CHAPTER SEVEN Full Moons and Explanations

Towards the end of their first month at Hogwarts, Ophelia and her friends began settling into the castle.

James and Sirius had already made a name for themselves as the school's resident pranksters, outranking even the sixth-year Hufflepuff girls, Becca Wolfe and Adrienne Simons.

Petey had become more comfortable with his new found friends and discovered that the more he was seen with Sirius, James and Remus, the less he was harassed by the Slytherins.

Ophelia and Lily had become very close in a short period of time and were often giggling at the ridiculous moments when the boys' ill-aimed spells blew up in their faces.

Often literally.

Everyone was enjoying themselves. Everyone but Remus.

As each day set, he realized he was one day closer to the full moon and his transformation. When he was home at the Manor, it had been easier for Remus to hide his secret from his friends, asking them not to visit on that particular night.

But at Hogwarts, where he was around James and Sirius during classes, meals and free hours, it would be extremely difficult to come up with some reason why he wasn't sleeping in his bed that night.

Or just where he had received the fresh wounds from.

Professor Dumbledore had suggested Remus tell his friends that he wasn't feeling well. But he highly doubted they would accept this as the truth.

Much to Remus' dismay, he woke up on the morning of 29 September, the cold knot in the pit of his stomach reminding him of the fate that awaited him in the next few hours.

He drifted through his classes, not bothering to take any notes.

James tossed an Every Flavour Bean at his nose, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"I agree with Sirius." Remus said automatically.

"Thanks, mate." grinned Sirius. "But I didn't say anything."

"What's wrong?"James asked.

Remus' face dropped once again. "I won't be in the dorm tonight."

"Why not?" said Sirius.

"I'm going home." he blurted out.

Petey leaned over Sirius. "Going home?" he repeated. "You can't go home. The Hogwarts directory states that students may only leave twice a year; once at--"

Sirius clamped a hand over Petey's mouth. "Why are you leaving?"

"Mum's sick." he said simply.

"Oh. Well..I hope she gets better." said James. "When are you coming back?"

"Tomorrow morning."

The few exchanged words were enough to satisfy his friends questions. For now.

Once Transfigurations had concluded, Ophelia led her brother up to the Gryffindor common room, where they would await the arrival of Professors Dumbledore and Sprout.

Remus sat rigidly on the worn, leather couch, nervously wringing his hands.

Ophelia brought him into a comforting hug and felt his stiff body relax a little.

"You're more nervous than usual." said Ophelia. "It's them, isn't it?"

He nodded. "They know somethings up."

"Of course they do. It's their job as friends to ask questions. But I assure you, they'll never piece everything together."

Dumbledore strode into the room, the familiar twinkle in his eye, with Professor Sprout walking a few paces behind.

"It is time, Remus." he said softly.

"Right." he replied, getting to his feet.

"When we arrive at the house you will find your dinner already there."

"Thank you, Professor.." said Remus. Before making his way over to the pair he hugged his sister once more.

"It'll be morning before you know it." Ophelia quietly reassured him. "I love you."

"I love you, too." he smiled weakly. He turned to Dumbledore, "I'm ready."

Once Remus had left, Ophelia collapsed back onto the couch, releasing a deep sigh. She and Remus had always been close, sharing everything from Gobstones to history books. Their's was a bond not many could comprehend.

But as it were, they each anticipated the others mood or feelings, and with a simple glance all could be understood between them.

And it was days such as these that made Ophelia despise their bond. For tonight, she too would feel Remus' pain.

Not to the same extent, of course, but to some degree. She would excuse herself early from dinner and retreat to the quiet solitude of the dormitory, away from the questions of her friends.

Ophelia nodded to herself and went down to the Great Hall.

When she seated herself beside Lily, James gave her an inquisitive look. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Ophelia frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Why are you here?" James repeated. "Didn't you go with Remus to visit your mum?"

She quickly thought of something -anything- to explain it all away. "I..er, need to do some remedial work for Potions. I'm f-falling behind."

"Falling behind?" Sirius replied skeptically. "You helped me with my homework just last week."

"Y-Yes," she stuttered. "Well I am nonetheless working on some Potions homework. If that's alright with you both." snapped Ophelia.

They took the hint and dropped the matter, turning their conversation instead to the upcoming Quidditch match, the first of the season.

Lily nudged her friend. "Are you alright?" she asked.

Ophelia nodded absentmindedly and looked down the table in hopes of finding some solace in Talia.

But instead she found her sister seemingly transfixed by her goblet; her eyes unblinking and her face ghostly.

Ophelia made to call out her name but thought better of it and turned back to her own plate.

Following the plan, she excused herself from dinner and spent the remainder of the night hiding in her bed, the hangings drawn, forcing herself to learn the following weeks Defence lessons.

Shortly after midnight, once Mai, Lily and Talia had retired for the night, did Ophelia put away her wand and spell book. She could faintly make out a faint whimpering coming from Talia's side of the room as she swung her legs over the bedside and crouched down in front of the window.

Other than a light breeze that barely made Ophelia's nightgown stir, the night was still.

She looked from her spot in the tower down to the stagnant grounds. She pushed her gaze past the gamekeeper's hut to the Whomping Willow. And if she strained her ears enough, she thought she could hear the distant shrieks of her tortured brother. With her hand beneath her chin, Ophelia soon drifted off to sleep in front of the window.

Awaking with the first light of the morning, she hastily dressed and made her way down to the infirmary.

In the first bed, a usually pretty sixth-year was sleeping, covered entirely in a shiny, metallic glaze.

Remus was stretched out in a bed in the back if the room. The quilts were at his feet, exposing his thickly bandaged arms, a red glow already beginning to show through the gauze.

Ophelia sat down in the straight back chair and took one of her brother's frail hands between her own. Remus peered at her through half-opened eyes before mustering a slight smile.

She took her time surveying his state. "You look terrible." she concluded dryly.

"I can always count on your honesty, eh Phe?" he grumbled, struggling to sit up.

Ophelia placed a firm hand on his shoulder, steadying him. "Lay down. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey told you to relax." she said. "What did she give you?"

Remus motioned to the bed stand , where a flask of black liquid stood. "It helps the pain." he explained.

"And these?" replied Ophelia, meaning the freshly drawn wounds.

"They'll be healed up tonight." said Remus, "I'm not allowed to return to classes until tomorrow, so you'll be sure to take notes for me?"

She groaned, only half serious. "Remus, you already know what we're studying--" But once she saw his look of urgency, she promised to get Lily's notes.

Ophelia stayed with him until the clear bell rang out, signaling the end of breakfast, after agreeing to visit him after dinner.