A/N - please read!
Thank you for the warm responses last time. Any reviews make my day and I'm inspired. Of course I'd still write this even if I only had one review on it.
Chapter 4 - Remus (again)
Because I love looking at both POVs in a story :D
Remus is a little early to meet his mum, but that's okay. He knows the nurses she works with and knows they'll want to chat with him until his mum is ready to leave with him. He's known some of them for the few years they've lived in town, choosing to finally settle when Remus was eleven rather than move on.
Their place is a little secluded - a few miles out of town and into the countryside - Remus has learnt to keep to himself. As for the full moons - well, they own a bit of land in the middle of nowhere, warded against any Muggles, wards to alert if anyone even approaches and anti-Muggle charms to make Muggles turn back, remembering a task they need to do immediately.
His father sits at the edge of the wards after locking Remus in this shack each month. He's too protective and Remus wants to insist that he'll be fine - his father staying is his father being at risk, but he knows that if his father goes and Remus somehow escapes and hurts anyone…
He doesn't like to think about that. He knows his dad takes precautions. There are many levels of the spells that Lyall has added over the years. A cage that he can't escape for a start, the shack itself, then the area around it. His father called in favours from magical trusted friends to make those wards stronger than they ever need to be. It's over the top, but that's what Remus likes. Better it be over the top and safe, than something that fails at a crucial moment.
And if he does somehow escape both the cage and the shack, his father will know and will get outside of the warded area.
He presses the buzzer for the hospital ward and the doors swing open after he utters his name into the little speaker on the wall nearby. As he walks in, the clean smell of the ward hits his nose. It doesn't bother him as it had when he first started coming, he's used to it now. He reaches into his pocket in search of some of his remaining chocolate. He's sure he left a few squares for his walk to the hospital, to cover him until he met his mother and went back to the shop for more.
He's confused as to where it is. But he feels the sensation of being watched, and he brings his gaze up.
He's transfixed. Peeking out from one of the rooms is a handsome guy around his own age. Short dark curls falls around his face and intense grey eyes are on fixed intently on Remus. There's an expression on his face that Remus can't quite work out, but nothing threatening or bad. It's the opposite actually. It's a look he's never seen before - a look he never expected to be aimed his way.
Remus smiles warmly. He tells himself that it's because he's on a ward and he needs to be polite to the patients there. Deep down he knows it's something more. He won't allow that thought to move to the front of his mind because of who he is, what he is. He doesn't realise yet that he's not as in control of his thoughts as he wants to be.
"Hi. Are you okay?" he asks, at a loss for what else to do. He's unable to stop himself from moving closer. He wants there to be very little distance between him and this guy, and he wonders for a moment if there's any rules against him dating one of his mother's patients. After all, he's not the medical professional, so there's no line.
Though she already broke confidentiality by telling him about one patient's condition and diagnosis. But that was so Remus could help the stranger. That's entirely unrelated to this moment.
But he's early, and he doesn't know which room the guy is in, so maybe he can spare a few minutes for a chat with the most gorgeous guy he's ever seen in his life. Someone who could model. Someone who could model underwear... for Remus…
He silently chastises himself for the thoughts he's having. He knows he's better than that. This guy is in the hospital and Remus knows he should behave and be more considerate, even in his mind. It's not right to be indecent like that, he should have manners and keep his mind focused.
The patient nods, a few curls falling in his eyes as he does and Remus feels the urge to reach out and brush them away. They obscure his view of the guy's eyes and Remus doesn't want that.
"I am." His voice is just as gorgeous as the rest of him. "I feel like Hades."
This surprises Remus. Of all the replies he expects, this wouldn't have made the list. But he's curious now. Why does this guy feel like the king of the Underworld, a dark god when there are ones like Zeus and Poseidon. If he has to compare this guy to someone, it'd be Eros.
"You do? Why is that?" He's too curious not to ask this question, and is eager to hear the reply. In fact, he's eager just to hear this guy talk at all. He's eager for this conversation to continue. Usually he's too shy to talk to other guys, but Greek Mythology is something he knows well.
"When he laid eyes upon Persephone for the first time, is this how he felt?"
Remus' eyes widen at the comment. This is even more unexpected. He wonders if the guy is flirting with him, but there's no teasing smile, just a sort of awe in the guy's eyes as he intently stares at Remus, though he honestly feels that way.
Not that Remus really knows much about flirting. He's seen it in movies and tv shows, and he's read about it in books. He's seen it happen in the world around him, but he's never been flirted with and he's never flirted with anyone before. He likes it. He likes being the focus of this guy's attention and doesn't want this moment to ever end.
