughed. "I cannot believe that I have to put up with your terrible disposition full time. I don't know how I can manage." He leaned over and kissed him again. "You can trust me to be terribly selfish when it counts. I will do what needs to be done without getting sick."

He got up and kissed Remus one more time. "Be good and listen to McKinnon. I'll be back soon."

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James | Remus
[info]_cervus_
2021-06-14 09:10 am UTC (link)
It wasn't his first attempt at visiting Remus, but he had either been asleep or Black had been lurking around, and James knew he was not in the frame of mind for indifference right now, cold or otherwise. Remus, Peter, Lilu and Albus were all still in the infirmary in varying degrees of trouble, and every inch of James' body and mind felt pulled so tight it might snap. Too much energy, fueled by anxiety, fear and anger, and nowhere to put it. With his arm, he hadn't even been able to fly. So James did what he could to help with the research, even if potions had never been his thing, but really he spent the majority of his time rotating between sickbeds.

He wasn't sure what time it was when he flopped into the chair at Remus' bedside, but it was late and dark. He'd sat here before, he was sure, after one full moon or another. It might even have been this very bay, it was hard to remember... One thing he knew was that the chairs were just as uncomfortable as always. Wriggling around into a vaguely tolerable position, James let his head roll back against the back of the seat, staring across at his friend's pale, sleeping face on the pillow. The familiar features were lined with discomfort, even in sleep. Moony looked like death - not a particularly reassuring thought.

Merlin, he'd thought these days were over. James gave a loud sigh, pushing his glasses up onto his forehead to rub harshly at his eyes, stars exploding behind his lids. When he opened them, it was to find Remus looking up at him. "Shit, sorry. Did I wake you?" Wincing, James pulled the chair a little closer to the bed, leaning in. "Do you need anything? Sleeping draught?" Not that it would touch Remus' ridiculous metabolism, but surely it had to be better than nothing.

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Re: James | Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-14 06:52 pm UTC (link)
"No, I've been in and out all day," Remus said quietly, answering all James questions very neatly in one sentence, he thought. When Remus had first opened his eyes and seen his friend, it had taken him a moment to remember this wasn't fourth year and it wasn't a Full Moon. How many nights had he woken from pain-filled sleep to find one or more of his friends keeping watch over his sleep? Ever since they'd first figured out his secret, those three had been there.

"I half expect to see Pads keeping watch on the Map so you lot aren't discovered out of bed," he teased with a soft smile.

Prongs looked like hell, if Remus looked closely. They'd known each other for too many years for him not to notice the telltale signs of worry and frustration pinching around James' eyes. "How's your arm?" He had vague recollections of being concerned about James taking a hit before he'd been distracted by the need to have Sirius' back and then passing out. "Regulus said Theo got Lily out safely. She's okay?" he asked gently. Regulus had also mentioned Al...or had he meant Dumbledore? He'd just said Albus and with everything clouding his focus, Remus now realized he wasn't sure which 'Albus' had been intended. In any case, if it was Al, that would also explain some of James' expression. Remus assumed Sirius was all right or Regulus would have said something about wasting his Gryffindor heroics, Remus was certain.

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Re: James | Remus
[info]_cervus_
2021-06-14 09:23 pm UTC (link)


"Who says he's not?" James replied, returning the tired smile. Those days seemed like a million years ago right now... although in a weird way, they could just have easily have been yesterday.

It was so bloody typical of Remus to ask about his stupid arm while he was lying there looking about three steps from a keeling over. James resisted an urge to roll his eyes, the small smile growing a little. "It's fine," he reassured him, flexing his right hand in demonstration. It ached a little, but otherwise you couldn't even see where his bones had made a wild bid for freedom. "Marlene fixed it right up. I should still be able to throw a decent quaffle, at any rate."

"Lily's fine too," he nodded. "Worried about you and the others, obviously, but fine." Thank Merlin. James didn't know what he would have done otherwise. He narrowed his gaze a fraction, peering through the dim light of the infirmary to take in the unfamiliar pallid sheen on Remus' forehead. Worry clenched tighter in his stomach, catching in his chest in a way that he did his best to keep hidden.

With a sigh, he crossed his arms on the edge of the mattress, leaning forward until he could rest his chin on top of them. "How are you feeling?"

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Re: James | Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-14 11:32 pm UTC (link)
Remus laughed, the sort of quiet raspy sound that usually meant he'd transformed only a short time before. But, this time just meant his throat was getting dry again because of the fever. "My nose does," he retorted. It would take more fuzzy-brain than Remus was currently afflicted with for him to not be able to identify certain individuals on scent alone, whether he could see them or not.

