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Remus woke Tuesday morning, feeling as if he'd been beaten all over.
No wonder, he thought grumpily, as he pulled himself of the floor. Why he never curled up on the ancient four poster to sleep was beyond him.
Remus stretched and groaned as he looked around the bedroom of the Shrieking Shack. He wished James and the others had been able to spend the night, the Shack was, if possible, creepier in the daylight. It wasn't until he felt the bite marks on his arm that Remus realized James, Sirius, and Peter had not been there at all. Rolling up his sleeves, Remus saw that he had bit and stratched himself because his friends had not come to keep him company.
This Remus could not understand. James had had everything planned yesterday morning, unless something big had happened at the castle to prevent their coming. Remus ran a hand across a very nasty purple bruise that had appeared on his chest, wondering how he could have given himself such a bruise and then everything came rushing back.
James had been there last night; he had given Remus the bruise. But someone else had been there too. Remus sank onto the musty bed and put his face in his hands. Severus Snape had been there, and he had seen Remus, he knew the truth.
Feeling sick, Remus stood up and ran through the Shrieking Shack and down to the tunnel. He slowed down half way through the tunnel, holding a stitch in his side. When he reached the Whomping Willow he fumbled a moment for a stick to keep the Willow's branches from taking his head off. But to his surprise the tree remained frozen, poking his head out of the hole in the tree's roots he saw why. Someone on the outside was holding a long branch on the root. A tall someone with a long silver beard, Albus Dumbledore was waiting for Remus.
"Good morning, Remus," he said softly, "if you'd care to take a walk around the grounds, there is something I need to discuss with you."
Feeling even worse than he had before, Remus pulled himself from the tree and followed Dumbledore away from the tree. They walked silently for a few moments until Remus felt he should speak.
"Professor," he began, "I know that last night, Severus Snape came to the Shrieking Shack, he saw me. I don't know how he found the way..."
He paused, he didn't know for sure how Snape had gotten past the Whomping Willow, but he had a nagging suspicion that it had something do with Sirius. Dumbledore seemed to understand what his pause meant.
"Mr. Snape did indeed see you in the Shrieking Shack last night. It seems Mr. Black told him how he might get past the Whomping Willow, but did not tell him what he would find at the other end. Mr. Snape is very angry at what he saw to be an attempt on his life, but he has promised not to tell anyone what he knows. Mr. Potter and Mr. Pettigrew were also on the grounds last night, no doubt to see you off, all four were in my office last night and everything has been settled."
Remus wasn't sure what Dumbledore meant by 'settled'. "Professor," said Remus, looking up at the Headmaster. "Sirius hasn't been expelled, has he? I mean he and Snape are always at each other, but you don't think he really meant to hurt him do you?"
Remus didn't believe his friend was capable of murder, but he knew that if Sirius had been given an opportunity to injure or humiliate Snape in some way, he would.
"None of the young men have been expelled, although each has lost House points for being out of bounds at such a late hour," said Dumbledore, now turning to face Remus. "I have spoken at length to Mr. Black, however. As I have said before, Mr. Snape is very angry, I think it best if you would try and persuade your friends to avoid confrontation with him for the time being. Good day, Remus."
Dumbledore took his leave of Remus and headed back to the castle. Remus remained where he was. As always, he was excused from all classes before lunch on the days after his transformation, his friends didn't expect him until lunch. Remus decided to spend his free time walking around the lake, he needed time to think, and rest, after last night's nightmare. He sighed, he would have given anything to have spent last night out on the grounds with Celeste, instead of holed up in the Shrieking Shack, alone.
-
For those at the Gryffindor table, breakfast was not a pleasant affair. Peter knocked over the sugar bowl when wished good morning, Sirius growled at anyone who approached, and Lilly became angry with James for not speaking to her. Celeste had been up early and had finished eating before the others arrived. She was surprised to see that Remus was not with them, but got no answer when she asked James where he was. It was a relief for all when breakfast was over and everyone became busy, hurrying away so as not to be late for their first class.
Remus made his appearance at lunch, brushing away Celeste's inquiries by saying he had felt ill this morning and had slept in. This was partly true, he had felt ill this morning, in fact he still didn't feel very good, it was an effort not to throw up all over the table. He did manage to kiss Celeste lightly on the cheek, which made her feel better; at least she stopped asking questions.
"Remus," she said, pushing her hair away from her face. "I'm sorry if I seemed rude or anything last night. Why don't we just spend some time together after classes, all right?"
