Chapter Thirteen: Just When Things Start To Look Up
Months passed like minutes, and before Blythe realized it, March had come around. She had been hearing a lot of talk about someone named Sirius Black, a supposed murderer in both the Muggle World and Wizarding one. He was considered to be extremely dangerous. She was also told about creatures called Dementors that had apparently been at Hogwarts since the beginning of the year, though she hadn't yet come across one. Despite the terrible things she heard, she had to admit she was curious about what they looked like, and the kind of affect they had on people.
Her feelings for Remus continued to blossom, though she was beginning to have doubts that he felt the same for her. He was quite often unavailable now, and it almost seemed as though he was avoiding her for some unknown reason. 'Perhaps I've annoyed him in some way', Blythe thought on her way to that afternoon's class. 'Or maybe I just bore him now that he knows so much about me.'
She sighed heavily as she reached her classroom and stepped in. To her amazement, there were no students present yet. Her brows furrowed as she puzzled over this. "Now where could my pupils have got to?"
Suddenly a young girl came rushing into the room, her eyes darted around nervously as she looked at Blythe. "Professor Farrah! You have to come, you have to! It's Derek, he's in trouble..." Then she ran back out with Blythe at her heels.
They arrived at another room, and when they walked in, they were enveloped by darkness. The only thing Blythe had to go by now was the sounds of the girl's footsteps, until the torches sprang to life and her students cheered loudly in unison, "Happy Birthday, Miss Farrah!"
Tears of joy sprang to Blythe's eyes immediately. She looked around at the elaborate decorations in the room. She was left completely speechless by the sight.
"You-you don't like it, Miss Farrah?", a young girl asked hesitantly.
Still incapable of words, Blythe grabbed the girl and hugged her tightly. The girl hugged her back with a bright smile and again everyone cheered. It was some time before Blythe let the girl go and found her voice again. "I love it. I simply adore it! Oh, thank you so much."
The entire lesson was spent celebrating Blythe's 28th birthday. She was overjoyed that someone actually remembered it, though she couldn't imagine how they'd found out.
One of the smaller boys in the class approached her as everyone was beginning to leave. "Miss Farrah?"
"Yes, dear?"
"There's going to be a bigger and better celebration for you later. I just thought I'd warn you so you don't end up not speaking again and making them wonder whether or not you like it." He smiled up at her and his eyes were bright with laughter.
Blythe giggled and nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Derek."
She walked out feeling her spirits raised considerably. All her dismal thoughts had left her and likely would not be returning for some time. She had plenty of time before dinner, since she didn't have any more classes for the afternoon. After arriving at her office, grabbing her warmest cloak and walking out onto the grounds, she decided to sit by the lake and content herself to simply stare out at the ice covered waters.
Blythe sat there in silence watching Hagrid breaking the ice on the lake for the giant squid. He waved enthusiastically at her and she smiled and returned the gesture. He didn't approach her, she supposed he sensed she just wanted to be alone, either that or he was just too busy breaking the ice. She could feel herself going into a daze as she sat there staring out over the smooth surface of the dark, ice covered water. Snow was beginning to fall again in large, white flakes. She leaned back on the bench and smiled at the beauty of the scenery until a hand gently rested on her shoulder.
She looked up with a start into the kind and gentle face of Remus Lupin. A warm smile broke over her lips. "Hello there, stranger. It's been awhile since I've seen you."
Remus grinned down at her. "Mind if I sit with you?"
"Not at all." Blythe patted the spot beside her.
Remus walked around the bench and sat down next to her, slightly closer than he usually did, but Blythe didn't mind in the least. He turned to face her with a faint blush in his cheeks as he spoke. "I...uh...bought you something for your birthday." He chuckled nervously as he pulled forth a small package wrapped in glittering paper.
Blythe was too mesmerized by the wrapping itself to worry about what was inside the small parcel. The paper had a winter scene playing out on it. There were Wizard children sliding down a large hill blanketed with snow. Snow flakes fell softly all around the parcel and back in the forest of the picture Blythe distinctly saw a unicorn pawing the snow covered ground with a golden hoof.
Remus' laughter evaporated her reverie and she looked up at him with a weak, child-like smile. "What's so funny?"
Blythe could barely make out his words through his chuckling. "You...you really...like that wrapping....paper...", his voice trailed off into another fit. His eyes danced with his cheer and he looked more genuinely pleased than he had since she'd met him.
She feigned indignance. "Well, we don't exactly have stuff like this in the Muggle World, you know. Hmph!" Then she too broke into giggles.
Remus had just started calming down when Blythe made her comment, and it all started over again.
