Chapter 18: House-wide Hangover
"Morning mates!!" James said perkily as he joined his friends in the great hall for breakfast.
"Morning…" Sirius grumbled.
"Oy, what are you so grumpy about, Mr. cranky pants?" James asked.
"What are you so perky about?" Sirius retorted.
James sighed. "Well," he began, as he began to butter his toast, "I got to snog Lily last night…I finally made it with her…slept so soundly last night…that's plenty to be perky about! So what's eating you, Padfoot?"
"Hmm…about the opposite, I'd say…"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, things were moving along pretty smoothly last night between Dominique and myself…actually, last night was probably supposed to be the night.."—
"You mean you guys haven't even shagged"—
"We were gonna!!" Sirius said testily, "we were definitely heading that way, til you decided to come in…"
"Prongs…you ought to be ashamed of yourself!" Remus said, smiling. "Ruining Sirius's chance of a lifetime!"
"Hey! Not MY chance of a lifetime…really, it would have been Dominique's if anything…but all the same, yes, he ruined it…" Sirius answered.
James chuckled. "Well, serves you right, mate. You shouldn't be attempting to get laid in our dormitory anyway…that's just not right…don't you think, Moony? Wormtail?"
"Here, here!" Remus and Peter said together.
James smirked at Sirius, who in return rolled his eyes in irritation as he went back to his breakfast.
"Boy, you don't look well, Moony…full moon's tonight, isn't it?" James asked, looking up at Remus's now pale complexion.
Remus nodded. "Yea, it's tonight…which means I should be heading to the hospital wing soon…"
"Hey, you guys wanna go through the forest again tonight? We got pretty close to the other end of it last time." James said.
"Oh God, no…" Peter said, "all those spiders…"
Remus rolled his eyes. "Really Wormtail, how many times do we have to tell you, they don't prey after rats!"
"I know…but still!! They've got all those freaking legs…" Peter whined, shuttering at the thought.
"Oh geez, you'll be fine!" Sirius said, "if you want, you can just ride on my back, or James's, if you're really that freaked out…"
"Hey look Moony! There's your giiirlfriend!!" James gushed, putting an annoying emphasis on the word girlfriend.
Remus looked towards the entrance and saw Kierra walking in with her friends, and his stomach seemed to do a back flip. She was his girlfriend now, he thought, grinning. What a nice thought. He smiled at her and waved, motioning her to join him and his friends.
"Aww…look at him! He's so happy to see you!" Dominique cooed. "he's so cute!"
Kierra blushed. This all seemed so surreal. She woke up this morning, asking Dominique if she had really been locked up in a closet with Remus Lupin, and if in fact they had really gotten together, just to make sure it was all real.
"I still can't believe you locked them in a closet together" Alice said to Dominique with a laugh.
"I still can't believe she spiked my drink!" Lily grumbled.
The others giggled. "Lighten up," Dominique replied, "you had fun last night, just admit it."
"I made a fool of myself! And I'm head girl! People are going to be talking…"
"No one's going to talk!"
"How do you know?"
"Well, when I invited everyone, I gave them R.S.V.P cards, and I jinxed them, so that if they signed it and returned it to me, they automatically cannot say anything…we'll know if they do…" Dominique said with a mischievous smile.
"What would happen?"
"They'd grow bald…"
"Wicked…" Kierra and Alice said together.
"Morning ladies!" James said sweetly as the girls took seats with the boys. "Morning Lily…" he said, blushing slightly.
"Morning Potter…" Lily answered without even looking up at him. Slightly crestfallen at her cold reply, but too scared to ask what her problem was, James went back to his breakfast.
"Hi Remus…" Kierra said shyly as she sat down next to him. He smiled back, just as timidly, if not more.
"aww!!" James began again. "Look at you two!!"
"Shut it James…" Remus said.
"Why is everyone so bloody cranky today?" James huffed, as he rocked back and forth moodily in his seat.
"After-party affects, I'd have to say…" Sirius said. "I mean, look at half our table…"
The group looked around and noticed that indeed, about half the Gryffindor table, the older students, all looked tired and fatigued, and several looked quite ill.
"Oh gosh.." Lily murmured. "Think McGonagall will be suspicious?"
Professor McGonagall observed the Gryffindor table from the head table as she sipped on her morning coffee. There was something dodgy about her students this morning. Everyone looked sick. No, not everyone. Just the older students…Professor McGonagall glanced down the rows of students to observe…4th years and up…very suspicious.
"Good heavens…" she gasped as the puzzle seemed to piece perfectly together.
"Something wrong, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked, glancing up at her from his Belgian waffles.
"Insufferable!" she hissed. "Most appalling…"
"What, may I ask, is so appalling to you, professor McGonagall?" Dumbledore inquired. "Certainly not these waffles? They've absolutely divine…"
"underage drinking…" professor McGonagall answered, not looking away from the Gryffindor table.
"I'm sorry?"
"Look at lot of them!" she hissed, "sick and pallid looking!"
"Now, now Minerva…there's a bug going around, you know…"
"4th years and up! Not a single student under 4th year is looking sick…they must have had a party last night! It makes so much sense!"
Dumbledore smiled. "Don't you think people would be able to hear if there was a party?"
"Nonsense! You know as well as I do that these older students know plenty of magic"—
"Now Minerva," Dumbledore said, with a hint of amusement in his voice, "I daresay, you are overreacting a bit…you have no means of proving your case…"
"Vertiserum…" she suggested.
"Ah, the truth potion," Dumbledore said sagely, "is illegal to use without ministry consent…professor McGonagall, I'd like to ask you," he said with a smile as he got up to leave with the other professors, "to just remember what it's like to be a blossoming youth…in the prime of your life…"
"Oh, honestly, Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall began as she also got up. "You really can be"— She turned around to face him, but he was gone. 'way too soft with the students sometimes…' she thought irritably to herself.
