A/N: Okay, I lied; there's another chapter. I felt inspired last night and whipped this out, considering that the chapter and the next are sort of recaps for me. Nevertheless I hope you like it! I've decided to switch from Remus to Hayden's point of view from one chapter to the next. You know; one chapter is from Hayden's POV and the next is from Remus POV.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own HP, but I do own all OC's and the plot.
Chapter 7: Meetings and Secrets
June 30th
It was finally June and only a few days away from the last of the month and the last of our sixth year; how it flew by with such ease, though the times were a bit harsher then some were use to. The impending fear of our seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where setting heavy on the sixth years that month, knowing it was just two months away that we would become seventh years and then in ten more months would it all be over. Though the seventh years were busy with the two day N.E.W.T testing, several looked thoroughly thrashed by the testing while others cried over it. Even some fainted in the middle of lunch while studying between testing. None of the sixth years looked forward to that next term, though Lily looked worse every day just thinking about it. Before we realized it, the term was over and the seventh years had graduated (though Hogwarts didn't give a graduation ceremony), some going straight onto their careers of choice while others would set off for home for a few months before going off to work in the Wizarding community. It could be said that most would end up working for the Ministry of Magic in one form or another.
The end of term feast was boisterous as it always was each year; the experience new to Avril while this was only her first term with Hogwarts, but the girl looked happy to know another would soon follow close behind. I wondered if she secretly wished there had been others. I watched my friend's laughing around me, James having just bum rushed Lily with an assault of will-you-go-out-with-me questions right after he hexed some unsuspecting Slytherin only moments ago in the corridor before entering to the Great Hall. Sirius and Avril holding hands beneath the table, the two having gotten together in May, just two months ago. Hayden was talking to me in our hushed discussion as her silver-white-haired-head leaned again my shoulder, listening to me intently. Peter and Morgan both piled food onto their plates, while Morgan's boyfriend sat beside her shaking his head with laughter.
"You really can't make it to visit me?" Hayden asked me, our fingers intertwined beneath the table.
"I'm afraid I can't. How would I get there? I hate flying the muggle way; no control over anything," I said, filling my goblet with Pumpkin Juice with my free hand. At least I was telling the truth somewhat.
Hayden shook her head. "I could come and see you then," she said softly.
I had known she might say that, but this time I had an excuse. "My mum and dad are taking me with them to visit an old family friend of theirs," I replied.
Hayden seemed to deflate like James often did. "Oh."
It was easy to tell she was rather saddened by the whole thing. "I'll write, plus it's only for two months," I responded. "Or will you miss me so terribly you'll die without me?" I teased.
Hayden smiled warmly. "But of course," she chuckled.
"Should have known," I said jokingly, watching the light from the torches about the room, play against her skin. The pale freckles that went with her tan skin looked as though they had been sprayed across her cheeks and nose perfectly by an artist. Then again that's just my opinion. (I'm the one dating her after all!)
I watched Dumbledore rise as the dessert filled the tables a few hours after the meal, and gave a rousing speech about the great times the seventh years would always remember having while at Hogwarts and that, that years Quidditch was the best he had seen in quite some time. Several students laughed looking over to where Avril sat with us; the Slytherin table not all to happy with the reminder of their loss ignored the laughter digging into their dessert.
Sixth year had certainly been interesting.
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The train ride home on the Hogwarts Express was rather silent in our compartment. I opened my mouth to say something when an older woman passed by our closed door asking if anyone wanted something from the trolley. Avril promptly stood throwing back the door, rushing the woman for several chocolate frogs and several turkey sandwiches. I really didn't want anything, but Hayden bought a few things as well, sharing them with me before the door closed again after James and Peter had bought a fair amount chocolate frog and once again we were shut into our silence that was becoming awkward.
"So what is everyone doing this summer?" Lily asked finally breaking the silence.
"I'm going to Paris with my father and little sister," Morgan smiled warmly.
"Paris, that's sounds so beautiful!" Lily and Hayden exclaimed. I wondered briefly if Hayden would ever want to go there with me.
"Yeah doesn't it? We're leaving as soon as I get home!" said Morgan.
"I'm going home to relax a bit before my parents sweep me off somewhere to see an old family friend," I spoke up. "No running around the school at all hours of the night to worry about."
James, Peter and Remus laughed at this. "I've tried talking him into coming to visit me, but he won't, says it's too far!" Hayden pouted.
"Well, when you live on an island between Greece and Turkey I would too," Avril smiled softly.
"Where?" James asked cocking an eyebrow.
"My parents own a nearly empty island in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey. They rent out the Villa's on there for Witches, Wizards and Muggles looking to get away…for something more exotic," she said, making a face as her hand traced an hourglass figure in the air. "It's rather boring out there, but then again all my brothers are coming home this summer so…"
"Even Cole?" Avril asked, remember the eldest of the Fredericks clan of siblings.
"Yeah, says he misses everyone," Hayden smiled, missing her oldest brother.
