A day in the life of Remus Lupin
Dawn has barely crept over the horizon when he awakes with a start, his heart rattling nervously against his ribcage. It’s been a long time since his last nightmare, but Remus knows that they will come back at some point. Droplets of the raising sun’s light pour in through the window and speckle his friends’ sleeping figures. Carefully not to wake them – at least not yet – he staggers over to the bathroom and soon enough hot water is running over his still tensed body. Remus closes his eyes, letting himself to calm down and relax. He’s got time, full moon not for another three weeks and even though some scars and bruises are still far from fading, he’s alright. Everything is alright and the world is still turning at its tearing pace.
When he’s leaving the bathroom, Sirius is just about to enter it, dishevelled hair falling into his eyes as he blinks at Remus and mutters something incoherent.
Remus bites down a laugh, wakes Peter and goes to pack his things. He wonders if he is ever going to find out how exactly Sirius manages to spend ages in their cramped bathroom as said friend returns, looking as mischievous as always, a true picture of health. His good looking attitude is blinding most people over the fact that he is the best friend Remus could possibly wish for. He realises it on mornings like this when it doesn’t take Sirius longer than one glance to figure out the nightmare; a quick, brushing touch on his shoulder and then Sirius is gone to wake James.
His shrieking “Oi, Prongsie, wake up, you’re gonna be late” trails Remus down the stairs and into the common room which is still rather empty. Only a few students – most of them lower grades – scramble around with tired, bloodshot eyes and try to collect their homework.
Of course most of the Professors are already in the Great Hall, talking quietly to each other. Remus gets a short nod from his Head of the House as he sits down face to face with Lily Evans. She’s thumbing through a book in an alarming speed, a plate heaped with scrambled eggs and bread almost untouched in front of her. Remus tries not to distract her as he helps himself to waffles.
The hall is filling slowly but surely with students and noises and eventually his friends appear. Sirius is the only one being unruffled and grinning; Peter’s askew tie is dangling sloppily and James is even worse, definitely not a morning person. His tired face lights up as he spots Lily and sits down next to her. Remus and Sirius exchange an eye-roll as their friend starts and there are days when Remus feels the sudden urge to shake James and yell at him; can’t you see she’s reading? Can’t you stop this just for once?, but of course he doesn’t. He never ever does.
The morning passes in a daze, the subjects mix up in Remus’ mind as they sit down to have lunch and he rubs over his temples desperately. Of course it doesn’t help because the world doesn’t turn like this and he just has to catch up with its speed.
He eats silently, too silently as it seems. Alice looks at him with her wide eyes, a compassionate look sweeping over her features. “Are you alright?” she asks and reaches out to rub over his arm.
“I’m fine, I’m fine”, Remus hastily calms her and puts on a smile. He can feel Sirius’ gaze on him. “I’m just a bit tired.”
Alice bites and sighs. “I can feel your pain”, she responses and Remus quickly takes another spoon of soup to keep himself from saying something wrong, something like, Oh, really? Did you dream about being lacerated by a werewolf as well? Isn’t it funny? Another pat on his arm and then she’s gabbing about the approximating exams and about how much she’s still got to learn and about how unfair life can be when you’re nothing but a student. Oh, really, Remus thinks and lets her talk.
The afternoon is terribly boring and for the first time in the year he doesn’t pay attention to Professor Binn’s monologue. Arithmancy is even worse and after miscounting for the third time Remus wishes the day to be over more than ever.
He takes his homework up to their dorm where it’s quiet and arranges all the parchments on the floor to get started. Sprawled out on his bed he picks one up and goes through it, scribbles notes where notes are needed and underlines sentences he needs to remember. It’s a good technique and Remus got used to learning when he’s exhausted beyond measure.
As soon as dinner is over Remus changes in his pyjama and lies down, ignoring Peter’s surprised glance and the short break in Sirius’ and James’ conversation.
This has been a bad day, he thinks as he slowly starts to drift off into sweet oblivion, the sun just dropping behind the astronomy tower.
God help me if this’ turning out to be a bad night as well.