Of course if this guy is flirting with him, Remus will need to be quick and think up something clever to say back. He braces himself just in case. The patient mentioned Hades and Persephone, and Remus could think of something to say in regards to that - he loves all the Mythology stories and tales his mother often tells him, even though he's now an adult. He still loves to hear her weave the tales, elaborating on her favourites with information that's not an original part of the story.
"So, is this your polite way of saying your about to kidnap me?" he can't help the shy tone of his voice, and he's a little embarrassed that it sounded so corny, but he's invested in the conversation and he's going to stay there and see how it goes. He's completely forgotten about his previous plan to go and talk to the other nurses whilst he waits for his mum.
"If that's what you're into." Long fingers move from the door-frame and loosely grip his wrist. Remus could pull free without any effort at all if he wanted, they both know this and Remus is sure that's why the hold is loose - because this guy doesn't want to put Remus in a situation that he's uncomfortable with, so there's a way out of it if that's what he needs.
He doesn't want to pull away though. There's the briefest of moments as the guy waits, as though he expects Remus to, before he gently tugs at Remus' arms, guiding him.
Remus follows the guy as he's led into the hospital room, a smile on his lips.
This dark-haired beauty is pleased judging by the way his lips have curved up into a grin. "And since you're now in my domain, this is where I tempt you with delicious things to keep you here." Remus sits when the seat is gestured at, his eyes widening as a bar of chocolate is revealed.
It's the bar he purchased the other day, but he tells himself it's not. Bars of galaxy chocolate are sold everywhere. Coincidence of course. He's sure they sell them downstairs in the hospital's shop. Though, if someone wants to tempt Remus, chocolate is certainly the way to go. He wonders if he's dreaming - a handsome guy who likes Mythology (and possibly is into reading) and gives Remus chocolate. This is certainly a dream. Or a dream come true.
He understands the twelve pieces symbolism. How would this guy react if Remus were to eat all of the pieces immediately? After all, he's pretty much saying 'Hey, the more of my chocolate you eat, the longer we'll be together'. Remus likes the idea of spending more time with this guy, and enjoying the chocolate.
But his condition is what causes his hesitation. He can't date a Muggle because the truth would always come out. Even if he could hide it somehow, that'd be a big secret between them. But the patient is looking at him as though life depends on Remus eating the chocolate. One square wouldn't hurt… right?
"I'm Eri, by the way," he says. Remus opens his mouth to say his own name, only to notice his mother in the doorway.
"There you are. What's going on?" Hope asks, her gaze moving between them. She looks like she's eager about something, but Remus can't quite work out what.
"I'm waiting to see how many pieces he eats," Eridanus explains. "He's my Persephone."
Remus' cheeks redden deeply. He was actually getting somewhere with this guy, maybe to the stage where he'd have been able to suggest coming back to visit again (or a movie sometime, when he gets out of the hospital) but his mum is there and he can't do this in front of her.
"Like… Hades and Persephone?" Remus can hear the excitement in his mum's voice and knows it's to do with the conversation from the other day. He confides in her that he has no confidence in talking to people he's interested in, so of course she's delighted that it's finally happening.
Or it was. Maybe next time when she's not here, he can stick around and chat a bit more?
"Eri, this is my son, Remus. Remus, this is Eridanus."
"I hope you're not going to pull a Demeter," Eri mutters, crossing his arms and looking at her suspiciously. If Remus wasn't embarrassed, he'd have laughed at the sight. His mum laughs and Eri looks happy for a moment, before the happiness fades and something sad crosses his face.
Eri is distracted now, his gaze on the chocolates and he grabs one, popping it into his mouth. He eats it, but looks like he's not really aware of the taste. Remus believes no-one should eat chocolate when their heart isn't into it. Why waste it like that?
His mother gives him a pointed look, gesturing between him and Eri and suddenly Remus understands. He didn't know which patient he was to check over, but somehow had ended up in his room. So that was the chocolate bar he had given. It made sense now, the stranger's like of Greek Mythology - of course his mum would have been in telling her stories.
He withdraws his wand. He's got permission to use it in the presence of one of his parents (and without them in the hours following the full moon), until his seventeenth birthday due to being home-schooled. Eri's gaze isn't on him so he's able to do a quick health check to see why the memories haven't returned. He also does a check to see how old Eri is, just to help him out a little.
Remus doesn't know how it's supposed to work with amnesia, but he imagines that there has to be some sort of trauma to the head or brain, or something that'll show up on his report. But it's not revealing anything. His spell isn't even revealing amnesia which makes no sense. He's cast the spells to check health so many times, he knows he's right.
He flicks the wand at his mum and it alerts him to the fact that her feet are hurting her a little, so it's clearly not the spell. There is actually no medical reason for Eri not to have any memories.
