A/N: This chapter is completely Remus/Laura-centric. It's going to give you some answers, but you'll get even more in the next chapter. Thanks for reading and reviewing, and I hope you enjoy it!

I don't own Harry Potter.

Searching for Answers

But on the other hand, she's slowing down
She's lost a little of that magic drive
- She is a Diamond, Jonathan Price, Evita

Remus was awake before Laura the next morning. He looked at her sleeping form, noting the dark circles that still colored the skin under her eyes. Even though she was not yet awake, she looked exhausted. He lifted himself out of bed carefully, trying not to disturb her. She clearly needed to sleep.

The fact that she was going to see a doctor did little to reassure him. He had spent a lifetime receiving any medical advice he needed from his father or his father's colleagues. Even if the doctor could help Laura, Remus knew that he wouldn't feel better until he had talked to his father. After showering, he went to the study, and threw a handful of Floo powder into the fireplace.

"Thomas Lupin!" he yelled.

Within seconds, his parents' kitchen came into view. His mother was working at the counter, and jumped as the green flames appeared in her hearth.

"Remus!" she exclaimed, running to greet him. "How are you? Is everything all right?"

"Hi, Mum," he smiled. "Is Dad around? I wanted to talk to him about Laura."

"Laura? She's all right, isn't she?"

"Well, I'm not sure," Remus admitted. "That's sort of why I wanted to talk to Dad."

His mother nodded. "I'll go get him."

Remus only had to wait a few moments until both of his parents were kneeling before the grate, their faces only inches from his.

"Remus," his father said in greeting, "your mother tells me Laura's ill?"

"Yeah, she is," Remus said. "She fainted after the battle when James's dad died, and she hasn't been the same since."

"She fainted?" Mr. Lupin paused. "Could she be pregnant?"

"I already did a pregnancy-detecting charm," Remus said, slightly embarrassed about admitting the possibility of Laura being pregnant to his parents. "She's not."

Mr. Lupin nodded, while Mrs. Lupin looked rather disappointed. Remus smiled sadly, knowing how much his mother wanted grandchildren.

"Has she been to see a Healer?" Mr. Lupin asked.

"No," Remus replied. "I actually couldn't even get her to admit that she wasn't feeling well until last night. I got her to agree to go to her doctor."

"A Muggle doctor?" Mrs. Lupin asked.

"Yes. I thought she'd feel more comfortable with the doctor she's always gone to than with some Healer she's never met."

"That's probably true," Mr. Lupin said thoughtfully. "And most Muggle doctors are quite good at their trade."

"But what if it's a magical problem?" Mrs. Lupin asked.

"I don't think it's related to magic," Remus said.

"And if the Muggles can't identify it, they won't treat her," Mr. Lupin said. "Remember, my mother was a Muggle. She always went to Muggle doctors, and she was quite old when she died."

"So you think it'll be all right?"

"Certainly. If you want me to look her over after she sees her doctor, I'd be happy to."

"Really?"

"Of course."

Remus smiled. "Thanks, Dad."

"You're welcome," Mr. Lupin smiled. "You'll tell us what the doctor says, won't you?"

"Yes, of course."

"Does she have an appointment yet?"

"No. I'm going to make her call them as soon as she gets up."

Mr. Lupin nodded. "Don't let her put it off any longer," he cautioned. "She can't play with her health like this."

"I know," Remus sighed. "I just wish she had done this sooner."

"You can't change the past, Remus," Mrs. Lupin said. "It's too late to undo what's happened. Just focus on the present and the future, and on helping Laura get better."

Remus nodded. "I'd do anything for her."

"We know," his mother said with a smile. "You love her."

"Yes," Remus said quietly, "I love her."

"You're doing the right thing for her, Remus," Mr. Lupin said. "You're a good husband, and you're doing all you can for her. Don't doubt yourself."

Remus nodded. "I won't."

"Worry about Laura," Mrs. Lupin added. "She's your main concern."

"We'll be here for you, Remus," Mr. Lupin said. "We'll support both of you in any way we can."

"Thanks."

Mrs. Lupin smiled. "We love you, Remus."

"I love you, too," he smiled. "Both of you."

