Chapter Four
Sickness
"Remus. Hey, Remus," Peter whispered through the dark.
"Wass wrong, Pete?" he asked, poking his groggy head out of his hangings.
"I-I-it's nothing," came the reply from somewhere near the window.
Feeling very confused and very annoyed at being woken, Remus uncurled his body from his quilt and shuffled across the circular dormitory towards the other boy's silhouette on the windowsill. "C'mon, tell me what's wrong. You didn't wake me up for no reason."
It was only as Peter turned his head slightly, that the weak moonlight caught his face and Remus saw a long trail of tears streaming down Peter's red cheeks. "Peter!" Remus slung an arm around the boy's shoulders, "What's wrong? Please tell me!"
Raising a trembling hand, Peter brushed at his cheeks, "Home. I miss home."
Remus looked at the portion of moon, a crease appearing on his brow. "Me too," he whispered. "But would you give all this up? I mean, we're wizards Peter. Real wizards and we get to learn real magic."
"I guess."
"C'mon. Try and get some sleep, we've got lessons in the morning and I don't much like your chances of skipping Transfiguration when McGonagall is head of Gryffindor."
A weak smile played on Peter's lips as they shuffled back towards their beds.
"I'm sure it'll get easier," Remus said as he slipped back under the covers.
"I hope so," came his voice.
Remus' eyes watched the moon through the gap in his hangings his mind lingering on the countdown until the next full moon. Without realising, he was stroking the scar on his wrist again. He wondered how many more he'd have in a months time.
*
A handsome barn owl landed at the Gryffindor table and thrust his leg out under Remus' nose.
"Keeping up with the news are we?" came James' voice and he collapsed into the chair opposite Remus.
"I like to read," he said stupidly. A blush began to creep up his neck.
James laughed, "Once your finished, hand it over." He pushed his glasses up his nose. "I may not spread it around but I quite enjoy browsing the Prophet every now and again."
Remus disappeared behind the news paper but almost immediately recoiled. "Oh no."
James looked up from buttering a piece of toast, raising his eyebrows. "What's happened?"
Seemingly unable to speak, Remus handed over the Daily Prophet in silence.
ST MUNGLO'S HEALER MURDERED:
DARK WIZARD STILL AT LARGE
Esteemed Healer and mother of two, Marguerite Bletham
was found dead during the early hours of this morning by
her husband, Maximum.
The third death in as many months, the Ministry of Magic
is beginning to show clear signs of cracking under pressure.
Rumours abound that Healer Bletham's death is connected
to the wizard branding himself Lord Voldemort and that the
Ministry is not doing enough to bring him to justice.
The Bletham children have been moved to a family residen-
ce out of fears that Lord Voldemort will return to hurt them
as well.
James' face fell. "My Aunt knew her," he said simply.
"I met her once," said Sirius over James' shoulder, clearly having read the article too.
"What bit you?" said Remus absently, lifting a spoon to his mouth.
"Nothing," said Sirius, his eyes fixed on Remus. "Why did you say that?"
Another brilliant flush began to fill Remus' face. "Oh, I was bitten by a rather angry crup once." He did not meet their gaze kept spooning porridge into his mouth. "She was in charge of the bites ward."
"Oh," said Sirius, sliding onto the bench next to James. "Is that how you got the scar then? I would've thought a crup bite wouldn't have scarred." He began piling bits of bacon onto his plate.
"I, er, didn't go straight to St Mungo's when it happened." He shifted his gaze upwards. "Sirius, doesn't that owl usually take things to your cousin?"
Sirius looked up to see a black and grey feathered owl circling above him, a red envelope clamped in its beak. He paled. "Oh, no."
"Who's sending you a Howler?" asked James.
Sirius audibly gulped, "That'd be my mother." The owl finally landed upon his shoulder and dropped the red envelope onto his bacon and eggs. The bird swept away instantly. The letter began to smoke. Without so much as another word, Sirius snatched the letter and ran from the hall leaving a smell of burning paper behind him.
Over at the Slytherin table, James saw Narcissa smirking and mutter something to a blonde boy beside her. He laughed loudly, the cold sound sending chills down James' spine.
Remus looked over his shoulder, following James' gaze. "I bet it was her," he said.
James nodded, "There's something weird about that one." He handed the paper back to Remus. "I heard you talking to that Peter last night. He seems a bit weird too."
Remus stared, "He misses home."
James shrugged heavily. "So do I. You don't hear me crying at two a.m. and waking up the dorm."
"Aw James, no need to run into the bathroom to do it," said Remus before he could stop himself. He flushed.
"You know something, Remus?" said James getting to his feet and stretching.
"What?"
"We might just be able to make you fun after all."
*
Climbing into bed that night Remus reflected upon their first few days at Hogwarts and how wonderful it had been to really use magic. He pulled the hangings around him and lit his wand tip with a whispered, "Lumos." The light caused him to smiled widely, pick up a book and nestle back into his pillows. Something underneath them crinkled. Keeping a thumb in his desired page and resting his wand at his side, he slid his hand under his pillow and extracted a parchment envelope. Thin slanted writing spelt out his name and he slit it open and pulled out the letter inside.
He picked up his wand again and aimed the light onto the page to read:
Dear Remus,
I am afraid the full moon is almost upon us and as agreed with your parents before your arrival, certain measures are to be taken. At sundown on the 5th September I will ask you to meet Madam Pomfrey in the Entrance Hall. If anyone should enquire as to your whereabouts or indeed, see you leave with her, I will leave it to you to decide on a suitable enough alibi, if you indeed choose to use one at all.
Upon your return, I shall meet with you.
Regards,
Professor Dumbledore
A heavy weight settled inside Remus' chest that had so recently been filled with a buoyant joy. Only one day left before the great and terrible pain. Brilliant.
