It was early January, the fifth. Lily had just returned the day before and She, Severus, and I had just eaten breakfast and decided to take a stroll around the frozen lake. We were halfway there when we saw a group of people on the grounds. We walked by, trying to get a better look.
The Headmaster and the four Heads of House were there, along with a few people I didn't recognize, who were wearing robes with "M.O.M." emblazoned on them.
"What's going on here?" I asked despite myself. Professor McGonagall shooed us away, though, telling me to mind my own business. We shrugged it off, spending the rest of the Sunday relaxing and getting ready for tomorrow, the first day of school since winter break.
That night, at about midnight, I was awoken by Madame Pomfrey, asking me to dress warmly and meet her in the corridor. I bundled up and left the common room. Madame Pomfrey led me up the stairs and through the entrance hall onto the grounds. I gasped at the sudden cold, pressing my mittened hands against my face for warmth.
We walked a ways out in the snow, and I saw a shape loom out of the dark, illuminated by wand light. I peered through the fog, but couldn't make it out. Finally, we reached the shape. It was a baby willow tree, swaying gently in the wind. Around the tree, which stood about seven feet tall at most, were the Heads of House, Dumbledore, Fudge and a few Ministry people, and Lupin, who waved listlessly as I approached.
"Wh-what's going on?" I asked, looking at the tree. Professor Dumbledore waved to the tree and explained.
"This tree is actually a guard for the door. The opening in it's roots is the mouth of a tunnel which leads into Hogsmeade, the nearest town. At the other end is an abandoned shack you and Mr. Lupin here will stay in on the full moons, so you are no longer a danger to any other students."
Professor Sprout took over then. "Now, you must be careful, dears. The thing is," She picked up a handful of snow and packed it into a ball. I watched curiously as she chucked the snowball at the tree. Suddenly, one of the tree's branches lashed out and smacked the snowball like a whip, turning it to powder again. I gasped, putting a hand over my mouth. Lupin laughed.
"Wicked!" He grinned.
"Yes, very wicked indeed, Mr. Lupin," said Professor Sprout. "This tree could knock you unconscious, or worse. And it's not even fully-grown yet." She pointed to the roots. "You see that knot on the root?" We nodded. "If you prod that knot with a long branch, the tree becomes paralyzed for thirty seconds. Enough time for you to run into the tunnel. Any questions?"
"Er… it get's bigger?" I asked. I thought it's whipping branches looked formidable enough already.
"Yes, by the next full moon, it will be at least twice this size." Professor Sprout handed Lupin a branch. "Go ahead, try it."
He reached out with the branch tentatively. The willow tensed. He prodded the knot and it froze up, swaying gently again. Lupin led the way and we slipped into the hole. The tunnel was narrow, but there was a good half a foot between the ceiling and my head.
We walked a good few miles or so before reaching a small opening. We scrambled out onto the worn wooden floor of the shack. Lupin coughed as dust blew into his face. It was cold, and we could hear the shack's walls creak in the wind. "Hmm. Cozy." I muttered. Lupin Sniggered. I grinned. I pressed against the wall. "Will this really hold us?" I asked as the planks creaked ominously under my hand.
"I hope so." Lupin looked around and shivered. "It's creepy. I don't like it."
I sighed. "I know, but we'll get used to it." I hope. "Come on. I'm cold and I wanna go back to bed."
"Me too." He followed me through the tunnel. I was afraid to reach out when the branches slapped at my hands. My arms were too short to reach the knot. Lupin reached out and tapped it fast, and the tree froze. We climbed out and cleared the branches just as they began swinging again.
Madame Pomfrey led me back to the Slytherin common room, while McGonagall led Lupin to Gryffindor. We waved bye at the stairs.
I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
What a way to start the new semester. Late.
I rushed into Defense Against the Dark Arts five minutes late, with hastily pulled-on robes, a crammed book bag, and an empty stomach. "Sorry, Professor," I muttered as I passed Prof. Crook's desk. He nodded.
