Chapter 24: Stand Your ground

Snape was right about Remus he was getting worse and worse by the day. I was sitting in his class now with Harry at my side and Malfoy at my other, our DADA class was split with Slytherin like most of our classes were.

Remus was pale and the thin sheet of sweat was visible on his forehead.

"Okay class today we will be practising the Patronus charm, now remember this is only practise I do not expect you to get it on the first try." He said keeping up his appearance rather well he was walking around and doing his best to smile.

"Professor the Patronus charm is VERY advanced magic…some adults can't even do it" Hermione said from behind me.

"Yes that is very true Ms. Granger, but that is because they never learned it. This is just a practise lesson okay; we will be learning how to fully make one next year" he said stopping beside me.

"Ms. Halliwell I'd like a word with you" he said looking down at me.

I nodded and got up silently and went to his office.

I walked in and what I saw almost made me cry.

"…Paige…what are you doing here?" I asked tears filling my eyes.

"Well I went to number 12 and you weren't there…and then Sirius pushed me into the fireplace and I ended up here." She said looking around.

"Oh I've missed you so much" I said wrapping my arms around my baby sister.

"How long are you staying?" I asked remembering we were in the middle of a class.

"A couple days…nice cloak" she laughed and I playfully glared at her.

"You and Phoebe should have stayed you guys could have been 17 again too" I smirked.

"Wait what about Henry…? Oh never mind we can talk later" I said seeing the look Remus gave me in the corner of my eye.

"We'll only be what? An hour or so…just wait in here" I said looking from Remus to Paige as he pushed me lightly to the door.

"okie-dokie sis" she giggled at the sight of Remus and me and settled into Remus' office chair.

"Okay is everyone ready?" he asked once we got to the bottom of the steps and looked around.

He waited until nobody answered "okay good, now I want you all to get in a line facing me" he said and with a wave of his wand all the desks were off to the side.

I went to the end of the line up next to Harry and gave him a tiny smile. "Paige is here" I whispered.

"What really?" he asked back in a hushed voice.

"Yeah she's in Remus' office" I nodded.

"Everyone close your eyes, now I want you all to think of a happy thought, the happiest thought you can think of. Let it fill your mind, do not think of anything else besides that one thought" he said walking along the long line of students making sure they all had their eyes closed.

"Now I want you to stay thinking of that for a while" he said stopping in front of me. I had my eyes closed and was thinking of the last Christmas I had with Prue.

I felt him kiss my nose and I smiled my thoughts automatically going to the days we spent together…and the nights.

"Okay now I want you to hold on to that thought and hold your wands out in front of you, and say 'Expecto Patronum'. Hold on to your thought" he said to the whole class.

I held out my wand and took a deep breath I said the words as I breathed out.

"Well done class now open your eyes…two of you have successfully created a full patornus" and when I opened my eyes…I was one of them.

There was a big beautiful eagle made of the most amazing white light coming out of my wand. The other was Harry who had a stag coming out of his. Everyone else was looking at me amazed, they all knew Harry could do it but I was the new kid I wasn't supposed to know anything.

"Now as you all now everybody has their own patronus, the animal your patronus takes form is like you. The animal represents you, now an eagle this means spirit; there is a more in-depth meaning which Piper here will have to research and Harry will research the stag. The problem with you others…is that your memory wasn't happy enough, now you will have think very hard for the happiest memory you've ever had" he said backing up and looking happily at me.

"okay that was very good class now I want those of you who managed to make a very small version of your patronus to research what it could mean and what it will mean once it is full. Harry, Ron and Hermione will you stay back for a bit…you too Piper" he said as we all stood up. The rest of the students left, Malfoy looking at me curious I just shrugged at him and looked back to my "friends" and "uncle".

I ran up the stairs when the door was closed and everyone was gone. "Paige!" I yelled excitedly grabbing her hand and bringing her down stairs.

"Okay sis I think you're taking this part a little too seriously" she joked.

"Smart ass" I said playfully hitting her in the arm.

"I am in fact very smart…but it had nothing to do with my ass" she laughed.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked.

"I don't need a reason to visit my sister especially when I haven't seen her in weeks" Paige replied.

"Well Harry Ron Hermione you should get to your next class. Piper can stay here with her sister. We'll see you at super" Remus said taking them to the door and practically pushing Ron and Harry out.

"You sure picked a great time to visit…it's too close to full moon Paige" I sighed as I watched Remus try to hide his stager.

"No it's not I'm fine" he lied smiling weakly at me and Paige.

"Remus…you're not fine…" I said placing my hand around my wrist where the newest bruises lie. There was one on my other wrist he had held me down and just about lost control when Harry came in and knocked him out. This was just last night.

"That was an accident…" he stuttered, I hated using this against him but he needed to know he can't do this on his own.

"How many accidents will it take for you to realize you can't do this on your own…heck I can't even help on my own, we are all here for you honey, and we aren't going anywhere. We aren't going to run and hide when you turn." I said putting my hand on the side of his cheek.

"I'll be there too Remus…I can orb them out if I need to. Nothing will happen to Piper or any of the others I promise" Paige said reminding me that she was still there.

"Snape said you'll be locked up by the 4th night…where?" I asked.

"The shrieking shack…Dumbledore made that just for me; there is a tunnel underneath the whomping willow to get there" he sighed.

"Okay…I'll take a couple days off sick…so will you? And me and Paige will look after you" I said looking back at Paige to see if she was willing.

"I wont let you do that Piper…I'll be fine there by myself…Dumbledore will send someone to check on me the morning after full moon." He said wishing I would just back down and let it be.

"No Harry will be fine alone for a few days; I can't even live without being with you 24 hours a day how am I supposed to live without seeing you for days?" I asked

"It is for your own safety Piper. I will not let you do that" he said sternly.

"You have no choice Remus I am going with you no matter what. Nothing can keep me away from you" I said standing my ground.

"Just give it up man she's stubborn when she wants to be, and when Piper sets her mind to something there is no changing it" Paige said patting his shoulder.

"So I've seen" he sighed giving up.

I AM SOOOOO SORRY I'M NOT UPDATING THAT MUCH.... but people keep saying they aren't long enough and i have no idea how long to make each freakin chapter....its all very complicated right now....so sorry for the inconvinince.....i'll TRY to make them longer, better, and sooner :P :D

XOXO