Standing There By You
Ch. 34- Goodness Gracious
Disclaimer: Let it be known... It's not mine.
A/N: Okie doke, first off, when I was replying to a reviewer I said it was 'Sirius and Grace' from the beginning.. but yeah, definitely didn't mean that the way several of you perceived it, so I'm sorry for any confusion! (I tend to do that a lot, don't I? Confuse, that is.)
Remember, if you have any questions or just want to talk, e-mail me : )
"I have wonderful dimples."
"James," Peter whined, "we're supposed to be playing chess!"
"But I mean," he continued on, peering into the mirror that lay propped up on the side of their dresser, "they're astonishing, really." He tilted his head to the right. "I've never noticed..."
Peter rolled his eyes and moved his chess piece. "Your turn," he told him, waiting anxiously for his next move.
"Right, right," James waved his hand impatiently. With a huff, he quickly turned to the chess board and brushed his piece across it carelessly, before turning back to the mirror. "And this lip. It's quite full, don't you think?"
"Mmm-hmm," Peter mumbled, scanning the chessboard to view his best possible move.
"But not too full," he quickly amended. "You know... I'm starting to see why so many girls want me. I'm extraordinarily-"
"Ha!" Peter burst out happily, knocking James's piece off the board. "I'm beating you!"
"What?" James snapped his head back to witness the game. "Oh... Well, that's only because... Because I need absolute silence to let my brilliance soar free."
"Right," Peter scoffed, leaning against James's bedpost as he anticipated his next move. "Nobody was even talking. Well, except for you." He frowned. "To yourself."
"Not uh," James shook his head, "Remus was."
Peter looked over to their friend, who currently sat hunched over a long parchment, scribbling things down and scanning it repeatedly. He turned back to James. "He's not talking."
James made a face. "He's mumbling."
"No I'm not," Remus muttered, not looking up from his desk.
"See," James tilted his head towards Peter, "he just did it again."
Peter sighed. "Well no one's talking now, so go on and make your move."
James reached out a hand to move his piece, but then retreated it and looked up at Peter. "He's doing it again, do you hear him?"
"No," Peter sighed, as Remus turned around to raise his eyebrows at James.
"I'm not mumbling. You're just-"
"Blast it, no chance of getting any decent chess playing tonight," James announced, standing up and yawning loudly. "But all this talk about food is making me hungry, what'd you say we take a trip to the kitchens?"
Peter turned to Remus. "Were we talking about food?"
"Come on, let's go," James said, falling onto the bed beside him. "Coming, Sirius?"
Sirius rolled over. "No."
James arched a brow. "Are you sure, Sirius?" When he got no response from his friend, he poked him hard in the back. "What'd you say we all take a trip to the kitchens..."
"Nah," Sirius declined, his voice muffled by his pillow, "you go on."
James blinked. "Sirius-"
"And bring me back a piece of Shepherd's pie, would you?" Sirius requested.
Remus looked up. "Same for me."
"No, why don't we all take a trip to the kitchens?" James stared meaningfully at his immobile friend.
This, of course, had no effect, seeing as the only thing in Sirius's view was the burgundy cover of his pillow.
"Sirius, you dolt!"
"Well don't get your knickers in a bunch," Sirius said, sitting up and rubbing his eyes groggily.
James put his face in his hands. "I think we should go to the kitchens."
"That's obvious."
James peered at him through a hole in his intertwined fingers, and motioned with his eye pointedly. "It's Wednesday."
"Great day, really."
"It's nearly twelve o' clock."
"Intriguing."
"Sirius!" James exclaimed. "Don't you-"
Sirius's toothy grin stretched suddenly across his face, his dormant expression gone in a flash as he flipped his bed-swept hair out of his eyes and hopped up beside James. "Just messin' with ya, mate," he said, clapping him hard across the head as he paraded towards the door. "Come on Remus, Peter, let's go to the kitchens."
"Oh, I don't think so," Remus said, shuffling several parchments. "I think I'm going to-"
"Don't make us carry you," Sirius warned, smiling deviously at the reluctant boy.
Remus frowned and finally set his quill aside, mostly because he knew his friends would actually resort to carrying him if they wanted to... and last time they had dropped him on the top stair. "Alright," he said, rubbing his head reminiscently. "I'm coming."
"But what about the chess game," Peter whimpered.
"Yeah, I'll let it go this time," James smiled modestly. "But you'd better be ready for the next game."
Ignoring Peter's protests, he trooped down the stairs along side Sirius. The others followed their lead down the steps and through the common room. Just as they got to the portrait, however, Sirius redirected his path a bit.
