A/n- Bloody hell I've been writing a lot recently. but that's a good thing, no? (I suppose your grades are all suffering... I'm so time consuming. Heh.)

NOTICE- For those of you who didn't quite catch it last time ::coughTerracough:: Window Pain was a pun. Pane, Pain. Yes. Figure it out, please. :-D





Seeing Grey - Part LXX - Gibbous





OI! MOONY!

Remus' eyes snapped open, and he looked around in utter panic.

he swore aloud, scrambling to get to his feet. Behind him, on the couch, Rhint was snoring ungracefully.

WHY did Mel have to take her bed? he groaned, trying to shove his pillow and blankets under the couch. Rhint! Wake up, there's a prob-

Moony, you in here? James shouted from the door. That Caleb fellow said... he trailed off, having turned the corner and gaining view of the living room.

He sputtered something, and instantly fell to the floor in a fitful rage of laughing.

Sirius, I think I hear James, he sounds catatonic again... Oh my God Remus, is that... He too trailed off, and had to fight to keep himself on his feet.

Sirius showed no restraint, and laughed hardest of the three.

An errand my ass! he stammered, face red in delight. Nice errand!

Remus turned around, and found the troublesome girl clutching her blanket protectively.

Guys, get out! Remus shouted over the fitful chuckles ringing in the room. He had the nauseous feeling that Rhint was going to run for her companion blade if they lingered much longer.

Why didn't you tell us... About... James tried to say, only to seize up in a amusement again.

Sirius said in bliss, holding his sides as if they would burst upon release.

Unable to do anything but flush crimson and stammer like a drunk for a prolonged moment, Remus eventually took action. Without so much as a word of explanation, he turned and fled from the torn-apart house.

So, have you two-

Rhint glared, still hugging the blanket around herself.

Swallowing his laugh, Sirius went dead somber, and nodded. At the moment, he was too terrified to do anything but stand motionless.

Those eyes...



Remus? God damn, you can run fast! James exclaimed, completely devoid of breath as he finally caught up to his friend. It was only a few minutes ago, how did you get so far?

Remus didn't respond, as he was too busy concentrating on not killing James and trying, unsuccessfully, to convince his face to stop burning scarlet.

Remus? Aw, come on, me and Sirius were just teasing. You're so romantically challenged, we couldn't resist!

She is in no way my girlfriend. he grumbled, wishing to close the subject.

Um... Then, er, how would you classify... he said with a grin, recalling finding the girl sleeping on a couch, Remus on the floor below.

She is a very strange girl that likes to pull knives out on strangers. Remus began.

Yes, we learned that one. Sirius is still hiding at Caleb's place. I think he tried to-

and I'm merely helping her get used to not being paranoid. Remus snapped, trying to conclude the conversation. His attempts at a subtle way of saying he wished to be left alone went unnoticed, and James walked up in front of him.

You're flamingly red, Moony. James observed with a smile. So, you like her?

Oh, for the love of God! Remus groaned, wishing he could die right there.

James, can you honestly even conjure a picture of me being gushy with some girl? At all? In any sense whatsoever?

He thought long and hard, eyes furrowed behind his glasses. he decided, frowning crookedly. You worry too much about everything to let someone else get into your life.

Thank you for not being a stupid prat. Remus declared, thankful and quite honoured, that James knew him so well.

She isn't too bad-looking, by what I saw. I'd-

Remus reminded. James grinned guiltily, and shrugged.

I was only saying that you and her would-

-never in a lifetime figure out a way to work around my mental paranoia.

Both agreed upon this, and left the subject alone. Rather, James left it alone for fear that Remus would lose his temper, or fear that the girl would unsheathe her pocketknife if he made any catty remarks.

Ah, that reminds me. he said with another grin. We should probably go find Sirius... He doesn't run as fast as me, and I just barely escaped that crazy girl.



Leaving so soon?

She's going to kill me if I don't! Sirius said nervously, constantly peering around the street, expecting Rhint to pounce him at any moment. All I did was comment on her... Took it like a death threat. Anyway, I'm getting out of here.

He quickly mounted his broom, waiting for James and Peter to follow suit. Neither moved from their place on the porch of Caleb's house.

Rhint, leave them be, they mean no harm. Remus said, knowing very well she was standing behind Peter, hand pressed against his neck.

They're going to be your downfall. she mumbled distantly, half in a daze. I think... No, they're going to-

Rhint, I know. Remus interrupted, having seen the same precognitive Vision many times before. Let them go, please.

She released the back of Peter's hair, and frowned rudely as they mounted up and glided out of the Underground in a hurry.

You really need to be less hostile. Remus said with a sigh. I know it may not seem like it, but they're wonderful people. Er, most of the time anyway. Sirius is perverted, but he means well.

