Moonlit Horizons – Chapter 32

*~*

Some lines are quotes from The Ataris' Song  - "Eight of Nine"

I just… don't get reviews anymore, are my standards slipping? I had to re-read everything that I wrote cause I totally got lost in my own plot.  I'd totally forgotten Draezyc was supposed to be pregnant again, so lets assume she lost the baby when she was in Azkaban or something cynical like that

Back to normal mode now ive caught on with myself and my story, I just wish I had the same readers as when I started, they all rocked, and whoever reads it now doesn't come forward with anything, critical or positive so I have no idea what im doing… J

~*~

Remus wandered down the damp corridors of the history of magic towers with a listless expression on his face, he had not been alone for the longest time in weeks, and it had all been a bit much after being alone for so many years.  Not that he was in the least bit ungrateful for having his friends around him once more, but in such a short period of time, things could get a bit complicated and stressful much easier than it should have.  Sirius had been going mad for the past few hours since daybreak.  They had finally convinced Draezyc to go and check to see at the very least if Edea was even alive, and since that point yesterday morning, there had been no word from either of the Snapes.  Pytheus didn't seem to know any better than anybody else where his parents were, and Dumbledore simply kept asking Sirius to remain patient. 

Asking Sirius to be patient was the equivalent of asking a hungry piranha fish to have mercy on a small animal swimming into its territory. 

Temporary comfort could be found in the solace of the library, but Sirius knew Remus well enough by now, and came looking for him to see if Remus of all people had any news.  Anna was helping to teach a Muggle Studies practical class and all the students were in a lesson as it was the middle of the morning.  Sirius was somewhere in the Owlery waiting for any arrival of news and the potions class was being covered by Dumbledore himself in Snape's absence.

It occurred to Remus that something must be very wrong indeed if Snape was absent from his own class, but there was little anyone could do about it until some news was given to them.  Life was slightly unorganised at the present time, with Edea in capture, Sirius having critical lapses into depression, Harry, Ron and Hermione trying to act as normal as possible, knowing that danger was creeping ever closer.  The Slytherins were walking around the school crowing with secret delight, especially Draco Malfoy, who had learned the same airs and graces as his father had been so proud of in his own school days, as Remus remembered all too well.

Remus stopped at a bay window and looked out onto the fields.  A handful of Ravenclaws were outside on the grass planting some large fern in Herbology and Hagrid was walking Fang along the boundary of the Castle grounds.

"It was the first snow of the season, I could almost see you breathing… in the middle of an empty street, sometimes I still see myself in that lonesome bedroom…"

Remus stopped in his tracks, recognising the voice immediately.  He turned towards the origin of the voice – a small classroom in the corner, the door slightly ajar.  He didn't want to embarrass the occupants, but curiosity took the better of him and he silently walked towards the door.

"If you could go anywhere right now… Where would you go?" 

"There's no place that I would rather be."

"Truly? I mean, it's me.  Not your ideal sort of… I don't know…"

"You've changed since I first met you, first slapped your face for being so rude to me, so callous to my feelings with your two henchmen watching your back at every chance."

Remus blinked… Surely not… He peered round the door and saw Draco Malfoy slouched against the wall, an embarrassed shade of pink creeping into his face, with Hermione sitting on a desk, a faraway expression on her face.  Remus almost choked, and slid back out of view trying to process what he had just seen.  The Muggle Hater of the School confessing an attraction to Hermione Granger? Surely that did not work?  He took a step backwards and felt himself walk straight into a body…

"Professor Lupin!" Harry grinned up at Remus

"Harry!" Remus gulped "I've got something to talk to you about with your essay on the metaphysical stages of the lives of vampires… as you have some spare time we might as well discuss it now, we could have butterbeer in my office?"  He had to stop Harry from seeing Draco…

"Er…" harry shifted from foot to foot.. "I was sort of looking for Hermione, I haven't done my potions essay you see and it'll be my luck that Snape's gonna be back for MY lesson…"

Remus laughed nervously, as Draco's voice rose louder slightly.  "Well Harry, perhaps you should look for her in the library?"

"I've already been in the library, and shes not there, I cant find her anywhere." Harry tried to peer over Remus' shoulder… "Is that her voice?"

"No!" Remus almost squeaked… "No, no it isn't…. Peeves, you see… he's trying to imitate people again.. and… why don't we go get that butterbeer?" Remus steered Harry away from the classroom, thinking that Hermione and Draco had better appreciate the effort he had gone to, to save them from the utmost embarrassment.

"Professor…. You alright? You seem a bit tense… I mean I know about the whole Edea thing, but you seem even more on edge, if you know what I mean.." Harry squinted up into Remus' face… "And it's not a full moon for a week or so."

"The closest of close calls has happened today." Remus just stated,

"Oh? What happened?"

"Nothing important… Just something possibly scandalously embarrassing for the people involved if word was to get out." Remus frowned trying not to give the game away

"You're not going to tell me are you" Harry grinned. "Fair enough… I expect full details from Sirius when I find him."

"He doesn't know either.." Remus laughed. "For once!"

Harry smiled, "So… you said butterbeer?"

"Indeed." Remus nodded and fell into step beside his best friend's son as they walked away from the scandal in the classroom….

TBC