25. Truth

"This is a terrible idea," Remus said doubtfully. "This is like doing intracranial surgery with a spoon."

"Come on Remus, you promised-"

"What about the whole, 'you're right Sirius, this whole thing is stupid!' What about that?"

"I lied," she said simply. "I'm not giving up on something this important just because he says so! I just didn't feel like arguing."

"So what if I say no?" Remus asked deliberately.

"Then I go ask Snivillus to root around in my head."

"You would ask Snape?"

"Yeah I heard he could do all that creepy brain control stuff. What's it called?"

"Legilimency," Remus said, his head in his hands.

"Yeah! That!"

"Why don't you ask Lily? She's better at Charms than I am!"

Vienna rolled her eyes. "She's out snogging James somewhere I think. I don't know, she hasn't been in the dorm."

"Well, maybe you should wait for her to get back-"

"No, Remus, we're doing this now. And don't worry, you won't get in trouble for any of it, I wrote out a note just in case."

"In case I blow up your head?"

"Yeah. Might be and improvement," she grinned, though Remus just gave her a dark look.

"This isn't fair, you know," he said angrily. "The two of you, just- Oh, whatever! I always thought you were right anyhow."

"Right about what?"

"Just sit down and let's see if we can do this," Remus said. She obeyed silently and stared at him.

"Here goes nothing," she said with a small smile. He harrumphed, but pointed his wand steadily at her temple. She shut her eyes as he murmured the incantation. Blue sparks shot from his wand and straight at her head.

Remus stepped back as she was engulfed in acrid black smoke, coughing. "Vienna? I don't think it worked are you ok?"

She didn't answer.

"Vienna this isn't funny," he said, groping blindly towards the place he knew she'd been sitting. But there was nothing but an empty desk.

"Vi! Vienna!" he asked frantically.

"I'm down here, don't get your panties in a knot," she said hoarsely from somewhere by his feet. He ducked down and found her hands and pulled her up.

"What were you doing down there?"

"Must've fell I suppose. I think you're right though, I don't think it worked."

"Do you smell that?" Remus asked suddenly.

"All I can smell is this noxious smoke," she said. She swam hazily in front of his eyes through the swirling smoke.

"It's not that," he said as it began to dissipate. And as his vision began to clear he saw what exactly 'that' was. The side of her face was covered in blood. "You're bleeding!"

"I am?" she asked, putting a hand to her head. "Oh… I am." She stared at him a moment before her legs gave out and she sat down hard on the floor.

"Vienna, are you alright?"

"Dizzy," she said slowly, her eyes unfocused. "I think-"

"Here, hold this to your head," Remus said, pulling off his jumper and handing it to her. She held it limply in her hand. "No you idiot, like this," Remus said, rolling it into a ball and holding it gently against her head.

"I think-" she said again.

"You think what?"

She groaned. "Concussion. Definitely a concussion."

"Wait was it the spell? Should I-"

"I just hit my head… on the desk I think. I have the healing spell in my notebook over there-"

"No, I think we're done with playing Healer for the day. You're going to the hospital wing."

"No, Remus," she said quickly and then swayed on her feet. Remus grabbed her arm to steady her.

"How 'bout now?"

"Fine," she groaned, and he helped her out into the corridor.

"Remus? Do you think this whole thing is stupid?"

"What whole thing?" he said, grinning. "You can roll your eyes! I'm sure that's a good sign!" He paused, but answered when she continued to stare at him. "Yes! I mean no, not really. I mean- just- Vienna, you know what James said, that you'd be better off if you didn't know, that there are things you might remember that you won't like? Well, that's half true at least. And a lot of people would think you were lucky not to remember- things- but I don't think so. I think remembering is better. That it's always better because it makes you who you are. And right now you're just kind of stagnant, but you weren't, and maybe not for the better but you were trying! And it's not fair-!" he stopped himself there and looked down, his eyebrows knitted together, jaw set. "It's just, this isn't the way to get your memories back. You're just going to hurt yourself more. And I don't want to see you hurt anymore, none of us do."

"Remus, I don't understand-"

"I know, and I'm sorry, but I promised."

"But Remus-"

"Look, we're here," he said quickly opening up the door.

"What have you done this time?" Madame Pomfry asked.

"She fell down the stairs and hit her head," Remus lied easily. Vienna lay down on one of the beds as Madame Pomfry started fussing over her. Remus slipped out of the doors unnoticed and slid down the wall, his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry Vi," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for reading It totally makes my day to see all of your views and reviews, followings and favorites! Per awesome request by SuchStuffAsDreams, I will now be replying to reviews and questions and the like at the bottom, so stay tuned for that As for the last chapter, I'm not quite happy with that one either SuchStuffAsDreams, it does have a little of an odd quality to it, but don't worry about it, the next couple of chapters will be addressing that! Thanks so much for reading and please review! Reviews make me smile!

Just some things to think about:

Do you think Vienna will get her memories back?

Lily and James (!) What the heck is going on there?

How is this 'secret war' going to affect the kids at Hogwarts?

Who else is currently mad at Sirius, because I know I am? (Are authors allowed to do that?:P)

And lastly, what's going on with this whole Remus/Vienna thing?