Prompt from werewolfmcwerewolf: The Marauders gave Remus the suitcase

…..

Do your own work!" Remus rolled his eyes, trying to shield his parchment from the wandering eyes of his best friends, "It's not that hard you know!"

"Homework is always hard!" Sirius whined, burying his face in his hands, "It's like… torture!"

"You are so dramatic!"

On his other side, James also joined in with the whining. "We'll change it up! No-one will even know you helped!"

"No! You always say that, and you never do!" Remus groaned, "Eventually, the Professors are going to spot that all our work is the same!"

"You worry too much!"

"No, I worry exactly the right amount!"

James and Sirius groaned in unison, before Sirius reached over and tapped Peter on the head, startling him into yelping. "Come on Wormtail." Sirius dramatically sighed, "It looks like Professor Lupin isn't as nice as we thought!"

"Hey!"

…..

It was a nickname that stuck.

Whenever Remus got a high score, he was 'Professor Lupin'.

When he tried to stop them from exacting a particularly brutal prank on the Slytherins, he was 'Professor Lupin.'

When he held his hand up in class to answer a question, he could hear the whispers about 'Professor Lupin' to the right of him.

Remus wanted to say that he hated the nickname. It wasn't like he was ever going to be a teacher after all… not with his condition.

But he couldn't bring himself to tell them to stop.

Not when the nickname made his heart flutter just a bit.

….…

"Wake up Moony! Wake up!"

Remus groaned, pulling his covers over his head. It was a Saturday, one week after the full moon, and honestly, he just wanted to go to sleep.

"Don't growl at me Remus! Wake up!"

This was accompanied by a sharp yank at the blankets which sent Remus rolling out of bed, shivering at the sudden cold chill. With a glare on his face, he glanced up at his friends, who all smirked down at him, holding something behind their backs.

"Happy Birthday!" They all cried out in unison, beaming grins on their faces.

"Thanks guys." Remus couldn't be mad at them for too long, "But couldn't this wait until the afternoon."

"Grumpy little wolf." Sirius muttered fondly, as James nudged him in the side, as he cleared his throat, "Here."

They moved the hidden object round to the front, as Remus's eyes opened wide.

It was a suitcase. It was a very nice suitcase, but it was a suitcase, none-the-less.

"Ummmm, it's very nice?"

James and Sirius rolled their eyes, "Look a bit closer Moony."

He was handed the suitcase, prompting him to run his fingers over the supple leather, admiring how well-made it was. "It's… lovely."

"Look at the bottom corner."

Remus frowned, moving his eyes to where Sirius pointed, only for his eyes to widen in shock. There, printed onto the leather, was 'R. J. Lupin'

"We thought that when you became a real Professor, you would have something professional!" James beamed, "We wanted to put Professor R J Lupin, but it would look weird if someone found it."

"And I might not want to be a Professor."

James and Sirius turned to frown at each other, before turning the frowns onto Remus.

"Why not?" James began, "We all agree, you'll be amazing at it."

"… They might not let me be a Professor." Remus then sighed, "In fact, I know they won't."

Again, there was silence.

"Oh." Sirius winced, "You mean about your… furry little problem?"

"Nobody wouldn't let a… you know what teach children." Remus shook his head, "They just wouldn't. Forget about the fact that I'd need the days surrounding the full moon and the day itself off, what if a student gets too curious and tries to find out more… what if I snap…. What if another child is cursed the same way I was?"

The three other teens stared at him, sympathetic looks flashing across their faces, before Sirius moved to kneel in front of his friend, pushing the suitcase into his chest. "Don't give up like that." He whispered, "Anyone would be lucky to have you as a Professor."

"You really think so?"

"I know so."

…..….

Years later, as the Dementor left the train carriage and James's son collapsed to the floor, Remus couldn't help but hold onto his suitcase tightly.

Though the years hadn't been kind to it, it was still one of his most treasured possessions.

There were only two things left that reminded him of a better time… and he was determined to protect both of them.