The train ride was long and dreary. The two sat talking more about the past trying not to reveal anything to the muggles that were in the car with them. It became difficult to speak of anything worthwhile without the slightest mention of magic so the two tried to start conversation with their fellow passengers but no one was very talkative that day.
Kim wanted desperately to take out her notes to study for her upcoming Auror training course. As she was about to start her last term she needed to brush up on a few of the more foggy points but she dared not as the books were filled with moving pictures and her notes were scribbled on parchment and that wouldn't look too normal. So Kim curled up in her seat and turned to the window to nap.
Remus felt Kim stir against him and when he looked over she had her back against him and her head leaning on the wall with her eyes closed. She didn't look too comfortable. He smiled as he watched her shift her weight so she could find a suitable spot to rest her head. He then reached into his bag that was at his feet and pulled out a rumpled up jacket.
"Here. It should be a bit better than the wall." He said shyly handing her the jacket.
She smiled sleepily and took the coat and placed it under her head as a pillow.
Remus smirked to himself. Step 1: be a gentleman.
The old lady across the car smile at him, which was the first sign of life from the other occupants.
Kim shifted some more and soon was asleep.
Remus spent the time by trying to take a nap himself. But he just didn't feel comfortable. The young man that sat next to the old lady was coughing and the other man kept rustling his newspaper. Somehow the noise that wouldn't bother him normally, kept him awake. He shifted positions and leaned ever so gently upon Kim's side to keep himself in the chair and he felt her shivering. When he opened his eyes to look at her she looked pale her skin was covered in goose bumps. Once again he reached in his bag and pulled out his cloak, which he had taken off for the train ride so muggles wouldn't get suspicious and threw it over her gently tucking it in behind her shoulders. Kim shifted in her chair and woke suddenly with a scream.
"What?!?! It's okay! It's okay." Remus said grabbing her into a restraining yet comforting hug. "Shh. Sweetie. It's okay." He brushed her black hair out of her now red eyes as he comforted her.
Kim was breathing heavily. She looked over at the other people in the car and her senses came back to her. "I dreamt that the train crashed." She said after a while. "Can I talk to you outside please?" she asked Remus.
"Yea. Of course." He said sweetly. He stood and helped her up and led her outside the car. Once she shut the door he spoke. "You're eyes." He said.
"What about them?"
"They're red." He wrapped his cloak around her shoulders again as she fixed her eyes.
"God, you're freezing! What just happened? Are you okay?"
"Yea. Just a little creeped out."
"What happened?" he repeated.
"Well, I was standing on a hill and every one was there. We're talking everyone. You, Aunt Molly, Uncle Arthur, the kids, Sirius, Lilly, James, Dumbledore, everyone, even Harry. Even people I don't know. And I was stepping back to admire you all and to take a picture and I slipped and fell. It was like I fell off the edge of the world. But I was holding onto it with one hand. My feet were dangling off of it and I was screaming for help but no one could see me. I was invisible to you guys. Then all of the sudden you stepped up to the edge of the hill and you saw me and took my hand trying to pull me up and this witch that we didn't know came and hit you and you let go and I fell. I was screaming and I just kept falling and falling. Then I saw you leaning over the edge and you just kept getting smaller then you started crying and your tears fell on me as I was falling into darkness. When I hit the bottom I was still alive but everything hurt and I couldn't see anything. I didn't know where I was. I was so scared it was real. It was so real it scared me." She confessed.
"Oh Kim..." he said as he pulled her into a hug. "I would never let go of you no matter what was happening to me." He whispered as he closed his eyes.
He
held her until her breathing slowed to normal and the lead her back
into the car. There they sat together in a comfortable silence his
arm around her shoulders and her leaning into him. Remus couldn't
help but notice that she fit perfectly in his arms.
They
stood on the porch of a beautiful Victorian style home surrounded by
nothing but acres of land, their luggage next to them. Remus knocked
gently on the door.
"Remus!" Bert exclaimed when he
opened the door. He gathered Remus up in a bone-cracking hug. "And
you must be his better half?" Bert said turning to Kim.
She smiled. "If you call it that." She laughed and shook his hand.
"Remus here never did tell us your name."
"Ah, It's Kim." Bert laughed his hearty laugh as he picked up two suitcases and lead them through the door.
"Honey it's Remus! Come say hello!" he called into the living room. Cindy a slightly plump, curly blonde haired girl walked into the hallway wearing a large grin.
"Remus!" she Squealed happily as she hugged him just as Bert had done. "I'm so glad you got our letter. We were afraid that you would still be on vacation."
"Well, one of my neighbors sent all my mail to me at the place we were staying." Remus said retiring the hug.
"So you did go together!" Cindy exclaimed in her high-pitched voice as she noticed Kim for the first time. "Hi!" she said sweetly turning to her. "It's wonderful to finally meet you! I'm so glad you could come and be a brides made for me. I know it seems a bit sudden it's just Remus tells us so much about you that I practically feel like I know you like a best friend anyway. Besides, Remus here is going to be the best man! He never did tell us your name though. We thought for a second he was making you up."
"Nope." Kim said glancing at Remus. "I'm perfectly real and my name is Kim." Cindy then pulled her into a large hug that one would give to a best friend. Well, I think its time to show you where you're staying.
