-Leaving already?

-Yes.

-Why so slow?

The awakening was difficult. The head was splitting into pieces and the body ached, as if a herd of buffalo had run a marathon over it. Remus winced and opened his eyes. Shabby ceiling looked down at him. He shifted and pushed himself up on his elbows. His sighed was unclear so he narrowed his eyes trying to make out what was happening in the room. Peter was sleeping on a rundown armchair while James and Sirius rested on the floor against the wall. He tried to move but something heavy kept him down. He looked at his legs and gasped in confusion. A large cat like animal laid over his legs. The animal was covered with thick white fur with small dark spots. Its face was nuzzled against his feet, but he still noticed its tufted ears. The animal's long legs rested on his own. Lupin rubbed his eyes wondering if he was hallucinating.

The animal's breathing was so shallow for a moment Remus thought it was dead. He gulped and reached out to touch the scraped side.

"I wouldn't do that mate," James's voice made him snap out of the daze. Potter walked to the bed and looked down at the animal. "She seems calm right now, but who knows how she will react when she wakes up. We should probably move her before she wakes up anyway."

"She?" Lupin's voice was quiet; the roughness in his throat prevented him from talking normally.

"You don't remember?" Potter raised his eyebrows. Lupin looked at him confused. "Damn, well, this here is Lestrange."

As soon as the words left his mouth Lupin's breath got stuck in his throat. The flashbacks of the previous night started coming back bit by bit. He stood by window, when he turned around, he saw her. He remembered her face. He shouted at her. She argued. He pushed her and then everything went blank.

"Moony, hey moony are you alright? You look paler than usual," James leaned closer worriedly. "You need to rest, mate. Last night was tough. I don't remember ever seeing you this aggressive. I guess even your other state cannot stand Lestrange." Potter shrugged and went to wake Black and Pettigrew. He was wrong. Lupin never detested Lestrange, quite far from it, but he could never admit to his friends that even in his beast form he was still attracted to her. He was attracted to the smell of her fear and she was undeniably scared.

"Is it morning already?" Sirius's groggy voice echoed in the distance. "She still didn't turn? That's not good." Black strolled to the bed and touched Viv.

"Who would have thought she is also an animagus." Peter said from the armchair.

"What is she anyway?" James asked taking a closer look.

"Looks like a cat?"

"She's like three times bigger than a cat,"

"She's a lynx," Peter said again. "I...I think so at least." He looked at his hands uncertainly.

"Oh, bugger, she is waking up." James said taking a step back.

Remus felt his heart skip a beat as he watched Viv in her animagus form yawn and stretch out the legs. The sharp claws quickly appeared and disappeared in the fur. She looked down at her paws, her head shot up and she glanced at Remus. Her body started trembling the hackles stood in line along the backbone. She hissed and jumped away from Remus.

"The wounds are still fresh," James commented. "Lestrange, you need to calm down if you want to turn back." but Viv was not calming down, she kept backing away hissing angrily and showing the fangs.

"She is not calming down," Peter stated the obvious.

Lupin watched her distance herself from him with sadness and despair in his eyes. Whatever fragile relationship they have shared was over. He almost killed, he was a monster and now she knew it, and she loathed him.

"Someone needs to calm her down." Peter interjected once again.

On an instinct, Lupin reached out to her, but Potter stopped him. "Probably not you mate," he shook his head and approached Viv. "I know you can understand, so come here." Potter launched at her. Viv charged back scratching his hand with her claws. "This bitch," Potter took out his wand.

"Wait," Lupin yelled. "You know you cannot use magic for this, she has to calm down on her own."

Potter clicked his tongue and put the wand away. He launched forward again, but she hissed and jumped away, landing straight into Black's arms. "Gotcha," he grinned. Viv hissed but did not try to break free, Black sat down with her and started stroking her head, rubbing behind the hears and trailing his hand over her back.

"Oh look, she likes you," James laughed earning another hiss from Viv.

"Shut up Prongs," Black snapped back and continued stroking. Lupin watched the scene in front of him feeling dejected. Suddenly the tiredness and the pain amplified. He wanted to lie down and disappear. He dug his nails into the old mattress and continued watching.

The shuddering of Viv's animal form was finally dying down and she slowly started to relax in Black's arms. "Come on, Lestrange, clear your mind and imagine yourself as a human." Sirius whispered. There was something intimate in his voice and in his actions. The way his fingers stroked the back of the lynx. The way his fingertips played with her ears. Remus had no right to intervene, he had no right to be angry, but all he wanted to do was to slap Sirius's hands away from Viv and bury her in his arms, away from his friends.

Suddenly the lynx shuddered and stretched and in an instant Vivienne Lestrange appeared in its place. Her body was laying over Sirius's lap with his hand on her lower back. "Get the fuck off me Black," Viv hissed pushing herself away from him.

"Oh yes, she's back," Peter grinned.

"Actually, you were the one who jumped into my arms willingly,"

Viv rose to her feet too suddenly, causing her head to start spinning. She stumbled and grabbed onto the wall. "It was either you or Potter, and I don't think my pride would survive the four eyes there." Viv's knees continued shaking. She felt weak.

"Surprised you have pride you ungrateful Slytherin harpy." Potter hissed under his breath.

Viv just glared and looked around. The room was completely trashed. Her eyes travelled to Pettigrew who was comfortably sat in an old, tarnished armchair. Black remained on the floor and Potter paced around the room. Slowly she turned her gaze at Lupin. Viv looked at him with a blank unreadable stare. Unable to hold her gaze Lupin looked away. Without a word Viv turned away and stalked to the door. Her knees continued to shake, and her legs were relentlessly giving way, but she continued to walk stubbornly. When she reached out for the doorhandle her head clouded and she quietly sank to the floor.

"Lestrange," Potter walked to the girl, but she did not react to his voice. "Hey, Lestrange," James touched her shoulder. Viv stiffened and started falling forward. "Oh, come on, not again." Potter caught her before her body hit the floor.

"What's wrong with her?" Lupin shot to his feet ignoring the pain and rushed towards the two. James stood up with Viv in his arms. Instinctively he reached out and took the girl out of Potter's arms. James raised his eyebrow surprised but did not comment.

"Battered up form last night. We've used some healing spells, but her body is simply too weak."

Lupin held the girl close, gently pressing her body to his. Her body was weightless in his arms. He wanted to lean in and kiss her temple, but he held back.

"We need to get her to the hospital wing," Peter suggested finally getting off the armchair.

"Why don't you take her then," Sirius smirked. Peter gulped.

"Why don't you both take her," James smiled slyly and crossed his arms on his chest. "I mean, she seems to really like you Padfoot,"

Black winced at the comment. "And it will look less suspicious if you both go."

"Fine, whatever," Black sighed and extended his arms to the girl. Lupin hesitated. "Come on mate,"

With a heavy heart Lupin watched Peter and Sirius walk into the tunnel with Viv. James watched his friend's pained expression, clenching hands, and tight jaw with burning suspicion. As soon as the door closed, Potter walked to Lupin and stood in front of him.

"Is there anything you want to tell me, Rem?"

Lupin shook his head and walked to the mattress. He laid down and turned away facing the wall.

Black eased Viv on the hospital bed. Madame Pomfrey rushed towards them. "Oh dear, what happened to her?"

Black and Pettigrew exchanged glances. "We found her this way." Black shrugged. Madame Pomfrey gave them a long look and nodded.

"I'm afraid I will need to report this to the Headmaster. He might have some questions to you boys."

The two nodded sourly. "Now off you go, classes are starting in twenty minutes."