All Alone?
Chapter 7
Finally, after seven chapters, Violet's summer is coming to a close. Sirius is lecturing me because the boy I like just came over--
Sirius: You know perfectly well that I haven't the slightest problem with him coming over. However, you two did not need to be sharing a seat, and he had no business touching your chest!
Cierra: Come on, Sir (pronounced Seer). He was doing it in a playful way, not a sexual way. We're just friends.
Sirius: I don't care what way he was doing it. He had no business touching you. If I catch him at it again, he'll regret it.
Cierra: Come on, Sirius, it's not as though we were having sex!
Sirius: (chokes on Mountain Dew. He hates discussing sex with someone who's practically his daughter) You most certainly had better not be, young lady! You're both too young! Do I have to give you that talk that I had with Harry?
Cierra: :::sigh!::: Well, I'll spare you the sex talk. Hopefully, I'll find a way to spare myself the sex talk. (gag)
Chapter 7
For the rest of the summer, Violet stuck by the routine. She got up at 4:30, ran around Remus's backyard, which was even bigger than the Weasley's, swim several laps around the pond in the yard, which was also, bigger, and cleaner, then run back, and continue with training. As for the training, they would warm up by practicing the martial arts part, then practice knife throwing, swordfighting, and archery. Violet became excellent at all of them. She rarely missed a target, and often beat Remus at swordfighting. Wizard dueling was improving by far, too. Most times, she would catch Remus off guard and manage to Stun him, or block his Stunners and send them shooting back at him. Her Impediment jinxes were very powerful; once, Remus had to wait for over fifteen minutes for the jinx to wear off. Of course, several times, Remus caught her off guard, but it wasn't often.
The only thing she didn't feel she was doing as good at was her Animagus training. She was putting all she had into it, but she still did poorly. Professor McGonagall knew she was trying her best, so she tried to be patient, but she found it immensely difficult.
"Miss Potter, concentrate!" she said sharply one day in late August. "If you can't conjure a toothpick, you'll never be able to become an Animagus. I know you're capable of it, you're just losing concentration."
"Yes, Professor." Violet said, shoving her hair out of her face, taking deep breaths. She was growing frustrated, but McGonagall's words encouraged her slightly. She waited a moment, gathered her concentration, and said, "El palillo de dientes apparaitre!" Suddenly, to her amazement, one did appear, as solid as anything, on the table in front of her.
McGonagall must have been as amazed as she was because she nearly fell off her chair, catching herself and regaining composure. "Well, that was certainly a start." She had a hint of a smile at her thin mouth. "I suppose we can work on larger things tomorrow."
"Yes, Professor." Violet said, before McGonagall Disapparated, and Remus appeared, looking rather tired.
"Do you want me to make dinner?" Violet volunteered.
"You don't have to." He said, looking as though he would really appreciate it.
"I know. If I had to, I wouldn't do it." she said with a mischievous grin, digging through the kitchen. "What do you want?"
"I don't know. You decide."
"Beef stew okay?" She said, holding out the can.
"Sure. I can make it myself. You look as tired as I feel."
"I'm okay. McGonagall's just tough, is all."
"You're telling me," he said, yawning. After a few minutes, Violet slid him a bowl of beef stew, which the poor man looked too tired to eat, but he devoured every bite. "Thanks, Vi. I owe you one."
"Why don't you take a shower and go to sleep?" Violet said gently, pulling out his chair.
"All right, all right." Remus grumbled, getting up. "You sound like my mother."
"Well, someone's got to take care of you." she joked, pushing him lightly down the hall.
"I thought I was supposed to be taking care of you..." he muttered, closing the door to the bathroom.
Violet sighed, then went into the training room, knowing full well she didn't have energy enough to do anything. She opted for stretching instead. She settled into a side-ways split (what are those called??? straddles?) and practiced some deep breathing, while bending over backwards as far as she could. This woke her up slightly, and she began practicing handstands and backflips. It always came in handy to know gymnastics. She then started on the rope again. It had gotten to where she could climb halfway up with no feet, then the rest of the way with feet. Afterwards, she started pounding the pulp out of the punching bag, which had grown hoarse and had given up on yelling. Then, she moved on to knives and archery, as she didn't have a partner to swordfight with. Finally, she grew so worn out she couldn't throw a correct punch and when her knuckles were forming bruises on them, she left the room, took a quick shower, and headed for the kitchen to get a drink of water.
