As horrible as the night was for Remus, Ines couldn't help but feel nostalgic. It had been four years since she had first found out about his lycanthropy. On a date with Edward Carmichael, after having just been kissed for the very first time, she heard the howl that she now knew haunted Remus' every waking moment. She was atop the astronomy tower much past curfew with a boy much too old for her. Not that she had any care at that time, thinking his interest in her was in no way strange or predator but rather out of true kindness. The castle was full of strange and mysterious things, and unknown noises were not uncommon, but this one was different. While Edward had decided to retreat back to the Ravenclaw common room, Ines went to investigate its source, only to find her four friends in a bloody and decrepit state.
But this night was different - normally Ines was avoiding boys, partially for Remus' sake but also to get a night not spent with her skirt at her ankles in a broom cupboard - tonight she was simply left alone. Not a single soul came up to her to feign interest in her summer to look at her breasts. Nobody bothered her, they simply watched as she walked through the halls or the common room. Ines would be stupid not to realize why, but it was strange none the less. Sirius' presence was nothing new to Ines, they had been inseparable ever since their first day at Hogwarts. But his role had changed, and while there was no name for it - at least not one that the two of them had discussed - there was an obvious difference.
Ines had long since lost care for the detentions she would undoubtedly receive while waiting for the boys. Most teachers let her be, either aware of the situation or much too tired to prosecute her for sitting and doing seemingly nothing just as she did every month. She sat, as she usually did, behind the statue of the architect of Hogwarts who was sat riding a horse with a miniature model of the castle in his hands. It had been two hours since she had walked down with the boys and wished them all good luck, and was halfway through her second pack of sugar quills. At this point she had become accustomed to the worry that lingered in the hall in the hours she spent waiting for the boys, it used to be practically unbearable. But as the years passed, the boys became animagi, Remus was easier to handle, and she was at much more peace. She was sometimes able to get work done if she chose to actually do it, but on this night she used her time to ponder.
She wondered about what her life would have been like if the seemingly most minor of changes had occurred. Had she been sorted into Slytherin, she most likely would have not found Sirius in the way she did. Sure, they had seen each other plenty of times previous to their sorting but had never had the opportunity to really get to know each other. They likely wouldn't have if she had been sorted into Slytherin. If she were in Slytherin she probably would have stuck by her brother, being surrounded by the same ideals he welcomed. Maybe she would have been overpowered, too scared to speak up and defy the norm. Her parents would love her. But most importantly, Sirius would not love her. Nor would James, Remus, Peter, Lily, or any of the girls. She would try to glean love from people like Evan Rosier or Bertha Jorkins.
She would have been expected to love Regulus, or at least like him, as they would probably spend the rest of their life together. She would have had to bear his children, and then raise them under the watchful eye of her own parents. She would live a life stolen from Oberon. She wondered where that would leave Sirius. Would Marlene fill the void she would no longer be able to, or would it still be her? Would they still find their way to each other? She usually liked to think that they would, but on nights of the full moon made her think not. The chances of Remus parents existing, marrying, having Remus, him being bitten, been sorted into Gryffindor, become friends with the boys, trust them enough to tell them his secret, as well as every other possible change in the universe, made the occurrence of their reality seem next to impossible. Every minor change in the history of time led them to this moment, but seemingly minor changes turned major, like house and allegiance.
She thought again, as difficult as the night was for Remus, she was glad that this was the reality that all the changes in the universe brought her to. Even on the most difficult nights, she was glad for it all. She thought of the night that a full moon aligned with the night of Remus' 14th birthday, and Ines was still able to pull off his party, without him even being there. It took copious amounts of alcohol and plenty of convincing but she managed to pull it off and still shag Andrew Brooks before the boys had come back, and unharmed at that.
The whole experience made her feel a lot bigger than she actually was. That she was above the petty struggles of everyone else in the castle, worried about their grades, clothes, and classes. She was too busy worrying about the lives of her friends, and if they would live to see another day. But in the hours of the night, trying to fall asleep, it sometimes haunted her. That she should be worried about simple things like how to do her hair the next day and what she would wear. Not the fate of her future, and whether it would ever intertwine with her brothers again. If she would be able to see the ones she loved grow old. If she herself would grow old, old enough to one day have children and raise them the way she wished she had been.
She hadn't realized she began to cry when Lily pointed it out, asking her what was wrong, and it took her even longer to realize that it was Lily that stood in front of her. "What are you doing! Go back to the dorm!". Lily took a step back in shock, "I could tell you to do the same! I'm doing my rounds tonight". Ines stood from her spot at the statue and gripped her by her shoulders, pushing her away slightly. "No! Lily, since when?". "Since Owen Caudwell had me trade with him so he could study for his astronomy exam tomorrow. But why are you crying? What's the matter? Why can't I be here"
Ines, now trying to stifle her tears, "I'm sorry, I just can't tell you.". Lily, a bit astonished, took another step back. They didn't have any secrets, but this seemed different. Before she could say anything else, her name was called from the now opening front doors. Ines ran to the sound of the voice, with Lily not far behind. Making their way through the doors was a tired-looking Peter with Remus using his short frame for support, and James trying to keep a very bloody Sirius upright. Ines immediately fell to her knees in front of him, looking up at James, tears now spilling out again. "What happened?".
She was used to them all being hurt, but this was different. Lily was here, despite Remus being hardly conscious enough to realize it, and this was not something she was supposed to be privy to. With emotions running high, Ines could hardly hold back her emotions. "Wrong place wrong time, he's got a hefty slash on his stomach. We've got to get him…." James went to look towards the stairs only to see Lily staring back at him. He took only a brief moment to spare her a glance, and then back to Ines, somehow still keeping calm. "Dormitory, now, grab his other arm.". Ines scurried to his other side and hoisted him up. Lily, without instruction, went to alleviate Peter of some of the weight crushing down on him.
After a grueling climb up the staircases, they made it to the boy's room as silently as they could, and then as carefully as possible, put both Remus and Sirius in their respective beds. James immediately sprang into action, having Lily grab the tin from Remus' bedside table with all the supplies he needed. Lily did her best to support James' and comfort Ines. Remus was relatively okay, nothing beyond his normal level of injury on a night like this. Peter was exhausted, falling in and out of sleep on the armchair by the door, but healthy and alive nonetheless. But the gash on Sirius's stomach went deep and long, covering much of his torso. After what felt like hours, watching the seams of Sirius' skin inch further towards each other, James could safely say that Sirius would be just fine.
He was still asleep and was likely to stay that way through the night. Ines gripped his hand tightly, sitting beside his sleeping form. In the time it took for James to put all the supplies back in Remus' tin, give Ines a big hug, and calm himself down, Remus had woken up. He immediately noticed Lily, and the second her eyes met his, they shot towards James. "She doesn't know anything, we haven't said a word.". Remus, unable to speak, took a second before nodding. His voice hoarse, he was able to say a few words, "Tell her," turning to Lily, "I trust you.". Lily nodded, her eyes wide open in shock and confusion before he put his head on his pillow and dozed off.
Lily and James headed down the stairs towards the common room, and Ines took a few minutes to breathe. She brushed Sirius' hair from his face before heading down the stairs herself to find Lily and James sat practically on top of each other on the couch adjacent to the fire. Deep in conversation, they hardly noticed Ines until she bid them goodnight, blowing them each a kiss as she made her way up the stairs to the girl's dormitory. Leaving them to talk about Remus, the past seven years, and whatever else it was that left Lily in a daze when she finally made her way back up to her bed later that night.
