Chapter 26

A Lesson Learned

Although Myra had decided not to think about her and Hestia's discussion, it proved to be very hard to ignore. Especially every time she saw Remus, and every time they talked.

Days later, they were studying together in the library after dinner. The other girls were occupied by other things, and Remus' friends were cheering James on at practice. Myra, who was supposed to be finishing a Charms essay due tomorrow morning, instead found herself watching Remus, lost in her own thoughts.

She didn't see him as an animal... did she? Of course not! How could she! He was sitting right there, flesh and blood and beating human heart. Her face felt warm at the thought. Your body wouldn't react like that for a werewolf, a ferocious predator.

Suddenly, Myra noticed that Remus' hand had strayed from the parchment as he continued to furiously scribble notes. "Hey, you're writing on the desk there," she whispered, amused. When he didn't seem to hear her, she laid her hand on his arm to get his attention. Again, it felt she was given a mild electric shock, but she wasn't surprised by that anymore. Since it happened nearly every time she got near him, ahs had gotten used to it.

Remus looked up dazedly. "What?"

"You're writing on the desk." She let go of his arm and pointed.

He looked down, following the last line he had written, eyes widening. "Oh." He chuckled and took out his wand to clean it off. "I got a bit carried away there."

"Apparently. Good think there wasn't a library book there. Pince would have had your head."

He looked frantically around. "Careful what you say, she might hear you!" he whispered.

Myra stared at Remus' behaviour for a second, before bursting out into hushed laughter. He snapped is head forward again to look at her, but eventually started laughing too.

"What is it you're getting so carried away with anyway?" Myra asked after she had taken a few breaths to stop laughing.

"Wizarding Culture Studies. We had this really interesting lesson today, about the use of magic in Ancient Rome. Magic was known amongst the Muggles there, but at one point someone destroyed all records of it and Obliviated anyone who might have carried on the knowledge. Some believe that was what set in motion the idea that eventually became the International Statute of Secrecy in 1689. But recently, a record was found by a Wizarding researcher in Florence in Italy. It's some kind of animal skin which depicts some of the social traditions the witches and wizards kept from the Muggles," Remus explained enthusiastically.

Myra's eyes had glazed over a bit, and Remus smiled and shook his head at her. He tried with another piece of information. "Did you know our robes come from the fashions the Romans wore?"

"I'm not really that interested in fashion, you know. I wear what's clean and whole. But Anna would be thrilled to learn that bit of information. Or horrified. Depending on the angle you pitch it at."

"I'll be sure to bring it up then, next time I see her."

"Please do. You might get a new best friend." Myra grimaced.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Remus noted with a hint of a smile.

"I didn't say anything." She smiled, but slowly it morphed into more of a smirk. Remus chuckled and turned his attention back to his homework, shaking his head.

...

The full moon was fast approaching again, and the signs of Remus' condition began to make themselves known during his latest patrol. Myra felt bad for him, but there were some symptoms she truly enjoyed. His voice got hoarser and sent chills down her spine when he talked, especially when he said her name. He was easier to set off if they came across someone who wanted to make trouble, and he was awfully attractive when he was angry. Not to mention the magnetic draw she felt towards him, forcing her to keep a tight hold on her actions.

Myra shared some of her concerns with Hestia in the dorms afterwards, hoping to worry less by telling someone. It didn't help, but at least Hestia seemed sympathetic. Though Myra could see it in her eyes that her mind was on the conversation they'd had a few weeks ago. It made her angry; why couldn't Hestia see that Myra had this right. She understood Remus' condition, but did not see him as a project for Care of Magical Creatures. Myra didn't say anything, knowing Hestia didn't want to understand.

On the eve of the full moon, Remus approached Myra again to let her know he was leaving. He found her in the crowded common room, where almost everyone was relaxing and enjoying the start of the weekend. He timidly asked if Myra would be so kind as to follow him outside for a bit. She was just as surprised by his approach this time, but appreciated it very much.

"I'm leaving again," he started.

Myra sighed sadly. "Okay," she said quietly. "How is she feeling?"

