THE SCHUBERT VILLAGE: CHAPTER 2
On wednesday the sun rose bright and early. It shined down on the small village and called everyone from their sleep. It pulled them out of bed, and since it was such a very nice day out, no one seemed to mind. Luna woke up early and showered. When she was through she magically dried her hair and put on blue jeans and a pink shirt. She usually wouldn't wear the color pink, but at the moment she really didn't care what she wore. She just wanted to go out.
She walked down the stairs and walked out of her house. Her dad was home, but he really wouldn't mind if she went out. He was used to her free spirit and he encoraged her to be one. She could be out all day and he wouldn't mind. He trusted that she wasn't doing anything bad, he knew that she wouldn't do anything that would cause him to lose his trust in her.
As she stepped out into the sun she felt a smile slip over her face. She walked out into the small streets of the village and made her way in the direction of the fountain. The fountain was in the center of the village. It was of a beutiful water nymph pouring water from a silver basin. The pool around the foutain was circular with the radius of about three feet. The pool water was about a foot and a half. The fountain was one of her three favorite places to go in the village. The other two where the book shop and the weeping willow in the plaines.
When she made it to the fountain she found somone sitting on the edge with a book on his lap. She smiled to herself and shook her head. She stealthily made her way over to him and sat down beside him. She knew that he was so wrapped up in his book that he hadn't even noticed that she had taken a seat next to him. She sat there for a second, wondering how to handle this. After a moments thought she said, "What are you reading?" in a low gentle voice. He jumped in surprise and turned to look at her. She smiled at him, "I'm sorry if I frightened you," she said.
"It's all right, you just surprised me," he said giving her a weak smile. He looked down at the book in his hands and than looked up at her. "I'm reading a book on Defence Against the Dark Arts." She noded. "What are you doing out so early?"
"Well it was such a nice day that I coldn't stay inside. I thought that I would just come and walk around, visit the fountain," she responded with a shrug. "Nothing very interesting, but it's better than being at home," she responded with a shrug. "And you?"
"I thought it was a nice day out," he responded with a shrug. "How where the past two days?"
"I didn't do much. Mostly spending time with my father and reading. Today's actually has been the first day I have come out since the other day in the book shop. I've just been doing things at home," she said with a warm smile at him.
"Hello Luna," someone suddenly said. Both she and Remus looked up to see a teenage boy standing before them. He was around her hieght, slightly taller with dark hair and dark colored eyes.
"Hello Johnathan," she said with a small smile.
"What are you doing?" he asked casting a look at Remus.
"Having a conversation with Professor Lupin," she responded. He merely noded. "Why do you ask?"
"I wanted to know if you would like to come play quidditch with us," he said.
"No thank you," she responded as she looked at him. "Maybe some other time," she said. He merely noded and walked away. She than turned to look at Remus who was staring after Johnathan pensively. He than turned to look at her.
"Why didn't you play with him?" he asked.
"I haven't played since I was nine and well I'm very out of practice," Luna responded with a small shrug looking down at her hands. Remus merely noded and turned to look at the direction Johnathan had just left.
"Who was he?" he asked.
"An old friend," she responded looking up at him.
"Not a boyfriend?" he asked. She burst into laughter. She was well aware that he was staring at her as if there was something wrong with her, but she found it very funny what he said. When she was finally able to control her laughter, which was a minute or so later, she turned to look at him and took in a deep breath. She had to wipe away a tear of mirth from her eyes.
"I'm sorry, it's just that it was a very funny question. I've never had a boyfriend in my entire life. Johnathan is only a friend," she responded.
"If you don't mind me asking, how come you have never had a boyfriend?" Remus asked his eyesbrows knited together.
"Well," she responded looking down. She could feel heat rise in her face. "Guys don't think of me in that way. Either I'm Loony Lovegood, invissible, or just one of the guys," she responded looking down at her hands. "No one has ever felt that way about me." She than looked up at him and she could see him staring at her intently. After a moment of silence, in which she felt as if he was searching thourgh her eyes for something, she finally said somwthing. "So will you be going to the festival on Friday?" she suddenly asked, wanting to change the subject.
"Perhaps," he responded. "Are you?" he asked.
"Most likely," she responded. "You should go. There will be many lights, fireworks, food, music, games and dancing. It's usually alot of fun. Everyone in the village usually attends. It will be merry." He nodded as a small smile came over his face. She looked around and could se many people walking about. She knew that most of them would be busy the next day walking about making the preparations for the festival. "Well Professor, I think that I should go and have something to eat," she said as she turned to look at him and stood up. "Have you eaten?" she asked.
