BAD TIMING

PART 9

The library was quiet and dark. Remus looked between his list and the shelves.

"Strange Things In Strange Locations, Vol. 4."

Volume 1 was in, and so was 2, 3 and... 5.

Sigh. Typical. He moved on to the next book he was after.

"Weird Stuff In Weird Places, Vol. 2."

Volume 1 was in, as was 3, 4 and 5.

Everytime! He tried his luck with Odd Stuff And How To Catch Them, volumes 6 and 8. But of course, all volumes were in except those two.

It was so frustrating, so frustrating in fact it was like...

Hell.

He froze. Was he having that terrible dream again? He couldn't be, or there'd be growling sounds and panorama windows, but he pinched himself just to be sure.

He heard something, a swishy kind of sound, like that of a cape being turned to use and overused simile. He dreaded to turn.

"Hello," said a deep, booming voice.

Oh thank God, it wasn't that terrible dream after all! Giving a sigh of relief, Remus turned to face the mystery person which turned out to be the Grim Reaper.

"Hi," he replied.

But, if he was honest, he was still a wee bit scared of the Grim Reaper. He was freakishly tall and hooded, so there was no reading his hollow eye sockets.

"You're time has not yet come," said the Grim Reaper.

"Then why am I in hell?"

"Because there's no salvation for werewolves, obviously. However, you're time to be one of Lucifer's wicked minions has not yet come. Currently you're life is hanging by a thread. I'll return you to the world of the living on one condition."

"What condition?"

"You must show true bravery. And no, that does not mean to poke your head in wardrobes and pretend it's something else. Nor does it mean to kill a dark wizard. It does not mean to expose yourself to some pretend-anxiety and think happy thoughts."

Mind blowing stuff.

"Then, what does it mean?"

"It means do do what is truly difficult, risking what is truly important, because it's right."

Oh crud. At least he was willing to clarify a bit.

"If I consider my life truly important-"

"Then you'd be unbeliavably selfish. No, it does not mean to sacrifice your life either, because you'd just like it."

Not really, knowing what his afterlife entailed now. Yet, it seemed so unfair. Sirius got such an easier task! This task, the way it was phrased and what it implied, would be diffifult for anyone!

"Well, his father owns the underworld after all," said Grim Reaper, mind reading. "And also, consider yourself specia.l"

Then he snapped his fingers.