Of Werwolves and Wizards
AN: AU from the point of "The Prank" on. Obviously, I do not own any of this. If I did, well, I'd be happy and rich wouldn't I?
Chapter 2: Poppy's Musings
It took Remus much longer than normal to dress. Potion and spells aside, he was still beat up, bloody, and scared. His body ached and cracked as he moved to pull the clothes on himself. Pomfrey had insisted that she accompany him and the others to Dumbledore's office but Remus had refused.
"Really, Madam Pomfrey, I'll be okay," he lied easily. She saw through it, but knew just as easily how between his stubbornness and pride, would not allow it.
Poppy Pomfrey always prided herself on her ability to take care of the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She cared for them as if they were all her children, but much like a real parent, she had a tendency to have favorites. She watched the retreating backs of the three young men, the one with light brown hair, his two friends at either side of him, standing closer to him than they usually would, ready to grab him should his legs give out on him. She sighed as her vision began to shimmer with tears.
She had a favorite, Remus John Lupin. For a sixteen year old, he was always so gracious and kind to all he met, even when his other friends hexed and cursed others. He was so gentle and level-headed, and brave. The poor boy did not deserve that fate had handed to him. After six years of caring for him, she never heard a complaint, and only a couple times had she heard him scream as he did this morning. He deserved so much better.
But she saw another wound form as Potter spoke to Remus. A wound that she nor any medi-wizard could ever heal. It was a wound of love and trust. She liked the Black boy well enough, since their first year when they discovered their dorm-mates condition, Black more than anyone else could lift Remus;s mood. As the years went by, she saw how once Remus had woken up, his eyes would scan for Sirius. His eyes would brighten and a smile would come when he was there, or his eyes would stare dully at the ceiling and he would try to fight a frown of disappointment if his black haired friend wasn't there. She also saw similar reactions with Black, a smile and a joke when Remus had an easy moon, or the frown of worry when it was a harder one.
She should have seen it coming, really, for someone who prided herself on her sharp eyes of seeing things, she should have seen the next natural step. It had been a few days before Christmas of last year, she had come back from her office with a potion for him, though to be honest, in the two moons before, he hadn't needed much of her help, the scars and scratches for some reason been reduced drastically. But still, just to be safe, she insisted he take the potion. As she rounded the corner, she saw something to stop her in her tracks. Black was leaning over from the chair he had dragged to the bedside, his lips kissing the other boy's softly, a hand cupping his cheek, the other hand was entangled in the werewolf's fingers.
She dropped the goblet, she could feel her mouth slightly parted as the two boys looked at her. Remus had blushed, but Black had just smiled and winked, "Don't worry Madam Pomfrey, you still have a place in my heart," he had said with his usual cocky tone. Later, as he left to get to a class, he had brushed a kiss on the forehead of the sleeping Remus.
The story repeated over the past year. When he had free period, Black would come down and hold Remus's hand, they would kiss occasionally, or Black would rub wherever Lupin was hurting.
A few months later, she wasn't sure where the words had come from, not why she found herself doing it, but suddenly, and in a low tone so Remus would stay asleep, she put a hand on Black's shoulder, he stared up at her, a challenging look in his eyes,
"Sirius, make sure you deserve him, don't hurt him," she had said, and winced after she had said it. She expected another cocky grin and answer, some wisecrack. Instead, his face softened and looked at Remus, "I'll never deserve him. I'm too..." but the words trailed off and he shrugged his shoulders, "But I'll never hurt him," he gave her a sad smile and walked slowly to the door of the wing.
She felt a flash of anger, thinking back to those words, "I'll never hurt him," and she had believed it. No, Sirius Orion Black did not deserve Remus Lupin she thought, and now Black had hurt Remus. This was out of her hands she knew, but the look of hurt and betrayal she had seen in Remus Lupin's eyes was something she would never forget.