"Not yet," he responded.
"Would you like to come? My treat," she said warmly.
"No thank you, I couldn't possibly allow you to-" she than grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to his feet. He had imediately stopped talking and merely stared at her.
"It's okay," she said as she started to pull him down the street. "Think of it as my welcome to you to the village," she said with a smile as she pulled him to the nearest reastuaraunt. "Besides, you can keep me company." They soon stood before a small restauraunt and they entered. She picked one of the booths on the right side, opposite to the windows. When the lady came over she ordered for herself and Remus asked for the same. "Well Professor Lupin, how have you been since the last I saw you?" she asked warmly and invitingly.
"Call me Remus or Lupin, whichever you perfer. After all I'm not you're professor anymore," he said. She merely noded and looked at him intently, waiting for his answer. "I've been all right. I'm doing much better now that the war is over and that the world is safe." The food than arrived and they both ate in silence for a couple of seconds. It was a peaceful silence and not at all akward. After they where half way through eating Remus finally said something.
"When's your birthday Luna?" he asked.
"I turn eighteen on June first," she responded. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," he responded. They spent the rest of the morning togehter, roaming around and talking. They talked about the weather, Quidditch, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Snape, Hogwarts and when they reached the lone weeping willow on the edge of the village, before the plain, they began to talk about their childhoods. They sat down on the grass and began to talk.
"I grew up here with my mother and my father. We used to spend alot of time together. We would come and run around in the fields. I remember," she started out saying. There was a far off look in her face as she remembered. There was a fond look in here eyes and her eyes gleamed. "When I was six years old my mum took me on the first flying lesson. I was so scared, but since she was there holding me, I felt that nothing could happen to me. By the time I was eight I was playing Quiddicth with my mum.
"There was this one time, when I had just turned nine, I was flying on my own. It started to rain lightly and then soon it was raining cats and dogs. The wind was so hard that I could hardly control the broom and it was raining so hard that I could hardly keep my eyes open," she said as her eyes clouded over and her eyebrows knited together. "I was very frightenned and I couldn't land. Then there was a very loud clap of thunder, it made me jump and I fell off the broom. I was at the very least fourty feet in the air and I felt so scared as I fell. I closed my eyes, just waiting to hit the ground, but it didn't come. When I opened my eyes, my mum was holding me and landing us on the ground.
"I held on to her tight and she held onto me tight. I felt so safe in her arms," she said softly, her eyes getting watery. "I thought that she would always be there for me. That she would never leave my side and she would watch over me. I felt that she would never leave my side and I felt very comferted in that thought. It never occured to me that she would be taken away," she finished as she looked down and a tear escaped from her eyes. She breathed in deeply, trying to calm herself down. She than looked up at him and he was looking at her sympathetically.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to-," he started out. She shook her head and spoke up.
"It's all right. It just hurts to remember sometimes, but I've come to terms with it," she said trying to calm her shaking voice. She looked into his amber eyes and offered him a small smile. "She's the reason I have not played Quidditch since her death. She was the only person that I loved to play it with and it's our special thing." He merely noded. She wiped off her face and looked at him.
"My childhood was pretty happy. I lived with my parents in a very humble but very cozy home. I loved my parents and they loved me. We where happy until.... that night," he said. He hadn't spoken of this to anyone since he last told James, Sirius and Peter. He had never really felt comfertable speaking about it, but he knew that Luna wouldn't judge him. "When I was nine I loved the moon and I loved to look at it. I was fascinated by it. One night in autumn I was walking in my village. It was deserted and I was walking about, staring up at the full moon.
"I don't quite remember what happened. It happened so quickly that I can hardly make out what happened. I just remember seing something large runing in my direction and than being knocked face first into the ground by it. It had pinned to the ground. The scars of his claws are still on my back, along with the other that I myself caused. What happened is, from the blood loss, I lost conciousness. I don't know what happened. I just remember waking the next day in an imense amount of pain and barely able to move.
"Ever since I cannot bare to look at the moon. My love for it may have proved to be fatal, but instead landed me with this horrible curse," he said bitterly. He turned to look at her and she was staring at him intently with understanding in her eyes. Her eyes seemed clouded over as she looked at him.
"May I see them?" she asked before she realized what she was saying. He was slightly taken back by her question. She blushed and looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry, I don't know what possessed me to ask you that. It was a very silly and inpertinant question to ask you. I'm sorry," she sarted.