After a few long moments, where their laughter rang out unbroken, they finally calmed and started wiping tears from their eyes. "I haven't laughed like that in many years, Blythe. Thank you."
Blythe's face was still red from laughing so hard and so long. It took her a minute to compose herself and get her breath back before she could answer him. "You're welcome, Remus. I'm glad I could make you happy."
"Now, would you mind concentrating on what's in the wrapping paper, rather than what's on it?", he chuckled softly.
"Of course, of course, Remus." She beamed at him and began carefully removing the paper. She would cherish it and put it somewhere safe so that she could look at it anytime she wanted. She opened the box to find a small pendant in the shape of a heart. It was pure silver and on a chain of the same metal. She stared at it in veneration. She was finding it difficult to speak quite often that day.
"Do you like it?", Remus inquired cautiously.
Blythe nodded wordlessly at his question, her mouth hung open as she continued to stare at the small, silver heart.
"Are you going to open it?"
With now shaking hands, she slipped one of her nails in the small crack and carefully opened the locket to see two small moving pictures within. On one side was Blythe herself with a bright smile, and on the other was Remus, smiling shyly and waving. "It-it's beautiful, Remus.", was all she was able to whisper as she looked at the necklace.
Remus took it gently from her hand, tilted her head forward and clasped the necklace on her. "I think that's where it belongs", he told her with a playful, yet timid wink.
Without warning, Blythe wrapped her arms around Remus' shoulders and hugged him tightly. After his initial surprise at her action, he encircled her waist with his own arms and smiled into her hair as she whispered. "Thank you so much, Remus. It's the best present I've ever gotten in my life!"
He reached up one hand and lightly brushed his fingers through her long hair. It felt like strands of woven silk beneath his hand. He took a deep and steadying breath before speaking again. "Blythe, it isn't really that much. Honestly. It's only a locket." He continued to smile as he pulled away from her slowly and almost reluctantly. "It's okay, Blythe. I thought you deserved something nice like this." He reached up a hand and pressed a finger on the locket with a smile. "And it looks wonderful on you."
She blushed furiously at his compliment and started twisting a few strands of her long hair around one finger. "Thanks, Remus.", she replied in a hushed tone.
"That's not all you can expect either.", he said, changing the subject. "There's going to be a private party for you as well, and probably a ton of gifts. You're very well liked here, Blythe, and quite popular."
She fidgeted with her fingernails as she spoke again. "Well, so long as there's one person here that likes me, I'm very happy."
"Oh? There's someone who's captured your fancy, is there?" He couldn't hide his disappointment from his voice completely.
"Yes, there is actually." Blythe looked up at him with a small grin. "And he's sitting with me right now."
Remus was taken aback by her confession and he too began blushing uncontrollably. "Well I...uh...wasn't expecting that." He chuckled nervously. "And might I ask how long this has been going on?"
"A few weeks now. I haven't seen you though, so I couldn't tell you about it sooner. I hope I didn't just make a huge mistake by letting you know."
"No, no, not at all, Blythe. I'm glad you told me because I didn't have the courage to say it myself." Remus smiled weakly at her as he took her hand in his own. "Look, this probably isn't the right time or place for us to be saying these things, and overall, we really don't know each other. I mean, there's so much you've told me about yourself, but there's a lot that you don't know about me. I-I can't tell you my secrets just yet, but if you give me time, I'll definitely share them with you."
"In that case, you can have all the time in the world, Remus. I can wait." She winked playfully at him as she stood. "It's getting a lot colder out here, and I have a feeling it's almost dinnertime, so would you care to join me on my way back to the castle?"
"I'd love to." Remus stood beside her, took her hand and placed it on his arm, then walked with her back up to Hogwarts for supper.
Blythe was in a state of euphoria for days, until things took a drastic turn for the worst. One night, she was walking about the grounds, waiting for Remus to show up as he had promised. She walked for hours and began to wonder where he was when she heard a voice behind her whisper, "If you're waiting on Remus, perhaps you should try his office, Miss Farrah."
She didn't need to see the person to know who it was, and she didn't even turn around to face him as she spoke. "Professor Snape, can't you leave well enough alone?"
When she turned to face him, he smirked down at her in a wicked sort of way. "What's the matter, Miss Farrah? Afraid of what you might find out if you went to his office to see him?"
"No. Why should I be?" Blythe eyed Snape suspiciously thinking that he'd done something to Remus.
"Go find out for yourself." He stalked off back to the castle with a proud smirk on his face.
Blythe shrugged and started towards the school once Snape was out of sight. She ventured up to Remus' office and knocked on his door. When no answer came for a few minutes, she tried again. This time the door opened a crack.