Remus picked up on the careful emphasis. "Not so bad this time. I think the cold weather helps somehow. It's not exactly ideal for... Well, hunting." He said the last part in a barely audible whisper.

She couldn't help but chuckle. "I suppose you're right. Let's hope for a long hard winter then."

"Yeah."

While Remus looked at his shoes, Myra looked at him, and the situation reversed the instant he tried to meet her eyes. There was so much she ached to tell him, but she didn't say anything. It might have seemed awkward to onlookers when the conversation lulled, but it really wasn't.

"Well... I should get going. The boys'll be waiting."

Both of them stepped forward at the same time. Myra thought she was the only one who would do it, since she had done it last time, and both were a little bit surprised. But then they both smiled, and hugged each other. Remus pulled her to him, and she leaned into the warmth of him, heart speeding rapidly.

"I'll worry about you," she whispered. "And I'll try to come see you afterwards." He tightened his arms then, and Myra felt her breath hitch. One long moment after, they pulled apart, but still standing so close Myra had to look up to see into his eyes. "Take care, Remus."

He lifted his hand, as if to touch her, but dropped it quickly back to his side. "I'll do my best," he said instead. Then he walked off and disappeared around the corner. Myra waited for a moment, taking deep breaths to calm herself, before she entered the common room again.

He's left? Hestia mouthed when Myra joined her friends. She nodded.

"What did Remus want?" Anna asked in a suggestive tone.

Myra smiled involuntary. "Nothing much. Just to talk."

"Did you kiss?" She drew out the last word.

"No," Myra muttered. An image of him and her kissing popped into her head, and she felt her heart skip a few beats and a blush spread across her face. Anna noticed, and smiled as if she knew something no one else did.

As Hestia worked on homework, Anna read a book and Ashley worked to finish a letter to her sister, Myra found her mind wandering. She gazed out the nearest window, and even though the moon wasn't visible there, she could see the silvery light slowly brighten the blackening sky. Soon, the sounds of a werewolf transformation would fill the sky.

"So," Ashley interrupted Myra's thoughts as she lay her quill down and started blotting at the drying letter. "Who do you think will win tomorrow?"

The second Quidditch match of the season would be played the next day between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Because of Gryffindor's close call with Slytherin in the last match, the other houses felt their chances at the Quidditch Cup was much greater. There had been plenty of discussions the last week over who thought who would come out on top.

"Please, Ashley. You know I haven't a clue! Quidditch is fun to watch, but I could care less about the actual logistics of it."

"Come on! Have a guess, at least!"

"Why?"

"Just for the fun of it."

"Fun?" Myra raised her eyebrows. "Fine. Hufflepuff. Because it's my sister's house."

"You're no fun." Ashley pouted.

Myra stuck out her tongue, then glanced at the letter in front of her friend and changed the subject. "So, how's Alice? Is she and Frank still planning on getting married soon?"

"They said they would do it when they were done with their Auror training. But they were done this summer. Frank says they've set a date, but mum says they haven't. I'm betting on next summer, though."

"Sounds probable," Myra agreed.

"How are they liking the life as Aurors?" Hestia suddenly piped in, letting her homework rest.

For a while, Ashley shared all her sister Alice had told her. Even Anna joined in after a while. But when a gut wrenching howl sounded outside, conversation stalled. Myra winced and closed her eyes. He was changing.

"That wasn't a nice one," Anna commented. "Sounds like the Bloody Baron's out there roughing things up." She chuckled

"It's not funny," Myra muttered, unclenching her eyes.

"Oh, don't worry. It's not like they can leave the Shack. They're not that kind of ghosts."

"It's not that. It's just..." She shook her head. "Oh, never mind."

Anna looked questioningly at Myra. Hestia, who knew what was on her best friend's mind, began packing up her things. "Let's get to bed. The match begins early tomorrow."

Myra looked round. The common room was just about empty. Ashley and Anna gathered their things also, and headed upstairs. But Myra just sat there, as another long howl came from outside.

"Aren't you coming to bed?" someone asked.

Myra looked around the room again. Hestia stood by the foot of the stairs to the girls' dorm.

