Chapter 43: The First Halloween Since
Norton's lesson on the Unforgivable Curses fortunately did not provide demonstrations, but he wished for the class to study it deeply and he seemed to show some sickening liking to their studying and cringing over the details of the Cruciatus Curse in particular. Severus was not the least bit afraid of any of them, as he had suffered torture at Voldemort's hand many times and lived to tell about it to Dumbledore. He experienced the Imperius Curse once before under Bellatrix's hand, as she was jealous and untrusting of him, but he was able to use his Occlumency to resist. And although he never died under the Killing Curse, he thought no spell could be worse than snake venom flooding the body.
Meanwhile, Alice was feeling lonely without Frank, and was also feeling the strain of being a NEWT student in her final year. She had premature fears of the exams to come, but Lily and the other female Gryffindors were all there to help reassure her.
It wasn't just Alice who needed comforting. Narcissa was lonely without Andromeda to help her get through her choices to abandon Lucius Malfoy and to join the House Union. Lily, Severus and their friends did their best, but there was only so much they could do from being in different Houses, and a seventh-year girl being chummy with two third years such as Regulus and Melody was more awkward than anything else.
Also feeling more foreign in the castle was Glenn Tozer, as his brother, Ned had also graduated from Hogwarts along with Frank, Andromeda and Malfoy. Glenn and his Hufflepuff friends in the Union were still active and friendly, but he missed his brother's influence. Luckily, as he was now in fifth year, Glenn had more than enough to keep himself occupied.
But as far as Severus was concerned, nobody could be more alienated in the school than Remus.
Remus was still sad and alone in the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey had done all that she could. But he was still unresponsive to anything other than his feedings, which although now no longer entailed the possibility of having the feeding hand bitten, was hardly a compensation for the fact that their friend had nearly gone a whole year in this sorry state.
Severus, James and Sirius visited him regularly, as did Peter and Lily, the former because he saw Remus as a best friend, and the latter as she was fond of Remus, and could see that Severus did too.
Today, Severus was visiting Remus with Peter. Peter did all he could to make his friend comfortable and Severus recapped the Defence Against the Dark Arts classes to him, hoping that any of it was getting through to him. But, externally, not even the mentioning of the Unforgivables was enough to spark a reaction out of Remus.
"I hate that even if he does recover, Remus won't be able to study with us in class anymore," said Peter despondently.
"Dumbledore and us in the Union can do the best we can to get him back on track as quickly as possible," said Severus optimistically.
"I hope so."
The two friends bonded more in their concern for Remus, and Severus was tempted on more than one occasion to just divulge Remus' lycanthropy to Peter. But he always thought better of it in the end. After all, he still wasn't entirely sure if this Peter Pettigrew was trustworthy and furthermore, he felt it would be betraying Remus' trust to tell Peter without his consent. It was the same reason why he never told Lily either, despite his wishes to be honest with her.
September passed into October and the leaves around the Forbidden Forest were scattering across the grounds and some breezed into the lake, disturbing the still waters. The brownness of the leaves gave a picturesque view, especially around Hagrid's garden, as Severus looked down on the grounds after sending Gabriel the owl off with his letter to Eileen and Robin. They had sent one to him a few days before, informing him that the Gobstones Inn had been as successful as ever, and Eileen also headed the club there as an undisputed champion.
"Wow, married couples are so boring!" teased Sirius as he read Severus' letter.
"It was Mum's dream to own that place!" snapped Severus. "That and having a new husband to share her dream with, of course she's going to talk about it to her son!"
"Sorry, chum!" said Sirius, smacking himself on the hand.
Severus was soon back with his friends in Herbology class, where Sprout taught them about the Wivered Wyrm Plants, wizened with age, but great inside with potion purposes. Severus found them interesting even in his old life. He often experimented with them for his potion ideas, but none of them ever came to full fruition due to his duties as a spy.
"We all going to Hogsmeade next week?" asked Quincey.
"I expect so, but maybe this time, no dates and just a friends' day out?"
"Really? I thought this would be your opportunity to bag a date yourself."
