georgie-weasley

[georgie-weasley]

Superman (2025) dir. James Gunn

[georgie-weasley]

Important question. I have requests in my inbox from like a year ago. Do I still answer them and write the thing or not? How does one navigate this very specific problem?

[georgie-weasley]

I was outlining the timeline and chapter breakdown for Deep Wounds and somehow I’m looking at 15 total chapters but if we count those silly little half chapters as chapters there’s actually 30 and if we count those and the prologue and epilogue that’s 32 total chapters and I don’t know how I signed myself up for that

Anyway check out my Remus x healer!reader fic before it gets to 32 chapters

[georgie-weasley]

Deep Wounds: Chapter 2.5

Warnings: Language, one sex joke, James Potter

Word Count: 1k

Summary: Remus tells James about his meeting with you over breakfast

Series Masterlist Series Taglist

“More tea darling?”

“James, I swear if you call me darling one more time I’m never coming over for breakfast again.” Remus glared but scooted his mug closer to James anyway. Remus had been coming over for breakfast and tea with James since they graduated Hogwarts. James and Lily moved in together as soon as they could but after only a month of living together, Lily started going to a muggle college and she often left before James even woke up. After listening to his friend whine about his lonely mornings for a week, Remus joined James for breakfast every day Lily had an early class.

James held up his hands in surrender but the smirk on his face was anything but apologetic. As he poured Remus more tea, he watched his friend closely. “So, want to fill me in on yesterday?”

Remus rolled his eyes and snatched his tea back as soon as James was finished. “There’s nothing to say.”

“Oh please Moony? I’m desperate for some juicy gossip. If you don’t tell me I’ll be forced to assume you two made love in my backyard.”

Remus’s head hit the table with a thud, shaking the mugs and plates. “I hate you so much,” he said with a groan.

James smiled and reached across the table, adding a copious amount of sugar to Remus’s mug. “So, what’ll it be Moons?”

“She yelled at me and called me a toddler.” Remus mumbled.

James laughed, shaking his head. “Well, were you acting like a toddler?” When Remus only glared, James knew his answer. “So she yelled at you and then what? Did you play nice and answer her questions?”

“Yes but then she told me I need to take something for the pain before the full moon.” James opened his mouth but Remus cut him off. “I know, I know. You’ve been telling me that for years. No matter how valid her statement was, that wasn’t the point. She said she wanted to find a cure and that isn’t a cure.”

James shrugged. “Sure but doesn’t that count for something? She had a good idea just like someone else you know.”

“James, I’m not validating you. That’s what your wife is for.”

“It’s fine. I know deep down you’re impressed with my brain.” James took a sip of his tea, pouting a little. He was convinced Lily made it better even though she made it the same way. “So then what?”

Remus busied himself with his tea, stirring it and taking a drink. He winced at the taste, adding more sugar and mumbling something as he did.

“Speak up Moony. Use your big boy voice.” James said with a smirk.

“I said fuck you James.” Remus glared at his friend but James just smiled and waved his hand, urging. “I agreed to give her the month to come up with a plan and to make a potion.”

“Didn’t we agree to let that happen anyway?”

“You did but I never wanted this in the first place. That’s not the problem anyway.”

James leaned in close over the table. “What’s the problem then?” He looked positively giddy at the promise of a little gossip.

“I may have accused her of trying to kill me.” James gasped, slapping a hand over his mouth. Remus rolled his eyes but continued. “So then she said I would have to watch her make the potion and I agreed. I have to go to her house today.”

James squealed, kicking his feet. “Moony! This is amazing. You think you’ll kiss her? Maybe you’ll lock eyes over the cauldron and smooch!”

“I think you need to leave the romance novels alone James. There will be no kissing over a cauldron.” Remus blushed, drinking his tea, hoping James would think it was just the heat of his drink pinking up his cheeks. “I don’t know why we’re starting this today. There’s a whole month until the next full moon.”

Officially distracted, James hummed. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s got something to do with the whole cycle. It doesn’t really matter though since you did agree to it and I will tie you up and take you there if you don’t go on your own.”

He sighed, adding a piece of toast to his plate. “James, I need you to be completely honest with me. Do you think this is a good idea?”

James smiled and nodded without taking a second to think. “Of course I do. Remus, I know the idea of finding a cure seems like a fantasy but I think you have a real shot with her. Or at least you two will figure out something to help. We have all done what we could to help you. I mean we went through the process of becoming illegal animagi for you but truthfully, this is something I think only she can help you with. Even Lily, an absolute potion queen, had a hard time brewing a healing potion.”

“I know but how do we know she’s as good as she says she is?”

“Besides the fact that you can hardly see the evidence of those deep scars she healed? I guess we can ask other people from school. Or,” James added, “you can ask her to prove it. Nicely might I add. Considering how she left, I don’t think you were very nice yesterday.”

Remus rolled his eyes but didn’t speak. Today he did have the chance to ask you to prove yourself. Part of him thought it was weird but just yesterday he accused you of trying to kill him. Asking you to brew a potion that should be easy for a healer to make couldn’t be that bad. It would prove if you were competent or not and maybe he would even get to keep it. James was right, though Remus would never tell him.

“Is Lily taking early classes just to spite you?” Remus asked after a minute.

“No. She asked me before she signed up for this round of classes if I wanted her to take a later one. I told her I would hate to miss out on my dates with my darling Moons.”

Remus sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes. He quickly swallowed his tea and stood, grabbing his toast. “Goodbye James.”

“Bye Moony! See you tomorrow!” James giggled and waved.

“See you tomorrow Prongs.”

Series Taglist

@screamingsilence3 @daydreamandforget

[georgie-weasley]

Deep Wounds: Chapter 2.5

Warnings: Language, one sex joke, James Potter

Word Count: 1k

Summary: Remus tells James about his meeting with you over breakfast

Series Masterlist Series Taglist

“More tea darling?”

“James, I swear if you call me darling one more time I’m never coming over for breakfast again.” Remus glared but scooted his mug closer to James anyway. Remus had been coming over for breakfast and tea with James since they graduated Hogwarts. James and Lily moved in together as soon as they could but after only a month of living together, Lily started going to a muggle college and she often left before James even woke up. After listening to his friend whine about his lonely mornings for a week, Remus joined James for breakfast every day Lily had an early class.

James held up his hands in surrender but the smirk on his face was anything but apologetic. As he poured Remus more tea, he watched his friend closely. “So, want to fill me in on yesterday?”

Remus rolled his eyes and snatched his tea back as soon as James was finished. “There’s nothing to say.”

“Oh please Moony? I’m desperate for some juicy gossip. If you don’t tell me I’ll be forced to assume you two made love in my backyard.”

Remus’s head hit the table with a thud, shaking the mugs and plates. “I hate you so much,” he said with a groan.

James smiled and reached across the table, adding a copious amount of sugar to Remus’s mug. “So, what’ll it be Moons?”

“She yelled at me and called me a toddler.” Remus mumbled.

James laughed, shaking his head. “Well, were you acting like a toddler?” When Remus only glared, James knew his answer. “So she yelled at you and then what? Did you play nice and answer her questions?”

“Yes but then she told me I need to take something for the pain before the full moon.” James opened his mouth but Remus cut him off. “I know, I know. You’ve been telling me that for years. No matter how valid her statement was, that wasn’t the point. She said she wanted to find a cure and that isn’t a cure.”

James shrugged. “Sure but doesn’t that count for something? She had a good idea just like someone else you know.”

“James, I’m not validating you. That’s what your wife is for.”

“It’s fine. I know deep down you’re impressed with my brain.” James took a sip of his tea, pouting a little. He was convinced Lily made it better even though she made it the same way. “So then what?”

Remus busied himself with his tea, stirring it and taking a drink. He winced at the taste, adding more sugar and mumbling something as he did.

“Speak up Moony. Use your big boy voice.” James said with a smirk.

“I said fuck you James.” Remus glared at his friend but James just smiled and waved his hand, urging. “I agreed to give her the month to come up with a plan and to make a potion.”

“Didn’t we agree to let that happen anyway?”

“You did but I never wanted this in the first place. That’s not the problem anyway.”

James leaned in close over the table. “What’s the problem then?” He looked positively giddy at the promise of a little gossip.

“I may have accused her of trying to kill me.” James gasped, slapping a hand over his mouth. Remus rolled his eyes but continued. “So then she said I would have to watch her make the potion and I agreed. I have to go to her house today.”

James squealed, kicking his feet. “Moony! This is amazing. You think you’ll kiss her? Maybe you’ll lock eyes over the cauldron and smooch!”

“I think you need to leave the romance novels alone James. There will be no kissing over a cauldron.” Remus blushed, drinking his tea, hoping James would think it was just the heat of his drink pinking up his cheeks. “I don’t know why we’re starting this today. There’s a whole month until the next full moon.”

Officially distracted, James hummed. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s got something to do with the whole cycle. It doesn’t really matter though since you did agree to it and I will tie you up and take you there if you don’t go on your own.”

He sighed, adding a piece of toast to his plate. “James, I need you to be completely honest with me. Do you think this is a good idea?”

James smiled and nodded without taking a second to think. “Of course I do. Remus, I know the idea of finding a cure seems like a fantasy but I think you have a real shot with her. Or at least you two will figure out something to help. We have all done what we could to help you. I mean we went through the process of becoming illegal animagi for you but truthfully, this is something I think only she can help you with. Even Lily, an absolute potion queen, had a hard time brewing a healing potion.”

“I know but how do we know she’s as good as she says she is?”

“Besides the fact that you can hardly see the evidence of those deep scars she healed? I guess we can ask other people from school. Or,” James added, “you can ask her to prove it. Nicely might I add. Considering how she left, I don’t think you were very nice yesterday.”

Remus rolled his eyes but didn’t speak. Today he did have the chance to ask you to prove yourself. Part of him thought it was weird but just yesterday he accused you of trying to kill him. Asking you to brew a potion that should be easy for a healer to make couldn’t be that bad. It would prove if you were competent or not and maybe he would even get to keep it. James was right, though Remus would never tell him.

“Is Lily taking early classes just to spite you?” Remus asked after a minute.

“No. She asked me before she signed up for this round of classes if I wanted her to take a later one. I told her I would hate to miss out on my dates with my darling Moons.”

Remus sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes. He quickly swallowed his tea and stood, grabbing his toast. “Goodbye James.”

“Bye Moony! See you tomorrow!” James giggled and waved.

“See you tomorrow Prongs.”

Series Taglist

@screamingsilence3 @daydreamandforget

[georgie-weasley]

Adriana Smith’s neonate was delivered today, 3 months early (around 28 weeks).

She will finally be allowed to rest and taken off of life support.

Her family’s fundraiser is nowhere near its goal, and now they have tremendous NICU costs to look forward to based on how her son was able (or unable) to develop under the duress of all those life saving drugs they pumped his mom full of.

Please allow this mother’s spirit to rest and support their family as they’re finally allowed to grieve poor Adriana being used as an incubator for the state.

[georgie-weasley]

James Potter is the kind of dude to cheer and click his heels after kissing you for the first time

James Potter is the kind of person who would try to make you cookies but get confused with the measurements and add a fourth of a tablespoon of salt, not a fourth of a teaspoon

James Potter would absolutely and 100% fall off his broom if he saw you wearing his Quidditch jersey to cheer him on. he would pass away if you did it and you weren't a Gryffindor

James Potter is also the type to beg you to paint his nails

James Potter is just boyfriend

[georgie-weasley]

Deep Wounds: Chapter 2

Warnings: language, alluding to depression, mentions of pain, Remus is a little mean, James makes a joke about you and Remus killing each other, Remus is a little brat and y'all have beef

Word Count: 3.3k

Series Masterlist Series Taglist

You stood in front of the small cottage and stared at the little gate in front of it. It seemed very nice and like a great neighborhood. Your hand shook as you reached for the gate. Five minutes ago you would have said you were excited to talk to Remus and James again but now that your nerves had kicked in, you would not say you were excited at all. I was top of my class at Hogwarts and Professor Slughorn said I was the best student he ever had. What a fool you had to have been to tell them that. You weren’t lying in the slightest but that had to have made them assume you would be some incredible witch that could cure Remus in a day.

There was very little information out there about werewolves and what little there was wasn’t always truthful. Some sources liked to claim that a werewolf always has claws but from the couple you had met, they didn’t. Another thought that a werewolf bite was harmless and actually someone has to go through a rigorous spell to become one. They must have mixed up their animagus and werewolf lore. Even more believed that a werewolf would smell like a dog even when it wasn’t a full moon. As you never bothered to smell Remus or the other werewolves you met, that one could be accurate.

You were starting completely from scratch. If you wanted any hope of curing werewolves, you would have to understand them better and you were certain Remus wouldn’t like that. He seemed very closed off, as most werewolves did. And it wasn’t like you could blame them knowing what they go through and how they’re treated. His friend James had acted more excited about your help so maybe James would be the one to convince Remus to go along with this idea.

Finally, you opened the gate and walked through the small front yard and over to the front door. It was painted a deep warm red and from inside you could smell something sweet baking. You lifted your still shaking hand to knock on the door but before you could, it swung open and a man with long black hair and a big smirk stood in front of you. He had stubble on his chin and tattoos all over his arms. “We were watching you from the window. Glad you finally made it past the gate.” He leaned against the door frame and thrust his hand toward you. “Sirius Black, nice to meet you sweetheart.” He sent you a wink.

For a few seconds you just stared at him, unsure if he was joking or if he was serious in more ways than one. “Right, well, nice to meet you too. I’m Y/N L/N and James told me to come here to meet with Remus.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow and was pushed out of the way by a young woman with bright red hair. She scowled at Sirius but looked at you with a bright smile. “Please ignore him, we all do. Come in, come in!” She grabbed your hand and led you inside past the still confused Sirius Black. The cottage was bright and welcoming and instantly put you at ease. The woman, whose name you still didn’t know, brought you through the small living room and into the kitchen where a tray of snacks was sitting. “I thought you might be hungry after work so I brought out some food. It’s nothing special and just leftovers from my wedding but it’s good food. And some fresh baked cookies made the muggle way. Magic may be easy but nothing is better than cookies the way my mom made them.”

