Disclaimer: The word right before the colon should just about explain everything…
A/N:
Thanks once again to all of those who read 'The Mentor' and reviewed. I apologize for the grammatical/typographical errors in the past chapters, and I hope that the next events in the story will make up for them!
I so tried re-reading Book three which I borrowed from Spacegirl, but I don't think I was that inspired. Oh well, we'll see about that. :)
Chapter Six: The Message
Remus Lupin looked wistfully outside the window. It was early in the morning, but he was already dressed in his school robes, whereas the others were still sleeping on their beds, which formed a circle right behind him.
Waiting for one of his friends to wake up, he watched as the sun projected a few rays on the sky, making it the color of soft pink. He could see a couple of owls going to and fro the castle despite the hour, some of them a blur of brown, or a bluish black; or a light shade of silver-gray, all giving off greetings to one another.
One of them, a young, medium sized chocolate-colored one, had just come from the castle's direction. It had a white face, and three, weirdly shaped triangular marks on its forehead and was looking very tired indeed. It stopped in midair for a while, as if to look for a place to rest. It then swirled around, and finally decided to perch on the nearest, largest tree: The Whomping Willow.
If it hadn't for the fact that there were around four or five more boys sleeping in the same room he was in, Remus would have opened the window latch to shout a warning at the owl. Instead, he was forced to watch helplessly, as a particularly touchy branch hurled itself at the poor bird.
The owl flew to its right, but the branch had already managed to whip itself at its wing. The impact caused a slash on the owl's left wing, and as Remus could see, it had actually begun to bleed. The creature let out a hoot of pain, and flew away somewhat lopsidedly away from the tree. Remus held out a hand to the window's glass, and stroke it where the injured owl was flying in the sky. "I'm sorry, my friend…"
A hand on his own shoulder had him by surprise. James, who was still in his pajamas, took his glasses off, rubbed an eye, put his specs back on, and smiled at Remus, patting his shoulder. "It isn't your fault, Remus. I know it and so should you. Do you understand?"
***@***
*Future/present*
"I don't, James…"
He opened his eyes. A dull, white ceiling stared back at him, his vision still a little blurry. He lay in bed, tired, confused. Finally, Remus sat up, and brushed a few strands of his brown-gray hair away from his face. It was anything but summer, but he felt strangely warm, and tried to take a few deep breaths.
It had only been three days since his last transformation. Though it was not as bad as usual, as the Headmaster had asked Snape to send him a few bottles of the Wolfsbane potion every now and then, it still took a lot out of him. Because of this, he had been taking naps even more, and the recent one had brought about a memory he had almost forgotten.
He sighed. He hadn't thought about it in a while, the situation he was in. Sirius had escaped from Azkaban. Peter had rejoined with Voldemort. And as he had been for the last decade or so, James Potter was simply not there. And he had no job.
All of it was his fault. Stubborn little Remus had to get bitten by a werewolf, had to get into Gryffindor…had to make friends with those three; they'd all be living a simple life if he hadn't done those things. Sure they would perhaps be strangers to one another, but they would be safe; happy. 'And alive,' Remus thought bitterly.
He walked over to the wall near his open bedroom window, A tree blocked most of the view, but that did not prevent him from seeing the environment outside. He bit his already peeling lips. "I couldn't do anything, James; it's all my fault. Lily--forgive me; I just do not understand, Prongs, I don't understand…"
He bowed his head in sorrow, and only looked up when he heard the sudden rustle of wings. He saw an owl flying towards the tree near the window. It perched on a branch, before cautiously flying around the tree first, as if looking for a trap.
Finally, it landed on a branch near Remus, and he looked at the man curiously, hooting a bit and cocking his head to the left. Despite his mood and a threatening headache, Remus found himself stretching an arm out to it, and it kindly did not resist the offer, landing gently on his arm.
Remus smiled weakly; glad for a bit of company. He stroke its brown feathers gently, smiling, when something caught his eye. There, on the owl's left wing, beneath the feathers was something so thin and almost as brown as the rest of the owl, except for a distinct difference in the shade of color.
Remus traced the line gently, and then noticed something he hadn't seen before: three very queer, almost out of place markings on the creature's upper white face. Remus' eyes looked at the bird. 'No, it can't be; how…? After all these years? But the scar! And the markings…but, could it really be…'
No way…An owl that could live this long…and the same one? How…Why? More and more questions entered his head, and Remus felt like he was going to faint from confusion.
