Just saw Prisoner of Azkaban! It more than makes up for the atrocity that were the first two films...and I don't own Harry Potter.
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Ch. 11: A Clap of Thunder
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The sound of a tapping spoon on a plate was more than drowned out over the uproar of the Great Hall, but Remus heard it. Each tap sent the same question through his brain like a ray of sunlight...or moonlight. As he glanced over at the slender hand that held the spoon as it tapped endlessly against the untouched plate, he wondered again at the thought.
What is wrong with Aya?
He had never seen her eyes glitter maliciously in such a way, or how her lips were drawn into a tight line as she read, or pretended to read, Chapterhouse: Dune. As he glanced at the page again, he sighed. Still on page 36 for the past twenty minutes. He sighed, wanting desperately to see her smile again.
"Aya, you haven't touched a thing. Eat something, would you?" Lily said gently, glancing mournfully at the girl.
"I'm not hungry," Aya answered, not looking up.
"That's what you said at dinner last night. You've got to be starving," James chimed in, leaning forward. Remus noted a gleam of concern in his friend's eyes.
"I said I'm not hungry," Aya replied, her expression grim as she stood, straightening her robe.
"Where are you going?" Remus couldn't help but ask.
"Avoiding a crowd," she replied as she walked briskly out of the Great Hall.
"You need to do something about her, Remus. There's something not right," Lily said quietly, watching the girl go.
##
Aya would have broken into a run once she had shut the Great Hall's doors behind her, but decided to slow to a walk. She was feeling queasy and light-headed, but she shrugged it off without a second thought. Feeling hatred was one thing, but feeling horrible at the way she acted towards her friends was another thing altogether. Sighing heavily, she rounded a corner to come face to face with McGonagall.
"Professor!" she gasped, taking a step back.
"Ah, just the person I wanted to see. Would you come with me to my classroom, please? I want a word with you," McGonagall said quickly, motioning for the girl to follow her with a wave of her hand.
At a loss, Aya followed silently as she rounded another corner and followed McGonagall inside her classroom. As the Professor shut the door behind her, Aya leaned against a desk, catching her breath as McGonagall passed her quickly to make her way towards her desk.
Turning on the soles of her feet, McGonagall faced Aya with a steady gaze, marking how tired the girl looked. Almost like when I came to see her in the Hospital all those years ago...how old was she then? Too young, for all that she saw. It was a miracle she got out of there alive...
After a long silence, Aya said quietly, "You wanted a word with me, Professor?"
Quickly shutting off any surfacing memories, McGonagall cleared her throat before she said, "Oh...right. It's about your attendance in class these past few days...and not just my class, or really outside of the classroom as well. You're quieter than usual, and I find that you're not paying attention. What's wrong?"
"I'm fine, Professor...truly, I am."
"If there's one thing I detest in this world, Ms. Centaria," McGonagall said tartly, her eyes sparkling with rage, "it's when I am lied to, especially by one so honest as you. Don't lie to me, girl. Their very presence here is driving you sick, and we both know it."
"I'm...sorry."
"Sorry? Sorry! Enough of this, Aya. I've known you long enough for me to be able to tell when something's wrong with you. I know it's...it's those...people...here. I don't know what they did to you at that school, but I can just guess that they hate you for bloody knows what! Tell me what's going on. Now."
For a moment, Aya could feel herself beginning to reveal everything, but bit the inside of her cheek instead, clenching her fist. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Professor," she replied slowly, "but I'm afraid you're wrong this time."
##
Potions. The one class Remus Lupin detested above all else. For one thing, the dungeon itself was creepy enough, but the stench of rotting ingredients would drive anyone away; for a werewolf's keen sense of smell, it was truly maddening.
But one thing did truly brighten his demeanor as he spotted Aya making her way over to him through the mob of students from the entrance. He held back a smile as he went over to meet her. "You okay, now?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Come on, let's get a seat," she said, grasping his hand, then stopped dead in her tracks. Oh, please, no.
"Why, hello, Ms. Aya!" Dolores Umbridge said cheerily, waving her hand as she sat in Aya's usual seat, her usual clipboard and quill pen lain daintily on the table in front of her.
Instinctively, Aya gripped Remus' hand, her pulse quickening. Don't lose it, Aya...please don't lose it, she thought desperately. Sensing her distress, Remus returned the hand squeeze.
"Oh, and who's your...er...friend?" Umbridge asked, her eyes glittering. "Didn't know you had any friends at all. You were always such a loner at Llitesat."
"This is Remus Lupin," Aya replied through gritted teeth, cutting the woman off. Remus decided not to ask the foul woman for a handshake as he nodded curtly.
"Take my seat, Aya," he whispered in her ear. Shaking her head, she made to move off to another seat when Umbridge interrupted her.
