AN: Here it is. I'm sorry; it was supposed to be up the same time as
Chapter 14, but I ran into a couple of problems. For those who are waiting
for something on James and Lily and Sirius, you'll have to wait for the
next chapter, I'm afraid. This one's for the Remus-Phoebe fans. Hope you'll
all enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: Common knowledge
Chapter 15: Realize
Remus was driving Phoebe home once more. When they'd heard from Sirius that Lily was out of town, they'd decided to postpone the Big Announcement. They did not want Lily hearing about things secondhand. They had cancelled the meeting and gone to enjoy a romantic dinner instead. "Thanks for a perfect evening," Phoebe said as they coasted past the Shrieking Shack. "I've never had more fun on a date." Her boyfriend smiled. Since Remus had admitted to liking her, he'd been showing more and more of his good and gentlemanly sides. Phoebe had never been so happy and in love. And she had been right about him completely. She turned to look out at the window, admiring the silvery moon as it beamed down from the sky. "Remus, come look! The full moon's so pretty tonight." All of a sudden, Remus stiffened. He threw open the car door, heaving. "Remus!" she cried. "What's wrong?" "Run," was his reply. "Please." Phoebe threw open her door as well and rushed over to him. "I'm not running from you. Please, tell what's the matter." Panic rose in her. "If you love me, go! Now!" Remus keeled over. To Phoebe's horror, she saw the fur sprouting from his body. His gentle hands were turning into clawed paws. His shoulders were hunching. She only stare as the changes continued. As the now-fully-transformed werewolf snapped its jaws, Phoebe got herself moving somehow. With amazing effort, she got in the car, just managing to slam the doors shut. Her fingers were shaking as she sent the car squealing off as a humungous black dog bounded up. Phoebe was practically frozen with shock and fear as she drove back to her home. She could not believe what she had just seen. Remus--her Remus--was...a werewolf. So many things made sense now. Why he had such a hard time finding a job. Why he never went out with her during certain nights, claiming that he'd needed a break from "towing around a puppet". Phoebe stopped the car a few blocks short of her house. Breathing hard, she tried to compose herself. She could not let her mother see her like this. Gathering together all her resolve, she got herself home. She explained to the servants that Remus had left her the car for one night, when they'd asked. Getting up to her room, she sank onto her bed. The tears were falling uncontrollably now as she buried her face in her pillow. Things had seemed so perfect already...how could this happen?
Sirius waited anxiously in the living room of the Matthews'. He knew Phoebe had seen what had happened last night, and he owed it to himself to straighten things out. When the young mistress came down at last, Sirius gasped at her appearance. Phoebe looked horrible. Her lovely brown eyes were red and swollen, and makeup streaked her ghostly pale face. "Phoebe," Sirius said. She wiped at her eyes and ordered the maid to leave them. "I'm so very sorry," he whispered. Phoebe's brow furrowed. "You weren't there- how did you--?" He took a deep breath. "I was that black dog." She gasped and backed up. "Don't be frightened. I'm not dangerous. I'm the one who keeps him in check when he's-like this." Phoebe wrung her hands and stared out the window. "How come he never told me?" she asked softly. "He did not want to lose you," Sirius replied gently. "He cared about you more than anything. He was hoping he could just hide it from you. I guess he was a little too excited last night and forgot that it was full moon." Phoebe sniffled. Sirius placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Please don't judge him by what you saw last night. Remus would never hurt you, wolf or no wolf. He loves you so much. Please give him a chance."
Remus sat inside the Shrieking Shack. His robes were torn and his body was covered with wounds, but he didn't care. All he could think about was Phoebe. Tears came to his eyes as he recalled the look of horror on her face. That was it. It was over. Remus had just literally driven away the first girl he had ever loved. He leaned his head against a wall and tried to stop the tears from coursing down his cheeks. He remembered the first time he met Phoebe, playing her violin. The first time he had taken her out. The night he finally confessed his feelings for her by diving into the middle of the street to rescue her prized instrument. He couldn't believe that was just barely a week ago. A sudden noise broke him out of his thoughts, and he jumped up. What he saw made him gasp. It was Phoebe. Her quiet elegance was a complete contrast against the peeling old walls of the Shrieking Shack. "Remus," she said softly. "You're injured." Taking her wand out, she sat him back down and set about cleaning his cuts and bruises. "Phoebe." He stopped her. "Why?" Her beautiful brown eyes met his. "I promised you last night last night that I wouldn't run," she reminded him. "And I won't." Remus could only stare in wonder at this incredible girl in front of him. Without a word, he wrapped his arms tightly around her, tears falling uncontrollably now. He knew she was crying as well; he could every tear dripping onto his shoulder. He could feel her arms, holding him as though she would never let go.
