Drabblefic #5: Remus and James, "Book Learning"

[gilpin25]

Two more to go; will I get one anywhere near actual drabble length? Place your bets, most likely on no way, lol. This is for katyscarlett76, who wanted Remus, James and a book. The other two are there as well and it's 724 words, PGish...

Comments

[duck_or_rabbit]

LOL, love it when one of the other two are there as well. I'll give this a read later; currently on my end Dora is trying to sort out Remus in 100 words or less. :)

Can't wait to read!

EDIT: OK, I'm back.

This touched me. You paired up the boys in a really original way; the fic read to me as a study in two sets of friendships: James and Remus', and Sirius and Peter's. (Peter's line, “There’s a library of books at Hogwarts” struck me as perfect; it was out of rhythm with his three friends, and therefore so Peter.)

Your characterization of James really stands out because I would imagine it being difficult to give after getting so easily. Always imagined James as very posh. He admitting it's awkward because he doesn't naturally know how to go about giving is insightful, and it sets up the wonderfully endearing moment for him to want to get the book for Remus, for himself.

Once again, a wonderful scene with these four three noble prats. I admit to listening to the song "La meme histoire" as I read it, which is a melancholy tune,

[gilpin25]

Glad you liked and thanks for the (as ever) insightful comments.

the fic read to me as a study in two sets of friendships: James and Remus', and Sirius and Peter's.

That's where I was trying to go. I thought you don't often see that split, unless I'm reading the wrong fanfics, and I'm quite taken with the idea of Peter tagging along after Sirius (leaving Sirius half amused, half irritated the whole time). Meanwhile, James and Remus are getting along in a way not a million miles from how Harry and Remus do years later. There seems a lot to say about their friendship to me.

Always imagined James as very posh.Very public school boy to me so, yes, indeed - posh, and arrogant, and thoughtless, because he's always had everything without having to work for it or stop to appreciate others that do. (If you dated Remus, I once dated James;)) But the capacity's there to be so much more and, far be it from me to gripe about DH yet again, but I wish he and Lily could have had a moment that showed that. Ah well

[sspring92]

Love to see the Marauders together and the dynamics of the group. I think you have captured them all very well! Thanks for posting!

[gilpin25]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the nice comment! I enjoy writing the Marauders so much, the trouble is I get too carried away for drabbles, lol.

[philotic_net]

That was really well written. Each individual personality really shines through. James was just beautiful. I wish Remus had allowed him to purchase the book. What a lovely momento of their friendship it would be. Or Perhaps years later Remus walks arm and arm with Tonks down a snowy street and sees an old copy in a booksellers window and thinks of his friend. I am getting all teary eyed and nostalgic for things that didn't happen. Time to put the fanfiction down, kathleen!

[gilpin25]

Thank you very much; I really like writing Remus and James as there seems so much to say about their friendship.

I wish Remus had allowed him to purchase the book. Time to put the fanfiction down, Kathleen!

LOL. I don't know if it makes it worse or better if I tell you that in my head James does buy it for him at a later date. As I was writing it, I was thinking it would make a much longer fic, whereby I'd start with another scene where he's looking at the book again. Only this time it's Tonks who's put it down in front of him, having read the inscription inside which relates to where their own relationship is at... All of which explains why I am hopeless at short drabbles!

Many thanks again.:D

[mrstater]

To bare his soul out loud he’s not sure he can ever do, unless it’s to someone who is something of a rarity or myth themselves and can therefore truly understand.

I love how you always manage to slip Tonks into Marauder-era Remus fics. ;)

This is such a lovely piece with such a wonderful glimpse into Remus' and James' friendship, which so often seems neglected for James and Sirius, or Remus and Sirius. I wish James had bought the book, mainly because I want to read it! The last line is perfect, and I can just imagine this Harry look-alike blundering it out with all that teenaged awkwardness.

[gilpin25]

I love how you always manage to slip Tonks into Marauder-era Remus fics. ;)

Subtle as an R/T brick, that's me. ;)

Thank you for such nice comments! Does it make it better if I say that as I was writing it I was thinking that it would make a much longer fic, whereby I start off with the book in front of him again, only this time it's Tonks returning it to him and she's read the inscription inside from the person who gave it to him, years later than this... This is why I'm hopeless at drabbles, lol.

Glad you enjoyed it, DLF. ;) I really like writing Remus and James as there seems so much to say.

[mrstater]

Does it make it better if I say that as I was writing it I was thinking that it would make a much longer fic, whereby I start off with the book in front of him again, only this time it's Tonks returning it to him and she's read the inscription inside from the person who gave it to him, years later than this...

Well you know I'd never complain about seeing another R/T fic...

[gilpin25]

I would. At least till I've got the outstanding ones done! ;)

[katyhasclogs]

Oh, I so wish he would let James buy it for him! I can totally identify with James here (quite a new experience, I can tell you), it's so agonising when you have friends with less money than you, and you know there's something they'd really like but can't afford, and you could afford it, and you so want to buy it for them but you know they'd never accept it. I never know what to do for the best in those situations and it makes me sad.

I thought this was really excellent, especially the characterisation - the way that James has hidden depths and Peter completely misses th point and Remus being so stubbornly self-sufficient.

Oh, and I loved the book title, and now I want to read it. :)

[gilpin25]

Does it help if I say that, in my head, James sees the book again a few years later and, having learnt a bit more by then, gets it for him. And Remus has learnt a bit more too by then, so accepts it! (Albeit protestingly;))

I never know what to do for the best in those situations and it makes me sad.

As someone who has been in both positions myself - being the one with the money and not - it is one of those horrible dilemnas. You so want to help, but you so want to do it without offending or embarrassing the person concerned. I'm not sure 'sensitive' would be James' middle name as the arrogant and sometimes cruel teenage boy we see in the books, but he spent three years finding a way to help Remus so I think Harry's kindness and loyalty are in there, even if he wouldn't know the best way to go about it here. But then I'm not sure there is a 'best way'!

Very glad you liked this, thank you for such nice comments, and I got the idea for the title of the book from a crossword clue, where the answer was 'misconception'... ;)