"Remus? Remus, are you here?", Blythe called out as she pushed the door open slightly.
She walked in and looked around, then she noticed it. At the back of the room, lying on a small rug, was a full grown wolf. Though it was larger than any wolf Blythe had ever seen before. It was fast asleep and seemed completely oblivious to her presence. 'Good thing for me', Blythe thought.
She was just about to leave when she noticed something odd about the wolf, aside from it's size. One either side of it's head were two white streaks of fur. 'Hmm, kind of like Remus' hair', she noted. She then assumed that the wolf was his pet and went along her way.
Blythe met up with Remus the next day. He apologized for his absence the night before and seemed a bit nervous.
"It's okay, Remus. I don't mind. I just wish you could've told me you were too busy to come out and play'.", she teased.
He laughed nervously. "Yes, well..."
"By the way, is that wolf your pet? It's awfully large."
"Oh...uh....I have to go, Blythe. I have something I need to attend to." Remus ran off without giving her any real explanation at all.
Blythe frowned deeply at Remus' sudden departure. "Gee, thanks for telling me." She stalked off angrily in the opposite direction, hoping to clear her head.
After walking for three hours, Blythe only succeeded in making herself angrier. She couldn't believe Remus' audacity to just leave her standing there. "Who does he think he is running off like that? Does he honestly believe I'll accept a lame excuse like that and let him get away with it?! Ugh! The nerve of men. It's no wonder I've never settled down."
Frustrated with Remus and herself, she finally managed to get into the castle for lunch. It was Saturday, so she didn't have to worry about classes at least. She was relieved for that small mercy. She looked up at the Professor's table and noticed Remus looking strained and flustered. Her eyes narrowed and she decided to sit at the opposite end of the table beside Professor Flitwick.
Remus continuously glanced down the table at her, and when she looked up, he smiled weakly. She turned up her nose and concentrated on her conversation with Flitwick again, barely touching her food at all.
Blythe didn't cheer up in the days to come. Every time she noticed Remus in the halls, she spun around and walked the other way. There were also rumours flying that this Sirius Black person had managed to find a way into Hogwarts. The only ones who didn't seem bothered by the news were Albus Dumbledore and herself.
She was told by a number of students about a massacre Black had caused twelve years prior, but she always shrugged it off and said, "People can change, if you give them a chance. He hasn't harmed anyone at Hogwarts yet, so don't be too concerned."
Months passed like minutes, and before Blythe realized it, March had come around. She had been hearing a lot of talk about someone named Sirius Black, a supposed murderer in both the Muggle World and Wizarding one. He was considered to be extremely dangerous. She was also told about creatures called Dementors that had apparently been at Hogwarts since the beginning of the year, though she hadn't yet come across one. Despite the terrible things she heard, she had to admit she was curious about what they looked like, and the kind of affect they had on people.
Her feelings for Remus continued to blossom, though she was beginning to have doubts that he felt the same for her. He was quite often unavailable now, and it almost seemed as though he was avoiding her for some unknown reason. 'Perhaps I've annoyed him in some way', Blythe thought on her way to that afternoon's class. 'Or maybe I just bore him now that he knows so much about me.'
She sighed heavily as she reached her classroom and stepped in. To her amazement, there were no students present yet. Her brows furrowed as she puzzled over this. "Now where could my pupils have got to?"
Suddenly a young girl came rushing into the room, her eyes darted around nervously as she looked at Blythe. "Professor Farrah! You have to come, you have to! It's Derek, he's in trouble..." Then she ran back out with Blythe at her heels.
They arrived at another room, and when they walked in, they were enveloped by darkness. The only thing Blythe had to go by now was the sounds of the girl's footsteps, until the torches sprang to life and her students cheered loudly in unison, "Happy Birthday, Miss Farrah!"
Tears of joy sprang to Blythe's eyes immediately. She looked around at the elaborate decorations in the room. She was left completely speechless by the sight.
"You-you don't like it, Miss Farrah?", a young girl asked hesitantly.
Still incapable of words, Blythe grabbed the girl and hugged her tightly. The girl hugged her back with a bright smile and again everyone cheered. It was some time before Blythe let the girl go and found her voice again. "I love it. I simply adore it! Oh, thank you so much."
The entire lesson was spent celebrating Blythe's 28th birthday. She was overjoyed that someone actually remembered it, though she couldn't imagine how they'd found out.
One of the smaller boys in the class approached her as everyone was beginning to leave. "Miss Farrah?"
"Yes, dear?"
"There's going to be a bigger and better celebration for you later. I just thought I'd warn you so you don't end up not speaking again and making them wonder whether or not you like it." He smiled up at her and his eyes were bright with laughter.
