Remus groaned as he stretched out his arms.
Books and parchments layed in a mess in front of them as the four boys sat on the ground studying. Full moon was just a week ago and Remus hadn't moved from his place for quite a bit of time making his body stiff and achy.
Sirius looked up and grinned. "Growing old Moony?"
Remus shot a glare at him and looked back down into the big book sprawled open on his lap.
Sirius laughed and got back to whining about how hard potions was
Their O.W.Ls were within a week and Remus wanted to prove that he belonged in Hogwarts. He was never seen without a book those days, often ignoring sleep and meals. James, Sirius and Peter joined him during the acceptable hours. But even their efforts in convincing Remus to take a break were in vain.
It was already midnight and the marauders retired to their beds with sleepy good nights. Remus acknowledged them with a nod and went back to studying.
The clock in the Gryffindor common room read '3:05', when he looked up. Rubbing his eyes, Remus collected his stuff and put them in his rucksack. He yawned and stretched as he got up. He had been feeling sluggish from a couple of days and decided to hit the hay. Getting up, he turned around to make his way up to their dorms. Suddenly, the room spinned. His hands and legs became numb and prickly. Everything became incoherent as he closed his eyes. When he next opened them, he was on the floor. He blinked a couple of times as everything became clearer.
Grabbing the handle of a nearby chair for support, Remus pulled himself up and waited a few seconds for the tilted room to become horizontal. He slowly made his way upstairs taking the support of the wall.
Dragging himself to his bed, Remus fell asleep too tired and confused to register that something was wrong with him.
"Remy! We're late for breakfast! Get up!"
"Ughh...stop shouting Sirius! I'm up!"
Remus groaned as Sirius left for the Great hall, telling him to get up. He lifted his hand to his face surprised to find that it took a lot of effort to do so. He then noticed that his body was aching and his limbs felt like they were made out of metal. He felt awful.
Remus got up slowly, before he could go back to sleep. He couldn't afford miss classes now. Not with exams right around the corner.
A sudden wave of nausea hit him as he was trying to sit up. Clamping a hand to his mouth, Remus ran to the wash room. Clutching the toilet seat, he heaved, bringing up his last meal. His body shook with quivers as he threw up everything in his system. He stopped after five minutes, since there was nothing left in him to be brought up. He sat there on the bathroom floor, his head resting on his knees. After what felt like an eternity, Remus got up, cleaned himself and changed into his robes.
Going down for breakfast was a task easier said than done. He slumped down beside his friends and layed his head on the table. That took a lot of effort out of him. His hands and legs still felt numb and weird. He felt like it was the full moon all over again and with more intensity. James shaked his arm and asked if he's alright.
"I'm fine James, just sleepy"
"Yeah sleep Moony, you look like a zombie", Peter joked.
Remus layed down refusing to eat anything as he was afraid he'd puke everything afterwards. He didn't tell his friends about that, he didn't want to worry them. God knows they worry enough about him as it is. Sirius woke Remus saying that it was time for class. He grudgingly followed his friends to attend classes which turned out to be painful. His body refused to co-operate even a bit.
Soo it was lunch. Lily persuaded him into eating something saying that he was pale. He chewed his food slowly trying to keep everything down.
Potions was the class after lunch. Unfortunately for Remus, it was a practical lesson. Remus partnered with Lily as they set up their stations and started getting ingredients. His movements were slower than the usual and he was trying hard not to startle his already weak stomach. As they started brewing their potion, an unsettling smell spread throughout the classroom. That did it for Remus and his efforts went down the drain as his stomach churned painfully. He got the metallic taste in his mouth. Slapping his palm to his mouth, he ran out of the dungeons. He found the boys' restroom just in time as he threw himself onto a toilet bowl and started throwing up. After a while, only bile came up. After dry heaving for a few minutes, he got up slowly and washed his mouth. Swaying and not completely aware of his movements, Remus walked out of the restroom and clutching the walls for support.
"Remus!", he heard a shout behind him. He turned around to find Sirus running towards him. That abrupt turn cost him dearly. He lost his balance as the room started tilting. Worried grey eyes were what he last saw as his knees buckled and eyes rolled back, plunging him into darkness.
Ugh... I feel as if I was trampled by a Hippogriff. My head's pounding. I shift a bit and slowly open my eyes. Bad bad decision. The room's too bright.
Wincing, I brought my arm to shield my eyes.
I heard someone move and turned to look. A friendly face smiled at me.
"You're up Remus! Tsk tsk, I hoped not to see you here more than usual", Madame Pomfrey repremanded him gently. I smiled awkwardly as I felt myself reddening. She handed me a glass of water and I drank it gratefully.
"But really Remus, you should take care of yourself. You were out for a whole day. Working yourself till you get sick is never the answer. I hope that you're getting the seriousness of the consequences"
She gave me a couple of potions and left for her office. That's when I noticed the boys. They were asleep. Sirius with his mouth hanging open and a book on his lap, James with his glasses ajar, leaning on Peter who looks a bit uncomfortable but asleep anyway. Remus couldn't stop himself from letting out a chuckle.
Sirius shifted and yawned at the sound. He rubbed his eyes and looked around in a sleepy daze. His eyes widened as he saw me.
The next moment, I was attacked by a mass of black hair.
"Remusss!!!", he shouted probably waking up the other two.
"Yes Sirius. The one and only", I replied smiling.
James and Peter joined in on the hug.
"Uhm guys.. I can't breathe..", I wheezed.
They let go off of me, mumbling apologies.
My gaze locks with Sirius' and his shy smile drops. His eyebrows furrow into a frown.
"What the fuck Remus? Why don't you ever listen to us?", he shouted.
"We get it okay! We get that you want to get good grades and prove and all of that shit! Even though we don't agree, we get it! But working yourself till you pass out? This isn't okay Moony!", James snapped.
Peter was standing beside them with a sad expression on his face.
Sirius sighed, " Do you know how worried we were? You were out for two days Moony! Two whole days!! "
"Yeah Moons..two days. Scared the shit out of us", James said as if he read his mind.
"I know..I'm sorry, I should've taken rest. This is entirely on me guys. I'm really sorry. Never meant to worry you", I mumbled fidgeting with the sheets.
Sirius extended his arm, a honeydukes chocolate bar in his hand. I look up to see him smiling.
"It's okay Moony. You know we can't be angry at you for long. But yeah please don't let this happen again"
James turned and chuckled. Confused, I turn in the direction he's pointing only to see a readhead in the doorway.
Her hands were folded to her chest and she was tapping her foot. She looked angry.
Oh no.. I need to go through another round of scolding now.
The boys laughed and moved aside to let her through, while I facepalm.
