Once it's gone
By KerrianneLupin
Chapter Three
Wormtail
DISCLAIMER – Naw however much I keep wishing it the paperwork to own these great characters doesn't end up in my lap to sign
AUTHOR NOTE – I am so sorry about the wait, There were several complications to this story, mainly the fact I lost the disk the chapter was on and that my Beta reader never got back to me with it so I've decided to just post it up, especially as chapter four is already written. So apologies and I hope you like it!
THANK YOU'SQuacien – Remmie get better? You'll have to see really won't you!
KatFay – No I decided to leave Sirius for one more chapter, bless his cotton socks, if you cant guess why he froze then you'll find the answers in the next chapter, which I promise will be up quicker.
Janie Lupin – Hey glad you like the story, if your offer about being the Beta reader is still open then would you mind? If not that's cool.
Queen-seta/Remmie-The-Insane – Thanks so much for telling me that I wasn't accepting all types of review because I had no idea, anyway hope you like this chapter.
Baby chaos13 – You'll have to see what happens but there will be several fluffy scenes for you to love.
Crystal Black – You'll have to be slightly more patient till you get too Sirius but it will be worth it
Sunstreake – I don't think I'm capable of killing Remus, oh well glad you're enjoying it and hope you like the next chapter
Penguin – Thanks for the compliment, I'm glad you like my style of writing; anyhow sorry it took so long to update but better late then never right!
Write more – Yep I got your hint all right, here's the next chapter for you.
StarlessNight18 – Must he? Only joking, hope you enjoy the chapter
Tara – Sorry I didn't mean to make you all wait so long, forgive me ok! The next chapter will be up so much quicker
Hp-Azn – Well you'll find out now what happens, sorry it took so long to update, I'll do better next time.
Amaya – Yeah…. That would be what he was thinking if my Sirius in my brain is correct. Hope you like this chapter
Artificial Innocence – There, there everything will be ok! Hope you like the chapter
I'm not sure how the hell we managed to get through the rest of charms, Professor Flitwick came back and after a glance at us he carried on teaching the lesson leaving the three of us be. I'm glad he did though I doubt any of us would have even been listening let alone able to answer a question. Lunch came after that and we all ate lightly, well James force fed Sirius and pretty much blackmailed him by reminding Padfoot how worse it would make Moony feel if Sirius was ill, I never saw a boy eat a bigger lunch after that looking as if he hated every minute of it, the same thing happened at dinner and I doubt any of us slept well that night since we weren't allowed to see Remus that night.
We were in History of magic now and instead of falling into the peaceful slumber I usually did I actually found myself taking the odd note of two. I mean Moony would be desperate for notes when he gets out, he's always saying how he has to keep ahead because of the three days he often misses due to the full moon, if we didn't get him anything then he'd probably give us that reproachful look he does so well, the one that makes you squirm and makes you feel about an inch tall or so.
I sighed and rubbed my eyes quickly turning round and looking at the other two who was on a table next to me, mine was empty since I normally shared with Remus, it felt weird not having him scribbling notes beside me. I think James must have had the same idea as me because he was scribbling down everything Professor Binns said as if his life depended on it, that was strange as well for the first time in 4 years James Potter was actually taking notes down, every now and then I saw him glance to the side of him at Sirius.
Now that was a problem that we didn't need, I know it was disturbing to see Moony like that and to see him collapse and remain so still but Sirius has taken it really badly, as if Moony was dead or something instead of ill. He just sat there staring ahead, an empty bit of parchment in front of him with the quill that Remus had lent him the morning before, sitting there, he was staring blankly at it remaining silent, in fact I don't think he's spoken a single word since his out break in Charms.
I glanced out of the window and frowned, it was a gorgeous day the kind of day that Remus would really have liked, he's a nature freak is Remus, always outside if he can get out. Probably happily go into a snowstorm if we didn't stop him. I bit my lip I hoped Madam Promfrey placed him in his favourite bed, the one on the right side when you walk into the room by the window so he can look out, he's always liked looking out as he recovered, pointing out to us on several occasions that just because he's been stopped this one time doesn't necessarily mean the world around us stopped. That's why I think that Remus would be mad if we all began acting like Sirius.