"Well, that's good. At some point you're going to have to have a rematch to prove to the younger generation you've still got it," he teased, glad as always for James easy nature. "And Lily doesn't need to worry. They'll find a cure and everything will be fine. This is just an excuse to laze around for a bit. You know what a lazy cuss I am." The truth of the matter was, Remus believed in Regulus. No matter how dire it looked -- and when he was left in his own head, it looked pretty dire, if only because he had seen the truth in Regulus' eyes that morning -- he knew Regulus would do exactly as he'd said. He wouldn't rest until he found a cure. Remus was afraid that might mean he had to be the one taking care of Regulus when this was all over. But, Remus himself would have done the same.

"I kind of feel like Moony went ten rounds with a Ridgeback and left me to deal with the aftermath," he admitted. "But, better than the alternative."

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Re: James | Remus
[info]_cervus_
2021-06-15 09:34 am UTC (link)
"Your nose ruins way too much of my fun," James lamented. How many times had Remus known he and Sirius were up to something when they were sneaking around under the cloak? It had turned into a game by the end, even if it usually ended with the pair of them dragging poor old Moony into whatever mayhem was brewing.

He gave a low chuckle, conscious of the other patients sleeping not too far away. "Lazier than a flobberworm, I know. I've always said that about you." Smiling, James shifted position in the uncomfy chair again, trying to ignore how his right foot wouldn't stop jiggling. "I'll let her know," he nodded, "No need to worry, best minds on the case and so on. No need to panic."

Fully aware that they weren't really chatting about Lily, James let the smile fall, wriggling again so that he was close enough to speak quietly to Remus without waking anyone else. "Is anything Marlene's giving you making a dent? Or are you being a prat and refusing it all?"

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Re: James | Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-15 09:04 pm UTC (link)
"Hey," he chided softly, the quiet shush of James' shoe shifting against the floor -- a sound Remus alone could likely hear -- belying his friend's words. "There really isn't, you know. Need to panic. If Regulus says he's going to find a cure, he's going to find it. However bad it looks, or feels, we're all going to pull through." He smiled softly, adding a teasing "And I'll be happy to tell Lily the same if she comes to see me."

Remus could feel his temperature spiking briefly and closed his eyes, breathing through the sudden weakness until it passed a few moments later. When he opened his eyes again, he turned his head to meet James' gaze once more. "There isn't much that works for me out of the box, as it were. You remember how annoyed Madame Pomfrey used to get at not having anything that worked well after the transformations? Regulus was going to tell Marlene to keep my metabolism in mind. But, right now, it looks like the best thing for me is to let the curse fight the poison and hope the former slows it down. Who'd have thought we'd be relying on my condition to keep me alive for once, hm?"

But, he didn't want to keep dwelling on his own condition. That would would lead to erroding his optimism and Remus refused to believe anything other than that Regulus would find a cure. "How is everyone else, really? Regulus told me a bit. But, I didn't want to keep him too long asking questions when he was needed to help figure out how to stop this."

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Re: James | Remus
[info]_cervus_
2021-06-16 12:13 am UTC (link)
James planted his twitchy foot firmly on the ground. "I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to be reassuring you right now," he grumbled, only mostly joking. "I'll tell Lils not to be such a drama queen." It wasn't that he didn't trust Regulus Black (although he didn't, not at all).  But it was all so very out of his control that it was almost painful. As much as he loved carting books back and forth and refilling water jugs, he wished there was something better he could be doing.

James watched Remus' eyes flutter closed for a moment. He shifted his hand slightly, his fingers brushing his friend's wrist. Remus' skin was clammy, somehow managing to be hot and cold at the same time. "Well, it's about time Moony started earning his keep, to be fair," he joked, although it fell a little flat in the hush of the room.

"Um... well, Peter's been over here, hasn't he? He's okay. Marlene says bed rest will keep things slow, but I dunno how much of that he's doing." James wasn't sure where he and Peter stood at the moment. When facing the troll, and again with the birds, it had been easy to believe they could patch it up. Then the adrenaline wore off and all the uncertainty flooded back. It was confusing, and he wasn't sure he had the head space to think too hard about it right now.

"Lilu will be okay," he continued. "Her hands got burned badly shoving Scorpius into the pool, so there'll be scarring but she'll live. But Al's in a bad way. He got a big dose of it, like you... I don't think Marlene could save his eye." James' hand had made its way into his hair, twisting in the thick strands as he frowned.

"Uh.. Scorpius' burns are all over, more or less. Nott seems pretty similar to Pete. Lucius Malfoy and Snape aren't too good, but I don't know the details."

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Re: James | Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-16 12:51 am UTC (link)
"But, I'm so good at being the reassuring one," Remus teased, his smile warming a bit more, though it was still a pale reflection of his usual grin. He was sure it was probably part of some psychological flaw that had him always trying to comfort everyone else instead of letting them comfort him. But, it seemed that was just the way he was built.

