Enter the Young

Here they come, yeah

Some are laughing, some are crying

Here they come

And some are doing, some are trying

Some are selling, some are buying

Some are living, some are dying

But demanding recognition one by one

"Why are you so glum? You're young, live it up!"

Vala sat silently as she studied. She ran a hand through her hair and complained, "I've told you once before…"

"Yes, but I've forgotten. Please remind me."

She slapped her Transfiguration book, her eyes flickering at Grant. "Exams are in a week. Must you insist on being a nuisance?"

"And Christmas vacation is in a week. How can you sit still?" He bounced in his seat, tapping his quill on the table.

She sighed and shook her head; some people are just so stupid… But she wouldn't let that interfere with her studies. The tapping continued… Slowly, she directed her eyes to him. Grant had somewhere along the line acquired another quill and played them like a Muggle instrument. Rat-a-tap-tap, rat-a-tap-tap; it had a beat, but that didn't make it any less annoying. "Grant!" she shrieked. "Knock it off!"

He stared at her innocently, and pointed to himself. "Me?"

She rolled her eyes. Yes, because you're so easily confused with the other Grants in the room… Speaking of the room, they were locked inside an empty classroom, the Charms classroom to be more specific. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays they met in the Charms classroom; on Wednesdays and Sundays they met in the Transfiguration classroom. Vevila refused to see Grant on her Saturdays, and on Fridays she strolled through the Forbidden Forest with Saxon.

Saturdays were her favorite. Each Saturday she'd lay in bed until the clock struck twelve; she wasn't sleeping, she was recollecting herself. At 12:30, when most people were at lunch, she'd sneak down to the kitchens. By 1:00 she was back in her dorm, curled up by the window eating a biscuit or a cookie. Sometimes she managed to bring back a glass of milk, as she never cared much for pumpkin juice. About 2:00 she'd crawl back under the covers and lay there, either sleeping or thinking, until midnight. Once the clock had finally reached midnight she'd slip out of the common room and explore the castle alone.

Saturdays also meant she didn't have to enter the Forbidden Forest for another week. The Forbidden Forest wasn't so horrible by itself; it was Saxon. He'd always insist they walk to the center, and there he'd try to frighten her with stories and tricks. She still hadn't quite recovered from the decapitated chicken, which ran aimlessly for several minutes until it's nerves died.

Vevila was glad she was going home for Christmas; she really needed a break from school, Grant, and most of all, Saxon. Though, she was afraid to see Remus. She wasn't sure how she might act around him. Remus knew her better than Grant, and even he had figured out what was wrong. Maybe, just maybe, he'd believe her lies until it was time for her to leave.

Vala was taking notes from a thick Astronomy book with a glossy cover when Grant asked, "Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?" Her quill stopped scratching and bled black ink unto her scroll. "Don't be silly," she mumbled, frowning at the ink splotch.

"Vala," he addressed, leaning forward. "Has anyone ever told you that they couldn't live without you. That you were their breath, and their life was meaningless without you?"

"I haven't time for this," she said sternly, refusing to look at him. She had work to do, and she didn't intend on playing his mind games.

"Do you fulfill a place in someone's heart like no other?" he pressed, "Would someone rather die than live a day without you? Are you someone's sun and moon, day and ni-"

"What are you playing at?" she demanded, glaring at him. "Are you trying to upset me?"

"Not at all," he smiled, sitting back. He crossed his legs and shrugged. "I was just curious why you were getting married."

Her mouth parted as she stared at Grant; he'd caught her. Now, whether she told him or not, he knew the truth. She bowed her head, and her skin whitened. "I… I don't have a choice," she muttered, her hair falling to curtain her face. She buried her face into her hands and sighed. How do I get myself into these things…?

Grant crossed his arms, a frown placed on his face. "Of course you have a choice. No one ca-"

"No, I don't!" she shrieked impatiently, the tears visible. "Do you honestly think I want to get married at the age of seventeen? I'm a child, Grant. A child!"

