Revised and Extended
CHAPTER TWELVE The Row
The fall semester of their second year began rather monotonously. Classes picked up as if they had never ended and the summer was only a distant memory. They were finding it unusually easy to slip back into their old routines.
Lily and Ophelia were in the Great Hall eating dinner when James, Remus, Peter and Sirius burst between the tables, laughing like maniacs.
"I'm on the Quidditch team!" James screamed. "I'm the new Gryffindor Seeker!"
"Thanks for clearing that up." said Lily. "I thought that maybe Ravenclaw had nabbed you."
"Congratulations!" cried Ophelia.
The captain, a Fifth Year named Frank Longbottom, trailed slightly behind them. "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't been there to see it myself. Potter can fly."
Sirius jumped onto the long table. "As if there was any doubt. I would like to present the best thing that's ever happened to Quidditch since.." he paused. "Well, since the invention of the broomstick."
James never one to be modest, leaped up next to Sirius and bowed pretentiously. "Thank you, thank, you."
Lily shook her head in disgust. "I don't see what the big deal is. It's only a game."
The table went quiet leaving Frank to back his way out of the Hall. James leapt down, "Only a game?" he repeated. "Was the Dwarf Rebellion only a game? Was the--"
Lily held up her hand to silence him. "You're comparing Quidditch, a silly game where you chase a little ball around, to a battle where wizards and dwarves both died?"
"First of all, it's called a Snitch, and it's only worth one-hundred and fifty points! And secondly, the two people who died, died of old age. A month after the battle ended!"
"You are impossible, Potter!" huffed Lily, storming out of the Hall. Sirius, James and Remus all looked to Ophelia, as if waiting for the same kind of outburst. She shrugged her shoulders. "Er, congratulations again." she said before chasing after her friend.
"What was that about?" asked Ophelia.
"He's so arrogant, don't you think?" she replied, heading towards the Gryffindor Tower. "As if the world revolves around him and his opinion is gold."
"Yes, but that's James, I guess. He's always been like that." she reasoned. "He's only half-serious. And you have to take it with the good."
"Lubers nelier." said Lily, the portrait swinging back. The two girls collapsed onto the couch.
"It's only our second year and he's acting like a complete prat."
"Alright Lily, here's the deal. You insulted the thing that he loves most so of course--"
"You think that it was my fault?"
"No, no. You're my best friend, I have to side with you, it's like..the law or something." said Ophelia. "But maybe in the future, if you didn't mock Quidditch as much, he wouldn't be a prat."
"Well if he wasn't such a prat I wouldn't make fun of Quidditch." Lily pouted.
The next day, Ophelia thought it would be best if she left her friends to their own devices, and escaped to a secluded hill overlooking the lake. She was deeply involved in her Defence textbook, occasionally scribbling random passages on a roll of parchment in front of her. A cool breeze stirred the pages, a sure sign of the coming winter.
Ophelia reviewed the last paragraph while sucking on the tip of her sugared quill. "No, that can't be right, can it?" she muttered to herself. "If drank, the blood of Fiddlybows will cure vampiric tendencies?" She shrugged and continued writing.
"Hey Phe!" James called, jogging over. "We've been searching the castle for you."
"Well, I hope it wasn't for help with your vampire essays." she said, as he, Peter and Sirius joined her on the springy ground.
"Now that you offer it..." Sirius began. James elbowed him in the ribs. "Another time then."
"No. It wasn't anything like that." said James. Peter and James looked at him reproachfully. "We need to talk to you about Remus."
Ophelia's heart began to race. "Has something happened? Is he alright?"
"No, no. You misunderstood." he apologised. "He's fine."
She steadied her breathing. "That's a relief."
"We just wanted to talk." said Peter.
Her pulse quickened again. "About what?"
"We know his secret." whispered Sirius.
"S-Secret?" she stuttered, avoiding their looks. "I'm afraid I d-don't know what you're t-talking about."
"Phe, it's okay." James replied quietly.
"Yeah, we know he's a werewolf." added Peter.
Ophelia slammed her book closed. "My brother is not a...werewolf." she hissed, lowering her eyes.
"We don't care of he is." said Sirius.
"We just want to help."
"Help?" she snapped. "Just how do you think you can help him? Are you going to hold his hand during the full moon?"
"Phe, we just--"
"No, Forget all that you think you know, because you..you..you don't know anything!" Ophelia screeched, running off to the castle.
"Huh." said Sirius, clicking his tongue. "I thought that went over pretty well."
"It was a disaster!" replied Peter. "I didn't expect her to go off on us quite like that."
"I did." shrugged James. "But we have to keep trying. Either that or we approach Remus."
Ophelia anticipated this, however, and made it near impossible for them to catch her alone. When they were around each other, during classes or at meals, she acted as if they didn't exist. This treatment lasted for a month until Ophelia eventually let her guard down.
