Dumbledore said nothing, he only stared at glass globe he had been rolling in his hands. Finally he broke his silence, "We will have to wait and see."
"Pardon, she is going to get herself killed. Let me go and look for her," Winnie pleaded.
The others also indicated there desire to go with her. Dumbledore raised his hand to silence the group.
"I will make inquiries, but I cannot allow you all to go running to Nurmengard. You have responsibilities here. This is my final word," Dumbledore pointing to the door.
Slowly they marched from the headmaster's office. "Wait Miss Mason," he waved her back to him. "If I find you missing, I will hold everyone responsible. Is that understood?"
Winnie nodded her head, then grabbed Sirius's hand and proceeded down the staircase.
Once back in the common room everyone started talking at once trying to come up with a plan.
"What do you think?" James inquired to Winnie who had been silent the whole time.
"No," she shook her head. "I'm going to bed. Thank you but we mustn't try anything."
Sirius tried to grab her hand but Remus stopped him. "Let her rest, we all should go to bed."
Winnie laid there in her bed pretending to sleep. The others hadn't seen but Dumbledore had placed that orb in her hands. When he did a disembodied voice echoed in her head, "Love taken in the stone garden, the thief to live in a stone house, the heart's revenge to be buried in stone."
It was a prophecy, her father had told her about them. It was his way of telling her to let it go.
Lily came up and sat on the side of the bed, "I know you're not sleeping. It's my heighted senses now that I'm Head Girl."
Winnie smacked Lily with a pillow, "I think James is rubbing off on you, just don't go getting his big head."
"You don't have to talk about it, but at least go tell Sirius good night. He is pacing around like a nervous dog," Lily requested.
Winnie got up and headed down the stairs. There she found her boyfriend doing just what Lily described. In fact he was so engrossed in pacing and theorizing to Remus about Winnie's mental state, he didn't notice her until she placed her hand on his butt. Sirius jumped about 2 feet in the air and made a strange noise.
She kissed him then commanded him to bed. He complied followed by a very amused Remus.
The next few weeks were filled with classes and their first assignment from the order.
"Listen out for Death Eater activity at the school. Really this is our big assignment," complained Sirius.
"We are still in school. Did you really think they would have you out battling Death Eaters?" Lily replied.
"We did hope for a little more action. Right Peter?" said James.
Peter nodded. Of course he would probably have nodded if James said the moon was made of cheese.
Even Winnie wished for something a tad more exciting. If anything just to get her mind off of Persephone.
They were missing their voice of reason as it was that time of month.
That night they assumed their animangus forms and went to visit him. To their surprise the shack was empty.
The next day they went to inquire with Dumbledore to find he was gone as well. There was no one else they could ask without giving away their secret. So they waited.
3 days later, Remus finally appears at breakfast, as does Dumbledore.
"Remus are you alright mate?" Sirius asking the question on everyone's mind.
Remus looked horrid. Most of his face and body were covered in purple bruises and like he hadn't eaten in days. This was also evident by the large pile of food he had gathered in front of him. Every bite made him wince in pain.
"Why are you not in the infirmary?" asked Lily.
Remus looked at Winnie in a pleading way, it was time for her to return the favor.
"Back off! Let him eat. He will tell us when he's ready," she commanded.
Everyone sat down and started eating breakfast. As they tried to get to class Remus could barely walk.
"You're going to the infirmary NOW!" demanded Lily
Remus tried to protest but he was in too much pain.
Winnie and Lily went to visit Remus in the infirmary. They stopped at the door when they heard a very upset Madame Pomphrey.
"What was this boy doing Albus?" She inquired loudly.
"This change was just more difficult this time," defended Dumbledore.
"He has two broken ribs and looks like an egg plant. This is more than just his transition." Her voice was very high-pitched. "I have been treating him for seven years…"
"I know and doing an excellent job. Must be on my way," he interrupted and made his exit.
The girls hid around the corner as Dumbledore exited. They were shooed away by Madame when they try to visit.
Back in the common room they reported what they heard to the boys.
"Dumbledore know something," said James. "Remus went somewhere."
"And came back like ground meat," added Peter.
"Well I'm sure they have a reason for not telling us," Winnie suggested.
Sirius pulled Winnie away from the group. "What is going on? First you give up on finding Persephone, and now Remus's keeping things from us."
"I don't know about Remus and Dumbledore they have their reasons. Things are getting more dangerous out there I'm sure they are trying to protect the rest of us." Winnie trying to convince herself as well as Sirius.
"Where is my girlfriend and who are you?"
"Ha ha," she rolled her eyes "look, just trust me."
The truth was that since she touched the prophecy the nightmares had been relentless. Everyone she loved dead and being buried alive, were just some of the images she saw nightly. Winnie just wanted to stay at Hogwarts were was safe and keep everyone else safe as well.
Remus got out of the infirmary the next day. He avoided the group as much as he could. Winnie was also doing the same thing, when she stumbled upon him in a back stairwell.
"Remus wait," she called as he tried to leave. "I promise I won't ask you about it."
He paused and sat back down and she sat next to him. They sat in silence for several minutes until he finally spoke."I can't tell any of you. Dumbledore ordered me not to."
"We figured as much. He told me something too that I've been hiding," confessed Winnie.
"The prophecy? I saw him place it in your hand. It showed you something," he inquired.
"I heard a voice and now I'm having terrible nightmares. I'm barely sleeping and I just want hide." Winnie sobbed into her hands. She felt his arm around her shoulders.
"So this is what's going on?" A familiar voice behind them asked.
"My girlfriend and my best friend behind my back. No wonder you been avoiding everyone," Sirius starting to shout.
"Calm down, nothing is going on we are just friends," Winnie responded.
"I can see that, very cozy." He stared at them accusingly.
"He's the only one who understands," she responded.
"I'm going to leave," Remus said trying to escape.
"No you stay, you too can keep sharing your secrets together. Just forget that the rest of us are worried about you," he shouted as he stormed off.
"I'm sorry. I've been avoiding him and the others. All I see are my nightmares and I just want to cry." Winnie collapsed to the floor.
"I just can't believe he was jealous of me. Mr. God's gift," Remus said sounding amused.
Winnie looked up and smiled at that. "I always figured I'd be the one who would have to worry about you stealing my boyfriend."
Remus stepped back flustered, behind all the bruises he had turned a nice crimson.
"It's all right your secret is safe with me," as Winnie try to calm them down. "I have seen the way you look at him sometimes. It's the same way I look at him."
She stood up and pushed up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek and walked away.
Winnie decided what they all needed was a distraction. She arranged to have them all meet in the room of requirement. She was able to get some refreshments and try to make the room as festive as possible.
Sirius arrived first. She had been trying to talk to him for two days. He was mad not over Remus, possibly stealing her away, but that she confided in Remus instead of him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't tell you was going on. I didn't know how to tell you. Remus already knew some of it," Winnie trying to apologize.
"Why can't you talk to me? I'm practically your fiancé you always tell me what's wrong or at least tell Lily. You pushed us all away." Sirius turned away from her.
The word started flowing out about the prophecy in the nightmares. She only stopped when he grabbed her and enveloped her in his arms. She felt so safe listening to the sound of his heart. Over the summer she had become accustomed to sleeping in his arms. Now that they had separate dorms, she had trouble sleeping even before the nightmares.
The others started arriving. She quickly explained that this was a party and they were to be positive and enjoy themselves. They were also not to badger Remus. He finally arrived in almost exited immediately. Winnie stopped him and apologized for tricking him.
"Everyone has promised not to ask you anything about the other night," she promised.
They all nodded in agreement. Drinks were passed in conversations were light and friendly.