His face whitened, and his negotiating façade fell. "Vala, I-"

She whipped furiously at the traitorous tears. "Is that what you wanted Grant, to see me cry? To see me break and fall? Well, there you have it!" She stood up and tried to gather her belongings. Her hands moved clumsily with jerky spurts as she tried to collect loose papers and quills. She was flustered, and honestly, she was sick of breaking. She was so sick of hiding and lying. All her emotions were locked up and it was killing her. "So you've finally proven it. I'm not as strong as I like to appear- and let go of me!" Grant had his hands placed sternly on her shoulders, and though she fought against him he wouldn't budge.

"Vevila, listen to me." He gently forced her back into her seat. "I never said that you were weak, and I never wanted to see you cry." He sat down next to her, but didn't remove his hand from her shoulder. "We all have our secrets, and some of those secrets are better left unsaid… I understand that. Everyone has nightmares and everyone has fears… but there are some things that we should confide in a friend. Certain things will rip you up inside, and eventually they can destroy you. Sometimes we need help from outside." Grant removed his hand from her shoulder, and slowly rolled up the sleeves of his robes.

Vevila refused to take her eyes from his; she wanted to dissect all that he was feeling. Grant held his arms out, motioning that she look at them. Her eyes drifted slowly to them, and she gasped. Long, short, thin, and thick discolored lines and patterns covered his arms. Quietly he said, "Everyone has scars of the past… hopefully not as literal as mine." He smiled softly and explained, "I was an abuse victim. For a long while I was too afraid to tell anyone… The longer I remained quiet, the worse it got. The occasional hitting and burning turned into a nightly beating. I had to wear long shirts and pants to hide the cuts and bruises… Nobody even noticed," he whispered thoughtfully. "Everyone thought I just got cold easily. Adults thought I was polite and thoughtful when really I was afraid. I thought if I said the wrong thing or made a mistake they'd beat me as well. I thought it was normal…"

Vevila shook her head, "Please stop." She didn't want to know Grant's secrets. She wanted them to be friends who kept to themselves, and only assume each other's feelings. She was comfortable with that. She didn't want someone knowing about her past.

"You need to understand." He looked meaningfully at her. "You need to know that you're not alone… I made that mistake, and now I have to live with these." He lifted his arms lightly. "Look at me, Vala." He gently touched her chin, gesturing she turn to him. "I'm here for you. I'll be there when no one else is. I can understand…"

She bowed her head, and a tear seeped from her eye. "Everyone I… everyone I ever loved was taken from me." She turned her gaze back to him. "I can't bare it anymore… I need to know someone will always be there…"

Grant smiled softly and wrapped his arms around her comfortingly. "Don't worry…" Then he said something which comforted her like nothing else could, "I'm a Pureblood and a Slytherin. We will make it through together."

And that was the marking of the first true friend Vala had ever had.

~+~+~+~

"I've got to go!"

"Not without me saying goodbye you're not!"

Vala rolled her eyes and stopped. She turned and waited for Grant to catch up. He jumped at her and caught her in a hug. "I'm going to miss you, Vala! What will I ever do without you?"

"Oh, stop it! I'm only leaving for Christmas." She patted his back and awkwardly checked her watch. She tried to push him away, but his grip was too tight. Once again she complained, "I'm going to be late!"

He squeezed her once more and released. He stood an elbow's length away and brushed the hair from her eyes. "Now you take care, lassie."

She batted his hand away and reminded, "I told you not to call me that."

"I was going to see you to the gates, but Snape wouldn't have it."

"Don't worry, I'll manage." She picked up her luggage and backed away from him. She smiled cheerfully and turned to leave.

Vevila ran briskly out the door and down the steps, but an icy voice stopped her. "Slipping away so soon?" She fell short in her pace, and stood still, a cringe smacking her face. "I'd have thought you'd have the courtesy to say goodbye. After all, we are engaged."

She felt his cool breath on her neck, sending shivers down her back, but not the fuzzy, pleasant shivers you should get from a lover. Saxon Malfoy, the only man alive with breath as cool as Winter's and a touch as chilling as ice.

"I really must go… I do not wish to be late."

"Vevila, I believe you're forgetting something."

Setting down her luggage she moved to face him. She knew what he wanted. However, she wasn't as keen in satisfying his deepest desires. Reluctantly, she sauntered up to him, and kissed his lips. She shuttered; it was like kissing an ice cube capable of movement. The feeling was unnerving, and never was she more relieved than when he pulled away.

