Thanks are in order to; Dark-n-Twisty, Mel Woods, David D. Diggory, Allamonalla, L.A.H.H., Lily Lipsky, Morgomir, lovesick.melody
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Pomfrey allows us all to leave the hospital at noon the next morning. The castle is quite deserted as it was beautiful out and Dumbledore had permitted another Hogsmeade visit. Neither Hermione or Ron felt like going so the four of us headed outside on the grounds towards the pond.
I hadn't spoken to anyone since helping my father escape, and I really didn't feel like otherwise, so I sit a bit away from them and watch curiously as Hagrid walks over to us, telling of Buckbeak's escape.
"I was worried this mornin', mind…thought he mighta met Professor Lupin on the grounds, but Lupin says he never ate anythin' las' night…"
"What?" Harry says quickly, and I look up at Hagrid as well.
"Er- Snape told all the Slytherins this mornin' that he's a werewolf…thought everyone'd know by now…He's packin' now, o' course…resigned firs' thing this mornin'. Says he can't risk it happenin' again."
Harry and I both scramble to our feet. "I'm going to see him," Harry states, saying that he'll meet Ron and Hermione back where they were."
When Harry and I get to Remus' office, his door is open, most of his possessions already packed. He was bending over something on his desk until Harry knocked.
"I saw you coming,' he says smiling, pointing down at the Marauder's map. Besides the map on his desk, I see my own magical case and frown, realizing why Remus must have it. I meet his eyes and turn so I'm not facing him as he and Harry talk about why he had resigned. As they talk, Remus continues to empty the draws of his desk.
Harry pleads with Remus not to go, but Remus states that he must, and gives Harry the map and his cloak back, stating that he's no longer his teacher and that Harry's father would have wanted him to have them.
Dumbledore knocks at the door and whispers something to Remus. He then asks Harry to wait outside the door so he and Remus can talk to me.
"Sure," Harry replies. "But she hasn't said a word since yesterday."
I turn around in time to see Dumbledore smile as he ushers Harry outside the door and closes it behind him.
"Taylor-" Remus starts, but I cut him off.
"No," I state. "I get it. You weren't even going to tell me that you were leaving. Hoping for an easy goodbye," I say, gesturing towards my case on his desk. "So- dropping me off at another orphanage? Were you planning on telling me?"
"It's not like that," Remus says sadly.
"Explain to me how it isn't." I reply, coldly.
"I can't care for you right now," He replies, not being able to meet my eyes. "You saw what happened last night. I could have killed any of you…your own worse fear is me."
"My worse fear is the werewolf," I state. "Not you…everyone else who cares for you can see it, why can't you?"
He doesn't reply and Dumbledore walks over to me. "You won't be sent to an orphanage, Taylor. Professor Snape has asked to take you for the summer break."
I scoff at him. "Yeah, like Snape asked to take me after what happened."
"He did," Remus states. "He realized that outing me as a werewolf hurt you as well."
"Well at least someone cares about me," I reply.
Remus closes his eyes tightly, looking as if he's in pain. "You know I love you, Taylor. I just can't care for someone right now. As it is I'll have no income."
"That's a bullshit reason, and you know it. I have my own money and I have lived with you for seven years." I wait to continue until he looks up at me. "You're just abandoning me once more."
"Everything happened so quickly. I wasn't ready for a two year-old. You reminded me of what I had just lost. If I had known for just one second what was going to happened to you there, you have to believe that I would have gotten you out sooner…I thought it was the best decision."
"And what makes you think this is?"
Remus sighs. "Severus cares for you, and I think he's the best person to watch out for you right now."
"And what about what I think?"
Remus doesn't reply and Dumbledore tells him that his carriage is waiting for him.
"Thank you, Headmaster," he states, picking up his briefcase and the tank that his Gridylow had been in. He looks over at me awkwardly. "I'll see you soon," he says, urgently. "I promise."
He then walks over to Dumbledore, shaking his hand as Dumbledore somberly says goodbye to him. He opens the door to his office and says a quick goodbye to Harry, giving off the impression that he wants to get out of here as soon as possible. Part of me wants to run after him, but right now, I'm too upset to do anything besides stand where I am as Harry walks back into the room, looking at me carefully.
"Why so miserable looking, Harry?" Dumbledore asks as Harry sits down in an empty chair. "You should be very proud of yourself after last night."
"It didn't make any difference," Harry says bitterly. "Pettigrew got away."
"Didn't make any difference?" Dumbledore says quietly. "It made all the difference in the world, Harry. You helped uncover the truth. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate."
I begin to walk towards the door but Dumbledore stops me. "Taylor, you need to learn to take comfort from your friends. It's obvious to see that they're worried about you."
I turn back, walking over to the desk where my magical case was. The case had been a gift from my grandmother and had enough space in it to carry enough to fill an entire house if wanted. Picking the case up, I look at both Dumbledore and Harry before walking out of the room without a word to either of them.
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As the end of term approached, almost everyone in the castle was telling how they thought that my father had escaped. Only me, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dumbledore actually knew the story seeing as Remus was now gone. Draco was furious at the escape of Buckbeak, thinking that Hagrid outsmarted him and his father.
"Planning on talking at all before the feast tomorrow?"
I look up from where I was sitting against the Beech tree by the pond to see Fred and George approaching.
"I talk," I reply, watching as the giant squid emerges.
"Not so much," Fred says, sitting across from me. "I consider you one of my best friends, Tay…I miss you."
George sits down beside me against the tree and clasps his hand in my own. "What happened?"
I look down at our hands before starting to talk, relaying how Harry, Hermione and I snuck off to Hagrid's, how Sirius had dragged Ron into the tunnel under the Whomping Willow, how Remus and Snape joined, the conversation which took place in the shrieking shack and then the events that followed, including helping Sirius escape and Remus leaving.
"Wow," Fred says when I've finished talking.
"But you're father's innocent," George exclaims. "Shouldn't you be happy?"
"Probably," I reply with a shrug. "But it's not as if it changes much. Everyone still believes he's guilty."
"But you know he's not."
"He told me…when he thought he'd be free from running…that he wanted a chance to be my father…"
"That's great," Fred replies with a smile.
"I told him I already had one."
"Ouch," George states after a moment in silence.
"He still told me later that he loved me." I say slowly, shaking my head.
"So what are you doing without Lupin?" Fred asks softly.
I look towards the castle and then back at Fred. "Dumbledore's made sure I'll be fine."
He nods at me and then leans over, kissing me on the cheek. "I'd love to stay longer and talk right now, but I managed a last day detention with Snape. He's certainly been in a right mood as of late."
"I'll see you later…and tomorrow," I reply and he smiles, standing up and walking towards the castle.
"Speaking of Snape," George states, smiling from beside me. "What are your plans for the end of term prank you owe the Gryffindors?"
"I've got it covered," I reply.
We sit, looking towards the lake for several minutes before I speak. "George, I want to talk to you about something."
"Of course, Tay," he says, squeezing my hand.
I breathe in deeply before continuing talking. "These past few days have got me thinking…about what could have happened…things I could have said and never did…actions I could have taken…"
"What is it?" He asks me.
"I want…I want to give Oli a proper goodbye…"
George opens his mouth a few times as if to speak, but doesn't. "I don't expect you to understand," I state, looking him in the eyes. "But I want you to know, that what I said about next year still holds, Georgie…if you'd want it to."
He smiles at me. "Of course I'd still want it to. And as of right now, we're just friends…so whatever you have planned for Oliver is your own business. Seriously…please, keep it that way."
For the first time in a good while, I find myself laughing
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