Chapter 26

*Jane Lupin and Nancy James-Fournier conversation when Remus was 12 years old*

"Do you think he is ever going to tell her," Nancy asked her friend from the porch.

"I honestly don't know," Jane replied shaking her head. "I knew he wasn't going to handle the news well, but he didn't have to take his frustration out on Becky."

"She's locked herself in my bedroom for the past four days. I'm worried she is going to have permanent tear marks on her face if she doesn't stop crying," Nancy sighed.

"Did I do wrong telling him about them...about how they died," Jane asked lowering herself into the porch swing.

Nancy went up the steps to comfort her friend. "You did what you thought was right. He was going to find out eventually. It's better that he knows now than later."

"How can you be so understanding," Jane whispered. The soft rocking of the swing was lulling her into a state of calm as she sat.

"I guess you become a little more understanding once you find out there is more suffering in this world than one ever thought possible. Laurent always told me that the wizarding world had its share of pain and suffering just like the world I grew up in," Nancy explained.

"Have you told her about what happened that night?"

"I told her it was a fluke. I said it was during the time of year when food wasn't abundant and wolves tend to come into the city to find food. I think I made her more afraid of wolves than she had been before, but I didn't want to completely lie to her," Nancy answered. She could feel her throat constricting with emotion.

"That's just going to make it harder for Remus once he does decide to tell her the truth," Jane nodded. She pulled Nancy into a hug and the two of them sat in that comforting embrace as the porch swing gently rocked.

Both women thinking about the difficulties that would lie ahead for their children once the truth finally came out.

*Current Time*

"What do you mean Becky is terrified of wolves," Remus questioned again when his friends didn't answer him the first time. "Fine, if you won't answer that question then maybe you will answer this one...where did you get that letter?"

Sirius looked over at James and Peter, who were both avoiding eye contact with anyone else in the room. "Er...um...Lily delivered it?"

"Why would Lily deliver a letter from Becky," Remus wondered out loud.

"It had something to do with your owl delivering it during breakfast and you not being there," Peter murmured. However, like Sirius it sounded more like a question than a statement.

"Give me the letter," Remus demanded.

Peter stalled a few seconds by pretending to smooth out the letter's edges, but handed it to Remus when Remus began to growl Peter's name in irritation.

Remus snatched the letter from Peter's out stretched hands and began to hungrily read what his best friend had to say in regards to wolves. The more Remus read the more the lines in his face creases and the mischievous sparkle in his eyes dissipated. Then his heart nearly stopped when he came to the portion reading: "...Maybe if dad hadn't died that night, I would have these irrational wolf trepidations. As I re-read over this, I sound so crazy. I really shouldn't be saying all of this to you, but I had to tell someone and I couldn't tell my boyfriend..."

Remus re-read those few sentences at least five times before allowing his mind to wrap around what was written. There were two things Remus realized in that little bit of writing. One Becky's fear of wolves increased exponentially the night her father died and two this letter was not intended for Remus.

"Why couldn't she tell me this," Remus' questioned mostly to himself. His voice started to break as he kept repeating, "I don't understand why."

James braved asking the question he knew was on everyone's mind. "Did you ever tell her that you're a werewolf?"

"No, that's not the point..."

"She is capable of keeping secrets too," Sirius interjected. "She probably didn't want to worry you or think that she had some irrational fear. She said so in the letter."

"But this letter wasn't for me," Remus seethed. He ripped the covers off his body and attempted to stand. However, his body was still feeble from the night before.

With his quick reflexes, James stepped forward and caught Remus under the arms before he could crumple to the ground in weakness.

"Of course, the letter is for you," Sirius replied nervously, having a feeling the letter was actually for him. "Look here, it's addressed to you."

"No, it's not. So which one of you was she writing to?" Remus attempted to push James' hands away, but he couldn't manage in his current state.

Remus finally managed to manoeuvre out of his friend's grasp. He stumbled a bit, but managed to remain standing.

"Mate, you aren't steady enough," Sirius called after him. "You have to stay here."

"I have to find her. I have to explain. She deserves to know why wolves scare her."

"Find who? Find Becky," Sirius asked catching up to Remus and pulling to a stop. "You can't leave. She's in France. You can't just leave to go to France."

