Chapter Text
Remus Lupin was fucked. Literally and metaphorically.
Unfortunately, only one of those aspects had been enjoyable.
He carefully lifted the arm across his bare chest before hurriedly picking his discarded clothing off the floor. As he dressed, he glanced back at the bed once, making sure the stranger was still asleep before he slipped out the door.
Remus groaned, running a hand through his hair. He’d gotten shit-faced last night and then proceeded to leave with some random stranger. But then again, he was in his self-proclaimed slut-era. Lately, this wasn’t even unusual anymore.
He chuckled softly to himself. If someone had told him last year, and in twelve months' time, he’d be drinking and fucking every night, he’d laugh in their faces and call them an imbecile. Remus’ fifth year at Hogwarts had started like any other. School, study, the occasional prank, and – God forbid – the monthly transformations. Everything had been like any other year.
Until it wasn’t.
And Sirius Black was to blame.
A bitter chuckle escaped his chest. Remus really had the worst luck, didn’t he? First Greyback, and now this? Somehow, he just attracted people who hurt him.
He didn’t remember much about the night before. He remembered enough. And what did he do? Send a letter to Dumbledore? Request a private resorting? And all so he could get petty revenge against Sirius?
He’d fucked up. Real bad this time.
Thinking about it wasn’t going to do anything. He needed a shower, and breakfast. He could worry about his life-altering decisions later. Out of sight, out of mind.
A glance at his phone told Remus that it was only 8 am. He sighed, calling his dad. The phone rang twice before his father picked up. A low groan echoed from the phone, “Remus?”
“Morning, Dad. Can you pick me up?”
“Uh-wait, what? Where are you?”
“I’ll send you the address.”
Lyall Lupin was everything a father should be, and Remus was grateful. Sometimes more than most.
“Give me a sec.”
The rustle of sheets told Remus his father had been asleep before he called. “Thanks, dad.”
“Yeah, yeah. But you are telling me what you got up to last night when I pick you up.”
Remus stared at the house he left behind, “Yeah...sure.”
“See you, kiddo.”
“See you, dad.”
A shower and five pancakes later, Remus sat across the dining table from his father. Lyall stared at Remus like a disappointed parent. Which, to be fair, he was. Remus squirmed under his father’s intense stare. Lifting a cup of coffee to his lips, his father asked, “Well?”
“I was at a friend’s.”
Lyall narrowed his eyes, “I know all your friends’ addresses. You were nowhere near their houses. Try again.”
Shit. Lyall Lupin was smart, unlike most of the people Remus spent his schooling years with.
“Um...I was at a party.” Not the truth. But not a lie, either.
“And?” His father raised an eyebrow.
Remus swallowed, “I got shit-faced and went home with a stranger.”
“There we go.”
Remus reached across the table, taking another pancake and stuffing it into his mouth. “I asked to be resorted,” He mumbled through the pancake, willing his father to not hear it.
His father stared at him, placing his cup back on the table. Lyall sighed, “I don’t know what’s happened since last year, but I’m not dumb enough to not notice that something is wrong.”
Remus suddenly found the window really interesting.
“Listen, I’m not going to lecture you about making mistakes. You’re sixteen, of course you’re going to make mistakes. But this doesn’t feel like a mistake.”
Remus winced. His father sighed, “Just...be safe, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“So... why?”
Remus played with his fork. “I just... need something different, I think. I don’t even know if Dumbledore is going to agree to it.”
“Dumbledore’s a kind man. I’m sure he’ll let you get resorted.”
Lyall smiled at his son, “Now, I have to get to work, but I’ll be home for dinner. Be good, but not too good.”
Placing his head on the table, Remus nodded, “See you, dad.”
As soon as the door closed after his father, Remus cursed, hiding his face in his arms, “Fuck this shit.”
And, as if his life couldn’t get any worse, a familiar barn owl flew through a window. Remus eyed the owl. It had the tendency to be overly and unnecessarily aggressive. “You better not bite me this time, motherfucker.”
The owl stared at him, hooting before dropping the letter on the table. And, as if sensing Remus’s mood, it didn’t even make an attempt to bite him.
“Shoo.”
As the brown owl flew away, Remus stared at the letter as if it had personally offended him. The scarlet Hogwarts seal seemed to mock him. Hesitantly, Remus picked up the letter. What did he want to see when he opened it? He didn’t know anymore. Yes, he wanted a restart, and to do that, he needed to be far away from Sirius Black. But was he willing to leave all his other friends behind?
Biting his cheek, Remus opened the letter with trembling fingers.
Dear Mr. Lupin,
We are happy to inform you that your request to be resorted has been accepted.
We ask you to meet Professor McGonagall in her office during Headmaster Dumbledore’s opening speech.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Remus exhaled. Closing his eyes, he wondered if Professor McGonagall knew. She’d always known everything in the castle. So how much did she know?
Holy shit. He was getting another sorting. Remus honestly didn’t know which house he belonged to. He’d been so sure that Gryffindor was where he belonged, but now, he wasn’t so sure anymore. If he were truly brave, wouldn’t he face Sirius? But he’s running away like a coward. Or... was he just tired of pretending everything is fine? If not Gryffindor, where did he belong? Ravenclaw, maybe? He’s smart, so surely that’s where he belonged. Perhaps even Hufflepuff. He’s loyal, something Sirius isn’t, and he’s patient. Sometimes.
Shit. He's fucked.