Why do you keep company with those who you know will only bring you pain later on?

Visions have lied to me before, I like to think I just dream sometimes. Every action changes the outcome.

Have your Visions changed?

No, but I trust that they will. Remus said simply.

You are too trusting. she grumbled, sitting down on the stairs in a mournful way.

Remus didn't ask why she was so sullen all the time.




Remus, wake up. Rhint said quietly, trying to shake him awake.

Mumbling at the daemons in his dreams, Remus rolled away from her, dragging his stiff blanket into a clump. His back was left exposed, showing the spider web of of scars littering the flesh.

Rhint muttered, fascinated by the endless tributaries of thin, silvery lines. Without thinking, she idly traced her finger along one, instantly waking Remus from the floor.



she said quickly, bowing her head down. There's an owl outside, I believe it wants to see you.

We deliver post with owls. Remus explained after taking a moment to wake himself up. It had been a very long night, writhing under the stress of a nearly full moon. Sleep had managed to evade him like a frightened animal.

she said to herself, walking off to prepare a meal that didn't resemble breakfast in the slightest.

Grabbing a shirt hanging from the bathroom doorknob, Remus pulled it over his head, still carrying himself in the direction of the back window. Without realising his shirt was on backwards, he cracked open the window and let in a very disgruntled eagle owl.

Settle down you stupid creature. he snapped in irritation, grabbing the letter.

Bug off you damn bird! Remus said in a fluster, managing to force the owl back out the window before it attacked him any further.

Nursing his bitten finger, Remus pried open the unaddressed parchment.


Remus? Are you alright, I heard a crash. R-

Rhint stopped in her tracks, wondering wy Remus was frozen in place, a broken cup knocked down next to him.

He... He...



He collapsed to his knees, eyes fixated upon the paper blotted with watery ink.




You need to reply. Caleb said sternly, forcefully enough to make Remus hear the words he so wished not to. At least acknowledge him.



For your own sake, just send him something back. Caleb said, grabbing a blank sheet of parchment and a pencil from the newly installed desk. To get his point across, he shoved them right in front of his broken friend.

he ordered.

As if under a controlling spell, Remus lifted the pencil, and scratched what resembled his brother's name at the top of the paper.

I don't want to see you right now. I'm not ready. Please don't write again, I'll find you later.

Thank you. Caleb said with a supportive smile, grabbing the letter before Remus could change his mind. Carefully, he sealed it and tucked it into his pocket.

I'll go send this out on one of the priority owls, alright?

He left, not waiting for a reply he knew wouldn't come.

Once again lost in himself, Remus let his head fall to his hands, heavy from so many thoughts.



Though she was unaware of her abilities, she knew what was wrong. It was an unconscious Vision, or just a familiar link between two of the same emotion.

It'll be alright. she said quietly, kneeling down behind him. Instinctively, she reached forward and held her arms around his chest, hands tightly laced together. It'll be alright...


From the window, Caleb watched with a mixture of an amused and solemn smile.

'Bout time he found someone.




That's awful. Rhint murmured, feeling horrible just having to hear his story.

There's worse out there. I'm lucky, you know, to have friends and to be at Hogwarts...

That doesn't matter. she said, shaking her head. It's still unbelievable that... I mean, I used to feel sorry for myself for having been kicked out of my own home, and-

Your parents are alive? Remus asked, slightly surprised.

she confessed, turning her head away as if in shame. My brother and I were kicked out a few years ago-

He was...

My brother was bitten first. Rhint explained, pulling her knees to her chest and hugging them for comfort. And he attacked me on his first transformation. In a single week, my parents lost both their children to the curse. My father is a wizard, so he knows all about how horrible we are, to them anyway.

Them'. It was a single grouping for everyone unaffected, a term shared by everyone of the plight. Although they were the minority by large, it was not so in the Underground.

We lived in New York at the time, my mother was there on business for her clothing company. she went on. My brother, he was five years older than me, and he wasn't really a good student at school. He eventually found himself company with a gang.

Remus nodded, encouraging her to go on. He himself had problems being open with others, so he dared not stop another.

They found out what he had become, what I had become...

She stopped, unable to continue. Forgetting where she was, Rhint clutched her neck as if in pain, hiding her face in her new secondhand cloak.

Please, what did they do?

Nodding, swallowing the urge to cry at memory, she pulled down the neck of her shirt. A tangle of scars, bruises, painful marks of another's doing lined her skin. More standing than the rest, there was a circle of white tracing back around her neck.

They killed my brother, after he had bitten another boy in the gang and caused him to die from bleeding. I didn't have anywhere to go after that.