As if sensing this, the owl nipped gently at his ear, just as a faint voice was heard by Remus. So faint it was, that it was almost inaudible:
"Do you understand, Remus?"
***@***
Padfoot, something has been up with Remus lately
-Prongs
Sirius scanned the piece of parchment that had been passed to him while they were in Divination, then looked around him. James actually sat right next to him, but not wanting Remus (who sat on Sirius' other side near Peter) to find out that he was worried, James had decided to pass notes instead while Prof. Pearlhock drawled on about how to interpret dreams that repeated constantly.
Glancing at the corner of his eye at Remus, he scribbled down his reply.
He seems fine; he hasn't been feeling sickly? Maybe he's just exhausted?
-Padfoot
He passed the note back to James, who stared at it for a while, checked to see if Pearlhock was watching, then started to write on the same piece of parchment.
No; but what I meant was I think being 'Moony' is upsetting him again.
-Prongs
Sirius frowned thoughtfully as he read James' reply. Being 'Moony'…that really meant being a werewolf. Tired of writing, he leaned a little towards James, and pretending to keep his eyes on Pearlhock, started to mutter. "What makes you think so?" James leaned towards him as well.
"I saw him watching the Whomping Willow early this morning. Got upset when it got all violent with an owl. He was really depressed, Padfoot." Sirius sighed. He looked back again at Remus, who was busy explaining the lesson to the confused Peter as quietly as he could.
"We've got to cheer him up," Sirius decided. "But it's all that slimy git Snape's fault he's all like this," He added in a hiss. "I mean he couldn't have made matters worse, snooping around us and all."
James sighed inwardly. He knew it was not all Snape's fault, but he also knew that Sirius would never admit his mistake in playing that deadly prank on Severus.
***@***
"Oh, sorry, Lily; I didn't see you there."
Lily smiled kindly at a sheepishly smiling Remus, as they walked to the Gryffindor table during luncheon that day. Sitting beside him, Lily could see that he was, if possible, even more quiet than usual. She heard him sigh, as he reached for a bowl of baked potatoes.
"Is anything wrong?" She asked, serving herself some stew. Remus looked at her, looking quite surprised at the question. "What? Anything wrong?" He repeated. "Why do you ask?" Lily smiled. "You just seem a little lonely today, Remus, that's all." She patted his hand.
Remus let out a lonely grin. "Is it that obvious?" He asked Lily, who was, as Remus had to admit, like a sister to him. She looked at him thoughtfully. "Is it something I can help you with?" He forced a cheerful smile. "It really isn't important, Lily; I'm just a little down, that's all." He took a bite and swallowed. "You shouldn't worry about me, really."
Knowing that he wouldn't allow her to further question him, she shrugged. "So do you have a date for the Christmas Ball already, Remus?" She said, smiling. Surprisingly, Remus laughed. "A date? No; actually I may just go alone this time--you know I'm not the romantic kind."
Lily nodded in understanding with a smile. "I know; but maybe Sirius could give some suggestions?" Remus shook his head, and suddenly looked as though he might burst into laughter at any moment. "I don't think so. Believe it or not he's got a few problems himself. I've heard two of the girls on his 'list' denied him."
"Too bad then," Lily replied, imagining a desperate and heartbroken Sirius with a devious look on her face. "What about you?" Remus asked her suddenly, a smile on his lips. "Hm? What about me?" "Who are you going with to the ball?"
Lily shrugged. "I don't know; maybe I'll just go alone as well. I don't mind, after all." Remus frowned thoughtfully. His friend had gone out with James a couple of times before during the past dances they had had at Hogwarts, but lately it seemed that asking someone to a dance was becoming too…romantic; a little too personal, and Remus was beginning to understand why.
He smiled kindly at Lily, as he finished his meal. "I'm sure you'll find someone to go with just in time before the ball, Lily,"
***@***
A/N:
So how was the sentimental part with Remus Lupin and the owl? I dunno if that's earthly possible and all, but hey, miracles happen; and besides, it's the HP world anyway.
To my friends: So did anyone notice I used a lot of stuff from our W's for the D? *Gomen nasai, minna, but you all know I'm a freak.*
Hope you guys had fun reading. Please review!
