ROTRUFIN

CHAPTER TWO-SHREDDED

The castle was warm inside except the hallways. A blanket of old snow stuck around the lake. I hugged the cloak tighter around me.

I felt tears stinging in my eyes. A cold gust of wind came up whipping my hair around my face.

I sensed someone behind me. It was Remus. He was wearing a concerned expression.

"Are you okay, Emma?" he asked softly as he stood beside me.

"Yeah," I muttered folding my arms against my chest. "I just really thought he'd ask me…that's all."

"He's a fruit," Remus said firmly. "He doesn't realize what he's missing."

My lip twitched at that.

I began feeling better now.

"Thanks," I said brightening. "You're right. So, is that offer to go with you still available?"

Remus grinned.

"Of course,"

"Good," I said beaming. "Then it's settled."

We headed back into the Hall.

When we entered, James, Lily and Sirius looked up.

"Everything okay?" Lily asked looking from me to Remus.

"Yeah," Remus said nodding.

I sat down and began eating happily.

REMUS.

I was so relieved now. Emma was going with me to the Ball. Of course, there was still that nagging part of me that kept reminding me that the only reason she was going was because Scott was already going with someone.

Still, it was better than going alone.

I looked up from my bacon and eggs. Emma was whispering to Lily.

Lily glanced at me before returning her eyes back onto Emma.

They were obviously talking about you…but what could they be saying? I mused feeling a bit edgy now.

I checked myself over, wondering if I had some piece of food stuck somewhere or something.

Nothing.

I began feeling a bit unnerved now.

They kept whispering.

Sirius leaned close now.

"They're talking about you, you know," he said smirking.

"Duh," I snapped.

"Relax," Sirius said calmly. "It's nothing bad."

"How do you know?"

"Trust me…we've known Emma for four or five years now. I don't think she would start bad mouthing you now," Sirius said.

I just sighed.

"Besides, there's nothing bad about you. You don't have a nasty streak in you." Sirius continued.

I nodded and continued to eat my breakfast.

The bell rang, ending breakfast. We headed to Potions class next.

Professor Anicks was already in the classroom. She smiled when we entered.

"Good morning," she said pleasantly. "Time for a pop quiz."

"Aw man!" James moaned plopping into his chair. "I knew it!"

Lily burst out laughing and sat down. Emma sat down next to her. I sat down next to James and Sirius was sitting behind us with another Gryffindor named Claire Travis.

"I asked you guys this morning!" James wailed burying his head into his arms.

"Relax, Mr. Potter," Professor Anicks said smiling amusedly. "They wouldn't have been able to tell you anything because I've just decided to give you one now."

James sighed and took out his quill. We all did.

She handed out the test papers.

"You may begin as soon as you get the paper,"

I looked up. We were sitting behind Emma and Lily. Emma began writing on the paper. She looked so pretty.

Suddenly, I saw her expression change. I studied her closely. It looked like she was having trouble with a question.

"I've got to step out of the class for a moment," Professor Anicks said. "Mr. Lupin, you're in charge."

With that she left.

Emma was still frowning over the quiz.

"Pssst," I whispered.

Emma glanced over her shoulder.

"What?" she whispered.

"Having trouble?" I whispered.

Sirius raised his head but said nothing.

"Yeah," Emma said nodding. "Question 12…about the Simorax. Can you give me the answers?"

I scanned my test paper. Professor Anicks wanted us to tell her the difference between Simorax and Velotin, plants that were used for headaches. But the teacher wanted specific details.

I quickly wrote the answers down on a piece of paper and pushed it toward her. Sirius' eyes were wide, but again he said nothing.

Emma sneakily took it and began writing down the answers.

"Mr. Lupin! Were you cheating?" Professor Anicks voice boomed from the doorway. I froze, not daring to breathe.

"Um…" I stammered.

"Come with me. Frankly, I'm surprised at you…a Prefect!" she sounded disappointed. "Get your things…we're going to the Headmaster. Tear up your test paper."

Very slowly, I tore up the parchment and gathered my things. All eyes were on me as I stood up and left the Potions classroom.

EMMA.

I just kept my head nearly buried in my arm as I wrote the answers down.

"Emma," Lily said to me once Professor Anicks and Remus had left. "You've got to tell them that it wasn't Remus cheating…it was you."

"I can't," I muttered.

"Why not?" Lily demanded.

"You wouldn't understand," I mumbled.

"What wouldn't I understand? You're about to let Remus possibly get expelled for helping you cheat?" Lily cried.

"FORGET IT OKAY?" I snapped as I threw down my quill and left the classroom.

LILY.

I looked at Emma scandalized. I couldn't believe she would let Remus take the blame for this.

I looked back at Sirius and James. They too, were just as shocked as I was.

Professor Anicks returned to the classroom without Remus.

"Hand in your test papers please," she said. She froze. "Where's Miss Gibson?"

"Erm, she had a bathroom emergency," Sirius said quickly.

Professor Anicks nodded.

"What's going to happen to Remus?" James asked.

"Professor Dumbledore is dealing with him now," she replied.

"Is he going to get expelled?" Sirius asked.

"It's up to the headmaster," Professor Anicks said shortly. "Pass up the papers."

Silently, we all handed in our papers. I grabbed Emma's paper too.

After Potions, we headed to Charms. Emma still hadn't returned to class.

"Where is she?" I asked worriedly.

Professor Gray was teaching us the Avadante Charm. It was used to momentarily freeze someone…literally.

"Maybe you should go and look for her," Sirius said.

I raised my hand and asked Professor Gray to be excused. I left the classroom.

I searched around and finally found her in the library. She was leaning against the wall near the window staring out it. She was biting her lip.

"Hey you," I said. "What's going on?"

Emma just shook her head and didn't reply. I saw a faint glimmer of tears in her eyes.

