Chapter 5
It's good. It's good. It's Good
The next day, Sarah was off to finding another thing to do while stuck in the monotone castle. It was 9:00, and it was Saturday. Sarah walked down the hall and knocked on Remus's door. She had only just woken up, so she was still wearing pajama pants and a big gray sweatshirt.
"Come in!" Remus's voice called from inside. Sarah opened the door and gasped.
"Remus!" she said.
Remus looked up from the couch, where he was reading a book. "What?" he asked, looking alarmed.
Sarah walked in the room and shut the door behind her. She peered around the room in fascination.
"What?" Remus asked again.
"Your room is like…Ten times bigger than mine!" she said angrily.
Remus threw his head back and laughed. "Minerva is in charge of the room placement, don't get mad at me."
Sarah balled her hands into fist and huffed, "I should have known! She hates me!"
"She doesn't hate you. She was very concerned for you when you showed your bulimia," Remus joked.
Sarah snatched his book from him, and swatted him with it. "I am not bulimic! That's disgusting, Remus! And how did you know anyway?"
"Know what? About your vomiting episode?" he asked. Sarah hit him again.
"I was sprinting the 800, Remus!"
Remus laughed again. "I know, I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. Minerva told the staff about it at a faculty meeting."
"A faculty meeting? Why wasn't I there?" Sarah inquired.
Remus looked nervous now. "Err…Well it was a special faculty meeting…" he said hesitantly.
"An order meeting?" Sarah offered.
Remus looked at her with wide eyes. "How do you know about the order?"
"My mom was in the original one. She went to Hogwarts, you know."
"Really?"
"Yes. But she left the order when she moved to America. She changed her mind about the war and everything; she left the wizarding world completely. She was furious when she found out that she passed the gift to me."
"So is there some kind of family feud between you two?"
Sarah shook her head. "No, she let me go to school. She was more angry with herself, really." She looked around the room again. "Hey Remy?"
"What did I do to deserve that nick name?" he asked, raising one of his eyebrows.
Sarah giggled, but didn't respond to his question. "Do you mind if I'm nosey and I snoop around to see how big your room actually is?"
Remus rolled his eyes. "Sure, why not."
Sarah walked out of Remus's living room into the room beside it, which turned out to be his bedroom. It was very organized, a skill that Sarah lacked. The next room was a bathroom. It had 2 sinks, a toilet and a large tub that Sarah was immediately jealous of. She walked back into his bedroom and then opened his closet, which was much larger than hers. There were no more doors to open, so Sarah went back into the living room, where Remus was still reading.
"I've decided that I really like your bathtub," she said.
"Alright."
"Can I use it sometime?"
"You want to use my bathtub?"
"Yes."
Remus stared at her for a while and then turned his head back to his book.
"I'll take that as a yes," Sarah said, and saw a door to Remus's right that she had not been into. Sarah walked across the room and opened the door and screamed.
Remus jumped up and raced to her side with his wand out. "What's the matter? There's nothing in here," he said, after looking around the kitchen.
"Nothing in here? Nothing in here?" Sarah breathed incredulously. She walked into the kitchen and over to the stove and laid across it. She moaned and closed her eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"Do you use this?"
"What?"
"The kitchen."
"Oh, no. I eat in the great hall. Sometimes in the school kitchens. I'm a horrible cook. I can make eggs though," Remus responded.
"I want to live with you," Sarah told him.
Remus laughed. "Do you cook?"
"I love cooking. It's just about the only thing I'm good at."
"I suppose you could this kitchen if you wanted to-"
Sarah screamed and threw her arms around him. "I love you!" she shouted and kissed him on the check happily. Once she relished him she squealed and then ran over to the white cabinets and opened them. She laughed and looked over her shoulder, "you must serve guests all the time, Remus. You have two bowls in here!" Remus chuckled. "When are you leaving?" Sarah asked him suddenly.
Remus looked confused. "For what?"
"For that convention thing."
"Oh, not until Monday. I won't be back for 2 weeks."
"Oh. Do you want to go for a walk?" Sarah asked him.
Remus nodded and they both went out to the grounds where there were students everywhere. Ron and Hermione were both laughing hysterically, fighting over and large bottle of soapy water, which Ron ended up pouring all over Hermione.
"Are they dating?" Sarah asked Remus.
"Not yet. But they will by the end of the year. They argue like a couple, and they also love each other like they were a couple. It's just a matter of time."
"What about Harry and Ginny?" Sarah asked him.
"They dated last year, when Harry was 16. But they aren't getting along. Harry has a temper and Ginny is stubborn and she isn't very happy with being pushed around."