After a second she smiled and took a step back from you. While she was beyond sweet for thinking to set out food, she was overwhelming but in a really nice way. You could tell just from this one interaction just how big a heart she had. “I’m Lily Potter by the way and I’m really excited that you’re here.”

To know at least one person was excited to see you helped you relax. “Thank you. I’m pretty nervous to be honest.” You set your bag on the floor, looking at the selection of food on the counter.

“Of course you are. I know Remus can be… prickly… like a cactus, but we just want to help him so just knowing you also want to help means a lot. Even if he complains.” Lily looked out the window, watching her new husband chat with Remus.

“I’ll believe that when I hear it from his own mouth.”

Lily laughed and grabbed a little sandwich from a tray. “That may take a while.” She took a bite and hummed, turning to look at you. “I really appreciate you taking the time to do this. He’s always been down but recently, he’s been worse and we worry about him. Remus is a good friend and we all just want good things to happen to him.”

“It’s good that he has you. I’ve worked with only a few werewolves in the past and they always do better when they have close relationships. How long have you known Remus?”

Lily smiled, finishing her sandwich. “I met him in my first year but we really became friends when we were both prefects together in fifth year. The boys have been friends from the beginning.”

The door to the backyard opened, causing you both to look up. James visibly brightened at the sight of Lily but when Remus locked eyes with you, his frown deepened. James did his best to ignore the sour look on his friend’s face as he pulled you into a hug. “Good to see you again Doc!” James said as he pulled away, giving your shoulder a friendly squeeze. While you only met less than 12 hours ago, James acted like you had been his friend for a lifetime. James smiled at Remus, poking him in the side. “Come on Mr. Grumpy Pants, brighten up!”

Remus glared at his friend and stomped back outside.

“Well, good luck with him. I think it will be best for everyone if you two are alone,” Lily said after a moment. You opened your mouth to disagree but she continued. “We’ll be going to James’s parents house until dinner.” James sprung into action and moved to the living room. You could just hear him and two other voices talking before there were three small pops as they apparated away. “Do what it takes. I’m rooting for you.” Lily gave your hand a squeeze before she apparated away as well.

You could see Remus sitting in a lawn chair, arms crossed over his chest and what could only be called a pout on his face. “You can do this.” You whispered to yourself , digging through your bag and grabbing a notebook and pen. With your things and as much courage as you could gather, you stepped out into the backyard, sliding the door closed behind you.

Remus kept his gaze on the grass and as you sat in the chair next to him, the only evidence he heard you was the slight huff of annoyance he let out as you did. “Hi Remus. If you don’t mind, I’ll take notes of our conversation today.” When he didn’t answer, you flipped the notebook open to a new page and scribbled his name and the date at the top. “So, I think the first thing we should talk about is when you were first bitten. Can you tell me how old you were?”

Silence. Seconds turned into minutes and after three minutes, you moved on. “Alright. Maybe you can let me know if the full moons have gotten harder or easier over the years.” More silence. He was getting on your last nerve. Clearly he wasn’t excited about this arrangement but he could at least be polite. “Fine. What about who knows? I’m assuming your parents are aware. James, Sirius, and Lily know. Anyone else?”

At this, Remus rolled his eyes and turned his body away from you. “You know what Remus? You’re acting like a toddler!” You hissed, your last nerve snapping in two. “I know you have your issues and reasons for not wanting help but you can at least humor me! Or do it for your friends! Clearly they love you and want this to work out but you’re just throwing it in their face! I know you saw how excited James was when I offered to help. These are your friends and your life. I have no skin in this game and if you want to throw away help because you can’t get over yourself, be my guest!”

You crossed your arms over your chest, still glaring at Remus. He was infuriating and it made your blood boil. You didn’t want to blame him; he had a hard life but he was acting like a jerk. The two werewolves you’ve met in the past had always been grateful for everything you did for them. It wasn’t as if you were some hero and you didn’t think you were better than anyone because of all you had done but honestly, Remus could be a little nicer about it all.

“Then leave.” Remus grumbled.

“No. I told Lily I was going to do everything I could and I’m not going to walk away because you’re an ass.” A lie but a harmless one. Remus’s face seemed to soften at your words only for a second before he resumed his glare. “Maybe you’re fine letting Lily down but I’m not.” Again, the fight in his eyes dimmed at your words. If you had any chance of getting him to listen, weaponizing Lily was going to be your best shot.

“You know she said she’s worried about you. Lily told me you’ve been worse lately.” Slowly, as your words sunk into his brain, the glare faded. Time to put the last nail in the coffin. “I’ve seen werewolves withdraw and pull away from their friends. I get that putting walls up feels like a way to protect yourself and your friends; you aren’t the first person to do it. What those people never saw was the pain it caused their friends and family. It crushes them. If you want to cause your friends irreversible pain, go for it. And when Lily asks why she hasn’t heard from you, I’ll be the one to tell her that you would rather leave your friends than get help.”

Remus didn’t answer and slowly, you stood. You had almost made it to the door when Remus finally spoke up. “I’ll tell you what you need to know and nothing more. We’re not going to be friends and when this fails, I’ll tell Lily that you were as useless as I thought you would be.”

You could practically hear the venom dripping from his words but you couldn’t help the smirk on your face. You got him. Now you just needed to prove this wasn’t a waste of time.

An hour later, you got some information out of Remus. It wasn’t a lot but considering an hour ago he was ignoring you, you were going to take what you could get. He was almost five when he was bitten and annoyingly, there was no clear answer if transformations got easier or worse as he got older. James, Lily, Sirius, and Peter were his friends that knew of his condition. His parents, James’s parents, and Severus Snape also knew.

“Wait, hang on. Snape knows? Why on earth does he know?”

The ghost of a smile crossed Remus’s face at the disgust in your voice. “It’s a long story that I don’t feel like explaining to you. All you need to know is I did not willingly tell him.”

“Alright. Just know that I surpassed Snape’s brewing record a year ahead of him.” Remus rolled his eyes at your words but his smile didn’t fade; that felt like a win. “So you said you know the full moons got easier during school because of your friends. Will you explain?”

“After finding out about the lycanthropy in second year, the boys worked to become animagi and were successful in fifth year. Something about being with them made it better. It never stopped the transformations but I felt more in control.” Remus rubbed his knees and stretched his legs, wincing as he did.

You nodded, scribbling down the notes. “But it hasn’t stayed that good?”

Remus shook his head, standing with a groan. “Ever since we left Hogwarts it hasn’t been as good.” Remus carefully lowered himself to the ground and laid in the grass. The hot afternoon sun warmed his skin and helped ease the pain in his joints.

Your eyes strayed away from your notebook and watched Remus. The light shined on his face, bringing out his freckles. He looked peaceful here in the sun, laying in the grass. His hair fanned out around him, the sun highlighting the golden strands in his sandy brown hair. You tore your eyes away from him and looked down at your notes. You had quite a bit of information but there were more things you would like to know if he would share them. Though the next round of questions were going to dive deeper than the first few and you were sure Remus wouldn’t answer. You opened your mouth to ask him another question but the faint sound of his snores stopped you. In the time you had spent staring at him like he was a piece of art at a museum, he had fallen asleep. Briefly, you debated waking him up but he deserved at least a little rest. Based on his slow and stiff movements, he was still hurting from the full moon last night and the Hippogriff attack surely didn’t help.

Instead, you took to drawing Remus in your notebook. After half an hour, you had drawn his face and he began stirring. He balled up his fists and rubbed his eyes, squinting at the bright light. “Good afternoon.” You mumbled, causing Remus to groan and slowly roll onto his stomach.

“I thought I was having a nightmare about you but turns out it was real. You’re still here.”

“Ha ha. No wonder you only have four friends; you have a sparkling personality.” You rolled your eyes and flipped to a new page. You could only imagine what he would say if he saw the drawing.

Remus snorted and carefully got to his feet; you could hear his joints popping as he did. “How long was I asleep?”

“About half an hour. You looked like you needed the rest.” Remus nodded in agreement and sat next to you. “Ready for more questions?”

He rolled his eyes and said, “Do I really have a choice?”

“No, you don’t. When do you start feeling pain before a full moon?”

“About a week. It gets worse as it gets closer to the moon.”

You nodded, writing down his answer. “That’s pretty typical. Have you ever tried taking anything for the pain during that week? Muggle pain medicine or pain potions?”

Remus was silent for a moment before he shook his head. “Never have.”

You paused your writing to look at him. “Really? Never?” When he shook his head again you closed your notebook, turning to look at him. “Why not?”

“I’m not answering that.” He sighed, avoiding your gaze.

“Oh come on. This is not me trying to be your friend. This is a professional question. If I wanted to know about your personality I’d ask your friends.”

Remus ran his fingers over one of the scars on his arm. “The pain is only going to get worse so why bother.”

“Have you ever heard of preemptive analgesia?”

“Please tell me that it has nothing to do with my butt.” Remus said as he looked at you with wide eyes.

“No,” you laughed. “It's the idea of taking something for the pain before a painful event. You said your pain begins about a week before the full moon and you don’t take anything for the pain. I think at least you should take something right before the moonrise. I would also recommend taking something for the pain all week; that’s something many werewolves have done and have found success.” You opened up your notebook again and wrote down the suggestion before tearing it out and handing it to him. “I can tell your friends too.”

Remus stared at the paper in his hand, shaking his head. “Great suggestions but those are expensive. I can’t just take potions for the pain every day.”

Remus and his finances were not something you even considered but it didn’t surprise you. Afterall, most employers are not interested in hiring a werewolf. “I can help. We can start with muggle pain medicine at the beginning of the week and I can provide potions at the end of the week. I can get all the ingredients and make the potion. They always cost more because of labor costs anyway so if I make them, it would just cost the price of ingredients. Of course I’m not asking you to pay for it. What do you think?”

Remus chewed on his lip, eyes roaming over you. “I think it sounds like a waste of time. You said you wanted to try and find a cure and this doesn’t sound like a cure to me.” He crossed his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow.

At his words, your mouth dropped open. Things were going so well and of course he had to ruin that. “Well, no it isn’t but I don’t see an issue starting small. Listen, give me the month to come up with some sort of plan. I think a potion will be our best shot but honestly, if you aren’t managing your pain then I’m going to assume you won’t take this seriously.”

“If I take things for the pain, how will you know if your potion is actually helping or if it was just the pain management?” Remus asked and when you didn’t answer right away, he smirked. He had you there.

“Fine. Don’t take anything for the pain but I expect you to take whatever potion I give you.”

“And how will I know it's safe and nothing will kill me?”

You groaned, clenching your fists so tightly your nails were digging into your palms. God he was infuriating. “Then I guess you’ll just have to watch me brew the potions!”

“I can’t think of anything I would hate more.” Remus rolled his eyes.

“Well,” you started, “unless you can think of a better solution, I guess I’ll be seeing you at my house tomorrow after work.”

Remus opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it, and then closed it again. “Fine.” He grumbled.

You stood and without sparing him a second glance, you stormed into the house. As you gathered your things and a few cookies, James and Lily popped into the kitchen. “How did it go?” James asked, a hopeful smile on his face.

“Lovely.” You groaned and apparated out of their house.

Remus came inside only a few seconds later, a scowl on his face. He grabbed a handful of cookies and shoved one in his mouth.

“How did it go?” James asked again, hoping his friend would have a better answer.

“Fuck off Prongs.” Remus mumbled with his mouth full before he apparated away as well.

James turned to Lily who only shrugged. “Sounds like it went great.” He said with a smile. Lily rolled her eyes, taking a cookie for herself. “At least neither one of them are dead. I was worried we would come back to a dead body.”

Series Taglist

@screamingsilence3 @daydreamandforget

[georgie-weasley]

Deep Wounds: Chapter 2

Warnings: language, alluding to depression, mentions of pain, Remus is a little mean, James makes a joke about you and Remus killing each other, Remus is a little brat and y'all have beef

Word Count: 3.3k

Summary: You come to the Potter household to meet with Remus but turns out he’s a little brat and tension rises.

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You stood in front of the small cottage and stared at the little gate in front of it. It seemed very nice and like a great neighborhood. Your hand shook as you reached for the gate. Five minutes ago you would have said you were excited to talk to Remus and James again but now that your nerves had kicked in, you would not say you were excited at all. I was top of my class at Hogwarts and Professor Slughorn said I was the best student he ever had. What a fool you had to have been to tell them that. You weren’t lying in the slightest but that had to have made them assume you would be some incredible witch that could cure Remus in a day.

There was very little information out there about werewolves and what little there was wasn’t always truthful. Some sources liked to claim that a werewolf always has claws but from the couple you had met, they didn’t. Another thought that a werewolf bite was harmless and actually someone has to go through a rigorous spell to become one. They must have mixed up their animagus and werewolf lore. Even more believed that a werewolf would smell like a dog even when it wasn’t a full moon. As you never bothered to smell Remus or the other werewolves you met, that one could be accurate.

You were starting completely from scratch. If you wanted any hope of curing werewolves, you would have to understand them better and you were certain Remus wouldn’t like that. He seemed very closed off, as most werewolves did. And it wasn’t like you could blame them knowing what they go through and how they’re treated. His friend James had acted more excited about your help so maybe James would be the one to convince Remus to go along with this idea.

Finally, you opened the gate and walked through the small front yard and over to the front door. It was painted a deep warm red and from inside you could smell something sweet baking. You lifted your still shaking hand to knock on the door but before you could, it swung open and a man with long black hair and a big smirk stood in front of you. He had stubble on his chin and tattoos all over his arms. “We were watching you from the window. Glad you finally made it past the gate.” He leaned against the door frame and thrust his hand toward you. “Sirius Black, nice to meet you sweetheart.” He sent you a wink.

For a few seconds you just stared at him, unsure if he was joking or if he was serious in more ways than one. “Right, well, nice to meet you too. I’m Y/N L/N and James told me to come here to meet with Remus.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow and was pushed out of the way by a young woman with bright red hair. She scowled at Sirius but looked at you with a bright smile. “Please ignore him, we all do. Come in, come in!” She grabbed your hand and led you inside past the still confused Sirius Black. The cottage was bright and welcoming and instantly put you at ease. The woman, whose name you still didn’t know, brought you through the small living room and into the kitchen where a tray of snacks was sitting. “I thought you might be hungry after work so I brought out some food. It’s nothing special and just leftovers from my wedding but it’s good food. And some fresh baked cookies made the muggle way. Magic may be easy but nothing is better than cookies the way my mom made them.”