The light touch to his wrist was grounding and he turned his hand so he could wrap his own fingers around James' wrist. The corner of his mouth twisted up just a little more at the recitation of everyone's injuries and he squeezed that wrist gently. "I meant the rest of you. I keep hearing about the injured. But, the rest of you are going through this with us. How are Harry and Jamie holding up? Lily? Roxanne? ...How's Pads?" Remus hoped their friend wasn't off beating himself up for Remus' choices. "How are you holding up?" he added kindly before putting out one more thing that had been on his mind.

"Prongs," he began slowly. "About Peter. You know I don't like to meddle and I've tried to give you two space to work things out on your own. But...you need to talk to him. Soon. For your sake as well as his. If he gets worse...if he gets as bad as I am...they may have to petrify us to buy more time to work on the cure. And while I have every faith in Regulus' ability to do it, just in case...you need to talk before they put him under. I know what he did hurts and I'm not saying you need to forgive him. But, the two of you need closure and there may not be much time to find it."

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Re: James | Remus
[info]_cervus_
2021-06-16 12:20 pm UTC (link)
James shot Remus a 'really?' look. "You know how Pads is," he told him, stretching his neck so that it clicked. You didn't have to be an expert in Sirius Black (although they both were) to work out how he might be taking Saturday's events. "I can barely get two words out of him. But Lily's doing her best to help Marlene, keeping busy. I think she's annoyed at herself for freezing when it happened."

"Harry's working himself stupid - although he's stopped murdering birds, which is probably a good thing. He's so bloody single-minded, we'd probably end up with a massacre in the owlery just to be safe." He couldn't help the faint smile which twitched at the corner of his mouth at the mention of his son, but it faded quickly, replaced with a frown. "Jamie's struggling, I think. Roxanne too, I don't see her around much. They're not as used to this kind of stuff as we are." Which was a good thing, obviously, but didn't make this any easier.

The 'I'm fine' that the rest of his family seemed so fond of balanced on the tip of his tongue for a moment, but this was Remus and James had never been particularly subtle about his emotions at the best of times. He swallowed it down. "I'm tired," he admitted. Anxious fingers drummed against the pale skin of Remus' inner wrist. "I'm scared for you, and the others. I'm pissed off that our 'second chance' is being hijacked by killer birds and rogue trolls and I can't fix it. I'm worried about..." he hesitated. He hadn't thought he'd do this right now, but here they were. In for a knut, in for a galleon. "Lily's pregnant," he glanced across at Remus, another faint smile twitching. "I was going to tell you at the party, before you rudely went and got mutilated."

He tried and failed to bite back a groan, letting his face fall into the nest of his arms for a moment. "I have spoken to him. He's spoken to me. I've spoken to Lils. He's spoken to Lils. It's not that easy, Moony." He looked up again, his glasses suddenly sitting wonkily on his nose. "How can I get closure when I have no bloody idea how I feel about it all? One minute I'm thinking about forgiving him, the next I'm this close to turning him into a cockroach."

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Re: James | Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-16 03:21 pm UTC (link)
Leave it to Padfoot to be able t draw the most natural heavy sigh from Remus when he was barely able to move. "Yeah, I know. I'm worried about him, James. But, I don't think he's ready to let me close again." Not that Remus wouldn't keep trying. But, there was only so much he could do when Sirius was intent on flitting around, pretending nothing was wrong, letting himself be taken advantage of by Duke, and in general avoiding any hint of a serious conversation.

"Congratulations." Tiredly beaming, he squeezed James' wrist, since it wasn't possible to give his friend the hug he wanted to at that moment. He'd come back to the rest of the conversation in a moment. This was more important, this proof of their second chances. "I'm happy for you. Harry and Pads know, I presume?" He'd thought he'd sensed something different about Lily, but he hadn't been sure, yet. "How'd they take it?"

Turning his head to stare at the ceiling, he took a moment to collect his thoughts regarding the rest of what James had said. "I'm scared, too," he admitted at last. "I just got all of you back. I've found something with Regulus I never thought to experience in my life. I have a chance to really help make the world a better place for others like me as well as a host of others that have been marginalized by magical society. I'm not ready to leave all this and I know it's a real possibility." Looking back at James, he smiled. "But, while I know you don't like him or trust him," -- and Remus knew the whys; they would have that discussion someday, but not right then, -- "I have faith in Regulus' ability to find a cure. He will. We're going to be all right because he won't settle for anything less."

He tapped his finger lightly on James' skin. "As for the rest, we're getting a second chance, yes. But, nowhere was it written that second chances mean no more adversity. Trolls, murder birds, insane castles your kid might have helped enchant, that's just life, Prongs. It would be nice if it let us breathe a bit between crises, but admit it. You'd be bored out of your mind if the only thing there was to do was live a steady stream of days full of nothing but domestic bliss," he teased. "You can't fix life, James. You can only find ways to help the people you love deal with what gets thrown at us. And you're already doing that. You're here talking to me in the middle of the night. You'll be there to remind Harry that avian genocide is nothing more than a coping mechanism, not a solution. You can help Jamie and Roxanne learn how to deal with love and loss because even in peacetimes, people get sick, injured, even die, and you can be there for them. And when you need to, you go lean on Lily, you come talk to me or Pads, because you don't have to do it all alone, either."

