The Sword that is Not a Sword
Disclaimer: Sadly, nobody but Guenevere belongs to me…at least, in this chapter. The ideas are all mine…umm…that's all for now…the ball this night…perhaps should be called 'Identities Revealed…' ok, I've given enough away now…read on!
Part 2: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs—With a Little Nightwing on the Side
For most of my life, I've been alone. I couldn't make many friends. Those few who pretended to be my friends deserted me as soon as they found out what I was.
Not James, or Sirius, or Peter, though. Every full moon, they spend the night with me. The Stargames are the single bright spot in my life.
We met Nightwing at the Stargames. Nightwing is a bird. A dove. A black dove. She just flew up one night, and began to play with us. There is something about her eyes that reminds me of someone…but I can't tell whom. Maybe…but no. Why would Guenevere have anything to do with Nightwing?
* * *
It was the sixth year. Halloween. Guenevere hadn't been asked to the masquerade by anyone. She didn't mind. She kind of liked solitude. She did intend to go, however. Lily had begged her quite pathetically. So finally, she had agreed to go alone.
"What are you going as?" Lily asked.
"You'll see," Guenevere said with a smile.
"Can I do your hair?" Lily asked.
"What?"
"Can I do your hair?"
"Sure…I guess…"
"Great! Sit down. You're too tall for me to reach when you're standing."
"Fine, fine."
"What color are you planning to wear?"
"Navy blue."
"All right."
A few minutes later, Guenevere looked in a full-length mirror, and gasped. Her hair was wonderful! It was in a patterned arrangement of braids. Then the braids were twisted into an intricate, thick braid that fell down to her waist. At the bottom, it was tied in a dark blue ribbon.
"Lily, this—this is incredible!"
"Thank you," Lily said modestly. "I'm going as a bride."
"And would James be the groom?" Guenevere asked teasingly.
"You hush," Lily said, though she was blushing.
"I'm going up to change. You go on down, ok? I know James wouldn't want to be kept waiting…"
"All right."
A few minutes later, Lily met James and Sirius down in the common room. "Where are Remus and Peter?" she asked.
"They went down to reserve us a table. Where's Guenevere?"
"She's upstairs changing. Are we still going according to plan?"
"Hopefully," James said.
Sirius looked outside. "I don't know, guys. It's a bright night tonight."
James went over to the window. "So it is," he admitted ruefully.
"What does that mean?" Lily asked. Sirius and James exchanged looks.
"We'll tell you some other time," James said. "Masks on."
A few minutes after they arrived in the Great Hall, a slim young woman in a navy blue dress that looked like she had dragged it up from 1860, an intricate braid tied with a navy blue ribbon, and a navy blue mask that hid her face entered the hall.
"Guenevere?" James asked Lily.
"Yeah," she replied. "Plans in motion?"
"Yeah. We just need to wait for the competition to start," Sirius answered.
About an hour later, Professor McGonagall came forward. "If I may have your attention, please," she said. "We have chosen tonight's winners in the costume contest. Among the gentlemen…" she picked up an envelope that was on a chair nearby. "The young man over there in the white 19th century suit."
"That's you, Remus!" James hissed. "Go get 'em!"
"And among the ladies," Professor McGonagall went on, "The young lady in the navy blue dress. Are you both here? Yes. Good. You get a slow dance together. Isn't that wonderful?"
There were giggles from the crowd. Guenevere and Remus—totally aware that the other was who the other was—put their arms around each other, and began to dance. It was the most wonderful sensation that Guenevere had ever experienced. There was something familiar about the guys gray eyes, but she couldn't tell what it was…
Remus danced in the arms of the young woman who had won the girls' division contest. It was heaven. He was lost in shadows of navy blue—lost in her eyes. There seemed to be something he recognized in her eyes, but he just couldn't place it? Who could she be?
The music ended. Remus and Guenevere slowed and stopped, willing the music to go on, for them to be able to stay in each other's arms for eternity. But it was over. Remus pressed his lips softly to Guenevere's. She did not pull away.
