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Chapter 19
Ariana was woke late in the afternoon a couple of days later by the bustling nurse. She allowed Madame Pomfrey to fuss over her before declaring she could leave. She got up happily and grabbed her bag before heading quickly out into the sunshine.
She smiled into the bright warm day and hurried across the grounds feeling more certain than she had in a week and a half. She knew what she had to do in order to move on and now she was free to do it.
"Ariana?" Dumbledore's voice came from a distance.
She turned quickly and spotted him walking purposefully toward her.
"I was just coming to see you. What are you doing out?" He asked.
"Madame Pomfrey released me." She explained.
"Very good. Where, may I ask, are you going?" He inquired.
"I need to go somewhere. I have to tend to something urgent." She said.
"Ahh. Does Remus know you're leaving?"
"Erm...no. Headmaster, I hate to ask you this but can you tell him? It's imperative that I leave at once."
"Well..." He trailed off, obviously uncomfortable with the idea.
"Oh thank you! Thank you very much." She said interrupted, pretending not to notice.
"Well..." He stammered again.
"You said you were coming to see me. Was there something you needed, Headmaster?"
"Indeed. I wanted to give you this." He answered, pulling himself together and handing her a book. She accepted it and stuffed it into her bag.
"I think it will help you in your journey." Dumbledore said ironically.
"I appreciate it." She replied distractedly as she glanced at her watch, desperate to leave before Remus' class let out. "And if you'll excuse me, I really must be off. Thanks for all your help. It's been immeasurably helpful."
"Good bye, Ariana. And good luck." He said to her retreating back. No. Remus is not going to be a happy man, he thought glumly as he turned to go back to the castle.
Remus had counted the minutes until the last bell rang and was now hurrying toward the hospital wing to see Ariana. He hustled across the ground, humming happily and thinking about the tremendous progress he'd made with her over the last three days.
It almost felt as it had before all the crap had come about. So much so that it filled him with the hope that everything would work itself out. I'm going to tell her I love her, he thought with determination.
He was whistling as he pushed the doors of the hospital wing open but it died on his lips when his eyes fell on her empty bed.
"Poppy?" He called urgently.
"Ahh, professor. Ariana's gone. Released her this afternoon." Madame Pomfrey said as she emerged from her office.
"Gone? Where?" He asked puzzled.
"I don't know. She left the grounds though. I saw her walk out the gates myself. She did talk to the Headmaster though. You might check with him." She suggested.
"Thanks." Remus called over his shoulder as he ran down the corridor with his robes billowing out behind him.
He continued running until he came to the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office. He said the password and took the stairs three at a time as they wound upwards and finally stopped at the landing of the office door. He knocked hard as he panted, trying to catch is breath.
"Come in." Albus called.
Remus thrust the door open and strode into the office.
"Hi. Albus where's Ariana?" He asked.
"Why don't you sit down, professor." Dumbledore said quietly and waited until Remus had sat.
"Ariana is no longer here. She had to leave." He explained.
"What do you mean she left?" Remus demanded loudly as he sat up straighter in his chair and whacked his hand on the arm.
"She said she had an urgent matter that needed tending to." Dumbledore explained patiently.
"She just went off without saying goodbye?" Remus asked in disbelief.
"Ariana asked me to tell you. It was a rather sudden matter, I think."
"And she couldn't wait until the final bell? She didn't even get released until this afternoon!" He said in exasperation as Dumbledore watched him silently.
Remus sat quietly for a moment as he wrestled with his options. He could either sit here and do nothing, watching life pass him by. Or he could go after his life, creating one, with Ariana.
"Albus? I have to go after her. There's something vital I have to tell her." Remus said pleadingly.
"I know Remus. Go." Dumbledore said understandingly.
"If I'm not back by Monday can someone cover my lessons?" Remus asked uncertainly.
"Of course. Take this with you. It will help you find her." Albus said as he handed him a book off his desk. "Now go."
Without another word Remus fled from the office and out the front gate. Determination coursing through his veins. He was hunting down his destiny, whether she liked it or not.