Turning swiftly around, Sirius bolted back up to their dormitory, James following closely behind as he dragged Peter with him.
Remus whirled around to see his hastily retreating friends. "What?" he asked, bewildered by the sudden disappearing act. "What are you guys doing?"
His only response was the slam of the dormitory door.
He stared at the empty stairwell with a blank expression, before shaking his head and making his way after them.
He reached out a hand to open the door, but found it hindered by a lock. Still utterly confused, he lifted a hand and knocked on the door. Only silence followed.
"Very funny guys," Remus said wearily. "You can let me in, now."
There was a muffled sound of rustling, and then Sirius spoke up. "We don't speak English."
Remus groaned. Readjusting his stance, he responded, "Ouvres la porte."
More silence, and then, "Remus speaks Spanish?"
"No," James responded, "I think that was Dutch."
"It was French," Remus grumbled. He lifted a fist and pounded harder on the door. "Let me in!"
Sirius paused. "Who's asking?"
The boy heaved a huge sigh. "Remus," he said between gritted teeth.
"Remus who?"
"Remus Lupin, you insolent-"
"We don't know any Remus Lupinyouinsolents, sorry. Now we're going to put a Silencing Charm on the door, so don't bother knocking."
Remus gave a shout of frustration, banging repeatedly on the old wooden door. After a few minutes of this, he realized they had actually cast the Charm, and gave up with a tired sigh.
Sometimes they were just too much for him, he thought wearily, leaning against the railing. He stared hard at the door, as if willing it to open, but apparently he lacked in telekinesis because the door remained still.
"Hello, Remus."
It's a good thing he was holding onto the railing, otherwise the jolt Grace had gave him would've surely sent him flying.
He was in quite the predicament, he decided. To his left was the very girl he'd been trying his best to avoid, and to his right were his irksomefriends and a tightly locked door.
He let out a nervous laugh. "I was just heading to the kitchens," he informed her, ducking his head and hurrying to slide past her. He didn't get very far, however, before she joined him on the midnight quest and down the staircase.
"I'll go with you, then," she told him. "I'm actually a bit hungry myself."
Remus stopped walking immediately. "Oh, you know, now I feel immensely tired... I think I'm going to go-"
"No," Grace said firmly, her cheerful mood now replaced by a defiant one. "You're not getting away this time."
Remus looked from side to side, hoping he showed a confused expression. "What do you mean..."
Grace narrowed her eyes. "You've been avoiding me."
"I- I haven't-"
Grace gave a frustrated huff. "Yes, you have. Whenever I enter the room you hurry out, and whenever I try to talk to you, you throw me an excuse and start up a pointless conversation with someone else!" She looked up and her voice softened. "Remus, what's wrong?"
Remus started determinedly down at the floor. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Grace studied his face awhile, before dropping her gaze as well. "If I was bothering you, you could've just-"
"No," Remus interjected quickly. "You weren't ever bothering me, it's just..." he trailed off, and looked at her with an expression she could not discern. "I'm doing you a favor, all right? You've just got to trust me. If you knew- if, if-"
Grace stared at him though squinted eyes of frustrated confusion, when all of the sudden her eyes widened with realization and her mouth dropped open. "Oh my Word..." she mumbled, "you're- you're doing this because you're a werewolf?"
"W-what?" Remus sputtered. "You- what, how?"
She waved her hand aside. "Well you're gone once a month, I doubt your mum lives in a tree, let alone the Whomping Willow, and you couldn't pass me the silver dish in Potions."
Overwhelmed was an overstatement for the face he donned. "So why- so you and Julie and Lily, you all know-"
Grace shook her head. "No. Well, not that I know of, anyway."
"But... How did only you figure it out?"
Grace gave a small shrug. "I was worried, I guess."
After a few more minutes of insane stuttering, and then eventually silence, Remus looked up at her with something that resembled wonder. "You're still talking to me."
Grace, however, did not share this look.
"Of course I am!" she shouted, her face now screwed up in anger. "I- I just, how could you even think-"
"Oh no, I didn't mean..." Remus tried weakly to calm her down.
"You know, you know, I don't even see how you could-"she stopped her infuriated rambling and took a trembling breath. "What do you take me for then, eh? A prejudice-"
"No," Remus protested, "I just thought-"
"Just thought what?" she demanded. "Why would you assume anyone would care about something like that?"
"Because people do," he answered simply, retreating slightly in fear she'd explode.
"What?" she asked, her eyes running up and down his face as she lingered in a confused state of mind. "Who?"
"A school, two towns, and a girl in the year below us," he responded quietly, hesitantly meeting her eyes.