She was sitting in a dark corner of the common room, looking out a grey window.
"Can we talk?"
She looked up to see Sirius and James hovering over her. "We're in the common room. It's a neutral zone." she answered stiffly.
They pulled up a few chairs and sat down.
"Do you want to talk about last month?" James asked tentatively.
Ophelia held her chin up proudly. "I don't what you're talking about."
"Of course you do." said Sirius.
"We don't think we made it clear that we...understand."
"Right." said James. "We've been researching...werewolves, and we know a lot about them. The transformations, the behaviour.."
Ophelia looked up at them, eyes like daggers. "You think you know what it's like just because you've read a few books?" she cried. "You know nothing!"
"Okay," said Sirius kindly. "You're right, but you'll have to help us out here. James and I, well, we're not crazy purists. We understand Remus isn't himself when he transforms. We only want to h--"
"Support him." interrupted James. "Like mates should."
Ophelia sighed. "You both realise that if it ever came down to it, I would win a duel with either one of you?" Sirius and James nodded. "So if I ever found out that you had betrayed my brother I would come after you."
James smiled, in respect rather than ridicule. "I wouldn't expect any less."
"So I'm guessing you want me to talk to Remus?" she guessed.
"We actually just wanted you to be there when we told him." said Sirius. "Just to...calm him down. If it comes to that."
"It will." she replied. "But I would wait until holiday. He wouldn't appreciate it very much if you approached him here."
James nodded. "Thanks. And you'll be there with us, right?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Great." Sirius grinned. "Now about Riley's essay. Can I read your's over?"
"Oh sure. And while you're at it, why don't you just erase my name and put your own? Save you a bit of trouble."
Sirius grinned. "Thanks Phe. That's really generous."
In the next few weeks, once classes were suspended for break everyone left for home.
As was becoming a tradition among the friends, Peter, Sirius and James arrived shortly after Christmas.
The night before Lily was set to come, they agreed the time was as good as any to speak with Remus.
"Remember that I'm only here to oversee this and to make sure my brother doesn't hex you." Ophelia reminded them quietly as they took their places in the darkened family room. The only light was cast by the marble fireplace, causing weird shadows to dance upon their gloomy faces.
Remus entered the room carrying a tray of banana juice and glasses. He quickly noticed their downcast expressions. "What's the matter with everyone?" he asked brightly. Ophelia moved closer to Talia on the couch, both silent.
"We know." squealed Peter.
"God Pete!" cried Sirius. "You don't just put it out there like that! You have to ease into it."
"You know what?" Remus chuckled nervously.
James took a moment to think over his words. "Er...we recently figured out that..you're..a...werewolf."
Remus paled. "W-What? I'm not a w-werewolf." He looked to his sister for some kind of affirmation. Ophelia stared at the hardwood.
"Your mother's not sick." said Sirius. "We know this. You're always away during the full moon."
"You're covered in bruises and scars." added Peter.
"Phe?" whispered Remus, his breath coming in short gasps.
"I think maybe you should hear them out, Rem." she said quietly.
He cleared his throat. "I know I should have told you all earlier but--"
James stood up and quickly moved next to Remus. "That's not why we brought this up."
"They want to support you or something." muttered Ophelia.
Sirius and James exchanged an uneasy look. "Actually," began Sirius, "We want to do more than that."
"What do you mean?" Remus and Ophelia said in unison.
"We've been looking into it and have decided to become Animagi." replied James. "That way we can keep you company during the full moon."
Remus sat there, stunned. '"I, um, pardon? Animagi?" he asked. "Like..as in animals?" Peter nodded excitedly.
"W-Wait," stuttered Ophelia. "Wizards have died attempting to become Animagi. Right?"
Sirius squeezed his thumb and forefinger together. "Very few have died. Most who fail are permanently turned into an animal."
"What percent of people who try to become Animagi end up failing?" asked Talia, speaking up.
"Sixty-seven." said Peter.
"I really appreciate that you would all do that for me." Remus started. "But I can't let you risk that."
"You might think that this is just one of those things we run into with our eyes closed." chuckled James, "But we've put a lot of thought into this."
"Even me." Sirius grinned. "You're going to have to go through your entire life with this," he continued, "And this is really the only thing we can do to help."
"Besides, we're kind of set on doing this." said Peter.
Remus chuckled, officially surrendering to their will. "I'm..speechless."
"Finally, some good news." howled Sirius.
Talia and Ophelia soon excused themselves and the boys spent the remainder of the night in the family room. Although she didn't wholly approve of her friends decision. the next day she made a trip to Flourish and Blotts and presented James, Peter and Sirius with a book entitled 1027 Steps to Becoming an Animagi.