"Quite alright. Now today, students," He boomed despite his frailty, "we will learn about water monsters, particularly the Kappa and Grindylows." We opened our books to chapter ten and took notes as Crook taught us about the Japanese water-monkey demon, Kappa, with a bowl of water on its head-its source of power. If you tricked it into bowing, the water would drain out and the Kappa would be powerless. The Grindylow was a creature native to Europe that had a thin body, but an unbreakable grip. He claimed there was a family of them right here in the lake, but I doubted it.
After Transfiguration and Potions, Severus and I met Lily, who went to get a jacket from her dorm, at lunch. We laughed about Amelia Bones's cauldron exploding, then we trudged through the snow to the frozen lake.
I stepped out onto the slippery ice, waving to Sev and Lily, who were making a snowman. I had been helping, until my hands went numb. I peered into the ice. There was no movement. "Hey! Do you really think there's a bunch of Grindylows in there?" I called to them.
Sev shrugged, and Lily shouted back, "Maybe he was just discouraging us from swimming in the lake?" She threw a snowball at me, but I dodged it, laughing. I tediously slid back to them and threw a snow ball back, but she ran behind Sev, and I hit him square in the face. He looked surprised for a moment, then laughed and threw one at me. We continued the fight, one-on-one-on-one, until our faces were red and frozen and we could hardly breathe. Then we had to go to class.
I got to Ancient Runes soaking wet. Professor Carter, a tall, pale man with slicked-back black hair and round, thick glasses, gave me a disgusted look as I tracked water and snow through his classroom. I grinned innocently and sat down. Lupin was falling asleep in the desk next to me. We had been up way too late last night. Class started, and I had to keep throwing bits of paper at Lupin to keep him awake. He'd sit up suddenly and look around, startled, but I would be busy writing away.
After double Potions, which I didn't have with Sev or Lily, and Herbology, I walked into the castle at nearly sunset to eat dinner. The trip from the greenhouses to the castle had been a cold, wet, windy one, and I was sneezing as I sat down between Lily and Severus. It was warmer sitting between them and I smiled. "Thanks, guys. You're my Human heaters, now!" I joked. Lily laughed, but Sev's mouth was full, and he almost choked.
After dinner we hung out in the charms corridor, talking. Lily was telling jokes and we were laughing when we heard someone down at the end of the corridor.
"Hey, Sssslythies!" We turned and saw James and his friends sauntering down the hall towards us. Sev and I, who had been sitting, stood up hurriedly, and Sev drew his wand. I hesitated, seeing that Lily had hers out, too, and I drew mine.
"What do you want, Potter?" I demanded, putting on a brave face.
"I heard from a reliable source that you slimy gits beat up a couple of my friends over winter break, Fawkes. Is that true?" I shifted my feet nervously. Lily stepped in between us and Potter's group and faced Sev and I, looking incredulous.
"You two beat someone up?" She asked, upset.
"N-no! Lily, we didn't! Really!" Severus pleaded. I cut in.
"Wait, Lily. It's my fault. I threw a snowball at Lupin and he got mad. Then Pettigrew stepped in and we had to defend ourselves." I looked at her earnestly, and she sighed and turned on Potter.
"Well, see, Potter?" She huffed. "If your friend knew when he was beaten, he wouldn't have gotten hurt."
"Now wait just a minute!" Lupin jumped forward, angry. "That's not how it happened, James!" He was blushing, apparently embarrassed that I'd made it sound like he was the victim and Pettigrew was protecting him. "I threw the snowball at Snivellus first-"
"I told you not to call him that, Lupin!" I screamed. He ignored me and continued.
"-and then she threw one at me, and then Peter stepped in, but he got levitated and was helpless. I had to help him and Fawkes hexed me!" He was breathing hard. He drew his wand, too. I could tell he was trying to look tough.
"So… is that how it happened, Fawkes?" Potter raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, it is." I raised my chin haughtily.
James reached over and put his hand on Lupin's back, then pushed him out in front of himself. Lupin looked confused. "Step forward, Fawkes." I did. "Alright, Remus. Get her."
"Er… what?" He bit his lip.
"Get her back, Rem." He nudged him. "Duel her."
"I, er… how?"
"Both of you hold your wands at the ready and bow." We did, nervously, never taking our eyes off each other. Severus took a half-step forward, but I hissed.
"No, Sev. Let me have a lash at it." Severus reluctantly stepped back by Lily. Black and Pettigrew watched intently as James continued.
