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Remus wasn't back and James still hadn't looked at a chart of the moon. In fact, he was purposely doing badly in astronomy for that very reason. He had meant exactly what he said to Sirius about not wanting to handle another nightmare. Only Sirius had been right too. How long had Remus been living with the nightmare? Because even if it wasn't that, it was most assuredly something dreadful. The poor lad was suffering it alone and James was being a coward.
It was just...if Remus was a werewolf what good would them knowing about it do? James couldn't think of anything and so kept putting it off. Just until after the first game. At least that was what he kept telling himself to feel better as the days ticked by and he still did nothing.
Then it was his first game. Even though he had told Sirius he wasn't nervous he was terrified. James was the best at Quidditch, a natural, good enough to play for the pros one day he was sure. But as several of the older teammates assured him, there was no cure for first-game jitters.
"Mate, you gotta eat something," Sirius sighed, shoving the plate of toast back to James who shoved it back again.
"If you two don't eat something then you'll feel sick later," Lily scolded though most of her displeasure was aimed at Dorcas, who looked rather green as she half-heartedly stirred her spoon around in the unappetizing-looking grits.
"They don't get it, Dor. They just don't get it," James lamented to his fellow teammate, the two of them often walking back together and talking after practices. Dorcas nodded with a grimace and together they were able to fight off Sirius and Lily's attempts to get them to eat. Peter even tried feeding him like a baby.
"Leave them be, they'll be alright. Better they eat nothing so they don't throw up chunks on the field," Gideon replied unhelpfully, patting both their backs before heading off. The Hogwart's champion had healed a great deal in only two short days, but James knew their head boy must be worried about his injuries getting in the way of them winning the game today.
"Well, if you aren't going to eat do you want to go down to the pitch early?" Lily offered, sounding at a loss which made her sound considerably less bossy, therefore an improvement.
"Sure. Come on, James," Dorcas replied, sounding a bit chipper at the suggestion.
He followed her, letting Sirius and Peter cheer him and assure him he'd do great. His legs were shaking in far too many directions, and for a second he thought someone had cast a jellylegs jinx on him, before begrudgingly realizing he was just that nervous. Despite that, somehow he and Dorcas managed to get down to the Quidditch pitch where Gideon was waiting with a knowing smile, their brooms waiting for them.
Sometimes he really loved that Gideon Prewitt.
"Take a few laps, realize you still remember how to fly. Then come on back and drink some water. Not eating is doable but I won't have either of you passing out on your brooms a few hours from now from dehydration," Gideon instructed kindly.
James nodded, not thinking he had the wits nor energy to protest even if he wanted to.
"Aye aye," Dorcas called, shooting off into the sky, James not far behind her.
Gideon was right to suggest laps, he really was feeling better up on the broom. Only from up in the air he noticed the added rows of seats and re-remembered that his first-ever game would be in front of students from other schools which he wasn't sure was good or not. It would depend on how he did, he supposed. He imagined doing so well that girls threw themselves on him, only he stopped fantasizing when the faceless girls kept morphing into Lily and he felt his cheeks get red as a result.
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Mischief Managed Year Two Part One: The Poisoned Truth
FanfictionRemus was sure he'd have to say goodbye to his friends this year, but oddly it seems they have forgotten about his secret entirely. Or, more likely, they are hatching some sort of plan to uncover it. But with a strange new Professor who seems determ...