The Truth About Remus

Chapter Thirteen

I was sitting in the back of the locker room tuning up my video while I listened to James talk to his team.

"This is it, men," he exclaimed, walking his usual path between the locker room benches, "This is the final game of the tournament, and it's against Slytherin. Even through our disappointing defeat against them in our first game of the tournament, you all showed me that you wouldn't allow that to bring you down. You have worked hard during our practices and have proven to me that you are all dedicated to this team. Pure dedication. Right now, I just want to thank all of you for loving this team and this sport so deeply and whatever happens out there, you are still the greatest set of players I could be the captain of. Now, here's our Playboy Bunny with the Slytherin Scoop."

I smiled and emerged from the back of the room, "Hey, guys. You are going to kill me for this, but Slytherin obviously cracked down hard on creating new plays and spat out thirty-two new ones in their game against Hufflepuff. Let us take a look."

I passed out the playbooks and we watched the video, the guys following along closely in their books. After the movie, the guys thanked me and left for warm-up. I looked at James as I stood up and smiled.

"I have done all I can, Prongs. I just hope that it is enough," I told him.

He hugged and kissed my on the cheek, "You have done more than enough, Thumper. Just enjoy the game."

"Scare the hell out of that Keeper for me."

James winked at me and walked out of the room to join his team. After a while, I joined Lily, Sirius and Remus (with whom I was still not talking to) in the stands.

"How are they feeling? Did they eat? Are they awake? Sharp? On the ball? Do you ---"

I closed my eyes as I listened to Lily's string of endless questions, and finally replied, "Have you been watching the warm-ups? They are completely fine! You are more nervous than poor Prongs!"

Lily quieted down and I pulled out my Omnioculars just in time to catch the release of the Quaffle to begin the Hogwarts' Quidditch Cup Game.

"Potter gains control of the Quaffle immediately, passes it to Lea in a spectacular behind-the-back move. Lea catches it with no trouble, fakes a pass back to Potter and throws it to Dopson. The Slytherins are completely confused as Dopson takes it up the pitch, passes it to Potter and – YES! POTTER SCORES! It is ten to nothing, Gryffindor favor!"

The Gryffindor crowd went wild and the team made a victory lap. In no time, the game was back on, this time with Slytherin in possession of the Quaffle.

"Keeper Hahn throws it to Fern, who takes it towards the Gryffindor goals, does an airplane move to dodge a Bludger hit by Bennington on the red and gold side, passes it to Flint who immediately passes it to Bradley – quick reflexes on that boy! Bradley takes it up, passes it to Flint who takes a shot – and is blocked by Shinoda!"

The Slytherin side booed loudly as Dopson took the Quaffle. I looked at the Slytherin Beaters – Raintree in particular. She looked fired up. I saw her nod at her other Beater, Israfael Lucaine and Lucaine flew off. As he passed the Seeker, he tapped him on the shoulder. I grew suspicious. It had to be a secret code to a huge play – I only prayed that this one was one of the old ones.

It wasn't, to my despair. This play involved the whole team, zigzagging through and around the Gryffindor players, confusing them and redirecting their attention from the game. It was no time before Slytherin intercepted the Quaffle, scored and managed to get a Bludger to hit our Seeker. He wasn't badly hurt, but our House spirit was taken down a notch. By the Slytherins' third successful goal, Sirius leaned over to me.

"What in the hell is happening out there," he asked me.

"I couldn't tell you," I replied dully, "They are executing new plays in a manner that I have never witnessed before."

I sat there, helpless, as Slytherin scored their fourth and fifth goals of the game. James was trying his hardest to keep the Quaffle in his hands, hoping to make a goal, but the Slytherin Chasers, usually Flint, were too quick for him.

"We can't just let this keep up," Lily exclaimed, shaking me, "We have to tell James what is going on! We have to give him an update or something! We need to do something!"

"I – cant – do – anything – stop – shaking – ME," I told her, and she let go, "I gave him and the team all of the information I had. They know just as well as I do that once the game had started, no one can help them."

For the next thirty minutes, the Slytherins scored three times and Gryffindor scored twice.

"This is getting bad, Thump," Sirius hissed, "If the Slytherin Seeker catches the Snitch again ---"

"He won't," I assured him, "Prongs has been working our Seeker on an enchanted Snitch. It flies faster and works more complicated maneuvers than this one being used in the game."

"But that won't matter of the Beaters keep circling David like that! He can't see a thing, much less a Snitch!"

I rested my chin in my hand and sighed, "Do you have a quill and parchment?"

"I think I might," Lily said, checking her robe pockets; she found some, and handed it to me, "What are you going to do?"

"Work on a counter play for Slytherin," I informed the both of them.

