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Just like Peter Pan, they never wanted to grow up.
James had been the first to express this wish - actually, it was more of a suggestion - out loud.
“Won’t it get boring at some point?”, asked Remus then, snuggling further into his blanket. Even though the first years were sitting in front of the crackling fire in the common room, wrapped up in their blankets, it was still pretty cold.
“No, never!”, James replied angrily.
“At least not if you live on an island like Neverland.”, Sirius agreed with him directly. Grinning, the two nodded to each other.
“And how are you going to make it to Neverland?” The brown-haired boy looked skeptically back and forth between his two friends. “Just send me an owl as soon as you’ve found out.”
“Haha, very funny, Lupin.”, Sirius pouted.
“Why don’t we just stay here and never grow up?”, suggested Peter but was immediately met with confused looks.
“I don’t think you quite get the point of Peter Pan and his loyal companions.” The black-haired boy rolled his eyes, which earned him an amused grin from his best friend. “Or do you want to go to school forever?”
“Well, Hogwarts actually isn’t that bad ...”, muttered Peter disappointedly as he pulled the duvet up under his chin.
Remus gave Sirius and James, who were still making fun of the youngest of the group, annoyed glances, as he could understand Peter very well. Being able to live here, at Hogwarts, with his three friends for all eternity was the most marvelous idea ever and therefore his greatest wish. The only thing they would have to worry about would be homework and exams, but they would get a delicious, hot meal every day, never really have to tidy up and could go out and explore the grounds every evening. Maybe they would even find a secret passageway to Hogsmead.
They would simply be able to do everything they wanted without having to worry about the typical problems adults have to face. Like money, for example. Although Sirius and James would probably never have to worry about money.
Unfortunately, there was a small catch, namely Remus’ own little secret. He would have to confess that to the three of them. They already didn’t really believe him that he had to go home every month - on the full moon - to help his father with his sick mother. Could he just make them believe that she was cursed and that it always got worse on the full moon, that she was in a lot of pain and-
“Hello? All of Hogwarts to Remus Lupin!”
A waving hand snapped the first year out of his thoughts. “Dude, get that stinky paw of yours out of my face!”
“What were you thinking about?”, asked Sirius instead, simply wiping his chin-length hair behind his ear as best he could with said interfering hand.
“Oh, just the fact that Pete's actually right.”
“What?!”
“You heard me just fine.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Remus noticed Peter smiling gratefully at him.
“Are you completely out of your mind?” James scooted closer to him and looked him firmly in the eye, as if this way he could better judge his friend’s mental state.
“By Merlin’s beard, you’re just so stupid sometimes!", Remus grumbled, shaking his head. “We’d be a club, of course, like the lost boys. Then we can do whatever we want all day. As soon as lessons are over, anyway."
“And we’d always be together and there for each other.", Peter added, proud that he was the only one who had understood the other’s thoughts.
“Hey Sirius, I just got a great idea!”
James jumped enthusiastically to his feet, almost tripping over his blanket, causing his glasses to slip slightly off his nose. “As of today, we’re the, er ...”
“The enchanted boys?”, whispered Sirius quickly, trying to help his best friend out of his misery. There was no mistaking the uncertainty in his voice; he also had absolutely no idea what the boys from the story called themselves.
“The lost boys.”, Remus gave the right hint with a wink.
“Yes, that’s right. As of today, we are the Lost Boys of Hogwarts!”, James skillfully managed to cover up his mistake. He then hopped theatrically onto the red sofa and raised one arm in a clenched fist. Sirius clapped his hands in approval and cheered excitedly before doing the same and jumping onto the sofa. Roaring, they romped across the red cushions, trying to imitate Peter Pan’s crow call.
“Wasn’t it your idea, originally?”, Peter remarked quietly. Like James a few minutes ago, he had also slipped closer to Remus.
Remus shook his head. “It was yours.”
Smiling, he watched as the blonde’s head turned a subtle shade of red. He didn’t get compliments very often, which made Remus feel a bit sorry for him.
“But that will have to remain our secret. Only you and I know the truth now.”
“Yeah, James is in desperate need for his five minutes of attention again.”
“I think you mean his 24 hours.”
“Oi, a Gryffindor doesn’t whisper so maliciously!" And at that, a red cushion landed in each of the boys’ faces who were still sitting on the floor. They exchanged a quick glance before picking up the pillows and throwing themselves at their friends, screaming. The initial coldness of the tower was quickly forgotten, as was the fact that the four of them were not alone.