"Now… GET HER!" He yelled, making Lupin jump.
"S-stupefy!" He stammered. The curse missed me, and I shot one at him.
"Impedimenta!" I got him, and he was blasted off his feet. He flew towards the three behind him, but they parted and he landed twelve feet away on his back. He stood up, flustered and angry, rubbing his tailbone. He screamed his curse.
"Reducto!" I tried to stop it, but couldn't. I threw my hands up in front of my face.
"Protego!" A wavering force-field formed before me. The curse bounced off and hit a torch, which was reduced to ash instantly. I sighed, but it wasn't my spell.
"Aw, Snivellus, you ruined the duel! Rem was gonna win, you dolt!" Potter and Black laughed, Pettigrew joining in nervously. Lupin looked scared. He obviously hadn't intended to send such a powerful curse my way. Sev rushed forward, but instead of hexing James, he tackled him.
James, flabbergasted, fell onto his back, Severus on top of him. Sev punched James once in the face, splitting his own knuckles from the force of the blow, then he grabbed James's collar and jammed his wand under James's jaw. James cried out in pain and fear. His eyes were wide, and a drop of sweat trickled down his neck and onto the tip of Severus's wand.
Getting over his shock, Sirius Black grabbed Severus and tugged his wand out of his hand. He slammed Severus against the wall, knocking the air out of him. Lupin helped James up. James pushed his glasses up and stowed his wand away. "Hold him!"
"No, James!" I ran forward, getting between him and Severus. "Don't hurt him!"
He pushed me aside. Lily tried to stop him, but Lupin and Pettigrew held us off. Black pulled Sev up onto his feet and held his arms behind his back. James grinned and plunged his fist into Severus's gut. Sev cried out as the wind was forced out of his lungs again. He coughed, and James punched him again. He doubled over, but Black pulled him upright again.
I cried out. "Stop, James, please!" I started crying. "James, please!" I begged. Lupin bit his lip, wand pointed at me. He turned to James.
"Er, James, I think that's enough, now" He piped up.
"Shut up, Remus! I'll say when it's enough!" He clouted Severus in the face. There was a sickening CRACK! I yelped and put my hands over my mouth. Tears were rolling down my face. Severus glared up at James angrily, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. James laughed. "Had enough, yet, Snivellus?" Severus scowled, then spit in James's face. James yelled and rubbed the blood-filled saliva off his cheek. He grabbed a fistful of Sev's hair and pulled his head back.
I couldn't watch anymore. I shoved Lupin into Pettigrew. They both went down. I ran to James and grabbed his arm, drawn back for the next blow. Lily kept Lupin and Pettigrew from stopping me. I tugged on James's arm, sobbing uncontrollably. "JAMES, ST-STOP! P-PLEASE! DON'T HU-HURT H-HIM!" I broke down, falling to my knees and hanging on his arm, crying my eyes out.
"Oh? And what do I get out of it, Fawkes? Huh?" He glared at me and let Sev go. I stood up and glanced at Sev. His head lolled on his shoulders, and there was a huge bruise forming on his jaw, which looked broken. I turned to James and whispered a deal in his ear. He looked satisfied and nodded to Black. "Let him go, Sirius. We're done here." Black released Sev, who crumpled to the floor. James led them away.
As they walked by, Lupin stopped and muttered to me, so only I could hear, "I am so sorry." He passed by. James halted, turned around. "Oh, and don't snitch on us, y'hear? You fell down the stairs, Snivellus." He whirled around and left.
I rushed to help Severus to his feet. I put his arm around my shoulder and my own arm around his waist. He winced and groaned, holding his stomach. Lily retrieved his wand and we helped him to the Hospital Wing.
Madame Pomfrey was shocked. "What happened to you, dear?" She inspected his jaw and his bruised midriff, fussing over him. He opened his mouth, angry, but I cut in.
"He fell! The stairs moved and he lost his balance and fell to the landing." I looked at my shoes. I glanced at Severus. He glared at me, but said nothing. Pomfrey gave him a smoking goldenrod potion and his bruises slowly disappeared. He opened and closed his jaw as it healed. We thanked Madame Pomfrey.