Surprisingly, Remus was still up, and sitting at the kitchen table. He looked up in surprise when she sat down across from him. "What are you still doing up?"
"I came to get a drink of water. And what are you still doing up?"
"I've just been looking at this old scrapbook." He held it out to her, but she shook her head, not feeling up to tears right now.
"I'll have to look at it later. I'm too tired right now." She said, conveniently leaving out the part about already reading some of it. "You need to get to bed, too." she said sternly. "You're about to fall out of your seat!" She grabbed his arm, and pulled him up. "Get to sleep, now!"
"Okay, okay." he headed for the door, stopping with his hand on the doorknob. "Vi?"
"Hmm?" she looked up.
"Good night."
Violet felt surprised, but smiled. "Good night." She started to head down the hall.
"And Violet?"
She turned around. "Yes?"
He swallowed. "I love you."
She paused, before strolling over to Remus and hugging him. "I love you, too, Moony." she whispered, before releasing him, and heading back to her bedroom. The last thing she could remember was looking at the moon on her wall and thinking to herself that she would have to make sure Remus took his potion tomorrow.***
After training the next morning, Violet did just that. Remus looked annoyed but grudgingly took his potion, making a face after drinking it. "Happy?" he said. "By the way, you've only got a few more days until you go back to school."
"Wow." she said, amazed at how fast the summer had passed her by. "It seems like it just started."
"Yeah, and McGonagall's going to be much tougher than she is now. You'll have to see her in Transfiguration AND Animagus training. I pity you, Violet."
"You would..." she glared at him. "You'd better appreciate all that I'm going through for you."
He pretended to look offended, putting his hand on his chest. "Why, Violet. I'm hurt. It's not just for me. Being an Animagus will come in incredibly handy for fighting Voldemort. And, if you want to become an Auror so badly, it would earn you quite a few points in Concealment and Disguise, or whatever that's called."
"You've got your point, I suppose." she said, taking this in. "Ah, well. Once I register and become one, I'll be able to take an occasional break."
"You know something, Vi?" Remus looked at her, smiling slightly.
"What's that?" she was absorbed in the book, "So you want to be an Auror?"
"I'm proud of you."
Violet looked sharply up, and there was pride on his face. She felt heat coming to her face, and she looked down. "Stop it."
"I am, Violet. I'm just amazed at how well you're adapting to everything that's happened."
Violet managed to look him in the eye now. "I'm just a survivor, I guess. Maybe it's the Gryffindor in me. Who knows?"
Remus grinned at her humbleness. He'd known Violet long enough to know that she wasn't faking it to make herself look modest, like some people would. It was another trait that he admired in her.
Violet just tucked her curtain of thick, straight black hair behind her ear and continued eating her eggs. She didn't know what it was that bothered her about Remus saying he was proud of her, but she didn't like it at all. Perhaps because she didn't feel worthy of the praise he was giving her. She took her last bite, before getting up and heading for her room.
"Where you going?" Remus called as she disappeared down the hall.
"My room." she answered, before shutting the door and blasting more heavy metal, leaving Remus staring after her once again.
After several moments, Remus got up and knocked on Violet's door. He didn't really like being in her room. After a moment, she answered.
"What is it?" she said, not meaning to sound as cold as she did.
"I just wanted to know... is something wrong?" he said, nervously leaning on her doorframe.
"No." she answered a little too quickly to be plausible.
"Oh, Vi, come on!" he said, a little disgusted. "I know you well enough to tell when you're lying. You may be good at lying to other people, but you'll never get me to believe it. Now, seriously, *what is wrong*?"
Violet sighed, tucking her hair back behind her ear again and turning off her stereo. She shut the door behind him and followed him into the living room. "What's wrong?" she repeated to herself. "How could I answer something like that? The question should be, 'What's right?'"
Remus could sense a breakdown coming, but kept quiet about it. "Well, just explain to me what's wrong, then."
