AN: Here's the next chapter. In this chapter Remus keeps running into people. You'll see what I mean. I'm very disappointed by the lack of reviews I have been receiving. Thanks to Singer and Kari for reviewing the last chapter. I'll talk to you later.
Miguel felt like he was going insane. Relena had passed out four days ago in Professor Snape's office and he couldn't find Spridal anywhere. Of course it wasn't unusual for the sprite to go missing for days even weeks at a time, but Miguel didn't want Relena to worry about her when she woke up. He had been on his way to see her when he realized that her first question would be about Spridal, and Gods forbid he not know where the little sprite was.
Miguel steeped down heavily on one of the stairs. Suddenly, he lost his balance and fell forward onto his face nearly breaking his nose. He looked back at the stair he had steeped on and noticed that his foot had sunk down deep into the stone. Grabbing his leg Miguel tried to pull his foot out, but it was to no avail. After nearly half an hour of pulling and twisting and turning Miguel was getting desperate.
"Help! Somebody! Anybody!" he called out hoping that there was some living soul near by. A ghost or poltergeist wouldn't be very helpful in this situation. It took ten minutes for an answer to come. At this point Miguel was just happy to know that he wasn't going to starve to death with his foot trapped in a stone step.
"May I help you?" asked the brown haired wizard that had come to Miguel's rescue. The state of his robes was atrocious, but he had the look of a civilized man to him. He looked like a philosopher or scholar. A teacher? Miguel wouldn't have been surprised if he was. He had an athletic build. The build of someone, who didn't fight for a living, but didn't let themself become a couch potato either. He had warm brown eyes and was smiling even as he looked down at the trapped Miguel who probably outweighed him by at least a hundred pounds. The man bent over the brick that Miguel's foot was caught in while pushing some of his gray-flecked hair out of his eyes. For a moment he just stared at the brick, and Miguel began to wonder if this man was going to be able to help him.
"Releaseious!" the wizard said tapping the brick with his wand. Instantly, the brick released its hold on Miguel's foot. As soon as the pressure disappeared, Miguel pulled his foot out of the step. He would have stood up, but his foot seemed to have fallen asleep, so he began to rub it until the feeling returned. When Miguel released his foot, the professor held out hand to help him up.
Once Miguel was off the floor, he realized how much taller he was than this man by at least a foot. This didn't really overwhelm Miguel. He towered over most people anyway, but from his position standing above this man he could see that he held himself in a certain way. Who else carries themselves that way? Miguel questioned his mind. I know someone else does.
They walked together in silence for a few minutes until the professor spoke. "How did you get your foot caught in that brick? The last person to get stuck in that particular brick was a boy by the name of Neville Longbottom. Unfortunately for Neville he was stuck there for almost two days before one of the Huffelpuffs found him and got help."
"It's the strangest thing. I really don't know. One minute I was walking and the next I was falling on to the floor with my foot stuck in the stair, but I guess that's probably a usual occurrence for Hogwarts isn't it?"
"Yes, I guess it is," the brown-haired man laughed, "So, if I may inquirer, why are you here and how long do you plan to stay?"
"Well, as to how long I plan to stay that depends on the Boss' decision. When it comes to the little woman I have no earthly clue as to what she'll decide. As to why we're here, well, there are a few things in that. Mainly, because the people we work for want us to teach the students here a class, though I think Relena, the boss, will be doing most of the teaching."
"Really," the man seemed truly interested in what Miguel was saying, "what are you going to teach?"
"Oh, well, I guess we'll call it something like Combating the Dark Arts, CDA has a nice ring to it. We're only gonna be workn' with the sixth and seventh years though. It's kinda going to be an extension of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class you have now, or so I have been lead to believe."
"Really, well then I guess it was fate that caused us to meet. I just happen to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Well, isn't that something, so I guess I'll be seeing you around. I really gotta keep looking for a lost little sprite," Miguel said as he turned down an empty corridor.
"All right well I have to go this way," the professor commented pointing his finger in the other direction. "What does this little sprite look like just in case I find him or her?"
"She looks
to be about eleven. She has curly black
hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. She'll
probably be floating around here somewhere so she'll stand out in a crowd or
maybe it would be a better idea if you keep your eyes on the ceiling. Thanks for the help, professor."
"It's no trouble I assure
you," he replied as Miguel turned to walk down the other corridor, "By the way,
what was your name again?"
"Oh, um, Miguel, Miguel Darkhunter. Yours?"
"I'm Remus Lupin. It was very nice to meet you again, Miguel" With that Professor Lupin walked off. For a few minutes Miguel just stood there in a total state of shock. Now he knew why that stance seemed familiar. Relena held herself the same way when she thought she had the upper hand over someone. He had been making nice with Lupin! Remus J. Lupin! Relena's Lupin! He should have been cursing that bastard to Bulgaria and back, but instead he had actually been nice to him. He had shared a kinship with him, and now he would be working with him, he wondered if Relena knew. God I hope so, he thought. He didn't want to be the one to tell Relena the bad news, but somehow he had the feeling that he would be.
