Autumn Part III

Some time later Autumn left a trail of tears as she made her way from her bathroom to her bedroom. Unaware of the time she dressed slowly, at her pace.

Remus wandered in to the great hall droopy eyed and hungry and sat down next to James.

"Where's Autumn?" Lily asked just minutes before their first class. The whole group looked up and noticed then that a member was missing, as silent meals had become custom amongst them for the last few days. Lily and Remus met stares and her eyes seemed to be asking him the question personally. She was in the common room last night when Autumn ran out, and she wasn't stupid enough not to notice that she didn't come back. "It was a full moon last night wasn't it Remus?"

"Yea." He said blankly. No one was with me last night he thought. As the students all began to make their way to their classes Remus remembered something strange that happened right before the wolf took over last night. Once out of the Great Hall he pulled James aside. "I might have bitten her." He whispered to James.

"What? What do you-"

"Look, I don't remember anyone with me last night. No one came because of this whole situation, but right before he took over I heard the stairs creak, and those stairs don't creak unless someone is on them."

"Well, let's see where she is." James pulled out the Marauder's Map and tapped it. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." He whispered. "She's in her room…not moving. Look maybe she just slept in. I'll check it out you go to class. If she is sleeping she won't want you to be the one waking her up. She is a bit irked at you."

James found Autumn in her window knees at her chest her head resting on her knees. Her hair looked damp and uncombed. "Autumn?" he said softly. Autumn slowly raised her head. James saw her cheeks were stained with tears her eyes were puffy and red. "Sweetheart…" he breathed and ran to her side. He sat and hugged her for what seemed like forever.

Autumn was the one who spoke first. "I saw him last night James. I saw him."

"You saw who Autumn?" he questioned.

"Remus. I saw him. I saw it happen. It was horrible. I went to be with him last night because no one else was. Because no one else cared and I saw it. I feel so bad. I want to help him."

"We all want to help him Autumn."

"Then why aren't you doing anything? She threw herself from his comforting hug. "Why weren't you there last night!? You two don't have any problems. He didn't ditch you for a Veela at the last minute. You aren't in love with his best friend. I don't see any reason why you weren't with him last night James!" Her tears came faster. "You betrayed him last night James. All of you did. Once can get over petty disagreements and small mistakes but leaving someone you love and care for by themselves when they have to go through something like that it is a crime that should bepunishable by law."

James opened his mouth to say something in his defense but he realized there was no defense for him. Ashamed he turned and walked out of the room. He walked into transfiguration late and received his detention without argument. And simply only nodded to Remus. He couldn't even look him in the eye. He sat down by Lily at the opposite end of the table as Remus. He noticed though throughout class Remus kept looking worriedly over at James. "Tell Lupin that she's fine." James said to Lily. He was to ashamed to speak to him. Lily did and Remus let out a sigh of relief.

From behind them Sirius heard Lily tell Remus that 'she' was all right. Sirius knew that they were talking about Autumn and he knew that she wasn't alright. He stood up and raised his hand. "Professor Mcgonagall?"

"Mister Black I hardly have time for this as I had to give Potter a detention for being late."

"Yea, but this is important."

"I doubt it Mister Black what is it?"

"Can I go to the hospital wing?"

"Why?"

"Because I'm not feeling myself lately."

"Go and be done with disrupting my class for the day Mister Black." She said waving him off. Which she normally wouldn't have done but he hadn't been acting himself and she was in no mood to spend time arguing with him.

Sirius walked casually out the classroom and ran the rest of the way to the dormitory.

"Dear Lord remind me to change the password to my portrait." Autumn exclaimed when Sirius burst through the door. She had just finished tying her shoes and grabbed her bookbag. She slung it over her shoulder and walked towards the door.

"Autumn wait."

"For what?" she said continuing her path to the door. Just as she was about to reach it the door slammed shut in front of her. She turned to see Sirius standing with his wand out pointing towards the door. He lowered it slowly.

"What is your problem?" he said not understanding where this was coming from. "This isn't like you Autumn."

"My problem- who was it that couldn't put aside a petty fight to be with his best friend when he needed company the most?"

"Remus didn't want me there last night. Remus doesn't even look at me anymore. He is the one pissed off at me."

"And you still haven't explained to him what happened. Sirius no matter if he wanted you there or not he needed you there!"

"Autumn listen to me." He spoke softly approaching her slowly. "I didn't dare go near him last night when he was human or wolf because I'm scared of him Autumn. At any given time the wolf can take over and he can go rampaging about the school in a fit of rage. I was scared that he might snap. You don't know the wolf like me, Remus can go from zero to evil beast in half a second. I am afraid to talk to him because he'd hurt me, he might even hurt you." Autumn froze in shock. Sirius was scared? He put his hands on her shoulders. "Autumn you are the sister I've always dreamed of having. I don't want you to get hurt. Especially by the man that is so blindly in love with you! Jealousy can turn him if anything can jealousy can turn him."

"No, he's not like that if you just spoke-"

"Don't you understand me Autumn?" he said shaking her soulders gently. "He will snap. He has too much going on. You freaked him out this morning he thought he bit you last night. He knows you were there. He's worried about you; he's worried about the ball. He's pissed off at me, at himself, at Snape, and at Willow. He thinks James hates him because James won't meet his eye now and he doesn't know what the hell to do. Believe me the LAST thing we want to do is talk to him. I told you the other day I know how to fix it. Go to the ball with me on Saturday please. I'm begging you."