"Are you coming too?" Hestia repeated.

"Soon," Myra replied. "I think I might want to write a letter home." She picked up her bag and began looking for blank parchment.

"And listen for the ghosts in the Shrieking Shack."

Myra smiled guiltily and stopped looking for something to write on. Hestia stepped down and walked over, sitting down in the chair she had occupied earlier. "Have you thought about what I mentioned a while back?"

"Yes," she replied shortly. When Hestia didn't inquire further, Myra decided to go on. "I still don't think you're right. It's the whole package for me. Nothing more, nothing less."

"So, that awful idea you had when you went out there to see him? How do you explain that? I didn't think even you were that crazy."

Myra huffed. Yes, she had been curious about seeing the wolf, truthfully, she still was. The contradiction that was Remus had to be investigated.

Wait. Investigated? Myra's eyes widened. Where did that come from?

"What's wrong?" Hestia asked.

"Had to be investigated," Myra repeated her train of thought out loud. Like he was something she needed to research for a class. Like he was doing something that needed investigating. Like he wasn't human, but a particularly interesting mystery. Or a new, exciting creature. "Oh, Merlin, Hestia! I think you're right! I mean, I do fancy him the way I should, I really do! But I guess I'm a bit too obsessed about what's going on tonight too." She leaned forward and put her head in her hands. Hestia laid a hand on her back in comfort. "What he must think of me..."

"I doubt he's noticed. At least, it looks to me like he's still oblivious."

"But he doesn't know that I went out there!" Myra complained. "If he found out -"

"He'll never find out," Hestia interrupted. "And since you recognise it now, you can start thinking differently from now on. You have nothing to worry about."

"Merlin's beard, I hope you're right!"

Hestia removed her hand. "You really like him, huh?"

"I do. More and more every day." She muttered into her hands. "It seems like there's no end to it."

"Come on, let's go to bed. There's no point in sitting her and listening, since there's nothing we can do. Get a good night's rest, and we can start fresh tomorrow." Hestia stood up and put Myra's bag over her shoulder.

"If I can get any sleep, that is," Myra said and stood up too. "I can't help but worry."

"It's a good sign that you're worrying. He'll be fine. I'm betting he'd want to you sleep, though."

"You're betting right." Myra straightened up and the two of them went up to the dorms. Ashley and Anna were fast asleep already, their light snores the only sounds in the room. Myra let Hestia get ready for bed first, meticulously tidying her school bag in the meantime. She did her routines and climbed into bed, wrapping the covers tightly around her. The air in the room a bit chilled even though the heater in the middle was burning merrily. As she had just closed her eyes, a loud and long howl was heard outside. Her eyes snapped open, focusing on the nearest window were the moon hung bright and silver and clear.

With a loud sigh, she closed her eyes again. She conjured an image of him from earlier that night; hoarse, blush of fever, scruffy hair... The feeling of his arms around her when they hugged. She was most definitely attracted to the human Remus, no doubt about that. With that image in mind, Myra fell asleep.

Outside the werewolf and his Animagi friends continued their rampage, howling and whining at the moon.

...

"This is boring," Myra muttered, stifling a yawn. The match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff was dragging on. It had been three and a half hours. Only the first half hour had been action packed, with goals and tackles and Beaters on a mission, but then it had closed to a crawl. The Seekers had been flying aimlessly around the pitch, not even bothering to try any feints. Whatever team happened to have the Quaffle tossed it lazily between themselves, sometimes zooming off to score. Mostly the Chasers and the Beaters were trying to help the Seekers find the Snitch, but it was nowhere to be seen.

"Shouldn't Madam Hooch interfere? Check if the Snitch isn't lost or... stuck or... something?" Ashley asked, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, sleepily resting her head in her hands.

"Don't know. No one interferes in the professional leagues," Anna replied.

"We're not professionals. And we have class on Monday!"

Myra chuckled, imagining the professors teaching classes on the stands.

"Madam Hooch is not going to interfere," Hestia stated. "The rules say we have to play until the Snitch is caught. Like that, it's the same as in the leagues. The difference is that our Snitch isn't as sneaky and elusive. Normally."

