You Can't Always Get What You Want

Chapter 10

Remus Lupin was having a bad morning.

It had started when he got up and Sirius was made quite clear to him that, as far as he was concerned, Remus was a persona non grata. Wormtail and Prongs were baffled by this turn of events but both boys remained curiously tight lipped about the reasons behind the fall out.

Remus knew it would be awkward for the next week or so but he was convinced that Padfoot would eventually come round and their friendship would revert back to its original state.

But by lunchtime though, he was quickly disabused of that notion. Through the course of the morning, he had sat next to him in two extremely uncomfortable lessons and the air was strained to say the least.

This continued at the Gryffindor table throughout lunch. Sirius alternated between avoiding eye contact with the werewolf, to glaring menacingly at him until Remus could take it no longer.

“Look Sirius, can we at least be civil to each other in public?” Lupin whispered desperately.

Sirius stood up silently, wiping his mouth with a napkin; his aristocratic breeding showing through. He then threw it down carelessly, all the while never breaking eye contact with Remus.

“Don’t ever speak to me again you fucking poof. Black’s don’t with mix with homosexuals and they certain don’t associate with evil beast such as werewolves!” A collective gasp rose from around the room and then a deathly silence fell.

Sirius merely ignored it and haughtily started to walk out of the Great hall.

Remus froze. He couldn’t quite believe it, not only had Sirius out-ed him in public but he had also just revealed his greatest secret, his lycanthropy to the entire school.

The wolf within saw red.

He launched himself at him. Black was unprepared for the attack and was knocked to the ground. Sirius didn’t stand a chance against the furious werewolf. Remus punched him viciously for his vitriolic attack. But before he could meter out any real damage though, he was pulled off Sirius by Prongs and Wormtail.

“Remus calm down. He’s not worth it mate. He’s not worth it.”

Sirius lay on the floor, nursing two black eyes and a broken nose. Teachers appeared from all quarters and the fight was broken up.

A restrained Lupin was escorted to Dumbledore’s office, whilst Sirius was levitated to the infirmary to have his wounds treated.

“What’s going on Mooney?” James asked. “You two were always so tight. What’s happened to change all that?”

“It’s private.”

“Not anymore it ain’t. Fuck Remus, Sirius has just told the whole school that you’re gay and a bloody werewolf. You owe him no favours now mate.” James shouted.

“It’s private, between me and Padfoot. Two wrongs don’t make a right Prongs.”

“Fucking stubborn werewolf!”

“Quite, Mr Potter.” Dumbledore said satirically.

“Sorry sir, I didn’t know you were there.” He blushed.

“Now, Mr Lupin, would you care to enlighten me as to why one of your best friends for the past seven years has decided to not only reveal your lycanthropy to the entire school but also cast aspersions on your sexuality?”

“Like I said sir, it’s a private matter.”

“It’s a shame Mr Black didn’t offer youl the same obligation. Anyway, no matter, no matter.” He moved over to a cabinet behind his desk and poured all four of them a glass of butterbeer each; casting a quick charm to warm it through.

The headmaster waved his hand at the boys and bade them to sit.

“Drink up boys so we can discuss this further.” Dumbledore eyed Remus curiously as he drank and he began to feel an odd sensation seep through his body. It wasn’t the warmth of his drink, this was something else.

“I can see from your expression young Remus that you sense something isn’t quite right. If you are wondering, I have given you boys a very small dose of Veritaserum. Quite forbidden by our school code but quite necessary in this situation.” He said with a twinkle in his eye.

Lupin became agitated.

“Sir, I don’t want anything that is said in here to leave this room.”

“Agreed. All agree to a wizard’s secrecy oath.”

“Aye.” They all invoked it.

“Right. Mr Pettigrew, tell me what you know of these events today.”

“Nothing sir. They seemed to be fine with each other until a day or two ago. I really don’t know what has caused them to fall out.”

“And there’s nothing else you feel you have to confess?”

Wormtail’s face contorted as he tried desperately not to reveal his deepest and darkest secret.

“I masturbate over a picture of Bellatrix Black, sir.” He clasped his hand over his mouth, unable to stop the tirade from his lips.