"It's okay, I don't mine," he said. She looked up him and he looked very serious. She could see him unbutton his shirt and soon take it off. She found that he had a well toned body, but that there where many white scars on his chest and abdomen. Some where small and other where large. He turned around and showed her the ones on his back. It was unmistakeable to see which where cause by another werewolf. These scars where deeper and much more bigger than the rest. She found it amazing that he had suvived the attack. She ran her finger lightly over the large scars and could feel the ridges.
He shivered at her light warm touch. It caused his hairs to stand on end and his blood began to run warm. He soon felt her pull her fingers away and he turned to look at her. She was covering her mouth with her hand and he could see her eyes shine with unshed tears. She looked up and met his eyes and she uncovered her mouth. "How did you-. How could you," tears than began to pour from her eyes and he could do nothing but stare. He couldn't believe that she was crying from seing his scars.
There was nothing he could do to stop himself from pulling her into a hug. She buried her face into his chest and began cried silently, her body shaking from not bieng able to sob. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his bare chest. He could feel her warm arms aroud his waist and pressing agaisnt his skin. He liked the way that she fit perfectly in his arms and the way her hand felt on his bare skin. They where so soft, gentle and warm. He began to sooth her by rubbing her back gently and whispering soothing things in her ear. After a couple of seconds her breathing calmed and she stopped crying. A minute or so later she pulled out of his embrace and wiped her face off.
"I'm sorry," she said her voice shaking. He shook his head and put on his shirt. He buttoned it up and turned to look at her and she was watching the ground, rubbing her hands together. She turned back to him and her eyes fell into his amber eyes. He held her eyes for a minute and she felt herself melting in his gaze. She could feel them drawing her in and she was to exhausted to pull away from it. She closed her eyes and placed a kiss on his lips.
She was lost for a moment, not really knowing what the hell she was doing. She moved her lips lightly against his and she didn't quite realize that he was not yet responding. She was to wrapped up in the taste of his lips, the feel of his lips and lost in the moment to realize. But her brain soon kicked in and she pulled away, her eyes wider than usual, and her face red from embarrasment. He was staring at her in shock. A blank expression on his face. She covered her mouth and she imediately stood up. "I have to go," she said and she than turned away and began to run.
On wednesday the sun rose bright and early. It shined down on the small village and called everyone from their sleep. It pulled them out of bed, and since it was such a very nice day out, no one seemed to mind. Luna woke up early and showered. When she was through she magically dried her hair and put on blue jeans and a pink shirt. She usually wouldn't wear the color pink, but at the moment she really didn't care what she wore. She just wanted to go out.
She walked down the stairs and walked out of her house. Her dad was home, but he really wouldn't mind if she went out. He was used to her free spirit and he encoraged her to be one. She could be out all day and he wouldn't mind. He trusted that she wasn't doing anything bad, he knew that she wouldn't do anything that would cause him to lose his trust in her.
As she stepped out into the sun she felt a smile slip over her face. She walked out into the small streets of the village and made her way in the direction of the fountain. The fountain was in the center of the village. It was of a beutiful water nymph pouring water from a silver basin. The pool around the foutain was circular with the radius of about three feet. The pool water was about a foot and a half. The fountain was one of her three favorite places to go in the village. The other two where the book shop and the weeping willow in the plaines.
When she made it to the fountain she found somone sitting on the edge with a book on his lap. She smiled to herself and shook her head. She stealthily made her way over to him and sat down beside him. She knew that he was so wrapped up in his book that he hadn't even noticed that she had taken a seat next to him. She sat there for a second, wondering how to handle this. After a moments thought she said, "What are you reading?" in a low gentle voice. He jumped in surprise and turned to look at her. She smiled at him, "I'm sorry if I frightened you," she said.
"It's all right, you just surprised me," he said giving her a weak smile. He looked down at the book in his hands and than looked up at her. "I'm reading a book on Defence Against the Dark Arts." She noded. "What are you doing out so early?"
"Well it was such a nice day that I coldn't stay inside. I thought that I would just come and walk around, visit the fountain," she responded with a shrug. "Nothing very interesting, but it's better than being at home," she responded with a shrug. "And you?"
"I thought it was a nice day out," he responded with a shrug. "How where the past two days?"
"I didn't do much. Mostly spending time with my father and reading. Today's actually has been the first day I have come out since the other day in the book shop. I've just been doing things at home," she said with a warm smile at him.