"Everything." she said, looking down at her hands, which were clasped tightly on her lap. "The fact that last night was the first time I was able to go to sleep without lying there for three hours trying not to think. The fact when I do sleep, I watch him die over and over again. The fact that I also watch you die, which felt worse, because there's always the possibility. The fact that no matter how hard I try not to, every time I look at my walls or sit out at night, I remember Sirius because of the stars. The fact that I'm trying my hardest to forget what happened, and I can't. Everytime I get a spare moment his face pops into my head. The fact that I'm trying to drown my sorrows in the training. The fact that I know you're trying your hardest but it doesn't seem to be enough and the fact that I've been too afraid to tell you all this because I didn't want to upset you. The fact that I'm afraid I'll wake up one day and find you dead and be sent back to the Dursleys. The fact that you just said you were proud of me a few minutes ago, and I don't deserve it, Remus! You've no reason to be proud of me! And, most of all, the fact that I'm afraid to get too close to you because I know I'll lose you just like I did my mum and dad and Sirius." Months of hidden pain she'd just poured out Remus, who'd let her talk herself into silence without interruption. "I'm sorry, Rem."
Remus had been expecting something like this, but he hurt for her all the same. He held out an arm, and she automatically leaned over and allowed him to hug her. She could feel the tears that she'd been hiding for so long soaking through his worn shirt, but he didn't seem to care. "I just want it to be over!" she cried into his shoulder. "I don't want to live anymore!"
"I know... I understand, Violet. I've felt that way time and again." he said, patting her head. "But you're different from me, Violet. You've got a mission to fulfill, and you're the only one who can fulfill it. Unfair though it is, you were chosen to live this life, and I've no doubts that you will live it to the fullest. Violet, you will be known as the witch who saved the world from the most dangerous murderer there ever was."
"And if I don't?" Violet had looked up. "Suppose I'm killed and he goes on killing? Then, what? He's just going to get everyone else that I love."
"I can't deny that it's a possibility. But, I'm here to help you through it. With the right training, you could be known as the most powerful person in the world."
"I don't want that, Remus!" Violet burst out. "I have no desire to be known as the most powerful person in the world. All I've done so far is screw things up for all the people I love, like Sirius, you, Ron, Hermione. I want to be normal! You have no idea just how badly I want that!"
"I'm sure I've got a clue. I've wished for normalcy a few times in my day." he reminded her. "But, I'm not. And you're not. Some people were destined to lead happy and normal lives, like your friends, Ron and Hermione. Some people, like you and me, were destined to suffer and live a difficult life. Those people always come out stronger than the rest."
Violet allowed his words to sink in as he continued.
"I know that what will come will come, but that doesn't change the fact that I am scared to death for you. I couldn't bear it if you were to be murdered. Haven't you ever thought just how terrified I am? When I saw you fighting those girls, I was scared, Violet. And I don't know why. And, when I got angry with you that day and scared you, I scared the hell out of myself. If anything ever happened to you, I couldn't go on, Vi. You mean the world to me."
Tears came once again to Violet's eyes, and she hugged Remus again, who looked on the verge of tears as well. They both sought refuge in each other's arms. Rem bit back sobs until he couldn't anymore. Slowly, tears escaped and choked sobs could be heard.
This scared Violet senseless. She'd been used to Remus being the strong one, always the shoulder to cry on, not the one crying. She began clumsily patting his head, trying her best to make him stop crying. It hurt much worse to see him hurting. For a while they just clung to each other, idly rubbing circles in each other's backs, muttering apologies, until they finally broke away. Remus hadn't cried in the longest time, not even after Sirius died. The last time he'd cried had been Lily and James's funeral. After that he'd vowed that he would never cry again. Obviously, that vow was wasted. ***
For the next week, things were rather quiet. Neither of them mentioned what had happened. Violet succeeded in beating Remus in almost everything, though he was a lot more skilled in everything. They both had certain advantages: for instance, Remus was much stronger and taller than Violet, which gave him the advantage in swordfighting and archery. But, Violet was smaller and quicker than Remus, which gave her the advantage in dueling and knife throwing. Violet often teased Remus about it: "You may beat me in an arm wrestling contest, but I can kick your ass in dueling!" Remus would then glare at her and, not able to think of anything better to say, tell her to watch her language.
On August 31st (A/N: I think there's 31 days in August!), Remus asked Violet, "Have you packed your trunk yet?"
She smacked herself in the forehead, then rubbed the bruise now forming gingerly, "Damn it! I completely forgot!" Before bolting to her room, Remus laughing at her.
She hurriedly snatched up her Muggle clothes, her black robes, her books, parchment, quills, her gifts, her treasured Invisibility Cloak, her cauldron, which she had to put things in to make it fit, and a small sack of money, and tossed them messily into her worn trunk. Sitting on it, and jumping up and down, she somehow managed to get it shut. She leaned her Firebolt against the door and headed back for the training room and started pounding the punching bag. Remus joined her shortly. While dodging blows, he managed to get out, "So, you sure you're-" he ducked a swing from Violet. "-going to manage fine at school?"
