Chapter Twelve: Obvious Secrets

"Why in the name of Merlin did you have to go and mention School, Moony? Now, we're gonna have to do homework!"

Remus rolled his eyes as Peter continued to complain. He glanced sideways at James, who looked just as irritated and shook his head in exasperation. Across from him, Sirius was sitting in an oversized armchair, looking to be in deep thought. Remus surmised that, unlike Peter, Sirius must have realized that he and James were planning something and kept quiet.

"Oh, honestly, Peter," Lily sighed in annoyance. "Shut up. You should be grateful of the fact that Remus grows up to be a great person willing to go out of his way for the happiness of others. Do you really want to be cooped up in this small house for the rest of the time we're here?"

"If it gets me out of homework," Peter grumbled in reply.

"Professor Dumbledore could still say 'no,' you know," Hermione said, briefly glancing up from her book (Remus didn't fail to notice Ron smirking affectionately at the action), obviously trying for an answer that would satisfy both parties. "Remus isn't back yet, so you don't have a for sure answer."

Lily nodded stiffly and went back to her own book, but Peter wouldn't let it go, instead starting to list off reasons why it would be better to stay at the house.

Remus shook his head again, glancing to his left, where Harry was quietly sitting. He frowned in concern at the paleness on the younger boy's face and at the way he flinched every so often. With a jolt, Remus suddenly realized why Harry was flinching. Peter's voice was quite alike to his Animagus counter-part; high and squeaky. Not something a new heightened sense of hearing should be affronted with. Poor Harry was too polite to say anything.

"Peter."

"—and we'll probably get detentions all over the place—"

"Peter."

"—Oh, and let's not forget that it's probably homework we've already done, seeing as it was the middle of November back in our ti—"

"Peter!"

"What?" Peter asked, finally relenting on his complaining at Remus's shout (to which Remus would have to apologize to Harry about later, as the boy had nearly jumped out of his skin and grabbed onto his ears).

"Just give it a rest, okay?" Remus replied quietly, nodding his head slightly in Harry's direction.

Peter looked confused for a moment, but then realization dawned on his face and he blushed, "S-sorry, Harry. I forgot."

"I-It's okay," Harry said very quietly, as he smiled reassuringly at Peter. Remus suspected Harry's own voice might have even caused his ears and head pain.

"You'll get used to it over time," said Remus, grinning apologetically in Harry's direction.

Harry nodded and the group lapsed into silence until the sound of the front door opening and closing distracted them. A moment later Lupin came into the room, wearing a weary expression.

"Well?" Lily prompted as Lupin took a seat in an empty armchair. "What did he say?"

"He said you lot could go, provided you're under Glamour Charms," Lupin replied, smiling slightly in amusement as James, Remus, and Lily jumped up and celebrated with a collective "YES!"

Harry groaned and shoved a pillow over his head.

"Oh, sorry," Lily gasped, covering her mouth quickly. "Sorry, Harry." Harry's eyes were screwed tightly shut, but he nodded in acceptance of her apology. Lily glanced toward James, a thoughtful look on her face, "I didn't think you got so excited over school, Potter."

"Oh," James blushed, his hand flying to the back of his head. Halfway there, he seemed to think better of it, and stuffed his hands in his pockets instead. "You know… just… well, I'm never going to get anywhere in life if I don't learn how to do stuff properly, right?"

Lily paused for a moment to take in James's words and then, for the first time in her life, gave him a brilliant, genuine, smile, "You know, James, I'm starting to see why Dumbledore named you Head Boy this year – er, I mean, in our time anyway."

Remus laughed at the dopey grin that spread itself across James's face as Lily said these words and couldn't help but glance over at Harry. He had an odd, slightly weirded out expression on his face.

"Th-Thank you, Lily," James stuttered, earning another smile from the object of his affection.

"But, wait," Hermione said, frowning in concern.

"What's the matter, Hermione?" Lupin asked gently.

"Well," Hermione began and Remus held his breath in anticipation of her words. Was she about to poke holes in their plan? He glanced at James and the expression on his face indicated that he was thinking along the same lines. "If they go to Hogwarts with us, then… Well, you'll be here all alone."

"Well, not exactly," Lupin said, an I-Know-Something-That-You-Don't grin on his face, as Remus released the breath he had been holding.

"Why?" Ron asked in a joking tone of voice. "You and Tonks finally moving in together? Cut the sexual tension?"