Disclaimer: Common knowledge
Chapter 15: Realize
Remus was driving Phoebe home once more. When they'd heard from Sirius that Lily was out of town, they'd decided to postpone the Big Announcement. They did not want Lily hearing about things secondhand. They had cancelled the meeting and gone to enjoy a romantic dinner instead. "Thanks for a perfect evening," Phoebe said as they coasted past the Shrieking Shack. "I've never had more fun on a date." Her boyfriend smiled. Since Remus had admitted to liking her, he'd been showing more and more of his good and gentlemanly sides. Phoebe had never been so happy and in love. And she had been right about him completely. She turned to look out at the window, admiring the silvery moon as it beamed down from the sky. "Remus, come look! The full moon's so pretty tonight." All of a sudden, Remus stiffened. He threw open the car door, heaving. "Remus!" she cried. "What's wrong?" "Run," was his reply. "Please." Phoebe threw open her door as well and rushed over to him. "I'm not running from you. Please, tell what's the matter." Panic rose in her. "If you love me, go! Now!" Remus keeled over. To Phoebe's horror, she saw the fur sprouting from his body. His gentle hands were turning into clawed paws. His shoulders were hunching. She only stare as the changes continued. As the now-fully-transformed werewolf snapped its jaws, Phoebe got herself moving somehow. With amazing effort, she got in the car, just managing to slam the doors shut. Her fingers were shaking as she sent the car squealing off as a humungous black dog bounded up. Phoebe was practically frozen with shock and fear as she drove back to her home. She could not believe what she had just seen. Remus--her Remus--was...a werewolf. So many things made sense now. Why he had such a hard time finding a job. Why he never went out with her during certain nights, claiming that he'd needed a break from "towing around a puppet". Phoebe stopped the car a few blocks short of her house. Breathing hard, she tried to compose herself. She could not let her mother see her like this. Gathering together all her resolve, she got herself home. She explained to the servants that Remus had left her the car for one night, when they'd asked. Getting up to her room, she sank onto her bed. The tears were falling uncontrollably now as she buried her face in her pillow. Things had seemed so perfect already...how could this happen?
Sirius waited anxiously in the living room of the Matthews'. He knew Phoebe had seen what had happened last night, and he owed it to himself to straighten things out. When the young mistress came down at last, Sirius gasped at her appearance. Phoebe looked horrible. Her lovely brown eyes were red and swollen, and makeup streaked her ghostly pale face. "Phoebe," Sirius said. She wiped at her eyes and ordered the maid to leave them. "I'm so very sorry," he whispered. Phoebe's brow furrowed. "You weren't there- how did you--?" He took a deep breath. "I was that black dog." She gasped and backed up. "Don't be frightened. I'm not dangerous. I'm the one who keeps him in check when he's-like this." Phoebe wrung her hands and stared out the window. "How come he never told me?" she asked softly. "He did not want to lose you," Sirius replied gently. "He cared about you more than anything. He was hoping he could just hide it from you. I guess he was a little too excited last night and forgot that it was full moon." Phoebe sniffled. Sirius placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Please don't judge him by what you saw last night. Remus would never hurt you, wolf or no wolf. He loves you so much. Please give him a chance."
Remus sat inside the Shrieking Shack. His robes were torn and his body was covered with wounds, but he didn't care. All he could think about was Phoebe. Tears came to his eyes as he recalled the look of horror on her face. That was it. It was over. Remus had just literally driven away the first girl he had ever loved. He leaned his head against a wall and tried to stop the tears from coursing down his cheeks. He remembered the first time he met Phoebe, playing her violin. The first time he had taken her out. The night he finally confessed his feelings for her by diving into the middle of the street to rescue her prized instrument. He couldn't believe that was just barely a week ago. A sudden noise broke him out of his thoughts, and he jumped up. What he saw made him gasp. It was Phoebe. Her quiet elegance was a complete contrast against the peeling old walls of the Shrieking Shack. "Remus," she said softly. "You're injured." Taking her wand out, she sat him back down and set about cleaning his cuts and bruises. "Phoebe." He stopped her. "Why?" Her beautiful brown eyes met his. "I promised you last night last night that I wouldn't run," she reminded him. "And I won't." Remus could only stare in wonder at this incredible girl in front of him. Without a word, he wrapped his arms tightly around her, tears falling uncontrollably now. He knew she was crying as well; he could every tear dripping onto his shoulder. He could feel her arms, holding him as though she would never let go.