"Yeah..." Her throat constricted a bit, before aiming a high kick at Remus's head, and stumbling as he blocked it. "I'll be fine."
"Just remember, McGonagall's still going to be giving you lessons." He grinned when she moaned, before narrowly dodging another swing. "I don't know if you know or not, but there's this room on the seventh floor, by Barnaby the Barmy's painting and--"
"I know." she managed to successfully trip him. "The Room of Requirement. We used it for Defense Against the Dark Arts training."
Springing back up, Remus answered, "You could use that to train."
"Excellent idea, Rem!" she punched him hard with the charmed gloves and he stumbled backwards. "I didn't even think of that!"
"I'm a genius." he said smugly, before whipping out a knife that he'd charmed to go through anything except human flesh, and flinging it at Violet. Violet stood where she was, and caught the knife perfectly by the blade, and without warning, it whistled through the air, and Remus was pinned to the wall by his shirtsleeve, the knife stuck to the wall clear to the hilt. Remus's eyes bugged out. "I didn't teach you that!" he sputtered.
Violet burst out laughing, and pulled the knife out of the wall, enjoying the look of astonishment on Remus's face. "Well, I suppose we'd best be going to sleep." She hugged Remus. "Well, good night."
"Night, Vi." he said, before heading to his bedroom, dropping onto the bed, and surprisingly enough, falling asleep immediately.
*
*
*
Well, that's it for now, I suppose. Just to let you know, I'll not be updating for the next two weeks, as I'm going to Canada! YAY CANADA! Only I have to leave Siri...
Sirius: :::Hugs::: You'd better take care of yourself.
Remus: :::shoves past Sirius and hugs::: Yeah, if you don't, you're getting one hell of a lecture when you get back.
Cierra: Aw, that's so sweet. I'll take care of myself. I'll miss you guys. :::Tear:::
Siri: :::Tear:::I'll miss you too.
Remmy: :::tear::: Yeah, me too.
That's all for now, readers! :::salutes:::
Chapter 7
Finally, after seven chapters, Violet's summer is coming to a close. Sirius is lecturing me because the boy I like just came over--
Sirius: You know perfectly well that I haven't the slightest problem with him coming over. However, you two did not need to be sharing a seat, and he had no business touching your chest!
Cierra: Come on, Sir (pronounced Seer). He was doing it in a playful way, not a sexual way. We're just friends.
Sirius: I don't care what way he was doing it. He had no business touching you. If I catch him at it again, he'll regret it.
Cierra: Come on, Sirius, it's not as though we were having sex!
Sirius: (chokes on Mountain Dew. He hates discussing sex with someone who's practically his daughter) You most certainly had better not be, young lady! You're both too young! Do I have to give you that talk that I had with Harry?
Cierra: :::sigh!::: Well, I'll spare you the sex talk. Hopefully, I'll find a way to spare myself the sex talk. (gag)
Chapter 7
For the rest of the summer, Violet stuck by the routine. She got up at 4:30, ran around Remus's backyard, which was even bigger than the Weasley's, swim several laps around the pond in the yard, which was also, bigger, and cleaner, then run back, and continue with training. As for the training, they would warm up by practicing the martial arts part, then practice knife throwing, swordfighting, and archery. Violet became excellent at all of them. She rarely missed a target, and often beat Remus at swordfighting. Wizard dueling was improving by far, too. Most times, she would catch Remus off guard and manage to Stun him, or block his Stunners and send them shooting back at him. Her Impediment jinxes were very powerful; once, Remus had to wait for over fifteen minutes for the jinx to wear off. Of course, several times, Remus caught her off guard, but it wasn't often.
The only thing she didn't feel she was doing as good at was her Animagus training. She was putting all she had into it, but she still did poorly. Professor McGonagall knew she was trying her best, so she tried to be patient, but she found it immensely difficult.
"Miss Potter, concentrate!" she said sharply one day in late August. "If you can't conjure a toothpick, you'll never be able to become an Animagus. I know you're capable of it, you're just losing concentration."