Grace stared back at him. After a few moments she let out a deep breath and she sunk low into a couch beside her. "Oh," she said softly.
Remus nodded mutely and silence followed this revelation, while Grace twisted her hair with one hand, and fingered a pair of orange and green bracelets she wore with the other. Remus found himself watching her, and turned away quickly when she looked back up.
"Remus," she began, bringing his eyes up to hers with her own intense gaze. "You have to know that I'm not- I'm not like everyone else, all right?" He nodded, so she continued on. "I don't care about what other people think, or if you're different, and especially not that you're plagued with lycanthropy..."
Grace touched Remus's shoulder; suffocation seemed a very near and real possibility as Remus mysteriously lost the ability to breathe. "You know, you're just... you're such a fantastic person, Remus, and anyone judging you is complete bullocks. And- and I think you need to realize that anyone who doesn't give you a second thought because of something you can't even help, doesn't deserve to be in your thoughts, either."
For the first time Remus was able to brush aside the fact that he was staring at the girl he had fancied for too many years to count, and relaxed in her near presence. "Thanks," he whispered earnestly.
Grace nodded, but in an instant her expression darkened. "Who was the girl?" she implored, her eyes displaying the dangerous glint they had before.
"What?" Remus asked, a bit taken aback at the abrupt change of behavior. "What girl?"
"The girl in the year below us," she clarified, "you know, the one you mentioned before..."
"Oh," Remus nodded comprehendingly. He opened his mouth to reply Lamar, but then quickly shut it. "No one," he answered instead.
"It wasn't 'no one'," Grace insisted. "I'm sure you'd remember."
Remus eyed Grace's clenched fists and frightening expression. Smirking slightly, he said, "For fear of her life, and your potential expulsion, I'm not going to tell you."
Grace placed on a reluctant smile and loosened her grip on the sofa cushion. "Fine," she sighed.
A rather uncomfortable lapse of silence followed, sending Remus into an awkward set of throat clearings, and Grace staring at something behind Remus's ear. Finally, Grace broke it by standing up and announcing the time.
"Right, right, sure is late," Remus commented, standing up beside her.
Grace nodded. "Yeah, late..." After neither made a move to leave for several seconds, she reached down and grabbed a fallen bracelet. "Well I'll see you later then, Remus," she said, starting towards her staircase, "Goodnight."
"Night," Remus called back weakly.
His mind raced as she ascended further up the staircase. He should go after her. Shouldn't he go after her? Of course he should go after her. His feet seemed suddenly made of led, however, as he made to follow her and nothing happened.
For a few moments he was sure this had been a prank, like the one in the Owlery where his feet had been charmed to the floor, because his feet were definitely immobile.
Grace's raven hair shook as she turned the staircase, causing Remus to will his feet even harder. There he was, teetering in the spot he stood frozen, sure that some sort of force was against him. Finally, just as he heard the creak of the last step, all the energy he had pent up fighting with himself came rushing out, as he bounded after Grace and up the staircase.
Unfortunately, he forgot a very crucial fact of Hogwarts.
Hastily taking his foot off the step, he realized it was too late as Grace let out a small yelp and came tumbling backwards down the transformed stone slide. This wouldn't have been too bad if she had been expecting it, or descending the staircase, but unfortunately she had been neither, and the odd position she had obtained at the top of the stairs as she heard Remus coming proved to be very hazardous indeed.
She cursed gravity as the one foot she had been balancing on didn't last for long and bent at a very awkward- and painful- position beneath her. It didn't help matters when Remus didn't have the sense to move, and she collided into him at the bottom of the staircase.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Remus apologized profusely, disentangling himself from Grace and quickly backing away. "I'm so sorry, oh, I-"
"S'ok," she said, brushing away his apologies. "Not your fault you forgot about the staircase."
"Right," Remus said, exhaling a huge sigh of relief at the fact she wasn't angry. He stood up and brushed himself off. If he hadn't of been so nervous, the situation might actually of been funny.
He looked down at Grace and waited for her to follow suit. A minute or so passed by, and she still sat on the ground, making slight movements but otherwise remaining still.
"Er... Remus," she said finally, looking up at the confused boy. "I can't get up."
"What?" he asked, "Oh, do you want me to help you?"
"Er, well..." Grace smiled weakly and lifted the edge of her robe. Remus cringed as a swollen and abnormally shaped bump, concealed only by her thin knee sock, came into view.
"Oh Merlin," he mumbled in disbelief. "Oh... do you want me to.. er, I don't know healing charms or anything... the nurse, do you want to go the Hospital Wing, or..."