After a second she smiled and took a step back from you. While she was beyond sweet for thinking to set out food, she was overwhelming but in a really nice way. You could tell just from this one interaction just how big a heart she had. “I’m Lily Potter by the way and I’m really excited that you’re here.”

To know at least one person was excited to see you helped you relax. “Thank you. I’m pretty nervous to be honest.” You set your bag on the floor, looking at the selection of food on the counter.

“Of course you are. I know Remus can be… prickly… like a cactus, but we just want to help him so just knowing you also want to help means a lot. Even if he complains.” Lily looked out the window, watching her new husband chat with Remus.

“I’ll believe that when I hear it from his own mouth.”

Lily laughed and grabbed a little sandwich from a tray. “That may take a while.” She took a bite and hummed, turning to look at you. “I really appreciate you taking the time to do this. He’s always been down but recently, he’s been worse and we worry about him. Remus is a good friend and we all just want good things to happen to him.”

“It’s good that he has you. I’ve worked with only a few werewolves in the past and they always do better when they have close relationships. How long have you known Remus?”

Lily smiled, finishing her sandwich. “I met him in my first year but we really became friends when we were both prefects together in fifth year. The boys have been friends from the beginning.”

The door to the backyard opened, causing you both to look up. James visibly brightened at the sight of Lily but when Remus locked eyes with you, his frown deepened. James did his best to ignore the sour look on his friend’s face as he pulled you into a hug. “Good to see you again Doc!” James said as he pulled away, giving your shoulder a friendly squeeze. While you only met less than 12 hours ago, James acted like you had been his friend for a lifetime. James smiled at Remus, poking him in the side. “Come on Mr. Grumpy Pants, brighten up!”

Remus glared at his friend and stomped back outside.

“Well, good luck with him. I think it will be best for everyone if you two are alone,” Lily said after a moment. You opened your mouth to disagree but she continued. “We’ll be going to James’s parents house until dinner.” James sprung into action and moved to the living room. You could just hear him and two other voices talking before there were three small pops as they apparated away. “Do what it takes. I’m rooting for you.” Lily gave your hand a squeeze before she apparated away as well.

You could see Remus sitting in a lawn chair, arms crossed over his chest and what could only be called a pout on his face. “You can do this.” You whispered to yourself , digging through your bag and grabbing a notebook and pen. With your things and as much courage as you could gather, you stepped out into the backyard, sliding the door closed behind you.

Remus kept his gaze on the grass and as you sat in the chair next to him, the only evidence he heard you was the slight huff of annoyance he let out as you did. “Hi Remus. If you don’t mind, I’ll take notes of our conversation today.” When he didn’t answer, you flipped the notebook open to a new page and scribbled his name and the date at the top. “So, I think the first thing we should talk about is when you were first bitten. Can you tell me how old you were?”

Silence. Seconds turned into minutes and after three minutes, you moved on. “Alright. Maybe you can let me know if the full moons have gotten harder or easier over the years.” More silence. He was getting on your last nerve. Clearly he wasn’t excited about this arrangement but he could at least be polite. “Fine. What about who knows? I’m assuming your parents are aware. James, Sirius, and Lily know. Anyone else?”

At this, Remus rolled his eyes and turned his body away from you. “You know what Remus? You’re acting like a toddler!” You hissed, your last nerve snapping in two. “I know you have your issues and reasons for not wanting help but you can at least humor me! Or do it for your friends! Clearly they love you and want this to work out but you’re just throwing it in their face! I know you saw how excited James was when I offered to help. These are your friends and your life. I have no skin in this game and if you want to throw away help because you can’t get over yourself, be my guest!”

You crossed your arms over your chest, still glaring at Remus. He was infuriating and it made your blood boil. You didn’t want to blame him; he had a hard life but he was acting like a jerk. The two werewolves you’ve met in the past had always been grateful for everything you did for them. It wasn’t as if you were some hero and you didn’t think you were better than anyone because of all you had done but honestly, Remus could be a little nicer about it all.

“Then leave.” Remus grumbled.

“No. I told Lily I was going to do everything I could and I’m not going to walk away because you’re an ass.” A lie but a harmless one. Remus’s face seemed to soften at your words only for a second before he resumed his glare. “Maybe you’re fine letting Lily down but I’m not.” Again, the fight in his eyes dimmed at your words. If you had any chance of getting him to listen, weaponizing Lily was going to be your best shot.

“You know she said she’s worried about you. Lily told me you’ve been worse lately.” Slowly, as your words sunk into his brain, the glare faded. Time to put the last nail in the coffin. “I’ve seen werewolves withdraw and pull away from their friends. I get that putting walls up feels like a way to protect yourself and your friends; you aren’t the first person to do it. What those people never saw was the pain it caused their friends and family. It crushes them. If you want to cause your friends irreversible pain, go for it. And when Lily asks why she hasn’t heard from you, I’ll be the one to tell her that you would rather leave your friends than get help.”

Remus didn’t answer and slowly, you stood. You had almost made it to the door when Remus finally spoke up. “I’ll tell you what you need to know and nothing more. We’re not going to be friends and when this fails, I’ll tell Lily that you were as useless as I thought you would be.”

You could practically hear the venom dripping from his words but you couldn’t help the smirk on your face. You got him. Now you just needed to prove this wasn’t a waste of time.

An hour later, you got some information out of Remus. It wasn’t a lot but considering an hour ago he was ignoring you, you were going to take what you could get. He was almost five when he was bitten and annoyingly, there was no clear answer if transformations got easier or worse as he got older. James, Lily, Sirius, and Peter were his friends that knew of his condition. His parents, James’s parents, and Severus Snape also knew.

“Wait, hang on. Snape knows? Why on earth does he know?”

The ghost of a smile crossed Remus’s face at the disgust in your voice. “It’s a long story that I don’t feel like explaining to you. All you need to know is I did not willingly tell him.”

“Alright. Just know that I surpassed Snape’s brewing record a year ahead of him.” Remus rolled his eyes at your words but his smile didn’t fade; that felt like a win. “So you said you know the full moons got easier during school because of your friends. Will you explain?”

“After finding out about the lycanthropy in second year, the boys worked to become animagi and were successful in fifth year. Something about being with them made it better. It never stopped the transformations but I felt more in control.” Remus rubbed his knees and stretched his legs, wincing as he did.

You nodded, scribbling down the notes. “But it hasn’t stayed that good?”

Remus shook his head, standing with a groan. “Ever since we left Hogwarts it hasn’t been as good.” Remus carefully lowered himself to the ground and laid in the grass. The hot afternoon sun warmed his skin and helped ease the pain in his joints.

Your eyes strayed away from your notebook and watched Remus. The light shined on his face, bringing out his freckles. He looked peaceful here in the sun, laying in the grass. His hair fanned out around him, the sun highlighting the golden strands in his sandy brown hair. You tore your eyes away from him and looked down at your notes. You had quite a bit of information but there were more things you would like to know if he would share them. Though the next round of questions were going to dive deeper than the first few and you were sure Remus wouldn’t answer. You opened your mouth to ask him another question but the faint sound of his snores stopped you. In the time you had spent staring at him like he was a piece of art at a museum, he had fallen asleep. Briefly, you debated waking him up but he deserved at least a little rest. Based on his slow and stiff movements, he was still hurting from the full moon last night and the Hippogriff attack surely didn’t help.

Instead, you took to drawing Remus in your notebook. After half an hour, you had drawn his face and he began stirring. He balled up his fists and rubbed his eyes, squinting at the bright light. “Good afternoon.” You mumbled, causing Remus to groan and slowly roll onto his stomach.

“I thought I was having a nightmare about you but turns out it was real. You’re still here.”

“Ha ha. No wonder you only have four friends; you have a sparkling personality.” You rolled your eyes and flipped to a new page. You could only imagine what he would say if he saw the drawing.

Remus snorted and carefully got to his feet; you could hear his joints popping as he did. “How long was I asleep?”

“About half an hour. You looked like you needed the rest.” Remus nodded in agreement and sat next to you. “Ready for more questions?”

He rolled his eyes and said, “Do I really have a choice?”

“No, you don’t. When do you start feeling pain before a full moon?”

“About a week. It gets worse as it gets closer to the moon.”

You nodded, writing down his answer. “That’s pretty typical. Have you ever tried taking anything for the pain during that week? Muggle pain medicine or pain potions?”

Remus was silent for a moment before he shook his head. “Never have.”

You paused your writing to look at him. “Really? Never?” When he shook his head again you closed your notebook, turning to look at him. “Why not?”

“I’m not answering that.” He sighed, avoiding your gaze.

“Oh come on. This is not me trying to be your friend. This is a professional question. If I wanted to know about your personality I’d ask your friends.”

Remus ran his fingers over one of the scars on his arm. “The pain is only going to get worse so why bother.”

“Have you ever heard of preemptive analgesia?”

“Please tell me that it has nothing to do with my butt.” Remus said as he looked at you with wide eyes.

“No,” you laughed. “It's the idea of taking something for the pain before a painful event. You said your pain begins about a week before the full moon and you don’t take anything for the pain. I think at least you should take something right before the moonrise. I would also recommend taking something for the pain all week; that’s something many werewolves have done and have found success.” You opened up your notebook again and wrote down the suggestion before tearing it out and handing it to him. “I can tell your friends too.”

Remus stared at the paper in his hand, shaking his head. “Great suggestions but those are expensive. I can’t just take potions for the pain every day.”

Remus and his finances were not something you even considered but it didn’t surprise you. Afterall, most employers are not interested in hiring a werewolf. “I can help. We can start with muggle pain medicine at the beginning of the week and I can provide potions at the end of the week. I can get all the ingredients and make the potion. They always cost more because of labor costs anyway so if I make them, it would just cost the price of ingredients. Of course I’m not asking you to pay for it. What do you think?”

Remus chewed on his lip, eyes roaming over you. “I think it sounds like a waste of time. You said you wanted to try and find a cure and this doesn’t sound like a cure to me.” He crossed his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow.

At his words, your mouth dropped open. Things were going so well and of course he had to ruin that. “Well, no it isn’t but I don’t see an issue starting small. Listen, give me the month to come up with some sort of plan. I think a potion will be our best shot but honestly, if you aren’t managing your pain then I’m going to assume you won’t take this seriously.”

“If I take things for the pain, how will you know if your potion is actually helping or if it was just the pain management?” Remus asked and when you didn’t answer right away, he smirked. He had you there.

“Fine. Don’t take anything for the pain but I expect you to take whatever potion I give you.”

“And how will I know it's safe and nothing will kill me?”

You groaned, clenching your fists so tightly your nails were digging into your palms. God he was infuriating. “Then I guess you’ll just have to watch me brew the potions!”

“I can’t think of anything I would hate more.” Remus rolled his eyes.

“Well,” you started, “unless you can think of a better solution, I guess I’ll be seeing you at my house tomorrow after work.”

Remus opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it, and then closed it again. “Fine.” He grumbled.

You stood and without sparing him a second glance, you stormed into the house. As you gathered your things and a few cookies, James and Lily popped into the kitchen. “How did it go?” James asked, a hopeful smile on his face.

“Lovely.” You groaned and apparated out of their house.

Remus came inside only a few seconds later, a scowl on his face. He grabbed a handful of cookies and shoved one in his mouth.

“How did it go?” James asked again, hoping his friend would have a better answer.

“Fuck off Prongs.” Remus mumbled with his mouth full before he apparated away as well.

James turned to Lily who only shrugged. “Sounds like it went great.” He said with a smile. Lily rolled her eyes, taking a cookie for herself. “At least neither one of them are dead. I was worried we would come back to a dead body.”

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[georgie-weasley]

Deep Wounds: Chapter 1.5

Warnings: Remus is avoiding his feelings, mentions of pain

Word Count: 1k

A/N: As a little reminder since it has been so long since I posted anything about this, there are full chapters that focus on the reader (that's you!) and then what I called half chapters that are shorter and focus on Remus and friends

Series Masterlist Series Taglist

Remus laid on the couch, his arm covering his eyes. He could hear his friends whispering about him only a few feet away. They often talked about him and his condition in hushed tones like it was some sort of secret but there was no point. Remus knew what kind of monster he was; they didn’t need to pretend he didn’t. “Can you stop pretending I’m not here and speak at a higher volume so I can decipher what you’re saying?”

The whispering stopped at once. Remus peaked out from behind his arm to see the group of four moving from the doorway to surround him in the living room. Sirius lifted Remus’s legs and sat down, resting the werewolf’s feet on his lap. James and Peter sat on the floor while Lily stood behind the couch and busied herself looking at the new scars forming on Remus.

“Want to fill me in on your secrets?” Remus whispered, moving his arm so Lily could look at his face. Since she found out about his monthly issue, she had taken on a sort of motherly role. She was always checking on him and trying to feed him and do her best to help heal him but that was never her strongest magic. But it was nice to have her care so much for him even if he didn’t want to bother her.

“James was just filling us in on your trip to St. Mungos.” Sirius let the silence hang after he answered. Remus kept his eyes closed but he could feel everyone looking at him. When no one else spoke, Sirius continued. “Are you really going to let some random girl help you find a cure?”

Remus sighed and sat up with a groan, causing Lily to rush into the kitchen to grab some ice. “No, I’m not. I had no choice though since James wouldn’t leave me alone.”

“That’s going to be awkward.” Lily handed Remus the ice before she took a seat next to him on the couch. “James said she’s coming over here after her shift.”

Remus put the ice on his right shoulder, sinking into the couch. “When she gets here I’ll tell her that I changed my mind and she can leave. I don’t need her help. I have you guys and that’s all I need. There’s no reason for some random girl to give me pity and spend her time and my time making a cure that won’t work.”

“Why not?” Peter spoke up from the floor. “She wants to help so why not let her.”

“I don’t know her Wormtail. I don’t know a single thing about her besides the fact that she seems to think she can help me. She could be doing this because she has pity or because she thinks this will get her points in the medical field.” Remus felt like he was making fair points but the look on James’s face told him it wasn’t enough.