"Do you think that James can explain it to the team in time," Lily asked, as I began scribbling, "You know just as well as I do that time-outs aren't allowed. The game doesn't stop unless a Seeker catches the Snitch."

"She knows that, Lily," Sirius grumbled, "Let her work. There is nothing else we can do but that."

I began drawing out play after play and trying to work a counter play as Marie's commentary drowned on in the background.

"--- Again, Slytherin has the Quaffle…and look at that…another goal," she was saying, sarcastically, "That brings the score to Gryffindor, fifty and Slytherin, ninety. Slytherin is putting on quite a show out there – those sleazing ---"

After fifteen minutes, I had run out of room on the parchment and was out of ideas. I crumpled up the sheet violently and threw it onto the field.

"Dammit," I exclaimed, "I can't believe this! Nothing! What a time to have strategy block!"

I laid my head on Sirius' shoulder and Lily spoke up.

"Does the team ever use Slytherin's plays while working against them," she asked.

"No, of course not," I exclaimed, outraged, "What kind of dumb ass do you take me for? I tell the team never to use the plays that their opponent created and practiced to thoroughly. I told them that they might as well be digging their own grave!"

"Maybe that's the problem," Sirius informed me, "That is exactly what Slytherin is expecting. They figured that no one would use their plays against them, so they never though of finding a way to counter the attack. I mean, who really expects to see another team use a play they created against them?"

"Oh my Gods, Padfoot, I think you're right," I exclaimed, "We have to get Prongs over here so I can tell him!"

After kissing Sirius hard on the cheek, the three of us worked on getting James' attention and getting him to fly over. Remus was either in his own world, or didn't want to help me in any way. After a bit of waving and screaming, James got the hint and flew over.

"Make it quick – they're killing us out there," James exclaimed quickly.

"Hello Mr. Obvious," Sirius said sarcastically.

I ignored him and said, "If you want it quick, then just do what I say and don't ask any questions. Use Slytherins' plays against them. The team should know the plays. Just trust me, Prongs – it was Padfoot's idea, anyway." 

James sighed, nodded and flew back onto the Pitch. He called the codename of one of the Slytherin plays and was immediately shot odd looks. Despite this, they began running the play and I sat on the edge of my seat, awaiting the outcome.

"Dopson with the Quaffle…he swoops down to avoid a Slytherin Beater as Potter crosses behind him, ready for a pass, Dopson faces Potter…but Fern flies in front of Dopson for a hand off. No one is near Fern as he takes it up the field…shoots…and ---"

The Gryffindor stands erupted into cheering as the Quaffle soared effortlessly into the far left goal. The look on the Slytherins' faces was one of total bewilderment. They knew that we were using their plays against them, but they didn't know how to handle it. James gave me a thumb's up as the game continued.

"That is the fifth goal this game for the Gryffindor team captain an Chaser, James Potter," Marie Rider announced a little while later, "and that brings the score to eighty to one-hundred twenty, Slytherin's favor."

Everyone was watching how wonderfully Gryffindor was taking Slytherin's plays and shoving them right up their asses that no one noticed when the two Seekers began chasing each other around the pitch. David, the Gryffindor Seeker, leaned sharply right to hit the Slytherin Seeker and knocked him off course; however, he was back on track in no time. The pair of them passed up, and I saw that the Slytherin Seeker had the Snitch at the very tip of his fingers.

"Come on," I hissed, "Get it Rowling…"

In a split second, our Seeker, David Rowling, jumped off the nose of his broom, diving for the Snitch and fell fifty-five feet to the ground. There was a sickening crunch as he hit and the entire stadium went silent. The game halted right where it was, the cheering ceased…it was like someone pressed a pause button on a VCR.

James was the first person at David's side. In my Omnioculars, I watched him take the Snitch out of David's limp hand and cradled his head in his lap.

"Gryffindor Seeker David Rowling caught the Snitch, capturing the win," Marie said to the silent crowd, though her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

As Madam Pomfrey made her way onto the field, a stretcher levitating beside her, no one moved or spoke. Silently, she took David from James and put him on the stretcher. Lilt, Sirius, Remus and I left the stands and went to James.

"Is he okay," Lily asked him, embracing him in a hug.

"When I got here, his breathing was very shallow and I could see blood…though I don't know where it was coming from."

The crowd around up began to leave as Madam Hooch's voice announced to everyone that the Cup would be awarded in one hour.

I got ready for the ceremony and the ball with Lily. As she was changing, I again noticed the Dark Mark on her arm.

"Does Prongs know you have that," I asked her.

"No," she told me, knowing exactly what I was talking about, "Only you do."

"Why, Lily? Why did you join his forces?"

"There are so many things to explain…but I want you to know that…my intentions are only noble," she said slowly, "I am fighting for a cause."

"Fighting with whom? With Voldemort? That is not a noble cause."