"No," Lupin said, smacking Ron on the back of the head as the red-headed boy laughed uncontrollably.

Remus glanced at Sirius and noticed that he looked just as uncomfortable with the new topic as he felt, "You do realize that, in our time, 'Dora is only five years-old? I'd rather not think of one my best friends as a pedophile, thank you."

"I was going to say," Lupin said loudly over Ron's laughter, "that Dumbledore offered the Defense Against the Dark Arts position back to me."

There was utter silence at this announcement and even Harry, who had been stuffed under a large pillow, stared at Lupin in incredulous hope.

"You said yes, didn't you?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione said at the same time and Remus found it slightly offending that they seemed to have very little hope in the fact that his older self would accept the offered position despite saying just that morning that he had loved the job.

Lupin, however, seemed to have expected this answer and replied with a kind smile, "Well, I put a few good excuses up at first, but… yes, I said 'yes.'"

The explosion that rocked the house after that announcement could rival a canon blast. Harry (who was quite obviously trying very hard to ignore his pain), Ron, and Hermione all screamed in joy, jumped up from their respected seats, and all but tackled Lupin in a group hug. The Marauders and Lily all laughed when the chair Lupin was occupying toppled over backwards with the force of momentum caused by the three excited teenagers.

"All right, All right," Lupin laughed as Harry, Ron, and Hermione untangled themselves from him and he struggled to pull himself up. "Well, I didn't know I was so popular."

"Are you kidding?" Ron gaped incredulously. "We've been trying to tell you that for years."

"We'll finally have someone who knows what they're doing again," Hermione said, who seemed to have a permanent grin on her face.

"Everyone will be thrilled when they hear you're back," Harry said quietly, smiling at Lupin excitedly.

Lupin smiled, "Not everyone I think, but I appreciate the sentiments anyway. We're leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow, so you'll want to pack your things tonight."

"Tomorrow?" Lily asked, frowning. "But tomorrow is August 31st, why—"

"So, you can get your Glamour Charms," Lupin said quickly. Remus and James glanced quickly at each recognizing this as half a lie, but Lupin continued. "I can perform basic Glamours, but they won't last very long and I'm afraid that what you'll need only Dumbledore will be able to do. It wouldn't do to go to Platform 9 ¾ as your present selves."

"You know," Lily said slowly, frowning, "you make it sound as if people would freak out if they see us."

"Well, how many time travelers have you met on the Hogwarts Express lately?" Lupin replied, but it was quite obvious that he was looking anywhere but at the Marauders and Lily.

Lily, however, seemed to have not noticed this and flushed with embarrassment at Lupin's sarcastic reply, "Well, no one, but… well, you're just acting very odd about the whole thing, that's all."

"I'm sorry," Lupin said quietly, staring at the floor, and this statement Remus recognized as the truth. When he finally looked up at the Marauders and Lily, his expression was closed, "Since you don't have anything with you that you need to pack, everything you'll need will be at Hogwarts when we get there, so you can just go up and help Harry, Ron, and Hermione with their packing, if you want."

And as Lupin excused himself from the group and disappeared into the kitchen, the Marauders, Lily, Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way upstairs. Lily and Hermione separated from the larger group and entered the nursery where they were staying and the Marauders, Harry, and Ron entered their own bedroom. Harry and Ron went over to their separate trunks and started throwing their belongings into haphazardly into their trunks.

Looking around at his friends, Remus noticed James, Sirius, and Peter all giving him an odd pride-like smile, "What?"

"You really should have been a dad, Moony," Sirius replied, clapping him on the back.

"You'd have been great at it, mate," Peter said and he and Sirius went off to help Ron and Harry with their things.

Flustered, Remus turned to James who had remained silent, but still had a proud, yet sad smile on his face. James seemed to struggle silently for a moment, but then spoke quietly, "I'm glad you're here for him, Moony, and that you're looking out for him. I just hope Sirius and Peter are still around too."

Remus opened his mouth to reply, but shut it again quickly, finding his throat oddly tight. He shook his head and smiled back at James sadly. Moving simultaneously, he and James both moved forward and silently began to help the others with their packing.

Ness: This chapter is a bit longer than they've been lately, I think. I put a lot of thought into this chapter. I have no idea why, seeing as it's basically filler, but I really like it and I hope you lot do too. Thanks to all the reviewers! And please, if you favorite, review as well. Thank you!