Editing...lalalalala...
Disclaimer: It. Doesn't. Belong. To. Me. Got it?
A/N: How quick was THAT! I'm GOOD! I can't believe I updated so quickly….haha! Hope you like….
Love is a Funny Thing, Chapter 7
The sound echoed eerily over Hogwarts's still, frozen grounds. There was a frenzied battle going on in Lily's head—to call Dumbledore, or go in there herself? She mentally calculated the amount of time it would take to run all the way to Dumbledore's office and back, and realized it was much too long. Instead, Lily focused herself on mustering all her available strength, and propelling herself forward towards Hazel's disappearing shadow—she'd just gone into the Whomping Willow as well.
Looking as if she were sprinting the final few feet of a marathon, Lily, flushed and sweaty (she wasn't one for running) clambered into the opening of the willow. There she saw a big, shaggy black dog. It was already quite big standing on all fours, but she could easily see that on its two back legs, it would tower over Lily by a foot or so. She'd never been particularly fond of dogs, especially big ones like the one she was facing, that normally barked and jumped and slobbered all over her meagerheight of 5"2.
Lily's heart felt like it was pounding in her ears; it seemed to be that loud. And getting quicker by fear from every passing second, staring at the dog. At its vulpine teeth, that would surely swallow her up, or at least mangle her in some way--
A few seconds later, another frightening sound was heard that spurred Lily's brain and body into action. It was a scream, and one she knew well, at that. The big black dog went running towards the sound of the shriek. And she began to run, run and lose sight of whatever she could be leading herself into. For that well-known scream—the scream that sounded whenever her friends tried to jokingly scare her with muggle Halloween masks from Lily's youth—was Hazel's.
It was the scariest thing Lily'd ever seen in her sixteen years. And arguably the saddest, too. It was a THING, really—more like a thing, at the moment, than a being. It was a half-werewolf and a half-person.
Before her eyes, bristly matted grey hair was beginning to sprout up all over the person in question's body and face. The shape of the body changed, like clay being molded into a different shape. The person writhed and twisted and screamed in pain, screams that turned into wolf-like howls as the transformation went on.
And as the—well, the thing—as Lily caught a glimpse of one blue-grey eye that was obviously in utter and uncontrollable pain—she realized who it was. And suddenly, everything clicked into a place, a bright and astounding flash going off that left her blinking in the wake of the sudden realization.
It was Remus. It was the last piece of a mystery puzzle finally fitting in, revealing the big picture for what it was. Everything—the tiredness, sadness of Remus that grew at the full moon. Remus's endless list of sick aunts and family emergencies. The absence of James, Sirius, Remus and Peter from the common room on the night of the full moon—an absence that was felt by all. And the chilling, far-off shrieks that sometimes woke Lily from her sleep in the middle of the night. The shrieking shack's so-called haunted reputation. Everything was neatly laid into place, revealed at last to Lily's wondering eyes.
And boy, did it make a whole lot of sense. She just wished she'd realized it sooner.
Hazel was also watching, in the corner of the room that Lily was standing in the doorway of. Hazel's normally bright features were contorted into a sort of fearful horror. She looked to be petrified, but from shock, and as still as a statue, too.
Dimly realizing that she faced the options of being eaten by a werewolf, however well-meaning it was in its human form—or getting her, as well as Hazel, Michelle and Amanda out of the Whomping Willow (which she now realized was the interior of the Shrieking Shack) safely.
At this moment, Sirius came promptly bursting into the room, catching Lily by her elbow and Hazel by her arm as well. His gray eyes that so often were filled with a sort of pranking laughter and carelessness were now serious and panicked. Lily realized she'd never seen him this way. She didn't really have time to contemplate it, because she and a statue-like Hazel were being dragged along by Sirius to find Amanda and Michelle.
"What's going on, Sirius?" Lily shouted over the wolf's howl that was now filling the whole place. "Where's that dog—that black dog—and what're you doing down here—does Dumbledore know?---and—"
She was cut off by a hand—Sirius's hand, she realized—pressed impatiently to her blabbering lips. It was warm and felt rather nice on her ice-cold face, now that night was starting to set in.
"Don't ask questions," he muttered, still running across the narrowhallway, with Lily and Hazel attached to his arms like weights pulling him back.
"It's—it's—THERE!" Lily shrieked, for the corner they had just rounded revealed one terrifying thing—the huge wolf, fully transformed. It was a horrendous sight—coarse grey fur covering a large, lanky body. Lily could see clearly from her position next to Sirius, its sparkling, curved white teeth. Teeth that looked as if they could rip them to shreds in mere seconds—
Lily was already frantically searching her pockets for her wand, as Hazel stared in shock at the creature. But Sirius seemed to be doing something altogether different—although what, she couldn't say—
"Get into that room!" Sirius ordered commandingly, pointing a finger to a dismal and run-down room to his right. "I'll take care of this---I'll find Amanda and Michelle and return—GO, and LOCK the DOOR!" he shouted at the two girls, who were currently standing and staring at him as he barked commands like an army general. Lily finally found her senses and, grabbing Hazel by the wrist, ran into the room and locked the dusty, rusted doorknob behind them.
Through the thin, chipped-painted wooden door, Lily heard the unpleasant noises of two animals fighting. She recognized the loud bark and fierce growl of what must have been the black dog, as well the ferocious howl of the werewolf. The werewolf that was Remus. Lily still couldn't quite comprehend how somebody so nice, easy-tempered and mild-mannered could turn into something such an opposite. Something so fierce and violent.