You shouldn't have stayed! Remus blurted out, disgusted with the cruelty he understood all too well

You don't understand. she said, choking on her own words. They weren't some petty little group of bullies. I would have been dead in an instant, and I had nowhere else to go even if I tried to run... Once, I did try to run once. Right after they killed Andy, I bolted away. When the found me, I... They-

Remus, where's that girl, Rhint? There's a man at the gates claiming he needs to speak with her, I'm not sure whether to let him in. He's one of us, but something about him... Melhane called from outside, knocking lightly on the door.

Rhint tensed up, and grabbed Remus' arm desperately.

Don't... Please don't-

Mel, get him out of here! Remus shouted. That man is out for us, kill him if you have to. Just get him away from this city!

Sobbing in her own fright, Rhint clung to his arm fiercely, afraid to lose its comfort.

Don't let him...

Stop worrying. Remus said with a very bitter voice. I'll take care of it.




What do you want with her? Remus growled, eyes narrowed, giving him an appearance very unbefitting his docile nature.

The man was rather short in comparison, though his demeanor was that of a battle-roughened soldier, giving him an equal look of malice. He stared back, face unmoving, showing no emotion other than hate and the desire to eliminate.

Who are you to protect the little bitch?

Care to come in and get her? Remus asked, knowing he could not pass the silver gates. The man tapped at the gate, and drew his hand back quickly.

You have yourself a pound in here, I understand. You're just a bunch of caged in mutts. he snapped, letting the skin on his finger scorch unattended.

And you, my friend, are nothing short of the lowest excuse of a human being I've yet to meet.

With only the silver gate as a barrier between the two, Remus stood right in front of the man, looking down on him with eyes ablaze.

I'll suggest it once, and once only; you will leave this place right now, or I shall have to handle this matter myself. he said calmly.

The man sported a cocky grin, pleased at this notion. Sir, I believe I will accept this. he said sarcastically, cracking his knuckles. ...More than happy to take that bitch with me once you're out of the way.

Stop it, Nick.

Remus turned around, finding Rhint standing unsurely a few feet back.

Leave my f-friends out of this.

So, you have friends now? You filthy beasts stick together, then.

Confused, Remus turned around, facing the girl that was struggling not to shake.

He doesn't know?

Rhint shook her head, pursing her whitened lips.

I bit him l-last time I transformed, in N-New York last month... she stammered, quickly losing her bout of courage.

With a smile, Remus nodded his head and faced the man again.

Rhint, would you please go inform Caleb that we have an unwelcome person that will need escorted back to town, after I'm done?

She stayed her ground, pleading silently for him to go and get help instead.

I'll be fine, Rhint. Just go and tell Caleb that there's no need to involve anyone else.

Please... Be careful.

Oh, don't worry you little beast, he'll be nice and dead by the time you can run back.

Trying not to hear the words, Rhint turned on heel and ran as fast as her legs would allow to the main city.




Remus, are you- Oh my God! Rhint squeaked out, her face drained of its remaining colour.

I'm fine, don't worry.

Sporting a bloody crack in his face in addition to many bruises, Remus still managed to smirk in pride.

Don't worry about that prat ever again Rhint, don't even give that scum your second thoughts.

Smiling tearfully, thankful to be alive and to have anyone in the world at all, she clung desperately to him. So forcefully she wrapped her arms around him, fearing he would dissolve away, vanish from the cruel life she knew.

Please don't leave. she whispered, crying for reasons she couldn't comprehend.

Remus nodded, lying himself into another conflict. It was the only thing to do at the time, all he felt he could do to comfort her.

I can't tell her, that I'm leaving soon.' he mused, staring at the small crowd gathering in the narrow rock passage. Hell, I can't even admit it to myself yet.'





A/n- Yup, me again. Sorry for delays, life has sucked major ass lately. haven't been this depressed in a long time. Gack. Romance... Yes, it is making me unhappy. I'll have to end it soon, you know. I simply cannot stand to write anymore love stuff. Sorry, supporters of it. More traditional angst will come soon.

Iggie





URGENT REQUEST:

My friend Steve, to whom this story is aptly dedicated even though he knows not of it, needs a favour. He is this insane movie guy (obsessive, yes, but a genius!) and has entered a Script Pitch contest. To sum it up for all you guys, it's an idea for a potential movie contest. My request, as I really hope some of you will get this in time, is to go to






and vote for his story. It is titled Mirror's Reflection. Ya don't have to read it or anything (though by all means, do) just PLEEEEEASE submit him a vote. Go to the bottom of the page, select Mirror, and just hit vote. it only takes a second!

Thanks so much you guys, I really hope some of you are nice enough to do this for me and him. As a note, votes must be in by Tuesday the 22nd.

THANK YOU for listening to this cheap solicitation.