"Who with?" asked Severus nervously.
"You know who I mean, you idiot!" laughed Quincey.
"Attention is vital in this class, Mr Arnolds," chastised Sprout.
Quincey had the decency to look abashed.
Halloween was not far off, and Severus and his friends grew more and more unhappy as Remus' condition remained as hopeless as ever. Dumbledore and Pomfrey also looked disheartened at his lack of improvement. He may no longer be feral, but he remained inactive and unresponsive.
"He barely sleeps either," said Pomfrey sadly on the 30th October.
"Is that why he's thinner?" asked Severus observantly.
"Yes, although we keep him well fed, his sleep patterns are too minor. He's becoming more and more weak and desensitised to what any human needs. I fear he'll be lost if this goes on for another six months."
"If he's not lost already," said James to himself despairingly.
It was as he said this that Regulus came in, but did so quietly and slowly, as though he was trying to enter the Wing without being noticed.
"Do you want something, Reggie?" asked Sirius, whom was sat beside James.
Regulus jumped.
"Oh, uh, Sirius, um…"
"Visiting Mr Lupin again, are you, Mr Black?" asked Pomfrey.
"I don't recall you coming to visit Remus with the Union before," said Sirius suspiciously.
"Came up a couple of times," murmured Regulus.
"With Melody?"
"No, he always comes alone," cut in Pomfrey.
Severus didn't like the sound of that at all.
"Care to explain, Reg?" asked James.
"It's Regulus to you, and no, just showing concern."
"If you're concerned, you wouldn't be trying to sneak in. I bet you have the last few times and Madam Pomfrey always caught you! You're after something!" said Sirius mutinously.
Regulus was a terrible actor. His expression showed all signs of guilt, and yet he was trying to look puzzled.
"N-no idea what you mean!"
"Pull the other one!"
"Boys, be quiet!" spoke up Pomfrey. "Mr Black, if you're not here solely to be of comfort and company to Mr Lupin, I must ask you to leave!"
Regulus frowned deeply, and addressed Severus, James and Sirius.
"I know there's something up with him beyond a head trauma! I saw it before the attack, and he was hiding something when Mels and I first joined the Union. I know he's hiding something, maybe even faking all this, but I intend to find out w-!"
Upon hearing his brother insinuate that Remus was faking his terrible state, Sirius lunged at him and aimed for his face with his fist.
"DON'T!"
Severus and James dragged Sirius back and the next moment-
"OUT! ALL OF YOU! OUT!"
Not wanting to cross Madam Pomfrey, the four of them departed the Hospital Wing post haste.
"You idiot!" snapped Sirius.
"You're both idiots!" cut in Severus. "Remus didn't need that!"
Sirius looked contrite, but Regulus felt no remorse whatsoever.
"I know he's more than what he's letting on!" he snapped. "I mean what I said, Sirius. I will find out what he and you are hiding!"
"It's you and he, not the other way round, moron!"
Regulus ignored his brother and scampered off, keen to learn the truth about Remus just to spite his elder brother.
"We'll deal with him, Sirius," said James, "but right now, we need to get to class. We'll speak with the Union about Regulus being cruel to one of our own, and we can hopefully get them to dissuade him from harassing Remus, especially in the condition he's in!"
Sirius wasn't happy, but he agreed.
That evening, the Union met up, but Regulus was late as usual, which was what Sirius, James and Severus counted on.
Severus was unsure if confiding with the Union was a good idea, because Regulus was bound to react by making the group just as suspicious of Remus as he was. But the majority of vote was to stop Regulus first and avoid questions later.
"Reggie was being a right git to Remus earlier," explained Sirius.
"How so?" asked Lily.
"He suggested that there was more to Remus' condition than Madam Pomfrey has let on," said James inconspicuously.
"Worse, he even had the gall to suggest that Remus was faking it!" seethed Sirius.
"That's disgraceful!" gasped Mary.
"But I have to admit," said Quincey with a guilty expression, "I found it strange that Remus clawed at Severus that day. It was like he thought he was a wild animal. Most people who get brain damage don't become animalistic. They either become insane or just lose their memory in Muggle examples. Remus is a unique case in of himself."