"Excellent, ladies and gentlemen," said Professor McGonagall. "Please remove your masks, and reveal yourself to your partner." Guenevere and Remus removed their masks simultaneously. Remus' eyes widened. Guenevere's eyes opened in shock, and they darkened to an almost black with fear. She wrenched her arm from Remus' grasp, and fled.
Remus ran after her.
"He shouldn't have done that," Sirius muttered, watching Remus tear after Guenevere. "It's a bright night tonight."
James' only response was: "Get Peter."
It was cloudy. Remus found Guenevere sobbing by the lake.
"Guenevere?" Remus asked tentatively, sitting down beside her.
"Remus? What are you doing here?"
"I—I wanted to apologize."
"For what?"
"For—for kissing you. Without asking."
"That? I—I—I actually kind of liked that."
"You did? Then why are you crying?"
"Because I've been so damn stupid!"
"What about?"
"I should have told you—after that first night, I should have told all of you."
"Told us what?"
"About me."
"What about you? All I know is that you're the most amazing, wonderful, courageous young woman I've ever met."
"I—I'm—I know what you are."
Remus seemed taken aback. "A-all of us?"
"Yes. I could tell which was which by observing your conduct and personalities."
"What?"
"Sirius reminds me of a dog. He's playful, but loyal. James—it's kind of obvious he's the stag. He's proud, and magnificent. And Peter, well, Peter's always reminded me of a rat. I don't know why."
"What about me?"
"You remind me of a lone wolf I saw once. The wolf was black, so it was rejected from its pack. It was despised by even its own kind. That very much reminds me of your personal character traits."
"I—see." Remus was slightly stunned. The clouds moved over the moon. It was almost time. Madam Pomfrey came up.
"Are you ready, Mr. Lupin?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Yes, Madam. I am very ready."
"Then, let's go."
The Stargames that night were the most incredible any of the Marauders had ever seen. With a fifth person, they could finally complete their map. With Guenevere—nicknamed Nightwing—they could get a birds eye view of the castle. They finished their map the last night of the school year.
Guenevere sighed, as she left the station at the end of the train ride. The year was over. It would be two whole months before she would see Lily, or James, or Peter, or Sirius again.
Two whole months without Remus.
Disclaimer: Sadly, nobody but Guenevere belongs to me…at least, in this chapter. The ideas are all mine…umm…that's all for now…the ball this night…perhaps should be called 'Identities Revealed…' ok, I've given enough away now…read on!
Part 2: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs—With a Little Nightwing on the Side
For most of my life, I've been alone. I couldn't make many friends. Those few who pretended to be my friends deserted me as soon as they found out what I was.
Not James, or Sirius, or Peter, though. Every full moon, they spend the night with me. The Stargames are the single bright spot in my life.
We met Nightwing at the Stargames. Nightwing is a bird. A dove. A black dove. She just flew up one night, and began to play with us. There is something about her eyes that reminds me of someone…but I can't tell whom. Maybe…but no. Why would Guenevere have anything to do with Nightwing?
* * *
It was the sixth year. Halloween. Guenevere hadn't been asked to the masquerade by anyone. She didn't mind. She kind of liked solitude. She did intend to go, however. Lily had begged her quite pathetically. So finally, she had agreed to go alone.
"What are you going as?" Lily asked.
"You'll see," Guenevere said with a smile.
"Can I do your hair?" Lily asked.
"What?"
"Can I do your hair?"
"Sure…I guess…"
"Great! Sit down. You're too tall for me to reach when you're standing."
"Fine, fine."
"What color are you planning to wear?"
"Navy blue."
"All right."
A few minutes later, Guenevere looked in a full-length mirror, and gasped. Her hair was wonderful! It was in a patterned arrangement of braids. Then the braids were twisted into an intricate, thick braid that fell down to her waist. At the bottom, it was tied in a dark blue ribbon.
"Lily, this—this is incredible!"
"Thank you," Lily said modestly. "I'm going as a bride."
"And would James be the groom?" Guenevere asked teasingly.
"You hush," Lily said, though she was blushing.
"I'm going up to change. You go on down, ok? I know James wouldn't want to be kept waiting…"
"All right."
A few minutes later, Lily met James and Sirius down in the common room. "Where are Remus and Peter?" she asked.