Smiling softly, he squeezed James' wrist once more. "That is how you feel about it, Prongs. You want to forgive him and hex his bollocks off in equal measure. You can't expect to have a simple emotional reaction to a complicated situation. And it will take a long time to sort it all out. You can also choose your path. You can choose to forgive him, for your own sake. It's not easy and I'm not saying it will automatically fix everything. But, in the end, it all comes down to choices. We all made stupid choices, all four of us, that led us to where we are now. We can choose trust and friendship or we can choose to hold onto the pain and fear that tore us apart. When our loved ones needed protecting, though, all four of us came together in trust for that moment. That has to mean something, doesn't it?"

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Re: James | Remus
[info]_cervus_
2021-06-21 12:57 pm UTC (link)
"He'll get there," James replied, sounding more certain than he felt. "He might need time. A lot of it, maybe, but he'll get there. It's just a lot for him to wrap his head around - you know how he hates things changing. But he cares too much about you to stay away forever. That's not how this works."

James beamed at Remus through the dim light. "Yeah, they both know. They were made up. Sirius bloody near knocked me over, the daft git." He laughed fondly, his chin still pillowed in the nest of his arms.  It was true, what he said earlier. He was worried about bringing a child into this situation, one where they had no control and murderous birds showed up at pool parties. But it was still another child. His child. His child with Lily, and he couldn't see that as anything but a good thing.

The smile faded a little as Remus continued. James watched his profile as he spoke. There was something different about his friend when he spoke about Black. Even pale and drawn with the poison wracking his body, there was a lightness about him when he mentioned the other wizard. As much as James hated the fact that it was Regulus Black that was doing it, he couldn't deny that it was nice to see. If anyone deserved it, it was Remus.

Perhaps he should try harder - Remus and the others had accepted Lily when he'd brought her into the fold, after all. At least, so he'd thought - Peter may think different. But then again, there hadn't been bad blood there. The blood between Regulus and James was so toxic is was basically aconite. "I'm sure you're right," he finally said, doing his best to keep his tone even. "I'd really like one of my kids to have a godfather who's halfway sane."

With a sigh, James forced himself to sit up properly. Sagging back into the torture of the infirmary chair, he kept his hand on Remus' covers, firmly encased in his friend's grip. "A little bit of domestic bliss wouldn't hurt, though. Maybe on the weekends." He wriggled his nose a little, trying and failing to jostle his glasses back into a fairly normal position. In the end he gave up, turning back to pondering what Remus had said. He was right. Obviously, Remus was right - he had made a habit of it over the years James had known him. He smiled a little, returning the gesture with a gentle squeeze of his fingers. "And how are you so bloody good at this stuff even when you're all dosed up with bird gunk?"

He vaguely wondered when he'd manage to have a conversation that didn't have Peter in it. Even when he wasn't the topic of conversation, he was somehow still lurking there. James wondered if that meant something. "I didn't have much of a choice," he pointed out. "It just... happened, at the pool. When I think about it - the people I loved most did need protecting, and he more or less..." He trailed off, catching himself. This wasn't the time, not with Remus looking so unwell and the strange, hushed atmosphere of the hospital wing.

"Maybe if I hit him?" James said instead, only half joking. "I reckon that would make me feel better." He hesitated. "Tell you what, when you're back on your feet, we'll do something the four of us. Not a full moon, something else. And we can go from there."

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Re: James | Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-22 02:13 am UTC (link)
"I know. Doesn't stop me worrying about him in the meant time." Remus smiled ruefully. He knew James was right. Sirius would come around...eventually. But, if Regulus couldn't find a cure... That wasn't something Remus was going to think about, though. And he let himself laugh, albeit weakly, at Sirius' reaction to the baby announcement. "He's like a big kid himself over babies. I'm sure having a new little godchild to spoil will snap him out of this spiral he's gotten himself into."

If nothing else, focusing on the baby would mean Sirius might forget to be upset with Remus...maybe.

Watching James' face struggle with his glasses, Remus chuckled softly and let go of his friend's hand so he could do something about them. "Maybe on the weekends," he agreed. He knew life was hard. Hell, he'd seen truly hard, so hard he prayed to gods he didn't believe in that his friends never knew that kind of hard. "I'm not good at this stuff. I just talk a good game," he retorted, one corner of his mouth twisting up in amusement. "I thought you knew that."

Eyelids beginning to droop, he let them close for a few moments, just listening to James voice. He knew what Prongs was getting at. But, he also knew that someday, he'd have to move past it, one way or another, for his own sake and there was only so much Remus could nudge. "I know, James. And, despite that, you still trust him at your back in a fight." He snorted softly. "As long as you take your swing when he's not slowly dying from this poison and has a chance of defending himself. But, that sounds like a good plan. One step at a time is all any of us can ask for."