Feeling reassured after the conversation with his parents, Remus was considerably calmer by the time Laura woke up. She came downstairs in her pajamas, her hair pulled back into a ponytail.

"Good morning," she said sleepily as she entered the kitchen.

Remus grinned at her. "Are you actually awake enough to say that yet?"

She smiled. "I'm not sure. What time is it?"

"A little after nine," Remus replied.

She shook her head. "I can't believe I slept so long."

"It's not that late," Remus said. "You'd only just be getting to work if you were going in today. And we were up late for Sirius's party last night."

"I know," Laura replied. "But I wanted to get up early to call the doctor."

"Well, call now," Remus said rationally.

She nodded. "Just keep my coffee warm, all right?"

Remus shook his head. "You know, this coffee habit is bordering on addiction."

She grinned. "Blame my coworkers. I never drank so much coffee before I started working in Magical Law."

Remus laughed as Laura crossed the kitchen and picked up the phone book. She searched through it for a moment, then picked up the telephone to dial her doctor's number.

Remus listened as she described her symptoms to the person on the other end, feeling slightly dejected. He had never realized how ill she was, or how awful she felt. If he had known . . . Maybe his mother was right. He couldn't change the past; he could only worry about the future. "If only" wouldn't do anything to help them. Now was the time for action.

"All right," Laura said at last. "Yes, I'll see you then. Thank you."

"What did they say?" Remus asked as she hung up the phone.

"I have an appointment at eleven," she said. "So I'd better go shower. I can eat once I'm dressed."

"They got you in early," Remus said with a smile. "And it was really easy to get a hold of them, wasn't it?"

"The magic of telephones," Laura called from the stairs that she had started to climb. "Aren't you glad I made you install one?"

Remus laughed as the sound of the bathroom door closing ended any further conversation. She had, as she had stated, been the one to insist that they install a telephone. While Remus refused to see the usefulness in it, Laura used it almost daily to talk to her parents and siblings. She loved to find any reason to convince him of the device's usefulness.

Remus smiled, finally fully calm. He had talked to his father, she had made the appointment, and she was well enough to tease him. For the time being, he couldn't ask for more.

Once Laura had showered, she felt much more prepared to face the doctor, and to discover what had happened to make her so ill. She went back downstairs, dressed in her Muggle clothes, to find Remus still sitting in the kitchen, calmly sipping tea and reading the Daily Prophet.

"You'd better not have done anything to my coffee," she warned.

He rolled his eyes. "Since when do I drink your coffee? You make it so strong that I think the French would have a problem with it!"

Laura laughed, and poured herself a cup of the black liquid. "Does Lily have a story in today's edition?"

"Yeah, she does," Remus replied. "It's the beginning of her investigation into the torture of Muggle children."

Laura shuddered. "Those poor kids. Remus, you should have seen those two that Sirius and Olivia saved. Their little bodies were so bruised, and their eyes were just haunted. Thank God Sirius and Liv did those memory charms on them. I don't even want to think about the internal scars they'd have if they tried to deal with this on their own."

"You helped, too, you know."

She smiled. "Well, we haven't taken those Death Eaters to trial yet. But when we do, I'll be sure that they don't get off."

"Do you have a trial date set?"

"Not yet, but it should be soon," she said, buttering herself a piece of toast. "Crouch is furious that we've waited this long. He's talking about some policy that would put suspected Death Eaters in Azkaban without a trial."

Remus stopped with his cup inches away from his face. "What? How can he do that? It's not legal!"

"That's why it hasn't happened yet," Laura said. "But he's trying to find a way to do it. He will, too, I'm sure. That man in truly unmatched in Law Enforcement. No one can stand up to him, and no one will even try to get in his way or to tell him he's wrong." She shook her head. "The amount of power he's amassed is frightening."

"He's a powerful wizard in his own right," Remus said.

"Oh, yes," Laura replied. "He's powerfully magical. But that doesn't give him the right to throw people to the dementors without fair trials."

Remus smiled. "You should stand up to him."

"Me?" Laura laughed. "No, I couldn't. He'd have my job in a heartbeat – and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't hesitate to throw me to the dementors, either."

Remus shook his head, and glanced at his watch. "How are we getting to the doctor's office?"

