Chapter 6

Remus was one of the few people who returned to the common room after History of Magic. He didn't speak to anyone throughout that entire class. There was still twenty minutes until their next class and most people seemed to be taking advantage of the nice day outdoors. But he himself didn't feel much like going outside to socialize.

The common room was peppered with only a few Gryffindors, a small group of first and second years playing wizard chess in the corner, two sixth year girls talking and laughing, and a few random slackers catching up on some much needed homework.

He suddenly noticed Lily sitting in a chair near the fire, reading. She looked up at Remus as he came in, but Remus averted his eyes and sat down in a chair on the other side of the room and began sorting through a stack of parchment. Lily walked over and sat down beside him, the last thing he wanted.

"Hi," she said, smiling. When he didn't acknowledge her presence, she frowned. "Are you all right?"

He reluctantly looked up at her. "Oh, splendid," he said with an air of sarcasm, but then sighed and shuffled around. "Sorry, just tired, I guess."

Lily closed her book and leaned over toward him. "I know James feels really bad about what he said to you."

Remus didn't look up.

"And," she pressed on, pulling a small envelope from her pocket, "Caia asked me to give you this."

Remus looked up immediately, raised an eyebrow, and slowly took the envelope from Lily's hand. He stared at her.

"I didn't read it, I swear. It's still sealed," Lily assured him.

Remus nodded. "Thank you."

Lily turned back to her book. Remus hesitated, and opened the envelope.

My Dear Remus-

I know that something is wrong, yet you refuse to tell me. I know you haven't been visiting you're sick mother; I've written her get well letters and she said she was not ill. You're friends seem to know, although they won't tell me a thing, and I respect that. But I truly wish you could tell me—I thought we could tell each other anything. But if you insist on lying, I don't think it is a good idea that we stay together. Meet me at the end of the third floor west corridor at midnight tonight if you will consent to come.

All my love,

Caia

Sitting there in unblinking disbelief, Remus swallowed and put the note into his pocket. What was he to do?

Right on cue, Sirius stormed into the common room, arguing loudly with Peter.

"If you hadn't been so careless—"

"But, Sirius, I just—"

"I don't believe you!"

"Come on, it was an—"

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" Sirius bellowed. Several people were staring at the two of them.

Lily looked up, frowning. "Really, what is this all about?" She said angrily. Sirius had his arm wrapped in the hem of his robes, still glowering furiously down at Peter, who was mouthing noiseless apologies. Sirius stood near Lily and Remus, and Peter, whimpering with fear, hurried up to the dormitory.

"What happened?" Asked Remus, staring at him. Sirius grimaced, cradling his arm in his robes.

"Peter was practicing disarming in the hallway, but I think he—took it literally." Sirius grinned, although something in his eyes made him look almost ready to cry. But Sirius never cried, Remus knew.

"What do you mean?"

Sirius unwrapped his arm slowly; revealing a long, deep, purple gash on his forearm. He wrapped it quickly back up in his robes and sat down in a nearby chair, still breathing hard from yelling at Peter.

"Ew…Oh, wow, Sirius—does it hurt?" Lily asked, biting her lip and wincing.

Sirius gave a low, bitter laugh. "Like hell."

"I think this might be one of those things you should go to Madam Pomfrey for," Remus said, Lily nodding at his side.

"Are you kidding? She'd kill me—we weren't supposed to be practicing in the halls anyway, you know—I'd probably just end up with a trillion points from Gryffindor and a detention for every day of the year."

"She never asks too many questions," Remus assured him. "Besides, it might be a whole lot worse if you don't go."

Sirius looked toward the portrait hole, and finally stood up. "All right, but I don't want to miss Defense Against the Dark Arts. Don't wait up for me, I'll meet you down there."

Sirius headed out of the common room, clutching his mutilated arm to his chest with his robes.

Remus glanced at Lily and she gave a little snort of laughter, and muttered to herself: "Boys."

Peter opened the door and came back down into the common room. "Is he gone?"

"He's gone. He went to the hospital wing. Peter, what on Earth did you think you were doing?" Remus asked.

Peter looked around frantically. "It was an accident! I didn't mean to!"

"We'd better go, now," Lily said. "Double Defense Against the Dark Arts, with Hufflepuff next."

Lily, Peter, and Remus headed down to Defense Against the Dark Arts together, the class being taught by Professor Phelan. Phelan was a tall, fat, Irish man with a red moustache and always wore the same, black, dragon hide boots. He was good-humored and friendly, although quite strict when it came to rules and work—if not incredibly bright. Peter opened the door and the three slouched into their chairs in the classroom that was already full, and Professor Phelan was already talking. Remus glanced at Caia, who did not smile.

Professor Phelan looked up. "You're late, you t'ree," he commented, "five points from Gryffindor."

Peter groaned and made a face but Phelan took no notice.

Phelan began to talk.

"Now where were we? Ah, yes, we were discussing Galrhema. Now," he continued, 'Galrhema' is a very powerful but short and difficult repulsion spell. It creates a temporary force field around the producer of deh spell, and most dark magical creatures would 'ave to stay at least twenty meters from deh witch or weezard. But it only works for five minutes. Dis is quite useful for Red Caps and Grindylows, and several odder magical creatures. I will demonstrate." He glanced over at the grindylow tank and raised his wand over his own head. "Watch yer 'eads."

Remus raised an eyebrow apprehensively, and Lily raised her hand. Professor Phelan lowered his wand.

"Yes, Miss Evans?"

"Sir," Lily began, hoping Phelan would come to his senses but not wanting to say anything aloud, "er…is Galrhema also useful on, oh, I don't know… banshees, or vampires, or werewolves?"

Phelan peered at her, and then glanced at Remus. "Yes. Quite useful." He furrowed his red brow, and shuffled around his desk for a moment. "Would someone please take this note to Professor McGonagall?" He looked up at the class. "Yes, thank you, Mr. Lupin."

Phelan handed Remus the small bit of folded parchment and he headed for the door, mouthing the words "thank you" to Lily. Despite his best attempts not to, his curiosity got the better of him, and he opened it.

Minerva— please keep Mr. Lupin busy for ten minutes or so, we will be practicing Galrhema. Thank you. –Skelley

Remus grinned to himself, having learned that Professor Phelan's first name was Skelley. But nevertheless he was incredibly grateful.

He reached Professor McGonagall's office and knocked on the door.

She didn't have a class. She looked up at Remus from her paperwork.

"Can I help you?"

"Er…yes, Professor Phelan asked me to give you this note," he explained, handing it to her.

She glanced over it and looked back up at Remus, almost smiling. "Did you read—"

"No!" Remus cut her off. He blinked. "I mean, well, yes. Sorry, Professor."

"That's all right. I assumed you would have, anyway. Here," she handed Remus a stack of envelopes, "you can address these for me."

Remus shrugged and sat down with a quill, beginning to address the envelopes from a list. They seemed to be packed with notices, permission forms, and miscellaneous papers from the school.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne, Mr. and Mrs. Lovegood, Mr. and Mrs. Litella, Mr. and Mrs. Pettigrew," Remus ran over the names in his head as he wrote them down.

He worked for a while until Professor McGonagall dismissed him.

Reentering the classroom, he sat down beside Peter and Lily, noticing that Sirius was still nowhere to be seen. Phelan was standing at the front of the room, talking, again.

Remus suddenly felt as though someone were staring at him. He turned to the side and glanced at James, who blinked apathetically and turned back to his notes.