It was getting more difficult to stay awake and Remus knew he was going to end up falling back asleep in a little while. But, he wanted every moment he could get with his friends. Just in case. "I'm going to pass out on you soon."

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Re: James | Remus
[info]_cervus_
2021-06-23 02:25 pm UTC (link)
"Worrying about Padfoot is a lifetime's work," James agreed, with a serious nod. He was pretty sure he hadn't had a break from it over the last decade, in any case. "Anyway, this one's your godkid, idiot," he added, giving Remus a soft grin and a slightly less-soft nudge. "Sirius has enough on his plate with the bird killer."

"You're better at it than you think you are, I reckon." He quirked an eyebrow, finally retrieving use of his hand and pulling his glasses off, adjusting the dodgy nosepiece before slipping them back on again. Both arms free, James stretched them up over his head, feeling the tightly wound muscles in his shoulders and back complain.

"Deal. I'll punch him when he's well enough to appreciate it. Now go to sleep," he told Remus, letting his head fall back against the chair. Despite the way the hard wooden seat seemed determined to cut off all his circulation, he could suddenly feel a weary ache in his own muscles. Perhaps he had sympathy tiredness. That would be bloody typical. "I'll stick around for a bit longer, but then I'll pop back again tomorrow."

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Peter/Remus
[info]p__pettigrew
2021-06-15 12:48 am UTC (link)
Peter was restless. He wasn't that badly hurt, but the poison was in his system and everyone wanted him to slow down, because the alternative was speeding up the process and no one was sure how much damage it could do and how fast, so here he was, in the infirmary, feeling somewhat okay and not being allowed to do anything.

When Marlene wasn't looking, he sneaked into Remus' bed. "Move over," he whispered. "This was a lot easier when we were eleven."

He took his wand out and made the bed a little bigger so that they could stay in bed comfortably. "Let me tell you, being here while not being really sick sucks." He supposed that the alternative was worse, but Merlin, this was boring.

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-15 01:00 am UTC (link)
"We were a lot smaller, then," Remus huffed, shifting as best he could to give Peter room. He knew no one understood the casual affection between all of the Marauders, the ease with which they hugged and touched casually. But, it was a comfort to Remus, a sign the bond between them might have stretched and bent, but never broken.

And, besides, this way no one could accuse Peter of being out of bed when he should be resting.

"Being here while sick isn't much fun, either." The words may have been a rebuke from anyone else. But, from Remus it was just a casual, if tired observation of shared misery, accompanied by a small smile. "You're feeling all right, then? Regulus said you weren't as badly injured, but still affected by this poison?"

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]p__pettigrew
2021-06-15 01:10 am UTC (link)
"We should be out there saving the day. We're brilliant. Okay, maybe you're not that brilliant when it comes to potions, but still-" Despite his protests, he knew that if he moved too much, he'd feel the effects of the poison. The only reason he still wasn't feeling the full impact was that Marlene ordered bed rest before they even figured out about the poison.

"I'm all right," he said. "The scratch wasn't as deep, which is why they think I'm doing better." He lowered his voice. "I think the bed rest is actually helping, when I start moving too much then I get tired. Not that Marlene will let me. She's worse than McGonagall with the way she looks at you. The scratch is cured though. So I might die, but I'm not scared. Silver lining, right?" he teased.

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-15 01:31 am UTC (link)
Remus chuckled. "Pretty sure being out there saving the day is what got us stuck in here," he pointed out. Not that any of them would have done any differently had they known this would be the outcome. It had seemed all too instinctive for the four of them to fall into a protective line to cover the rest of the group's escape.

A soft huff of laughter passed his still-dry lips. "Stealing my line, are you? But, I'm glad the brunt of this hasn't hit you. If bed rest helps, do it." Hypocrisy, table for one. But, Remus didn't care. It was too innate to his nature to look after his friends first, himself last. "And we're not going to die. They'll find a cure and we'll be back to acting like the brash idiots we are in no time."

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]p__pettigrew
2021-06-15 01:54 am UTC (link)
He snorted. "Are you saying that we were terrible Gryffindors not paying attention to our well-being?" he asked, with a grin. "I might have heard your boyfriend repeating that once or twice while seeing if you were awake. I wanted to see how many times he'd try before you woke up, but he got lucky with only three trips."

He shrugged. "We need to find a silver lining, and really we wouldn't want our corpses covered in scars... oh wait, too late for you," he said, sticking his tongue out. "But you're right, they'll find a cure, because we can't die this quickly. We're meant to get a second chance."

