A moment later the horde of Gryffindor's descended upon them. No one appeared to even notice Sirius and Xenia, and James was giving anyone death looks if they even went near the apparently empty chair. Lily and Remus went back to studying.
Erin, being Erin, couldn't just sit there and be bored. "Harry, let's go do something."
"What?" He whispered back acutely aware of the sound in her voice. That usually meant she was up to something…and sometimes she had good ideas…other times, well he couldn't really blame her, he had his own share of stupid ideas.
"Well, we can go see if anyone wants to go for a stroll and talk…" Then she ran a finger along his arm. "Or we could go down to the beach like we did a couple of weeks ago…" Her tone was very suggestive and Harry had a very hard time convincing himself that it wasn't the best idea in the world…
"As good as that idea sounds…" And it really sounded good. "I don't think that should be our first priority right now." Not that he knew what should be…but if they got started kissing there was no telling when they would stop.
"Ok." Erin said pretending to be a bit hurt. "I'll go talk to Remus and see if he wants to." She stole a heated kiss from Harry first. He had no idea how she knew where his lips were, being invisible, but she did. And he definitely wasn't complaining…except maybe the kiss was so short…Harry had to stop himself from thinking anymore on the subject.
Erin got up and made her way carefully across the common room to where Remus was sitting. She knew she couldn't sneak up on him because of his acute sense of smell and hearing. "Hey." She whispered.
"Hey." He said back smiling a little as he pulled his book over the calendar he had been looking at.
"Werewolves?" Erin smirked as she saw what was on the page. "I don't think you need to worry about that."
He turned the page as if that would stop the innocent subject. "It's pretty crowded in here, I think I'll go out for a bit of fresh air."
"Mind if we join you?" Erin asked with a tone that meant 'we're coming whether you like it or not'.
"Sure." Remus said like there was never any saying no. In truth the boy had a hard time saying no, that was how James and Sirius talked him into so many stupid and reckless ideas. They walked across the common room and Erin slapped Harry's knee as they went by.
Harry quickly got up and found Erin's hand as Remus led the way out of the common room and out of the castle. Erin stretched and breathed in the cool evening air. "Ohhh, it's the perfect night for a run." Her and Harry became visible. Erin was stretching and looking like she was enjoying herself. They walked along quietly for a while. Remus looked so depressed and well, not like the Remus they knew. Their Remus was laid back and confident and in truth most of the girls in their class had developed crushes on him because he was the way he was…but this Remus was quiet, withdrawn and shy. "You know, Remus, we love you and everything you are."
Remus looked up surprised and her tone implied she knew. "You know? Did I tell you?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, Erin knew way before I ever did…but it was never a big deal with us."
Erin grinned. "You're my godfather, how could I not know?" She decided that telling him that much wasn't giving anything away.
"You're family." Harry said. "Or as close as we can be."
Remus nodded accepting their explanations. Erin looked at him trying to see his face, but he was looking down again. "It's almost the full moon, isn't it?" Remus nodded. "So that's why you're so depressed. Hey, I have an idea! Why don't I go along with you? We always have such fun during the full moons."
Remus nodded about why he was so depressed, but sighed. "I don't think fun and full moon go together in the same sentence. And what if I hurt you?" He was actually feeling a little glimmer of hope, since she obviously wanted to go with him, but he didn't want to hurt her. He didn't want to hurt anyone.
Erin laughed. "Oh, of course, I didn't tell you. I'm an Animagus, a wolf, so of course you won't hurt me. Werewolves are only dangerous to humans." She said that for Harry's benefit. "We always romp around during the full moons and you always say you remember everything better with others around you."
Remus bit his lip thinking it over. He never remembered anything while he was a werewolf. He just knew he was tired and sore and often covered in scratches and bites. But if what Erin was saying was true then… "I'd like that."
"Great." Erin said. "We're gonna have a lot of fun. Just wait and see."
"The only one I've told is Lily…" Remus smiled a little. "She understands…"
Harry smiled as he remembered what Remus had said about his mom being there at a time when no one else was. "We're here." He said. "We're not going anywhere, at least not in the way we feel."
Erin was looking at Remus again. "You know you're not like the man we know."
He looked a little startled. "Well, I guess everyone changes some…"
"The man we know is laid back and confident and you look like a stiff wind could knock you over." Erin sighed. "You become one of the best wizards in the world, Remus. All of you do…"
"Really?" Remus asked. Sirius was always telling him that and then he would tell him he needed to toughen up. If Erin said they would then he guessed Sirius was right.
"Absolutely." Harry said. "I know that you've taught me so much, really advanced magic, that well…not a lot of wizards can do."
"I'm glad." Remus said. "That we're so close. That we're family…ah…well, that we will be someday." He wanted to ask so many questions, but knew that he mustn't. "We must be fighting Voldemort, I imagine."
Erin's eyes went wide. "Oh my goodness…Remus, excuse us for a moment. Harry…" Erin dragged the startled boy a little ways off. Remus just nodded and sat down.
"What?" Harry asked.
"I know why we're here! I really know why we're here!" She said excitedly.
"Why?" Harry asked eagerly.
