All thinking is put in brackets.
Long Time Love
Chapter 11
"Come in," she heard him call out. She was going to see him again. Her heart was racing as she reached for the door handle. Turning it she opened the door and went inside.
"Professor Lupin?" She asked, not sure that this was even him.
"Be right with you", she heard his reply.
Waiting for him to finish what he was doing gave her the perfect opportunity to study him. His sandy hair was speckled with grey and even with his head bent she could see that we was sporting a moustache. Long graceful fingers flew over the parchment, almost dancing with the quill he was holding. He didn't look too healthy, like he hadn't eaten properly for a long time. (Look who's talking) she told herself. His shabby robe hung off him like an old potato sack.
"Right, what can I do…?"
As he looked up Kate saw the scars that ran across his face and she knew that it really was him. She took a step towards him, half of her wanting to throw her arms around his neck and thank Merlin that she had found him again, and the other half wanting to slap him for deserting her in her hour of need. But something in his eyes stopped her. She saw the colour drain from his face and his hands went to grip the edge of his desk.
"What's the matter Moony?" She heard herself say. "You look like you've seen a ghost".
The moment the words were out of her mouth she knew how stupid they sounded. The look on his face also told her that it was definitely the wrong thing for her to say.
"Who are you?" He whispered.
"Remus?" Kate was confused. (He hasn't seen you for 19 years you dummy, of course he isn't going to recognise you straight away.)
"I said who are you?" He demanded. Standing up and drawing his wand, he aimed it directly at her.
"Remus, you're scaring me." Whatever reaction she was expecting, it certainly wasn't this. Anyway, shouldn't it be her getting mad? "It's me, Kate."
"Don't come any closer." (It's not her,) he told himself. (Peter told me that she was dead. Her body had been found 19 years ago, it's not her. But what if it is? What if Peter was lying back then? He had got James and Lily killed, then had Sirius framed and sent to Azkaban. It's possible.) No, it wasn't her. Who ever this was had come to finish him off, to destroy what little sanity he had left.
"You're not Kate. Kate's dead. Don't lie to me, tell me who you are." He yelled.
(He thought I was dead? That's why he didn't come for me.) She thought, everything clicking into place.
She could see his wand hand shaking.
(Oh Gods, he's going to kill me,) she thought suddenly, fighting the rising panic in her throat. (Think Kate, think.) What could she say or do to make him see? (How about the truth?) Kate walked backwards until she met the wall then slid to the floor.
"My name is Katelyn Parker. I am 38 years old. I was kidnapped 19 years ago by a man named Peter Pettigrew, someone I considered to be my friend. He was working for Voldemort. I was used as a toy for them for… I don't know how long it was. They abused and humiliated me and when I wasn't needed I was locked away in a room with no source of light. They told me you were dead. I suppose to destroy any hope I might have of you coming to save me. They would take me out when they got bored. They would have their way with me and beat me. When they were done they would lock me away again, give me enough time to heal and then it would start all over again.
"Then one day Peter came to see me. He said that they were going to kill James and Lily and something about a prophecy. They never came back. I don't remember much after that. I was in there for years, until a man named Severus Snape found me. He got me out. He gave me a potion to make it look like I was dead.
"The next thing I remember after I was left to rot is being in St. Mungos, hence my, oh so fashionable attire. I went crazy; I couldn't even remember how to speak properly. Severus has been helping me for the past 3 years. I told him about you yesterday. He told me that he knew you. I made him bring me here. I needed to see for myself that you weren't gone."
At some point during her story Remus had lowered his wand but he wouldn't have been able to say when. Suddenly the door opened and a man of about 18 entered.
"Hey Moony, you got a minute?" He asked.
Kate looked up. "James?" She whispered, not able to believe her eyes.
The man looked down at the woman sat on the floor.
"Bit of a bad moment for me Harry," Remus said.
"Err, sure," Harry replied. "Sorry. I'll see you later." And taking one more look at Kate he backed out of the room.
