you all can hang me upside down off a bridge for taking so so long to update...for that I am tragically sorry. I was without a computer for two whole months, or something like that. this next chapter is crap, basically, is not finished and will be revised soon. but I wanted to get something up, so you didn't think I'd forgotten. I promise to be quicker next time...or this time or whatever. I am typing up the rest of chapter three, and most of four ASAP. thank you for your patience and enjoy.
oh and please check out Broken, my songficy that goes with the fic.
punkirish
Hang the Moon: Chapter Three
A week later Celeste M. Griffith strode into King's Cross, every belonging she ever cared for in a bag, slung over her shoulder. She still had no idea where she would get her supplies or her books; she'd just have to wing it. So she waited, waited for the person who had sent the letter, one M. McGonagall.
People rushed this way and that in hurry to get to their destination. Some, though, had tears streaming down their faces elated with such joy on seeing loved ones again after separation. Celeste wished she might one day have people or just a person she could feel that way about, care that much for, and who also cared that much in return. But she doubted it. Wishes were horses and she was merely a beggar out of luck.
"Miss Griffith?" A warm voice tugged from behind.
Spinning to greet the voice, she embraced the most unusual sight, well at least for King's Cross. An elderly woman wore sweeping green robes, ones like she remembered her mother owned once. A pair of spec's balanced on her nose, bore windows to two sparkling, warm eyes.
"Professor McGonagall, Miss Griffith, from Hogwarts."
"Oh, sorry, pleasure to meet you Professor."
"You as well, have you got all your things there?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, follow me."
Celeste followed Professor McGonagall to a place directly between platforms 9 and 10 in the station. In a swift movement the Professor strode towards the brick arch strut, as soon as she would have come in contact with the hard brick, she vanished. Celeste felt the pulsing of magic at her fingertips and followed the Professor. When she came out on the other side, a majestic train sparkled in front of her, the words Hogwart's Express immaculately painted in gold on the side. Celeste boarded the train with Professor McGonagall, and they were seated comfortably in one of the compartments.
"Miss Griffith?"
"Yes." Celeste glanced at the elderly woman swiftly before going back to prying her nails apart from her skin.
"This is all you have?" She gestured with a long graceful finger towards the bag that rested next to her.
"Yes."
"What about your books and supplies?"
Celeste worried her lips together before answering.
"I…didn't have time." Well, that was half of it, the other she would rather not disclose, the part about her lack of finances.
The slender witch smiled, and spread out her paper.
"Don't worry dear; we'll get it cleared up."
The castle had Celeste basking in rare awe and happiness. Striding across the foundation, she had the great urge to laugh, something she had not done in a very long time. She was in a castle, a great big castle. Like one out of the fairy stories her mother would read to her when she was little. She smiled and followed Mrs. McGonagall through the doors and until a great hall.
"This way Ms. Griffith, start of term hasn't begun yet but I wanted to you be sorted and comfortable before the rest get here."
She was led into an office, wherein Mrs. McGonagall pulled a dusty, olive skinned hat from a shelf.
"Now, I am going to put this on your head, and it will tell you what house you'll be in, during your stay at Hogwarts."
The hat fit snugly on her head. At the first sound of its voice Celeste jumped in surprise, but Mrs. McGonagall assured her that it was a talking hat.
"We can give you wings that will let you soar, but only will you find that treasure in GRYFFINDOR." The hat announced the last very loudly.
The witch smiled at Celeste before she spoke, "Good, good, that's my own house. I'll show you up."
The room was dark and Celeste liked it that way, she supposed when term started the other girls wouldn't, but for right now she was alone in the dark and that made her feel supremely comfortable. Mrs. McGonagall had led her up to the Gryffindor Common Room, and into the Girl's Dormitory, showing her the room she'd share with four other girls. She had also given her a schedule, and some elementary, introductory magic books. She also told her that she or another member of staff would come tomorrow after breakfast and take her to Diagon Alley to get a wand. McGonagall had also said she would have to take classes after hours with some of the staff and play catch up for the five years she had missed. In the dim Celeste scanned her course list again.
Potions with Professor Snape
Herbology with Professor Sprout
Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall
Defense against the Dark Arts with Professor Lupin
History of Magic with Professor Binns
Charms with Professor Flitwick
Maybe this would work, she dearly hoped it would.