"You kids be careful on those stairs, they can be tricky!" She warned as we left. We were silent as we made our way to the stairs. Lily said goodbye and we murmured back, then we parted ways. Sev and I remained silent down to the dungeons. You couldn't cut the tension with a chainsaw. I looked over at Severus, nervous. He looked positively furious. He looked straight ahead, refusing to pay attention to me.
"Don't worry, Fawkes," He said as we neared the common room. "I won't fall." He said it in a deathly quiet voice and quickened his pace, swishing past me, muttering the password, and slipping into the common room before I could say anything. I slipped through the door before it closed, but he was already in the boys' dorm. He slammed the door. I looked around. There were a few people in the room, staring at me. Among them were Bellatrix and her sister, Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy, who was reading the evening edition of the Daily Prophet.
Lucius was reading the sports section, and I could see and advertisement for a new broom and a moving photograph of two opposing Seekers, one in pale blue with a gold arrow on his robes, and the other with red and black robes bearing a picture of a bloody meat cleaver. Meat cleaver Seeker caught the snitch, but elbowed arrow robes Seeker in the face. The headlines flashed:
Wigtown Wanderers Lose Match by Foul, Game goes to Appleby Arrows!
He set the paper aside. "What happened, Sylistia? Snape looked really angry!" I looked away.
"Nothing. We had a run-in with some unfavorable classmates and it turned pretty sour. I'm going to bed." I turned abruptly and went to my dorm. As I changed into my nightgown, I felt a lump it my throat. I laid down and let a few tears escape. I sighed and drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, I missed Sev, who had, according to Bellatrix and Narcissa Lestrange, already gone to breakfast early. The two had been on the sofa painting each other's nails when he'd left. They said they tried to get him to talk, but he kept his mouth shut.
"Thanks, anyway, guys." I sighed and left. Bellatrix waved goodbye, and her bottle of green nail polish spilled on the couch. She and Narcissa gasped and tried to stop it from all spilling out. Narcissa could be heard chiding Bellatrix for her clumsiness as the door slid shut. I rolled my eyes as I headed for the stairs.
Severus wasn't at breakfast. He wasn't on the grounds. I looked until class started, but he was nowhere to be found. I got to Transfiguration and he was sitting all the way in the back by the window. The desks surrounding his were all filled. I sighed and sat by Lily.
"He just wants to be alone, Syl," she whispered. "It's not you."
Yeah, sure.
Severus avoided and ignored me in Potions, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. He ignored me at lunch, only talking to Lily. He avoided me in the common room, on the grounds, at meals, in the halls, and everywhere else I saw him. I found myself needing to hide and cry everywhere I went. I'd slip into a dark stairwell, an empty classroom, a supply closet, the back of the library, and the girls' lavatory.
I was there before dinner. In a girls' bathroom on the second floor, crying my eyes out. I had my hands on the edge of a lime scale coated sink under a cracked mirror. I watched my tears fall onto the white grime and trickle into the green-edged drain. I sniffed and looked up, for no particular reason, and saw someone behind me in the mirror's warped reflection.
I screamed and jumped a foot in the air, then spun around, backed against the sink. It was a girl with round glasses and braided hair. She looked perfectly normal - except that she was a ghost. Of course, in my time at Hogwarts, I had met a few ghosts (some, cough Bloody Baron cough, less pleasant than others).
I calmed myself and studied the girl. She looked slightly older than me, but was dressed like a Hogwarts student: black robes with a blue and bronze tie and a Ravenclaw crest.
"Er…" I sniffed and wiped my nose on my sleeve. "Hi?" She scrutinized me and then swooped towards me, stopping with her nose and inch from mine. I gasped, but didn't move.
"Hello," she finally replied in a high, annoying voice. She backed up a little.
"Um… I'm Sylistia," I said in a stuffy-nosed voice. "What's your name?" I stepped tentatively toward the ghost-girl.
"Myname is Myrtle," she sniffed. "But people don't call me that." SHe jutted her chin out haughtily.
"Er… if you don't mind, what do they call you?" I inquired gently.
"They call me Moaning Myrtle."
"Why would they do that?" I asked.
"Because I cry, because I'm depressed." She floated away, then floated back to me, looked me in the eye. "Why are you crying?"