The bell rang at that moment signifying the end of lessons until after lunch; Professor Binns told us the homework and then drifted away his class forgotten already. The rest of the class left talking quietly shooting us glances as they did. I ignored them as I quickly packed up noticing James doing the same thing, for once we were probably on the same wavelength. The quicker we pack the quicker we can see Moony. I turned round and bit back an annoyed groan, From the look of it Sirius hadn't even heard the bell go he was just staring at the quill still, I resisted the urge to go and shout at him instead biting the inside of my mouth. The boy was so incredibly selfish at times.
I saw James stand up and look at him with a sigh; he went to go over there when someone intercepted him. He looked up in surprise to see Lily Evans standing in front of him, a nervous look on her face
"Hi James" she said quietly "Are you ok?" normally James would have come back with some witty remark but I don't think he could be bothered to try today, instead he just shrugged his shoulders
"I've been better" he remarked honestly shifting his bag up his shoulder, she nodded a sympathetic look on her face
"Can you give these to Remus for me please" she said quickly holding out something to James, James looked down with a frown and I noticed for the first time that Sirius was watching the scene as well with the first look of interest he had shown all day, he began packing slowly away till all that was left was the Quill
"What's this?" James asked turning to her with a frown
"It's nothing major" she assured him "It's um notes for Charms, Transfiguration, potions, Herbology and this subject from yesterday and today. I know how much Remmie hates to be behind in anything and that" she pointed at an envelope "Is a get well card to him from me and that's some chocolate frogs for you know when he gets better" James raised an eyebrow and I saw her go slightly red
"Why would you go through all this trouble?" he asked, Lily shrugged meeting the steady hazel eyes confronting her
"Because Remus is my friend as well and I want him to know I'm thinking of him" James watched her for a second then opened his bag placing the stuff in it
"I'll make sure he gets it" he remarked, "He'll be really grateful about it all" Lily smiled and left the room quickly. I stepped forward and spoke
"Why don't we go?" I suggested without Remus being here to be the voice of reason I guess the job fell to me "If Moony's awake then he's probably bored out of his mind and desperate for chocolate, we'll deliver Lily's frogs to him" James nodded and flashed me a grateful look though I'm not sure why. Grateful that I hadn't fallen apart like Sirius? Grateful that I was being sensible? It didn't even matter really. James went up to Sirius pulling him to his feet and picking up the Quill handing it to him
"Let's go Paddy" he remarked slightly Sirius nodded and began walking with James by his side I was just behind them. I couldn't believe Sirius sometimes. Moony is the one who is ill and suffering, anyone could tell that even before he collapsed and yet Sirius is acting like he's the invalid getting attention and everything, the attention that should be going to Remus, it drives me crazy.
It didn't take long to get there since we were all walking a pace that barely escaped running. James opened the door and looked around hesitantly before nodded his head at us
"She's not here" he whispered meaning Madam Promfrey who would be likely to throw us out if she saw us, we all hurried in and glanced around, James closing the door behind us. The room was bare and white except the bed on the right-handed side of the room by the window that had the white curtain around it. I smiled slightly at that. She had remembered. Sirius was the first to walk over there followed by the two of us. He glanced at us and opened the curtain.
Lying in front us propped up on pillows was Remus, he could almost of been sleeping quietly really, his mouth was relaxed in the right way. It was the other aspect that made it impossible. His skin which was normally healthy and tanned, was pure white with tinges of grey except at the cheeks, there it was scarlet. His hair, which was always neat, was a mess of tangles making it appear wilder then James's did. He was sweating even though it was pleasantly cool in the room and although his eyes were closed the pupils were moving rapidly beneath the lids. I blinked a few times trying to convince myself that this boy who was having trouble breathing wasn't the strong active Remus we knew. It couldn't be the same boy who only 2 days ago turned round and challenged us all to a race preceding to beat us all at the same time. James took a sharp intake of breath beside me but for once I ignored James, only Remmie was important at this one second.