“Moons, I think we all know why you don’t want to accept help.” Remus watched James and shook his head. “I think you’re scared to be let down.”

Remus quickly stood, ignoring the way his body screamed in protest from the quick movements. He didn’t want to sit around and hear James’s ridiculous ideas. James may be one of his best friends but he didn’t know a single thing about this life that he was forced to have. He needed a walk, he needed air, he needed to get away from everyone for just a minute. It’s only been a few hours since he was out of control of his body and attacked by a hippogriff and forced to go to the hospital where a healer refused to take care of him because of what he is. Not to mention a random healer decided to wedge her way into his life to try and help him for whatever reason. He needed a nap.

Remus headed out to the small backyard and collapsed onto a plastic chair. He closed his eyes and felt like maybe he could relax for a few minutes before the door slid open and Lily walked out. Remus grew close to Lily during their last few years at Hogwarts and he was beyond thrilled that she joined the little group of misfits they had. She had a bond with Remus that none of the boys could ever come close to replicating. He loved his friends and he was closer to them than anyone else in the world but his bond with Lily was special. He thought that their relationship would be one like he could have had with a sister.

She pulled another chair over and sat next to Remus, handing him the ice pack that had fallen when he stormed off. “I suppose you’re here to convince me to go through with this.”

Lily sighed and shrugged. “Not really. I think you should give it a shot but you’re right. You don’t know her and while it seems nice that she wants to help, you don’t know why she would. James was just excited to know there was someone else that wanted to help.”

She carefully rested a hand on his arm. “We all just want you to be happy and to have a good life that you deserve. Everyone is just excited at the idea that maybe this healer could be the one to help that.” Lily glanced at a new scar on his arm. “And if she’s as good at potion making as she is at healing, then I think she really could help.”

Remus looked at his arm. He had plenty of scars all over his body but the one on his arm that you had fixed earlier that morning was harder to see than the others. In fact some of them you did such a good job that there was hardly any evidence he had been hurt there in the first place. You had done a better job than anyone else ever had so maybe that did bode well for a cure.

“Give her one month, just one chance to figure this out and if it seems to go well or you think she isn’t weird, then it can’t hurt to keep trying. It really can’t hurt to give her a shot.”

“Fine but just one month.” Lily smiled and left Remus alone with his thoughts as she went back inside. He would agree to one month of help but Lily was wrong. This could end up hurting so many people. Remus had been hurt by strangers and friends but nothing hurt more than getting his hopes up only to have reality come crashing down on him and continuing to be a monster. This could hurt a lot.

Series Taglist (This is new. If you are tagged now that's because you were on a general taglist. After this installment, the taglist will only include people in the series specific taglist)

@100gaysnails @weasleybuns @s1aaaaayyyyyyyt @steelthistle @asuperconfusedgirl @jsjcue @Andy200700 @7-seas-of-fat-bottomed-girls @daisydark @creepybloodykitty2 @avatheveela @themarauderswife7 @mintyme101 @islayhawkin @lovesanimals0000

[georgie-weasley]

Deep Wounds: Chapter 1.5

Warnings: Remus is avoiding his feelings, mentions of pain

Word Count: 1k

Summary: After his visit to the hospital, Remus is regretting his decision to humor you. Lily begs him to give you a chance.

A/N: As a little reminder since it has been so long since I posted anything about this, there are full chapters that focus on the reader (that's you!) and then what I called half chapters that are shorter and focus on Remus and friends

Series Masterlist Series Taglist

Remus laid on the couch, his arm covering his eyes. He could hear his friends whispering about him only a few feet away. They often talked about him and his condition in hushed tones like it was some sort of secret but there was no point. Remus knew what kind of monster he was; they didn’t need to pretend he didn’t. “Can you stop pretending I’m not here and speak at a higher volume so I can decipher what you’re saying?”

The whispering stopped at once. Remus peaked out from behind his arm to see the group of four moving from the doorway to surround him in the living room. Sirius lifted Remus’s legs and sat down, resting the werewolf’s feet on his lap. James and Peter sat on the floor while Lily stood behind the couch and busied herself looking at the new scars forming on Remus.

“Want to fill me in on your secrets?” Remus whispered, moving his arm so Lily could look at his face. Since she found out about his monthly issue, she had taken on a sort of motherly role. She was always checking on him and trying to feed him and do her best to help heal him but that was never her strongest magic. But it was nice to have her care so much for him even if he didn’t want to bother her.

“James was just filling us in on your trip to St. Mungos.” Sirius let the silence hang after he answered. Remus kept his eyes closed but he could feel everyone looking at him. When no one else spoke, Sirius continued. “Are you really going to let some random girl help you find a cure?”

Remus sighed and sat up with a groan, causing Lily to rush into the kitchen to grab some ice. “No, I’m not. I had no choice though since James wouldn’t leave me alone.”

“That’s going to be awkward.” Lily handed Remus the ice before she took a seat next to him on the couch. “James said she’s coming over here after her shift.”

Remus put the ice on his right shoulder, sinking into the couch. “When she gets here I’ll tell her that I changed my mind and she can leave. I don’t need her help. I have you guys and that’s all I need. There’s no reason for some random girl to give me pity and spend her time and my time making a cure that won’t work.”

“Why not?” Peter spoke up from the floor. “She wants to help so why not let her.”

“I don’t know her Wormtail. I don’t know a single thing about her besides the fact that she seems to think she can help me. She could be doing this because she has pity or because she thinks this will get her points in the medical field.” Remus felt like he was making fair points but the look on James’s face told him it wasn’t enough.

“Moons, I think we all know why you don’t want to accept help.” Remus watched James and shook his head. “I think you’re scared to be let down.”

Remus quickly stood, ignoring the way his body screamed in protest from the quick movements. He didn’t want to sit around and hear James’s ridiculous ideas. James may be one of his best friends but he didn’t know a single thing about this life that he was forced to have. He needed a walk, he needed air, he needed to get away from everyone for just a minute. It’s only been a few hours since he was out of control of his body and attacked by a hippogriff and forced to go to the hospital where a healer refused to take care of him because of what he is. Not to mention a random healer decided to wedge her way into his life to try and help him for whatever reason. He needed a nap.

Remus headed out to the small backyard and collapsed onto a plastic chair. He closed his eyes and felt like maybe he could relax for a few minutes before the door slid open and Lily walked out. Remus grew close to Lily during their last few years at Hogwarts and he was beyond thrilled that she joined the little group of misfits they had. She had a bond with Remus that none of the boys could ever come close to replicating. He loved his friends and he was closer to them than anyone else in the world but his bond with Lily was special. He thought that their relationship would be one like he could have had with a sister.

She pulled another chair over and sat next to Remus, handing him the ice pack that had fallen when he stormed off. “I suppose you’re here to convince me to go through with this.”

Lily sighed and shrugged. “Not really. I think you should give it a shot but you’re right. You don’t know her and while it seems nice that she wants to help, you don’t know why she would. James was just excited to know there was someone else that wanted to help.”

She carefully rested a hand on his arm. “We all just want you to be happy and to have a good life that you deserve. Everyone is just excited at the idea that maybe this healer could be the one to help that.” Lily glanced at a new scar on his arm. “And if she’s as good at potion making as she is at healing, then I think she really could help.”

Remus looked at his arm. He had plenty of scars all over his body but the one on his arm that you had fixed earlier that morning was harder to see than the others. In fact some of them you did such a good job that there was hardly any evidence he had been hurt there in the first place. You had done a better job than anyone else ever had so maybe that did bode well for a cure.

“Give her one month, just one chance to figure this out and if it seems to go well or you think she isn’t weird, then it can’t hurt to keep trying. It really can’t hurt to give her a shot.”

“Fine but just one month.” Lily smiled and left Remus alone with his thoughts as she went back inside. He would agree to one month of help but Lily was wrong. This could end up hurting so many people. Remus had been hurt by strangers and friends but nothing hurt more than getting his hopes up only to have reality come crashing down on him and continuing to be a monster. This could hurt a lot.

Series Taglist (This is new. If you are tagged now that's because you were on a general taglist. After this installment, the taglist will only include people in the series specific taglist)

@100gaysnails @weasleybuns @s1aaaaayyyyyyyt @steelthistle @asuperconfusedgirl @jsjcue @Andy200700 @7-seas-of-fat-bottomed-girls @daisydark @creepybloodykitty2 @avatheveela @themarauderswife7 @mintyme101 @islayhawkin @lovesanimals0000

[georgie-weasley]

What’s the ideal fic length? I usually don’t pay attention when I write and just write until I’m done but what about y’all? Is there a length that’s too much? Too short? Do you like reading longer ones but prefer writing shorter ones? I’m so nosy. Please fill me in

[georgie-weasley]

What’s the ideal fic length? I usually don’t pay attention when I write and just write until I’m done but what about y’all? Is there a length that’s too much? Too short? Do you like reading longer ones but prefer writing shorter ones? I’m so nosy. Please fill me in

[georgie-weasley]

To Be Fully Known— R.L. X GN!Muggle! Reader

Warnings: a swear word or two, mentions of Remus feeling like he's going to vomit because he's an anxious man but no actual vomiting, feelings of loneliness and mentions of dying alone, also quotes from Sylvia Plath and those are a bit dark and sad

Word Count: 5.5k

Pairing: Young Adult Remus (22) x GN!Muggle!Reader

Summary: Remus Lupin is a lonely liar. He was sure he would never fully let someone in his life and spill all his secrets, that is until he met a muggle bookstore owner that changed everything. Too bad he's been telling them lies for six months.

A/N: The italic quotes are taken from the Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

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Lies. Secrets. Remus had plenty, more than the average person. James knew he actually hated potions but he didn’t know the reason. After taking thousands of potions in his 22 years of life, dreaming that they would cure the monster inside of him, he can’t look at a cauldron without remembering the disappointment, the burn in his throat, or the sadness in his mother’s eyes. He only told James it was harder to learn. Peter knows Remus has nightmares but the visions of Fenrir Greyback chasing him while his toddler legs tried and failed to get him to safety was something only Remus knew. The lie about a dragon trying to eat him was easy to craft. Sirius knows more of Remus’s secrets than most but even he doesn’t know the depth of his self loathing and the utter fear he feels when faced with the realization he may have to watch his friends marry and start families while he remains alone until his final day. A well placed smile was a better lie than he could ever come up with.

The secrets he kept from his dearest friends ate him alive, clawing at his heart desperate to be known but Remus endured the pain. They already knew of the beast inside him, how many more dark secrets can the three boys handle? Surely not many more. Not with James about to have a second kid in two months. Sirius was preparing to travel to America, hunting down any dark wizards that may have gone there to hide out after the defeat of Voldemort; he didn’t have time to coddle Remus. Peter was too stressed about the engagement ring that’s been in his dresser for the past year to think of anything besides when the perfect time to propose to his partner was. No, there was no one in his life that could listen to more secrets. Lies would have to do.

Remus pulled the coat closer to his body, only slightly wishing he didn’t refuse the new coat James had offered to buy him. It was only February; Remus was convinced his coat could last until the summer but the missing buttons and holes in the sleeves said otherwise. The chill settling into his bones only added to the ache he felt from the previous full moon. As he’d gotten older, it was harder to recover from the pain of a transformation and now here he was, close to a week after the moon and his joints still protested most movements. At this point, the only thing keeping him from crying from the pain was the little bookstore in the distance. Remus swore to himself this would be the last time he ever stepped foot into the store but Remus also told himself that two weeks ago and a week before that and a month before that. Every time was going to be the last time but like breaking a bad habit, the last time was never really the last. Remus had completely mastered lying to himself.

The chiming bell gave away his position and he resisted the urge to hide as a figure emerged from behind the shelves. The bright smile on your face warmed him from the inside out, melting the icy walls around his heart he had spent so long building. Remus fished around in his pockets, hunting for the muggle coins Lily gave him that were mixed in with the wizard coin. In the time it took him to feel the faces of the coins with the tip of his finger exposed from the hole in his glove, you already had a cup of hot chocolate on the counter with his name scribbled on the cup. With shaky hands, Remus pulled the correct coins out of his pocket and laid them out on the counter but when yours reached out to steady him, he could feel his face heat and knew it must have been bright red.

“I thought I told you last time that hot chocolate was free?” You said with a smile, putting his money back in his hand, closing his fist around them.

“Yeah but the sign on the window says it's free for kids. I may be too old to count as a kid.” He dropped the coins back on the counter, meeting your gaze.

Remus watched you shake your head and take a single coin from the pile, not nearly anything close to what he should be paying. “Please stop paying for the hot cocoa. You spend enough of your money on books, the least I can do is give you something warm and sweet for free.”

“A terrible business model.” You turned to put the money in the register and with as much speed as he could muster, Remus put the rest in the tip jar.

“I hate to tell you but I didn’t get anything new since you’ve been here last. Everything is just the same.” You turned back to him, leaning on the counter to watch as he took a seat.

“That’s alright.” Remus whispered, clutching the hot chocolate in his cold hands. “I can always find something in a bookstore, new or not.” His eyes darted between the cup and your own eyes and when he found them staring back at him, he hurried to take a drink, ignoring the way his tongue burned and just how much he liked the pain. A small reminder that he is in fact alive. “What would you recommend?”

Remus watched you straighten up, your smile back on your face. If he could spend the rest of his life bringing a smile to your face, everything would be worth it. You moved out from behind the counter, slipper covered feet leading you both to the back of the store. Remus glanced behind him and smiled at the sight of your shoes by the door. He learned you always change into slippers when you come into work the hard way; it took weeks for the lump on his head to go away and it took months for you to stop apologizing. At least now you were better at tucking them against a shelf and out of people’s way.

The further back in the store you moved, the more disorganized it was. Boxes of books were laid out on the floor, still waiting to be put on the shelves. Two weeks ago you had asked a woman to not go through them but you had no problem when Remus did the same. In the past six months since he’s been shopping here, you’ve given him more freedom than any other customers. This was only confirmed further when you opened the door with the bright yellow handmade sign that read “employees only” and beckoned him to follow you.