"They went down to reserve us a table. Where's Guenevere?"
"She's upstairs changing. Are we still going according to plan?"
"Hopefully," James said.
Sirius looked outside. "I don't know, guys. It's a bright night tonight."
James went over to the window. "So it is," he admitted ruefully.
"What does that mean?" Lily asked. Sirius and James exchanged looks.
"We'll tell you some other time," James said. "Masks on."
A few minutes after they arrived in the Great Hall, a slim young woman in a navy blue dress that looked like she had dragged it up from 1860, an intricate braid tied with a navy blue ribbon, and a navy blue mask that hid her face entered the hall.
"Guenevere?" James asked Lily.
"Yeah," she replied. "Plans in motion?"
"Yeah. We just need to wait for the competition to start," Sirius answered.
About an hour later, Professor McGonagall came forward. "If I may have your attention, please," she said. "We have chosen tonight's winners in the costume contest. Among the gentlemen…" she picked up an envelope that was on a chair nearby. "The young man over there in the white 19th century suit."
"That's you, Remus!" James hissed. "Go get 'em!"
"And among the ladies," Professor McGonagall went on, "The young lady in the navy blue dress. Are you both here? Yes. Good. You get a slow dance together. Isn't that wonderful?"
There were giggles from the crowd. Guenevere and Remus—totally aware that the other was who the other was—put their arms around each other, and began to dance. It was the most wonderful sensation that Guenevere had ever experienced. There was something familiar about the guys gray eyes, but she couldn't tell what it was…
Remus danced in the arms of the young woman who had won the girls' division contest. It was heaven. He was lost in shadows of navy blue—lost in her eyes. There seemed to be something he recognized in her eyes, but he just couldn't place it? Who could she be?
The music ended. Remus and Guenevere slowed and stopped, willing the music to go on, for them to be able to stay in each other's arms for eternity. But it was over. Remus pressed his lips softly to Guenevere's. She did not pull away.
"Excellent, ladies and gentlemen," said Professor McGonagall. "Please remove your masks, and reveal yourself to your partner." Guenevere and Remus removed their masks simultaneously. Remus' eyes widened. Guenevere's eyes opened in shock, and they darkened to an almost black with fear. She wrenched her arm from Remus' grasp, and fled.
Remus ran after her.
"He shouldn't have done that," Sirius muttered, watching Remus tear after Guenevere. "It's a bright night tonight."
James' only response was: "Get Peter."
It was cloudy. Remus found Guenevere sobbing by the lake.
"Guenevere?" Remus asked tentatively, sitting down beside her.
"Remus? What are you doing here?"
"I—I wanted to apologize."
"For what?"
"For—for kissing you. Without asking."
"That? I—I—I actually kind of liked that."
"You did? Then why are you crying?"
"Because I've been so damn stupid!"
"What about?"
"I should have told you—after that first night, I should have told all of you."
"Told us what?"
"About me."
"What about you? All I know is that you're the most amazing, wonderful, courageous young woman I've ever met."
"I—I'm—I know what you are."
Remus seemed taken aback. "A-all of us?"
"Yes. I could tell which was which by observing your conduct and personalities."
"What?"
"Sirius reminds me of a dog. He's playful, but loyal. James—it's kind of obvious he's the stag. He's proud, and magnificent. And Peter, well, Peter's always reminded me of a rat. I don't know why."
"What about me?"
"You remind me of a lone wolf I saw once. The wolf was black, so it was rejected from its pack. It was despised by even its own kind. That very much reminds me of your personal character traits."
"I—see." Remus was slightly stunned. The clouds moved over the moon. It was almost time. Madam Pomfrey came up.
"Are you ready, Mr. Lupin?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Yes, Madam. I am very ready."
"Then, let's go."
The Stargames that night were the most incredible any of the Marauders had ever seen. With a fifth person, they could finally complete their map. With Guenevere—nicknamed Nightwing—they could get a birds eye view of the castle. They finished their map the last night of the school year.
Guenevere sighed, as she left the station at the end of the train ride. The year was over. It would be two whole months before she would see Lily, or James, or Peter, or Sirius again.
Two whole months without Remus.