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-15 03:13 am UTC (link)
"Regulus came to see me that many times?" Remus didn't know why he was surprised, but he was. Maybe because it was one thing to know his friends would always be there and another to know the person he was falling in love with cared so much in return. No wonder Regulus hadn't seemed as enthusiastic as he could have about scolding Remus for his Gryffindor foolishness, either. Smiling softly he carefully shrugged one shoulder, though it was a shallow gesture. "Anyway, we are perfect Gryffindors, which obviously means we weren't paying attention to our own well-being instead of throwing ourselves at trouble like old friends."

Which, admittedly, they kind of were.

"Prat!" With most anyone else, Remus probably would have taken offence, but Peter just got a tired laugh. But, he sobered quickly enough. "We'll have our second chance. Regulus said he'll find a cure and he will." It was really as simple as that. "He may not be a Gryffindor, but he'll work himself to exhaustion to save us if he has to. Our silver-lining can be that we got to lay around and nap while everyone else dealt with the clean-up," he offered with an attempt at even his not-quite-there smirk.

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]p__pettigrew
2021-06-15 03:26 am UTC (link)
"Why are you surprised? The man clearly cares, and you don't know how much these words pain me," he teased. Unlikely James, he didn't hate Regulus. Then again, he didn't even hate Snape. The names were just a habit from doing what James and Sirius had said. "I have a feeling he'd have dropped by as many times as necessary to catch you awake."

He lay down completely, deciding that he couldn't allow Remus to be the only one lying down. If it was a lot kinder on his body, that was left unspoken. "We should break up with troubles and tell them to stay away from us, although plenty of Slytherins got hurt trying to help. Nott got scratched protecting Lily. Lucius protecting his son."

Peter grinned in answer. "You know you love me. Not as much as you love Regulus." The trust that Remus was showing in Regulus said more than words would. "If you trust him, then I trust him." The alternative was lying here, waiting for their deaths and the idea was too depressing to consider.

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-15 04:12 am UTC (link)
"I don't know. I guess..." Remus had to pause and let another wave of weakness wash over him before he could continue, eyes closing briefly as his energy seemed to ebb a bit. "I guess I'm still amazed that this is something I get to have," he admitted once the moment passed. "This kind of love was something I always thought other people were meant to have, people like James and Lily. Not monsters like me. It's like a little miracle every morning I get to wake up next to him."

As Peter lay down fully, Remus shifted a bit more to accommodate him. "I heard about Theo. And Malfoy." Malfoy was to be expected. Draco was his son, after all. Other than Sirius and Regulus' parents, Remus couldn't really see any parent not trying to save their child, no matter old that child was, how much of an adult. "I don't think we can break up with trouble so easily, though. I mean, it is Sirius' middle name, after all."

He fell quiet, just laying there in companionable silence for several heartbeats. "I do, you know," he said at last. "Trust him and love him. We haven't told each other in so many words, yet. But, when I thought I was just finding a new friend, I went and fell in love with him."

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]p__pettigrew
2021-06-15 03:01 pm UTC (link)
"You shouldn't be surprised, because you are a great person, even if you can be a prat on occasion," he teased. "You deserve this," he added quietly. "I don't know why you think it's for others, because you aren't a monster. You're the nicest person of all of us. If you want monsters, look at what we all did. You don't need to be cursed to be a monster."

He smiled. "Good old Hogwarts. Even lying in bed sick, the news spreads like fiendfyre." He knew that Remus was right, but that didn't mean that they couldn't change. "We need to start considering a new middle name, because I don't want us to end the way we did the first time. We need to do better, even if we still will protect others, because that's what we do."

Peter kissed Remus' temple. "Good for you, but maybe you should consider telling him. I know he will find a cure, but still- life is short. Look at what happened in 1981, look at what happened with Cassandra. Tell him."

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-15 08:44 pm UTC (link)
"Only on occasion? Must not be trying hard enough. I'll have to work on that," Remus teased back, nudging Peter softly with his elbow. "But, a few months doesn't completely erase years, decades really, of social conditioning. I'm...getting better about doubting it. Maybe I'm just tired with everything else, right now." Truth was, the fever was exhausting, always too hot, too tired. There was pain as well, of course. But Remus' high tolerance to pain, thanks to monthly bouts of it with the transformations, meant he could mostly ignore it.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, would you?" Frowning, he turned his head to look at Peter. "I don't think we will, Peter. We are getting better. Slowly. But, despite it all, yesterday was good. We were a team again. All four of us. I don't regret the actions that put me in this bed. I'd do the exact same thing all over again if I had to, be it Sirius in danger, or James, or you. For the first time in a long time, we did things right. The consequences are annoying. But, do you really regret it?"

Closing his eyes for a moment, Remus shook his head. "I was thinking I'd write a letter. Just in case." Because, as Regulus said, you should plan for these things just in case. "That way he'll know either way. But, I can't tell him now. It will sound too much like good-bye. And I'm not saying good-bye. Not to him. Not to any of you."