The back room was small and cramped but you managed to squeeze in a couch and fridge among the stacks and stacks of books. Your bag was thrown on the couch and it was when you started rummaging through it Remus realized you were not just searching the stock room for his recommendation. “I just finished this book yesterday and I think you may like it. I’m assuming you know who Sylvia Plath is since you’re an English literature major and all but here.” You thrust the book forward into Remus’s hands as he hummed in agreement. He had absolutely no idea who the author was but nodded to keep up with the lie he said previously. Would there ever be an end to the lies? “I don’t have a copy for the store since it's so new and I can’t afford to buy more copies but you’re welcome to borrow my personal copy.”

You took the cup of cooling hot chocolate from his hand as he turned the book over in his hands. The Journals of Sylvia Plath. He had never heard of this book or Plath in his life but since going to Hogwarts and then graduating, he didn’t spend much time in the muggle world apart from visiting you and your bookstore. “I’ve been wanting to read this for a while but I couldn’t get my hands on it.” The lie flowed off of his tongue with ease and he tried to ignore how much it bothered him. “I can’t take your copy from you.” He tried to hand it back but just like the money, you refused.

“You’re just borrowing it. Remus, I don’t mind at all. Besides, it gives you an excuse to come back when you’re done.”

At your words, Remus choked and wished he could blame his drink for the strange noise. This wasn’t the first time you flirted with Remus. In fact, most of the time, he flirted back but today was different. It wasn’t because he didn’t like you otherwise he wouldn’t come into your bookstore and spend money he didn’t have. He liked you a lot and in another universe he would have asked you out months ago but in this universe, Remus never did. The many lies he told you were finally starting to get to him. How any wizard has a relationship with a muggle is beyond him. At least his father never kept the secret from his mother as she found out right away. What would he tell you every full moon? How would he explain the scars that increase in number every month? How would he pretend to go to muggle college? He wasn’t an actor; Remus was just a liar. The lies were enough when he only saw you in your store but as soon as those lies followed him out the door, he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. Lying had become so easy over the years but lying to you was going to end him.

“I can’t. I’m moving in a week and I don’t have time to finish it before I leave. I don’t know when I could get it back to you.” His chest ached when he saw the sadness in your eyes at his lie. But in a flash, the sadness was gone and your smile returned.

“Then think of it as a moving gift. You can keep it.”

“Now I really can’t take this from you.” Remus sighed, holding it back out to you.

“I refuse. If you really don’t want to keep it then you’ll have to finish reading it before you move.” You grabbed a small paper bag and tucked the book inside, handing it back to him. “Please, take it.”

His hand reached out on its own accord, clutching the bag in his fist.

---

Remus didn’t remember what excuse he used to leave the bookstore as quickly as possible but he knew it was a lie. The book still remained in the bag, sitting on his dining table and burning in his mind. It’s been two days since you gave it to him and he had every intention of reading it but every time he thought about it, his stomach churned and he felt like running away. From what he wasn’t sure. After his latest lie, there was no way he could ever go back. The knocking at his door dragged his eyes away from the bag. Remus glanced through the window, his eyebrows furrowing when he saw Lily Potter.

As soon as he opened the door, Lily pushed her way inside. “It's freezing out there and this stupid coat doesn’t cover my stomach anymore. I can’t believe I thought being eight months pregnant in February was a good idea.” Remus watched her shed her ill fitting coat and toss it on the old couch, opting to grab a blanket to wrap around herself instead. Lily turned to look at Remus who was still standing at the open door. “You forgot, didn’t you?”

“Forgot what?” Remus mumbled, shutting the door and joining Lily by the couch.

“James is taking Harry out on a father-son adventure before the baby comes but with the due date coming so soon, I can’t be alone. You offered to hang out with me.”

Distantly, Remus recalled agreeing to that but life must have been different when he agreed. He had a million questions he wanted to ask her, starting with how she got here and ending with how long she would be here but he never got the chance to ask her. The bag on the table caught her eye and much like a cat chasing a laser, she was on a mission. She took the book out of the bag, unceremoniously throwing the now empty bag over her shoulder. When Lily cracked the book open, Remus tried to keep his stomach from jumping. “Y/N L/N? It says this book belongs to them. Did you steal their book?”

“No, no, of course not.”

“Really? Because this book is brand new and I have been wanting to get my hands on it for a week but I haven’t had any luck. So, tell me how you got this book and why it has some random person’s name in it.”

Remus groaned and dropped down onto the couch, his head in his hands. “Can we please not? I’m going to puke.”

“You liar.” If only Lily knew how accurate that statement was. “You just don’t want to tell me the reason. Well, there’s an address listed here too so maybe I’ll just go there and return this book. And who knows, maybe I’ll go into labor and have my baby and when I’m alone and laboring, I’ll blame you.”

“It was a gift, alright? I was given the book by this muggle bookstore owner as a moving gift. I didn’t steal it and you don’t need to hunt anyone down when you look seconds away from giving birth on my only dining chair. So drop it.”

Lily gasped, causing Remus to jump, thinking something was wrong with the baby but instead he saw Lily slowly standing to her feet and waddling over to him. “Not the bookstore you’ve been going to all the time. Remus, are you being courted by a muggle?” Lily giggled, sitting next to Remus and using his shoulder to steady herself. “Wait, moving gift? Will you tell me what’s going on?”

“I told them I was moving so I couldn’t borrow their book so they gave it to me as a gift.” Some of that was true and honestly, Remus was surprised he even shared as much as he did. This could start a deeper conversation that he wasn’t ready to have but just like you, Lily had a way of worming her way past his defenses.

“So you lied to them about moving? No wonder you’re so jumpy. Now you can’t show your face over there anymore.” Lily had the audacity to laugh. “Just lie and say you can’t move anymore and go back.”

“You don’t get it Lily. All I’ve done is lie to them. They think I’m an English literature student at Cambridge who has a normal life and only has shit clothes because I’m a broke college student. I lie to everyone so I don’t understand why this is bothering me so much but I can’t continue to pretend to be someone I’m not.” Remus pinched the bridge of his nose. This was quickly turning into a deeper conversation. “Lily, I really don’t want to talk about this right now. Can we just forget it?”

He could tell she wouldn’t be forgetting it any time soon but she nodded and told Remus she was going to use his bed to nap. And as she waddled off, his eyes filled with tears as he stared at the book laying next to him.

---

“I may never be happy, but tonight I am content.” Remus stared at the opening words of the book that was made of a young woman’s journal. God, it felt like he was intruding, reading something his eyes were never meant to see. The note you scribbled in the margin told him you felt the same but you had kept reading and Remus found himself doing the same.

“Can you understand? Someone, somewhere, can you understand me a little, love me a little?”

“And, I think: I am but one more drop in the great sea of matter, defined, with the ability to realize my existence. Of the millions, I, too, was potentially everything at birth.”

“And when at last you find someone to whom you feel you can pour out your soul, you stop in shock at the words you utter – they are so rusty, so ugly, so meaningless and feeble from being kept in the small cramped dark inside you so long. Yes, there is joy, fulfillment and companionship - but the loneliness of the soul in it’s appalling self-consciousness, is horrible and overpowering.”

“I am jealous of those who think more deeply, who write better, who draw better, who ski better, who look better, who live better, who love better than I.”

Remus slammed the book shut, hands shaking as the last words he read echoed in his skull. “I am jealous of those who think more deeply, who write better, who draw better, who ski better, who look better, who live better, who love better than I.” He was going to be sick. As he got further into the book, he found more pieces of himself in this young woman. Loneliness, fear, jealousy. God, it was like someone took his deepest secrets and tossed them onto paper for anyone to read.

Like turning a light on in a dark room, Remus finally saw what he had been hiding for so long. He was alone. People loved him and cared about him and wanted to know him deeply but he lied. He kept pieces of himself locked away and allowed his friends to think they knew him totally but in reality, they only knew what he wanted them to know. He wanted them to know him; he wanted you to know him. That scared him the most.

---

James and Harry picked up Lily a few hours later and Remus was left alone with his thoughts. The way he saw it, he had two options. He could either take steps to fix his problems, starting with talking to you and telling the truth, or he could come to terms with his loneliness and live with it for the rest of his life. Just as he had decided he could handle being alone forever, his feet carried him out his front door and in the direction of the bookstore he had become so familiar with. Your book burned a hole in his jacket pocket, pushing him closer and closer to the store. If he didn’t find forgiveness he could at least get rid of the book that was going to haunt him for the rest of his life. Remus has never left a book unfinished but this time he thought he could live without reading the rest.

The bell chimed as he opened the door and without looking up, you spoke. “We close in five minutes. Is there something I can help you…” You looked up, question trailing off when you saw Remus in the doorway. “Did you finish the book already?”

Remus shook his head, setting the book on the counter as he approached. “No but I am returning it.”

“You didn’t hate it did you? I know it's a little weird reading someone’s personal journal but she was so smart and she said so many things we all think and feel.”

“No, no, I didn’t hate it.” Remus could feel the bile rising in his throat as the lie flowed off his tongue. He did hate it but only because it showed him the parts of himself he tried so hard to hide. “Actually, I had something I wanted to tell you.”

You held up a finger, keeping the confession on the tip of his tongue as he watched you cross to the front of the store, flipping over the sign so anyone passing by would assume it was closed. “Come on.” You locked the door and led him to the backroom much like you did earlier in the day. You sat on the couch and against his better judgement, Remus sat next to you. “What did you need to tell me?”

Remus fiddled with his fingers, picking at the peeling skin on his cuticles. How was he supposed to tell you he had told more lies than truths in the past few months he had known you? “I’m a liar.” Well, that was one way. When you didn’t speak, he continued. “I’m not a student at Cambridge. Really I’m broke, unemployed, and uneducated.”

“Is that all?”

“I’m also not moving.”

As the silent minutes ticked by, Remus’s cuticles looked worse and worse. “Why? Why did you lie to me?” You whispered, looking at your lap.

“I was scared for you to know me. I’m not desirable and I’m a grouch and part of me thought that if you knew me, you wouldn’t like me.” Was it true? Some of it but really there was more. Maybe a partial truth was better than a whole lie.

“Oh Remus. No, you couldn’t be more wrong. I’ve gotten to know you and I like what I’ve found. You may think you’re not desirable because you don’t have a job or education. You do have a great sense of humor and deep thoughts and a warm heart. You’re sweet and handsome and you listen to me. I can’t tell you how many guys I’ve known that never actually listen to me.” You reached over and grabbed his hand, keeping his fingers still. “I don’t like that you lied to me but I understand why you did it. I haven’t been completely honest with you either.”

Remus felt like he had been slapped. Was this how you felt?

“I don’t actually own this bookstore. I just work here. This sweet old man owns it and he can’t keep taking care of it on his own so I told him I’d help.”

“What a pair of liars we are.” Remus snorted out a laugh. You laughed along with him, clutching his hands. “Maybe we can start over?”

“Yes, please.” You smiled.

“My name is Remus Lupin. I’m unemployed and have basic education but I like you, and I’d like for you to get to know me, really.” He turned his body to face you, ignoring the other lies begging to come to the surface.

“Hi Remus, it’s really nice to meet you. My name is Y/N and I do not own this bookstore. I would love to get to know you, really.”

There were more secrets he had and they would come up later, he knew they would but he would have to work himself up to that.

---

One month. Remus got one month of pretending he wasn’t a lying liar who lies. The two of you were over at his apartment watching some muggle movie you liked when you noticed an owl tapping on his window. That was the beginning of the end.

Remus had begged Sirius to use a muggle phone to talk to him but Sirius insisted on making his poor owl travel across the ocean. You had been amazed to see an owl so close and so tame. Remus had to block the window with his whole body to grab the note without you seeing. He was going to deal with that pulled muscle for a week.

Only a couple days later, Remus was insisting he could pay for your drink and he pulled out a Knut instead. He tried to stuff it back in his pocket before you could see but he didn’t move quick enough. After a million questions and hurriedly paying for the drink with the right money, he ended up lying and telling you that his friend was making a fantasy novel and gave him a fake coin to check out. Remus claimed he had forgotten it in his pocket and meant to give it back last week. You ended up keeping the coin.

As the full moon approached, Remus acted like a jerk. He was short tempered and snapped far too often. He could hardly move some days and you tried to help him but it was so hard when all he did was push you away. He claimed a migraine and it was a partial truth but it didn’t explain it all. In fact, Remus saw the bewildered look on your face when James seemed to appear in the living room without opening the front door. James handed Remus the wolfsbane potion in a thermos and promised you it was some soup. He had never downed it as fast as he did that day.

The month wasn’t all bad though. Date night every Friday and he visited the bookstore almost every day and he brought you lunch. Remus did only bring you lunch once and when it was completely raw and probably would have killed you, he decided he would stick to visits without food. (He was not very good at cooking without magic.) The time spent together brought you both closer together and Remus was grateful every day that he gave in and got to know you and let you know him. And for once, Remus could see himself with you forever. But for one month, he was still a liar. The biggest part of himself was still hidden. For now at least.

The final straw happened when he took you to meet James and Lily’s daughter, Daisy who made her entrance to the world five nights ago. At first, Remus didn’t think it was a good idea but Lily was desperate to have more friends. He agreed to bring you but made the Potters agree to keep their magic a secret as he hadn’t told you his biggest secret yet. But with a newborn and a toddler, two days is a long time to remember something. Remus knocked softly and pushed open the door only to be greeted by the sight of dishes floating in the air and washing themselves, a broom sweeping the floor on its own, and little Harry flying around on a broom that hovered a couple inches off the ground. Remus shut the door as quickly as he could but judging the look on your face, you had seen it all.

“What… did you see… was that pan flying?”

Remus weighed the options in his head, much like he did a month ago when he was debating if he should come clean about the smallest lie. Only now, he was debating telling you the biggest lie he’s ever told you. It would be so easy to take his wand out and erase your memory but wouldn’t that go against everything he wanted? He couldn’t hide this from you forever.

He led you over to the curb and helped you sit down. He took a seat next to you and immediately, he started picking at his fingers. “A month ago, I told you I was keeping secrets from you and I did tell you the truth. I’m not moving and I’m not an English lit major. I did, however, keep some more secrets from you.” Remus took a deep breath, ignoring the way his body shook as he did. God he wanted to hurl. “I’m a wizard. What you just saw was magic.”