"We're driving," Laura said instantly. "We hardly ever get to use our car, and this is the perfect opportunity."

Remus grinned. "All right, then. But we need to leave soon."

Laura looked at her own watch, and smiled. "We have plenty of time."

"We only have fifteen minutes!"

"And I have a lead foot."

Laura was right about her driving ability – Remus was sure he'd never been in a car that moved so fast. At precisely eleven o'clock, they walked into the doctor's office – for Remus, it was like walking into another world.

"How's that for timing?" Laura asked.

"Very impressive," Remus said vaguely.

He was busy looking around curiously. Laura smiled, knowing that the Healer in him was dying to try out all the different instruments used by Muggle doctors.

"Find us seats," she said softly, looking around the crowded waiting room. "I need to go sign in."

"All right," Remus agreed.

By the time she had signed in, Remus had picked up a magazine. She smiled, and sat down next to him, putting her hand on his knee.

"What did they say?" he asked.

"That they'll call me when they're ready," she said. She smiled. "I take it you never went to the doctor as a little kid?"

"My dad always treated me," he said.

Laura nodded. "Where will our children go?"

Remus grinned. "Wherever you want them to go, love."

Laura smiled. "Well, if I have anything to say about it, they'll never get sick."

"Good luck with that," Remus laughed.

"Laura Lupin?"

"Well, that was fast," Laura said, standing up as the nurse called her name. "Do you want to come back with me?" she asked Remus.

He nodded. "If that's all right with you."

"Please," she said softly. "I want you to."

They crossed the waiting room to join the nurse, who took them back to one of the examination rooms. After she did preliminary work on Laura, she gave her a gown.

"You'll just need to put this on. The doctor should be in momentarily."

"Yeah, right," Laura said quietly as the door shut behind the nurse.

"What?"

She pulled off her clothes, and put the gown on. "The doctor is never in 'momentarily.' They always take forever to get to you."

Remus grinned. "I don't know how the Muggles do it."

"I managed," Laura said stubbornly. "And so did your grandmother, if it comes down to it."

"I know, I know," Remus laughed. "And believe me, my grandma spent her life trying to convince me that the Muggle way of doing things was better, too." He began looking around at the medical instruments. "What do all these do?"

"Make people better," Laura said as she hoisted herself up onto the examining table. "I'm not a doctor, Remus; I don't know what they're for."

"But you must have some idea."

She sighed, resigning herself to the fact that she was going to have to give her husband a tour of the small office. "That's used to look into your nose and ears."

"This?"

"For God's sake, Remus, don't touch it! If you break that, Dr. Greene will kill us both!"

Remus laughed, and pulled his hand away from the tempting instruments. "Sorry."

Laura shook her head. "You're worse than a little boy!"

"Well, it's usually Sirius that gets that from Lily, but I suppose I'll have to take the title for today."

"Indeed," Laura replied, rolling her eyes.

Remus looked around contritely for a moment, then realized that he couldn't take it anymore. "What do these do?"

Fifteen minutes later, the door opened, and Dr. Greene, a man in his late fifties, walked in. He smiled at Laura as he picked up her chart.

"Well, Miss Laura, I haven't seen you in here in ages! How are you?"

"I've been better," she said honestly. "Dr. Greene, this is my husband, Remus Lupin."

"Husband?" the doctor smiled. "Well, Remus, it's a pleasure to meet you." He gave him a wink. "I hope you're taking good care of Laura. She's a special girl."

"I'm trying to," Remus said, smiling at Laura. "I'm definitely lucky to have her."

The doctor sat down on his stool, and looked at Laura critically. "So, you're not feeling well?"

"No, I'm not," she said honestly. "My energy is gone, and I just don't feel well in general."

"And you've been like this for several months?" he asked, studying her chart.

"Yes," she admitted.

"All right," he said. "Let's see what we can find wrong with you so that we can fix it."

Laura felt herself beginning to relax. She had complete confidence in Dr. Greene.

She followed his instructions throughout the examination, opening her mouth, taking deep breaths, lying down and sitting up. He frowned as he listened to her chest.

"Something wrong?" Remus, who could see the doctor's reactions, asked.

"Well, Laura's heartbeat is a bit irregular," the doctor said. He listened longer, and his frown deepened. "As I recall, you've never had a history of that, have you?"

