"I cannot believe you're dating Sirius Black," Lily said as the four of them sat in their dorm room, talking about their love lives.

"Why not?" Alice said, flipping through Witch Weekly. "They spend practically all their time together. It makes sense."

"Of course she'd manage to nab the hottest guy in school," Marlene moaned. "You have all the luck. I'm going to die alone."

Eva threw a pillow at Marlene. "You are not going to die alone, quit being so melodramatic."

Marlene stuck her tongue out at her friend.

"Really, Eva, why are you dating him?" Lily pressed.

Eva sighed. Lily had been the least supportive of all her friends on this matter. "I like him. He likes me. Why not?"

Alice snickered. "Going by that logic, Lily would be going out with your cousin already."

Lily paled and rounded on Alice. When she spoke, it was at least an octave higher than usual. "I do NOT fancy James Potter."

Eva looked at her curiously. She had been interested in why James wasn't asking her out anymore earlier in the year but Eva hadn't realized that Lily actually liked him. It was fairly obvious by her reaction. "Lily Evans! Why don't you say something to him?"

"He's cute and charming in his own way, I suppose," Lily said. "But I wouldn't go out with someone who hexes people for the fun of it."

Eva laughed. "He'd die if he knew you thought he was cute. But I won't say anything!" she added hastily at the look on Lily's face.

"He's still arrogant and a bully," Lily said with an air of finality. "I'm not interested."

"He's been a lot better this year," Eva said softly. "I don't think he's done anything like that since the start of term."

Lily gave her the death glare. "I said I'm not interested."

"Who are you interested in then?" Marlene asked. "Seriously, Lily, all these boys are interested in you and you never give them the time of day."

Eva had a strong suspicion that it was because the guy she wanted to be asked out by had stopped doing it. To preserve their friendship, she decided to let it go. It would work out if it was meant to work out. She should try to think of the most subtle hint to give James without betraying Lily's trust. But what…

"You still haven't answered my question," Lily said. "Why are you going out with him?"

"Come on, I've had a crush on him since 5th year. We're good friends. We have similar senses of humor. I enjoy spending time with him. He's a great kisser. What more reason do I need?" Eva asked, annoyed. She didn't like her choices being dissected. They were hers to make.

Lily shrugged. "I guess I just thought you'd end up with someone different."

Eva was confused. "Different how?"

"I really can't explain it," Lily said apologetically. "The whole thing just seems off to me."

"Well thank you for your opinion," Eva sniffed. "But my dating life isn't really your business."

"How does this color of lipstick look on me?" Marlene cut in, sensing a potential confrontation.

Eva gave her a small smile. "It looks great, Mar. Really brings out your complexion." She glanced at the clock, as if remembering something she was late for. "Oh look at the time, I better go meet up with my study partner," she lied. What she really needed was a way out of this conversation and time to clear her head. Lily's comments had struck a chord with her, even though there was nothing wrong with her relationship. It did just feel…off…sometimes.

She hopped off the bed and practically sprinted down the stairs, running smack into Peter and bouncing to the floor.

"Geez, Nighteyes, what's your hurry?"

She dizzily rubbed her head. "Escaping nosy roommates."

"Wanting to know how great a kisser I am?" Sirius teased from where he was leaning against the wall.

"Oh, just help me up," Eva snorted. "I'm still seeing two of you."

"That isn't good, Nighteyes. We should get you to the Hospital Wing." James sounded worried.

"I don't need the Hospital Wing, I'm fi—" Midsentence, she was assaulted by a vision of a little girl with black braids falling out of a tall tree in the forest into a circle of dark robed men.

"She's fainted!"

"She probably has a concussion!"

"Don't just stand there, help me lift her!"

Eva heard the familiar voices as if they were coming from far away. She wanted to tell them what happened but couldn't speak or even open her eyes. She had the vague idea she was being moved and heard more fuzzy voices but could no longer make out what they were saying.

When she awoke, she was in the Hospital Wing. Remus dozed in the chair beside her bed. "Moony?"

He stirred slightly before rubbing his eyes. "Oh thank goodness you're awake."

"How long was I out?" Eva asked, not sure she wanted to know the answer.

"Two days," he said tiredly. "We've all been here in shifts so you didn't have to wake up alone. Padfoot will be mad it wasn't his turn when you did." Remus attempted a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Are you alright?" she asked, concerned. He'd seemed so withdrawn lately.

He cracked a more genuine smile. "You've just woken up in the Hospital Wing and are asking me if I'm alright?"

She shrugged. "I've been worried about you lately. You don't seem okay."

He turned away. "I'll manage. Always do."

"Is this about…your furry little problem?"

"Yes and no," he said sadly. "Just let it go, alright?"

Eva knew she should because he let it go when she was upset and didn't want to talk about it, but she pressed on anyway. "You're one of my best friends. You haven't been yourself the past few weeks. I just want you to be happy."

Remus looked like he was about to say something but shut his mouth. When he spoke, Eva was sure that wasn't what he originally planned to say. "Madam Pomfrey said you didn't have a concussion. She thinks it's related to the Memory Charm."

Eva sighed. "It probably is. I had a vision of a little girl that looked like me but that's all I remember right now. It's still fuzzy."

"I'm sure you'll remember everything eventually," he said encouragingly.

"But that's just it. What if I don't want to remember? I wouldn't have been Obliviated so powerfully if I hadn't seen something really bad. I don't want my life to be ruined because of this information a second time. I just want these flashbacks to stop. I just want to be normal."

"I know how that is," Remus said drily and Eva blushed. Of course he'd know what it is to yearn for normalcy much more than she did.

"I didn't mean—"

He cut her off. "I know what you meant. And it's fine. We're in completely different, ridiculous situations. You lost five years of your life. I'm a monster."

"You are NOT a monster," Eva said firmly. Remus looked skeptical but she continued. "You're not. You're a wonderful person that something bad happened to, which was not your fault."

"But—"

"Not your fault," Eva insisted. "You're far from a monster, Remus, you're one of the best people I know."

"Really?" Doubt dripped from his voice.

"Really," Eva promised.

Madam Pomfrey chose that moment to walk into the room. "Alright Miss Potter, you should head down to dinner. There's nothing more I can do for you right now. Would you escort her Mr. Lupin?"

"It would be my honor," he said with a teasing glint in his eye that made Eva want to slug him.

Eva went along with it though and held out her hand as if she were a medieval princess. He took it and tucked it into the crook of his arm. They walked like that until they were down the stairs outside of the Hospital Wing and then burst out laughing.

"Enough of that chivalrous stuff, let's go eat," Eva said.

"Well, we are Gryffindors so chivalry is sort of our thing," Remus replied, looking happier than she'd seen him in weeks.

"Race you!" she called behind her as she zoomed towards the Great Hall. She cackled as she heard his complaints behind her. It was good to see Remus acting like himself again. Hopefully her flashbacks would stop so she could feel like herself again too.