"I – I can't tell you everything right now…I will tell you when the time comes, I promise, but you have to trust me. Please. Let's just go to the ball, okay?"

I nodded and followed her out into the common room to meet with the guys. I noticed that Remus had a seventh year girl on his arm – Emilie Russell – and I felt my stomach do a jealous summersault. He had a date for the Yule Ball – and I didn't. I didn't want one. I wanted – I felt tears burn my eyes and I tried my hardest not to let them spill over. Sirius (who had only one date this time, a girl named Lauren) saw the sadness in my face when I saw Remus laugh at one of Emilie's jokes and he walked over to me.

"Are you okay," he asked.

I nodded and he held out his arm to me. I threaded my own arm through it and he kissed my forehead. Our group went down to the Great Hall and found a table with Bill and Crystal.

"Boy, you two look nice," I managed to croak with a smile, "Are you two an item?"

Crystal laughed and Bill took her hand that was sitting on the table and gave it a loving squeeze.

"Yes," he replied, "and thanks."

Dumbledore tapped the side of his glass and the hall grew silent. Madam Hooch was standing in front of the head table.

"I know that you are all anxious for the ball and feast to begin, so, without further a due, I present to you the champions of the 1976 Hogwarts Quidditch season – Gryffindor!"

Everyone in the hall – even the Slytherins – gave a standing ovation as the team, led in by no other than David Rowling, entered the Great Hall.

"He's okay," Lily exclaimed.

"Congratulations, team Gryffindor," Madam Hooch announced with a smile, "Mr. Potter, will you please come up to accept the award?"

"No," James said immediately, "but we can."

The entire team stepped forward and took hold of the Cup at the same time.

"Anistasia," James called, "come up here. You deserve this just as much as we do."

I laughed as Sirius pushed me forward. Once I was up there, the team embraced me as the Great Hall cheered. The commotion died down and the Yule Ball began. David walked up to me.

"May I have the first dance with the Playboy Bunny," he asked with a grin.

"Only if I may have this dance with the star Seeker," I replied.

He swept me onto the floor and into his arms as we danced. He was light on his feet and we were able to make easy conversation while we listened to the music. I was passed around between all of the team members until James finally cut in.

"I was expecting you sooner or later, Prongs," I told him.

He smiled and kissed my cheek, "You were genius today."

"It was Padfoot's idea."

"I know that's what you said earlier, but I thanked Paddy and he isn't taking any of the credit. So, thank you for being so incredible today and throughout the entire season."

"Don't mention it, James," I said, smiling, as the song ended, "It was fun."

He saw the sad look on my face and patted me on the back, "Hey, we are all getting together in the common room for a celebration at eleven," he told me as he escorted me to the table and took Lily for a dance.

I sat back down at the table with Bill and Crystal. They were arguing about something.

"Oh, come on, Crystal…please…"

She shook his head, "I told you, Bill, I can't dance."

Bill's face fell and I smiled at Crystal, "I bet you can – you just don't want to admit it! Go out and try it. Have fun!"

She sighed and nodded, "Okay, I give in. Lets go, Bill."

His face lit up as he escorted her onto the dance floor. I sat there, tracing my finger around the edge of my glass of Butterbeer and looked up at the dancers every once in a while. I was looking up at them when I spotted Remus and Emilie. He had his arms around her and was looking into her eyes like she was the only girl on this earth. I couldn't stand it, so I picked up my drink and walked outside to take a walk around the lake. It was a mistake, because the moment I set eyes on it, I also saw what no one else saw – the castle, the unicorn and the dragon.

"AHHHHHHHHH," I yelled angrily at it and threw my mug into the water.

I heard a low, subtle laugh come from behind me. I turned and spotted Snape with a rare grin on his face.

"Terrible, isn't it," he asked in a mocking sort of way, "having to watch your life-long best friend dancing with that tramp…holding her, caressing her body and pulling it closer to his ---"

"What do you want, Snivellus," I asked in a low voice.

"Nothing more than what you want."

"And how do you, of all people, know what the hell I want."

"Because it is what everyone wants. To be adored, touched…to be loved…"

I closed my eyes and replied in barely a whisper, "Why did you come here? Why are you talking to me?"

"You want something I can get you."

I spat on the ground at his feet, "You have nothing that I would want."

"You don't want…revenge," he asked in a sly voice.

"As a matter of fact…no," I lied, "I don't want revenge. Remus can go kiss, hold and bugger anyone he wants. It is not my problem. Excuse me."

I began walking away, but as I passed him, Snape grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear.

"Look at me, Anistasia. There is no need to lie – you love Remus. You want nothing more than to be under him, all hot and bothered ---"

"No," I said and pulled my arm away from his grip, "Who are you to judge what I want? You don't know me, Severus. We are acquaintances. Enemies. I am a Marauder and you are a Slytherin. That line shall never be crossed – EVER."