"I just don't get why she still hates me…" James said miserably, as they walked up to the common room hours later. "I thought we really hit it off last night…"
"You guys were making out…" Dominique said with a smile.
"If that's not hitting it off, I don't know what is…"
"Did you guys even talk much?"
"No, not really…we were both pretty drunk, you know…"
"Exactly…that's probably why she's still not softened up to you," Dominique answered, "you two haven't connected yet!"
"Er…what?"
Dominique rolled her eyes. "You know…like friends! You two have never had a serious, real conversation, have you?"
"No…" James muttered, "but…but she won't let me!"
"Have you even tried? I mean, to talk with her…not just to ask her out…"
"No…" James muttered again. "Fidelius…" The portrait door swung open and James and Dominique went through.
"Well, there you have it, James…you need to be friends with her first…that way, she'll trust you…and after that I bet you could ask her out."
"You think so?"
"Definitely…so for now, just lay off on the dating thing…and…just be her friend…"
"Right…I can do that!" James said excitedly. "Just treat her like a friend? Treat her like Sirius, or Remus, or"—
"Er, no…" Dominique interrupted, "she's a girl…so you've got to be much nicer, and much more considerate…"
"right…" James said with a determined face, "I can do that…"
"great," Dominique said with a grin, "here's your chance…"
James glanced up to see Lily coming through the portrait hole, followed by Kierra and Remus, who came arm in arm with each other, followed by Sirius and Peter.
"Remus, honestly, you don't look well…are you sure you're ok??" Kierra said, "you should go to the hospital wing…have Madam Pomfrey check you out…"
"It's nothing," Remus said, "but I'll go anyway…"
Dominique nudged James, who immediately got out of his seat and looked nervously at Lily.
"Hey Lily…erm…I…I…er…." He stuttered. Lily looked at him questioningly.
"I…er…had some propositions for the next prefects meeting…can I go over them with you sometime?" he asked suddenly. 'I have propositions?' he thought to himself, 'shit, no I don't…oh shit…'
"Er…ok…whenever…" Lily said.
"great…" James said, sitting back down. 'bloody great,' he thought, 'now I've got to think of some bloody propositions…'
"Well, I'll be off now," Remus said, a bit wearily. "Bye guys" He looked at Kierra, who looked at him with worried eyes. 'She deserves to know…' he thought. "And I'll see you, later.." he said with a weak smile as he leaned in to kiss her. Kierra smiled back, but stopped shortly when she realized everyone was watching them.
"How about I just walk you to the hospital wing, and we'll say bye there…" Kierra said, taking Remus's hand and leading him out towards the portrait hole.
"Aww, we wanted to watch you guys!!" James whined, bouncing up and down on the couch. "Oh well…there they go…" he said, as they disappeared out of the common room.
"They are sooo cute together!" Dominique said as she leaned against Sirius's chest.
"Yes, but even combined, they still aren't as cute as you alone" Sirius replied.
Dominique blushed as James and Lily said "awww…." together.
Sirius and Dominique grinned at the two while Lily scowled at James and headed up to the girls dormitory.
"She's a cold one, isn't she?" Sirius said, as he watched Lily's retreating figure.
Dominique smiled as she got up to follow her friend upstairs. "Just a bit…" she said.
"Lily, anyone ever tell you what a sweet, agreeable girl you are?" Dominique asked as she came into the dormitory.
Lily smiled. "Yea, all the time…"
"Well, not with Potter.."
"He's a git!"
Dominique smirked. "Then why'd you stick your tongue down his throat last night?"
"Well…had you not contaminated my drink…and had I not been so drunk…" she began.
"Oh, come off it!" Dominique said, "He really likes you Lily, you should give him a chance! He's the sweetest boy…"
"That's just it!" Lily said, "he's a boy!"
"Er…as opposed to…a girl? Ugh Lily, don't tell me you go that way"—
"No!!" Lily retorted with a slight look of revulsion, "as opposed to…a man! He's so childish, D! If he would just grow up…and act mature…"
"Lily, you can find the manliest man…and he'll still have boyish tendencies…that's how the male species is…I mean look at Sirius…he's a man…but he acts like a boy too at times…"
"Yes, well that's Sirius. James acts like a boy ALL the time…"
Dominique sighed. "Yes, well…I suppose that's true…"
"Just leave it alone…please…" Lily said.
"Alright…"
"By the way," Lily said, hoping to change the subject, "you never told us what happened with you and Sirius…"
"Er…what happened with us?"
"I mean, at the party! I saw him take you up to his room! You two didn't"—
Dominique sighed. "No, we didn't…James came in…when were just kissing, so we couldn't go further than that, thank God…"
"You're glad that you guys didn't?" Lily asked with surprise.
"Yea…" Dominique replied with a slight look of despair, "I dunno how I feel about it…I mean, I really like him…I kinda want to do it with him…but…I'm kind of scared…oh gosh, I feel so pathetic…talking about being scared of sex…"
"It's not pathetic!" Lily said, "especially after what happened…with…well, your ex…you've got every right to be hesitant about it….by the way, have you even told Sirius about that yet?"
"Er…no…'
"D!!"
Dominique groaned. "Well, when's there ever going to be the right time to tell him?? Over a meal? In class, passing notes? Anyway I don't want him thinking I'm weak…"
"You're not weak…"
Dominique rolled her eyes. "If I were strong, nothing would've happened to me…"
Just then, the door opened and Kierra came in, looking worried.
"Kierra, what's wrong?" Dominique asked, relieved that they could change the subject.
Kierra frowned at the girls as she sat on her bed. "I'm worried about Remus…"
"Why? He just looks a little unwell…it'll pass…" replied Dominique.
"Yes, but…I'm worried, because he gets sick all the time…I've been his stalker for over a year…and I noticed that he gets sick a lot…shoot, I'd say no less than once a month…" Kierra said.