"Yes, Professor." Violet said, shoving her hair out of her face, taking deep breaths. She was growing frustrated, but McGonagall's words encouraged her slightly. She waited a moment, gathered her concentration, and said, "El palillo de dientes apparaitre!" Suddenly, to her amazement, one did appear, as solid as anything, on the table in front of her.
McGonagall must have been as amazed as she was because she nearly fell off her chair, catching herself and regaining composure. "Well, that was certainly a start." She had a hint of a smile at her thin mouth. "I suppose we can work on larger things tomorrow."
"Yes, Professor." Violet said, before McGonagall Disapparated, and Remus appeared, looking rather tired.
"Do you want me to make dinner?" Violet volunteered.
"You don't have to." He said, looking as though he would really appreciate it.
"I know. If I had to, I wouldn't do it." she said with a mischievous grin, digging through the kitchen. "What do you want?"
"I don't know. You decide."
"Beef stew okay?" She said, holding out the can.
"Sure. I can make it myself. You look as tired as I feel."
"I'm okay. McGonagall's just tough, is all."
"You're telling me," he said, yawning. After a few minutes, Violet slid him a bowl of beef stew, which the poor man looked too tired to eat, but he devoured every bite. "Thanks, Vi. I owe you one."
"Why don't you take a shower and go to sleep?" Violet said gently, pulling out his chair.
"All right, all right." Remus grumbled, getting up. "You sound like my mother."
"Well, someone's got to take care of you." she joked, pushing him lightly down the hall.
"I thought I was supposed to be taking care of you..." he muttered, closing the door to the bathroom.
Violet sighed, then went into the training room, knowing full well she didn't have energy enough to do anything. She opted for stretching instead. She settled into a side-ways split (what are those called??? straddles?) and practiced some deep breathing, while bending over backwards as far as she could. This woke her up slightly, and she began practicing handstands and backflips. It always came in handy to know gymnastics. She then started on the rope again. It had gotten to where she could climb halfway up with no feet, then the rest of the way with feet. Afterwards, she started pounding the pulp out of the punching bag, which had grown hoarse and had given up on yelling. Then, she moved on to knives and archery, as she didn't have a partner to swordfight with. Finally, she grew so worn out she couldn't throw a correct punch and when her knuckles were forming bruises on them, she left the room, took a quick shower, and headed for the kitchen to get a drink of water.
Surprisingly, Remus was still up, and sitting at the kitchen table. He looked up in surprise when she sat down across from him. "What are you still doing up?"
"I came to get a drink of water. And what are you still doing up?"
"I've just been looking at this old scrapbook." He held it out to her, but she shook her head, not feeling up to tears right now.
"I'll have to look at it later. I'm too tired right now." She said, conveniently leaving out the part about already reading some of it. "You need to get to bed, too." she said sternly. "You're about to fall out of your seat!" She grabbed his arm, and pulled him up. "Get to sleep, now!"
"Okay, okay." he headed for the door, stopping with his hand on the doorknob. "Vi?"
"Hmm?" she looked up.
"Good night."
Violet felt surprised, but smiled. "Good night." She started to head down the hall.
"And Violet?"
She turned around. "Yes?"
He swallowed. "I love you."
She paused, before strolling over to Remus and hugging him. "I love you, too, Moony." she whispered, before releasing him, and heading back to her bedroom. The last thing she could remember was looking at the moon on her wall and thinking to herself that she would have to make sure Remus took his potion tomorrow.***
After training the next morning, Violet did just that. Remus looked annoyed but grudgingly took his potion, making a face after drinking it. "Happy?" he said. "By the way, you've only got a few more days until you go back to school."
"Wow." she said, amazed at how fast the summer had passed her by. "It seems like it just started."
"Yeah, and McGonagall's going to be much tougher than she is now. You'll have to see her in Transfiguration AND Animagus training. I pity you, Violet."
"You would..." she glared at him. "You'd better appreciate all that I'm going through for you."
He pretended to look offended, putting his hand on his chest. "Why, Violet. I'm hurt. It's not just for me. Being an Animagus will come in incredibly handy for fighting Voldemort. And, if you want to become an Auror so badly, it would earn you quite a few points in Concealment and Disguise, or whatever that's called."
"You've got your point, I suppose." she said, taking this in. "Ah, well. Once I register and become one, I'll be able to take an occasional break."
"You know something, Vi?" Remus looked at her, smiling slightly.
"What's that?" she was absorbed in the book, "So you want to be an Auror?"
"I'm proud of you."