"I love you," she lied in a breathy whisper.

He smiled triumphantly, and ran a finger down her cheek. "Take care, my love…"

She closed her eyes in a savoring gesture, and waited until he had backed away. In a graceful spin she turned away from him, picked up her luggage, and hurried down the steps. She smiled inwardly; it hadn't been as horrible as she thought it would have. Acting wasn't too terrible. What was she thinking? Acting was horrible. If she wanted to be an actress she would have taken a few Muggle classes on it. She hated acting like she felt one way when she really felt the other. Though, she had a life to protect, and the acting was more welcomed than the alternative.

~+~+~+~

Vala slipped through Remus' front door, and set down her bags. She was a little surprised, she was sure Remus would have been waiting at the door. Casually, she began unbuttoning her cloak. She nearly called out to greet him, but then she heard him speaking. He must have company. Her brow furrowed, and she stepped quietly down the hall, still unbuttoning her cloak; it was unlike Remus to have anyone over. She peeked around the corner, and saw him. Surely he hasn't been driven to that… she observed silently.

Remus sat in front of the fire, appearing to speak to himself.

"I'd rather not discuss this now, Romulus."

Who's Romulus?

"Be realistic, Remus… You can't keep it hidden forever."

That must be him. She poked her head out further to catch a glance at him. But all she saw was a fire. Wait… it wasn't just a fire; she saw… the head of a man? And the man looked almost identical to Remus. She gasped, and pulled herself away from the image.

"I have to go," Remus finished quickly, cutting the connection.

Vala sank against the wall; her cover had been blown.

"Vala?" he called calmly.

She cringed, but pushed herself to face him. She didn't know what to say, and it was useless to lie. But lie about what? She wasn't sure she understood what they were talking about. Gulping, she asked the truest question she had, "Who is he?"

Remus sighed softly and sat down. Vala's eyes softened enormously, he looks so tired. Tired was an understatement. Remus looked exhausted.

"He," Remus began, thoughtfully bringing a finger to his lip, "He would be my brother, Romulus Lupin."

"Who?" She heard him, but she was in shock. Since when does- "You have a brother?"

"A twin," Remus specified.

"A t-twin?" Vala sputtered, "And when did you plan on telling me this?"

"I didn't think it was important," he replied mildly.

"This, this is definitely a big deal," she answered.

Remus waved his hand. "It's nothing really."

Vala sat down next to him, staring at him in shock. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Well," he began slowly, "Romulus and I never got off well."

"He's your brother!" she exclaimed. Vala never had any blood related siblings, and it came as a real shock to learn siblings weren't best friends. After all, the Marauders had given her a brotherly impression; weren't siblings just like that?

Remus sighed; a sigh of understanding and sadness. "When…" he faltered. He took a deep breath and continued, "When I was first bitten, and Romulus learned I was a werewolf…" He stopped again. Vala's hand settled softly on top of his, pressing him to continue. "Things, things changed between us. He had always been so proud… so strong and bold. It was disgraceful… He couldn't bare the thought that his brother was a werewolf." He looked thoughtfully at her, "Who could?" He averted his eyes and explained, "My parents tried everything, but even now there's no cure for it… In shame he disowned me.

"Imagine, a man disowning his brother." He smiled faintly, a smile that hid the pain; Vala, however, saw through it. "Well," he rose his eyebrows slightly, "Hogwarts was the only school that would accept me, and as you know we bare many similarities. People said we looked so much alike… Romulus hated it. He hated that anyone could even confuse us, partially because I was a werewolf. It was unacceptable, and thus he refused to attend Hogwarts."

"Wait," Vala interrupted, as she did whenever someone had a story to tell. "You started at Hogwarts when you were eleven-"

"Ten," he corrected softly.

She waved a hand impatiently; something she had subconsciously picked up from him. "Yes, you were only ten… that doesn't make any sense."

He drew his eyebrows together in confusion. "How so?"

"You were only ten, and your brother likewise, and yet he disowned you? It doesn't make much sense," she pointed out.