Dominique opened her mouth to say something, but seemed to think better of it, and closed it.
"Yea, that's true…" Lily said, who was in deep thought. "Actually, he's been like that forever…since first year…and he disappeared a lot too…"
"Dominique," Kierra said, "you knew him when he was little, did he ever get"--
"Guys," Dominique cut in, "maybe he's just got some condition…that…I dunno, causes him to get sick a lot…who knows…but I don't think we should dwell on it…it's his business…"
"But"— Kierra protested.
"Come on, if he wanted us to know, he'd tell us. Anyway, how would you find out, just asking him? That'd be kind of rude…" Dominique said, glancing at her wristwatch. "Hey, I gotta go, got quidditch practice in a few minutes. I'll see you guys later" and with that, Dominique bolted out the room.
Kierra turned to Lily. "Have you got the feeling that she already knows what's wrong with Remus?"
Lily nodded. "Think about it. She's known him her whole life…and she's kept in touch with him when he moved away from her…of course she'd know…but…what could be so bad about Remus that they'd keep it so secret?"
"I dunno," Kierra said as she got up, "I'm gonna visit Remus though. I won't ask him anything!" she said defensively as Lily gave her an appraising look. "I just want to see him!
"Alright, go see him…but no funny business! You understand?" Lily said, in a mimicking voice that sounded uncannily like Professor Keifer.
"Wow, Kierra…you really spoil me…" Remus said with a weak smile as Kierra placed a bouquet of wild flowers in a vase on his nightstand. "You make me feel like a queen, honestly!"
Kierra giggled as she pulled a small bundle out of her bag. "Well, your highness, that's not all…here.." she said as she placed the bundle on his lap.
"Eclairs!" Remus exclaimed as he opened it up. "I love éclairs, they're my favorite! How'd you know I liked them?"
Kierra grinned. "I've had a crush on you since sixth year…I know plenty about your likes and dislikes."
Remus eyes widened slightly as did his smile. "Since sixth year? Are you serious?"
Kierra laughed. "Yea…"
"So tell me…what else do you know about me?" Remus asked, as he popped an éclair into his mouth.
"Well," Kierra began, as she took a seat on his bed, "I know that you hate ice cream…which I totally don't get…but ok…"
"it's just too cold! It hurts my teeth!" Remus said with a laugh.
Kierra rolled her eyes. "Whatever…ok…um…oh, I know you prefer briefs to boxers! Don't ask…how I know is a professional secret!" she added with a grin as Remus looked at her questioningly. "Oh, I also know that you like to study at that one little table in the library, on the second floor…by the big window…"
Remus grinned. "Yea, I do…wait…hold on…" he said, putting a finger to his lips as he thought. "Last year…on several occasions…I remember seeing a pair of brown eyes…behind the bookshelves…oh my…those were your eyes! I knew I wasn't crazy for always thinking I was being watched!! You stalked me??" he asked incredulously, looking like he was about to burst from laughter.
Kierra giggled and blushed furiously. "Yea, I was your stalker…"
Remus sighed. "Well, that's kind of a relief…I had the strangest suspicion it was that boy in 5th year hufflepuff…Edgar…"
Kierra laughed. "You thought it was him?? Why??"
"He's got the same eyes as you…and he looks kinda like the type…who'd…like other guys…" Remus said with a sheepish smile.
"Oh good grief…" Kierra giggled. "he's straight…he has a girlfriend…"
"Oh, ok..glad to hear it…" he said as he smiled at Kierra. His facial suddenly changed though into one that was looking critically at Kierra. "You know," he started again, "I feel kind of guilty that I hardly know anything about you…"
"Oh, you'll learn more about me in good time, I'm sure…" Kierra said.
Remus grinned as a fresh thought flickered through his head.
"Well, one thing I want to get clarified by you…I heard this one rumor…"
"About me?"
"Yea…do you really do dance in your dormitory with your friends?" he asked with a grin.
Kierra blushed. "Oh gosh…you heard me saying that at the party last night, didn't you?"
Remus nodded. "So, I mean, do you all just get up on your beds and do it…the same way Lily and Dominique were doing it? Or do you do some other sorts of exotic dancing…?"
Kierra smiled embarrassedly. "That's for me to know…"
"And for me to find out?"
"We'll see…" she said with a grin. "Oy, Dominique! You're here! How was practice?" Kierra asked as Dominique walked into the hospital wing.
"It was good," replied Dominique. "How are you doing Remus?"
"Just fine…"
"Hey, I've got to get going," Kierra said, picking up her bag, "I promised Alice that I'd study with her today. I'll see you." She said, leaning in to kiss Remus.
"Well, bye guys!" she said as she went out the door.
Remus sighed as he watched Kierra leave, but quickly snapped out of his trance when he saw that Dominique was smirking at him.
"What??" he asked.
"You're in looove…" Dominique squealed.
Remus's mouth dropped open slightly in surprise. "I am not in love…I just…really like her…"
Dominique grinned. "Right, whatever…listen, I actually needed to talk to you about her."
Remus sat up quickly in his bed. "Why? What happened? Is she ok?"
"Yea, she's fine…it's just that she's worried about you…she's noticed that you always get sick…about every month…"
"Are you serious?"
Dominique nodded. "Remus, you ought to tell her."
Remus looked at Dominique as if she were insane. "Are you kidding me? No way!"
"You can't hide it from her forever!"
"I know…I know…but I can't tell her now…I just started going out with her…I'm not about to scare her away…"
"You won't scare her away, Remus!" Dominique protested. "She'll be understanding, I know she will!"
Remus shook his head. "No…not now…maybe I'll tell her later"—
"The longer you wait, the worse it'll be"—
"Miss Fiore, I'm going to have to ask you to leave now!" came the voice of Madam Pomfrey. "Mr. Lupin really needs to rest…he's…unwell"—
"She knows about my condition Madam Pomfrey…" Remus interrupted.