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]p__pettigrew
2021-06-15 09:48 pm UTC (link)
"You need to step it up, and be annoying all the time," Peter answered without missing a beat. "I know, but some of us never thought you were a monster, not ever during those decades, and we were right." He could understand where Remus was coming from though. "To think that society could have always been this accepting. You know Greyback said that it was nice to have Savannah's memories and I get it now. Imagine living with a brain where discrimination of any kind was a thing of the past. Not that I believe it completely. Grandmother and aunt playing for the national team, father a big rock star, I'm sure she had it better than people who couldn't afford dinner, but still."

Peter didn't even have to think about that one. "No. I knew it the day with the troll. The moment we heard it, Jams and I were in sync with each other, like nothing had ever happened between us. The thing is that we need to learn to do this while not being ready for a war. We need to learn to be this in sync even when someone's life isn't in danger. But no, I don't regret what we did."

"All right." The words were out of his mouth without thinking. He always went along, didn't he? "Actually, no, I don't think it's all right. You don't have to say good-bye, Remus, but I think you're doing both him and you a disservice with that letter, because if you die, he doesn't get to answer you, he doesn't get to say what he feels, and if you don't die, you still don't get to tell him in person."

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-16 12:04 am UTC (link)
"You three were the exceptions that proved the rule," Remus pointed out with a smile. "And I will always love you for that. But, it was a very different world outside these walls." Huffing softly, he nodded. "Harry and his friends tried fairly hard to change things. I remember meeting Savannah and reeling when she just, casually as you pleased, said 'Oh, you're the one who started the werewolf reforms'. It's hard to imagine. But, the chance to make that even better, not just for werewolves, but beings of all kinds? That's the reason I took the Department Head post when Harry offered it."

Staring at the ceiling, he thought about Peter's words for a long time, partially because his focus was shot and partially because he always considered things first. "I don't disagree that we need to learn to trust each other better off the battlefield. But, I think it's also important to recognize that the fact we are so capable of falling into sync on the battlefield means the bond between all of us isn't broken. Damaged, bent out of shape a bit, but not broken. If we can get it back when not only our lives but the lives of those we care about are on the line, we can get it back all the time. May take some work. But, we can get there."

Frown deepening, he shook his head...then waited for the momentary vertigo that followed to clear. "I don't mean I would give him the letter in general. Just, that I'd prepare one in case a cure couldn't be found. If I don't die, I'd tell him without giving him the letter. I just...I don't want him to think I'm giving up hope and sickbed confessions of love...it would seem like good-bye." Sighing, he closed his eyes. "I don't want him to think I'm only saying it because I might die. I want him to know I mean it."

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]p__pettigrew
2021-06-16 12:50 am UTC (link)
"And now there are a lot more exceptions that make it the rule. This future, the one before their extinction was pretty good and we can make it better." He grinned. "I can just imagine you're reaction to Savannah throwing out the word werewolf like it was nothing, but you did good at taking the position. We can lay down the ground work for a more equal society. You know if we survive," he said, with a grin.

"I agree that it's there, but I think the war warped who we were, turned us into some weird version of ourselves, thinking like Dumbledore, suspecting each other. We were still good on the battlefield, but everywhere we had a problem That's what we're dealing with and what we need to solve."

He sighed. "I understand what you're saying, but if you do die, then he'll be left with a letter and no opportunity to tell you how he feels back. If you tell him and then we survive, you can tell him all over again in a very romantic way." Peter squeezed Remus' hand. "I won't push, but consider how you'd feel if he told you that he loves you in a letter before dying."

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-16 01:45 am UTC (link)
"Don't think they count as exceptions if they're the rule." Remus chuckled. "Well, to be fair, the others had before then as well...mostly to tell me they already knew what I was and didn't care. I think it was more the idea that there had been a true change in the world and that I'd somehow had something to do with it. But, yes, we can set out the groundwork because we will survive. I mean, we're half of the infamous Marauders. Are we really going to let some prehistoric chickens take us out?" he added with the best wink he could muster.

Thinking about it, he wondered if this was -- again -- an example of how different their experiences had been. "While that's true, I've been in battle with people I couldn't trust. I couldn't always stay out of the fight while I was with the packs. Still having that between us, despite everything that happens means something, Peter. It has to. I'm not saying it doesn't require work in the rest of our lives. But, it means something that, when it counts the most and the lives of people we care about are on the line, we can still trust each other."

He squeezed Peter's fingers back softly. "Maybe you're right," he admitted after a moment. "Maybe I should tell him next time he visits. I don't know what to do, really. I don't want to be a burden on him, or a distraction. Not when so many people are depending on him." Taking a deep breath and letting it out on a huff, he turned back to Peter. "But, you didn't come over here to play Agony Aunt to my love life and I'm probably just overthinking things because I have nothing else to think about just lying here."