The rest of the Union seemed to agree, much to Severus' dismay. This was going as badly as he had anticipated.
"Guys, Remus is in a horrible state and you're actually agreeing with Regulus?!" cried James.
"I don't think that Remus is faking it. He could never fool Pomfrey or Dumbledore, especially not for That long!" said Alice reassuringly. "But it is true that Remus' behaviourism after his attack was unusual. What caused it, I do not know, but it is curious!"
Severus groaned. Lily noticed.
"What is it, Sev?"
"I just find it ridiculous. I don't judge Remus for attacking me. Whatever happened to him inside his head may have been a result of some kind of Dark Magic that Malfoy and his comrades pulled. Maybe it wasn't the bang on the head! Maybe they did something whilst conjuring the spell that hit him that would make him act that way! A new Dark spell that they made up to impress Voldemort!"
Most of the Union flinched at the name, but saw some sense in Severus' lie, giving off the satisfactory effect he wanted.
When Regulus and Melody arrived, with Narcissa in tow, the Union were quick to criticise the younger Black.
"How dare you suggest our friend, your friend of faking his illness!" said Glenn Tozer crossly.
"And after all he did to help us out last year!" added Isabella Openshaw. "If not for him, Severus or Melody may have been the ones laying on that hospital bed, out of their minds!"
"So none of you find his condition strange?!" snapped Regulus, looking to his cousin and his best friend uneasily for help.
"I found it crazy when he attacked Severus after waking up…but he's stopped acting like that now," replied Melody timidly.
"But why did he act like a ferocious animal at all?" asked Regulus counteractively.
"I-I don't know."
"You cannot deny there's a mystery in all this!"
"Whatever it is, I'm sure Dumbledore understands!" insisted Severus.
"And besides, we think Remus reacted that way cos of some Dark Magic that Malfoy and his cronies pulled." added James defensively.
"Or maybe that's what Lupin and Dumbledore want us to think!" retorted Regulus.
"You're not actuallys suggesting Dumbledore's hiding this 'mystery' of yours?" asked Alice with mirthless laughter in her voice. "Honestly, Regulus Black! If Dumbledore thought Remus was dangerous, he'd have done something about it by now! Remus Lupin is just very ill and instead of trying to build up some make-believe conspiracies behind his back when he's at his most vulnerable, you should be showing concern! Trying to help him in his time of need!"
"Never a truer word!" put in Sirius, looking at his brother with coldness.
"Be quiet, Sirius!" said Lily.
"We still need to be a Union!" agreed Severus.
"We just all need to agree to leave Remus be," added Mary.
"But he's hiding something! I'm sure of it!"
"If he was, I can guarantee Dumbledore would find out in an instant!" snapped Severus impatiently.
"But-"
"Severus is right, Reggie," said Melody, holding his arm. "Please…let it go…we have such good friends here…do you really want those friendships to end?"
Unlike Melody, Regulus didn't feel nearly as close to the Union as she claimed he did, and he wasn't too concerned about losing them, but at the same time, he knew that Melody would not take his side on that perspective. He feared losing her to the Union, and without Melody, he may as well be a Voldemort supporter to save face. But deep down, he knew he didn't really wish to become a Death Eater: he could never allow Melody to come into harm's way, like she did when Malfoy was around.
"I guess I'll let it go," he said morosely.
"Thanks, Reggie," said Melody, embracing her best friend.
Regulus couldn't hide his blush, and everyone looked at him knowingly.
Severus had plans to help Regulus' motives for staying with the Union intensify. He'd do it tomorrow, on Halloween.
Halloween came and the Union celebrated with another trip into Hogsmeade, escorted by Hagrid and Zeus Gardner. They all did their own thing, but Severus and Lily spent the majority of the day alone. They had Butterbeers and luncheon in the Three Broomsticks, bought sweets from Honeydukes and explored the shops again, but bought nothing else. After they planned to return to the castle a bit earlier than the others, they saw Hagrid passing and he offered to escort them back and have a cup of tea with him until the rest of the Union returned.
