Title: A Time For Change
Author Name: DarkForest214
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: "Transforming Thoughts"
Summery: Sequel to "Transforming Thoughts." Follow Lily and James in their new relationship while keeping an eye on their mischievous friends Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or Hogwarts School. I did not write this to try and make money. I am not stealing from JKR and the publishing companies and whatnot… I own nothing!
Author's Note: Not as long of a wait this time...Now if only the internet would work in my dorm room so I don't have to bring my lap top all the way to the basement of my dorm. Oh, and I'd like to note that this chapter was slightly inspired by the ShoeboxProject on LiveJournal. And that's what got me to finish this story, so here is Chapter Twenty-Seven. Enjoy…!
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Remus sat up in his bed. The Hospital Wing was dark and quiet. The only light came from the moon streaming in through the windows, the only sound was the sharp click of a lock being picked. Remus groaned as he let himself fall back against his pillow. He closed his eyes and listened for the muffled voices and shuffling footsteps of his friends. Instead he heard only the light pitter-patter of a single person trying their hardest to be as quiet as humanly possible.
His mind quickly analyzed the situation. James and Sirius had to be too exhausted to visit and the footsteps were not theirs. Their sneaking—avoiding detection at all costs—footsteps sounded very different. Perhaps it was Lily, the delinquent was dainty sounding enough to be a girl. Wait, Riley...no...she wouldn't! Remus sat up again as the footsteps came to a stop nearby.
"Oh good, you're awake!"
She did. Riley stood in front of him with a smile on her face that one only gets when breaking school rules. "I'm sorry," he said unexpectedly.
"For what?" she asked, looking utterly confused.
"For calling you a delinquent in my thoughts," he said quickly. "Well, not you exactly, but the visitor—the person I heard sneaking in, I...er...I guess that's you. I'm sorry."
Neither of them moved, then Remus blinked, she was smiling. In fact, she was fighting back laughter. He hadn't thought what he said was spoken in English, let alone humorous. Her laughter was music to his ears. It's not a barking laugh like Sirius, or the infectious laugh of James. Nor is it like—no! Stop analyzing everything! His mind snapped, reprimanding him severely.
Remus smiled and leaned back, adjusting himself so he could see her better in the silver glow of the wanning moonlight. Moonlight, waxing, wanning, new moon, full—STOP IT! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP! Go on, say something clever... "Why don't you have a seat?" he asked aloud, trying to ignore the internal dialog. You call that clever? The little voice in his head asked. Oddly enough that little voice sounded rather like Sirius...
Riley smiled and obligingly sat down. "Surprise," she said simply.
"Surprise," Remus repeated in agreement. "So, what brings you here at this early hour of the morning?" he asked.
"You know, most would call this time 'late at night' not 'early morning,'" she said, tucking one foot under her other knee.
"I guess that sets me apart from other people then," said Remus, still searching for something witty to say. "But that still doesn't answer my question. What are you doing here? You could get in trouble if you're caught sneaking about after hours."
"Stop thinking like a prefect, Remus. I'd say since you are in the Hospital Wing you're off duty," she said, staring at her hands absently in the dark.
"But I'm not even supposed to be in here anymore," said Remus, sitting up a little straighter. "Pomfrey was supposed to release me this afternoon."
"And why didn't she?" Riley asked purely out of curiosity.
Think fast. Lie to her, the Sirius sounding voice said in his mind. Instead Remus shrugged and mumbled something about having a headache earlier. He groaned internally, not even he believed that story.
"And tomorrow? Will you be out by then?" she asked.
"I should hope so," said Remus. "Goodness knows I don't want to spend all month in here," he added. He imagined Sirius letting out a groan and burying his head in his hands after that one. And he had to agree, even if that odd little Sirius Voice was invading at a rather odd time. He looked down at his hands, which were folded neatly in his lap and tried his hardest to keep his mouth shut. Just let her do the talking, Sirius Voice said in his head. Remus could feel himself getting irritated at that little voice, maybe the longer he stayed in the Hospital Wing the more mental he became.
"I was thinking about you earlier today,"Riley said suddenly. Remus imagined she was blushing in the moonlight but was too embarrassed to look up.
"Oh yeah?" he asked, glad for the cover of darkness that covered his blushing too.
"Yeah," she admitted. "I, um...well, I was just, er...You know how easy it is to get distracted in History of Magic..." she said, suddenly very self conscious.
Silence reigned once more. SAY SOMETHING!!! His inner Sirius screamed. "I thought about you too," admitted finally. "But, er, there wasn't much of anything else going on, but it's not like you were the only thing I was thinking about. I was also thinking about homework and potions, and making sure my library books got back on time. I was just doing a lot of thinking and you just happened to enter my mind. So did Sirius and James, Lily and even Peter and Snape!" FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS MOONY, SHUT UP! "But then I started thinking about food, which only made me hungry, and—" Riley reached forward and covered his mouth with her hand, quieting him almost instantly. "I guess I was rambling a bit," he said sheepishly when she removed her hand.
She smiled and nodded, "Just a bit," she said sarcastically before breaking out in laughter.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I don't know what got into me. Lack of human contact over the past few days, I suspect. Or because a beautiful and smart girl broke the rules and broke into the Hospital Wing just to see me..." he added. Finally, you're getting somewhere, Sirius Voice said, although now it was beginning to sound more like his own.
"Well, I couldn't sleep, and I haven't been to the library to check out some new books yet, so I thought why not just come and visit you? So, here I am!" she finished with a smile.
"And was it worth the risk of getting caught?" he asked, taking up her hand in his.
She cocked her head and looked to the ceiling, looking rather thoughtful for a moment before a mischievous grin spread across her lips. Without warning she leaned forward and kissed him.
Startled, Remus almost pulled back instinctively but Sirius Voice returned with a vengeance. Kiss her back you fool! And he did. But as suddenly as the kiss had begun, it just as abruptly ended when Riley pulled back. "Now I would have to say that it was worth the risk," she said with a small smile. "I like you, Remus Lupin," she said, standing up to leave. "Goodnight."
"I like you too, Riley Wolfe," he said with a groan after he heard the Hospital Wing doors click shut. Now you'll never get to sleep, the Sirius Voice taunted. "Oh bugger off," he said aloud before burying his head under his pillow.
That night his dreams were full of awkward moments, stolen kisses and Sirius's constant narration. One of the few things he remembered of his dreams in the morning was the strong urge to punch Sirius Black in the nose.
A/N: Read, Review, Flame...Take your pick and do your worst! (And to my loyal reviewers/readers...I love you all!)