Author's Note: Another chapter, this one rather difficult to write for some reason. -shrug- Meh, I got it out...
Not much to say... Thanks for all the reviews, again, I really appreciate them! And a special thanks to DecemberDrops for some good advice.
And now I have to go write some more, excuse me...
Disclaimer: Still no owning of "Harry Potter" here...
8. Reunion
On Sunday, the weather turned cold again, and the greying skies hinted that more snow was to come. The Christmas spirit was starting to set in, as well, seeing as there were only five more days of classes until the holidays. Professor Flitwick had charmed his classroom so that a fluffy snow fell from the ceiling all day, but evaporated right over the students' heads. Eight grand pines had been erected in the Great Hall, each decorated beautifully with live, shimmering fairies and long strands of tinsel.
The most noticable change in the castle, though, was in the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Some of the students had realized that Thoreau had been acting odd for a couple of weeks, and the sudden shift back into her serene self was rather unnerving. These initial feelings melted away, though, once they realized that they would be practicing Patronus charms in the last few days before vacation.
"Finally, a spell I can do with no problem, all thanks to the D.A.," Neville Longbottom said to Harry as they left Defense Against the Dark Arts the day of the announcement. Harry forced a smile and nodded in agreement; it was true that the Patronus was a spell he had come to be quite familiar with and was very adept at casting, but it made him think too much of Lupin. After all, the Marauder had been the first one to teach it to Harry in his third year.
Lupin - according to Dumbledore, who gave Harry updates as much as he could - was still showing no signs of awaking from his coma. Harry often wondered why Dumbledore didn't transfer him to St. Mungo's, but when he asked Dumbledore merely said, "It wouldn't be prudent. Besides, Poppy is qualified enough to watch over Remus while he is here."
Harry had tried to visit Lupin quite a few times in the week following the incident with Voldemort, but he just couldn't muster up the courage to actually go through with it. He sometimes found himself just standing outside the door leading into the hospital wing, staring at the handle as though willing it to open of its own accord and let him in. Other times he would walk around the halls near the hospital wing, passing the door over and over and each time thinking to himself that he would enter the next time he passed; he never did.
Ron caught him doing this on the last day of classes, a Friday, and the sixth day after Lupin had been saved.
"Oh, go on, mate. Go in and see him," Ron urged rather nervously, standing beside Harry, who was now staring at the closed door before him. Ron and Hermione had visitted their ex-professor that Tuesday, and Harry had been so frustrated when they had returned - Hermione's eyes red and watery - that he hadn't spoken to them all day.
"I'm doing it today," Harry said harshly. He was glaring, but not at Ron; it was the door - that stupid door which was still refusing to open for him - that was making him angry.
"Harry -" Ron began, but Harry didn't want to hear any more. He took in a deep breath, took three steps up to the door, and pushed it open. Leaving Ron speechless behind him, Harry entered the hospital wing at last and shut the door behind him with a solid thud.
The room was bright and clean, the midday sun shining merrily through the tall windows and illuminating the large hall with blissful ignorance to Harry's current mood.
Long white drapes had been pulled around a bed in the far left corner of the room, and Harry knew without a doubt that Lupin was behind them. He gulped and trudged forward, trying not to think himself out of the visit. He was determined to spend at least a little time with the werewolf, no matter what.
Madam Pomfrey noticed him just as he approached the curtains and walked over, smiling sadly.
"Are you here to visit Remus, my dear?" Harry nodded mutely, and Madam Pomfrey pulled back the drapes with one hand. "Take your time."
"Thanks," Harry muttered, then walked through the opening, the drapes falling back into place behind him. He barely noticed, though; his gaze was locked on Lupin's motionless figure, lying in the solitary bed in the corner. As Harry watched, he could see him breathing, his chest rising and falling steadily. Harry hesitantly made his way over to a chair that someone had placed by the bedside and sat on the very edge, still watching the older wizard.
"Er... Remus?" Harry said quietly, feeling awkward as soon as Lupin's first name reached his lips. There was no reaction; he hadn't really expected one, but it made his stomach clench to be so ignored. He swallowed dryly and continued. "Umm... listen, it's been really hard for me to get myself to come here, but I just want to say that I'm sorry." Harry guiltily felt a lump begin to rise in his throat, and his eyes started to prickle with threatening tears. "I feel terrible. I mean, to see you here, like this..." His voice trailed off. Harry bit his lip and took Lupin's limp hand; it was cold. "Please wake up soon," he pleaded quietly, hoping that Madam Pomfrey wasn't listening in. "I don't think I can take this for much longer. I - we - need you to fight this thing and beat it as soon as you can."