“Ergh. That’s disgusting.” James spat.

Peter hung his head shamefully.

“That wasn’t quite the information I was looking for Mr Pettigrew but insightful to say the least.” Dumbledore smirked. “And what about you Mr Potter?”

James also felt the pull of the truth serum.

“I wear Lily’s underwear and she spanks my bare arse for being rude to the head girl in the Room of Requirement.”

“Kinky but again, not the answer I was after.”
James flushed with embarrassment at revealing his sexual fetish in error.

“I’m the same as Wormtail sir. I don’t know why Padfoot and Mooney have been fighting.”

“That just leaves you then, Mr Lupin. Tell me what’s behind all this then.”

“I’m gay sir.”

“Oh. And did Mr Black take offence at this?”

“No sir, he’s…what I mean is, these guys have known about it since the fifth year.”

“So what’s changed in the last few days then?”

“Sirius found out that I had a boyfriend. Michael Bratherton, from Ravenclaw sir.”

“I know Mr Bratherton well Remus, he’s a nice boy.”

“Yes sir, he is. Anyway, Sirius caught us in a…compromising position in the library two nights ago and we argued.”

“Argued because he caught you…?”

“Getting a blowjob sir.” He said matter of factly.

“Wow. Way to go there Mooney!” James hooted. “Hey, why didn’t you tell us you’d got a fella?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Back to you argument Remus. Why was Sirius angry?”

“Well at first I thought it was because he’d seen me and Mike at, well you know…it. But after having a go back at him. He confessed to me that he was jealous.”

“Jealous of what precisely?”

“Jealous of me being with someone else. And then we kissed.” The other occupants of the room just looked on, mouths agape.

“You and Sirius kissed?” James asked, breaking the silence.

“Well, yes and a bit more.”

“What do you mean by ‘a bit more’?”

“I gave him a blow job. Twice!”
Dumbledore found it difficult not to chuckle.

“I’ve been in love with Sirius since I was fourteen but I never thought for one minute he would like me back in that way, tjough. I mean, he’s just so straight and there was something about it that…that just didn’t feel right, so I stopped it before it went any further. He didn’t like that. He’s my friend and I value that more than a brief liaison”

“Very wise for someone so young in years Mr Lupin.”

“Thank you sir.”

“You will find that the effects of the serum have now worn off. If I may ask you both to leave, I have some things I need to discuss with young Remus here.”

The two boys seemed reluctant to leave Mooney alone but were reassured by the benevolent look the headmaster gave them. Once alone, Remus began to cry and Albus passed him a handkerchief.

“There now my boy, no need to upset yourself.”

“No need to be upset. I’m finished here sir. The governors and parents will call for my expulsion. Who wants a vicious dark creature learning along side their child? It was a close call back when Snape…” Remus swallowed, unable to continue.

“I know, I know but I’m sure we can work something out in the mean time. You’ve worked too hard to finish school without your qualifications. In fact I may just have an idea.”

With this, Remus brightened slightly.

“Really?”

“Yes, but it’s going to mean some serious hard work from youself in the next three weeks before your next transformation lad.”

“No problem sir.”

“Okay then. First we need to move you out into separate accommodation. Seeing as Mr Potter chose to remain with yourselves in the Gryffindor tower. You can take to spare Head Boy’s room. The only person close to you there is Miss Evans.”

“That’s fine sir.” That solved the problem of him having to face Sirius day in, day out.

“You will no longer take your usual classes. For the next two weeks you will spend your days concentrating on revising for your N.E.W.T.S early. I will get the appropriate professors to set you a revision plan and you will sit your exams in that third week. I think I can safely hold off any expulsion order until then.” The reality of his leaving Hogwarts finally hit Remus. “And once you have passed, you can leave of your own accord, not being expelled.” Dumbledore looked pleased with himself.

“Thank you sir. I appreciate your help and support.”

“Nonsense Remus, it has been my pleasure to teach you for these last seven years. Now, off you go to your new room. I shall instruct the house elves to move you things. And try not to worry, it’ll be alright son.”

Remus exited the headmaster’s office wondering what exactly lay ahead for him in the future.