"No," she said.

He put down his stethoscope, and picked up her chart. "Your blood pressure is off, too. I've never known you to have high blood pressure," he said. "Let's take that again, shall we?"

"All right."

Laura gave Remus a wobbly smile as the doctor took her blood pressure. What was he looking for? What was wrong with her?

"Well, that's odd," Dr. Greene said. "This time your blood pressure is low."

"What does all this mean?" Remus asked.

The doctor sat down and looked at the young couple with concern in his eyes. "I think you may have a heart problem," he said softly.

Remus took Laura's hand in his as they both stared at the doctor. He nodded slowly.

"Without running any tests there isn't much I can tell you right now," he said. "But based on your symptoms as listed on your chart in addition to the erratic blood pressure and irregular heart beat, I'd say your condition is definitely heart-related."

"What does that mean?" Laura asked, trying desperately to stay calm.

"It means that you're going to need to see a specialist," the doctor said softly. "We can run some tests if you like, but I'm not the one who will be able to help you with this. You're going to need to see a cardiologist."

"How soon?" Remus asked.

The doctor looked at them both gravely. "The sooner the better."

Laura and Remus were both numb as they walked out of the office. Remus held Laura's hand in one of his, and literature the doctor had given them about heart conditions and specialists in the other. They were both completely silent as they walked to the car. Neither knew what to say.

"Are you sure you're all right to drive?" Remus broke the silence as Laura unlocked their doors.

She gave him a small smile. "I'll get us home safer than you would."

"True." Maybe he should have let his grandmother teach him to drive when he was a teenager. She certainly had offered enough.

She sighed. "And I'm in far better shape to drive than I am to Apparate," she added.

Remus nodded, and opened the passenger door. "All right. Let's go, then."

They remained silent during the short drive home. Laura parked the car, and they entered the house. She put her keys down on the counter, and went to get a glass of water.

"Laura?" Remus asked softly, putting the papers the doctor had given them on the table. "Are you all right, love?"

"I'm fine," Laura said loudly without turning from the sink. "I'm fine, Remus. Fine! My heart is about to fall apart, but I'm bloody fine!"

She ended her statement by screaming the word, and collapsed into sobs. Remus was across the kitchen in an instant, pulling her close. He held her as she sobbed, gently rocking her back and forth. After awhile, her sobs began to subside.

"Oh, God, Remus," she sighed, finally controlled enough to speak, "what are we going to do?"

"We're going to get you to see a specialist," Remus replied gently. He still held her close, running his hand over her long hair. "We're going to find one of these cardiologists, and we're going to get you better."

"But what if -?"

"Stop," Remus said softly, putting his finger over her lips. "Don't even think it. You're going to get better, Laura. That's the only option."

"I'm scared, Remus," she whispered, tears filling her eyes again.

"I know," he said, pulling her close. "I'm scared, too. But we can't let this beat us, Laura. We have to win. I can't lose you."

"I don't want to leave you, Remus."

She began to cry again, clinging to him as though afraid she would never have another chance. This time, Remus cried with her.

They spent the entire day together, reading over the literature that the doctor had given them. Each piece of paper painted a picture of hope and health. Remus prayed that these were true stories of survival, not fiction made up to reassure the newly diagnosed.

"Do you have a preference for one of these specialists?" he asked, picking up the list Dr. Greene had provided.

Laura glanced over at the sheet of paper. "I don't know. They're all just names to me. Did Dr. Greene recommend one above the others?"

"No, it doesn't look like it."

"Well, whoever can get me in first, I suppose."

Remus nodded, and they lapsed back into silence. They were both thinking the same thing: they weren't sure how much longer Laura would be able to wait before seeing the specialist. According to what Dr. Greene had told them, time was crucial.

Remus knew that he had to talk to his parents. They wanted to know what was wrong with Laura as much as he had. But he wasn't ready. He wanted to be strong for her, and he knew that telling them, admitting that he could lose his wife, would bring all the fears he didn't want to voice to the surface. He didn't want her to see that.

"I need to tell my mum about this," she said suddenly, almost as though she had read his thoughts.