"Oh! Well then…I'm sure you'll understand then…he's got a long night ahead of him. He needs his rest!" Madam Pomfrey said to Dominique.
"Right…bye then Remus" Dominique said as she turned to leave.
Later that evening, Remus walked to the shrieking shack with Madam Pomfrey's help.
"Alright dear," she said as she helped him onto the bed in the dingy shack. "Nothing left to do but wait. I'm going to head back to the castle now. Will you be alright?"
"Yes, thanks Madam Pomfrey." Remus answered weakly. With that, Madam Pomfrey quickly left the shrieking shack, before the full moon would come out.
As soon as she left, Remus began to pull his robes off, not wanting them to rip them during his transformation.
As he folded up his clothes and hid them under the bed, where he couldn't reach them as a werewolf, he thought about his conversation with Dominique. He had to tell Kierra sooner or later. But how would she react? Would she still like him, or would she be repulsed by him; a half breed….Sure, his friends had been more than understanding…but they were guys…Kierra was a girl….she would react completely different…she would think him a monster… 'Well, I am a monster…once a month…' he thought miserably.
Soon, however, his thoughts of Kierra were forgotten as the moon showed its face through the clouds, and his body began to fill with painful convulsions.
"Gregory!" Kierra hissed, as she ran down the steps, chasing after Alice's pet toad. 'Oh gosh…she's gonna kill me if I lose her toad again…' Kierra thought as she chased it down the empty halls. Just then, the clock struck. 'Shit..' Kierra thought. "9 o'clock…I shouldn't be out here…Come on Gregory…' Kierra held her breath and lunged for the toad, catching it by the legs. "Gotcha…" she whispered.
Just then, she heard footsteps. 'Shit…Filch…' Kierra thought anxiously as she looked around frantically for a place to hide.
Left with no other choice, Kierra quickly hid behind a suit of armor that stood against the wall. The footsteps came closer, but she saw no one…but she could hear whispering.
"You stepped on my foot!" someone hissed.
"Sorry Padfoot…" someone whispered back.
'Padfoot….Padfoot…where have I heard that?' Kierra thought. Suddenly it clicked. The marauder's map…So it must have been…but how could they be there…and…not there…?
"Ok, I think we're getting tangled…' a third voice whispered. 'let's readjust the cloak, no one's here…' and suddenly as if by magic, Sirius, Peter and James materialized in front of her. 'How did they do that??' Kierra thought. But her question was answered immediately when she saw James arranging a cloak around them.
'invisibility cloak…' she thought. She smiled broadly and decided it couldn't hurt to show herself to them, and ask where they were going, when suddenly…
"Come on!" hissed Sirius, "Remus is waiting! He's probably torn down have the shrieking shack by now!"
Kierra almost stopped breathing at hearing this. Wasn't Remus supposed to be in the hospital wing, resting? Was Remus just faking sick? No…but then…why would he be in the shrieking shack? There was only one way to find out. Kierra tiptoed around the suit of armor and opened the face piece, and dropped Gregory inside. 'Please stay quiet in there…' Kierra silently prayed as she turned back around to look for the boys. But she couldn't see them anymore. No matter, she knew they were heading to the shrieking shack.
Kierra pulled out her wand and quickly disillusioned herself, so her body would blend in with the background. Since she did not have an invisibility cloak, this was her best way of staying hidden.
As Kierra came outside, a thought suddenly hit her. How would they get inside the shrieking shack? It's a distance from here…and it's occupied by spirits…
Once again, her question was answered when the marauders pulled of the invisibility cloak, not two or three feet from the Whomping Willow.
'What on earth are they doing there?' she thought. She backed away and hid behind a nearby rose bush to observe. She watched in amazement, as Sirius transformed into a great black dog, James transformed into a stag, and Peter (though she could barely see…) turned into a rat.
'They're animagi?? I never saw them on the registry…' she thought to herself. She watched as Peter ran up to the whomping willow, jumped up and pulled a large knot on the trunk. With that, the stag and the dog disappeared into a small hole in the willow.
'That knot must make the willow safe…' Kierra thought as she ran up to the willow. 'Well, here goes…' Kierra took a deep breath and crawled in after them. After crawling through for several minutes, Kierra finally came to an opening. This must be the shrieking shack. In front of her was an old set of stairs. Did she dare go up them? They looked as if they would creak, or perhaps break, if someone stepped on them. Just then, Kierra could hear four figures rushed down the steps. Kierra immediately dove to the floor and crawled underneath the bed that sat in the middle of the room.
She suddenly heard something that made her body shiver. A howl. Like a wolf's….followed by a loud bark. Too scared to take a peak from underneath the bed, Kierra lay still under the bed.
Suddenly she heard one of the animals jump onto the bed, forcing Kierra to shut her eyes and hold her breath. 'What the hell is going on???' she thought fearfully.
Moments later, she felt the animal jump off the bed, and head towards the door.
Kierra held her breath and pulled herself forward, trying to get a look at what just happened, but stopped as her hand touched something soft.
Through the darkness, Kierra could make out what seemed to be a pile of neatly folded clothes. They looked like they belonged to a man…
But Kierra did not have time to dwell on the clothes, as at that very instant, she heard a bark coming from outside.
'That has to be Sirius…' Kierra thought as she pulled herself out from underneath the bed.
Quietly, Kierra tiptoed outside. She looked down at herself, and realized the disillusionment charm had already worn off. She was never very good with charms….
Kierra pulled out her wand to redo the spell, when a piercing howl filled the air. Startled by the noise, Kierra shrieked and dropped her wand. She was about to bend over to pick it up, when suddenly, she heard a cracking noise; the sound of a twig breaking in two.
She looked up, only to see a wolf standing in front of her. No…it wasn't a wolf…the snout was flatter…it had to be….a werewolf…
"Morning mates!!" James said perkily as he joined his friends in the great hall for breakfast.