You watched him with wide eyes, mouth hanging open. “I’m sorry, what? I get that I read a lot but do you honestly expect me to believe that? There has to be some explanation for what happened in there but magic?” You stood, pacing on the sidewalk.

“Listen just, let me show you and we can go from there.” Remus grabbed your hand and pulled his wand out of his pocket. He had to do something to show magic was real but what? Magic was so normal to him but it had to be something well, magical. Remus looked around the block, checking the houses around him. He couldn’t see any eyes peeking through curtains but it was still too risky. “Come with me.” Remus took your hand and pulled you down the street to a small park and into a secluded area. The air was slowly beginning to warm but it was cold enough for the park to be empty and the perfect place where he can prove magic is real. Remus pointed his wand at a large rock only a few feet away from you. With a wave of his wand, the rock turned into a chihuahua, barking and spinning in circles.

You jumped, dropping Remus’s hand to step away from him. “That’s… that was a boulder. You turned a boulder into a dog? A real breathing, barking dog. You…that was magic.”

“I can do more.” Remus waved his wand again and a shower of rose petals burst from the tip, launching into the air and floating down around you. Before they could reach the ground, he waved his wand for a third time and the petals turned into small birds that took off into the surrounding trees. “I didn’t want to hide it from you but there are strict rules about exposing magic to muggles.”

“Muggles? What is that? A dog breed?”

“No,” Remus laughed. “That’s what we call non magic people. So you believe me then?”

You stared at him, throwing your hands in the air. “Are you kidding me? I just saw you make flower petals out of thin air and then turn them into birds. Of course I believe you.”

“And you don’t hate me for it?”

“No way. I’ve always believed there was magic hiding in the world and low and behold, it's in you and your friends. This is amazing. You have to tell me everything!” You grabbed his hand, jumping a little.

A weight fell off his chest but it was quickly replaced with a new one. He got over one problem but now an even bigger and scarier problem was taking its place. “Hang on. There is one more thing I need you to know about. Let’s sit.” Remus clutches onto your hand tightly, like he’s worried you’ll slip away if he doesn’t have a hold on you. After this, you just might. He takes you over to a bench and chews on his lips.

“So, wizards are real. So are a lot of other magical things too. Centars, trolls, giants, unicorns, a whole lot of fun things.” Remus dropped your hands, rubbing his face; the feeling of his scars on his face made his heart drop to his toes.

“But?”

“But there are a lot of unfun things too. Trolls usually are not fun by the way. There are also vampires and dragons and… werewolves.”

You grabbed his hands off of his face, much like you did not long ago. “I’m guessing there’s another secret you haven’t told me yet.”

Remus nodded, his chest tight. “I’m a werewolf.”

Silence. God he hated it. Remus kept his eyes on his lap where your hands were clutching his. Slowly, your grip loosened before they fell away completely. The cold crept in through his hands and into his heart. Well, if this went badly, Remus would have to wipe your memory and hope you had no memory of him.

“That week you were really mean to me and James came out of nowhere. The scars. That’s all because you’re… a werewolf.”

“Yeah. Listen, I know it's a lot and I understand if you don’t want to be with me anymore but I just really needed you to know.” Remus closed his eyes, willing the tears to stay trapped inside.

“And when at last you find someone to whom you feel you can pour out your soul, you stop in shock at the words you utter – they are so rusty, so ugly, so meaningless and feeble from being kept in the small cramped dark inside you so long.” You quoted, carefully reaching out to touch his hand. “This is why you’ve lied as much as you have.”

“I’m a monster. I didn’t want to lose you but I think all these secrets mean I’m going to lose you anyway.” Remus sniffled, blinking away the tears.

“No.” His head snapped up so quickly he thought it was going to fall off.

“No?”

You laced your fingers with his, resting your forehead on his. “You’re not losing me. Maybe I’m in over my head and it might take a while to get used to this whole magic thing and werewolf thing but you aren’t losing me. From the first time you walked into the bookstore, I knew there was something special about you. I just didn’t know how special you would be.”

Remus smiled, tilting his head and bringing his lips down to yours. His mustache tickled your lip and as your hands came up to rest on his cheeks, you felt the scars under your fingers. You pulled away, running your thumbs over his cheeks, smiling at the warmth and soft pink color. “Now, I have so many questions, starting with unicorns. I need to know everything.”

Remus nodded, kissing you one more time before he told you all his secrets. It was then Remus decided it was nice to be fully known.

Taglist (Please let me know if you do not want to be tagged anymore or need to change anything. No hard feelings, I've been gone for a year)

@100gaysnails @weasleybuns @s1aaaaayyyyyyyt @steelthistle @Andy200700 @7-seas-of-fat-bottomed-girls @daisydark @creepybloodykitty2 @avatheveela @themarauderswife7 @Mintyme101 @islayhawkin @lovesanimals0000

[georgie-weasley]

To Be Fully Known— R.L. X GN!Muggle! Reader

Warnings: a swear word or two, mentions of Remus feeling like he's going to vomit because he's an anxious man but no actual vomiting, feelings of loneliness and mentions of dying alone, also quotes from Sylvia Plath and those are a bit dark and sad

Word Count: 5.5k

Pairing: Young Adult Remus (22) x GN!Muggle!Reader

Summary: Remus Lupin is a lonely liar. He was sure he would never fully let someone in his life and spill all his secrets, that is until he met a muggle bookstore owner that changed everything. Too bad he's been telling them lies for six months.

A/N: The italic quotes are taken from the Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

Masterlist Taglist

Lies. Secrets. Remus had plenty, more than the average person. James knew he actually hated potions but he didn’t know the reason. After taking thousands of potions in his 22 years of life, dreaming that they would cure the monster inside of him, he can’t look at a cauldron without remembering the disappointment, the burn in his throat, or the sadness in his mother’s eyes. He only told James it was harder to learn. Peter knows Remus has nightmares but the visions of Fenrir Greyback chasing him while his toddler legs tried and failed to get him to safety was something only Remus knew. The lie about a dragon trying to eat him was easy to craft. Sirius knows more of Remus’s secrets than most but even he doesn’t know the depth of his self loathing and the utter fear he feels when faced with the realization he may have to watch his friends marry and start families while he remains alone until his final day. A well placed smile was a better lie than he could ever come up with.

The secrets he kept from his dearest friends ate him alive, clawing at his heart desperate to be known but Remus endured the pain. They already knew of the beast inside him, how many more dark secrets can the three boys handle? Surely not many more. Not with James about to have a second kid in two months. Sirius was preparing to travel to America, hunting down any dark wizards that may have gone there to hide out after the defeat of Voldemort; he didn’t have time to coddle Remus. Peter was too stressed about the engagement ring that’s been in his dresser for the past year to think of anything besides when the perfect time to propose to his partner was. No, there was no one in his life that could listen to more secrets. Lies would have to do.

Remus pulled the coat closer to his body, only slightly wishing he didn’t refuse the new coat James had offered to buy him. It was only February; Remus was convinced his coat could last until the summer but the missing buttons and holes in the sleeves said otherwise. The chill settling into his bones only added to the ache he felt from the previous full moon. As he’d gotten older, it was harder to recover from the pain of a transformation and now here he was, close to a week after the moon and his joints still protested most movements. At this point, the only thing keeping him from crying from the pain was the little bookstore in the distance. Remus swore to himself this would be the last time he ever stepped foot into the store but Remus also told himself that two weeks ago and a week before that and a month before that. Every time was going to be the last time but like breaking a bad habit, the last time was never really the last. Remus had completely mastered lying to himself.

The chiming bell gave away his position and he resisted the urge to hide as a figure emerged from behind the shelves. The bright smile on your face warmed him from the inside out, melting the icy walls around his heart he had spent so long building. Remus fished around in his pockets, hunting for the muggle coins Lily gave him that were mixed in with the wizard coin. In the time it took him to feel the faces of the coins with the tip of his finger exposed from the hole in his glove, you already had a cup of hot chocolate on the counter with his name scribbled on the cup. With shaky hands, Remus pulled the correct coins out of his pocket and laid them out on the counter but when yours reached out to steady him, he could feel his face heat and knew it must have been bright red.

“I thought I told you last time that hot chocolate was free?” You said with a smile, putting his money back in his hand, closing his fist around them.

“Yeah but the sign on the window says it's free for kids. I may be too old to count as a kid.” He dropped the coins back on the counter, meeting your gaze.

Remus watched you shake your head and take a single coin from the pile, not nearly anything close to what he should be paying. “Please stop paying for the hot cocoa. You spend enough of your money on books, the least I can do is give you something warm and sweet for free.”

“A terrible business model.” You turned to put the money in the register and with as much speed as he could muster, Remus put the rest in the tip jar.

“I hate to tell you but I didn’t get anything new since you’ve been here last. Everything is just the same.” You turned back to him, leaning on the counter to watch as he took a seat.

“That’s alright.” Remus whispered, clutching the hot chocolate in his cold hands. “I can always find something in a bookstore, new or not.” His eyes darted between the cup and your own eyes and when he found them staring back at him, he hurried to take a drink, ignoring the way his tongue burned and just how much he liked the pain. A small reminder that he is in fact alive. “What would you recommend?”

Remus watched you straighten up, your smile back on your face. If he could spend the rest of his life bringing a smile to your face, everything would be worth it. You moved out from behind the counter, slipper covered feet leading you both to the back of the store. Remus glanced behind him and smiled at the sight of your shoes by the door. He learned you always change into slippers when you come into work the hard way; it took weeks for the lump on his head to go away and it took months for you to stop apologizing. At least now you were better at tucking them against a shelf and out of people’s way.

The further back in the store you moved, the more disorganized it was. Boxes of books were laid out on the floor, still waiting to be put on the shelves. Two weeks ago you had asked a woman to not go through them but you had no problem when Remus did the same. In the past six months since he’s been shopping here, you’ve given him more freedom than any other customers. This was only confirmed further when you opened the door with the bright yellow handmade sign that read “employees only” and beckoned him to follow you.

The back room was small and cramped but you managed to squeeze in a couch and fridge among the stacks and stacks of books. Your bag was thrown on the couch and it was when you started rummaging through it Remus realized you were not just searching the stock room for his recommendation. “I just finished this book yesterday and I think you may like it. I’m assuming you know who Sylvia Plath is since you’re an English literature major and all but here.” You thrust the book forward into Remus’s hands as he hummed in agreement. He had absolutely no idea who the author was but nodded to keep up with the lie he said previously. Would there ever be an end to the lies? “I don’t have a copy for the store since it's so new and I can’t afford to buy more copies but you’re welcome to borrow my personal copy.”

You took the cup of cooling hot chocolate from his hand as he turned the book over in his hands. The Journals of Sylvia Plath. He had never heard of this book or Plath in his life but since going to Hogwarts and then graduating, he didn’t spend much time in the muggle world apart from visiting you and your bookstore. “I’ve been wanting to read this for a while but I couldn’t get my hands on it.” The lie flowed off of his tongue with ease and he tried to ignore how much it bothered him. “I can’t take your copy from you.” He tried to hand it back but just like the money, you refused.

“You’re just borrowing it. Remus, I don’t mind at all. Besides, it gives you an excuse to come back when you’re done.”

At your words, Remus choked and wished he could blame his drink for the strange noise. This wasn’t the first time you flirted with Remus. In fact, most of the time, he flirted back but today was different. It wasn’t because he didn’t like you otherwise he wouldn’t come into your bookstore and spend money he didn’t have. He liked you a lot and in another universe he would have asked you out months ago but in this universe, Remus never did. The many lies he told you were finally starting to get to him. How any wizard has a relationship with a muggle is beyond him. At least his father never kept the secret from his mother as she found out right away. What would he tell you every full moon? How would he explain the scars that increase in number every month? How would he pretend to go to muggle college? He wasn’t an actor; Remus was just a liar. The lies were enough when he only saw you in your store but as soon as those lies followed him out the door, he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. Lying had become so easy over the years but lying to you was going to end him.

“I can’t. I’m moving in a week and I don’t have time to finish it before I leave. I don’t know when I could get it back to you.” His chest ached when he saw the sadness in your eyes at his lie. But in a flash, the sadness was gone and your smile returned.

“Then think of it as a moving gift. You can keep it.”

“Now I really can’t take this from you.” Remus sighed, holding it back out to you.

“I refuse. If you really don’t want to keep it then you’ll have to finish reading it before you move.” You grabbed a small paper bag and tucked the book inside, handing it back to him. “Please, take it.”

His hand reached out on its own accord, clutching the bag in his fist.

---

Remus didn’t remember what excuse he used to leave the bookstore as quickly as possible but he knew it was a lie. The book still remained in the bag, sitting on his dining table and burning in his mind. It’s been two days since you gave it to him and he had every intention of reading it but every time he thought about it, his stomach churned and he felt like running away. From what he wasn’t sure. After his latest lie, there was no way he could ever go back. The knocking at his door dragged his eyes away from the bag. Remus glanced through the window, his eyebrows furrowing when he saw Lily Potter.

As soon as he opened the door, Lily pushed her way inside. “It's freezing out there and this stupid coat doesn’t cover my stomach anymore. I can’t believe I thought being eight months pregnant in February was a good idea.” Remus watched her shed her ill fitting coat and toss it on the old couch, opting to grab a blanket to wrap around herself instead. Lily turned to look at Remus who was still standing at the open door. “You forgot, didn’t you?”

“Forgot what?” Remus mumbled, shutting the door and joining Lily by the couch.

“James is taking Harry out on a father-son adventure before the baby comes but with the due date coming so soon, I can’t be alone. You offered to hang out with me.”

Distantly, Remus recalled agreeing to that but life must have been different when he agreed. He had a million questions he wanted to ask her, starting with how she got here and ending with how long she would be here but he never got the chance to ask her. The bag on the table caught her eye and much like a cat chasing a laser, she was on a mission. She took the book out of the bag, unceremoniously throwing the now empty bag over her shoulder. When Lily cracked the book open, Remus tried to keep his stomach from jumping. “Y/N L/N? It says this book belongs to them. Did you steal their book?”

“No, no, of course not.”

“Really? Because this book is brand new and I have been wanting to get my hands on it for a week but I haven’t had any luck. So, tell me how you got this book and why it has some random person’s name in it.”

Remus groaned and dropped down onto the couch, his head in his hands. “Can we please not? I’m going to puke.”

