A/N: So this is my first HP story and I would love some feedback. I don't own anything. Really.
The first thing Remus noticed when he regained consciousness was the satisfaction. For nearly ten years, half of Remus's mind lived in disdain and bitterness. Always lusting for blood, the wolf tried daily to break into Remus's consciousness and take over. The feelings of relief and satisfaction of his other half were a huge burden lifted. Remus didn't have enough time to question the change before he noticed other differences from his usual awakening.
The second thing he noticed was the smell. The overwhelming scent of clean hit his nose hard. Madame Pomfrey kept the Infirmary impeccable but Remus immediately recognized a difference. Realizing that he couldn't be in Hogwarts, he opened his eyes in alarm. He looked up to a white ceiling and around to white walls in his small room.
"Remus?" Someone addressed him. Remus turned his head to see a puffy-eyed James. With every new discovery, a new distress plagued Remus.
"James… What…?" he asked, his voice hoarse from lack of use. Another difference from his usual wake ups. He sat up and felt the many bandages that constricted his body. Gauze molded around his shoulder, his stomach, and his thighs. This wasn't a huge surprise—although, whenever his friends joined him on full moons his injuries decreased significantly. He realized that his friends must not have joined him that night.
James stood up and walked over to Remus's bed. Suddenly, Remus recognized where he was. "J-James why?" he coughed, "St. Mungos?"
It was then that Remus knew something was very, very wrong. His head spun at the possibilities. He mentally screamed, remembering his only other visit to the hospital. Nearly ten years ago, Remus woke up with aches, pains and a new half in a similar room. Concentrating on the present, he forced himself to calm down with the comforting thought that he was just mutilated by his other consciousness to a ridiculous extreme. He could easily have hurt himself too much for Madame Pomfrey to handle.
Then Remus realized why James's eyes were so puffy. His entire paradigm became severely shifted. James Potter did not cry. Before Remus could question him, James turned to leave.
"I'm going to get Dumbledore; he'll explain everything," James replied, his lip quivering for a shadow of a second.
Dumbledore?! Noticing Peter, drooling and asleep in a chair against the far wall, Remus realized the absence in the room. Everything piece of information slid together to make a horrifying conclusion.
"I-I killed h-h-him," Remus breathed before James walked out the door. The wolf inside became overjoyed by those words. That feeling only confirmed Remus's suspicions. His breath came quicker and quicker until he hyperventilated and shook.
"What?" James asked, confusion etched into every feature on his handsome face.
"S-Sirius," Remus whispered, tears stinging his eyes.
"No, Rem, he's fine," James replied, "I promise." He left the room quickly.
Those words calmed the boy down, but he still knew something was up. If he hadn't killed Sirius, then where was he? Always the person he saw first when waking up, Remus considered Sirius to be the friend who cared for him the most. Of course, no one ever talked that way.
Turning his attention away from the door and to the foot of his bed, Remus smiled. His favourite books, Casting Moonshadows and For the Love of a Child snuggled close with assorted chocolates and jelly beans. The sight made a more concrete and comforting situation in his head; he had just hurt himself too much for Madame Pomfrey to handle.
"Aha! Remus, so glad to see that you've joined the living again," said Dumbledore as he walked into the room and closed the door behind himself. James didn't follow him inside.
"P-Professor, what's going on?" Remus asked, scratching his arm from the uncomfortable fabric of his hospital gown.
Then, for the first time in his life, Remus Lupin saw Albus Dumbledore turn serious. His stomach plummeted at the look on his Headmaster's face.
"Before I say anything else, you must keep in mind that nothing is certain right now, particularly your fate." Dumbledore replied.
Just tell me! He wanted to scream, but instead he nodded.
"Remus, I'm afraid that a tragic incident occurred last Sunday night. Somehow, you were let out of the Shrieking Shack and attacked another student." He explained, looking Remus, bright blue eyes meeting amber.
All the colour drained from Remus's face. "No…" He breathed. His thoughts immediately turned to Sirius, and he felt his stomach clench violently.
"Ms Kylie Anderson is being treated with the best medical care there is. She is expected to have a full recovery, but now carries the condition that transferred when you bit her."
Remus blinked. What did Kylie have to do with this? He didn't understand. Just as he was about to voice his question, something clicked inside his head. Then, he understood. Remus promptly leaned over the side of his bed and wretched up all over his stomach contents onto the floor, just missing the bedpan.
