THE QUEEN OF MY HEART

Chapter Seventeen: The Rendezvous

Remus opened his eyes, finding that he was staring at the roof of the Shrieking Shack. He didn't remember falling asleep, but who does? In addition to his queazy stomach, his light-headedness, and the fact that he had several new bite wounds, Remus had deep emotional pain. He couldn't get the words he yelled to Lily out of his mind. How could she ever forgive him?

Remus pulled himself from the wooden floor. He felt like he weighed tons.

As he dragged himself through the tunnel and out of the roots of the Whomping Willow, the words pounded on his head. She was just trying to help him. She was truly concerned. And what did he do? He snapped at her.

"You idiot!" he muttered to himself as he went through the main Entrance into the castle.

In addition to the fact that he was a complete jerk to her, he also hadn't gotten her a present. How could he ever hope to gain her affection now?

"Coody Bloodwart," Remus told the portrait of the fat lady.

The portrait swung open and Remus entered Gryffindor common room. He felt more lousy then he had ever before after a night of being a werewolf.

"Oh, Remus!" Lily exclaimed as she slowly approached him. "I was worried when you didn't come back last night."

Remus looked at her in shock, saying, "You were worried about me after what I said to you?"

"You couldn't have been yourself," Lily said, sadly and not looking him in the eye. "I know you would never say anything like that and mean it."

"I didn't mean it," Remus assured her. "I am dreadfully sorry. I really wasn't myself, even though that's no excuse. I hope you can forgive me."

Lily smiled, "Of course I can."

Remus felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from off him.

"Come," Lily began, "time to open Christmas presents."

Remus followed Lily over to a small tree in the corner of the room, next to the fireplace. There were about a dozen presents under the tree. Remus was still disturbed that none of them were from him.

"A bunch came from your mum this morning," Lily told him as she sat down on the couch.

Remus crouched down next to the tree.

"You haven't opened any of your presents," Remus informed.

Lily scratched her neck, saying, "I couldn't think of it while you were off somewhere. I didn't know if you had frozen or gotten eaten by something in the Forbidden Forest or what."

Remus hated to have worried her, but it was nice to know that she was worried about him.

Remus and Lily proceeded to open their presents. Lily got muggle things, such as a calculator, a few make-up items, and some CDs. Remus had to ask what some of these things were. From his mum, Remus had gotten two new robes, a broomstick, and some cookies guaranteed to make him dance like a professional. The cookies came late, it seemed. The Yule Ball was the only dance of the year. After that, there was no need to be able to dance.

"This has been a nice Christmas," Lily commented as she looked through her CDs.

"Yeah," Remus said, downheartedly.

"What is it?" Lily asked, looking over at him.

"It's just that...I didn't get you anything," Remus muttered.

"I didn't get you anything either," Lily admitted. "I was going to get you something at Hogsmeade."

"So was I," Remus laughed.

"Let's call it even, then," Lily suggested, "but I'd better get a birthday present."

"You got it," Remus promised.

They smiled at each other.

Lily and Remus went to the feast together and had a great time talking. Remus was still surprised that he had not lost Lily with his rude behavior. He knew Lily was kind and wonderful, but he had never know such a forgiving soul.

******************

"I had too many sweets at dinner," Lily giggled as she lay on the couch in the common room.

"You too?" Remus asked from the floor.

"It's not often I indulge like that," Lily rationalized. "I do have a figure to maintain."

Remus looked up at her. She sure did have a figure. He didn't think that one night of eating a little more then usual would harm it enough to be noticeable. Remus didn't usually eat that much either, but he probably ate more then Lily did on a usual basis. Of course, he didn't care if he gained a few pounds or not.

"This has been a fun Christmas," Lily sighed.

"Yeah, but," Remus began, "what do we do now?"

"What do you normally do on Christmas?" Lily queried.

Remus got off his belly and sat cross-legged, facing Lily to answer her.

"My mum and I just sit down and talk about things."

"What sort of things?" Lily asked.

"School, friends, her work," Remus listed. "Just about anything."

"What about your dad and your siblings?" Lily said curiously.

"Don't have any," Remus told her.

"You have to have a dad," Lily informed, propping her head up on her elbow.

"My dad left," Remus explained, looking down. "One day he got tired of having a son -like me- and he left."

"Don't blame yourself," Lily warned. "It's not your fault."

"In this instance," Remus began, "it was my fault."

"Sorry I brought it up," Lily apologized.

"Don't worry," Remus told her. "I've gotten over it. Once I came to school here and found out there were people who would accept me, I knew my dad was wrong for leaving."

Lily smiled, nodding slowly.

"What time is it?" Remus asked.

Lily lifted her head and looked up at the clock over the hearth and answered, "It's seven o'clock."

Remus' eyes opened wide and he jumped to his feet.

"What? What is it?" Lily questioned as she sat up on the couch.

"Crauwel!" Remus exclaimed.

"Oh, I can't believe we forgot," Lily cried.

"We've got to get down to his classroom right away," Remus insisted.

Lily agreed and they sprinted out of the common room. They made their way down to the Defense Against Dark Arts room. The door was open so Remus peeked inside. The room was desolate as it was the last time he and Lily went there. Remus walked inside, followed closely by Lily.

"D'you think we might have missed them?" Lily asked quietly.

Remus shrugged.