I dropped my gaze. "Sev's not speaking to me."
"Who's Sev?" She asked, perching on the sink.
"My best friend." I sighed. "He won't talk to me, because I didn't back him up." jumped up on the other sink, swinging my legs. "He got beat up and I told the nurse he fell down."
"Why? Are you protecting the bully? You shouldn't do that!" She sneered.
"I wasn't protecting him, I was protecting Sev!" I retorted, jumping off the sink and facing Myrtle. "I told James I wouldn't tell if he doesn't hurt Sev anymore!"
"So? Go back on it!"
"Then he'll get in trouble and hurt Sev again." I looked away. "I don't even know why I'm talking to you, anyway!" I burst out as new tears fell. "What do you know? You're dead! You don't know about love!" I froze. Love? Had I really said that?
"Fine, then!" Myrtle screamed, her translucent face twisted with rage. "You insensitive fool! I can't believe I tried to comfort you!" She turned away and wailed like a banshee. It was a blood-curdling noise and I had to cover my ears. She howled and plunged headfirst into one of the toilets.
I stood there for a moment, surrounded by complete silence. Then, suddenly, all of the toilets flushed in unison and began to overflow. The sinks' taps burst and scalding water sprayed into the sink, almost splashing me. The wailing rose up in the walls all around me, echoing. I ran out of the lavatory and raced to the stairs, running down them two at a time.
When the disaster was behind me, I stopped in the entrance hall and caught my breath. I vowed never to mess with a ghost again at Hogwarts, then I went to dinner. Lily waved me over, and I sat across from her and Severus, who was obstinately refusing to look at me. I accepted it, picking at my food without staring. Lily tried to converse with us, but Severus only spoke one or two words at a time and only when totally necessary. Lily asked me a question, and I made the mistake of looking her in the eye when I answered.
"Syl? Have you been… crying?" She asked, leaning forward to peer at my face. "Oh, you have! Syl, what's wrong?"
"I… no! I wasn't crying, Lily." I looked away. Severus glanced at me despite himself.
"Yes, you have, Syl! Your eyes are red." She reached over and tilted my face up towards her. I slapped her hand away. She gasped. "Syl!"
"Leave me alone, Evans!" I was on the verge of tears again. I got up and walked around the table, heading for the exit. Lily reached out as I passed and grabbed my elbow. Incensed, I seized her hand and dug my nails into it.
"Ouch!" Lily cried out and drew back, four little bloody crescents lining her white hand. Severus jumped up.
"What the hell, Fawkes?!" He was livid. His faces was inches from mine and he looked ready to fight. I opened my mouth to retort, but instead I burst into tears and ran from the Hall. I flew downstairs in tears. I didn't go to the common room. Instead, I got myself lost on purpose, finally stopping in a hall with no torches lined with empty classrooms. I slipped into one and sat down at a desk, burying my head in my arms and sobbing until my head ached. I actually fell asleep at that desk, exhausted from crying all day.
"Sylistia?" Someone shook me awake. I started, looking up in the dark. Their wand was lit, and I couldn't see their face. The wand was lowered and Severus looked down at me.
"What do you want?" I snapped curtly, standing up and moving away. "I thought you didn't want to be my friend anymore!" I turned and went for the door. Severus beat me to it, blocking the door.
"Syl, I'm… I'm still your friend. I was just mad." He hung his head. "I was a total git, and I'm sorry." He looked at me, sincerely contrite. I sighed.
"Yeah, me too." I leaned against the wall. "I was really hurt, though."
"So was I." He looked into my eyes. "I wanted you to stand up for me and get Potter in trouble, but I know you just didn't want him to hurt me again."
"Yes."
"You really hurt Lily." He sighed and reached out, grasping my hand. He held it up, inspecting my nails, which were each about a centimeter long now. Lupin had told me that was a side effect. So were my unnaturally sharp canines. "Wow." He whistled. "They're like talons, Syl, don't you ever cut them?"
Yes, every day. "No, I guess I should." I pulled my hand out of his, embarrassed. He looked at me sadly. "I'll apologize tomorrow." I hung my head, staring at Severus's scuffed, dirty shoes.