Violet looked sharply up, and there was pride on his face. She felt heat coming to her face, and she looked down. "Stop it."
"I am, Violet. I'm just amazed at how well you're adapting to everything that's happened."
Violet managed to look him in the eye now. "I'm just a survivor, I guess. Maybe it's the Gryffindor in me. Who knows?"
Remus grinned at her humbleness. He'd known Violet long enough to know that she wasn't faking it to make herself look modest, like some people would. It was another trait that he admired in her.
Violet just tucked her curtain of thick, straight black hair behind her ear and continued eating her eggs. She didn't know what it was that bothered her about Remus saying he was proud of her, but she didn't like it at all. Perhaps because she didn't feel worthy of the praise he was giving her. She took her last bite, before getting up and heading for her room.
"Where you going?" Remus called as she disappeared down the hall.
"My room." she answered, before shutting the door and blasting more heavy metal, leaving Remus staring after her once again.
After several moments, Remus got up and knocked on Violet's door. He didn't really like being in her room. After a moment, she answered.
"What is it?" she said, not meaning to sound as cold as she did.
"I just wanted to know... is something wrong?" he said, nervously leaning on her doorframe.
"No." she answered a little too quickly to be plausible.
"Oh, Vi, come on!" he said, a little disgusted. "I know you well enough to tell when you're lying. You may be good at lying to other people, but you'll never get me to believe it. Now, seriously, *what is wrong*?"
Violet sighed, tucking her hair back behind her ear again and turning off her stereo. She shut the door behind him and followed him into the living room. "What's wrong?" she repeated to herself. "How could I answer something like that? The question should be, 'What's right?'"
Remus could sense a breakdown coming, but kept quiet about it. "Well, just explain to me what's wrong, then."
"Everything." she said, looking down at her hands, which were clasped tightly on her lap. "The fact that last night was the first time I was able to go to sleep without lying there for three hours trying not to think. The fact when I do sleep, I watch him die over and over again. The fact that I also watch you die, which felt worse, because there's always the possibility. The fact that no matter how hard I try not to, every time I look at my walls or sit out at night, I remember Sirius because of the stars. The fact that I'm trying my hardest to forget what happened, and I can't. Everytime I get a spare moment his face pops into my head. The fact that I'm trying to drown my sorrows in the training. The fact that I know you're trying your hardest but it doesn't seem to be enough and the fact that I've been too afraid to tell you all this because I didn't want to upset you. The fact that I'm afraid I'll wake up one day and find you dead and be sent back to the Dursleys. The fact that you just said you were proud of me a few minutes ago, and I don't deserve it, Remus! You've no reason to be proud of me! And, most of all, the fact that I'm afraid to get too close to you because I know I'll lose you just like I did my mum and dad and Sirius." Months of hidden pain she'd just poured out Remus, who'd let her talk herself into silence without interruption. "I'm sorry, Rem."
Remus had been expecting something like this, but he hurt for her all the same. He held out an arm, and she automatically leaned over and allowed him to hug her. She could feel the tears that she'd been hiding for so long soaking through his worn shirt, but he didn't seem to care. "I just want it to be over!" she cried into his shoulder. "I don't want to live anymore!"
"I know... I understand, Violet. I've felt that way time and again." he said, patting her head. "But you're different from me, Violet. You've got a mission to fulfill, and you're the only one who can fulfill it. Unfair though it is, you were chosen to live this life, and I've no doubts that you will live it to the fullest. Violet, you will be known as the witch who saved the world from the most dangerous murderer there ever was."
"And if I don't?" Violet had looked up. "Suppose I'm killed and he goes on killing? Then, what? He's just going to get everyone else that I love."
"I can't deny that it's a possibility. But, I'm here to help you through it. With the right training, you could be known as the most powerful person in the world."
"I don't want that, Remus!" Violet burst out. "I have no desire to be known as the most powerful person in the world. All I've done so far is screw things up for all the people I love, like Sirius, you, Ron, Hermione. I want to be normal! You have no idea just how badly I want that!"
"I'm sure I've got a clue. I've wished for normalcy a few times in my day." he reminded her. "But, I'm not. And you're not. Some people were destined to lead happy and normal lives, like your friends, Ron and Hermione. Some people, like you and me, were destined to suffer and live a difficult life. Those people always come out stronger than the rest."
Violet allowed his words to sink in as he continued.