Blythe giggled and nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Derek."
She walked out feeling her spirits raised considerably. All her dismal thoughts had left her and likely would not be returning for some time. She had plenty of time before dinner, since she didn't have any more classes for the afternoon. After arriving at her office, grabbing her warmest cloak and walking out onto the grounds, she decided to sit by the lake and content herself to simply stare out at the ice covered waters.
Blythe sat there in silence watching Hagrid breaking the ice on the lake for the giant squid. He waved enthusiastically at her and she smiled and returned the gesture. He didn't approach her, she supposed he sensed she just wanted to be alone, either that or he was just too busy breaking the ice. She could feel herself going into a daze as she sat there staring out over the smooth surface of the dark, ice covered water. Snow was beginning to fall again in large, white flakes. She leaned back on the bench and smiled at the beauty of the scenery until a hand gently rested on her shoulder.
She looked up with a start into the kind and gentle face of Remus Lupin. A warm smile broke over her lips. "Hello there, stranger. It's been awhile since I've seen you."
Remus grinned down at her. "Mind if I sit with you?"
"Not at all." Blythe patted the spot beside her.
Remus walked around the bench and sat down next to her, slightly closer than he usually did, but Blythe didn't mind in the least. He turned to face her with a faint blush in his cheeks as he spoke. "I...uh...bought you something for your birthday." He chuckled nervously as he pulled forth a small package wrapped in glittering paper.
Blythe was too mesmerized by the wrapping itself to worry about what was inside the small parcel. The paper had a winter scene playing out on it. There were Wizard children sliding down a large hill blanketed with snow. Snow flakes fell softly all around the parcel and back in the forest of the picture Blythe distinctly saw a unicorn pawing the snow covered ground with a golden hoof.
Remus' laughter evaporated her reverie and she looked up at him with a weak, child-like smile. "What's so funny?"
Blythe could barely make out his words through his chuckling. "You...you really...like that wrapping....paper...", his voice trailed off into another fit. His eyes danced with his cheer and he looked more genuinely pleased than he had since she'd met him.
She feigned indignance. "Well, we don't exactly have stuff like this in the Muggle World, you know. Hmph!" Then she too broke into giggles.
Remus had just started calming down when Blythe made her comment, and it all started over again.
After a few long moments, where their laughter rang out unbroken, they finally calmed and started wiping tears from their eyes. "I haven't laughed like that in many years, Blythe. Thank you."
Blythe's face was still red from laughing so hard and so long. It took her a minute to compose herself and get her breath back before she could answer him. "You're welcome, Remus. I'm glad I could make you happy."
"Now, would you mind concentrating on what's in the wrapping paper, rather than what's on it?", he chuckled softly.
"Of course, of course, Remus." She beamed at him and began carefully removing the paper. She would cherish it and put it somewhere safe so that she could look at it anytime she wanted. She opened the box to find a small pendant in the shape of a heart. It was pure silver and on a chain of the same metal. She stared at it in veneration. She was finding it difficult to speak quite often that day.
"Do you like it?", Remus inquired cautiously.
Blythe nodded wordlessly at his question, her mouth hung open as she continued to stare at the small, silver heart.
"Are you going to open it?"
With now shaking hands, she slipped one of her nails in the small crack and carefully opened the locket to see two small moving pictures within. On one side was Blythe herself with a bright smile, and on the other was Remus, smiling shyly and waving. "It-it's beautiful, Remus.", was all she was able to whisper as she looked at the necklace.
Remus took it gently from her hand, tilted her head forward and clasped the necklace on her. "I think that's where it belongs", he told her with a playful, yet timid wink.
Without warning, Blythe wrapped her arms around Remus' shoulders and hugged him tightly. After his initial surprise at her action, he encircled her waist with his own arms and smiled into her hair as she whispered. "Thank you so much, Remus. It's the best present I've ever gotten in my life!"
He reached up one hand and lightly brushed his fingers through her long hair. It felt like strands of woven silk beneath his hand. He took a deep and steadying breath before speaking again. "Blythe, it isn't really that much. Honestly. It's only a locket." He continued to smile as he pulled away from her slowly and almost reluctantly. "It's okay, Blythe. I thought you deserved something nice like this." He reached up a hand and pressed a finger on the locket with a smile. "And it looks wonderful on you."
She blushed furiously at his compliment and started twisting a few strands of her long hair around one finger. "Thanks, Remus.", she replied in a hushed tone.
"That's not all you can expect either.", he said, changing the subject. "There's going to be a private party for you as well, and probably a ton of gifts. You're very well liked here, Blythe, and quite popular."