Remus smiled and replied, "Even at ten he knew having a werewolf for a brother was abnormal. We never had a chance to get close. I was bitten so early, and at first he didn't realize what it meant, but we grew up in a brainwashed society… it didn't take him long to understand what a disgrace it is."

Vala shook head in disagreement. Looking at him she earnestly refuted, "It doesn't matter to me." Everything he had to say disturbed her. He spoke with such acceptance.

He smiled again, but it wasn't his usual unbalanced smile, he actually looked happy. "Romulus doesn't seem to think so… not even after all these years. I thought he'd been given time to mature, but apparently not."

"Then why was he contacting you?" she asked abruptly.

His eyebrows rose as he looked back at her. "Nothing… nothing really," he answered hastily.

She stared at him; Remus never was very good at lying. "Is that so…"

"It's not crucial to the story."

"I think it is. Tell me," she commanded, squeezing his hand in reassurance.

Remus sighed softly, and admitted, "He was asking about my parent's will. Apparently something was not accounted for, and he suspects I took it."

"That's ridiculous!" Vala exclaimed, "Does he honestly believe you would steal something?" Remus' eyes flickered towards the corner. She gave him a questioning stare before turning to see what it was. "You didn't…" She turned back to see a smirk tugging at Remus' lips. She slapped his hand and scolded playfully, "You didn't!"

~+~+~+~

"Doesn't Professor Trelawney have one of these?"

"Probably," he replied. "If used correctly it can show you the future… and the present, I think, but I mostly used it for story telling."

"Story telling?" she asked, glancing at him.

"I didn't get out much as a kid… I used to shake it like this-" He shook the crystal ball, and set it down on its stand. "And watch a story unfold. Looking back, I don't really think the shaking had much effect on it."

Vala bent low and stared into the foggy mist. She watched as a young woman tossed a golden ball in the air repeatedly, but then she accidentally dropped it into a bog. A frog hopped up alongside her and offered to retrieve the ball if the princess let him eat at her plate, and sleep in her bed. Vala remembered this one; the frog ended up turning into a prince. She hated the mushy tales with the perfect endings. Making a face she asked, "Why did you steal this again?"

Remus shrugged. "Memories. I'm really quite surprised Romulus remembered it… I only used it when he was out with his friends."

She looked up at him. "Well, I think we can rule out that he wanted it for the fairy tales. Do you think," she began thoughtfully, standing up, "That perhaps he wanted to read the future?"

"It wouldn't surprise me. He never could relax… He always had to know what was happening next. I was the same way, but for entirely different reasons."

"Oh?" she asked, curiously tapping the ball, attempting to change the story.

"I could never quite relax knowing someone might find out my secret… like this, Vala," he corrected, momentarily tilting the ball sideways, and placing it back on its stand.

"I don't like this one either," she divulged, scrunching up her nose. "Are they all this girly?"

"Yes, now leave it alone," he sniffed like all grown-ups do when their favorite childhood toy is insulted, and covered it with a deep blue velvet cloth. "How long is it until you leave again?" He walked away to make a cup of tea, or so Vala suspected.

"You're friendly," she snorted. "And not until after the New Year."

"Oh, oh really?" he stuttered, his steps faltering.

"Why?" she called, taking a seat in an old, yet comfortable armchair.

"The 28th is a full moon," he reminded.

"Come now, Remus, surely you don't think I'm a child? I can handle myself… you go out and party all night long."

"I won't be partying," Remus reciprocated.

"No," she agreed, "But doesn't it sound so much more glamorous?" Remus clucked his tongue, and handed her a cup of tea. "That was quick," she commented, taking it from his hands. Choking down a sip, she'd almost forgotten how much she hated tea. "Delicious," she lied, grimacing when he looked away.

Remus took a seat in the other armchair. He's so thin, she observed. Here she was in the very same room as he, and he still looked lonely. Just as she once did, she pitied him. He's so lonely… He was a werewolf, and that made him reluctant to make friends. She knew he never had company, and now she knew he avoided all contact with his remaining relatives. He needs someone to confide in… someone who understands… For a fleeting second she thought of herself. She understood him more than anyone else, and even she had trouble decoding all his feelings. He needs a werewolf… And again she thought of herself. But how? She gazed thoughtfully at the fire, something her father used to do, and came up with a solution.