"Look, I'm sorry I snapped at you…but you really should go and tell someone the truth before Remus does get expelled," I said sighing.

Emma didn't reply again.

"What's going on with you?" I asked tilting my head. "Is something wrong?"

Emma just turned her back and stared out the window.

"Fine," I said briskly. "When you're ready to talk, you know where to find me. I don't think Remus would appreciate being wrongfully accused."

With that, I turned and left the library.

REMUS.

I stood in front of Professor Dumbledore in his office. I nervously clasped my hands behind my back.

He was peering at me behind his half moon spectacles.

"Remus," he said quietly. I could hear disappointment in his tone which only made me feel worse. "I can't believe you were cheating…plus, you changed in the common room. You could've hurt someone. Why didn't you go to the shack?"

I looked at him stunned.

"I have my ways of knowing," he said smiling.

I sighed.

"I didn't have time to go to the shack because I was already changing. I remember what I did clearly. I didn't hurt anyone. Because I was afraid that if I got that question wrong I would fail the test and I didn't want to," I said quietly.

I didn't tell him it was Emma who had asked me for help.

Professor Dumbledore sighed.

"Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to be punished for cheating," he said standing up from his seat behind his desk.

"I'll go get my stuff," I said miserably and went to turn to leave, but Dumbledore gently put a hand on my shoulder. I stopped and turned back to look at him.

"I'm not expelling you," he said softly. "But you will have two weeks detention, which I'm afraid means no Christmas Ball."

I gave him a grateful smile.

"Thanks,"

"Please remember to go to the shack to change okay? I know you wouldn't want to hurt anyone but suppose someone saw you other than Miss Evans and Miss Gibson?"

I nodded.

He let go of my shoulder and I turned and left Dumbledore's office.

Lily met me in the corridor. She looked angry.

"What's wrong?" I asked immediately.

"Emma," she growled. "Acting weirdly."

"Weirdly? How?" I asked curiously.

"I told her how she should go and tell Dumbledore that it was her that was actually cheating. She wouldn't and just left the classroom," Lily said.

"That' odd, but I'm not expelled. I just have two weeks detention," I replied.

"Oh!" Lily said as a wave of relief rolled over her…but then realization dawned on her face. "That means you're going to miss the Ball!"

I nodded.

"Beats being expelled," she sighed.

"You got that right," I said nodding.

We headed back to the common room.

Emma avoided us oddly for the next few days. She wouldn't eat with us at the Gryffindor table. Sirius was actually getting worried about her.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked leaning forward.

"We're not sure but I'm worried about her too," Lily said biting her bottom lip.

"She's acting like she's constipated," James muttered.

I sighed.

"Well, I for one am not going to sit here and ignore her,"

With that, I got up and walked over to Emma.

"Hi. Mind if I sit?" I asked softly.

"Meh," Emma said shrugging.

I took a seat next to her.

"Professor Dumbledore pulled me into his office," I explained grabbing a breakfast roll. I saw Emma's expression fall. "I'm not expelled, but I have to serve detention for two weeks. It means missing the Christmas Ball."

Emma slowly raised her eyes to mine. I looked directly into her eyes.

"I'm so sorry I asked for the answers," she said quietly. "I never meant for you to get into trouble."

I leaned close, putting my face close to hers.

"Why can't you tell Professor Dumbledore the truth? I'm sure he'll understand," I said softly.

Emma's lower lip began trembling. I waited patiently for her to explain.

"I'm s-sorry," she said in a shaky voice. "I can't tell you."

I sighed.

"Meaning you don't know or you really can't tell?"

"I really can't tell,"

"Fine," I said.

"I understand if you all hate me now," Emma said even quieter.

I looked at her stunned.

"I don't hate you," I said gently and softly. "I totally understand. You tell me when you're ready. I'm not pressuring you into anything okay? We're best friends. We've got to trust each other completely."

Emma's honey brown eyes had tears in them. "I'm sure Lily, James and Sirius hate me huh?"

"No," a voice said from behind me.

Emma and I looked up.

Lily, James, and Sirius stood behind me.

Lily ran around the table and threw her arms around Emma.

"You tell us when you're ready okay? I'm sorry for snapping at you like that," Lily said gently.

"Lily, if you squeeze Emma any harder you're going to squeeze the poo out of her," Sirius said.

Emma laughed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands.

"And we're sorry we snapped at you, Sirius," Lily said turning to him next.

"When did you snap at me?" he asked confused.

"Earlier about leaving Emma alone,"

"Tis okay," Sirius said. "I did go a bit overboard. Sorry, Em."

Once we all made sure that we were good to go, we headed to classes.

Our first class was History of Magic. Professor Dawes taught it. She began telling us about the Corvil Revolt of 1499.

Emma was sitting next to me now. She began copying down the notes that Professor Dawes had written on the blackboard.

I still cared deeply about her. I knew she didn't mean to get me into trouble, but a part of me was still very curious as to why she couldn't tell Dumbledore the truth. Something was definitely up.

I studied her for a bit before returning my eyes onto my own notes.

Just then, Professor McGonagall came into the classroom. She looked pale and sick.

"I'm sorry to interrupt class, Georgia," she said to Professor Dawes. "But there's been a murder."

"A murder?" James asked alert now.

"Amy Groves, a Ravenclaw. She was shredded beyond recognition,"

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Hey

For those that have been reading "Arynyck" I've decided to pull it off because I wasn't happy with the way it was going. Sorry! J I hope you're all enjoying this story.

As most of you know, I write werewolves differently. I hope you all keep reading. Please don't flame though. J. I appreciate it.

Thanks a bunch!

Just as a small glimpse into this fic, the whole background will have a "Star Warsish" plot, but I promise a happy ending! grins

Emma Barrows.