"What if it's been replaced by a professional Snitch?" Ashley asked, her head bobbing in her hands as she spoke.

Anna perked up. "Who would do that?"

"The Slytherins," Myra suggested.

"Dumbledore," Ashley said.

"Goldstein," Hestia added.

"Hey! I did not do that!" Henry defended himself, poking Hestia in the back.

Myra looked backwards. "You could have." She smirked.

"Where would I get hold of a professional Golden Snitch? My parents are Muggles; I have no magical connections other than you miserable lot."

"Choosing to ignore that last bit. Sounds like you've given this some thought, though," Anna teased.

"Why would I do something that gives the opposing teams time to get miles ahead in points?"

Anna harrumphed, and Hestia smiled. He had a point.

The conversation stalled. Ashley's head nodded forward and she was snoring lightly, while Myra was leaning on Anna's shoulder, resting her eyes. Anna was resting her head on Myra's. Around them, people were starting to leave.

Suddenly Myra woke herself with a snore at the same time as a shout of joy came from out on the pitch, quickly followed by more people shouting. Anna, Myra and Ashley straightened up with a start, and saw that the Ravenclaws had caught the Snitch.

"It came to him... It just came to him," Hestia mumbled breathlessly and in awe, but with a frown on her face.

"What?" Ashley asked groggily.

"Erskine just hovered there, looking around, when the Snitch flew up behind him and waited for him to see it and catch it. And he did. I can't believe it!" She banged her fist on her knee.

"It's almost as if it was rigged!" Henry joined her from the bench behind.

Myra shook her head, not quite understanding what the big deal was. It was just a school game. "Let's get back to the tower. No point in staying here and freezing our wits off." She rose and gathered her robes tighter around her, before she slowly made her way down from the stands, amidst the throng of Gryffindors. Ashley and Anna followed close behind, but Hestia and Henry were lagging, discussing the possibility of a fixed game.

...

The girls managed to get some warmth back in their bodies after catching a couch near the

the common room fireplace. They all had some last pieces of homework they wanted to finish before dinner, but the motivation wasn't quite there. Hestia however, once she made it back inside, nagged them into getting started, though they were nowhere near finished by dinnertime.

"I can't think anymore," Ashley complained as they stepped out of the portrait hole, heading for dinner. "Ancient Studies is killing me."

"How can that be hard?" Myra asked. "I would have taken it, if it weren't for Care of Magical Creatures and pressure from home to take Magical Living."

"You have four free periods every week!" Hestia proclaimed. "You have room for two more subjects!"

"Not all can be wonder-students like you, with photographic memory and the mind capacity of twelve founders!"

"I don't have photographic memory! I-"

"You have some kind of amazing memory, at least," Anna interrupted.

"Twelve founders..." Hestia harrumphed quietly.

The staircase they were on started to move, moving them towards a quicker way to the Great Hall.

"Anyway. Professor Stratos is too enthusiastic about the class," Ashley continued. "There is just too much information about every subject. Analysing, re-analysing, testing, discussing, comparing... It'll be the death of me."

"Then why are you still taking it?" Anna asked.

"Because... Well, I can't just quit, can I?"

The staircase had escorted them directly to the first floor.

"You quit two other classes," Myra pointed out.

"I'm not getting any sympathy from you, am I?"

All three girls shook their heads.

They walked in amused silence down to the ground floor and into the Great Hall. They slid onto the bench at the first available spot and helped themselves. Dinner went by in a normal fashion, until most people were done with dessert and began slowly leaving the hall.

A few seats down from Myra and the girls, Lily was seated with a few of her friends. A gasp was heard from that direction and then a clatter of utensils. Myra snapped her head in that direction, the prefect in her hearing trouble.

Lily was staring down into her plate, her eyes as huge as Quidditch hoops. Something was moving on her plate, and her expression turned from one in surprise, to one of irritation.

"What's going on?" Hestia asked.

Automatically Myra searched the table for James. She blinked in surprise when she saw him, Sirius and Peter two seats down. James was staring in Lily's direction, gauging her reaction.

