The Truth About Remus
Chapter Ten
My eyes fluttered open as a thin ray of sunlight crept its way through a crack in the velvet curtains of my bed and burned my eyes.
"Wake up, sleepy head. Someone downstairs it waiting for you."
I sat up quickly at the sound of Lily's voice and jumped out of bed. Outside, it was dark. The clouds blocking the sun and were heavy – I predicted that snow was coming, and it would be here by lunch. I put on my robe and, as I began walking out of the room, there were a dozen red roses on my trunk and a note beside them:
The first day of three, I am older than you, its December first, Happy Birthday to me! ~Moony
I laughed. Remus was always horrible at limericks. I set the flowers in a vase of water and ran down to the common room. Remus was sitting in a large armchair.
"Happy birthday, Moony," I exclaimed, jumping in his lap.
"Hey," he replied brightly, "Well, if I knew that I was going to get a lap dance for my birthday, I would have showered!"
"So that is what that rancid smell is," I said, but kissed him on the cheek, "Thank you for the flowers."
"You are welcome, Ani. Did you like my poem?"
"Yes," I told him; it sucked, but I still liked it.
"Are you guys going to sit like that all day long," Lily asked, appearing in front of us, "or will you actually make an attempt to make it to class before it is half over."
"Well, I am pretty comfortable," I replied, "What about you, Moony?"
"I think I like it right here, thanks for asking, Lily."
"Did you even hear the second part of my question? You guys are nearly five minutes late for class!"
"What," Remus asked, checking the grandfather clock in the corner of the room, "Shit!"
Remus and I ran up to our rooms. I didn't even see what I was putting on as I threw it over my head or buttoning it at my waist. I tossed my book bag over one of my shoulders as I ran out of my room, pulling my hair into a sloppy bun all the while. I slammed through the portrait hole and raced blindly down the corridors. Finally, I reached Transfiguration. I opened the door quickly and took a seat near the back, not even bothering to try to get one with Remus and the others. Professor McGonagall looked at me strangely.
"I am terribly sorry I am late, Professor," I explained, trying to catch my breath, "I was in the common room and lost track of time…please believe me when I express how sorry I am and this will never, ever happen again."
Professor McGonagall actually smiled, "I believe you, Ms. Willow, and I accept your apology, though I believe you are quite mistaken. You see, you are in fact two periods early…"
My tired, expressionless face immediately expressed one of shock as I absorbed what she had told me. For the first time in her life, it seemed, Professor McGonagall burst into laughter; her laugh was hoarse and sharp. I looked around me. There were second year Hufflepuffs and Slytherins sitting all around me and one particularly mean Slytherin boy was sitting beside me, looking as though I was the dumbest person on earth. Of course, that is exactly how I felt at the time.
"I-I'm sorry for in-interrupting your class," I stuttered incoherently as I left the room of second years.
Once outside, I threw myself against the wall.
What in the world was I thinking, I asked myself as I gathered my thoughts, Just calm down, Ani.
I finally made it to the right class, Charms.
"Where have you been," Remus hissed to me as I slid into my chair, unnoticed by Professor Flitwick.
"Don't ask."
By lunchtime, as I predicted, it was snowing. Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, Bill, Crystal and I bundled up and went outside to enjoy the first snow of the season.
"Awl, and its on your birthday, too," I commented to Remus as I cuddled up closer to him for warmth.
"Yeah," he replied, "I wonder of the lake is going to freeze over again this year."
"That would be wicked," James exclaimed, "Seeing Snape fall through the ice last year was a priceless moment."
"He fell through the ice," Bill asked with excitement.
"Yes," Lily replied harshly, "and nearly drowned."
"Oh, come on Lily! It was only a bit of fun," Sirius said.
Lily shook her head, "Really guys! I wish you would leave that poor boy alone. You have no idea what he has to go through on top of your teasing and nagging."
"And you do," James asked, eying her with surprise.
She didn't answer, and we forgot about it once Crystal pulled out the tarot cards I got her.