"Sit here, Aya," she said sweetly, patting the chair next to her. Remus' chair, Aya thought angrily.
"No, but I'm afraid that's Remus' chair. I'll just take this one over here."
"Sit, Aya. Now," Umbridge hissed, her voice poisonous to the ear.
"I'm...sorry, Remus," Aya whispered unhappily as she sat down with an obvious effort next to the woman. Sighing heavily, Remus chose a seat behind the two, his wand held at the ready.
##
"Bitch of a woman!" Remus roared, kicking at the ground.
"Remus, stop it," Aya said, her arms crossed. The autumn wind pulled at her black air, twirling it behind her effortlessly. She shivered at its bitterness, her bare feet gripping at the soil.
"She should be the one to stop it! That...that...foul...piece of shit!" he howled, punching a nearby tree, then wished he hadn't as he drew his aching fist into his mouth. "What a bitch!" he continued through a mouthful of fist. "Calling you names, and sneering at you the whole time in front of everyone! And then she dares to threaten me when I snapped at her! And the teachers can't do a thing to her because she's the Ministry's...damnable pet!"
"Remus, hush now," Aya whispered, stroking his cheek. "Don't say such things."
"Ha, this is ironic," he said bitterly, clutching at her hand. "Here you are comforting me." He sighed, then drew her into an embrace. "I suggest you take back that comment about who's the 'stronger' from the other night," he whispered through her hair.
The memory of that secret room and what occured there drove a pleasant tingle through them both as they sat down together under the giant tree, hiding from the other students who enjoyed the outdoors after class hours.
"Did you check the lunar calendar?" Remus asked as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"The twenty-eighth," she replied with a shiver.
"Oh," he said unhappily. "I don't know why I asked that."
"Neither do I," she said with a giggle, kissing him on the cheek. "Curiosity, perhaps?"
"Are you going to tell me why you've been acting so...odd lately? Why those Umbridge women hate you so? That Amelia Umbridge keeps making snide remarks about you to the other teachers," he asked, feeling his anger rising.
"Not really, no," she replied with a sigh. "If I told you, I would most likely lose it."
"Why not?" he asked unhappily, placing his chin on top of her head.
"I don't feel like it."
"In secret then?" he asked.
"What?"
"Like last time. I had my secret to tell you...we could do it again, or when there's not so many people around," he said quickly. "Come on...you know you liked doing that. Sneaking out in the middle of the night."
"I'll...think about it later, Remus," she replied with a heavy sigh. "Right now I don't want to think about it." She yawned.
"Tired?" he asked with a glance down at her. She nodded as she gazed towards the Forbidden Forest.
There was a long pause.
"Remus?" she asked quietly, glancing around to make sure no one was within earshot. "Do you think it's true...what studies have shown about...people like us?"
"What do they say?" he asked.
"That...we're attracted to those of our own...kind...on a full moon?"
The thought nearly stopped him from further speech as realization came over him. "You mean, like, we don't try to kill each other?"
She nodded.
"I think it's true. I never did much research about it, though," he replied. "Why ask?"
"I was...just curious...to see if we could..." her voice trailed off.
"Get...together? On a full moon?" he finished for her.
"Yeah," she breathed, her eyes narrowing. "It's stupid. Forget I said anything."
"No...wait...we could...try it out," he said slowly.
"And risk killing each other? No thanks," she replied bitterly, snuggling a little closer against him.
"No, Aya. I think we should try it," he said suddenly, wrapping his arms around her. "The Marauders and I go about on a full moon together, and they're all animagus. I think it would work for us!"
"And if it doesn't? What then? I certainly don't want to be responsible for your death."
"Who's to say you would win?" he replied playfully, chuckling. "I'm the guy here. Naturally, I would be the victor!" He tickled her, laughing hysterically.
"H-hey!" she gasped out, giggling. "S-stop that! Stop it, I say! T- that...t-that tickles! Ahaha...stop it!" She smiled ruefully as she tried in vain to push him away.
"Ah, who's the champion now?" he asked as he pushed her back. "I told you I'd win!"
"No, you don't!" she cried with a laugh, pushing against him, trying to avoid from being tickled. "Knave!"
She pushed against him with all her might, then lost her balance as they both toppled over a tree root.
"Owww," he moaned as the root dug into his back.
"Now who wins?" she asked before she realized she was on top of him. "Oh...sorry!" She made to get off of him when he snaked his arms around her back.
"Stay," he whispered as he pressed her against him.
"Remus," she whispered back in his ear, her cheek brushing against his. "I love you."
She ran her fingers through his hair, gazing into his eyes, her face serene and welcoming. He reached behind her head and pressed her lips against his as his other hand reached up into her hair. She in turn moved closer to him, her heartbeat in perfect rhythm with his.