"No, she's..." Remus began. However he was cut off by Peter. "Remus stop! You can't just go find Becky. Think about how she would feel if you all of a sudden told her you what you are once a month. And think about the girl you went on a date with...how would she react to this kind of information?"

Sirius stepped back from the situation and allowed Peter to handle their distraught friend.

"You know," Remus whispered only loud enough for Peter to hear.

"I was able to recognize her voice from the summer after she came out of the Three Broomsticks window yesterday."

"Then I have to find her."

"She was here earlier, Remus," Peter explained. "She was more upset that you were in the Hospital Wing than anything else."

"But she doesn't know why I was here?"

Peter shook his head.

Sirius took the opportunity to approach. He gently took Remus by the shoulders and led the tired werewolf back to the sterile white bed.

As soon as Remus was settled back to where he was, Madam Pomfrey appeared with James at her side.

"I heard you might need another calming draft," the matron stated. She pressed the back of her hand to Remus' forehead. "Dear, you're running a fever. You know you cannot get too anxious after a full moon. Your body hasn't been able to recuperate yet."

Madam Pomfrey handed Remus another potion. "Drink up, dear. You need your rest."

Remus was too upset to argue. He could feel the warm liquid trickle down his throat and drop into his stomach. A few seconds is all it took for the potion to absorb into his blood stream. One at a time, each part of his body seemed to relax and soon Remus' eyelids became too heavy for him to stay awake.

The remaining three marauders each let out a breath they didn't know they were holding as soon as they saw Remus close his eyes.

"Now, gentlemen," Madam Pomfrey turned to the three. "I think Mr. Lupin has had enough visiting for now. You may return after supper."

*A couple of days later*

"Remus is still in the Hospital Wing if you want to visit him."

Becky looked up to find the Head Boy creating a shadow over her paper. "And why would that be a concern to me?"

"I saw you sneaking up there last night," James said taking a seat next to Becky. He looked down over her work and smiled at the assignment she was working on for transfiguration. "You missed a key point here."

Becky quickly looked over her work and then looked over the previous paragraph she read. She saw the missing piece then scribbled it down. "Thanks, James."

"No problem," James said leaning back in his chair causing the two front legs to lift off the ground. "He's awake. I'm sure he would want to see you."

"Why would he want to see me," Becky asked playing coy. "I've only been here for about a month. I'm just the new girl."

James shook his head. "Don't give me that timid little new girl act, Rebecca. I've seen the way he brushes his hand against yours when he thinks no one else is looking. I saw the way you were looking at him the other morning before you left the Hospital with Lily."

"You've been watching us," Becky said sending a smirk in James' direction. "I feel honoured that you would take time away from watching your Lily-flower to watch me as well."

James narrowed his eyes. "Where did you hear that?"

"Please, James. Everyone in school knows you have romantic feelings for Lily. It's not difficult to miss," Becky said slightly kicking James chair causing him to almost fall back.

"No, that's not what I meant," James clarified once he regained balance on all four chair legs. "I only say Lily-flower in front of my friends.

Becky shrugged. "I may have been told by someone."

"That's it," James said getting up. He grabbed the paper Becky was writing on it, blew on it a couple of times, and then shoved the parchment into Becky's bag. "You're coming with me, new girl."

"What—"

Before Becky could utter another word James had grabbed Becky around her waist and hoisted her over his shoulder. He picked up her bag from the floor and balanced it on his opposite shoulder.

"How is this going to look if Lily sees this," Becky gasped out as best as she could from her perch, which was hindering her ability to breath.

"I have a feeling she knows I'm not interested in you," James shrugged causing Becky to bounce slightly.

"You wound me, James."

"And you, m'dear, sound like Remus."

"Breathing...getting...difficult..."

"Relax, we're nearly there."

Becky could only take James' word that they were nearly to their destination. She was not strong enough in her position to get out of James' grasp. And all she could see was James' lower back or the back of his feet as he walked.

The two of them came to a staircase. With each step, Becky could feel her ribs digging further and further into James' back. One a moment of air was allowed into her lungs before the air was knocked out once again by each step up.

"I don't have enough hands," James stopped walking. "Put your hands out so you don't hit your head too hard."

"Huh?"

James gave no other warning before he began backing up into the doors using Becky as a kind of door ram.

"Ow," Becky cried as soon as she impacted the door.