We took turns answering Everyone's questions, except for Remus, who preferred to look out at the lake and watch the monster swim around. Crystal was answering Sirius' question ("Is Regulus gay?") when I decided to sit with Remus.
"The snow is beautiful, isn't it," he asked as I sat beside him, "All of the white, flawless flakes, falling gently to meet the ground below, no two being the same. They have no weight and no real meaning or purpose but to pile up and allow for some childlike fun."
"Why are you so sad, Remus," I questioned softly as I lay my head on his shoulder.
"I am not sad," he replied, "Why do you think I am sad?"
"Be cause you are voluntarily expressing sappiness towards snowflakes."
Remus laughed, "Don't mind that…it's just ranting."
"Since when do you rant?"
"Since now, I think."
I grinned, "Seriously, Remus. Do you know something that I don't know, like, this is my last day on earth?"
Remus looked down at me and replied, "If I said it was, would you have sex with me?"
"Sweetie, it might be your birthday, but that won't be your present from me."
He laughed as Bill walked over.
"Ani, I am really cold…"
I smiled and pulled him into my lap. I held him close to me and helped warm him up. Remus looked at the two of us and smiled. He wrapped one of his arms around me, pulling us closer to him and I ran my fingers through Bill's red hair, brushing a snowflake out of it here and there. It was the greatest I had felt in a long time.
"Ani, Ani, wake up! Guess what today is," I heard Lily's voice yell as she pulled back the curtains on my four-poster bed.
"December 2, 1976," I replied with my eyes still closed.
"That, and a surprise snow day and Hogsmeade trip, declared by Headmaster Dumbledore just minutes ago."
I sat up in bed, "But it is Thursday ---"
"I know," Lily exclaimed, "Dumbledore has decided that since we weren't going to get a Hogsmeade weekend this month otherwise, he gave the entire school the day off."
"Awesome! Now I wont have to kill all of the holiday shoppers at Diagon Alley when I go home!"
"Hurry and get dressed! We are going to be leaving soon! Oh, and don't forget to put the roses that Remus left for you in water!"
I got ready in record time and read the poem that Remus left for me as I admired the roses.
Roses are red, violets are blue, day one was sweet, but not as sweet as day two. ~Moony
"Not as sweet as day two, eh," I asked myself with a smirk and put the note in my pocket.
"About time," Sirius exclaimed as I emerged from the girls' dorms.
I went down to meet my friends, who were securely bundled up in their heavy cloaks and I looked down at Bill.
"I know, I know," he replied, "Don't worry, Ani. I am going to hang out with Crystal today."
I nodded, gave him a hug and followed my friends towards Hogsmeade.
The two feet of snow on the ground was difficult to trek through, and it took longer than usual to get to Hogsmeade. However, once in the village, it was a relief to know that the stone pebble roads were cleared of snow.
The WANTED signs for Voldemort and his followers were more abundant than before, though, the ones in the store windows were brightened up a bit by Christmas decorations. The entire village was decked out with holiday cheer and, despite the reminder of the terror of the world in every shop window, people were full of happiness.
"Its so pretty this time of year," I commented, "Which reminds me – I need to go buy presents so, if you will excuse me…"
"Yeah, I am going to go off by myself, too," Remus said, waving good-bye to everyone.
"Oh, okay," James exclaimed sarcastically, "Why don't we all just split up?"
"Good idea, babe," Lily replied, kissing James on the cheek, "Why don't we meet in the Three Broomsticks at 12:30?"
"Sounds like a plan to me," Sirius said.
"Can't you tell that I was sarcastic," James asked as everyone left in different directions, "Come on you guys!"
I walked down a street of the village, looking around and taking everything in from the glittering, white snow, sparkling n the rooftops and lining the bottoms and windowsills of the shops to the lights hanging from the roofs and the doors. I watched as small children walked beside their mothers as she drug them around while she shopped…and then I found myself putting me in her place, dragging around little dark haired, blue-green and gray eyed children while I shopped. I saw myself fixing Christmas dinner as I listened to my children and husband playing in the next room and ---
"Excuse me, ma'am," the shopkeeper said as I looked up, "May I help you?"