"Bet the twins are happy about that," I mumbled.
"Not so much," said Hayden. "They can't get away with as much stuff with Cole there."
"So where are you going?" asked Avril, looking to Sirius as he rested his arm around her shoulders.
"To my own flat," he smiled broadly at this declaration.
Several questioning glances went out, the small group knowing that Sirius had run away from home and had been staying with James as of late.
"My Uncle left me a bit of money when he passed to help me along. So I got a flat in Diagon Alley above Borden and Burkes that they were renting out during our last Hogsmeade visit," he explained as the train pumped onwards. "What about the rest of you?" Sirius asked looking between his friends's.
"Home to sleep like hell," James replied.
"Going to visit my grandmother in Wales," Lily said, brushing her hair over her shoulders.
"I've got to go see my grandparent all this summer," Peter frowned heavily; Sirius, James and I, chuckled and laughed at our friend's misfortune, knowing that the boy hated his mean, belittling grandparents.
"Back to the States," said Avril. "My…our Uncle had a house there and he left it to me. It's in San Francisco, California."
"I completely forgot about that!" James mumbled.
"How are you planning to get there?" Morgan asked "I mean I thought oversea travel is really hard to do, unless you're going the muggle way."
Avril shrugged while she said, "Portkey."
"…Portkey?" it was my turn to ask; as I unwrapped a chocolate frog Hayden had given me.
"Yeah. I've got a Portkey that Madame Fangrey gave to me," Avril explained. "It'll take me to S.W.I first then I can fly down under a disillusion charm."
"I've always wanted to see what Salem Witches Institute looks like!" Lily gushed, her eyes glazing over with the thought.
"So have I," I said, "I hear that they've the largest library in Wizarding history!"
James and Sirius shook their heads. "Bookworms," they mumbled.
"I hear the girl's there are really hot!" James laughed, making signs with his hands to indicate large breasts and Sirius barked out continues laughter shared between the two.
"Giving up on Lily?" asked Hayden
At this James looked over to Lily that was sitting across from him with her lips in sneer. "Well she wants to completely deny that she kissed me and won't even go out on one little date with me, so why not," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
Lily suddenly shot her fists into the air. "YES!"
James frowned and turned his head to look out the window at the moving landscape as the sky was darkening. "We must be getting close, it's getting dark," he mumbled.
"So; does that mean the two of you are going together?" Lily asked, looking between the brother and sister.
"Yeah," said James as he watched the landscape move past the glass window. "Mum doesn't want her to be alone."
"Oh," Lily said, nodding her head in understanding as she watched the aforementioned girl roll her eyes. "So that's why you two don't have your trunks with you."
"Yup," Avril said.
"Best to send them on, than to have to try and land with 'em when we port to S.W.I," James replied.
"Makes sense," I smiled softly.
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As people filed off train at Platform 9¾, people rushing to their families while others slowly made their way to them, I walked with Hayden to a slightly empty spot on the platform, (only about five or four people were running through it). Holding onto her arm I kept her close as she looked at me rather worriedly.
"Listen," I said, taking her hand softly into my rather callused ones, rubbing my thumb over her soft skin. "I really wish I could see you over the summer, but I just can't. If you've an owl; write to me okay?"
Hayden nodded her head while I dug through my robes, pulling out a piece of rumpled parchment, handing it to her.
"My address is on it and the place where I'll be at," I said, as she gave it quick look over before pushing it into her jeans pocket.
"Remus I…," she trailed off, making me wonder what she'd say, but when she didn't finish her sentence, I couldn't help but smile and wrap my arms about her shoulder, pulling her into a hug.
"We're acting like we won't see each other for years!" I laughed, feeling her bury her face against my chest, her hands wrapping about my waist protectively.
"I'll definitely miss you," Hayden said sadly.
I chuckled, despite the slightly, serious situation. "I won't miss you one bit," I lied, teasing her a tad, my fingers gliding across her sides, tickling her.
Her sweet laugh rose into a crescendo, her hands fighting mine back from her sides and their merciless tickling. My eyes paused to rest on her painted lips that made them look more soft to my eyes and before I realized it, my hands had stopped their tickling and were resting on her hips, pulling her towards me. Our lips crushed against one another's and I felt her melt against me; I loved that and I didn't mind causing it. As our kiss deepened I heard someone cough almost to the right of us, but I paid no attention to it, as what did I have to do with us, but it continued annoyingly. Still we kissed; her tongue ran smooth across my lips and I couldn't help but smile as I granted her entrance. Our lips, captivatingly glued together; ---- I could live with that.
Suddenly the coughing turned to chuckles to our right still and a voice called out, "Ah, Hayden dear."
Hayden suddenly yanked from our perfectly good kiss, a rather startled look set upon her face.
"Mum!" she cried out.
"Oh shit," I thought. "Great way to meet the parents. Let them run in on your snoggin'!"
