𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄
chapter twenty-three; Another Bloody Secret
" Mia, you spoil us. "

  REMUS LUPIN WASN'T necessarily the smart Marauder. He was smart, yes, but they all were, in their own way.

  James excelled in potions and rallying people, he could turn a porcupine into a pin cushion whilst having a conversation about dumping soap into the Slytherin prefect's tub. 

  Sirius could tell the price of any hair product or leather jacket by looking at it, he knew how to walk on his toes and make loud boots silent, he'd recite every constellation and star that made them up, all while chatting comfortably with a stranger.

  Peter was the only one who knew how to cook, despite the food being basic things, he could cook and make the jokes found inside holiday crackers sound funny and write a well put-together essay the week it was due.

  But Remus Lupin had common sense, and he was the only one. The only one who took the time to think; perhaps Lily didn't like being chased after, and maybe him being made prefect was a bad idea, and Sirius Black was taking far too long in Madeline Potter's room to have just brought her dinner.

  James was all too focused on a conversation revolving around quidditch with his father to care, Peter clung on to their every word and interjected every now and then. Remus had left the table to assist Euphemia in cleaning up, which made the woman laugh brightly but let him.

  "Mia, you spoil us," Remus patted over his heart when the woman said she'd made desert.

  "A house full of teenagers— I've got to find a way to keep you lot happy." Remus smiled as the woman absentmindedly brushed crumbs from his worn jumper. "Will you go fetch Maddie and Sirius— he must've gone to his room, that boy's all over the place, I tell you."

  "Sure," Remus said, the worry he'd felt whilst eating his broccoli resurfaced, "I thought Maddie was grounded?"

  "Oh, she is," Euphemia sighed, "I feel horrible, the poor girl's probably bored half to death, dessert then she'll go back to bed— off you go I've got to cut the pie."

  Remus nodded, shuffling through the kitchen and past the boys at the dining table, ducking under a low-hanging light as he made his way to the staircase. 

  "C'mon, Lupin," He mumbled, taking the steps quite slowly, "Sirius wouldn't do that to James."

  The boy came around the corner on the second floor, Madeline's white wooden door shut tightly. He worked up so much confidence, Remus didn't let himself stop to knock.

  This was a huge mistake.

  Remus Lupin saw far too much right away. 

  Too much in the sense of now being privy to the secret relationship between Madeline and Sirius, but also in the sense that Sirius' bare back was the only thing keeping Remus from seeing too much of Madeline.

  "Remus!"

  "What?"

  "Madeline!"

  "Bloody hell!"

  Everything seemed to happen at once, Sirius had fallen fully onto the small bed as Madeline had shoved him off of her, a thin sheet wrapped around his waist. His face still read confusion, especially as Madeline pulled her comforter into a dress and shut her door harshly, locking Remus in the corner. He was facing her pale blue walls, heat crawling up his neck quicker than any seeker he'd ever seen.

  "Oh, thank Merlin," Sirius sighed, laying back on the bed in relief, covering his face.

  "How is any of this good?" Madeline snapped.

  "Well, for starters, I thought you called me Remus," Sirius said, making Madeline glare whilst she turned a shade of pink, "And it's not James."

  "Rem, you don't have to stay turned around."

  "I can't look at either of you."

  "Moony, don't be dramatic—"

  "What the hell's wrong with you?" Remus questioned loudly, whirling around to face Sirius. The shock of his glare made Sirius' elbow supporting his head buckle, "I told you not to—"

  "To be fair, it was a bit too late for that talk anyway," Sirius informed after recovering slightly.

  Remus let out a frustrated noise, turning to Madeline. The girl was chewing on her bottom lip, disheveled chocolate hair falling over flushed cheeks, the fluffy blanket wrapped tightly around endless expanses of pale skin.

  "Mia wants you both to come downstairs for dessert," Remus said, "Hurry up."

  "Rem—"

  "Don't worry," Remus cut Madeline off harsher than intended, "I won't tell anyone."

  Madeline frowned as the boy looked to Sirius once more before leaving the room in a rush, the door closed with a soft click before she even moved. And when she did it was hesitant, like Madeline wasn't even sure she could put her clothes on and go downstairs.

  "Mads—"

  "What if he hates me?" Madeline blurted, a pair of pajama pants hanging in her hands, the blanket still wrapped around her figure. "I mean, what if one of my best friends— only friends—hates me now?"

  "Remus doesn't hate you," Sirius sighed quietly, tugging his t-shirt over his head. "He's angry with me."

  Madeline brought her hand to her mouth, chewing on her thumbnail as Sirius got dressed. The girl didn't move a millimeter until Sirius stood fully in front of her, running his hands over her bare shoulders and leaving goosebumps in their wake.

  "You alright?"

  "Blue and Kai know, too."

  Madeline was expecting Sirius to panic. To be frantic or angry or something that would make it easy for her to abandon the relationship and not feel like the rope in a game of tug-of-war, but he didn't.

  "Okay," Sirius nodded thoughtfully, "Maddie, why don't we just tell James?"

  "Because he'll hate me," Madeline said quietly, "And you—"

  "Don't worry about me," He cut her off, tightening his lips briefly, "You need to get dressed."

  "I don't know if I can go face everyone— not James or Remus."

  "I'll be right next to you, Mads."

  ". . . Fine."

ϟ

  Dessert was painful for Madeline Potter. Sirius seemed to be a professional at acting normal, he'd fallen into a joking mood with Fleamont and James the second they arrived in the dining room. 

  But Madeline just poked her pie.

  She picked apart the crust, then cut the apples in halves, then fourths. She squished the filling between the prongs of her fork, watching it glisten in the pale yellow light like amber. Madeline twirled her fork between her fingers like it was a ballerina putting on a show, all while leaning on her left arm.

  "Maddie?"

  The girl looked up at her father, raising her eyebrows.

  "Are you alright?"

  "Fine," The girl responded tiredly, ignoring worried looks from just about everyone. "May I be excused?"

  "Of course," Euphemia said with a tight smile, "Good night, Lovie."

  "Night, Mum," Madeline mumbled, pressing a kiss to her mother's cheek before taking her plate to the kitchen.

  Euphemia sighed, fiddling with her fingers as Madeline passed the dining room again, hurrying up the stairs with one hand on the railing for balance.

  "I think we were too hard on her," Euphemia said once she heard the door of Madeline's bedroom close. "She wasn't meaning to do anything bad."

  "You think?" Fleamont questioned almost nervously, "I suppose it matters why she did it."

  "Well, at least she didn't lie."

  Fleamont and Euphemia gave James disapproving looks, the boy letting out a confused 'what?' as Sirius began to chuckle. His confusion grew as Sirius' laughter grew uncontrollable, but eventually, the Potter boy caved and began laughing along.

  And Remus Lupin was staring at his own uneaten pie because the last thing he needed, or wanted, was another bloody secret.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
Remus deserves the world