"I know that what will come will come, but that doesn't change the fact that I am scared to death for you. I couldn't bear it if you were to be murdered. Haven't you ever thought just how terrified I am? When I saw you fighting those girls, I was scared, Violet. And I don't know why. And, when I got angry with you that day and scared you, I scared the hell out of myself. If anything ever happened to you, I couldn't go on, Vi. You mean the world to me."
Tears came once again to Violet's eyes, and she hugged Remus again, who looked on the verge of tears as well. They both sought refuge in each other's arms. Rem bit back sobs until he couldn't anymore. Slowly, tears escaped and choked sobs could be heard.
This scared Violet senseless. She'd been used to Remus being the strong one, always the shoulder to cry on, not the one crying. She began clumsily patting his head, trying her best to make him stop crying. It hurt much worse to see him hurting. For a while they just clung to each other, idly rubbing circles in each other's backs, muttering apologies, until they finally broke away. Remus hadn't cried in the longest time, not even after Sirius died. The last time he'd cried had been Lily and James's funeral. After that he'd vowed that he would never cry again. Obviously, that vow was wasted. ***
For the next week, things were rather quiet. Neither of them mentioned what had happened. Violet succeeded in beating Remus in almost everything, though he was a lot more skilled in everything. They both had certain advantages: for instance, Remus was much stronger and taller than Violet, which gave him the advantage in swordfighting and archery. But, Violet was smaller and quicker than Remus, which gave her the advantage in dueling and knife throwing. Violet often teased Remus about it: "You may beat me in an arm wrestling contest, but I can kick your ass in dueling!" Remus would then glare at her and, not able to think of anything better to say, tell her to watch her language.
On August 31st (A/N: I think there's 31 days in August!), Remus asked Violet, "Have you packed your trunk yet?"
She smacked herself in the forehead, then rubbed the bruise now forming gingerly, "Damn it! I completely forgot!" Before bolting to her room, Remus laughing at her.
She hurriedly snatched up her Muggle clothes, her black robes, her books, parchment, quills, her gifts, her treasured Invisibility Cloak, her cauldron, which she had to put things in to make it fit, and a small sack of money, and tossed them messily into her worn trunk. Sitting on it, and jumping up and down, she somehow managed to get it shut. She leaned her Firebolt against the door and headed back for the training room and started pounding the punching bag. Remus joined her shortly. While dodging blows, he managed to get out, "So, you sure you're-" he ducked a swing from Violet. "-going to manage fine at school?"
"Yeah..." Her throat constricted a bit, before aiming a high kick at Remus's head, and stumbling as he blocked it. "I'll be fine."
"Just remember, McGonagall's still going to be giving you lessons." He grinned when she moaned, before narrowly dodging another swing. "I don't know if you know or not, but there's this room on the seventh floor, by Barnaby the Barmy's painting and--"
"I know." she managed to successfully trip him. "The Room of Requirement. We used it for Defense Against the Dark Arts training."
Springing back up, Remus answered, "You could use that to train."
"Excellent idea, Rem!" she punched him hard with the charmed gloves and he stumbled backwards. "I didn't even think of that!"
"I'm a genius." he said smugly, before whipping out a knife that he'd charmed to go through anything except human flesh, and flinging it at Violet. Violet stood where she was, and caught the knife perfectly by the blade, and without warning, it whistled through the air, and Remus was pinned to the wall by his shirtsleeve, the knife stuck to the wall clear to the hilt. Remus's eyes bugged out. "I didn't teach you that!" he sputtered.
Violet burst out laughing, and pulled the knife out of the wall, enjoying the look of astonishment on Remus's face. "Well, I suppose we'd best be going to sleep." She hugged Remus. "Well, good night."
"Night, Vi." he said, before heading to his bedroom, dropping onto the bed, and surprisingly enough, falling asleep immediately.
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Well, that's it for now, I suppose. Just to let you know, I'll not be updating for the next two weeks, as I'm going to Canada! YAY CANADA! Only I have to leave Siri...
Sirius: :::Hugs::: You'd better take care of yourself.
Remus: :::shoves past Sirius and hugs::: Yeah, if you don't, you're getting one hell of a lecture when you get back.
Cierra: Aw, that's so sweet. I'll take care of myself. I'll miss you guys. :::Tear:::
Siri: :::Tear:::I'll miss you too.
Remmy: :::tear::: Yeah, me too.
That's all for now, readers! :::salutes:::