"Morning…" Sirius grumbled.
"Oy, what are you so grumpy about, Mr. cranky pants?" James asked.
"What are you so perky about?" Sirius retorted.
James sighed. "Well," he began, as he began to butter his toast, "I got to snog Lily last night…I finally made it with her…slept so soundly last night…that's plenty to be perky about! So what's eating you, Padfoot?"
"Hmm…about the opposite, I'd say…"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, things were moving along pretty smoothly last night between Dominique and myself…actually, last night was probably supposed to be the night.."—
"You mean you guys haven't even shagged"—
"We were gonna!!" Sirius said testily, "we were definitely heading that way, til you decided to come in…"
"Prongs…you ought to be ashamed of yourself!" Remus said, smiling. "Ruining Sirius's chance of a lifetime!"
"Hey! Not MY chance of a lifetime…really, it would have been Dominique's if anything…but all the same, yes, he ruined it…" Sirius answered.
James chuckled. "Well, serves you right, mate. You shouldn't be attempting to get laid in our dormitory anyway…that's just not right…don't you think, Moony? Wormtail?"
"Here, here!" Remus and Peter said together.
James smirked at Sirius, who in return rolled his eyes in irritation as he went back to his breakfast.
"Boy, you don't look well, Moony…full moon's tonight, isn't it?" James asked, looking up at Remus's now pale complexion.
Remus nodded. "Yea, it's tonight…which means I should be heading to the hospital wing soon…"
"Hey, you guys wanna go through the forest again tonight? We got pretty close to the other end of it last time." James said.
"Oh God, no…" Peter said, "all those spiders…"
Remus rolled his eyes. "Really Wormtail, how many times do we have to tell you, they don't prey after rats!"
"I know…but still!! They've got all those freaking legs…" Peter whined, shuttering at the thought.
"Oh geez, you'll be fine!" Sirius said, "if you want, you can just ride on my back, or James's, if you're really that freaked out…"
"Hey look Moony! There's your giiirlfriend!!" James gushed, putting an annoying emphasis on the word girlfriend.
Remus looked towards the entrance and saw Kierra walking in with her friends, and his stomach seemed to do a back flip. She was his girlfriend now, he thought, grinning. What a nice thought. He smiled at her and waved, motioning her to join him and his friends.
"Aww…look at him! He's so happy to see you!" Dominique cooed. "he's so cute!"
Kierra blushed. This all seemed so surreal. She woke up this morning, asking Dominique if she had really been locked up in a closet with Remus Lupin, and if in fact they had really gotten together, just to make sure it was all real.
"I still can't believe you locked them in a closet together" Alice said to Dominique with a laugh.
"I still can't believe she spiked my drink!" Lily grumbled.
The others giggled. "Lighten up," Dominique replied, "you had fun last night, just admit it."
"I made a fool of myself! And I'm head girl! People are going to be talking…"
"No one's going to talk!"
"How do you know?"
"Well, when I invited everyone, I gave them R.S.V.P cards, and I jinxed them, so that if they signed it and returned it to me, they automatically cannot say anything…we'll know if they do…" Dominique said with a mischievous smile.
"What would happen?"
"They'd grow bald…"
"Wicked…" Kierra and Alice said together.
"Morning ladies!" James said sweetly as the girls took seats with the boys. "Morning Lily…" he said, blushing slightly.
"Morning Potter…" Lily answered without even looking up at him. Slightly crestfallen at her cold reply, but too scared to ask what her problem was, James went back to his breakfast.
"Hi Remus…" Kierra said shyly as she sat down next to him. He smiled back, just as timidly, if not more.
"aww!!" James began again. "Look at you two!!"
"Shut it James…" Remus said.
"Why is everyone so bloody cranky today?" James huffed, as he rocked back and forth moodily in his seat.
"After-party affects, I'd have to say…" Sirius said. "I mean, look at half our table…"
The group looked around and noticed that indeed, about half the Gryffindor table, the older students, all looked tired and fatigued, and several looked quite ill.
"Oh gosh.." Lily murmured. "Think McGonagall will be suspicious?"
Professor McGonagall observed the Gryffindor table from the head table as she sipped on her morning coffee. There was something dodgy about her students this morning. Everyone looked sick. No, not everyone. Just the older students…Professor McGonagall glanced down the rows of students to observe…4th years and up…very suspicious.
"Good heavens…" she gasped as the puzzle seemed to piece perfectly together.
"Something wrong, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked, glancing up at her from his Belgian waffles.
"Insufferable!" she hissed. "Most appalling…"
"What, may I ask, is so appalling to you, professor McGonagall?" Dumbledore inquired. "Certainly not these waffles? They've absolutely divine…"
"underage drinking…" professor McGonagall answered, not looking away from the Gryffindor table.
"I'm sorry?"
"Look at lot of them!" she hissed, "sick and pallid looking!"
"Now, now Minerva…there's a bug going around, you know…"
"4th years and up! Not a single student under 4th year is looking sick…they must have had a party last night! It makes so much sense!"
Dumbledore smiled. "Don't you think people would be able to hear if there was a party?"
"Nonsense! You know as well as I do that these older students know plenty of magic"—
"Now Minerva," Dumbledore said, with a hint of amusement in his voice, "I daresay, you are overreacting a bit…you have no means of proving your case…"
"Vertiserum…" she suggested.
"Ah, the truth potion," Dumbledore said sagely, "is illegal to use without ministry consent…professor McGonagall, I'd like to ask you," he said with a smile as he got up to leave with the other professors, "to just remember what it's like to be a blossoming youth…in the prime of your life…"
"Oh, honestly, Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall began as she also got up. "You really can be"— She turned around to face him, but he was gone. 'way too soft with the students sometimes…' she thought irritably to herself.