"He's a nice guy though. He showed me the kitchen after our first class."
"I know. I think you remind him of his godfather. He's a bit free spirited, like you."
"Who's his godfather?"
"Sirius Black, he was a very close friend of mine. He was murdered 2 years ago."
"I'm sorry," Sarah said softly. "Who murdered him?"
"His cousin did. She was a death eater."
"Harry mentioned them earlier. What are they?"
"They work for Voldemort. They often do his dirty work for him."
"Ah. Who does Harry live with now? If Sirius Black died," Sarah asked.
"He never lived with Sirius. Sirius is a convicted murderer, you see. He was never proven innocent."
"What happened?" Sarah asked. Remus explained it to her, and at the end she was staring at Ron and Hermione. "How did Sirius die?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange pushed him threw a veil. He disappeared and the order never found him."
"That's horrible. How long have you known him?" Sarah asked quietly.
"He was my best friend ever since I was 11."
"I so sorry, Remus."
Remus shook his head and glanced over Sarah's shoulder. "Uh oh. Look," he said. Sarah turned around to see Harry and Ginny standing by a tree screaming at each other.
"How long have they been there?"
"A while, I was talking to you though, so I didn't say anything," Remus responded.
Ginny and Harry were pointing their finger's at each other. Sarah gasped when Harry raised his fist and she took a step forward. Harry hadn't done anything, but Sarah looked horrified anyway.
Remus noticed her. "Are you alright?"
Sarah coughed. "I'm fine. I just…Nothing."
Remus looked at her strangely, but he didn't say anything.
"So…What's that convention thing you're going to about?" Sarah said, trying to change the topic.
"It's a two week…I want to call it a civil protest. It supports werewolf's rights. We're trying to get the ministry of magic to change its laws that restrict werewolves from everyday activity."
Sarah stared at him. "Certain laws regarding werewolves should stay intact, I think. I believe that the law stating that all werewolves supplied with the wolfbane potion are required to use it, is pertinent. I mean, if we just let transformed werewolves roam around unsafely-"
"Not those types of laws. Laws that restrict werewolves from obtaining certain jobs, and that keep them from owning specific property."
Sarah gasped, "That's horrible! The ministry of magic discriminates against werewolves?"
"Err…it's not just the ministry of magic you know."
Sarah's eyes widened. "That is awful! I want to come to the convention!"
"Then who would be my substitute?" Remus asked, smiling softly.
"Oh…Yeah. I forgot. I'm not used to all of this discrimination and prejudice. It's not like that in America. Werewolves are free there."
"Sounds like a nice place. I've only been there once, I'm afraid."
"Really? When?" Sarah asked.
"At Lily and James Potter's wedding. Lily used to live in America before moving to Europe and then getting accepted to Hogwarts. So she had two weddings. One here and one there."
"Really? I had a friend who did that. I was a bridesmaid at her wedding."
"Who?" Remus asked.
"Lauren Caps. Got married to a bloke here. Come to think of it, I think she moved here as well. I think she went to school here."
"At Hogwarts? Isn't that ironic."
Sarah laughed. "It is. She was my good friend when I was about 10 or 11. She moved and we lost contact. Anyway, we found each other like…8 years later. She was engaged and everything, so she asked me to be one of her bridesmaids. It was a really fun wedding."
Remus nodded. "Lily's as well. I was an usher. Sirius was the best man."
Sarah sighed. "Remus, since you'll be gone for two weeks, can I use you bathtub?"
Remus rolled his eyes. "You're straight forward aren't you?"
"I don't beat around the bush. So can I use it?"
"I don't think that's very appropriate—"
"Oh please, Remy, it's not as if I'm going to run around the school screaming, "I used Remus Lupin's bathtub! I used Remus Lupin's bathtub!" Sarah said.
Remus laughed. "That's even more inappropriate than using my tub in the first place."
They reached a very tall tree and they sat down underneath it. "Remy—"
"Calling me that incredulous nickname isn't going to get you anywhere."
Someone snorted from beside Remus. "As if 'Moony' is a lot better, Professor," a feminine voice said.
Remus and Sarah looked up to see Ginny grinning down at them. "Hello Ginny. Have a seat," Remus said.
Ginny sat down in front of Sarah and Remus. "Did you have a fight with Harry?" Sarah asked her.
Ginny looked up at her. "Yeah. He's so stupid."
"All men are stupid, Ginny," Sarah said, grinning.
"Hey!" Remus said, glaring at Sarah.
Ginny laughed. "Chill out, Remy," she joked.
Remus scowled. "You don't want me to take away house points do you Ginny?"
Sarah laughed. "If you did, I would just add them back, Remy." She said.