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After Dumbledore cleaned up the mess, Remus cried. He put his head in his hands and let every emotion out because he knew the penalty. James knew the penalty as well, which explained his tears. The fact that he infected another person was bad enough, but his whole body shuddered at the consequence. Dumbledore seemed to read his mind.
"Remus, you are underage and Ms Anderson was out of bounds when the attack occurred. Your trial is set for next Sunday morning at 8 am. Like I said, nothing is certain right now."
Remus wanted to believe that somehow he could avoid the death penalty, but not even Dumbledore could convince him. He drew a shaky breath, sniffled, and wiped his tears. "Where i-i-is Sirius?" He stuttered, wanting the comfort of all of his best friends.
"In order for you to have the best outcome of the trial, everything is being kept strictly confidential. Sirius, although with irritation, agreed to stay at school because he is a very recognizable person, with a very (Dumbledore cleared his throat here) traditional family. The rumor around school is that a terribly contagious virus infected the four of you." Dumbledore explained. He looked at the assorted objects on Remus's bed and showed a small smile. "Of course, that didn't stop a few from donating to your well being."
Remus wanted to smile too, but he couldn't.
"Your father was notified of the incident but we have yet to hear anything from him," Dumbledore said, "Not to worry, he'll be here by Sunday."
Remus doubted that. After he got bitten, his parents quickly separated. Having a werewolf for a son made life increasingly difficult, so his father turned to alcohol for sympathy. A few years later, Remus's mother died of a broken heart, which sent his father deeper into his depression. It didn't exactly sit well with Remus either, but he was too young to understand what death truly meant.
But now he would.
Tears stung his eyes once more and a thick substance formed in the back of his mouth. "What's g-going to happen now?" He whispered, pulling the blankets up to his chest.
Dumbledore seemed to consider his words before speaking. "If Kylie's parents don't press charges, the trial will go a lot smoother."
Remus threw off his sheets and stood up. "P-Professor, I have to g-g-go apologize." Regardless of what would happen, he knew he couldn't face anyone until he did what little he could to mend the situation. Although he knew that the apology would be meaningless, and he would probably be kicked out of her room in seconds, he had to try. Still shaking, stuttering and scared, Remus staggered for the door. He passed Peter's sleeping mass on the way, and wondered how the boy could sleep through so much.
"I'm off to make arrangements with Professor Slughorn for some Polyjuice potion. If he has any spare, I don't see why Sirius couldn't use it for a short visit." Dumbledore smiled at Remus while the boy hobbled out of the room.
By the time he got halfway down the hallway, he knew he was lost. He knew how stupid he must've looked from bystanders; a confused skinny boy whose bottom lip wouldn't stop quivering. Even so, Remus kept willing himself forward.
"That son of a bitch is going to get what's coming for him!" He heard someone yell two rooms away. Remus froze.
"Honey, just calm down, please." He heard a trembling woman's voice this time.
Remus walked over to the room and peered in, knees wobbly.
"No, Maddy, I won't. This freak ruined our daughter's life, and your telling me to calm down?" The man lowered his voice, but only sounded more terrifying to Remus.
Mustering up every last ounce of courage he had, Remus walked into the room. The unconscious blonde girl confirmed his suspicions, and he felt like puking again. The man, obviously Kylie's dad, turned and noticed Remus. His face contorted into offense and confusion.
"Who are you? This is a private room," He growled, and Remus took a step back out into the hallway. Although he wanted to look at the man, he couldn't keep his eyes off of Kylie. Her fragile body wrapped up in various bandages, her bedside table covered with assorted potions and remedies.
The sight served too much for him, and in seconds Remus's eyes stung again. His lip trembled and he looked at the father's furious face. Everything suddenly became real. I really attacked her, he thought, finding it difficult to breathe.
"I-I," he stumbled, unable to remember the right words. "I'm s-s-so sorry." His chest and throat began to ache as he looked at the mixture of emotion on the adult's faces. The mother seemed to understand who he was immediately, and covered her hand over her mouth. The father looked just as confused as before.
Remus couldn't manage anything else so he quickly limped out of the room and back to his own, in desperate need of a calming potion.
So, what did you think? Too angsty? Not enough? Anyone out of character? All you have to do is push that little button at the bottom of your screen and all your important thoughts will be sent right to me. Thanks for reading : ) Oh, and I don't own Casting Moonshadows nor For the Love of a Child, those are just my favourite fanfics.