"I just don't get why she still hates me…" James said miserably, as they walked up to the common room hours later. "I thought we really hit it off last night…"
"You guys were making out…" Dominique said with a smile.
"If that's not hitting it off, I don't know what is…"
"Did you guys even talk much?"
"No, not really…we were both pretty drunk, you know…"
"Exactly…that's probably why she's still not softened up to you," Dominique answered, "you two haven't connected yet!"
"Er…what?"
Dominique rolled her eyes. "You know…like friends! You two have never had a serious, real conversation, have you?"
"No…" James muttered, "but…but she won't let me!"
"Have you even tried? I mean, to talk with her…not just to ask her out…"
"No…" James muttered again. "Fidelius…" The portrait door swung open and James and Dominique went through.
"Well, there you have it, James…you need to be friends with her first…that way, she'll trust you…and after that I bet you could ask her out."
"You think so?"
"Definitely…so for now, just lay off on the dating thing…and…just be her friend…"
"Right…I can do that!" James said excitedly. "Just treat her like a friend? Treat her like Sirius, or Remus, or"—
"Er, no…" Dominique interrupted, "she's a girl…so you've got to be much nicer, and much more considerate…"
"right…" James said with a determined face, "I can do that…"
"great," Dominique said with a grin, "here's your chance…"
James glanced up to see Lily coming through the portrait hole, followed by Kierra and Remus, who came arm in arm with each other, followed by Sirius and Peter.
"Remus, honestly, you don't look well…are you sure you're ok??" Kierra said, "you should go to the hospital wing…have Madam Pomfrey check you out…"
"It's nothing," Remus said, "but I'll go anyway…"
Dominique nudged James, who immediately got out of his seat and looked nervously at Lily.
"Hey Lily…erm…I…I…er…." He stuttered. Lily looked at him questioningly.
"I…er…had some propositions for the next prefects meeting…can I go over them with you sometime?" he asked suddenly. 'I have propositions?' he thought to himself, 'shit, no I don't…oh shit…'
"Er…ok…whenever…" Lily said.
"great…" James said, sitting back down. 'bloody great,' he thought, 'now I've got to think of some bloody propositions…'
"Well, I'll be off now," Remus said, a bit wearily. "Bye guys" He looked at Kierra, who looked at him with worried eyes. 'She deserves to know…' he thought. "And I'll see you, later.." he said with a weak smile as he leaned in to kiss her. Kierra smiled back, but stopped shortly when she realized everyone was watching them.
"How about I just walk you to the hospital wing, and we'll say bye there…" Kierra said, taking Remus's hand and leading him out towards the portrait hole.
"Aww, we wanted to watch you guys!!" James whined, bouncing up and down on the couch. "Oh well…there they go…" he said, as they disappeared out of the common room.
"They are sooo cute together!" Dominique said as she leaned against Sirius's chest.
"Yes, but even combined, they still aren't as cute as you alone" Sirius replied.
Dominique blushed as James and Lily said "awww…." together.
Sirius and Dominique grinned at the two while Lily scowled at James and headed up to the girls dormitory.
"She's a cold one, isn't she?" Sirius said, as he watched Lily's retreating figure.
Dominique smiled as she got up to follow her friend upstairs. "Just a bit…" she said.
"Lily, anyone ever tell you what a sweet, agreeable girl you are?" Dominique asked as she came into the dormitory.
Lily smiled. "Yea, all the time…"
"Well, not with Potter.."
"He's a git!"
Dominique smirked. "Then why'd you stick your tongue down his throat last night?"
"Well…had you not contaminated my drink…and had I not been so drunk…" she began.
"Oh, come off it!" Dominique said, "He really likes you Lily, you should give him a chance! He's the sweetest boy…"
"That's just it!" Lily said, "he's a boy!"
"Er…as opposed to…a girl? Ugh Lily, don't tell me you go that way"—
"No!!" Lily retorted with a slight look of revulsion, "as opposed to…a man! He's so childish, D! If he would just grow up…and act mature…"
"Lily, you can find the manliest man…and he'll still have boyish tendencies…that's how the male species is…I mean look at Sirius…he's a man…but he acts like a boy too at times…"
"Yes, well that's Sirius. James acts like a boy ALL the time…"
Dominique sighed. "Yes, well…I suppose that's true…"
"Just leave it alone…please…" Lily said.
"Alright…"
"By the way," Lily said, hoping to change the subject, "you never told us what happened with you and Sirius…"
"Er…what happened with us?"
"I mean, at the party! I saw him take you up to his room! You two didn't"—
Dominique sighed. "No, we didn't…James came in…when were just kissing, so we couldn't go further than that, thank God…"
"You're glad that you guys didn't?" Lily asked with surprise.
"Yea…" Dominique replied with a slight look of despair, "I dunno how I feel about it…I mean, I really like him…I kinda want to do it with him…but…I'm kind of scared…oh gosh, I feel so pathetic…talking about being scared of sex…"
"It's not pathetic!" Lily said, "especially after what happened…with…well, your ex…you've got every right to be hesitant about it….by the way, have you even told Sirius about that yet?"
"Er…no…'
"D!!"
Dominique groaned. "Well, when's there ever going to be the right time to tell him?? Over a meal? In class, passing notes? Anyway I don't want him thinking I'm weak…"
"You're not weak…"
Dominique rolled her eyes. "If I were strong, nothing would've happened to me…"
Just then, the door opened and Kierra came in, looking worried.
"Kierra, what's wrong?" Dominique asked, relieved that they could change the subject.
Kierra frowned at the girls as she sat on her bed. "I'm worried about Remus…"
"Why? He just looks a little unwell…it'll pass…" replied Dominique.
"Yes, but…I'm worried, because he gets sick all the time…I've been his stalker for over a year…and I noticed that he gets sick a lot…shoot, I'd say no less than once a month…" Kierra said.