I looked down at the shiny object in my hand, "Yes, I would like to purchase this."
He led me to the counter and I paid for it. I shopped for another couple of hours before I made my way to the Three Broomsticks.
"Hey," I greeted all of my friends, "Do you all want your usual?"
"What are you talking about, Thumper," Sirius asked.
"It is my turn to get lunch," I replied.
"No, no, no," James said, "Sit down, birthday girl. I'll get the lunches."
"But ---"
"Sit."
I reluctantly sat down and listened to the conversation Remus and Lily were having.
"Tell me, Remus," Lily exclaimed.
"Be quiet about it, please," he begged as he saw me sit down.
"What are you two talking about," I said brightly.
"Nothing…absolutely nothing," Remus replied, and changed the subject abruptly, "How did your shopping go?"
"Very well," I informed him, "I got all of the presents I needed."
"Is there any chance that I may take a slight peek ---"
"Absolutely none, Remus J. Lupin!"
Remus sat back in aguish as James arrived with the lunches.
"There is just one more thing," he told us as we dug into our food.
He reached under the table and put a box in the middle of it. Carefully, he opened the lid and revealed what was inside. It was a chocolate cake with a picture of a rabbit and a werewolf drawn on it in white frosting. Under the pictures, it said:
Happy 16th, Thumper and Moony!
Always up to no good, The Marauders
"I had it done at the bakery," James told us as Remus and I smiled down upon it, "That isn't a real werewolf, Moony, but I made the baker make it look close enough."
"Don't worry about it bro," Remus told him, patting him on the back, "Thanks."
"Yeah, James, this is wonderful," I said, giving him a hug, "Thank you."
"Dont mention it. Just enjoy it, and that will be quite enough thanks for me."
The five of us went back to the castle, stuffed and very exhausted from partying. We saw Bill and Crystal sitting at a bench in front of the lake and walked over to them.
"I hope we aren't interrupting anything," Sirius said, sitting beside Crystal.
"We come bearing gifts of cake," I told them, smiling and handing them the cake that the rest of us saved for them.
"Thanks," Bill said, immediately digging in.
"No, not at all," Crystal replied, "We were just watching Snivellus over there, wondering if he would be stupid enough to try to cross the lake like you told us he did last year."
"Yeah, him and that Pettigrew," Bill added with a mouthful of chocolate.
"Its frozen over again," Lilt asked, looking out at the lake.
"About two feet thick," Bill told her.
"You can't fall through ice two feet thick," I laughed, "Snivellus tried to cross when it was only five inches thick."
"The dumb ass," Sirius said under his breath as he got up and walked onto the lake, "See? Its solid as rock!"
Bill, Remus, James, Lily and I walked out onto the ice after Sirius. Crystal refused to go on – she didn't trust it.
"Lets play ice – whoop," Lily yelled as she fell, "---tag!"
"You fell, so you're it," Bill told her.
"Since you declared that, Stryker, you are going to be my successor!"
Lily jumped up and raced after Bill who was caught shortly after and then he tagged Sirius. We yelled insults to the person it, to egg them on. Remus was it a bit later.
"Come on, Moooooooooooooony," I yelled at him, "You can't get me cause you're my bitch!"
He smiled at me and began sliding towards me. He fell.
"Dumb shit," I called to him, "You can't catch me! You're too fuckin' slow!"
Remus got up and came after me, "Bugger yourself, Humper!"
I slid backwards, keeping my eye on him.
"You can't keep avoiding me, Ani. I am going to – ANISTASIA!"
Right as he said my name, I heard the splintering crack of the ice beneath me and felt my entire body give way. The cold began at my feet and raced up my body as it was emerged in the freezing water. The cold was pressing in on my chest and it grew harder for me to hold my breath as I sunk lower and lower into the depths of the lake.
I looked up as I heard a splash from above and Remus was swimming towards me. Once he reached me, he ripped off my scarf, cloak and robes, put his arm around my body and began bringing me to the surface.
Unable to hold my breath any longer, I let go of my breath of air and violently breathed in the ice all around me.
The world went totally black.