Was the pudding turning into a bouquet of lilies? It kept transforming – from flowers to hearts to fireworks to finally, what looked suspiciously, though she couldn't at first think of why, an incredibly lifelike human head. Myra would bet her entire vault that it was James' head, grinning and pleading.

Lily's eyes narrowed into slits, if looks could kill... Good thing she wasn't looking at the real James. Then she took her spoon and rammed it straight into the pudding-head, stood up abruptly and stormed out of the Great Hall. The pudding was a collapsed mess on the plate, which Lily's friends stared at for a few seconds, before going after her.

Sirius and Peter was laughing. "Come on, Prongsy," Sirius said sweetly through his barks of laughter. "Could've been worse!"

James smiled weakly, and stood up as Peter and Sirius began heading out of the Great Hall, but when their backs were to him his shoulders slumped. Not even his friends noticed him slip dejectedly back onto the bench. Myra heard him sight with a sadness she had no idea he could possess. She almost felt bad for him, but at the same time she was exasperated at his behaviour that seemed to know no boundaries or censorship.

"What am I going to do, Myra?" She was surprised, to say the least, when he addressed her of all people. Probably because he noticed her turn in his direction. "How can I make Lily say yes to me?"

Had he just called her by her first name? Not Kinney? That was strange enough, but the way he said Lily's name – laced with frustration and admiration all at once – that was the strangest thing of all. She had no idea those feelings could fit together. Ever.

She glanced at her friends, they were animatedly talking about something apparently more important. In fact, she seemed to be the only one to notice James at all now. She slid down on the bench, but leaving some space between them. "I don't know, James." She honestly didn't. Why was he asking her in the first place? Desperation? What could she possibly tell him? It wasn't like she was terribly experienced – a short liaison with a Ravenclaw and massive one-sided crush on one of best friends hardly put her in a situation to be dolling out relationship advice.

But he was staring at her, or maybe he stared in her direction, but not looking at anything in particular. That would explain the forlorn, almost desperate look. He wanted advice, someone to give him the solution to all his problems. So, somewhat reluctant, she scooted a bit closer so the conversation could be more private. "I don't know Lily well, James. I hardly know her at all, so I can't know what you should do or shouldn't do with her. But I do know that what you have been doing hasn't well... it doesn't work, does it?"

She scrambled for an idea and said the first thing that came to mind. "Why not try something simple? No ambushing, no grand public displays. Just come out and ask her, in private. I know I wouldn't like it to have someone put on a show every time they saw me, parade and show off every time they wanted to tell me something. I wouldn't enjoy turning them down either, when they show so much... enthusiasm."

James smiled – sheepishly? – in return. "And what if I don't know any other way to get her attention?" he admitted.

"Remember that day before Halloween? With the black lilies and orange roses?"

"How can I forget? I fell off the bloody table." He laughed.

"Loved that part!" Myra laughed too. "But, instead of a colour coordinated flower shower and horrible coloured robes – orange does not suit you – how about you just hand her a single red rose, or white lily, when you pass her in the hall. Just hand it to her and walk on. Don't make such a big deal out of it."

"And?" James pressed on when Myra stopped speaking.

"Like I said – I don't know Lily, and I don't have much experience to draw from, certainly not in wooing girls." She cocked her head to emphasise her point. James smirked, and was about to say something – probably crude – when Myra cut him off by continuing. "But you clearly have enough imagination for a hundred lifetimes, I'm sure you can think of something. What you've done so far hasn't worked, so do something else. In fact, do the exact opposite of what you've done in the past." She shrugged.

James let it sink in, staring out into space again. Still more people exited the Great Hall.

"Myra?" Hestia asked.

"Yeah?" Myra turned, seeing her friends' curious expressions.

Hestia spoke slowly, unsure. "We're going to the common room. Are you coming too?"

"You just go ahead, I'll be right there."

"O-okay." Slowly, her best friend turned around to pick up her bag, and she and Ashley and Anna walked off .