"Harry?" Harry jumped to his feet, spinning round to face Dumbledore, who had just joined him.
"Professor! I - what are you doing here?"
"Well, I would have assume that to be obvious," Dumbledore said with a slight smile, "but judging by your flustered appearance I think it will suffice to say that I am here to visit Remus." Harry flushed.
"Yeah. Right." Dumbledore chuckled and glided over to Lupin's side, looking down at him affectionately.
"There is no need to be embarassed," he said softly. "I talk to him every time I visit." Harry didn't reply, still mildly uncomfortable with the situation. The Headmaster didn't seem to mind the silence; he lifted a single aged hand and passed it over Lupin's face, his fingers glowing slightly. Harry opened his mouth, about to ask what Dumbledore had just done, when the Headmaster turned to face him, smiling.
"Good news!" he said brightly. "Remus is coming to, and it looks like he'll be just fine." Harry blinked at this sudden announcement.
"He... he's waking up?"
"That's right."
"... Now?" Dumbledore shook his head, still smiling.
"No, but soon." He laid a gentle hand on Lupin's shoulder. "You see, Harry, I have been testing his mind every day since he was bitten and today is the clearest it has been by far. I would be willing to guess that he'll be up and about by Christmas, at the latest."
Harry felt as though someone had just lifted a great cinder-block from his shoulders, and it took everything he had to refrain from throwing himself on his Headmaster in joy.
-----
Harry, Ron, and Hermione visitted Lupin every day after that, hoping to be there when he woke. They were some of the few students still left at Hogwarts after the start of the holidays, and were only joined in the Gryffindor dorms by Ginny, Fred, and George.
Finally, on Christmas Eve, they walked into the hospital wing together and were shocked to see a rather large group of people clustered around Lupin's bed.
"Ron! Harry, Hermione, my dears, how are you?" Before he knew it, Harry was caught up into an enormous hug by Mrs. Weasley, squished against her ample bosom along with Ron and Hermione.
"Mum - choking - cut it - out -" Ron gasped.
"Sorry, sorry!" Mrs. Weasley let them go, practically bouncing with excitement. "I'm just so... oh, it's just so wonderful to see you all!" Harry smiled at her, rubbing his ribs.
"It's great to see you, too, Mrs. Weasley, but why -"
His voice trailed off as he caught sight of what - or rather, whom - everyone was circled around across the room.
Lupin smiled tiredly from where he was sitting on the side of his bed.
"Hello, Harry."
Harry hadn't even realized he was running until he had thrown himself into the Marauder's arms, burying his head into Lupin's shoulder unashamedly. He was clinging to him with all his strength, almost afraid that if he didn't hold on tight enough, Lupin would disappear again. The elder was surprised by the affection at first, but then he wrapped his arms around Harry, resting his chin in the untidy black hair and closing his eyes...
... before two more bodies barrelling into him announced the arrival of the rest of the trio.
-----
Albus Dumbledore watched Lupin get buried by his ex-students with a smile.
"It's good to have him back," Professor McGonagall said softly from beside him. Dumbledore blinked and glanced at her, surprised to see tears in her eyes.
"Minerva, are you all right?" he asked. She sniffled and waved a hand at him, wiping her tears away with a smile.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I just never realized how much Remus really meant to all of us. And now, seeing that," Professor McGonagall gestured toward where the three friends appeared to be attached to Lupin, "I'm just wondering why he really had to leave Hogwarts. He was so good with the students, Albus."
"You forget that it was his own decision to leave," Arthur Weasley piped up from Dumbledore's other side, grinning at the happy reunion before them.
"Oh yes," Professor McGonagall murmured absently. Dumbledore chuckled.
"Come," he said quietly, turning toward the door. "Let's leave them to privacy."
-----
Harry felt as though something soft and fuzzy had wormed its way into his abdomen. He felt so warm, so safe, in Lupin's embrace and underneath the solid bodies of his two best friends. He never wanted this happy moment to end, never wanted to go back to fighting Death Eaters and Voldemort, forced to sacrifice friends and loved ones for the sake of some great battle. He wanted to capture the feeling of euphoria wriggling in his stomach and keep it forever.
Author's Note: I don't know why that was so hard for me to write. I guess I just really wanted to capture the emotion, or maybe I'm just not good at happy, mushy goodness. Who knows? Oh well, it's over now! Comment please, love ya!