“You liar.” If only Lily knew how accurate that statement was. “You just don’t want to tell me the reason. Well, there’s an address listed here too so maybe I’ll just go there and return this book. And who knows, maybe I’ll go into labor and have my baby and when I’m alone and laboring, I’ll blame you.”

“It was a gift, alright? I was given the book by this muggle bookstore owner as a moving gift. I didn’t steal it and you don’t need to hunt anyone down when you look seconds away from giving birth on my only dining chair. So drop it.”

Lily gasped, causing Remus to jump, thinking something was wrong with the baby but instead he saw Lily slowly standing to her feet and waddling over to him. “Not the bookstore you’ve been going to all the time. Remus, are you being courted by a muggle?” Lily giggled, sitting next to Remus and using his shoulder to steady herself. “Wait, moving gift? Will you tell me what’s going on?”

“I told them I was moving so I couldn’t borrow their book so they gave it to me as a gift.” Some of that was true and honestly, Remus was surprised he even shared as much as he did. This could start a deeper conversation that he wasn’t ready to have but just like you, Lily had a way of worming her way past his defenses.

“So you lied to them about moving? No wonder you’re so jumpy. Now you can’t show your face over there anymore.” Lily had the audacity to laugh. “Just lie and say you can’t move anymore and go back.”

“You don’t get it Lily. All I’ve done is lie to them. They think I’m an English literature student at Cambridge who has a normal life and only has shit clothes because I’m a broke college student. I lie to everyone so I don’t understand why this is bothering me so much but I can’t continue to pretend to be someone I’m not.” Remus pinched the bridge of his nose. This was quickly turning into a deeper conversation. “Lily, I really don’t want to talk about this right now. Can we just forget it?”

He could tell she wouldn’t be forgetting it any time soon but she nodded and told Remus she was going to use his bed to nap. And as she waddled off, his eyes filled with tears as he stared at the book laying next to him.

---

“I may never be happy, but tonight I am content.” Remus stared at the opening words of the book that was made of a young woman’s journal. God, it felt like he was intruding, reading something his eyes were never meant to see. The note you scribbled in the margin told him you felt the same but you had kept reading and Remus found himself doing the same.

“Can you understand? Someone, somewhere, can you understand me a little, love me a little?”

“And, I think: I am but one more drop in the great sea of matter, defined, with the ability to realize my existence. Of the millions, I, too, was potentially everything at birth.”

“And when at last you find someone to whom you feel you can pour out your soul, you stop in shock at the words you utter – they are so rusty, so ugly, so meaningless and feeble from being kept in the small cramped dark inside you so long. Yes, there is joy, fulfillment and companionship - but the loneliness of the soul in it’s appalling self-consciousness, is horrible and overpowering.”

“I am jealous of those who think more deeply, who write better, who draw better, who ski better, who look better, who live better, who love better than I.”

Remus slammed the book shut, hands shaking as the last words he read echoed in his skull. “I am jealous of those who think more deeply, who write better, who draw better, who ski better, who look better, who live better, who love better than I.” He was going to be sick. As he got further into the book, he found more pieces of himself in this young woman. Loneliness, fear, jealousy. God, it was like someone took his deepest secrets and tossed them onto paper for anyone to read.

Like turning a light on in a dark room, Remus finally saw what he had been hiding for so long. He was alone. People loved him and cared about him and wanted to know him deeply but he lied. He kept pieces of himself locked away and allowed his friends to think they knew him totally but in reality, they only knew what he wanted them to know. He wanted them to know him; he wanted you to know him. That scared him the most.

---

James and Harry picked up Lily a few hours later and Remus was left alone with his thoughts. The way he saw it, he had two options. He could either take steps to fix his problems, starting with talking to you and telling the truth, or he could come to terms with his loneliness and live with it for the rest of his life. Just as he had decided he could handle being alone forever, his feet carried him out his front door and in the direction of the bookstore he had become so familiar with. Your book burned a hole in his jacket pocket, pushing him closer and closer to the store. If he didn’t find forgiveness he could at least get rid of the book that was going to haunt him for the rest of his life. Remus has never left a book unfinished but this time he thought he could live without reading the rest.

The bell chimed as he opened the door and without looking up, you spoke. “We close in five minutes. Is there something I can help you…” You looked up, question trailing off when you saw Remus in the doorway. “Did you finish the book already?”

Remus shook his head, setting the book on the counter as he approached. “No but I am returning it.”

“You didn’t hate it did you? I know it's a little weird reading someone’s personal journal but she was so smart and she said so many things we all think and feel.”

“No, no, I didn’t hate it.” Remus could feel the bile rising in his throat as the lie flowed off his tongue. He did hate it but only because it showed him the parts of himself he tried so hard to hide. “Actually, I had something I wanted to tell you.”

You held up a finger, keeping the confession on the tip of his tongue as he watched you cross to the front of the store, flipping over the sign so anyone passing by would assume it was closed. “Come on.” You locked the door and led him to the backroom much like you did earlier in the day. You sat on the couch and against his better judgement, Remus sat next to you. “What did you need to tell me?”

Remus fiddled with his fingers, picking at the peeling skin on his cuticles. How was he supposed to tell you he had told more lies than truths in the past few months he had known you? “I’m a liar.” Well, that was one way. When you didn’t speak, he continued. “I’m not a student at Cambridge. Really I’m broke, unemployed, and uneducated.”

“Is that all?”

“I’m also not moving.”

As the silent minutes ticked by, Remus’s cuticles looked worse and worse. “Why? Why did you lie to me?” You whispered, looking at your lap.

“I was scared for you to know me. I’m not desirable and I’m a grouch and part of me thought that if you knew me, you wouldn’t like me.” Was it true? Some of it but really there was more. Maybe a partial truth was better than a whole lie.

“Oh Remus. No, you couldn’t be more wrong. I’ve gotten to know you and I like what I’ve found. You may think you’re not desirable because you don’t have a job or education. You do have a great sense of humor and deep thoughts and a warm heart. You’re sweet and handsome and you listen to me. I can’t tell you how many guys I’ve known that never actually listen to me.” You reached over and grabbed his hand, keeping his fingers still. “I don’t like that you lied to me but I understand why you did it. I haven’t been completely honest with you either.”

Remus felt like he had been slapped. Was this how you felt?

“I don’t actually own this bookstore. I just work here. This sweet old man owns it and he can’t keep taking care of it on his own so I told him I’d help.”

“What a pair of liars we are.” Remus snorted out a laugh. You laughed along with him, clutching his hands. “Maybe we can start over?”

“Yes, please.” You smiled.

“My name is Remus Lupin. I’m unemployed and have basic education but I like you, and I’d like for you to get to know me, really.” He turned his body to face you, ignoring the other lies begging to come to the surface.

“Hi Remus, it’s really nice to meet you. My name is Y/N and I do not own this bookstore. I would love to get to know you, really.”

There were more secrets he had and they would come up later, he knew they would but he would have to work himself up to that.

---

One month. Remus got one month of pretending he wasn’t a lying liar who lies. The two of you were over at his apartment watching some muggle movie you liked when you noticed an owl tapping on his window. That was the beginning of the end.

Remus had begged Sirius to use a muggle phone to talk to him but Sirius insisted on making his poor owl travel across the ocean. You had been amazed to see an owl so close and so tame. Remus had to block the window with his whole body to grab the note without you seeing. He was going to deal with that pulled muscle for a week.

Only a couple days later, Remus was insisting he could pay for your drink and he pulled out a Knut instead. He tried to stuff it back in his pocket before you could see but he didn’t move quick enough. After a million questions and hurriedly paying for the drink with the right money, he ended up lying and telling you that his friend was making a fantasy novel and gave him a fake coin to check out. Remus claimed he had forgotten it in his pocket and meant to give it back last week. You ended up keeping the coin.

As the full moon approached, Remus acted like a jerk. He was short tempered and snapped far too often. He could hardly move some days and you tried to help him but it was so hard when all he did was push you away. He claimed a migraine and it was a partial truth but it didn’t explain it all. In fact, Remus saw the bewildered look on your face when James seemed to appear in the living room without opening the front door. James handed Remus the wolfsbane potion in a thermos and promised you it was some soup. He had never downed it as fast as he did that day.

The month wasn’t all bad though. Date night every Friday and he visited the bookstore almost every day and he brought you lunch. Remus did only bring you lunch once and when it was completely raw and probably would have killed you, he decided he would stick to visits without food. (He was not very good at cooking without magic.) The time spent together brought you both closer together and Remus was grateful every day that he gave in and got to know you and let you know him. And for once, Remus could see himself with you forever. But for one month, he was still a liar. The biggest part of himself was still hidden. For now at least.

The final straw happened when he took you to meet James and Lily’s daughter, Daisy who made her entrance to the world five nights ago. At first, Remus didn’t think it was a good idea but Lily was desperate to have more friends. He agreed to bring you but made the Potters agree to keep their magic a secret as he hadn’t told you his biggest secret yet. But with a newborn and a toddler, two days is a long time to remember something. Remus knocked softly and pushed open the door only to be greeted by the sight of dishes floating in the air and washing themselves, a broom sweeping the floor on its own, and little Harry flying around on a broom that hovered a couple inches off the ground. Remus shut the door as quickly as he could but judging the look on your face, you had seen it all.

“What… did you see… was that pan flying?”

Remus weighed the options in his head, much like he did a month ago when he was debating if he should come clean about the smallest lie. Only now, he was debating telling you the biggest lie he’s ever told you. It would be so easy to take his wand out and erase your memory but wouldn’t that go against everything he wanted? He couldn’t hide this from you forever.

He led you over to the curb and helped you sit down. He took a seat next to you and immediately, he started picking at his fingers. “A month ago, I told you I was keeping secrets from you and I did tell you the truth. I’m not moving and I’m not an English lit major. I did, however, keep some more secrets from you.” Remus took a deep breath, ignoring the way his body shook as he did. God he wanted to hurl. “I’m a wizard. What you just saw was magic.”

You watched him with wide eyes, mouth hanging open. “I’m sorry, what? I get that I read a lot but do you honestly expect me to believe that? There has to be some explanation for what happened in there but magic?” You stood, pacing on the sidewalk.

“Listen just, let me show you and we can go from there.” Remus grabbed your hand and pulled his wand out of his pocket. He had to do something to show magic was real but what? Magic was so normal to him but it had to be something well, magical. Remus looked around the block, checking the houses around him. He couldn’t see any eyes peeking through curtains but it was still too risky. “Come with me.” Remus took your hand and pulled you down the street to a small park and into a secluded area. The air was slowly beginning to warm but it was cold enough for the park to be empty and the perfect place where he can prove magic is real. Remus pointed his wand at a large rock only a few feet away from you. With a wave of his wand, the rock turned into a chihuahua, barking and spinning in circles.

You jumped, dropping Remus’s hand to step away from him. “That’s… that was a boulder. You turned a boulder into a dog? A real breathing, barking dog. You…that was magic.”

“I can do more.” Remus waved his wand again and a shower of rose petals burst from the tip, launching into the air and floating down around you. Before they could reach the ground, he waved his wand for a third time and the petals turned into small birds that took off into the surrounding trees. “I didn’t want to hide it from you but there are strict rules about exposing magic to muggles.”

“Muggles? What is that? A dog breed?”

“No,” Remus laughed. “That’s what we call non magic people. So you believe me then?”

You stared at him, throwing your hands in the air. “Are you kidding me? I just saw you make flower petals out of thin air and then turn them into birds. Of course I believe you.”

“And you don’t hate me for it?”

“No way. I’ve always believed there was magic hiding in the world and low and behold, it's in you and your friends. This is amazing. You have to tell me everything!” You grabbed his hand, jumping a little.

A weight fell off his chest but it was quickly replaced with a new one. He got over one problem but now an even bigger and scarier problem was taking its place. “Hang on. There is one more thing I need you to know about. Let’s sit.” Remus clutches onto your hand tightly, like he’s worried you’ll slip away if he doesn’t have a hold on you. After this, you just might. He takes you over to a bench and chews on his lips.

“So, wizards are real. So are a lot of other magical things too. Centars, trolls, giants, unicorns, a whole lot of fun things.” Remus dropped your hands, rubbing his face; the feeling of his scars on his face made his heart drop to his toes.

“But?”

“But there are a lot of unfun things too. Trolls usually are not fun by the way. There are also vampires and dragons and… werewolves.”

You grabbed his hands off of his face, much like you did not long ago. “I’m guessing there’s another secret you haven’t told me yet.”

Remus nodded, his chest tight. “I’m a werewolf.”

Silence. God he hated it. Remus kept his eyes on his lap where your hands were clutching his. Slowly, your grip loosened before they fell away completely. The cold crept in through his hands and into his heart. Well, if this went badly, Remus would have to wipe your memory and hope you had no memory of him.

“That week you were really mean to me and James came out of nowhere. The scars. That’s all because you’re… a werewolf.”

“Yeah. Listen, I know it's a lot and I understand if you don’t want to be with me anymore but I just really needed you to know.” Remus closed his eyes, willing the tears to stay trapped inside.

“And when at last you find someone to whom you feel you can pour out your soul, you stop in shock at the words you utter – they are so rusty, so ugly, so meaningless and feeble from being kept in the small cramped dark inside you so long.” You quoted, carefully reaching out to touch his hand. “This is why you’ve lied as much as you have.”

“I’m a monster. I didn’t want to lose you but I think all these secrets mean I’m going to lose you anyway.” Remus sniffled, blinking away the tears.

“No.” His head snapped up so quickly he thought it was going to fall off.

“No?”

You laced your fingers with his, resting your forehead on his. “You’re not losing me. Maybe I’m in over my head and it might take a while to get used to this whole magic thing and werewolf thing but you aren’t losing me. From the first time you walked into the bookstore, I knew there was something special about you. I just didn’t know how special you would be.”

Remus smiled, tilting his head and bringing his lips down to yours. His mustache tickled your lip and as your hands came up to rest on his cheeks, you felt the scars under your fingers. You pulled away, running your thumbs over his cheeks, smiling at the warmth and soft pink color. “Now, I have so many questions, starting with unicorns. I need to know everything.”

Remus nodded, kissing you one more time before he told you all his secrets. It was then Remus decided it was nice to be fully known.