"I did warn you," James said ungracefully dismounting Becky from his shoulder. "Here we are, I brought you to your lover."

"You are a horrible human being, James Potter," Becky lay immobilized on the floor where she was dropped. "And he's not my lover."

"No," James questioned. "I could have sworn he was muttering your name in his sleep."

James cleared his throat, and attempted a dream like voice, "Rebecca...Rebecca...Rebecca, I love you."

Becky froze. She vaguely remembered something from the other day. "Do you have any idea how much I love this chocolate...Almost as much as I love y..."

"Earth to Rebecca," James said tapping Becky on the side of her head.

"You ruined the moment," Becky grumbled walking over to Remus' bed. "You can leave now, James."

"But—"

"Bye," Becky said waving her hands dismissively.

"Nope," James stubbornly replied crossing his arms over his chest. "Not until you tell me that you and Remus' are together."

"I believe she told you to leave," Remus said opening his eyes and looking between his two friends.

"But—"

"I'll kick yours if you don't get out right now," Remus darkly muttered.

James backed away slowly holding his hands up as if surrendering. "I will get one of you to admit it someday soon."

Becky bent down and picked up one of Remus' disgaurded shoes. She threw it in James' direction, but he dodged it easily due to his Quidditch training. He was gone before the second shoe had a chance to fly.

"Why are you throwing my shoes," Remus asked carefully avoiding Becky's eyes.

"Let's just say I was inspired by a dream," Becky replied keeping a reproachful eye on the door as if she expected James to come barging back through.

"He knows about us, doesn't he," Remus questioned looking in the same direction Becky was still facing.

Becky sighed sitting down on the edge of the bed. "He does. I didn't confirm it, but he has caught a couple of our 'couple-ly moments' like hand touches and concerned looks."

"Have you been writing to him?" Remus meant to build up to asking about the letters, but Becky was here and he couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Why would I be writing to him?" Becky sent Remus a confused look.

"Don't play dumb like that. I know you have been writing to someone. I have the letter," Remus replied pulling the now worn letter from under his pillow. He had read it probably hundreds of times in the last couple of days.

Becky looked at the letter for a few seconds before she realized the letter was the one she had wrote to Sirius. The letter that Lily had delivered a few days prior.

"Who was this letter intended for," Remus asked. He could feel his temper rising to the surface as Becky refused to answer the questions. "Because it sure as hell wasn't me."

"Remus, please don't get mad," Becky said taking Remus' hand and resting it on her lap. She stroked his knuckles in a soothing fashion hoping her friend would calm down.

However, Remus did not calm down. All he could feel was the rough friction of the pads of Becky's thumb over his sensitive knuckles. He pulled his hand away as if burned.

"Telling someone not to get mad usually doesn't help the situation. Now who were you writing to? Was it James because you two seem pretty buddy-buddy just now. Or maybe it's Peter. He recognized your voice from the summer and now he knows who you are. I bet it's Peter."

"Remus, please don't get mad. I wasn't writing to them," Becky's eyes started to water as she listened to the harsh edge in her friend's voice.

"Then to whom, Becky?"

"It started out in fun. I just wanted to mess with his head for a little while. I didn't think you would get so upset about this."

"Stop avoiding the question!"

A lone tear slipped down Becky's face. "I've been knowingly writing to Sirius. He thinks I don't know."

Remus didn't notice the wet track running down Becky's face because he was trying to not let his inner animal take over his emotions. However, it was proving to be a difficult task and the wolf's anger was slipping through.

"Leave," Remus said through gritted teeth.

"I don't understand why you are acting this way. You were fine a couple of days ago," Becky sniffed. "Please, I didn't think this would bother you so much."

"Well it does," Remus replied once again through his tightly clenched jaw. "Now, please leave."

Becky silently got up from the bed and hurried out of the Hospital Wing. She didn't bother looking back at Remus because she knew she couldn't face the angry look that was bound to be in his eyes.

As soon as she had made it to the stairs, she clung onto the railing and sank to the ground, tears running freely down her cheeks.

A/N: Sorry about this chapter...but the story gets a bit darker and more emotional for the next couple of chapters.

Thank to everyone to reviewed, alerted, and favourited! I had some amazing responses from the last chapter. So Thank you!

The poll will be up for one more week...so tell me/vote on how you think Becky should find out about Remus being a werewolf.

Always,
orangezauber