Dominique opened her mouth to say something, but seemed to think better of it, and closed it.
"Yea, that's true…" Lily said, who was in deep thought. "Actually, he's been like that forever…since first year…and he disappeared a lot too…"
"Dominique," Kierra said, "you knew him when he was little, did he ever get"--
"Guys," Dominique cut in, "maybe he's just got some condition…that…I dunno, causes him to get sick a lot…who knows…but I don't think we should dwell on it…it's his business…"
"But"— Kierra protested.
"Come on, if he wanted us to know, he'd tell us. Anyway, how would you find out, just asking him? That'd be kind of rude…" Dominique said, glancing at her wristwatch. "Hey, I gotta go, got quidditch practice in a few minutes. I'll see you guys later" and with that, Dominique bolted out the room.
Kierra turned to Lily. "Have you got the feeling that she already knows what's wrong with Remus?"
Lily nodded. "Think about it. She's known him her whole life…and she's kept in touch with him when he moved away from her…of course she'd know…but…what could be so bad about Remus that they'd keep it so secret?"
"I dunno," Kierra said as she got up, "I'm gonna visit Remus though. I won't ask him anything!" she said defensively as Lily gave her an appraising look. "I just want to see him!
"Alright, go see him…but no funny business! You understand?" Lily said, in a mimicking voice that sounded uncannily like Professor Keifer.
"Wow, Kierra…you really spoil me…" Remus said with a weak smile as Kierra placed a bouquet of wild flowers in a vase on his nightstand. "You make me feel like a queen, honestly!"
Kierra giggled as she pulled a small bundle out of her bag. "Well, your highness, that's not all…here.." she said as she placed the bundle on his lap.
"Eclairs!" Remus exclaimed as he opened it up. "I love éclairs, they're my favorite! How'd you know I liked them?"
Kierra grinned. "I've had a crush on you since sixth year…I know plenty about your likes and dislikes."
Remus eyes widened slightly as did his smile. "Since sixth year? Are you serious?"
Kierra laughed. "Yea…"
"So tell me…what else do you know about me?" Remus asked, as he popped an éclair into his mouth.
"Well," Kierra began, as she took a seat on his bed, "I know that you hate ice cream…which I totally don't get…but ok…"
"it's just too cold! It hurts my teeth!" Remus said with a laugh.
Kierra rolled her eyes. "Whatever…ok…um…oh, I know you prefer briefs to boxers! Don't ask…how I know is a professional secret!" she added with a grin as Remus looked at her questioningly. "Oh, I also know that you like to study at that one little table in the library, on the second floor…by the big window…"
Remus grinned. "Yea, I do…wait…hold on…" he said, putting a finger to his lips as he thought. "Last year…on several occasions…I remember seeing a pair of brown eyes…behind the bookshelves…oh my…those were your eyes! I knew I wasn't crazy for always thinking I was being watched!! You stalked me??" he asked incredulously, looking like he was about to burst from laughter.
Kierra giggled and blushed furiously. "Yea, I was your stalker…"
Remus sighed. "Well, that's kind of a relief…I had the strangest suspicion it was that boy in 5th year hufflepuff…Edgar…"
Kierra laughed. "You thought it was him?? Why??"
"He's got the same eyes as you…and he looks kinda like the type…who'd…like other guys…" Remus said with a sheepish smile.
"Oh good grief…" Kierra giggled. "he's straight…he has a girlfriend…"
"Oh, ok..glad to hear it…" he said as he smiled at Kierra. His facial suddenly changed though into one that was looking critically at Kierra. "You know," he started again, "I feel kind of guilty that I hardly know anything about you…"
"Oh, you'll learn more about me in good time, I'm sure…" Kierra said.
Remus grinned as a fresh thought flickered through his head.
"Well, one thing I want to get clarified by you…I heard this one rumor…"
"About me?"
"Yea…do you really do dance in your dormitory with your friends?" he asked with a grin.
Kierra blushed. "Oh gosh…you heard me saying that at the party last night, didn't you?"
Remus nodded. "So, I mean, do you all just get up on your beds and do it…the same way Lily and Dominique were doing it? Or do you do some other sorts of exotic dancing…?"
Kierra smiled embarrassedly. "That's for me to know…"
"And for me to find out?"
"We'll see…" she said with a grin. "Oy, Dominique! You're here! How was practice?" Kierra asked as Dominique walked into the hospital wing.
"It was good," replied Dominique. "How are you doing Remus?"
"Just fine…"
"Hey, I've got to get going," Kierra said, picking up her bag, "I promised Alice that I'd study with her today. I'll see you." She said, leaning in to kiss Remus.
"Well, bye guys!" she said as she went out the door.
Remus sighed as he watched Kierra leave, but quickly snapped out of his trance when he saw that Dominique was smirking at him.
"What??" he asked.
"You're in looove…" Dominique squealed.
Remus's mouth dropped open slightly in surprise. "I am not in love…I just…really like her…"
Dominique grinned. "Right, whatever…listen, I actually needed to talk to you about her."
Remus sat up quickly in his bed. "Why? What happened? Is she ok?"
"Yea, she's fine…it's just that she's worried about you…she's noticed that you always get sick…about every month…"
"Are you serious?"
Dominique nodded. "Remus, you ought to tell her."
Remus looked at Dominique as if she were insane. "Are you kidding me? No way!"
"You can't hide it from her forever!"
"I know…I know…but I can't tell her now…I just started going out with her…I'm not about to scare her away…"
"You won't scare her away, Remus!" Dominique protested. "She'll be understanding, I know she will!"
Remus shook his head. "No…not now…maybe I'll tell her later"—
"The longer you wait, the worse it'll be"—
"Miss Fiore, I'm going to have to ask you to leave now!" came the voice of Madam Pomfrey. "Mr. Lupin really needs to rest…he's…unwell"—
"She knows about my condition Madam Pomfrey…" Remus interrupted.