Remus sauntered into the staff meeting, a new book he'd been reading cradle in his hand. He generally despised staff meetings, and did whatever he could to be free of them, but this was the start of term staff meeting and Albus had specifically asked if he would come. But that didn't mean he had to be prompt, but he was anyway. He took a seat next to Madame Pomfrey, and was about to delve into the next chapter of The Tombs of Atuan but Severus was giving him the death look again and McGonagall cleared her throat to speak.
"I shall begin with our new sixth year student Celeste Griffith…"
Remus closed his book and listened, the name caught his attention as it seemed very familiar.
"She is new to witchcraft and wizardry. We just found she was lost in the files when her letter should have been sent, we could not locate her. As we have now, she's been enrolled as a six year though extra lessons probably will be needed. I hope that you all will be flexible."
Nope, Remus couldn't remember why Griffith sounded so familiar. Remus gradually tuned out the rest of the meeting.
Celeste ripped herself out of the nightmare she was having. The sheets and the heavy comforter stuck with sickly sweat to her exposed skin. The darkness circled her, the moon waxed painting her pale skin bright white. The vision carried to her mind eye's made her flinch. A young man with shocking red hair was keeled over a chair, blood flowing freely from scars in her freckled, tanned back and his tears flowed blood red down chaffed cheeks. And she could do nothing to help him. Slowly Celeste got out of bed, sweat freezing instantly as the cold met her simmering skin. Celeste grabbed her robe and padded out. It looked like a nice night for a walk.
Remus couldn't sleep, or more he didn't want to. So he either drugged himself with vats of caffeinated drinks or took walks down the long dark hallways. Tonight was not an exception and because he was no restless he took to walking the down to the kitchens.
A young woman sat at one of the benches, her head I her hands, tea cup at her side. She must be the new student, Remus mused, as the rest will be here tomorrow. The moon cascaded off her dark hair that screened her face. He didn't want to disturb her so he left to find a better place to sulk.
The rest of the students are coming today, Celeste reminded herself as she bent over to scoop up the dirty clothes from the floor, and then threw them towards her hamper.
Her books had arrived first thing in the morning, a pile of leather bound texts stacked one after another out side the dorm door on the steps, with a meticulously written note.
Please take a look at the following. Due to your inexperience, extra classes will be scheduled for you. Please come to Classroom 312 for further instruction at 9 am tomorrow.
The books, unopened, now on her dresser had confused her; well the new wand sitting next to them was even more of a shock. What had Mr. Ollivander said, when Ms. McGonagall took her to get it, the willow wand with dragon heartstring and unicorn hair at it its core, "One of the only in existence. Very powerful." He had nodded knowingly then.
Cautiously Celeste picked up the first book, Introduction to Magic by Belinda Hardgreves; it was thick and looked secondhand by the tattered, dog-eared pages. She took it in her hands, her fingers running over the chipping, gold lettered on the battered leather spine.
It all felt so unreal, she was a witch, like her mother had been, and she was going to Hogwarts, the premier school for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her father was no where near, but it still felt odd, it was such a change.
Taking the book, Celeste left to wander the hall for a good place, to peruse the alien material.
Again the restlessness filtered into his limbs, and he such the urge to rip something apart that he had bruise his palms from squeezing fists so hard. He then subjected himself to find a quiet place to sit, maybe he would try to mediate, clear his mind maybe that would cure the rumbling through his blood.
Remus climbed the last stairwell up to the Forgotten Tower, or that's what he liked to call it, they named it that because of its state when he was a kid. The entire place had been abandoned, and its lack of use provided great hiding places. Remus had one particular favorite. It was in a slight alcove, far from prying eyes and had a lovely view of the grounds. Except when he got there someone had beaten him to it.
"Uh, sorry…"
"No...god…sorry…ummm…I…ah…", the young girl, woman really from the kitchens he'd seen that one lonely night, looked up from the fringe of her hair and smiled shyly, "I…ah…it's Celeste, am I in your spot?"
She was frantically gathering things, before Remus could stop her.
"Professor Lupin, and please don't leave on account of me I'll just find somewhere to sit."
She looked up and her blue eyes meet with his golden brown, and for a moment the world halted. It had been a long time sine anyone had looked him straight in the eye, and it frightened him a little, the blue eyed boring, as if she would find out about his affliction just by looking. She flinched away, a silent earthquake rippling through her.
"There's room enough for two."
To Be Continued...