"Nah," she waved a hand, "I can tough it out. Just give me a hand, would you?"
"Oh, oh of course," Remus said quickly, reaching out for both of her hands and lifting her up gently. She put half her weight on Remus's shoulder, wobbling on one foot and testing the other. "Here," he said, beginning to guide her to her dormitory. Grace resisted a bit at the aide, but gave in as he continued to walk on. "I'll just-"
"No!" Grace wailed. In an instant the same scene had played over, and even though Remus just tipped the bottom step subconsciously, it set him off balance and for a moment their feet even flew over their heads, as they fell back onto the common room floor.
"Remus," she whispered, her voice strained through the pain of her ankle, "you've got to stop doing that."
"I know, I'm sorry- I just can't think straight," he said, scrambling next to her. "Oh, that looks.. not good," he gulped, as he examined her ankle. "Can- can you stand up at all, or..."
Grace nodded her head as she grabbed onto Remus and heaved herself up. She let out a small yelp and fell back quickly onto the floor, tears of pain springing to her eyes. "No..." she grimaced, "guess I can't."
"I'll take you to the Hospital Wing," Remus said, looking around frantically as if a random stretcher would pop up out of nowhere. "Erm..."
"No... that's okay," Grace shook her head. "Just, take me to that couch, would you?"
Remus nodded and bent down next to her awkwardly. Since walking was not a near possibility, he hesitantly slipped an arm under her neck and knees, and lifted her off the ground. Stumbling quickly across the common room, he set her on the couch and retreated his hands immediately, letting out a huge breath at the completed task.
"Hey," she said indignantly, pushing herself up with her elbows. "Don't breath heavily like that, it's as if you're insinuating I was too heavy for you."
"Oh no," Remus hurriedly explained, "no I wasn't-"
Grace gave a slight grin as she settled back into the couch. "Oh lighten up Remus, I was only joking."
Remus emitted a short "Oh," and tried his best to smile back. He glanced around, his eyes falling on her sock covered injury. "It could be broken," he said, his voice filled with concern. "You know, Madame Pomfrey could fix it up in an instant-"
"Uh-uh," Grace shook her head. "I detest doctors. It'll heal by itself, I'm sure."
"Healers are different than doctors," he persisted. "And Madame Pomfrey's really good, you'll see."
"No." Grace crossed her arms stubbornly. "I just need to sleep it off."
"Well, I can't just leave you here..." Remus stated, staring uneasily at the adamant girl before him. His eyes lit up as an idea sparked in his mind; he pulled off his top layer of robes and unfolded the material to reveal his wand. Bunching the black material in one hand, he held his wand in the other and muttered a quick freezing charm. The robe turned a frosty pale blue, hardening with a thin layer of ice yet still flexible enough to move.
Grace watched with interest as he ever-so-carefully wrapped the ice like garment around her tender ankle, tucking the excess ends into the cushion beneath her. "Is that all right?" he asked cautiously, looking critically over his makeshift work.
"Yeah," Grace nodded, sinking lower into the couch. "Feels much better."
Remus nodded in return, shifting uncomfortably on his feet as he watched her settle further into the couch, unsure if he should leave her alone or not.
"I'll be fine," Grace answered his un-asked question. "You go on and get some rest, it's getting really late, and I'm about to fall asleep anyway."
"All right," Remus said, quickly tucking the iced robe in further so it wouldn't come loose. He tilted his head at her before turning around and heading towards his staircase.
He only stepped onto the bottom stair, however, before lingering a few moments and then finally turning back towards Grace. "Are you sure you don't need anything else?" he asked.
"Mmm hmm," Grace said sleepily. "Positive."
"Okay," Remus nodded. He had only lifted another foot up the staircase, before twisting back around. He opened his mouth and his words came out rather quickly, as if they'd been tumbling inside for quite awhile. "I know I broke your ankle and all," he rambled, cringing at his own words, "but, well you didn't even say if you um- were the same, and I'm not quite sure if you do, or if you were just being- you know, but well... I hear butterbeer is really, really quite good for the healing process... um, not that, you know... just a quick healer, and... well..."
A smile traced the corners of Grace's lips. "I'd love to go to Hogsmeade with you, Remus."
Remus's jaw dropped open. "Really?" he asked, unable to mask his astonishment.
"Really," she nodded. Suppressing a bout of laughter, she continued, "How could I not? What with butterbeer being such a good healer, and all."
"Right," he agreed, mentally applauding himself for the sudden burst of genius. A broad smile spanned across his face and he turned to hurry back up the staircase. "Well, goodnight then," he bid happily.
Grace smiled after him as she watched him scramble up the stairs, and disappear higher and higher until he reached his dormitory.