Taglist (Please let me know if you do not want to be tagged anymore or need to change anything. No hard feelings, I've been gone for a year)

@100gaysnails @weasleybuns @s1aaaaayyyyyyyt @steelthistle @Andy200700 @7-seas-of-fat-bottomed-girls @daisydark @creepybloodykitty2 @avatheveela @themarauderswife7 @Mintyme101 @islayhawkin @lovesanimals0000

[georgie-weasley]

Hey. It’s been a while friends. A year to be exact. I’m not sure how often I’ll be back and posting but I did want to fill you in before I just randomly posted something I wrote. Anyway, thanks for the continued support. See you soon.

[georgie-weasley]

Reblogging this in case anyone wants to be sad to celebrate Fred and George’s birthday

Birthdays G.W. x GN!Reader

Warnings: mentions of death, mentions of blood, George losing his ear, it's super sad

Word Count: 3.2k

Pairing: George Weasley x GN!Reader

Summary: After Fred's death, George never wanted to celebrate his birthday. This year he's turning 25 and despite his request, you want to do something special so you track down all the pictures you took from your Hogwarts years

A/N: I know it's been a little bit since I wrote anything and I just want to say I really appreciate all the love and support from everyone

Masterlist Taglist

Birthdays were supposed to be a fun and special day. They were supposed to be a day all about you and spending the day how you wanted. Usually it was spent with friends and family who loved you as they celebrated you getting older. There was typically cake and presents and singing that stupid song. Ever since the Battle of Hogwarts, birthdays have taken a sadder turn for George Weasley.

April 1st used to be the best day of the year in George’s eyes. Not only was it a day dedicated to jokes and pranks, but it was also the day he and his best friend got to celebrate another year of growing up but never maturing. In their younger years, they spent their birthday doing what they loved, causing mischief. One year they spent the whole day squawking like a bird at every hour; it was one of the more harmless years. On their first birthday after owning the joke shop, everything was a disaster. Well, it was for any poor soul that entered the shop with their guard down. Patrons left with bubblegum pink hair, duck bills for noses, temporarily in love with obscure objects, and even some believed they were invisible when they were in fact very visible.

George’s first birthday after Fred died was one of the worst days of his life, second to only the day he lost his brother. The family walked on eggshells and made the mistake of trying to celebrate. When his mother brought out the cake after dinner, he stormed out of the room before she could even set the homemade dessert on the table. You followed him all the way up to the roof, the place he always went to be alone or away from everyone but you. He sat there crying and you held him, rubbing his back but saying nothing; there was nothing you could say to ease his pain.

“I never want to celebrate my birthday ever again Y/N. I don’t want any cakes or presents or stupid songs. I don’t want anyone to even mention it.” He choked out as he sobbed into his hands.

“Your mom was just trying to do something nice. I don’t think she knew it would hurt this much.” 

“I know but I don’t want anything. Promise me the end of the birthdays starts here.”

You didn’t want to promise but you could see how much he needed this. “I promise.” 

You had been dating George since your Hogwarts years and you saw the pain everyone went through in the past year. You also saw how differently everyone reacted to the grief. Molly was liable to burst into tears every few minutes while Arthur threw himself into his tinkering with muggle items. Bill and Charlie spent a lot more time at home, doing things for their parents just to try and give them a break. Ron started helping George at the joke shop and he threw himself into the work there; he was a lot like his father much to his horror. Ginny spent a lot of time with George. She wasn’t supposed to have favorite brothers but Fred and George easily were her favorites. As for Percy, he still blamed himself for the death of his brother and spent most of his time hating himself. George didn’t know what to do. Everything he ever did, Fred was right there with him and he didn’t know how to function without his other half.

George no longer lived above the joke shop and instead he lived in a small apartment with you. The mirrors were covered with paper and all reflective surfaces were hidden as best as you could. He couldn’t stand to see himself because all he could see was Fred.

---

Since then, George had gotten his way and he hadn’t had a birthday celebration for the past few years. The only time it was even mentioned was when someone asked how old he was. Other than that, no one spoke about April 1st. This year George was turning 25 and after discussing with Molly many times, you decided not to ignore his birthday this time.

You were terrified that he would be upset that you went against his wishes but 25 was quite a big deal. He was officially going to be in his mid 20s and that deserved a celebration. George deserved a day where the people that loved him showed him how much he meant to them. Ginny, who had also been in on your plans, suggested for this first year of breaking the no birthday promise it was just you who celebrated. If the whole family suddenly ignored George’s wishes, he would probably feel betrayed. Not to mention out of everyone, he was more likely to be alright with his partner doing something special for him.

You spent all of February trying to think of something small enough to make sure he wouldn’t be upset but something big and special enough to warrant breaking this promise. Unlike the first few birthdays you celebrated with him as a couple, candy wouldn’t cut it this time. Soon February passed and before you knew it, it was the middle of March and you only had a couple weeks to go. You had to think of something fast

The answer came to you late at night one day in March. While George had been working late at the shop, you spent a lot of time stress cleaning the apartment and going through boxes. Wrapped up in old sweaters that didn’t fit anymore was your camera. It had been a gift to your parents your first year of Hogwarts and while you were no professional photographer, you spent all of your years in school taking pictures.

Ginny once mentioned to you a gift Hagrid had given Harry his first year. Hagrid spent months contacting anyone that knew James and Lily to try and get photos to make a photo album for Harry. Ginny said he still had it and has been adding to it; he added pictures of the people that meant a lot to him and especially pictures of things he wished his parents had been around to see. Almost all of the pictures you had taken since you were 11 included Fred and George. That was what you would give George.

When George came home that night, it was horrible trying not to tell him but you knew if he knew, he would tell you not to bother. Despite your efforts, he knew right away something was up. As he climbed into bed he took one look at your face and frowned. “What are you so worried about?” Curse him for being so observant.

“Nothing. I just hope you're not overworking yourself.” Before he could question you further, you kissed his cheek and rolled over, shutting off the light.

---

That morning as soon as he left for work, you began searching through more and more boxes of your things. Some pictures were hung up when you lived above the store but since moving, George didn’t want many pictures hung up at all. Tucked away in the closet was a small box with ‘pictures’ written on the side. “Bingo.”

As soon as you opened the box you had tears in your eyes. Right on top was a picture you had taken of the boys the day they bought the building. It was pretty worn down and needed quite a bit of work but Fred and George stood in front of the door, arms thrown around each other with wide smiles. As the picture moved, Fred and George turned to look over their shoulder at the building and gave each other a high five.

The next photo was much older and if you had to guess, Fred and George were only 12 or 13 in this picture. They were on the Quidditch Pitch, soaking wet and covered in mud but they couldn’t be happier. The boys had just tried out for the beater positions on the Gryffindor team and despite slipping and falling many times, they made the team. In the picture after only a second of smiling, Fred hip checked George and sent him flying into a mud puddle, landing right on his butt. Fred laughed until George kicked him on the back of the knee and made him fall face first into the mud next to him. The picture didn’t catch it but you remember after Fred got to his knees, the twins started wrestling and it took three people to separate them. Neither was mad at the other but more so they couldn’t stand to be outdone by their twin.

Many pictures were similar to those. One was taken of the twins while in detention with you. How you snuck the camera into the dungeons you couldn’t remember but the picture of Fred pretending to be Snape while George laughed and the real Snape rounded the corner was priceless. Another was taken when poor Ron had first started Hogwarts. You told the first year you simply wanted a photo of him and George to send home to his mother when in reality, Fred was behind him holding a fake spider. The picture captured the terror on Ron’s face as the toy came into his field of view while Fred and George rolled on the floor laughing.

Perhaps one of your favorites was taken during the Yule Ball. Katie Bell managed to take a picture of you and George slow dancing while Fred and Lee Jordan tried to do the worm in the background. Neither of them were very good and Fred wormed his way under Malfoy’s legs and sent the blonde crashing to the floor.

You had even a few pictures of the whole family. At Bill and Fleur’s wedding before the Death Eaters came, you gathered the whole Weasley clan and shoved everyone together to take a picture. Harry, disguised as a random Weasley cousin, and Hermione were included. The picture captured George coaxing you into frame with him as Remus took the camera from you. You squeezed in between Fred and George as your boys wrapped their arms around you.

There were many others, some far more normal than others but most of them George had never seen. After taking them, the pictures made their way into your trunk and never came out until after you had gone home. Besides, George always claimed he would never need to see them as he and Fred would continue to make more memories as they aged.

The last picture in the box was of them was the night George lost his ear. Fred had never been the serious type but seeing his twin brother lying on the couch drenched in his own blood changed something. All of you, but mostly Fred, realized no one was invincible. Fred pulled you aside and asked you to take a picture of them as soon as George was able to sit up and didn’t look too beat up. It was a moment you would never forget.

“I just need a picture of us Y/N. Seeing George there on the couch like that… I need something of us. This is a war and there’s no guarantee that both of us will make it. If that happens and he dies,” Fred rubbed his eyes with his sleeve and took a deep breath, “I need some reminder of him and I together in case.”

You grabbed his hand and gave it a small squeeze. “Of course Freddie.”

An hour later it was just the three of you awake and George was feeling well enough to sit up and drink some water. Fred sat next to him on the couch and glanced over at you. “George, I want to take a picture.”

“Now? I’m still a little crusty and my bandage needs to be changed.” George sat the glass of water on the ground and carefully turned his head to look at his twin. “Maybe we can wait until tomorrow so I can clean up a bit?”

Fred shook his head and beckoned you over. “No way. I don’t want to wait for this one. Please?”

With a confused glance at you, George shrugged and wrapped his arm around Fred’s shoulders. “Make sure you get my good side.” He said with a small laugh as he turned to show off his one remaining ear.

The boys smiled for the photo but Fred looked like he was holding back tears. You took a second one and held back your own tears as Fred pulled George in for a hug. “Love ya Georgie.”

“Love you too Freddie.”

Over the next couple of weeks you spent any time George was in the shop working on his present. You spent countless hours arranging the pictures into the photo album and adding little notes next to each one. You tried your best to remember the year it was taken so the book was in some sort of order.

Along with the photos, you went through your old notebooks and various other scraps of paper that you had saved. On so many of them the twins had written notes in the margins. On one note page, the boys were having a written conversation about their plans for a store. They had no reason to write it on your paper except for the fact that they felt like it. While in school, it used to bother you when they would mess around and write notes or doodle on your papers but now, you were beyond grateful for these dumb little messages.

You took the notebook page and added it to the book next to the picture of the boys in front of their shop. On the next you stuck in the page with the rather horrible self portrait Fred had drawn.

There were more than a few times you had to catch your falling tears so they wouldn’t ruin the pictures but finally after weeks, it was done.

---

On the morning of his birthday, George laid in bed well past the normal time he usually woke up. Ron had been the only one working at the store on George’s birthday for the past few years. At first George refused but as more and more people talked about April Fool’s Day, he relented and let Ron take over. When George finally emerged from the bedroom, he went straight to the couch and sat next to you. He didn’t say anything for a while until he finally turned to look at you. “What’s for breakfast?”

“I can make some eggs.” You gave him a quick peck on the lips before you went to the kitchen, preparing to make his breakfast.

On the coffee table you left the photo album which you had wrapped and added a small tag with his name on it. “Y/N? What is this?” He stared at the box as if he was expecting it to come alive and bite him.

“It’s just a little something for you. Why don’t you open it?”

George sighed and grabbed the box, moving into the kitchen with you. “I thought I said I didn’t want birthdays anymore. What happened to that promise?” At first you thought maybe he was hurt by your action but he just looked drained.

You set the uncracked eggs on the counter and put your hand over his. “I know you did but you’re 25 and I think you’ll like this one.�� When he didn’t move to open the gift, you crossed your arms over your chest. “George, humor me just this time. If you hate it and still want nothing to do with birthdays then this will be the last mention of it, I swear.”

Satisfied with your terms, George carefully tore off the paper and opened the box. “You broke my promise to get me a book?” The cover of the album was just a simple brown leather with nothing to indicate what was on the inside.

“Open the book.”

Following your instructions, George flipped open to the first page and froze. He stared at the picture while 11-year-old Fred and George smiled up at him. George didn’t move for a long time and just when you were starting to get worried, he flipped to the next page. He watched that one for a while too before he moved on to the next. He did this until he got to the last picture. He watched as Fred in the picture hugged him and he read the words written below the picture as Fred mouthed them. ‘Love ya Georgie.’

Without a word George moved next to you and wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into his chest, burying his head in your shoulder. George held you tight as sobs tore through him. “I miss him so much. I wish he was here.”

“I do too.” You rubbed his back as he continued to cry. Once his sobs finally turned into sniffles, you slowly moved his head off of your shoulder so you could look him in the eyes. “George, why don’t you want to celebrate your birthdays?”

He sighed and used his sleeve to wipe his eyes, just like Fred always did. “It feels wrong to do anything without him, especially this.” George wasn’t sure how to articulate what he was feeling for years until this moment. “We used to do everything together and I don’t know how to do anything without him.”

“Oh George.” You pulled him in for another hug, running your fingers through his hair. “Fred wouldn’t want this. He would want you to be happy and love your life and cause enough mischief for the both of you. He would want you to celebrate your birthday, not pretend it doesn’t happen.”

“I know but why does it all feel so wrong?”

“Because he’s not where you can see him. He’s here and he’s with you every day in everything you do but you can’t see him. You can’t hear his laugh and it’s horrible but George, he is here. I see him in your smile and I hear him in your jokes and not just because you’re identical. I know it’s hard but I promise you, he would want you to be happy. It’s ok to try the things you did together without him.” This time George pulled his own head away so he could look at you as you brushed the hair out of his eyes and kissed his cheek.

“I’ll try.” That was all you could ever ask of him. “Thank you for the book and for caring enough to break your promise. I love you.”

“I love you too George.” He kissed you softly and as you pulled away, you smiled. “Is it too early to invite the whole family over to celebrate?”

George smiled and nodded. “A bit. Let’s just get through this year and then we can talk about bringing everyone else.”

It would be a few years until George was ready to celebrate his birthday with everyone else again but when his mom brought out the cake and everyone sang that stupid song, he could have sworn Fred was right there with him.

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