Only a few minutes later, a prefect stepped down the stone stairwell and ordered them to shut up immediately, clean up the mess in the common room and then disappear into their dormitory.
“What are house elves for?”, Sirius grumbled quietly, causing the sixth year to deduct an extra five points.
Later, when they were finally lying in their beds - Sirius and James were the first to fall asleep - Remus couldn’t help but wonder if it had been a mistake to read them the story of Peter Pan.
It was only a fortnight ago. Remus had had one of his full moon nights (his sixth at Hogwarts) and couldn’t sleep because of the intense pain that always haunted him afterwards. Therefore, he had turned the tip of his wand into a makeshift torch with a spell he had found by chance and pulled an old book from the drawer of his bedside table. The cover almost fell apart as he opened the first page.
In the past, even before he was bitten, his mother had often read the story to him to put him to sleep. She couldn’t really tell him how old this edition and the fairy tale were, which made the story all the more mysterious for Remus. It was probably this that awakened his fascination and love for old books and books in general.
By the light of his makeshift torch, he woke up the other three, who had then vehemently asked him to read them the book from the first to the last page, as it was “so abysmally exciting” (James’ words) and “deprived them all of their well-earned sleep” (Sirius’ words). Peter had simply turned to the other side and closed his eyes again. As he was also a half-blood and had grown up in a normal muggel suburb, he was already familiar with ‘Peter Pan’ and his adventures in Neverland.
Thus, the four Gryffindors lay awake until the early hours of the morning, three of them listening to the brown-haired boy’s voice. Since then, Sirius and James had been obsessed with the little boy who never wanted to grow up, which obviously came to a climax that evening.
Remus, however, liked the idea of calling themselves the ‘lost boys’. Especially since only they knew the true meaning of that title and no one else, except maybe some of their muggle-born classmates.
Reassured, the Gryffindor closed his eyes, satisfied with the realization that it wasn’t a mistake, and that tomorrow would be their first day as the ‘lost boys of Hogwarts’.
-
Now, many years later, Remus held the book in his hands again and remembered who they were before they officially became the Marauders.
He was standing in his childhood bedroom, that fateful Halloween night in 1981.
Everything had fallen apart.
Lily and James were dead, as were so many other of his friends.
Sirius is said to have been the culprit who not only betrayed his best friend (no, brother) and his wife - AND his own godson - but also murdered Peter in cold blood, including a dozen Muggles.
From now on, Harry will grow up with his aunt, Lily’s sister, and her family - Muggles who detest the wizarding world. And with everything the redhead had told him about her sister, he had known from the very first moment that the little boy would have anything but an easy life.
He had also expressed this very fact to Dumbledore while they were still standing in front of the remains of the house in Godric’s Hollow. Two coffins had been carried out at that very moment, causing Remus to avert his eyes. He didn’t want to burst into tears in front of so many people - Aurors and the last members of the Order.
He would never be able forget this night.
“It is a mistake, Professor.”
“No Remus, it is exactly the right decision.”
“But you don’t know how ... how they are. Lily-“ His breath hitched briefly, “Lily told me so much about her sister and, ... and even Professor McGonagall said that-“
“It doesn’t matter anymore. Harry will and must grow up with them. He’ll be safe there. After all, they are his only living relatives.”
"Can you assure me here and now that the son of James Potter and Lily Evans will grow up well protected and safe and will always be reminded of how much his parents love him?” He had looked angrily at his former headmaster. He didn’t understand how such a wise man could be this stupid.
But Dumbledore didn’t answer any of his questions. Remus already knew the answers, which made him even more furious.
But before he threatened to lose control of himself on the spot, his father had appeared, put a hand on his shoulder and apparated home with him. His mother was already waiting trembling in the kitchen and immediately hugged her son.
“I won’t stay long”, he said simply and pulled away from the embrace. “I ... I have to take care of the funeral and make sure that Harry will have access to everything that belonged to his parents as soon as he’s old enough. Besides, it’s not safe for you if I stay here any longer than necessary.”
The last sentence was directed at his mother.
“Oh, my sweet boy ... always worrying about the others.” Hope smiled sadly at him. “We’ll be here if you need anything.” Then she slumped powerlessly onto a kitchen chair. His father said nothing, as he always did.
And now Remus was standing here. His childhood, his youth - his whole life laid in ruins at his feet. All that remained were memories of all these wonderful days. But no new ones would ever be added.
Sobbing, the young man sank onto the bed and buried his head in his hands.
Nevertheless, he could not suppress a bitter smile as he painfully realized one thing. Their wish had come true. Even though, never growing up just like Peter Pan, only came true for two of them.