They agreed, though declined his rock cakes in advance, as they had just had a filling meal and pudding at the Three Broomsticks.
"Ah, yeah, ye can never get enough at tha' place. Particularly their double layered chocolate and caramel fudge cake!" said Hagrid cheerily.
The pair of them agreed.
As they made their way back, Severus saw Melody coming out of Honeydukes, waiting for Regulus to come out with his sweet purchases. It was their first trip to Hogsmeade together.
Severus knew this was the perfect opportunity to put his plan into action.
"I'll catch you up, Lils. Just wanna see Melody quickly."
"Okay?" replied Lily puzzledly.
She went on ahead with Hagrid, and Severus went over to Melody.
"Hey, Melody," he greeted.
"Oh, hey, Severus!" said Melody joyously. "This village is so cool! There's nothing here I don't want to see!"
"It is a cool place," agreed Severus, "but I just wanted to ask you something."
"Sure?"
"Do you…fancy Regulus?"
Melody blushed and bowed her head, looking down at her feet, her fingers fidgeting uncomfortably on her bag of sweets.
"I take it you do?"
"Y-yeah…b-but why?"
"I think Regulus feels the same way about you," replied Severus, "and I thought maybe you should tell each other. See if before Christmas, you can go to…ugh, Madam Puddifoot's for your first date. Quincey and Mary did that last year today!"
"But why did you wanna know?" asked Melody.
"Cos everyone in the Union is wondering why you two aren't together yet, and so I thought I'd help things along, that's all."
Melody's blush only deepened.
"R-really?"
"Yep. So maybe you should make the first move," suggested Severus.
"Well, th-thank you," murmured Melody.
Severus smiled and turned away.
"Oh, Severus!"
"Yeah?"
"Maybe you should do the same with Lily. Everyone talks about you two as well."
It was now Severus' turn to blush, and he smiled faintly with a nod and rushed to catch up with Lily and Hagrid.
After a large cup of tea each with the exuberant gamekeeper, Lily and Severus joined him on the uphill walk up to the school to get ready for the Halloween feast.
The Union sat together, and Regulus and Melody were the last to arrive, and to Severus' triumph, they were holding hands with flushed faces.
"You two look like you have something to say," said Sirius.
"Melody and I…um…"
"Are a couple?" asked Lily.
"Y-yes," said Melody.
"At last!" laughed James and Sirius in unison.
"That only leaves you two," smirked Peter.
"Yeah, come on, Severus, Lily!" chuckled Marlene. "Even these two have managed to kick up a relationship before you! Why don't you just give each other a good first snog now?"
"MARLENE!" bellowed Lily, going as red as a London bus.
Severus just stared at the floor.
He was now worried that Lily would grow fed up of waiting for him, and would try finding a man who would date her in an instant. But he was still afraid of experiencing a relationship with Lily and then losing it once she knew the truth of his new life…and the horrific, shameful secrets of his old life.
Before they could dwell on it further, James raised his goblet of pumpkin juice.
"I'd like to propose a toast in this Union," he said, "A year ago today, one of our own, Remus Lupin got so badly hurt, that he's still not recovered, and if and when he does, he will be far behind. I like to think that all of us as a group of unity, will be more than happy to help him recover and to get him back up to scratch."
"Hear, hear," came a sombre chorus.
"To Remus."
"To Remus."
Severus looked over at Regulus. He still had a look of uneasiness on the subject of Remus Lupin, but he also had a happy look when Melody fed him some pumpkin juice from her goblet.
Hopefully, this will help Regulus learn to care for his fellow Union members more in future and keep his friend's secret safe.
Severus also looked at Lily, whom also glanced at him with a brief look of longing in her eyes.
He mouthed at her: Soon.
So there's Chapter 43. Hope you all like it. It's been a year since Remus became feral. Hope you all still hope he'll recover though I'm not saying anything. And I know! It's not fair that Sev and Lily aren't together yet! But good things come to those who wait! And I added those final lines to give you all and Lily hope! Chapter 44 is coming soon! Please review! Thanks for reading!