"Hello Luna," someone suddenly said. Both she and Remus looked up to see a teenage boy standing before them. He was around her hieght, slightly taller with dark hair and dark colored eyes.
"Hello Johnathan," she said with a small smile.
"What are you doing?" he asked casting a look at Remus.
"Having a conversation with Professor Lupin," she responded. He merely noded. "Why do you ask?"
"I wanted to know if you would like to come play quidditch with us," he said.
"No thank you," she responded as she looked at him. "Maybe some other time," she said. He merely noded and walked away. She than turned to look at Remus who was staring after Johnathan pensively. He than turned to look at her.
"Why didn't you play with him?" he asked.
"I haven't played since I was nine and well I'm very out of practice," Luna responded with a small shrug looking down at her hands. Remus merely noded and turned to look at the direction Johnathan had just left.
"Who was he?" he asked.
"An old friend," she responded looking up at him.
"Not a boyfriend?" he asked. She burst into laughter. She was well aware that he was staring at her as if there was something wrong with her, but she found it very funny what he said. When she was finally able to control her laughter, which was a minute or so later, she turned to look at him and took in a deep breath. She had to wipe away a tear of mirth from her eyes.
"I'm sorry, it's just that it was a very funny question. I've never had a boyfriend in my entire life. Johnathan is only a friend," she responded.
"If you don't mind me asking, how come you have never had a boyfriend?" Remus asked his eyesbrows knited together.
"Well," she responded looking down. She could feel heat rise in her face. "Guys don't think of me in that way. Either I'm Loony Lovegood, invissible, or just one of the guys," she responded looking down at her hands. "No one has ever felt that way about me." She than looked up at him and she could see him staring at her intently. After a moment of silence, in which she felt as if he was searching thourgh her eyes for something, she finally said somwthing. "So will you be going to the festival on Friday?" she suddenly asked, wanting to change the subject.
"Perhaps," he responded. "Are you?" he asked.
"Most likely," she responded. "You should go. There will be many lights, fireworks, food, music, games and dancing. It's usually alot of fun. Everyone in the village usually attends. It will be merry." He nodded as a small smile came over his face. She looked around and could se many people walking about. She knew that most of them would be busy the next day walking about making the preparations for the festival. "Well Professor, I think that I should go and have something to eat," she said as she turned to look at him and stood up. "Have you eaten?" she asked.
"Not yet," he responded.
"Would you like to come? My treat," she said warmly.
"No thank you, I couldn't possibly allow you to-" she than grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to his feet. He had imediately stopped talking and merely stared at her.
"It's okay," she said as she started to pull him down the street. "Think of it as my welcome to you to the village," she said with a smile as she pulled him to the nearest reastuaraunt. "Besides, you can keep me company." They soon stood before a small restauraunt and they entered. She picked one of the booths on the right side, opposite to the windows. When the lady came over she ordered for herself and Remus asked for the same. "Well Professor Lupin, how have you been since the last I saw you?" she asked warmly and invitingly.
"Call me Remus or Lupin, whichever you perfer. After all I'm not you're professor anymore," he said. She merely noded and looked at him intently, waiting for his answer. "I've been all right. I'm doing much better now that the war is over and that the world is safe." The food than arrived and they both ate in silence for a couple of seconds. It was a peaceful silence and not at all akward. After they where half way through eating Remus finally said something.
"When's your birthday Luna?" he asked.
"I turn eighteen on June first," she responded. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," he responded. They spent the rest of the morning togehter, roaming around and talking. They talked about the weather, Quidditch, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Snape, Hogwarts and when they reached the lone weeping willow on the edge of the village, before the plain, they began to talk about their childhoods. They sat down on the grass and began to talk.
"I grew up here with my mother and my father. We used to spend alot of time together. We would come and run around in the fields. I remember," she started out saying. There was a far off look in her face as she remembered. There was a fond look in here eyes and her eyes gleamed. "When I was six years old my mum took me on the first flying lesson. I was so scared, but since she was there holding me, I felt that nothing could happen to me. By the time I was eight I was playing Quiddicth with my mum.
"There was this one time, when I had just turned nine, I was flying on my own. It started to rain lightly and then soon it was raining cats and dogs. The wind was so hard that I could hardly control the broom and it was raining so hard that I could hardly keep my eyes open," she said as her eyes clouded over and her eyebrows knited together. "I was very frightenned and I couldn't land. Then there was a very loud clap of thunder, it made me jump and I fell off the broom. I was at the very least fourty feet in the air and I felt so scared as I fell. I closed my eyes, just waiting to hit the ground, but it didn't come. When I opened my eyes, my mum was holding me and landing us on the ground.