I walked away as he stared after me. I kept walking over the grounds until it was nearly eleven, where I made my last appearance in the Great Hall. Sirius, Lauren, Bill and Crystal were still at the table, talking.

"Hey, where have you been," Bill asked as I approached, "You disappeared after Crystal and I went to dance."

"Oh, nowhere," I replied with a grin, "How did you like dancing, Crystal?"

"I suck at it, but it was fun, especially with Bill," she said.

"Hey, we are about to head to the common room for the celebration party," Lauren told me, "Wanna join us?"

"Sure, I would love to," I exclaimed and we headed off to the party.

The celebration was already in full swing when we had arrived. On our entry, Butterbeers were shoved into our hands.

"Man, if I don't stop drinking these, I am going to do a House Elf and get pretty tipsy. Where's James and Lily," Bill asked immediately after looking around.

"Do you really have to ask, Stryker," Sirius asked.

"Huh?"

"Um, don't worry about Prongs," I said quickly as we found somewhere that was deserted to stand.

The group carried on in conversation as I looked around at the partygoers and sipped my butterbeer…until…as I reached to cover my mouth, I dropped my mug and turned away quickly. Tears began flowing from my eyes. I felt someone's arm wrap around my shoulders and the person began leading me somewhere. I could hardly breathe. I was led upstairs, away from the party and the noise. I was led into a room and the person leading me sat me on the bed.

"Ani," Sirius' voice said gently, "What happened? Why are you crying? Sweetie---"

I leaned against him and he embraced me.

"I – I saw Remus ki-kissing Emilie," I sobbed, "I cant beli-believe it. I know we a-are fighting, bu-but he asked som-someone else to the ball!"

Sirius rocked me in his arms, "I know. He has really sunk low this time, but it will be okay."

"We al-always go to th-the ball to-gether. He i-is my best fr-iend. No-now he is ki-ss-ing HER!"

I began wailing.

"Awl, shh, shh, its okay, Ani. Just calm down, baby, and tell me what is wrong. Just get it all out and you will feel much better."

"I didn't think that our friendship had ended," I told him, calming down a bit, "I should have mended our friendship. Now I have lost him and it – it really hurts. I have never felt this way…as though my heart has been ripped right out of my chest. I blew it with him. He spilled all of his feelings for me right out on the floor a couple months ago and all I could do was kick them across the room and keep mine inside. Its all over now…"

"You haven't lost him," Sirius assured me as I began crying in his shoulder, "I know you haven't. Remus is not the kind of guy to do that – you should know that by now."

"But what do I do now? I will look like a fool if I go down there and beg on my knees for forgiveness in front of everyone."

"You might, but you don't have to do that. I won't let you do that," he told me and kissed me on the forehead, "Let me be the embarrassed one. Stay right here."

I sat on his bed crying the last of my tears as Sirius left. As I was drying my eyes, I heard the door quietly open and shut, but no sound came from the enterer.

"Sirius," I asked quietly into the darkness.

"No."

The person stepped in front of me. The pale moonlight from the window flooded in and landed on Remus.

"Sirius just…told me…what happened," Remus explained as he sat on the bed, "Well, actually, he punched me, then explained, but I deserved it totally. I was afraid to come up here, and I wouldn't have, if Sirius didn't threaten to beat me into a pulp. I am so sorry for doing what I did. I feel as though I can't live with myself after he told me how much he just hurt you. That – in the common room…I can't tell you that it wasn't totally my fault. I was so angry with you and – my Gods, Anistasia, I am so sorry. I wouldn't blame you if you can't forgive me for what I have done to you. Even if you can, I want you to know that I wont forgive myself."

Before he could say anything else, I wrapped my arms around him. He embraced me and held me tightly. I had missed that.

"You are my very best friend," I cried, "How could I not forgive you?"

"Because of what I did! I didn't make amends with you, I asked someone else to the ball and then I kissed her right in front of you. I was a fucking pig!"

I looked up at him and shook my head, "I am just happy to have you back…I mean, you aren't in a relationship with her, are you?"

He grinned, "No."

"Then I forgive you."

Remus kissed my tear-stained cheeks and stood.

"Will you give this to my parents for me," he asked, handing me an envelope from his pocket.

"Why? You are going home, right?"

"Don't you remember the note? There is going to be a full moon tomorrow night. I can't go home."

I shook my head, "Yes you can. Don't you remember that when I am with you, you don't morph? I am going to be with you on the train, the last time I checked."

He smiled and stuffed the envelope back in his pocket, "I had better start packing then, hadn't I?"

"This will be a wonderful holiday surprise," I said as I began leaving.

"The surprises are only beginning."