Ginny grinned. "Professor Bern, I was in the library trying to do that essay you assigned us, but I couldn't find any books on the topics you suggested."
Sarah ignored her and turned to Remus. "Lovely day isn't it Remus?" she asked him.
Ginny frowned. "Professor I—"
"Are you talking to Professor Lupin or to me?" Sarah asked her.
Ginny frowned again. "You," she responded.
"Well my name isn't Professor Bern is it?"
Ginny smiled in recognition. "Oh. Sorry. Sarah, I was in the library trying to do that essay you assigned us, but I couldn't find any books on the topics you suggested," Ginny said, correcting herself.
Sarah smiled and turned to her. "I thought you all might have had a problem with that. I think the reason is that the school library is completely devoted to school books. I doubt that Dumbledore found the need to put such books in there, seeing as he probably never expected that to be a subject anyone would ever teach here. I suggest you visit a wizard bookstore that contains less pertinent books. Better yet, if you get a chance to go into a muggle bookstore, you'll find something," Sarah explained.
Ginny nodded. "Alright, it's a Hogsmeade weekend; I can pick up a book while I'm there. Thanks Professor." Sarah coughed. "I mean, thanks Sarah."
Ginny stood up and walked to the castle. Sarah noticed that the busy grounds were emptying out. "Remus, what's a Hogsmeade weekend?" Sarah asked him.
"Hogsmeade is and all-wizard village. The third years and up are allowed to go off campus to Hogsmeade on certain weekends."
Sarah's eyes lit up. "So it's like a shopping center, right?" she asked him.
Remus stared at her. "I don't think I'm going to answer that," he said.
"Why not?" Sarah pouted.
"I don't like the mad glint that you're getting in your eyes."
Sarah laughed. "There's no mad glint in my eyes, Remy, now answer my question."
"Yes, it's like a shopping center—"
Sarah squealed and grabbed Remus's hands and pulled him to his feet. "Oh my gosh, you have to take me, Remus."
Remus rolled his eyes. "Come on, we'll sign up for chaperones," he told her, walking with her towards the castle.
"Remy!" Sarah whined.
"What?"
"I don't wanna go as chaperones! Can't we just like…go? I don't want to have to baby-sit stupid children the whole time I'm there!" she said.
Remus stopped once they were in the castle. "There's no way for teachers to get there except by the chaperone carriage…but if you can be trusted…"
"I can be trusted, Remus, now just take me threw the probably illegal way you plan on getting there!" Sarah said.
"Alright, but you're not allowed to tell anyone about this."
"Never!" Sarah said dramatically.
"Sarah you're exasperating," Remus told her.
"I am not!" Sarah argued as she followed him up a few flights of stairs when they came to a strange statue of a one-eyed witch.
"Okay, here we are."
"What would possess an architect to carve such a pathetic—"
"Dissendium"(A/N I thought that was the spell but correct me if I'm wrong) Remus said softly, tapping the witch's hump with his wand. Sarah gasped as the hump opened.
"Sarah, be quiet!" Remus told her when they arrived in Honkeyduke's cellar. Sarah had tripped over a box of chocolate and gave a angry yell when she saw it had gotten all over the bottom of her pajama bottoms.
"Sorry!" Sarah said as she tried to wipe the chocolate off. Footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. Remus cursed and grabbed Sarah by the arm and pulled her into a dark corner. The worker saw the box of spilled chocolate and looked around. He caught sight of Sarah's shoe and began to walk towards them.
"Hey! Ye aren't Allowed down 'ere!" he said gruffly at them. They could both tell he was very angry.
Sarah looked at him. "Oh my goodness, look sweetie, we apparated to the wrong place. Sir, could you kindly point us towards the Village Of Hogsmeade?" Sarah asked him, faking a British accent. Sarah drew herself closer to Remus, placing one of her arms around his neck and the other on his chest.
The man glared at them. "Alright, I'll let ye by this time, but if ye do it again ye in for it," he said finally after a long minute of Sarah batting her long eyelashes and smiling flirtatiously at him.
"Thank you," Sarah said and pulled Remus up the stairs with her.
"Clever, Sarah, but you won't get lucky next time."
"Oh please, Remus. I had him eating out of the palm of my hand. You'll find I can be a very persuasive person when I want to be. And besides, it was your idea to come here illegally."
"It's not illegal! It's just that know one knows about it."
"Uh huh, sure," Sarah said. When they got to the door to exit Honkeyduke's, Remus held it open for her and she walked out. She grinned.
"Does it meet your standards, Sarah?" Remus asked.
"You make it sound as though I'm hard to please, Remus."