She turned around, away from the noise and screams to face Hazel, whose face was white like a ghost's. She hadn't spoken and was staring at the door with a blank and almost hollow expression on her pretty face.
"Hazel?" Lily said delicately and softly, afraid being any louder would hurt her friend, although there were still deep growls and howls to be heard outside.
Lily moved to sit gingerly next to her friend on the dusty, forest-green couch. It was broken down, as was the whole Shrieking Shack—coils and rods visible, ripped holes through the green velvet with ugly yellow foam sticking out. The rug was faded and brown, and there were a few dilapidated, miscellaneous chairs lying around—knocked onto their sides, decorating the room like fallen soldiers.
Hazel's face still seemed to be immovable, not betraying any emotion that she was feeling. Each brown freckle seemed to stand out all the more on her frightened-white face. She didn't show the slightest sign of crumbling under the various events that had just occurred, but remained passive and so immovable, face like a slab of gray, unfeeling granite.
"Hazel—you know, it's really not his fault—I've read up on it, and the only way…well, to transform once a month….the thing is, he must have been bitten by a werewolf. When he was younger. And it doesn't change the way he acts when he's in a human state…it's something he can't…control….Haze?"
Her face seemed to be crumbling slowly now, and tears filled her eyes that eventually spilled over. The shuddering and sobbing seemed more painful even than the bloodthirsty violence that was likely to be going on outside the flimsy door of this long-unused room. For a while, it filled the empty silence as Lily comforted her and let Hazel cry.
Finally, she looked up from her tears, and in her red-rimmed eyes Lily saw that Hazel was sad for him and what it was doing to his life, not for herself.
"And I liked him, Lily. I still do."
After thoroughly discussing the days' frightening events, the girls had quietly retreated to their own corners of the dormitory, and each seemed quite immersed in their own thoughts.
Michelle was lying stomach-down on her thick blankets, long hair beautifully lose and shiny down her small back. She was staring wonderingly out at the sky, as if contemplating something. And, Lily noted, sometimes a small ghost of a smile would appear on her lips, although Lily couldn't guess the reason.
Amanda was sprawled on her back on her bottom bunk bed, immersed in some magazine sent to Hazel by whom else but Hazel's beauty-crazed mother. Amanda had always intercepted these magazines and makeup, not because she was stealing but because Hazel just didn't want them. However, tonight she seemed considerably more subdued than her normal cheerful, energetic self. She hadn't moved at all since she'd plopped down tiredly on her bed to read.
Hazel was perhaps the most difficult to figure out at all. She was alternately scribbling away in her little journal, and also staring at the wall as though it was the most interesting thing in the world. At other times it looked like she would cry, but then stopped. It was odd, but Hazel was never one for openly declaring her innermost feelings. So they all left her alone to her musings.
Lily went over the day's events in her confused and tired mind. Sirius had returned to the room that she and Hazel had been locked in with Michelle and Amanda in tow. Lily had made him sit down and fully explain what HE was doing there, as well as Peter, who'd shown up also bringing the girls with him.
She had to admit it was a rather—well, it was certainly a kind thing to do for their friend. Albeit dangerous, breaking about a hundred school rules in a single go—and tons of other things. Still, Lily found it rather sweet that they all turned into a different type of animal to keep Remus company through his painful transformation.
But there were so many things that could go wrong. If something was just a minute off the whole thing could go horrendously wrong. She now realized how much easier it would have been if James were there. James. Speaking of him, she resolved to go and talk to him tomorrow in the hospital wing. She at least owed him a simple "feel better", on account of him trying to rescue her and everything.
After Sirius had explained all the inner workings of the plan, he'd one by one hoisted the girls out the window by the waist. Lily just now noted that Michelle had been the last one to be lifted out…and that there'd been a small smile on her face after she joined the other three outside. But it was just a coincidence, probably.
Lily also recalled running desperately towards the Hogwarts castle, over the slippery-wet dark grasses. It was probably the quickest she had ever run—she had been terrified of getting caught—and worse, getting her prefect status demolished. Towards Hogwarts, with its windows glowing like jewels. They'd missed dinner altogether but nobody seemed to be hungry. Maybe it was the day's revelations that took their appetites away
With a sorrowful sigh, Lily rolled over and entered dreamland.
A/N: Sorry that the chapter was a touch on the short side. But I didn't mind it—I didn't think it was amazing but it was okay. And now we have a the little beginnings of crushes being revealed—you spotted them, didn't you?
I will try to update regularly, but I have a ton of school and non-school stuff…and other things that may randomly start popping up. I also have cheerleading, which takes up time, as well as my social life too! So it all depends, really, but maybe….oh, maybe it'll be every two weeks? I just don't want to promise anything though, because it takes up time for ideas to form and develop. Also I don't have a set plan for the story…even though it's sort of forming itself (the plan is) loosely as I go along. So…yeah. I can get very sporadic in my updating, but hey!
Lastly, thanks to my lovely reviewers! You guys rock! (Hands out cupcakes to all my wonderful reviewers)
DobbyGrl—aww, thanks!
Jameslover: I'm writing as quick as possible!
Beyonce-85: Updating…lol!
AlmostHome: Hey again! Glad that you liked the chapter and stuff.
Ankaa: Yeah, major temper issues! It's going to change eventually, though. Glad you liked the story.
Someone out there: Yup, I'm updating now!
Craft: See I'm continuing it! (Everybody is shocked…ah well)
It means so much to me if anybody reviews! I really appreciate it, whether it's comments, flames, suggestions. Whatever it is, I'll take it! So please review and tell me what you think…plus you get (imaginary) cupcakes! With sprinkles…now tell me who can resist that!