As Myra's attention was on James again, she saw he was still staring into space, deep in thought. She took the opportunity to relish in the moment, in the trust he had shown her. Myra hoped that this was not a onetime event, James talking to her about 'normal' things. It seemed like a huge step forward in their relationship, their friendship. Remus would be proud!

"Thanks, Myra," he said simply after a while.

"No problem, James." She dared to bump her shoulder into his, as a friendly and light-hearted gesture.

"By the way, Remus asked about you earlier today." In an instant Myra blushed. James smiled knowingly upon noticing it. "Why don't you head up to see him?"

"What, now?" Myra sputtered, a couple of butterflies flying excitedly in her stomach.

"Why not?"

Myra pretended to consider it, when she really wanted nothing more than to run to the hospital wing. "Okay. If you guys aren't going to visit him now?"

"No, we can wait." James smiled again, in that clever, knowing way that Myra wasn't sure how to interpret, as a good sign or a bad one. "Besides, I think we have some homework that should be done."

"Okay then." She stood up and straightened her robes. "Good luck, James."

He stood up too and smiled in gratitude. "Don't tell him I said he was asking about you. I wouldn't hear the end of it. See you around," he said and was off.

"See you around," Myra muttered to herself. In bafflement she headed for the third floor. That had been unexpected. But a step in the right direction, hopefully. For all Myra knew, James could go back to the cool acceptance of her presence in the world next time they saw each other. But with everything in her, she hoped that wouldn't happen. She wanted to be friends with Remus' friends. It was important to Remus. Plus, he had promised her a secret if she managed to make friends of them. That was one thing she was almost certain she couldn't resist.

Reaching the third floor, Myra cleared her head of everything James. The instant she opened the hospital wing doors, Madam Pomfrey was there, blocking further entrance.

"What- Oh, Miss Kinney. Do come in!" The nurse stepped aside and held out her hand, as if she graciously invited Myra into her own home.

"Thank you," she said hesitantly. "You know why I'm here?"

"Yes, I do think that I do." She pointed towards the right corner. There was a wall of white screens there. "There are a few other patients here today," the nurse continued in a whisper. "But the area is spelled silent unless there is an emergency."

Myra glanced around the room. Of course, even though the Quidditch game had been pretty dull, it hadn't been without accidents. "Okay. I won't stay long."

The nurse nodded and went over to one of the other patients. Quickly Myra walked over to Remus' corner and opened the screens an inch. She put her hand through and made a waving motion. "You awake and decent?"

"Don't know," came a tired and amused reply.

Myra smiled and opened the screens wide enough for her to step through. "Hey."

"Good morning. Or afternoon. Or night," Remus croaked.

"I would go with evening," Myra said amusedly.

"Good evening then," he greeted.

"Good evening. How are you feeling?" She sat down in one of the chairs next to the bed, taking in his appearance. He didn't look too bad; no new cuts on his face, one bandage on his arm and that seemed to be it. But he looked exhausted, pale skin and pale eyes, matted hair. His talk was slow and his voice was strained.

"Tired. Achy. But I guess I'll live." He smiled playfully, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Rough moon?"

"You could say so."

"I thought the cold weather made for less... hunting."

"It does." He straightened up a bit against his pillows. "Don't know why last night was so bad. Or why I'm so exhausted." He blinked slowly a few times.

"Does the others know why?"

Remus shook his head. "Said it was just like any full moon. Only without much hunting."

"Maybe the lack of hunting exhausts the wolf? Hunting is what it's supposed to do, so not being in the mood to do so, makes him exhausted."

"Maybe. Haven't thought of that. Sometimes this just happens."

Myra sighed and furrowed her brows. A lump wanted to form in her throat, but she swallowed hard and forced it back down. Though the wolf intrigued Myra, Remus didn't deserve the ugly consequences.

"What's wrong?" he asked, cocking his head.

Closing her eyes, she shook her head. "There's just- I don't know." She looked at him. Her heartbeat sped up, pounding in her ears. The helplessness of him in that bed, tousled hair, slow breathing, that hoarse voice that echoed in her head. It forcefully tugged on her heart and sympathy, but it also tugged in her gut and somewhere a lot more interesting. Myra found herself breathing heavier and quicker as something inside of her seemed to thrust through her skin and desperately try to reach for him. Her arms lay still on her thighs, but they ached from not reaching out to touch him. It was strange.