"Oh! Well then…I'm sure you'll understand then…he's got a long night ahead of him. He needs his rest!" Madam Pomfrey said to Dominique.
"Right…bye then Remus" Dominique said as she turned to leave.
Later that evening, Remus walked to the shrieking shack with Madam Pomfrey's help.
"Alright dear," she said as she helped him onto the bed in the dingy shack. "Nothing left to do but wait. I'm going to head back to the castle now. Will you be alright?"
"Yes, thanks Madam Pomfrey." Remus answered weakly. With that, Madam Pomfrey quickly left the shrieking shack, before the full moon would come out.
As soon as she left, Remus began to pull his robes off, not wanting them to rip them during his transformation.
As he folded up his clothes and hid them under the bed, where he couldn't reach them as a werewolf, he thought about his conversation with Dominique. He had to tell Kierra sooner or later. But how would she react? Would she still like him, or would she be repulsed by him; a half breed….Sure, his friends had been more than understanding…but they were guys…Kierra was a girl….she would react completely different…she would think him a monster… 'Well, I am a monster…once a month…' he thought miserably.
Soon, however, his thoughts of Kierra were forgotten as the moon showed its face through the clouds, and his body began to fill with painful convulsions.
"Gregory!" Kierra hissed, as she ran down the steps, chasing after Alice's pet toad. 'Oh gosh…she's gonna kill me if I lose her toad again…' Kierra thought as she chased it down the empty halls. Just then, the clock struck. 'Shit..' Kierra thought. "9 o'clock…I shouldn't be out here…Come on Gregory…' Kierra held her breath and lunged for the toad, catching it by the legs. "Gotcha…" she whispered.
Just then, she heard footsteps. 'Shit…Filch…' Kierra thought anxiously as she looked around frantically for a place to hide.
Left with no other choice, Kierra quickly hid behind a suit of armor that stood against the wall. The footsteps came closer, but she saw no one…but she could hear whispering.
"You stepped on my foot!" someone hissed.
"Sorry Padfoot…" someone whispered back.
'Padfoot….Padfoot…where have I heard that?' Kierra thought. Suddenly it clicked. The marauder's map…So it must have been…but how could they be there…and…not there…?
"Ok, I think we're getting tangled…' a third voice whispered. 'let's readjust the cloak, no one's here…' and suddenly as if by magic, Sirius, Peter and James materialized in front of her. 'How did they do that??' Kierra thought. But her question was answered immediately when she saw James arranging a cloak around them.
'invisibility cloak…' she thought. She smiled broadly and decided it couldn't hurt to show herself to them, and ask where they were going, when suddenly…
"Come on!" hissed Sirius, "Remus is waiting! He's probably torn down have the shrieking shack by now!"
Kierra almost stopped breathing at hearing this. Wasn't Remus supposed to be in the hospital wing, resting? Was Remus just faking sick? No…but then…why would he be in the shrieking shack? There was only one way to find out. Kierra tiptoed around the suit of armor and opened the face piece, and dropped Gregory inside. 'Please stay quiet in there…' Kierra silently prayed as she turned back around to look for the boys. But she couldn't see them anymore. No matter, she knew they were heading to the shrieking shack.
Kierra pulled out her wand and quickly disillusioned herself, so her body would blend in with the background. Since she did not have an invisibility cloak, this was her best way of staying hidden.
As Kierra came outside, a thought suddenly hit her. How would they get inside the shrieking shack? It's a distance from here…and it's occupied by spirits…
Once again, her question was answered when the marauders pulled of the invisibility cloak, not two or three feet from the Whomping Willow.
'What on earth are they doing there?' she thought. She backed away and hid behind a nearby rose bush to observe. She watched in amazement, as Sirius transformed into a great black dog, James transformed into a stag, and Peter (though she could barely see…) turned into a rat.
'They're animagi?? I never saw them on the registry…' she thought to herself. She watched as Peter ran up to the whomping willow, jumped up and pulled a large knot on the trunk. With that, the stag and the dog disappeared into a small hole in the willow.
'That knot must make the willow safe…' Kierra thought as she ran up to the willow. 'Well, here goes…' Kierra took a deep breath and crawled in after them. After crawling through for several minutes, Kierra finally came to an opening. This must be the shrieking shack. In front of her was an old set of stairs. Did she dare go up them? They looked as if they would creak, or perhaps break, if someone stepped on them. Just then, Kierra could hear four figures rushed down the steps. Kierra immediately dove to the floor and crawled underneath the bed that sat in the middle of the room.
She suddenly heard something that made her body shiver. A howl. Like a wolf's….followed by a loud bark. Too scared to take a peak from underneath the bed, Kierra lay still under the bed.
Suddenly she heard one of the animals jump onto the bed, forcing Kierra to shut her eyes and hold her breath. 'What the hell is going on???' she thought fearfully.
Moments later, she felt the animal jump off the bed, and head towards the door.
Kierra held her breath and pulled herself forward, trying to get a look at what just happened, but stopped as her hand touched something soft.
Through the darkness, Kierra could make out what seemed to be a pile of neatly folded clothes. They looked like they belonged to a man…
But Kierra did not have time to dwell on the clothes, as at that very instant, she heard a bark coming from outside.
'That has to be Sirius…' Kierra thought as she pulled herself out from underneath the bed.
Quietly, Kierra tiptoed outside. She looked down at herself, and realized the disillusionment charm had already worn off. She was never very good with charms….
Kierra pulled out her wand to redo the spell, when a piercing howl filled the air. Startled by the noise, Kierra shrieked and dropped her wand. She was about to bend over to pick it up, when suddenly, she heard a cracking noise; the sound of a twig breaking in two.
She looked up, only to see a wolf standing in front of her. No…it wasn't a wolf…the snout was flatter…it had to be….a werewolf…