"OK." He put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry for ignoring you, Syl. I shouldn't have done that."
"It's alright." I sighed, and Severus pulled me into an embrace. I was so touched, a few more tears escaped.
"Let's go back to the common room. It's way past curfew." He led me back through the dungeons to the common room. We said bye and I went to bed.
I crept out of the dorm the next morning with my bag. I heard someone talking, no - singing, in the common room. I peeked around the corner and saw Severus sitting in a chair facing away from me, singing.
"Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me. Happy birthday, dear Severus, happy birthday to me." I tried to sneak out of the room, but he turned, standing up, and saw me.
"Hi, Syl." He looked slightly embarrassed at being caught singing. He really shouldn't have. He had a beautiful voice.
"Morning, Sev. What're you doing?" I asked, walking up to him.
"Oh. Today's my birthday," he shrugged.
"Really? Why didn't you tell me, I would have gotten you something!"
"Nah, it's OK. I never get presents. Well, my mum sent me this magic card." He held up a colorful card and opened it. Confetti shot from the crease, seemingly out of nowhere. He repeated the action with the same result. Apparently, the confetti never stopped coming. It fluttered and flitted to the floor like colored rain.
"That's too bad." I pitied him.
"It's OK. My mum can't afford to buy me presents. She made this herself." He opened the card again, smiling fondly as the confetti landed in his hair.
"Oh. I'm sorry. Well, let's eat, shall we?" I grinned and grabbed his arm. He barely had time to snatch his bag before I swept him from the room.
Lily joined us at breakfast, a few Band-Aids on her hand. I gave her my most apologetic look. "Sorry for scratching you, Lily. I was overreacting."
"It's OK, Syl. I know you were upset." She grinned and we ate breakfast. Lily, who'd known Severus for a few years, presented him with a black and white turkey-feather quill with a spell-check charm on it. We finished eating and hung out on the main stairs until it was time to go to class.
We had Double Potions first. The first hour and a half, we took notes on draughts, and the second part of class was spent attempting to make a calming draught. I saw James Potter sneak some out of class in a vial before he cleared his area. Apparently he and Sirius were planning to "relax" at lunch.
In Defense Against the Dark Arts, we studied Vampires, starting with Count Vlad Dracula, also known as "Vlad the Impaler", who wasn't really a Vampire, but just a very deranged tyrant who started the myths with his cruelty, and working our way to modern Vampires.
After DADA, I parted ways with Lily and Severus, who had Arithmancy, and traipsed off to Ancient Runes. I looked away from Lupin. I hadn't talked to him since the fight.
"Hi." He muttered. He looked nervous. "I'm sorry about… Y'know, with James. I would have stopped him, but…" He lowered his eyes, staring at his text book.
"Yeah, I know." James was a formidable guy to mess with, especially with Sirius Black at his side. His magic wasn't bad, either. "It's better, now. I think Sev's pretty much let it go." I turned to page 417, as was instructed on the board.
"That's good." He muttered. We slipped into an awkward silence, then. We hadn't said anything about our "curse" since the night I found out. Now it seemed the only thing we had to talk about.
"So… what's it going to be like?" I asked, trying to keep it discreet, so the students trickling in wouldn't know what I meant.
"Painful." He knew exactly what I was asking. Perhaps he'd asked the same thing of someone else once. "And scary."
I gulped. I didn't like the sound of that. I looked at my unnaturally long finger nails. Claws. I just clipped them that morning, and they were almost two centimeters long. I glanced at Lupin's hands. His nails were pretty long, too. "So… how long have you been…?"
"Since I was real little. I barely remember it. Which is actually for the best, I suppose." He stretched in his chair. He looked pale and tired. I, too, had been feeling peaky the last week. I sighed and turned a page in my book, cutting my index finger on the edge.
"Ow." I stared as the tiny cut slowly healed itself. Amazing.
After class, I hurried off to lunch, where I met Lily and Severus. After eating, we went out to the grounds and played in the snow. Lily and I made a birthday cake for Severus and insisted he blow out the "candles" (twigs) while we sang "Happy Birthday" loudly in horrible tune. Severus didn't want to "eat" his cake, so Lily and I made snowballs with it and threw them at his face.
