Disclaimer (after the fifth chapter I think I'll stop doing these): I do not own Harry Potter or anything associated with J.K Rowling; I merely toy with her creation for my own enjoyment. Thank you and please enjoy.
Chapter Three
The air had begun to chill before Catherine was able to talk to Remus. He was actually quite skilled at hiding from her, though she supposed it was only because he knew almost everything about her. It must've been easy for him to tweak his daily routine so they wouldn't accidentally cross in the hallways; they didn't have many classes together, either, so that made it even easier for him to keep his distance.
Her chance came about one day in the library. She was perusing the shelves in search of a book detailing the history of Hogwarts, just for a bit of light reading, when she happened upon him. He was sitting at their usual table with a textbook before him. He was laughing and smiling with Amanda Bayne, a seventh year Hufflepuff.
A surge of jealousy and anger filled Catherine, though she quelled it as soon as she realized she was being ridiculous. Remus had a right to talk to whomever he pleased and she shouldn't try to think otherwise. Besides, he looked like he was enjoying himself. She hadn't seen him smile like that since…well, since before this stupid werewolf business almost six weeks ago.
"Remus," she greeted when his eyes landed on her. She noticed his eyes go wide and he paled considerably, the flush of joy gone from his face.
"Catherine," he replied with a gentle tilt of his head in her direction. Then he turned back to his book, hiding his troubles in the pages. Catherine gave an indignant huff before walking off, book tucked under her arm.
She walked a short distance away to a table and sat down, opening her book and beginning to read. Well, she tried to at least. She kept sneaking glances at Remus and Amanda, jealousy spiking once again as she saw them laughing and joking. They used to laugh and joke around. Had she really been so easily replaced?
After over fourteen years of friendship, he was just going to let it end? He was going to forget everything, just like that? The times when he cried because the children in their village teased him, and she had to console him; the time when they discovered the caves on the far end of the village and made it their hideout; he was just going to forget it all? Forget about her?
Well, she had news for him. If he was going to just ignore her and ruin a friendship over something so…trivial, then she was going to say a few words about it. He knew her well enough to know that she didn't walk away from something that easily.
She closed her book and marched back over to them, slamming her hands on the table to get his attention. He looked at her with harsh grey eyes and Catherine almost lost her nerve. Almost. She could be just as stubborn.
"You're an arse, you know that?" She snapped. "I find out your little secret and now you want to forget years of friendship? Well, I've got news for you Remus J. Lupin.
"I'm not going to forget a single thing we did together. You make me so angry, Remus! I want to hit you and hope you feel at least a fraction of what I'm feeling." He averted his eyes and Catherine snapped her fingers, which brought his eyes back to her. "At least have the courtesy to look at me, you git!"
"Why are you yelling at me?" He stood suddenly, towering over her. He appeared angry, but to Catherine's eyes she saw the misery lurking in his gaze.
"Because you're being an idiot!" Catherine spluttered as she waved her arms uselessly. "You've been ignoring me for almost two months, Remus! Then I finally see you and I find you replacing me with Amanda Bayne! As if I never existed and it was her those fourteen years!"
"Oh, so I suppose all of this is my fault." He sniffed irritably. "You were the one who ran away!"
"Because you were going to attack me!" She pushed his shoulders and he stumbled back into the table. "Or were you so far gone that you forgot?"
"It's not like I have any control over what I'm doing!" He replied indignantly. "You've heard the stories; you should've known!"
"Well, what would you have had me do? Sit there and let you tear me to pieces?" She stomped her foot, clenching her fists to keep from hitting him. "Then you'd feel even worse about your condition!"
"Stop treating it like it's a sickness!" He pushed her then, perhaps a little too roughly. She stumbled into a bookshelf, glaring heatedly at him. Remus looked stricken with guilt as he moved to make sure she was okay, but she fled the room before he could.
Remus had never, ever, gotten physical with her, and they'd had their share of arguments. He'd never laid a hand on her and to have him do it now was just another betrayal. It proved to her how little she meant to him. If he wanted to end their friendship, then she would abide by his wishes.
If he wanted to forget her, then she would do her best to forget him.
A/N: …I ruined Remus's character, didn't I? Muahaha, I found a way around the site issue thanks to the forums! Just replace the property in the URL bar with content and it works great.