She fidgeted with her fingernails as she spoke again. "Well, so long as there's one person here that likes me, I'm very happy."
"Oh? There's someone who's captured your fancy, is there?" He couldn't hide his disappointment from his voice completely.
"Yes, there is actually." Blythe looked up at him with a small grin. "And he's sitting with me right now."
Remus was taken aback by her confession and he too began blushing uncontrollably. "Well I...uh...wasn't expecting that." He chuckled nervously. "And might I ask how long this has been going on?"
"A few weeks now. I haven't seen you though, so I couldn't tell you about it sooner. I hope I didn't just make a huge mistake by letting you know."
"No, no, not at all, Blythe. I'm glad you told me because I didn't have the courage to say it myself." Remus smiled weakly at her as he took her hand in his own. "Look, this probably isn't the right time or place for us to be saying these things, and overall, we really don't know each other. I mean, there's so much you've told me about yourself, but there's a lot that you don't know about me. I-I can't tell you my secrets just yet, but if you give me time, I'll definitely share them with you."
"In that case, you can have all the time in the world, Remus. I can wait." She winked playfully at him as she stood. "It's getting a lot colder out here, and I have a feeling it's almost dinnertime, so would you care to join me on my way back to the castle?"
"I'd love to." Remus stood beside her, took her hand and placed it on his arm, then walked with her back up to Hogwarts for supper.
Blythe was in a state of euphoria for days, until things took a drastic turn for the worst. One night, she was walking about the grounds, waiting for Remus to show up as he had promised. She walked for hours and began to wonder where he was when she heard a voice behind her whisper, "If you're waiting on Remus, perhaps you should try his office, Miss Farrah."
She didn't need to see the person to know who it was, and she didn't even turn around to face him as she spoke. "Professor Snape, can't you leave well enough alone?"
When she turned to face him, he smirked down at her in a wicked sort of way. "What's the matter, Miss Farrah? Afraid of what you might find out if you went to his office to see him?"
"No. Why should I be?" Blythe eyed Snape suspiciously thinking that he'd done something to Remus.
"Go find out for yourself." He stalked off back to the castle with a proud smirk on his face.
Blythe shrugged and started towards the school once Snape was out of sight. She ventured up to Remus' office and knocked on his door. When no answer came for a few minutes, she tried again. This time the door opened a crack.
"Remus? Remus, are you here?", Blythe called out as she pushed the door open slightly.
She walked in and looked around, then she noticed it. At the back of the room, lying on a small rug, was a full grown wolf. Though it was larger than any wolf Blythe had ever seen before. It was fast asleep and seemed completely oblivious to her presence. 'Good thing for me', Blythe thought.
She was just about to leave when she noticed something odd about the wolf, aside from it's size. One either side of it's head were two white streaks of fur. 'Hmm, kind of like Remus' hair', she noted. She then assumed that the wolf was his pet and went along her way.
Blythe met up with Remus the next day. He apologized for his absence the night before and seemed a bit nervous.
"It's okay, Remus. I don't mind. I just wish you could've told me you were too busy to come out and play'.", she teased.
He laughed nervously. "Yes, well..."
"By the way, is that wolf your pet? It's awfully large."
"Oh...uh....I have to go, Blythe. I have something I need to attend to." Remus ran off without giving her any real explanation at all.
Blythe frowned deeply at Remus' sudden departure. "Gee, thanks for telling me." She stalked off angrily in the opposite direction, hoping to clear her head.
After walking for three hours, Blythe only succeeded in making herself angrier. She couldn't believe Remus' audacity to just leave her standing there. "Who does he think he is running off like that? Does he honestly believe I'll accept a lame excuse like that and let him get away with it?! Ugh! The nerve of men. It's no wonder I've never settled down."
Frustrated with Remus and herself, she finally managed to get into the castle for lunch. It was Saturday, so she didn't have to worry about classes at least. She was relieved for that small mercy. She looked up at the Professor's table and noticed Remus looking strained and flustered. Her eyes narrowed and she decided to sit at the opposite end of the table beside Professor Flitwick.
Remus continuously glanced down the table at her, and when she looked up, he smiled weakly. She turned up her nose and concentrated on her conversation with Flitwick again, barely touching her food at all.
Blythe didn't cheer up in the days to come. Every time she noticed Remus in the halls, she spun around and walked the other way. There were also rumours flying that this Sirius Black person had managed to find a way into Hogwarts. The only ones who didn't seem bothered by the news were Albus Dumbledore and herself.
She was told by a number of students about a massacre Black had caused twelve years prior, but she always shrugged it off and said, "People can change, if you give them a chance. He hasn't harmed anyone at Hogwarts yet, so don't be too concerned."