"Do you want me to go over there with you?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I'm just going to call her. After we talk to the cardiologist, I'll go see her and my dad in person. But this isn't anything too horrible yet. I think she can handle it over the phone."

So saying, she went to the telephone and dialed her parents' number. After waiting a moment, she smiled.

"Hi, Mummy," she said. "Yes, it's Laura . . . Well, actually, that's why I called . . . Yes, I've been feeling a bit under the weather, so I went to see Dr. Greene . . . Yeah, he was pretty excited to see me . . . Well, he said that it looks like something's strange about my heart." She paused for a moment, and caught her lower lip between her teeth, trying to blink back tears. "We're not sure yet," she said, her voice a little wobbly. "He wants me to see a cardiologist . . . Yes, they have been making great progress in that field . . . A transplant? I don't know about that, Mum. I don't think I'm that bad off , and besides, that's really risky. They've only done one or two, right? . . . No, I haven't made the appointment yet. Remus and I are just reading through everything now . . . Yes, he's right here. Sure, you can talk to him."

Laura held out the receiver to Remus, who crossed the room to take it.

"Hello?" he asked.

"Remus," Mrs. Bond said in a shaky voice, "you've studied medicine, right?"

"Well, Healing Arts," he said, "but it's basically the same thing."

"Then you know what to do for my Laura, don't you?"

"Not exactly," he said awkwardly. "Her condition is pretty advanced studies. I never quite made it that far."

"But your father is a . . . not a doctor. What do you call them?"

"Healers," Remus said. "Yes, my father is a Healer."

"Isn't there some spell he can use to make Laura better?"

"I hope so," Remus said sincerely. "I'm going to talk to him later today."

"Yes, do," Mrs. Bond said. "I'm sure he'll be able to help her."

"I hope so," Remus said again. "Do you want to talk to her again?"

"Yes, please."

Remus handed the phone back over, giving Laura a small smile. She was now crying, and talking to her mother only made her cry harder. When the conversation finally ended, she fell into Remus's arms. She didn't let herself sob again; she clung to him until the tears finally stopped flowing.

"She wants more answers than I have," she said against his chest.

"I know," Remus replied, running his hands over her back.

She shook her head. "I need to go lie down," she said.

"I'm going to tell my parents while you're resting," Remus said.

Laura nodded. "I don't know if I can handle telling them right now."

"You don't have to," he replied. "I'll do it. I'm sure they'll want to talk to you later, though."

She nodded. "Later."

Remus kissed her. "I love you, Laura."

She smiled sadly. "I love you, too."

She left his arms, and went up the stairs to their bedroom. Remus watched her until she was out of sight, then went to the study to again throw Floo powder into the fireplace.

Both of his parents were sitting by the hearth as though they had been waiting for him. They were instantly on their knees in front of the fire, both with expressions of concern.

"How's Laura?" Mrs. Lupin asked.

To everyone's surprise, including his own, Remus burst into tears. Without so much as exchanging a glance, Mr. and Mrs. Lupin stepped into the fireplace to Floo to their son's side. They stepped out of his grate, and his mother immediately pulled him close. She pulled his head down onto her shoulder, as she had done when he had been a little boy.

Once his spasm of tears was spent, Remus pulled away from her. "I'm sorry," he said in a raspy voice. "I didn't mean to fall to pieces like that."

"It's all right," Mrs. Lupin said soothingly. "I take it you didn't get good news from the doctor?"

Remus shook his head. "He said something's wrong with her heart," he said shakily. "He wants her to see a specialist – a cardiologist."

"Oh, my," Mrs. Lupin said, her hands flying to her mouth, blinking rapidly to stop the tears from flooding her eyes. "She'll be all right, won't she?"

"We don't know yet," Remus said.

"Where is she?" Mr. Lupin asked.

"Sleeping right now. She just called her mum, and I think the conversation drained her."

Mr. Lupin nodded. "When she wakes up, I'd like to look her over – if she'll consent."

"Her mother asked me to have you examine her," Remus said. "She's hoping there's some spell that will heal her."

"So am I," Mr. Lupin said softly. "I'll do everything in my power to make her well, Remus."

"I know you will," Remus said with a sad smile. "I hope you can."