I turned my head, to spot an elegantly, tall, dark older woman. The silky, brunette colored hair was loose about her shoulders in what were the most singularly, beautiful waves Remus had ever seen in his life. The woman bore a smile on her graceful, striking features while her dark brown eyes smiled as well; the laugh lines about her eyes and mouth gave the truth that she laughed quite a lot and Remus found himself relaxed in her presents.
"Mum this is ah…ah, this is Remus Lupin," Hayden fumbled over her words, the blush I had wondered many times how far it went, once again crept across her cheeks.
"Ah, the infamous Lupin," Mrs. Fredericks replied, reaching out for my hand. I quickly shoot her hand, feeling her firm grip.
"Infamous?" I asked, rather nervously.
"The enormous prat's wrote to Cole and told him I had a boyfriend, so he told mum and dad," Hayden grumbled.
I only needed one guess as to who the prat's where considering they had just got off the train and spotted us with large, identical, evil grins---- just like usual.
"Honey, where're Nick and Wyatt?"
A man, half-a-head taller than me, took up stand next to Mrs. Fredericks. His pitch black hair was slightly balding in the back and his mouth and eyes had greatly visible laugh lines like Hayden's mother and I knew instantly that he had to be Hayden's father. Not for the way his arm, wrapped about Mrs. Fredericks waist, or how he called to her; but the light freckles that appeared sprayed across the bridge of his nose and cheeks like an artist had put them on, and the bits around his eyes like Hayden's own.
Hayden was the spitting image of the man, minus the wonderful mixture she had acquired from her mother's elegant beauty. Though Hayden wasn't very elegant at times, now was she? I couldn't help but laugh at the idea when the man looked at me as though he had just spotted me for the first time.
"Love; this is Remus Lupin," Mrs. Fredericks replied.
"Hello, there. I'm Hayden's father," he smiled, reaching for my hand, pulling it into his rough and callused own. "Ah a working man, huh?"
"Nice to meet you Mr. Fredericks," I smiled back.
Hayden looked rather confused. "You can always tell if a man has ever done a day of hard labor in his life by his hands," Mr. Fredericks explained.
"Oh."
Mrs. Fredericks rolled her eyes. "Ignore her father; he's an idiot at times. Aren't you love?"
Mr. Fredericks laughed a loud, quite cheerfully. "I suppose so," he said.
"There you two evil little conspirators are!" Mrs. Fredericks suddenly said, as the twins approached. "Thought you'd get your sister into trouble by saying she had a boyfriend, huh?"
"Boyfriend?" Mr. Fredericks said abruptly, turning to look at me.
"Oh shit," I thought again.
"So that's you?" he asked looking me over.
I nodded my head meekly as I felt Hayden's hand slip into my own and her father's eyes catch sight of the gesture. I considered pulling my hand away from hers, but knew it would more than likely insult her and get me into hot water with her.
The older man laughed just as abruptly, when he said, "Good! At least she picks 'em good!"
I felt my face reddening. "Dad!" Hayden hissed.
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I was rather grateful to get away from Hayden's parents and the whole uncomfortable situation, but not before Hayden had managed to crush a kiss against my lips. As I disappeared into the crowd I felt someone grab onto my arm. I turned around to see that it had been Avril who had gripped my arm.
"Remus I want to give you something," she said, I gave her a rather confused look as the younger teen dug through her bag pulling out a large vile of liquid in a light silver and slight green tint of color. I felt my heart skip a beat. Panic striking hard.
"What…," I questioned, shaking my head while my heart raced.
"I figured it out a few days after we asked what your guys' animagus forms were, but you refused to tell us," she explained, putting the vile into his hands. "I figure the bit of it you took from me that day in Potions has long since been gone and I wanted you to have this during the summer."
I knew face looked as pale as death and if possible paler than Avril herself who but smiled softly. "Suppose it's safe to say Sirius, James and Peter know which would explain why they decided to become animagus'. You don't have to worry about me; I'm not going to tell anyone. What right would I have to tell when you've kept my secret?"
Avril turned, closing her bag, watching me stuff the vile carefully into my trunk before I said, "I…I…thanks." I smiled weakly.
"Don't worry about it," she said with a smile. "That's what friends are for…or at least that's what I heard!"
I chuckled. "Avril…do you think…Hayden could handle it, you know if I told her?" I asked, truthfully hoping if she could give me an answer.
The girl shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows, she's been friends with me since I was nine and we still are! And look at what I am!" she laughed. "You'd be surprised what Hayden can handle, she's rather laid back and very accepting…unless of course you're Sirius."
We laughed as the crowd parted a bit, giving show that my parents were looking for me a bit down the platform, as was James for Avril.
"Well I guess I see you back here in September," I said, smiling softly.
"Yup," she said, waving to me. "Bye!
A/N: Another ending! Avril has found out, but will Hayden? Dundundun! Lol. I've got to visit with my beta reader to get a hold of my other story she's editing. XD