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Re: Peter/Remus
[info]p__pettigrew
2021-06-16 02:47 am UTC (link)
Peter snorted. "You do know that the only thing I got from that is that they are prehistoric chickens. I don't know if they are chickens or prehistoric, but that's all they will be called now." He grinned. "But you're right, we can't die. Who'll take care of Sirius and James? Problems or not, we're the ones who remind them to be cautious."

He shrugged. "Maybe, but it's not normal, Moony. We shouldn't be this good at war, and I know that a few months here can't change who we are, but it's not who we should be as individuals and not just as friends. I don't know what the solution is, because my brain tells me that we shouldn't be fighting all the time, but when the fight comes I'm unable to stay out of it."

He smiled. "Or maybe you'll give him even more motivation. You can't predict life, but you can't make your decision to avoid being a bother, but we can probably end this conversation and get some rest. I'll just stay here with you a little longer." He'd stay until Remus fell asleep, or both of them.

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Fenrir/Remus
[info]wolfish
2021-06-15 02:22 am UTC (link)
Fenrir had gotten lucky. He'd been at the pool party but had ducked back inside the castle not long before the attack had happened because he'd been feeling a little overwhelmed. The shouts and screams of the others had sent him flying back outside in a rush, his wand at the ready. He'd managed to avoid the worst of it in the chaos, gaining only a few sharp pecks for his troubles. The wounds from those were deeper than they ought to be but Merlin knows he'd had worse on the full moon nights so once he'd been bandaged up, he'd slipped out of the infirmary to help round up any stray birds and otherwise help out however he could.

He'd also made time to see those he knew who were injured, the worst of whom was Remus. The other werewolf had mostly been asleep or barely coherent whenever he'd come in but this time he was awake, though he looked tired and drawn.

"Hey," he said quietly as he sat down next to Remus' bed, taking care not to disturb any of the others. "How are you doing?"

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Re: Fenrir/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-15 03:25 am UTC (link)
"Like I imagine a phoenix on it's Burning Day to feel." Remus decided that he was running out of good quips to answer that question and would need to think up a few more. He knew his temperature was ebbing and flowing some. At times he wondered if the fever might actually break, but it never seemed to. Whatever battle was happening in his system, there didn't seem to be a clear victor, yet.

Giving a quiet huff, he frowned. "I'm guessing I may have to postpone our next sparring session, though. Something tells me I'll get an argument if I try to get out of bed for it. But, you look like you came out all right," he continued with a smile that felt wan and pale even to him. "I'm glad. I was worried you might be stuck going through this, too." It was funny, really, but Remus really had come to separate Fenrir from the 'Greyback' who had turned him and haunted his nightmares for years. This man was becoming a friend instead of an enemy, someone Remus worried about.

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Re: Fenrir/Remus
[info]wolfish
2021-06-15 06:55 am UTC (link)
"Ouch," Fenrir said. Looking at Remus, he felt it was a bit selfish to feel glad that he'd avoided the talons of the birds when he couldn't even really say it was anything more than luck. What worried him more than anything else was that being a werewolf didn't seem to me any protection against whatever was up with those birds. "Though does that mean you're going to turn into a tiny baby version of yourself?"

He chuckled. "Sparring can definitely wait until you can stand up without falling down." He shrugged a little at the question. "I'd gone back inside because I was feeling... it was a bit much, you know." His gaze went a bit distant for a moment. "Then the screaming and shouting started. So I missed the worst of it. I did get pecked a bit by those birds. hose cuts were pretty deep but they've healed well."

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Re: Fenrir/Remus
[info]slowburn_alpha
2021-06-15 09:35 pm UTC (link)
"Oh, Merlin! I hope not! Puberty was bad enough the first time around." A rasp of laughter bubbled up, juxtaposed with Remus' look of abject horror that managed to leave him wide-eyed for just a moment before his eyelids felt heavy again.

Nodding, he listened quietly as the other werewolf explained what had happened to him. "Yeah, I get that. Parties can be a bit overwhelming, even with the charms to mitigate things, sometimes." He huffed softly. "The screaming, shouting, and screeching don't help," he commented drily. Only his previous experience let him keep his head amid all that noise. Another thought had him frowning as he tried to glance unsuccessfully at where his shoulder was bandaged, the silvery scars of his first werewolf bite peaking around the edges. "You know, I haven't thought to ask yet, how my own wound is healing. Bird tried to perch on my shoulder bone by going through the muscle to get at it. I'll have to talk to Marlene or Regulus the next time they come by," he finished with a half-hearted shrug.

"I'm glad you're okay, though. And your friend, Parvati, that comes to help you at the Full? I remember seeing her sister during it all. But, I didn't see her. She's not in one of these other beds, is she?" Remus could make out the scents and sounds nearest him, but Regulus had, unfortunately, been right about his ability to concentrate and, where he would normally know the occupants of the entire ward, it was too much effort to focus on much past the beds to either side of him.

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