The grin had still not left his face as he climbed the last stair. Nothing could ruin his mood, he thought cheerfully, as he reached out his hand to open the door.
"I don't hear anything," Sirius whispered. He currently stood smashed against the door, his ear pressed hard below the handle. "Do you think they're snogging?"
James shrugged, setting his glasses on the nightstand and climbing into bed. "Flick off the lights, would you?"
Sirius straightened up and frowned at the door. Shrugging as well, he obliged James and flopped onto his own bed, muttering a quick, "G'night," before falling into a deep slumber himself.
"Guys..." Remus called weakly, knocking his head woefully against the doorway. Sighing, he leaned against the rail and ticked off his options. He could stay here all night, pounding on the door in vain, curl up and try to fall asleep on the hard and rickety stairwell, or go back downstairs into the common room.
Really, really tough decision.
A/N at the Bottom
L.M. Robertson- Thanks : ) Your reviews always make me feel soo good, and they really do inspire me to write faster. Thanks again!
Asterisk- I wonder... How long it'll take you to find out it's you. Hmm... I'll give you a clue. You're a juggle that's insanely afraid of hyphens. That'll do, genious, that'll do.
Dreamlessnights- Ugh, I know how that goes (lack of words, that is) Sorry you can't keep up with me, lol. Thanks for the review!
FreckledIrishMaiden- Yes, it does suck when someone avoids you. Poor, poor Grace. Oh by the way, it's fourth year : )
RavenSiriusBlack- I can always count on your reviews to be... unique. : ) Thanks mucho! Ah, when I'm writing this it's Thursday, so Happy Birthday!!
MidnightPrincess- Ha. Ha. You're a funny girl, funny, funny girl. : p Thanks for the review!
MilesFromNormal- Aw, that review tops the charts! Thanks bunches, I really, really appreciate it. You have a great ability to write, too, and that's why I enjoy your story so much : ) ::sigh:: I can't believe you're nearing your last chapter... do you plan to start any other stories? (Besides a sequel)
Misakichi1- Yes, she's very, very confused. But also quite brilliant ; ) Thanks for the review!
Ninde Annare- Hello! As always, thanks for your wonderful words!
Jess- J. K. Rowling... I'm flattered to be compared ; ) Thanks for the awesome review! (See you at tennis...)
Dance-flirt- Whoops, sorry to confuse you like that. I say one thing... and mean another... yeah, you get the picture. Or do you... Ah well, hope it's all cleared up now! Thanks loads for the review, nice and long, too. : )
Curiousknowitall- Aw, I would be disappointed too ; ) I'm glad you like the lengthiness, thanks mucho for the review!
Secret Lily- I'm glad you think so : ) Thanks a lot for the brilliant review!
Zayne- Lol, I like powdered sugar on my waffles too! It's just the first thing that came to mind. Poor James, : ) Thanks for the review!
Sarah Warder- Thanks (as always) for your wise words ; ) Oh, and thanks for the review, too.
Sapphire039- Yupyup, I wish I was like her, too. Oh, about the Marauder's Map, if I remember correctly, they made in their fifth year. Thanks for the review!
Imperishable Stars- Myes, he is quite the cutie... Did I use it right? Did I? Hehe.. yay, new words. Thanks for the review!
Oliverwoodschic- Sometimes it's the smart ones that are stupid, and the stupid ones that are smart. Ah yes, wise words. Use them... er, wisely. Thanks for the review!
Lanette- Well, at least I warned you ; ) Thanks for the review!
FairyPrincess13- Oh boy, sorry for your dislikingness. Can't please everyone, now can we? : p Hmm... what does the stew remind you of?
Ieyre- My sentiments exactly. I mean... they're the Marauders... and Sirius is supposed to be all daring and rash. Psht. That's what I say. Psht. Thanks for the review!
Espergirl04- Grace power! Woo... hehe sorry about that. Yes, your review described exactly what was going on : ) Thanks sooo very, very much!
Dark Blossem- Hello! Welcome to the world of fanfiction : ) I'm glad you like my story, and I hope you continue to stay with me, thanks loads for the review!!
Siriusismine- Hehe, I'm glad you liked the duck joke ; ) Thanks mucho for the review, I just love 'em!
A/N: Hello, all! My mood's perked up a bit since last update, which is lucky cause next chapter is rather light. Now... Anyone who's questioned the Remus/Graceness of it all, I must just say I hope you see why I've done it this way... No other girl (in my story, anyway) would've been that er... persistent, and Grace was just what he needed to snap out of it. Thanks for reading, love ya bunches ; )