"To help our parents become who they were meant to be! It's pretty obvious none of them are really like we know them…or have heard about them…I know it's why we're here, Harry!"
Harry thought this over in his mind. "Are you sure?" He wasn't saying she was wrong he just didn't see it from all angles.
"Yes." Erin nodded. "Remus told me that everything seemed to happen to them at the end of their third year! Remus told his friends about being a werewolf and they all were all trying to be Animagus, those that weren't already. It's also when they began to grow up and accept responsibility! He told me all about it! He just left out a few details. And…oh, I'm going to kill him! I am going to kill him!"
"Because he didn't tell you?" Harry grinned.
"Definitely." Then she grinned. "We'd better get back before he decides we were just a dream."
"Yeah." Harry said taking her hand in his and they went back to where Remus was sitting.
"Hey." Erin sat down next to the boy and Harry sat down next to her.
"Hey." He said looking out into the sunset.
"Remus, is the reason you haven't told Dad and the rest about your condition that you feel like they won't want to be around you anymore?" Erin asked.
Remus nodded. "I'm a werewolf, an awkward and potentially deadly friend to have around."
She sighed. "You know Remus everyone has something about them they would like to keep secret, that they don't want anyone to know. I remember when I told Harry my secret, I thought he would hate me forever."
Remus looked at Harry. Harry grinned. "I don't hate her."
Remus chuckled, between the two of them that was pretty obvious. Erin leaned back against Harry and he put his arms around her. "You two seem to know me pretty well."
"Well, we know you better than we do our parents." Erin swallowed and tried to hold back her tears but then she turned burying her face in Harry's shirt, crying. Harry put his arms more tightly around her and stroked her ebony hair.
"Oh, please don't cry." Remus said. It just broke his heart to see her like that. "Was it something I said?"
"Not exactly." Harry shook his head. He kissed the top of her head trying to soothe her and rubbed her back.
Erin hiccupped as she tried to stop crying. "No, it's ok…" She dried her tears, but didn't move from Harry's embrace. "It's just that we really don't know our parents…"
"Well, maybe now you can." Remus said. "And when you get back maybe it won't be so bad."
Erin nodded. "Perhaps…" She took a deep breath and then looked over at Remus. "Hey, do you know a student named Eugenia Mulflower?"
"Uh…yes…I…uh…" Remus grew bright red. "Hey! I don't think this time warp is very fair!" They probably knew tons of things he didn't know…but he couldn't imagine telling either of them about Genie. For once Remus' face wasn't sad and Harry and Erin giggled to see him so fiery. "How do you know about her?"
Erin laughed. "I'm a Legilimenist."
Remus slapped his forehead. "Of course, I had to have a goddaughter that could see my memories."
Harry grinned and shook his head…although he wondered just how much Erin knew about him and what he thought…well she did say she blocked her friends, sometimes something got out, but not usually. Erin suddenly stopped laughing. "Well, unless someone else has a nose that size I think we're in for some very unwelcome company."
Remus groaned. He knew just who the girl was talking about. He didn't need to turn to see that Snivellus was coming right for them. "Why can't that slimy git just leave us alone? It's not like he doesn't have something better to do."
"Oh, I have wanted to punch him out since first day of classes…or really go postal with my wand." Erin looked around noticing the boys were looking at her. "What? You can have your turns too."
Harry laughed. "I'll have just as much fun watching you beat the snot out of him as doing it myself."
"Go for it." Remus said. "The bloody git deserves what he gets."
"Yes!" Erin said sitting up.
By this time Snape had gotten to them, he hadn't changed much since he was 13 or 14. The same greasy black hair and hook nose. Even those beady little devil eyes were the same. "Well, well, what have we got here?" He sneered. "Where are yer friends, Loony? They can stand up for themselves, they know how to fight! Yer nothing but a coward, just a no good mud-blooded coward."
Remus went pink from his neck to his hair. "Shut up, Severus."
"Now?" Erin asked. "He has no right to insult you like that."
Snape looked down at Harry and Erin, he didn't know who they were and frankly he didn't care. Harry shrugged. "Now's a good time as ever."
"He's all yours." Remus said.
"Yes!" Erin practically leapt on the unfortunate (but greatly deserving) boy, her fists smashing into his face and chest.
Immediately Snape began to scream. "Get her off me! Get the wild bitch off me!" How right he was about Erin being a wild bitch.
Remus and Harry were laughing their heads off, but after a while they decided they should get Erin off him since it would do no one any good if Snape was beaten to a bloody pulp. They both took an arm and dragged her off. "Ah man…" She whined.
"Just savor the sweet smell of victory." Remus suggested as Snape tore off toward the castle. He was so fast he might have been summoned there by the 'Acchio' spell. "That was great!" He said.
Erin laughed and kissed both Harry and Remus on their cheeks, though she lingered on Harry's a bit longer. "That was great." She said happily.
"I can't wait to tell Sirius! He's gonna flip!" They headed back to the castle.
"That I beat up Snape or that you received your first kiss from a girl?" Erin said teasing him and grinning.
Remus went bright red. "I…uh…" Why did she have to be so blunt? Of course she was a Black. Harry laughed at the way Remus was acting.