Sirius stepped forward to the left side of the bed and looked down at Remus a very strange expression on his face, he reached out a hand just like he had done in charms and touched the red stained cheek. I'm not sure if Remus was asleep or he just wasn't aware of us but when Sirius touched his cheek he moved into it immediately. I guess if you have a fever like Remus obviously did even a cool hand felt good. Remus gave a sigh of relief as well then frowned. He was awake now.
"Moony" Sirius whispered kneeling by the bedside, he took his hand away from his cheek and instead placed it over Remus's hand before turning it in such a way that the pair of them was holding hands, with his other hand he leaned across and pushed back the sweaty fringe from Remus's face. I shifted uncomfortably. I know we were all friends and all but at that moment I couldn't help but think I had interrupted something though I'm not sure exactly what. Sirius spoke again using the same gentle voice he had before "I'm here Moony and I'm not going to leave you" Remus seemed to show some reaction to Sirius voice because he opened his eyes and looked into Sirius's face, for a split second we all saw there was no recognition in his face before it softened and Remus squeezed the hand back that was in his.
"Paddy" he said, his voice sounded harsh, horrible in fact when you consider the fact that he normally had a very pleasant sounding voice with a slight Irish lilt to it, he broke out into a coughing fit after that and it took a few seconds before he was leaning back into the pillow looking as exhausted as he had done when we had first walked in. Sirius began stroking the hand he was holding in a reassuring fashion
"It's ok Moony its ok," he kept on repeating. I started as James moved from my side up to the other side of the bed; if I was being honest then I could admit that I had forgotten he was there. James glanced down at the figure for a while with one of those looks that you have no idea what they mean and then kneeling down he picked up his other hand and waited, Remus turned his head and focused on James and the two of them watched each other before James spoke. His voice as cheerful as ever but quieter a more gentle tone to it
"I'm here as well Remmie" he remarked "And I come bearing gifts for you" even I could see the slight amount of interest that appeared in the amber eyes, strangely enough that made me feel better, made him more like Remus in a way that the mention of gifts could draw a reaction from him "Lily's made you a card want me to open it for you?" Remus stared at him, slowly raised an eyebrow in a look that was purely Remus then nodded very slowly as if any other movement would hurt. James ripped the envelope open and then placed the brightly coloured card in Remus's sight line; Remus smiled ever so slightly at it but said nothing. I stepped forward feeling a slight bit left out, Remus was my friend as well and it was my duty as much as James and Sirius to try and make him feel better any way I could
"She got you other stuff as well Remmie" I remarked making my voice as cheerful as I could "Chocolate frogs and all, loads of people are asking about you as well you popular sod" Remus turned to me and although he didn't smile with his lips his eyes did, he recognised me and James so why didn't he recognise Sirius at first, was it because the longer he was awake the better he was?
"Wouldn't be surprised if you had loads of people coming to visit you" James added shooting me another grateful look
"We'll be here all the time though," I said feeding off James comment "After all it's just not the same without you"
"Who will give us notes?" Sirius remarked suddenly a slight smile coming to his face
"Speaking of notes we've made you loads, me and Pete even stayed awake in Binns lesson for you so you should feel privileged you know, James Potter doesn't do work for just anyone" James grinned at him, the same Potter grin that had everyone smiling back at him, it worked this time as well as that slight smile, the one that was almost not there came across Remus's face
"And if our notes are crap" I said "Then Lily has made you ones from every lesson so far so you'll be saved and all, can't have you failing exams on our account after all" looking back I think it was clear that me and James were babbling trying desperately to get some reaction from Remus and we did, faint smiles still came to his face but speaking was beyond him it seemed. It didn't matter though, not really. We were telling him about the lessons he had missed, missing out the work part and telling him just what had happened to the Slytherins through methods un known when a female voice spoke, a very pissed off female voice
"What are the three of you doing here?" I stood up in a second and turned to look at the kind face of Madame Promfrey that was set in a frown. We were in for it now.
A/N – as I said before I am so sorry that it took so long to update but hopefully it was worth it, I'll update in a weeks time or perhaps sooner even. Please review but no flames if you will.
Next Chapter – Normally I give you a choice but chapter four is already written and its Sirius so hopefully you'll all enjoy that!