Fm fic, Chap 2: Visiting St Mungos
January was coming to an end, and it was fullmoon again. Today was an ordinary schoolday, but they figured that one day off couldn't hurt.
"So this is what St Mungos look like?"
James looked around and was sure that a room couldn't get cleaner than this.
They went to the reception where a bitter woman sat and solved crosswords.
"Hello?" said James.
The woman grunted.
"Exscuse me, but we want some help!"
The woman looked up. "So do I! Reptile wear, 10 letters! Solv that one!"
Sirius stepped forward and leaned on the counter. "Turtleneck."
The reception lady looked down at her crosswords and filled in the word. "It fits! Yes! Now I can send this to Witch Weekly and win 15 Galleons!"
"Now, will you help us in return?" said Sirius. "We're here to see a friend, who's sick in Dragonpox."
"Second floor. Next!"
They were pushed aside by someone who made flushing noices everytime he breathed out.
"Would it kill her to show some gratitude? The crossword master doesn't serve just anyone." Sirius muttered.
They entered an elevator, elevated and stepped out of it when they had reached the second floor. They found themselves in a corridor with plenty of rooms.
"How do we know which room he's in?" Peter asked.
"By looking inside them." James replied and they started looking.
"Eeew what disgusting boils!" said Sirius sickenly and pointed at the patient with the boils.
"That's rude, Sirius! Really!" said James and closed the door Sirius held open.
"Many patients have their heads covered in bandages. Maybe Remus is too." Peter suggested.
"That would explain why we can't find him." said James.
They searched through all the rooms again, calling his name.
"Loony loopy Lupin, where are you?" Sirius sang.
"I'm in here." a voice replied.
Sirius, James and Peter rushed into the room and assumed that Remus was lying in the bed next to a small desk with books. As Peter had predicted, his head was covered in bandage.
"Why do you have to wear that bandage?" James asked.
"The rashes might spread if I don't. Who are you, anyway?"
"You don't even recognise our voices?" said Sirius.
"Should I?"
"We're James!"
"Sirius!"
"Uh, and Peter."
"Oh, I know you."
"Of course you do!"
Sirius, James and Peter didn't understand why Remus was acting so weird. It probably had something to do with his sickness or treatment.
"So, what are you doing here?"
"We came to see you, of course." James replied.
"Why?"
"Duh, I don't know, maybe 'cause we're mates?"
"We are?"
"Really, what are they treating you with?" Sirius asked impatiently.
"Just this bandage, and there's some gross green beverage I must drink every morning too."
"Why do you have books, if you can't see?" Peter asked.
"They remove this bandage at nights."
"So, all that keeps you alive then?" James asked.
"Alive? Well, I did nearly die when I saw me like this in the mirror yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Sirius asked, puzzled.
"Yes."
"But I thought you had been dying in dragonpox for years!"
"Dying in dragonpox? You don't die of dragonpox, there's a remedy for it!"
"Sure, but you must take it once a month, right?" said James.
"Well, I don't really know, I've never had it."
It had to be the treatment.
"But...you said you did?" said Peter.
"When? I'm here 'cause I bewitched my brother's book spurt wart-acid, but he outsmarted me and switched the cover so I thought it was mine and...well, here I am."
Something was definetly wrong. Remus could not be outsmarted.
"Hold on a second, are you really Remus?" James asked.
"Remus? No, I'm his sister, Romy!"
Dun dun dun. All three boys dropped their jaws out of surprise.
"Remus has a sister?" Sirius asked.
"You mean he hasn't mentioned me? What a jerk, I'm not that embarrasing."
"Why did you say you were him if you're not?" James asked.
"I didn't!"
"Yes you did!"
"Did not! One of you just shouted 'Loony loopy Lupin', I assumed it was me. Besides, Remus can't be here now because-"
Romy didn't finish her sentence.
"Becasue what?" said Sirius.
"Because...he doesn't have dragonpox, or any other disease or abnormality. Except for being obnoxious and irritating."
"He lied to us again." said James. "I can't believe it, he said he was dying in chickenpox!"
"Damn, what is he hiding!" said Sirius.
Romy chuckled.
"What's so funny?" James asked.
"Nothing."
"Do you know what he's hiding from us! You must, you're his sister!"
Romy sighed. "I know, yes, but I've promised not to tell anyone."
"You must!"
Romy thought. "Allright, I'll tell you." she said finally. "He's always so secretive, I would tell my friends if it was me."
"Precisely!" said Sirius.
"The truth is...Remus is an AFA member."
"Anonymous Floo Addicts?"
"That's right. And they have meeting once a month and tell eachother how long they have been without Floo Powder and stuff like that."
"When did it start?" Peter asked.
"3 years ago, I think. He thought it would make him look cool."
"That doesn't sound like him." said James.
"Well, the meetings has changed him, obviously! Ever since he gave up smoking he can't go a day without stuffing chocolate and reading! And that smartass attitude of his also proofs that he cares what other people things. He just has to be the smartest."
Sirius and James nodded in agreement.
"Tell me about it." said James.
"Doesn't like it when we copy he's notes." said Sirius.
"Or when we try to see what he's writing during exams."
"My point exactly." said Romy.
A couple of days passed and Remus was back again, taking notes in Charm's class. James and Sirius tried to see what he was writing.
"Why don't you take your own notes?" Remus asked.
"Jeez, I'm so sorry!" said James and rolled his eyes.
"Take it easy, we'll leave your precious notes alone, so don't go smoke anything!" said Sirius.
Nonplussed, Remus returned to his notes.
Charms class was over and they were dismissed by Flitwick.
"Can I compare my notes to yours?" Peter asked Remus.
"Oooo!" said James.
"Oh no, cover your face!" Sirius fake-panicked.
"What are you guys on!" Remus asked irritatedly.
"Takes one to know one." said Sirius
Back in the dormitory. Comparing notes really meant copying.
"Hey Peter." said James nonchalantly. "Can I borrow your notes later? I'd ask Remus but...well, you know."
Remus tried to ignore them.
"Uh, sure." said Peter. "I'm done now!"
"I'll just wait 'til you're finished, James." said Sirius. "I could aske Remus if I can borrow his but...well, you know."
"Ok, guys, you're obviously dying to tell me something so go ahead, what is it? What's this fuss about my notes?"
"What makes you think that?" said James, barely looking up.
Remus tried to stay calm. "Have I done something to offend you? If so, I'm really sorry."
"Of course you haven't done anything. Except for lying that you're dying, in chickenpox which isn't even fatal and caused your sister to grow boils and not letting us know that you even have a sister and that you're a floo addict." said Sirius.
Remus threw his notes to Sirius.
"Didin't I mention I had a sister?"
"No!"
"Well, I do. And the boils were her own fault, her jinx was a little too strong but she's ok now."
"But that's not really what's important here." said James.
"And I'm sorry I didn't tell you that I'm a floo addict."
"You said you were dying! We cried our hearts out!"
"I know, it was a stupid lie. But now you know the truth."
"And why you're so smartassy." said Sirius.
"Smartassy? That's not a word."
"See? There's that smartassyness! How do you know it's no a word, have you read the entire dictionary?"
"Ok, sure, fine, whatever-"
"Don't give us that 'sure, fine, whatever' like you're letting us believe something which is so obviously wrong, that is so smartassy." said James.
"Anyway, I would appreciate if you didn't visit me while I'm at the AFA meeting."
(A/N:Chap 3 coming soon in anyone wonders. Then truth shall be revealed, mo haha.)