Either he's lying, or there's more to it. He slips the wand back into his sleeve, confused.
"You know," Hope says, causing them both to look at her.
"What?" Eri asks. The panic and hopelessness in his voice immediately have Remus mentally crossing out that he's faking it. No one could fake these emotions. He has no doubts that Eri really has no memories. Maybe he's just one of the Muggles that's immune to magic? That must be it. But it still doesn't explain why the age spell worked.
"That was my son's chocolate bar," Hope insists. "You ate one piece, so I think that makes you Persephone."
Remus considers this. Though he didn't see himself as Persephone, he could see Eri as Hades. A serious guy who does anything for love. His mother's stories are about Hades and Persephone falling in love and her wanting to stay with him, rather than being forced to, and that's how Remus always imagines the story to go.
Eri would make an excellent Hades. Remus has a feeling that when he's not feeling like this (and who would blame him, having lost his memories), Eri would be a force to be reckoned with. Remus imagines he's quite bold, kind, caring. He can tell that Eri is also quite vulnerable and considering his comments already, the sort to wear his heart on his sleeve.
Maybe he is Persephone, just sitting around in the garden, oblivious to everything until Hades/Eri turns up with this tempting offer and seductive smile.
Remus tries to turn it. He can see himself, dark, brooding. He got the short end of the straw with the lycanthropy so has to hide away. But then suddenly seeing beauty and perfection - seeing someone who needs more to their life, and not being able to resist. Eri could be Persephone, pure and kind and good. Sweet and trusting. Someone who needs protecting.
Which means that Remus could corrupt him with the darkness his curse brings, and he knows it's a bad idea to be anywhere near Eri ever again. As soon as he thinks this, he knows it's futile. He was already too invested the moment their eyes met.
"What happens if I eat all twelve squares? Do you get to keep me?"
Remus knows he's not going to be able to ever stay away. He's aware he should, but he doesn't have that sort of willpower. Eri needs him and Remus is going to be there, but he'll force his feelings aside. Eri needs a friend for now. He can revisit the idea of the twelve pieces of chocolate another time. Eri needs protecting and Remus assigns himself that role. The world is cruel, and someone like Eri, not remembering life experiences and such could get very hurt if he trusts the wrong people.
Hurting Eri or taking advantage of him is the last thing on Remus' mind.
"Maybe we start with one square, and work our way up to the twelve," Remus offers gently. He's going to stick around, but he wants this to go slow because he doesn't want to hurt Eri and he knows that Eri is going to already be overwhelmed by everything - a relationship just causes more of that.
"I have to go, but it's been really nice meeting you," Remus continues sadly. "I'm sorry that I couldn't stay longer - I can't imagine it's much fun here." He doesn't want to leave, but they need to get home. He's definitely coming back soon though. As soon as he can.
"Not at all. I have amnesia so don't really have much to compare it to," Eri admits. "Are you going to come back?" He looks like it'll be the best thing in the world. Remus agrees. Hospitals are no fun, but with Eri there, he feels like it'll be the most amazing place to be.
Remus nods. "I'll stop in after the library tomorrow," he promises. "Is there anything you want me to bring?" Maybe he'll skip the library and come straight to the hospital.
Eri shakes his head and they walk to the door together, before saying their goodbyes. Remus is aware that Eri doesn't really want them to leave, and he feels a pull to return, but has to ignore it. He hates walking away - he feels he belongs there.
"So?" his mother asks.
"I don't know," Remus says in return. "It's like there's nothing to heal. There's just nothing… I can't fix it." Not that he ever planned to fix Eri, because if it was a brain thing, Remus wouldn't even consider using magic. "But he's seventeen. Quite recently in fact. Perhaps we could do a little birthday party?" The fact that he's able to do an age spell tells Remus that Eri isn't immune to magic, but he can't quite work out what's going on.
Unless there's no medical reason for the memory loss. He's read stories in the library stating that some people have suffered this suddenly. Some have had bad news, and have forgotten their whole lives. Perhaps it's something like that, and the spell just isn't attuned to something like amnesia.
"We do need a date to put on his information," Hope agrees. "I'll ask him how he feels about tomorrow being his registered birthday - or if he has a preferred date."
Remus nods his head. He can't stop thinking about all twelve pieces of chocolate. If he wasn't cursed, those pieces would have been at least half-gone.
He just can't be all in on something that might not last. After all, Eri's family could turn up and take him to London. If that happens, Remus may never see him again.
So he's going to be very careful until he knows whether Eri is sticking around or leaving town.
And though he truly wants Eri's family to turn up so he's not alone and scared, there's a little selfish part of Remus that hopes that they don't. Because if they don't, Eri will stay in Wales.
Hope you enjoy :)