"I held on to her tight and she held onto me tight. I felt so safe in her arms," she said softly, her eyes getting watery. "I thought that she would always be there for me. That she would never leave my side and she would watch over me. I felt that she would never leave my side and I felt very comferted in that thought. It never occured to me that she would be taken away," she finished as she looked down and a tear escaped from her eyes. She breathed in deeply, trying to calm herself down. She than looked up at him and he was looking at her sympathetically.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to-," he started out. She shook her head and spoke up.
"It's all right. It just hurts to remember sometimes, but I've come to terms with it," she said trying to calm her shaking voice. She looked into his amber eyes and offered him a small smile. "She's the reason I have not played Quidditch since her death. She was the only person that I loved to play it with and it's our special thing." He merely noded. She wiped off her face and looked at him.
"My childhood was pretty happy. I lived with my parents in a very humble but very cozy home. I loved my parents and they loved me. We where happy until.... that night," he said. He hadn't spoken of this to anyone since he last told James, Sirius and Peter. He had never really felt comfertable speaking about it, but he knew that Luna wouldn't judge him. "When I was nine I loved the moon and I loved to look at it. I was fascinated by it. One night in autumn I was walking in my village. It was deserted and I was walking about, staring up at the full moon.
"I don't quite remember what happened. It happened so quickly that I can hardly make out what happened. I just remember seing something large runing in my direction and than being knocked face first into the ground by it. It had pinned to the ground. The scars of his claws are still on my back, along with the other that I myself caused. What happened is, from the blood loss, I lost conciousness. I don't know what happened. I just remember waking the next day in an imense amount of pain and barely able to move.
"Ever since I cannot bare to look at the moon. My love for it may have proved to be fatal, but instead landed me with this horrible curse," he said bitterly. He turned to look at her and she was staring at him intently with understanding in her eyes. Her eyes seemed clouded over as she looked at him.
"May I see them?" she asked before she realized what she was saying. He was slightly taken back by her question. She blushed and looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry, I don't know what possessed me to ask you that. It was a very silly and inpertinant question to ask you. I'm sorry," she sarted.
"It's okay, I don't mine," he said. She looked up him and he looked very serious. She could see him unbutton his shirt and soon take it off. She found that he had a well toned body, but that there where many white scars on his chest and abdomen. Some where small and other where large. He turned around and showed her the ones on his back. It was unmistakeable to see which where cause by another werewolf. These scars where deeper and much more bigger than the rest. She found it amazing that he had suvived the attack. She ran her finger lightly over the large scars and could feel the ridges.
He shivered at her light warm touch. It caused his hairs to stand on end and his blood began to run warm. He soon felt her pull her fingers away and he turned to look at her. She was covering her mouth with her hand and he could see her eyes shine with unshed tears. She looked up and met his eyes and she uncovered her mouth. "How did you-. How could you," tears than began to pour from her eyes and he could do nothing but stare. He couldn't believe that she was crying from seing his scars.
There was nothing he could do to stop himself from pulling her into a hug. She buried her face into his chest and began cried silently, her body shaking from not bieng able to sob. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his bare chest. He could feel her warm arms aroud his waist and pressing agaisnt his skin. He liked the way that she fit perfectly in his arms and the way her hand felt on his bare skin. They where so soft, gentle and warm. He began to sooth her by rubbing her back gently and whispering soothing things in her ear. After a couple of seconds her breathing calmed and she stopped crying. A minute or so later she pulled out of his embrace and wiped her face off.
"I'm sorry," she said her voice shaking. He shook his head and put on his shirt. He buttoned it up and turned to look at her and she was watching the ground, rubbing her hands together. She turned back to him and her eyes fell into his amber eyes. He held her eyes for a minute and she felt herself melting in his gaze. She could feel them drawing her in and she was to exhausted to pull away from it. She closed her eyes and placed a kiss on his lips.
She was lost for a moment, not really knowing what the hell she was doing. She moved her lips lightly against his and she didn't quite realize that he was not yet responding. She was to wrapped up in the taste of his lips, the feel of his lips and lost in the moment to realize. But her brain soon kicked in and she pulled away, her eyes wider than usual, and her face red from embarrasment. He was staring at her in shock. A blank expression on his face. She covered her mouth and she imediately stood up. "I have to go," she said and she than turned away and began to run.