Remus nodded and watched as she disappeared out of the Great Hall, on her way to Arithmancy.
-
Celeste felt better after speaking to Remus during lunch, ever since she had walked away from him last night she had regretted how childishly she had behaved. She really just wanted to spend some time with him, if only because she felt truly herself when he was near. The upcoming O.W.L.s were telling on her nerves and she needed Remus to bring her back to earth.
Between classes, Remus had agreed to meet Celeste in the courtyard. After dropping her bag in the common room, Celeste hurried down to wait. She was early, but only by a few moments. Sitting on a bench in an empty corner of the courtyard sat Severus; Celeste caught sight of her friend and ran to join him.
"Hello, Sev," she said brightly, sitting down next to him on the bench.
Severus turned his head at the sound of her voice and looked at her a moment, but said nothing.
"Oh, don't get upset," she said, nudging him playfully. "Nobody can see us over here. It's not like I want Remus to get jealous or anything."
Severus looked down at the ground and said nothing.
"Severus," said Celeste, suddenly worried. "Is something wrong? Talk to me, has something happened?"
Severus took a deep breath and spoke in a harsh voice, looking straight ahead. "Do me a favor Celeste and go away."
"Come on Severus, you can tell me anything. What's wrong?"
"Just go away, Celeste."
She didn't move, Severus stood up and turned to look at her.
"Get the hll away from me," he said, "stupid half-breed!"
Celeste stood up feeling shocked. She had once gone after Severus for calling Lilly a mudblood, but she had never dreamed he would go after her own parentage, and for what reason, she didn't know.
"What has gotten into you, Severus," she shrieked, "how dare you speak to me like that!"
"I'll speak to you anyway I please," he snarled. "Now get away from me."
Shaking with fury, Celeste raised her hand back and slapped him hard across the face before turning and storming into the castle.
Once inside the castle, her fury subsided and Celeste fought to hold back tears. Rushing into the empty music room, she collapsed onto a piano bench and sobbed.
-
Remus waited in the courtyard for a few minutes, waiting for Celeste. When she didn't come he made his way up to Gryffindor tower. Lilly said Celeste had left earlier to wait for Remus and hadn't been back up. Feeling a bit concerned, Remus ran up to the boy's dormitory and fumbled in James's trunk until he found the Marauder's Map. Tapping it with his wand he scanned it until he located the dot marked 'Celestina Potak' residing in the first floor music room. Wiping the map blank he shoved it back in the trunk and headed down to meet Celeste.
When he reached the music room he could hear the sound of a piano, pulling open the door he saw Celeste. She was sitting at the piano, playing, her hair had been pulled up but was coming undone from its hasty knot. Remus thought she looked lovely. He listened to her play for a few moments, then sat down next to her on the bench when she stopped. Sitting next to her he could see she had been crying.
"Celeste,"Remus said in alarm, "What's happened?"
She turned to look at him and smiled sadly. "You won't believe this, but I just had a fight with an old friend."
"Well that's all right, friends fight all the time."
Celeste shook her head and sniffed. "No, I mean, you won't believe that I had a fight with my old friend, Severus Snape."
Remus took a moment to absorb what these words meant.
"You mean, you've been friends with Snape...what exactly did you fight about?" He asked this, dreading the answer.
"Oh, I don't know what it was about. He just told me to get the hll away and called me a half-breed, and then I slapped him."
Celeste wiped tears from her eyes while Remus ran his fingers through her hair, for a while neither spoke. Remus started to speak, but found there was nothing to say, instead he moved his face towards hers, their lips met and held each other for a long time. When they finally broke apart, Celeste sighed deeply and laid her head on his shoulder.
"I love you Remus," she whispered.
Remus sat silently, a million thoughts running through his mind. He loved Celeste and wanted to tell her what he truly was, she said she loved him, but was her love strong enough to overlook the beast that lay inside him? And now she had told him that the one person who hated him most at the moment was a dear friend. How could he comfort Celeste when he was the reason Severus had turned from her?
While these tormenting thoughts rushed through his mind, Remus took Celeste's hand in his and kissed her fingertips softly. Finally he spoke.
"Celeste, I love you, I have for a long time, but I know now just how much. I don't ever want to lose you."
"Lose me," Celeste repeated, sitting upright. "How could you lose me? I'm not going anywhere and don't even think about trying to drive me away. I'll love you forever, no matter what."
Again Remus felt the urge to tell her he was a werewolf, but he was still afraid her love was not quite as strong as she claimed. Despite his uneasiness, however, he was the happiest he had ever been in his life.