Her whole story was enough to get him to listen but hearing her say that one word, that one name had made him really want to believe her.
She could see by the conflicting emotions on his face that it hadn't been enough, and she lowered her head in defeat. Then an idea came to her. It was a long shot but she didn't have much of a choice at this point. It was her last chance. She raised her head to look into his face.
"Moony," she said. "Come on Moony, come out to play. I know you want to."
"What are you doing?" Remus demanded.
"You want proof? I'm going to give you proof. If I'm not who I say I am, Moony will know. The wolf always knows his mate right?"
He looked at her as though she had completely lost her mind.
"Do it," she cried.
Remus closed his eyes. With the moon only a week away it wasn't too hard to get him to come to the surface. When he opened his eyes again she could see that it was no longer just Remus under there. He stood there for a moment, his nostrils flared, before walking slowly towards her. Kate was frightened. It had been so long. What if it didn't work? What if he didn't recognise her? It was too late to change her mind now. He had reached her by now and was stood looking down at her. Suddenly he reached down and grabbed her by the arms yanking her to her feet. He nudged her head to one side with his own and started sniffing her neck, his teeth dangerously bared. He then reached out with his tongue and gave her shoulder a tentative lick. Seconds later he had his arms wrapped around her, his face buried in her hair. It was at that moment that her legs finally gave up on her. They could no longer hold her weight and she began to slip through his arms. He carefully lifted her up, carried her through to his private rooms and placed her on the sofa. They sat together for a long time just holding each other, unable to let go.
Finally Kate broke the silence. "Do you want to hear something strange?"
"Sure," he said. "You can tell me anything."
"He never used magic on me,"
"Never?" he asked looking up at her.
"Never. He said that he didn't have to. That he was strong enough to beat me without it. I tried to fight him but it just got harder and harder. It's kind of odd really, a wizard like him not using his wand. I never thought about it before."
After a pause she said, "So, you're a professor now?"
"Yes," he replied. "I was here 5 years ago but it managed to get out about my lycanthrope. Actually I think Severus mentioned it on purpose. He always was jealous that I had got the job instead of him. Anyway, something inside of him must have felt guilty because he has spent the last 5 years getting me my job back. What Severus did has changed my life. Speaking of which." He raised himself from the sofa and took something from a draw. Returning, he had a look on his face that Kate didn't understand. "Getting my job back has meant that I am now recognised as a man, not just as a werewolf."
After a pause he said, "I have something that belongs to you."
He held his hand out to her and opened it. Laid on his open palm was a small box.
"What is it?" She asked, looking at first at the box then at Remus.
"Open it," he said with a smile.
With shaking fingers she picked the box up and looked at it for a moment before raising the lid. Inside was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.
"I don't understand," she said taking it out to admire it properly.
"I was going to give it to you the night you disappeared. I have carried it around with me ever since. I couldn't bear to get rid of it. It was the only link to you I had left." He took the ring from her and slipped it onto her finger. "I've been waiting a long time to do that," he said smiling.
They sat in silence before Kate spoke again. "That man? The one that came into your office? It wasn't James was it? It was Harry."
"Yeah," Remus replied. "He looks so much like his father, but with Lily's eyes. Wait there, I think I have a picture."
He got up and rummaged round for a moment before sitting back down and handing Kate a photograph. She gasped, her eyes flying open wide.
"The resemblance is uncanny."
"Isn't it just," he said smiling.
"Who's the girl?" she asked. "She looks just like…"
"Lilly," Remus finished off for her. "Her name is Ginny. She's Harry's girlfriend. It appears the Potter men have a thing for redheads."
"Will I get to meet them?" She asked.
"I certainly hope so," Remus said.
"You know," Kate began, staring at the photograph. "I almost feel like I've been given a second chance. Like I missed it all the first time so I'm going round again."
"I know that feeling," he said. "Come here."
And as he pulled her to him they lay back on the sofa safe in each others arms, free to live the past 19 years all over again.
Only this time everything was going to be different.
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THE END