Suddenly remembering his original task, Miguel renewed his search for Spridal with a new vigor. He had to find her and get to Relena as quickly as possible. Miguel took off at a run toward the front of the school with a feeling that he would find Spridal there. The first people he saw were a group of teenagers, sixth years by the look of it.
"Hey, kids! Yeah you!" Miguel called out to the group of four, two girls and two boys. "Have any of you seen a little sprite? She looks to be about eleven-years-old with black curly hair, blue eyes, and fair skin." At first the students looked at him like he scared them, but it was a black haired boy that answered first.
"Well, Ron and I haven't seen anyone like that have we?" said the boy who Miguel instantly recognized as Relena's nephew, Harry. Another boy with red hair, Ron, shook his head no. Miguel was about to comment on Harry's resemblance to James when he realized that the boy probably didn't even realized he was related to Relena. Instead Miguel looked to the two girls imploringly. It was the brown-haired one that spoke first.
"Well, I don't know. Have you seen anyone like that, Spridal?" she asked looking at the other girl.
"Nope. I haven't seen anyone like that," the other girl giggled.
"Well, thanks anyway," Miguel replied. He was about to walk away when something in his brain seemed to pull him back. The other little girl's laugh. What was that the brunet had called her? Spridal. Spridal! Spinning around, Miguel turned so that he now stood face to face with a much older looking version of his little sprite. She was laughing and sitting Indian style in mid-air just to show off.
"Spridal!" he yelled grabbing her arms. Spridal gracefully unfolded her now much longer legs so that she was standing on the ground. "I've been looking for you! I've been worried sick!"
"Miguel," she giggled, "you're over reacting!"
"I am not! Spridal you've been gone for three days!"
"Really," she sounded almost proud, "Three days, huh?"
"Yes three days, and you missed Relena fainting! She just woke up this morning!"
"Relena fainted!" Spridal looked at Miguel with a mixture of fear and sorrow like he had just said Relena had died. "Where is she?" the girl shrieked.
"She's up in infirmary."
"Then what are we waiting for? We've must go see her now! Bye Harry, Ron Hermione!" Spridal called as she used some of her supernatural strength to pull Miguel down the hall at lightning speed.
"Wait, Spridal," Miguel called as she dragged him almost the entire way through Hogwarts, "don't you think you should change back into your old form first? I mean it might upset Relena to see you looking so much older."
"Oh, Miguel don't be such a worry wart. Relena won't care. Heck, she'll probably be please. She's always telling me I should act more grown up. The only person who might be upset by my change in appearance is Robert, and who really cares what he thinks?" I do because he could become really pissed about this, Miguel though to himself as they hurtled past a picture of a pig-headed goat.
Remus wandered down the corridors alone. It wasn't that he wouldn't have appreciated company, especially from one Potter imperticuler, but he needed time to think. Relena was by all accounts married to this Miguel fellow, but that couldn't be right. Yes, he had arrived with her, and yes, he had called her "little woman", but since he was a lot taller than most of the people Remus had ever meet that could mean any number of things. Australians are a tad strange after all, and Relena had obviously known this man for a long time. It was kind of like the relationship she shared with Severus and the relationship she had once had with him. They were in the very essence of the words "best friends." No wonder Miguel knew all about Severus. He probably knew all about Remus too. Did Relena tell him everything about her life? She must have! Relena was just that way. She didn't trust many people, but those she did she dedicated her entire being to.
Well, at least his thoughts were settled as to whether or not she was married. Just the thought of Relena Potter married made Remus want to laugh. But why? Hadn't he once asked her to marry him? Didn't she say yes? Of course she did, but that was before she left. That was about Robert. Now the question of Robert came. What was he doing here? It was obvious that Relena didn't trust him at all. In fact, Remus suspected that she flat out disliked the aging vampire. The strange thing was that he seemed to think that they were somehow involved. Remus Lupin you're jealous, his conscious accused. I am not, he denied admittedly. Well maybe just a little jealous.
"Lupin! Lupin, you idiot where are you?" Remus heard a cold voice cut through the air. Severus approached him with an air of confidence and anger. When he saw Remus his glare went cold. His mouth set itself into a cruel sneer.
"Yes, Severus," Remus tried to reply happily. He was trying desperately to hide the chill that ran through his body every time Severus looked at him. He knew the potions master was about to drop some kind of bomb simply because of the way he looked at Remus. His black eyes filled with evil mirth, his sneer just a little wider than usual, and his hands folded gracefully in front of his robes.
