Spirit of the Stars
By IsisFireDancer
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing etc. I'm sorry I haven't updated for a while but I have been ill. Throw things at me if it makes you feel any better. The song that is featured in this chapter is 'Sounds of Silence' by Simon and Garfunkel; therefore it has nothing to do with me. Enjoy...
CHAPTER 9: Numb
SIRIUS POV
"What about Mr Lupin?" asked McGonagall, looking suddenly curious.
"ItwasourfirstHogsmeadevisittodayandwetookhimtotheShriekingShackandhewentinsaneandranoffandnowwecan'tfindhim," I said in one breath.
"Would you please repeat that for me, slowly," said McGonagall.
"It was our first Hogsmeade visit today and we took him to the Shrieking Shack and he went insane and ran off and now we can't find him," I repeated. She suddenly turned pale.
"Mr Black, Mr Potter and Mr Pettigrew, please follow me now." I looked behind me at James and Peter and saw that they mirrored my own confusion and worry.
We followed her into the headmasters office. We had been here many times before so we weren't surprised by what we saw there. However, those visits had been for a somewhat different purpose that this time.
"Wait here please," said McGonagall, disappearing up a staircase half-hidden in the shadowy corner of the room. We sat down on the three chairs in front of us.
"What do you thinks happening?" asked Peter, breaking everyone's stream of concerned thoughts.
"How should we know?" I asked, feeling very exasperated and annoyed. "We've got to DO something and soon. God knows where Remus is now! But I really hope he's OK," I sighed.
Just then, Dumbledore and McGonagall hurried down the staircase and towards us, both looking very concerned.
"Professor McGonagall has briefly filled me in on what is currently happening," explained Dumbledore swiftly. "We are going to launch a search party. It is all we can do for now. I suggest that you boys go back to your common rooms and dry off," he said ushering us out of the room.
The staircase carried us down to the corridor and disembarked, not feeling any better for our talk with the headmaster.
"We can't just sit around warming our toes when Remus is outside in the cold!" I cried, racking my brain for something that we could do to help our friend. I was suddenly struck with a brain wave. "If they can't see us, how can they stop us? James, where's that invisibility cloak you father sent you? We're going to need it..."
REMUS POV
The cold was making me numb. It bit into my bones and tore at my flesh. But I didn't care. Why was I cursed with so much pain? I just want to escape, not caring what happened to myself any more.
I guess this feeling of numbness was what I have ultimately hoped for-I had nothing to distract me. This whole experience was a break for me. A chance to rid myself of any feelings I had: hope, fears, happiness and sadness. They were all a mixed-up smudge on my existence now. I didn't have to care about them any more.
I wondered what people were doing now. Was someone crying? Or laughing? I didn't know but at the same time, was overwhelmed by a sense of curiosity.
I closed my eyes and let the darkness envelope me.
Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobbled stone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
Then split the night
And touched the sound of silence
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing song that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
"Fools," said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god hey made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls"
And whispered in the sounds of silence
SIRIUS POV
We had been searching for a while and already had one close encounter with Professor Valraven, the potions professor.
The three of us had now decided to head of towards the outer grounds, towards the lake and see if we could find Remus.
I scanned the scene, trying to find one trace of human life amongst the foul weather. I stopped suddenly, making everyone else bump into me.
"Ouch! Give us warning next time you go to stop, you great oaf!" said James, in rather a whiney voice.
"Shhhh!" I hissed. Next moment, Valraven had appeared almost in front of us. She looked around and then rushed towards a tree on the opposite side of the lake. She called out and a group of other teachers rushed over to her.
We acted instantly, throwing the cloaks off of our heads and running towards the small huddle of people on the other side of the wet ground.
"Professor McGonagall!" I cried, recognising her stooped figure bent over the wet earth. "Have you found him? Is he going to be alright?"
"He will be fine, I can assure you Mr Black. Our priority now is getting him to the hospital wing for the appropriate treatment. You may see him when we have treated him. I will escort you," said McGonagall, herding our little group towards the castle.
We all found ourselves following the transfigurations professor once again, as we hurried on our way to the warm of the hospital wing.
We had the tedious wait after arriving at the infirmary, whilst Madam Pomfrey treated Remus. I took to pacing and Peter fidgeted.
"Please mate, stop pacing," said James in a tired voice. "You're really giving me a headache."
I shot him an apologetic look and sat down heavily in a chair. How was it possible for it to take so long? It felt like we had been sitting alone in the cool, plastic chairs for years.
Finally Madam Pomfrey appeared and told us that we could go in and see him if we didn't excite him too much. We all hurried down to the end of the infirmary and over to the only bed which was currently occupied.
We were all slightly taken aback at the sight that greeted us. Remus lay stiffly in the bed, his face pale and gaunt. He looked nothing like the Remus we knew. It was like we had come to observe a spirit of someone, something that only half existed.
I stepped closer to him apprehensively, afraid that he would break and shatter into a thousand pieces by my gaze.
As I stepped forwards, he opened his eyes. They weren't filled with the usual golden light that I was accustomed to; they were filled with pain. He looked into my eyes and looked away, tears falling from his own.
"Remus," I whispered, sitting on the bed. "What happened to you? You don't deserve this. It's all going to be alright," I said, my hand finding his. I could sense Peter and James stepping closer to help comfort him.
"I'm sorry," he said, wiping the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. He seemed to stare at the moisture angrily; annoyed that he had shown a sign of weakness.
"Why are you sorry? You don't have to be sorry," I said, rather puzzled. "Why are you apologising to us?"
"Because I'm me. I'm a curse to everyone," he whispered, looking at us through teary eyes.
AN: Do you people think I'm evil? Did you like it? PLEEEEEEEEEEASE REVIEW!!!!! The cake calls for you!
People to get cake this time are:
Romulus 901: Sorry I haven't written you on here before, but I haven't had a review from you in a while! Well, if you have reviewed my computer refuses to show it! By the way, I'm sorry about jumping off the edge!
Lunaris: You patience will be rewarded! Have a good time down there. Peers under table I have come to supply you with more cake! And, I'm afraid to tell you, life is unfair! X)
Alice Dodgson: Thank you for your constructive critism, it is very useful and much appreciated! Keep reviewing!
squiddie 03: Thanks. The shop Sirius can be found in the town centre of Brecon in South Wales. If you need an address I have that too.
revester: Have some cake! Enjoy! And apologies for the wait you had to endure for this next chapter.
AffectedMangoO: Thank you! I know the cliffie was evil and I am very sorry!
Seraphina Pyra: Ack! I can and I just did lol! Sorry for making you wait!
EVILMWHAA HA HA HA HAA: You have a long name! Thank you for your lovely review, I updated ASAP (which admittedly wasn't very quickly at all)!
Thanks to all and keep reviewing! Have fun! Blessed Be.