"We can't take the chance that we havn't," he told her. "We'd better get into the wardrobe."

Lily nodded and the two walked over to the tall cherry wardrobe closet. Remus slowly opened the door. Inside was a winter robe, a broomstick, an old hat, and a talisman.

"There's not much room," Lily informed.

"I don't think we'll be in there long," Remus voiced.

Lily gave Remus a weak smile and then climbed into the wardrobe. Remus closed the door behind him as he went in. There was a faint smell of mold in the closet. Lily elbowed the thick robes until they were no longer a wall between her and Remus.

"Can you believe how much dust is in here?" Lily sounded quite disgusted.

Remus laughed.

"What if one of us gets tired?" Lily asked.

"Maybe there's room for one of us to sit," Remus suggested.

Lily began to crouch down.

"I don't think so."

This was not going to be as easy as Remus thought it was. After about a half hour, they were both feeling the pains of being cramped in that wardrobe.

"My feet hurt," Lily whispered.

"I'm sorry," was all Remus could say.

"What's taking Crauwel?" Lily asked, turning to peek out the door.

"Maybe he's still eating," Remus suggested.

"Or he might have already had the meeting," Lily re-brought up. "We shouldn't have enjoyed the feast so much. We should have been watching Crauwel. Oh, and I had insisted on having a second helping of treacle tart."

"Calm down," Remus advised. "You don't know that we missed the meeting."

"I hate waiting," Lily muttered.

Remus just laughed.

After another hour, both sixth years were bored out of their minds.

"Have you ever heard the one about the goblin, the house elf, and the wizard?" Remus asked.

"You told that one twenty minutes ago," Lily whined.

"OK, a witch and a frog walk into a bar. The witch says-" Remus began.

"They both had warts," Lily droned.

"I hadn't gotten that far," Remus complained.

"I'm sick of this!" Lily exclaimed.

"I know," Remus said, sympathetically. "We've got to keep in mind that Voldemort is trying to take over the school. We are the only ones who know about it. We are the only ones who can stop him."

"How d'you think we'll do that?" Lily asked, looking up at Remus.

"I donno," Remus began. "We have to know his plan first."

Lily leaned against one wall of the wardrobe. She looked both worried and frustrated. Remus wasn't sure what he could do to help.

"Lily," Remus whispered, but he couldn't finish.

Lily looked up at him, her piercing green eyes searching for some relief. Remus, shaking, raised his hand to Lily's silky red hair. Lily closed her eyes as Remus gently brushed his fingers through her beautiful locks. He scanned the soft features of her face, lingering when he glimpsed her smooth lips. Before he had a chance to think it over, Remus leaned close to Lily and kissed her ever so tenderly. He felt Lily's delicate fingers grip on to the shoulder of his robes as to compel him to come closer. Remus slipped his arms around Lily's waist and pulled her to him. Lily rubbed her hand rather roughly against his neck as Remus massaged her lips with his own.

The sound of the classroom door opening spooked the two. They jumped apart and stared at the wardrobe door. Lily snuggled close to Remus, afraid that Crauwel might open the wardrobe door to get his hat or his broomstick.

"Crauwel!" came an angry and cold voice.

"Yes, Master," Crauwel said humbly.

"I have been waiting!"

Lily buried her face in Remus' robe.

"Forgive me, Master," Crauwel begged. "I did not mean to make you wait."

"I do not tolerate mistakes!"

"Master, no!"

Suddenly, Crauwel let out a quite unearthly scream. The sound of Crauwel's pain reminded Remus of his transformations. Lily gripped tighter on to Remus and began to sob.

"You will not leave me waiting again," growled Voldemort's voice.

"Never...Master," Crauwel panted.

"Now, you must set up means by which I can get to Hogwarts," Voldemort commanded.

"How, my Lord?" Crauwel asked.

"On that fourteenth day of February," Voldemort instructed, "you shall set up a portkey in the Forbidden Forest. Then I shall come and claim my Hogwarts."

"Yes, Master," Crauwel grovelled.

"Do you know why I want Hogwarts, my dear minion?" Voldemort asked.

"Yes, Master."

There was silence.

"Oh, no, Master," Crauwel rephrased.

"It's because of Dumbledore," Voldemort began, his voice snarling. "It was his and it will be mine! I will make him pay!"

"What has he done to make you despise him so?" Crauwel questioned.

"When I went to school there," Voldemort explained, "I was liked by everyone."

"Yes, you were very popular," Crauwel added.

"And then there was Dumbledore," Voldemort grumbled. "Dumbledore always stood against me. He refused to believe me in any matter. I hated him for it. I hate him still."

"But you shall have revenge," Crauwel reminded.

"When that old fool hears that I have tortured his students, he will wish he had been nicer to me in school," Voldemort cackled.

"Yes, Sire," Crauwel began. "He shall fall on his knees and beg that you release his school."

"It will be so sweet to watch him supplicate before me," Voldemort said as if he were dreaming of roast beef.

Remus held Lily close to try to comfort her, but it was no use. She was trembling and sobbing and there was nothing Remus could do for her.

"I shall see you in February, Crauwel," Voldemort said.

"Farewell, Master."

Remus listened as Crauwel's footsteps left the room. The door slammed shut and Remus let out a long-held breath.

"Lily," he whispered.

She slowly looked up.

"He's gone," Remus told her. "Let's get back to Gryffindor common."