Now Remus was furrowing his brows, searching her face. Myra forced herself to snap out of it, before he could read too much from her. She took a deep breath to settle her inside, and ground her teeth as she pushed everything down and away. "I don't like seeing you in such a state," she said as an acceptable answer to his question. "I don't like seeing my friends sick or hurt."

Remus' face softened. "Let's talk about something else," he croaked out slowly. "Happier."

Myra smiled. "Okay." She thought back on her day, trying to think of something nice. "Ravenclaw won the match today."

"No!"

"Not good?"

"Slytherin is enough to deal with. Now we have to worry about the 'claws too...?"

"Not good, then. Quidditch..." She spat the word out and shook her head. "James had a go at Lily again at dinner."

"With the pudding?"

Myra raised her eyes in surprise. "You know?"

"He's planned it for a while. Did it work?"

"No. She stabbed his head with the spoon and walked out."

Remus winced and chuckled dryly. "When is he going to catch a break..."

For a moment, Myra smiled too, but then she turned serious, remembering the conversation with James. This time, Remus didn't have to ask what was wrong before she volunteered to explain. "No one's ever doubted that he fancies her, he's made that very clear. But he really loves her, doesn't he?"

Remus had to think about his answer. "At first we weren't sure. But yeah, I think he does. With everything in him. And then some."

"He asked me for advice today. About Lily."

"About time he came to his senses."

"Senses? I couldn't give him much useful advice. I have no idea how to go about something like that."

"Right." Remus said, raising his eyebrows in disbelief.

"Right. When have you ever seen me with a wizard, trying out my powers of persuasion?"

"You often hang around that Goldstein guy."

"Henry?" Myra laughed and spluttered. Remus looked confused. "Sorry. He's... been around, should we say, but I would never ever ever go beyond friendship with him. Besides, I've been spending a lot of time with you lately, haven't I?"

"You have."

For the first time, conversation stalled and the silence became awkward between Myra and Remus. She realised what an insinuation her last sentence actually was, and fought not to blush.

When she couldn't deal with the quiet anymore, she stood up. "I think I should get going. Hestia'll be wondering where I am."

"All right," Remus said quietly.

"When do you think you'll get out of here?"

"Hope tomorrow, but probably not for a few days."

"Okay. Feel better. I'll try to come back on Monday, if you're not already out. Bye." She really wanted to hug him, but the awkward silence, him in bed, her reactions to him. She settled for a wave and quickly disappeared between the screens.

"Miss Kinney, how –" Madam Pomfrey spoke, but Myra didn't stay to listen, instead she walked as quickly as she could out the door and some distance down the hall. There she leant against the stone wall and slid down to the floor.

Merlin's flaming beard! The things Remus made her feel... Made her do... She had never felt anything like it, anything so... She wasn't sure strong was the right word. But that werewolf did something to her that scared her and excited her so m- That werewolf?

"Oh Merlin, what is wrong with me?" Myra ran her hands through her hair, resting her head on her knees. "I'm even worse than Hestia thinks!" Some of the things she enjoyed the most were the things that came from being a werewolf. The temperature, the burning, the scratches and bruises that implied danger. She shouldn't be enjoying werewolf symptoms this much. No one should be enjoying them this much.

"What am I doing?"

Author Notes

Four chapters left of part 1. So far I'm failing Camp NaNo miserably. But I blame the weather. And allergies. High spread of grass pollen. And it's about thirty degrees (Celsius) outside. I think I might die from overheating and lack of oxygen.

Expect chapter 27 within 3 to 4 week!

Please review if you have any thoughts on the chapter!

Coming: Chapter 27 – The Werewolf Effect

"You have to help me, Hestia," she moaned and fell face first onto her own bed with an 'oomph'. "What fresh hell have you gotten yourself into now?" Hestia asked dispassionately without looking up from her book.