"Of course he can," Mrs. Lupin said confidently. "Your father can fix anyone. Think of all the times he's put you back together. You'll see. Laura will be fine again in no time."

But it was not to be. Mr. Lupin's examination of Laura revealed what the doctor had feared: her heart was in bad condition.

"I'm sorry, Laura," he said, putting his wand away. "Magical medicine is very advanced, but in your case, there is nothing I can do. We have made great strides in all fields related to magical maladies and accidents, but we have let traditional illnesses and problems suffer for it."

"So you can't help me?" Laura asked, fighting back new tears.

"I'm sorry, darling," he said, his eyes full of sorrow. "I wish there was something I could do to make you well, but there just isn't."

"I know you've tried your best," she said shakily.

He nodded sadly. "But Remus tells me you're going to see a cardiologist?"

"We haven't made the appointment yet, but, yes, I will be seeing one."

Mr. Lupin nodded. "They are far better with cases like yours than I could ever hope to be," he said. "I'm sure your specialist will be able to help you."

She nodded. "I hope so."

He smiled, and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "I know so. You just keep thinking positive, all right? Sometimes that's the best medicine of them all."

"I will."

"Promise?"

She smiled. "I promise."

"Good. Now, Remus will be transforming in about two hours, so if you're planning on talking to him again before then, you should do it now."

She nodded, and pulled herself out of bed. "I need to pack to go to Lily's, too."

"You stay with Lily during his transformations?"

She nodded. "Four animals in the house are a bit much for me."

Mr. Lupin smiled. "I can see your point." He kissed her forehead again. "Feel better, darling."

"I'll do my best."

Laura was packing for her evening with Lily when a soft knock sounded on her bedroom door. She tossed a pair of pajamas into her overnight bag.

"Come in," she called.

The door pushed open, and Remus walked into the room. "Hey," he said softly.

"Did you talk to your dad?"

"Yes." He ran his hands over his face. "He and my mum left. They both said to tell you goodbye."

Laura nodded. "He can't help me, Remus."

"No, he can't," Remus agreed. "But he seemed to think that the cardiologist would be able to heal you."

"Cure me," Laura corrected with a smile.

"What?"

"We say 'cure' in Muggle medicine, not 'heal.'"

"Oh."

Her smiled faded. "Remus, what if -?"

"Laura, please," Remus said, his eyes suddenly bright. "Please don't start that right now. I really can't handle thinking about it – not now, at least."

Laura looked outside, where the sun was rapidly sinking. Remus's emotions were always stronger the day of the full moon, and they always affected his transformations. He couldn't go into a transformation after discussing the potential outcomes of her illness. It would be too much for him. She nodded, and bit her lower lip. "All right. But we have to talk about it sometime."

Remus shook his head. "First we talk to the cardiologist. Then we'll decide what we need to talk about from there."

"All right," Laura agreed. She put the last few items into her overnight bag. "I'd better leave soon."

"Yes, you should," Remus agreed. "Are you going to tell Lily tonight?"

"Probably," she replied. "She's going to wonder why I'm Flooing over."

"You're Flooing?"

"I can't Apparate right now. The chances of all of me winding up at Lily's are pretty slim."

Remus smiled, and pulled her close. "Take care, all right?"

"You, too," she said, burying her face in his shoulder. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Remus said softly. He leaned down to kiss her. "Is it all right if I tell the guys?"

"If you want to."

He smiled sadly. "If I stay human long enough after they get here."

Laura nodded. "Good luck tonight."

"Thanks." He pulled her closer, and kissed her again. "I love you."

She smiled. "You said that already."

"You're going to hear it a lot from now on," Remus admitted.

"Good," she said softly. "I love you, too."

Laura finally pulled herself away from Remus, and picked up her overnight bag. "I'll be back in the morning."

"Me, too," Remus smiled.

With one last smile, Laura left the room. Remus watched her go, then heaved a sigh. Ever since the werewolf had bitten him all those years ago, people had told him how strong he was. His mother said that all that he had endured had made him stronger. Dumbledore and McGonagall had both praised his strength at Hogwarts. He knew that he had the strength and internal force to endure most trials and suffering – more, even, than most people. But this – he had never been faced with something like this. He only hoped that his inner strength would be enough to deal with all that lay ahead of him and Laura now.