Then we went to class, History of Magic. After one and a half boring hours of monotonous droning, we were free to go to Astronomy. Sev and Lily had more History of Magic, the poor things. On the way to the tower, Remus Lupin caught me, asking me to come with him. I followed, and we came to James Potter.
Remus went away, back to class. James smirked at me. "Well, Sylistia, I trust you haven't forgotten our little deal?" Yeah right. More like a big deal.
"No, James. Unfortunately I haven't." I cursed myself for even saying anything in the first place.
"Why don't you just repeat the deal, so I know you didn't forget?" He strode over to me, arms crossed smugly.
"I…" I rolled my eyes. "I said if you never touch Severus again… I'll… go out with you.
He grinned. "That's right!" He suddenly turned, ending up next to me, facing the same direction. He swung and arm around my shoulders and led me toward the tower. "So let us off to class, shall we?" I inwardly punched myself.
"Wait." I pulled away. "Whatever you do, we cannot let Severus see us together or let him know we're… going out." I grimaced when I said it. "Or," I said, holding up my index finger warningly. "The deal will be completely off, Potter. You reading me?" I looked at him sternly.
"Loud and Clear, Fawkes." He replaced his arm and we went to Astronomy.
The weeks dragged on, and soon it was January 22nd. I felt sick and exhausted all day. Remus caught me after Astronomy, as James and I were heading toward dinner, hand in hand, much to my displeasure. "I, er… need to talk to you, Sylistia… er, alone.
James raised an eyebrow and shrugged, letting go of me. He continued toward the Great Hall. "Meet you there." But he wouldn't.
I followed Remus first to the kitchens, to grab some food, then out to the willow tree, where Madame Pomfrey was waiting. She had folder robes in her arms.
"Here, dears. Hurry, quickly, before the sun goes down. You'll leave these aside and put them on when you change back." She ushered us to the tree, Lupin paralyzing it, as she watched for anyone who might happen upon us.
We found our way to the shack and settled inside it. I sat on the tattered, dusty bed, while Remus paced restlessly. We left our robes in different rooms. Finally, I stood up and walked to the other room. "I'm going to wait in here." He nodded and I went in, locking the door behind me. I leaned against the wall and slid to the floor, pulling my knees up to my chin. A sliver of moon light fell on the floor in front of me, growing wider and brighter as the sun set. Finally, it reached me. I reached out and put my hand into it, gasping as it tingled and made my hand twitch. I drew back, then did it again.
"Are you changing, yet?" Remus called from the other room in a strained voice.
"I don't know, are you?"
"Y-Yes." He groaned, then hissed and fell to the floor with a thump. I resisted the urge to help him, knowing if we were together now, we might fight.
I stood up and stepped into the moonlight, more scared than I'd ever been before. (OK, that's a lie, but still…) My skin prickled and I felt dizzy. I fell, too. I lay on the floor, feeling the black fur ripple up my arms. I screamed as my bones snapped and shifted, followed by a cry from Remus in the other room.
My skull stretched painfully and my spine popped and bent, forcing me on my hands and knees. My legs shortened and my knees inverted. I shrieked in agony. My vision changed to a twisted, blurry view and the world was upside-down. All the colors I'd known changed into an entirely new spectrum of strange primaries and impossible mixtures. There was no green or red, or blue or purple. They were alien colors no human had ever seen colors I couldn't even fathom, even now as I saw them there clearly.
My head throbbed and my internal organs jumped and shifted. My teeth pushed out of my jaws, slicing my gums. My lips pulled back in a snarl of pain as my nails curved and thickened into black claws. I let out one last scream as my ears moved back and my head pushed forward. I went into a frenzy, shredding my robes and twisting to free myself from them. I felt my spine shoot out of the root of my back at the tailbone. I actually saw a flash of white vertebrae whipping around before muscle and flesh wrapped around it and fur sprouted. A bushy wolf-tail. My scream turned into a low, inhuman howl.
I fell onto my side, hearing Remus's growled and yelps. He stopped abruptly and I heard him whining. I felt a push at the back of my head. It was gentle, then more persistent. Then it was a sharp spike into my brain, like an icy finger. I saw a flash… and darkness took me.