"Are you aware that a particular young woman arrived here two days ago looking for you?" Severus asked his sneer becoming even more malicious.
"Yes, Severus. I am."
"Oh, well, I wasn't sure if you remembered considering the fact that you were in your more canine form that night," the potions master remarked snidely.
"What is it Severus? I already know Relena is here," Remus asked feeling a bit exasperated.
"Well, you sure haven't been acting like it!" Severus snapped.
"Listen to me Severus. The fact that you and Relena enjoy playing with other people's emotions is really none of my business, but I would appreciate it if you left my emotions out of it! I really don't need this right now!" Remus snapped back.
"What James Potter ever saw in you as a friend I'll never know."
"You leave James out of this!"
"How can I? Even if I didn't like him, I still cared and do care about his sister. She was one of my only friends Remus, and I won't have you hurt her again."
"Severus I really don't have time for this! Besides, I never did anything to hurt her! Now leave me alone!"
"Tell me Remus. Didn't you once promise James that no matter what you would take care of his little sister? I mean of course he didn't know that you were in love with her then, but I doubt even you knew that you were in love with her then. Didn't you promise him that? Wasn't it supposed to be Black would take care of Harry and you would take care of his aunt? Isn't that the promise you made to the dearly departed James Potter?"
"Yes," Remus mumbled.
"Hmm. Well, at least Black didn't have a choice. I mean he was locked up all those years, but you, you could have done something about it! You may have made a promise to James, but you sure didn't even try to keep it. Well I made a similar promise to Lily. I promised that I would take care of Relena, and for a good portion of my life I did. But, as much as it hurts me to say this, she doesn't need or want my protection anymore. Now Remus you have already admitted that you promised James that you would take care of her, but did you? Did you know that only an hour after you through your little hissy fit in my office, Relena passed out cold? Did you know that she's been unconscious in the medical ward for the past three days?" Severus questioned with a knowing sneer.
Remus was taken aback. Unconscious for three days! How could he have missed this? He didn't even know she had fainted. Severus allowed him a moment for this to sink in before beginning again.
"Is that what you call taking care of a person? You didn't even know she was sick. In fact, I doubt that you have even attempted to exchange a pleasant word with her since she arrived here. Have you?" Severus watched as Remus leaned against the wall and sunk to the floor. "I told you earlier that I can't protect her anymore. She doesn't need me, but at least she wants me around. Now it's your turn to decide. She's still the same girl in there. She may seem tougher, but I get the feeling that once she begins to trust us more, we'll begin to see that she still is the woman that she was when she left here. We both owe her something Remus. It is the only common bond that you and I have. What I owe her is really none of your business, but I have already begun to repay my debt to her. The question is: are you willing to help her forgive you?" the black haired man asked as he looked down at Remus' crumpled form on the floor.
Remus' guilt was building. He wasn't going to forgive her for leaving him, but there were things in her life that he had to admit were his fault. Besides, she was James' sister. "What does she want me to do for her?" Remus asked knowing that Relena must have said something to Severus if the professor had broken his own policy of never ever even talking to Remus.
"It's not what she wants you to do for her. It's what you need to do for Harry. If anyone in this school doesn't like Potter's son it's me and you know that, but even I don't think he should be forced to return to those muggle relatives of his. She wants to take him back Remus, but she's not sure how to face him. She doesn't know what to do. She knows that it is partially her fault that she doesn't have him now, and she blames herself for that. What she doesn't know is how Harry will react to finding out that she is his aunt. She doesn't want to face him alone. Especially not after her having called him James the other night. She's just to scared of how he will react. Now, Dumbeldore has agreed to conduct a meeting between Harry and her, but she wants someone to be there who will support Harry. She truly does have his best interests at heart. I'm going to be there for her moral support, but she wants you to be there as someone Harry trusts. Someone he can turn to and believe. I am not going to stand here and explain the entire situation to you, but I'm telling you now to go see her, talk to her. She may not need me, but she does need you." With that the potions master walked off back down the hall. For a few seconds Remus watched the retreating form of Severus Snape then pulled himself off the ground. As Remus was brushing the dirt off his clothes Severus turned back around to face him.
"Oh and Lupin," he called, "Don't hurt her again. Just because she doesn't need me doesn't mean I won't be there, and I will not hesitate to break both of your legs or poison you in some form or another." And with that Severus turned around and walked away once again leaving a dumbfounded Remus Lupin behind him.
AN: So, what did you think? I have a problem now. One of my reviewers said Severus is the father, the other says Remus. Well, who says that it has to be either of them? This is my story. I could be Miguel, Robert, Sirius (HE and Relena were an item once, but that's for later), Josh, Roin, or, if I'm in a really weird mood, Puck. Nope, you'll just have to meet all of the guys in Relena's life and decide for yourself.