A low growl of thunder overhead brought them to reality, making Aya nearly jump. "Damn it," Remus hissed disappointedly. "Come on, let's get inside before we get caught in the downpour."
"Too late," she replied as the rain came hissing down upon them. Quickly, she got off him, pulling him up.
"And you in your bare feet again!" he growled, then wiped rainwater from his eyes, taking his cloak off to wrap it around her. "Come on, let's get inside. You're already soaked!"
"Y-you should talk," she replied, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.
"I, my lady, am in pants and warm clothes that actually fit me. You, on the other hand, have clothes that are too worn out to be anything else," he replied indignantly as he grabbed her hand to race across the grounds. Shoes! Why didn't I buy her shoes as well?
##
"You two are absolutely soaked to the bone!" Lily scolded, wagging her finger at Aya and Remus as they came through the portrait hole. "And how many times, Aya, have I told you to wear my shoes? Huh? We're the same size shoe! I've told you to wear them at least a thousand times!"
"What an expert scolder," Sirius said with an awed air. "She'll make a great mother one day. I feel sorry for your children, Prongs."
"Children?" James said fearfully. "What children? I don't see any children, do you?"
"Go on and get into some dry clothes before you two freeze to death," Lily continued, pointing towards the stairs.
##
The rain beat bitterly against the window as thunder growled overhead. Aya hated thunder above all else, and the lightning (she nearly cried out as a flash of lightning lit the night sky) was even worse. She shivered from the cold, her teeth chattering as she sneezed quietly. Another clap of thunder made her wince.
"Lily?" she whispered.
No response came from the red-haired girl as she slept soundly.
"Lily," she said a little louder.
"No, no, James," Lily mumbled, "don't eat like that...setting...bad example...for...Harry."
Harry?
"Lily!" Aya nearly yelled as another clap of thunder roared in the sky, answered by a flash of vengeful lightning.
"1492!" Lily called out. "I hold the fifth, Mr. Potter! Muahahahaa!"
She's hopeless.
Frightened beyond all sense at the war raging in the sky, Aya silently stole out of the room, wrapping her nightshirt tightly around her as she closed the door softly, nearly jumping as another roar of thunder echoed through the common room. Shivering from the cold and from fear, she made her way down the stairs, pausing to sneeze again. Blind in the darkness, she ran her hand along the wall until she came across the doorknob. Closing her eyes against the flash of lightning, she opened the door quietly, then slipped inside.
It didn't take long for another clap of thunder to make her nearly cry out before she placed her hand over her mouth. She was about to move forward when she sneezed again; she froze.
Nothing stirred except for Sirius rolling over in his sleep, mumbling, "I need...to wash Mr. Teddy Bear...dirty, he is. Mud bad."
Tip-toeing carefully, she made her way silently over to the bed by the window, carefully drawing the curtains back before she thought, What the hell am I doing?
Sighing, she pushed the curtain back a little more, her gaze falling on Remus' sleeping form, suddenly lit up from a flash of lightning. She shivered again, then leaned over to him, shaking him gently. "Remus?" she whispered, her voice shaking as thunder growled. "Remus, please wake up." Fear was running through her with more strength than before. "Remus...please..." Tears were beginning to well up in her eyes.
"Hmmm...what...whassamatter?" he mumbled, rolling over to peer upwards. "What the...Aya? What're...what're you doing here?"
"I can't sleep," she whispered, biting at her lower lip as she winced at the flash of lightning.
"You're trembling...are you afraid of storms?" he asked as he pushed the covers back. "Come on, get in before you freeze to death."
She obeyed, shivering uncontrollably. Another clap of thunder sent her burying her face in his chest.
"It's okay," he whispered as he placed the covers around them, then wrapped his arms protectively around her. "It's just a bunch of light and sound, anyway."
She clutched at his shirt as another lightning bolt flared in the sky, illuminating the room for a brief moment; she cried softly. He rubbed her back, holding her tighter. "Shhh...shhh, it's alright. I'm right here," he whispered. "Just go to sleep...it's alright."
Slowly, she quieted as sleep took her finally, relaxing her body.
Even as he fell asleep, he still didn't relax his hold on her.
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Woo...getting a little heated here, isn't it (is it hot in here, or is it just my computer?). I love all your reviews! They're so sweet! I've still got some mystery to throw at you, and now a new plan Aya and Remus want to try out! Tell me what you think: will it work? Should they even try at all? It's werewolf season! Yay! SEE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, AND THEN SEE RETURN OF THE KING. (yeah, I was the one in the theatre who screamed "Frodo lives," like, twice in the IMAX showing today! IMAX, PEOPLE! YEAH! DANIEL RADCLIFF IN IMAX...ALMOST AS GOOD AS FRODO AND LEGOLAS AND ARAGORN IN IMAX!)
