Ch. 2: Letters and Other Useless Topics

The next day I was to stay in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey insisted on it. When I finally was able to leave, I went straight up to the dormitory and flopped on my bed, my head still aching.

The night in the hospital wing wasn't so bad. Madam Pomfrey commented that it was a miracle that only with one goblet of the Wolfsbane I could keep my mind. She had never seen that before. I had to ask her the next day when I was lying there in the bed if she had ever come across another werewolf before, and she nodded, her expression quite sombre.

"He was bitten when he was young," she told me. "It was fortunate for him that Professor Dumbledore was Headmaster when he started, or else he wouldn't have been accepted."

I turned and looked out the window, seeing the lake. There was a small groups of black all over, enjoying the last bits of warmth that will be around before mid-October.

The door to the dormitory crashed open as Taeryn and Benjamin Anderson came bouncing in the room.

"Snape was pissed that you weren't in class yesterday," Ben commented, going over to sit on his own bed and looking at me as Taeryn walked on in.

"That, and there's an essay we have to write since Snape taught the class."

I sat up slowly and looked at them both.

"We didn't have Potions yesterday…."

Ben and Taeryn glanced at each other before looking back at me.

"He taught Defence Against the Dark Arts," Taeryn went on to explain. "Gave us a long lecture, too."

"Where was Lupin?"

"Sick, apparently." Ben shrugged. "I'm not gunna do it until Lupin comes back, though."

"Why? What was the assignment?"

Taeryn let out a laugh as Ben grinned.

"A three roll essay on the history and mythology of werewolves," Ben said, rolling his eyes. "You'd think Snape thought Lupin was a werewolf or something."

I snorted.

"Seriously? Three rolls?"

Taeryn nodded.

"And to top it all off, we covered werewolves two years ago with Quirrell, remember? Not like Snape cared when Chang mentioned it. But yeah, he was furious that you weren't there though."

I laid back down and huffed.

"Snape knew I was sick. He came up to the hospital wing."

"Really?" Ben asked.

"Didn't act like it in class…."

I stared at the canopy, mulling it over. Furious, I got up quickly out of my bed and got dressed.

"Where're you going?" Taeryn asked. "Aren't you still sick?"

"I'm going to talk to Snape." And I left the dormitory.

On my way down to the marble staircase to the first floor to get to the dungeons, a hand grabbed my sleeve pulling me to the side. I angrily glared at my sister as she drug me out to the courtyard and forced me to sit on a bench.

"What the bloody hell was that about, Daph?" I asked, angry.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a letter and handed it to me.

"It's from Suzi, I think. Probably writing on Mum's behalf because you're not writing."

I opened the envelop, and indeed it was from Suzi.

Dear Chiron,

Well, your mother is making me write to you in detention because you haven't written to her in a few weeks. She wants to know how you're doing and all that fun stuff. (She just hit me in the back of the head with a book again… Your mum is abusive. I'm surprised you're somewhat normal.) Anyway, how's school? Life? You know I'm still pis — angry — that I'm not at Hogwarts. You can't understand what Jess is feeling… You do know she'll be staying with your mum for Christmas, right? She's very unhappy about it. Poor girl. I may show up, too, depending if Mum kicks me out like she's been threatening. I hope that you are lovely and well and that the full moon isn't giving you too much hell! Jess says hi. She's here in detention with me. Your mum says that she loves you, don't know why. (And she hits me again.) Have fun! Don't forget to write! ~Suzi B.

I chuckled softly.

"You should write to Mum more often, Chi," Daphne commented.

I shrugged.

"It's not a matter of writing as it is there's nothing to really say."

She huffed.

"There's always something to say. Like, you could tell her that Snape hasn't given you detention yet."

"Yet. I hear that he will when I go to Potions next."

"Why? He has no reason to."

"He taught Defence Against the Dark Arts yesterday, I was told…"

She looked at me quizzically.

"Told? You didn't go to class?"

"No," I sighed, feeling a weight drop in my stomach.

"No? How come, Chi? What happened?"

"I was sick," I lied. She, however, was unconvinced.

"Sick?" She leaned closer to me and dropped her voice. Some students walked passed us, but paid us no attention, though she watched them until they were gone. "Chiron, I know the other night was the full moon."

I sighed again, putting my hands through my hair.

"I couldn't control it," I whispered back, a lump in my throat. "It just happened."

She thought quickly before standing up.

"I'll go see if I can't find anything in the library on it. If I have to, I'll find some way to get permission to get into the Restricted Section. Lie low, Chiron. Word spreads like wild fire here, you know."

I nodded as she turned on her heel and quickly walked away.

When Lupin came back, the class complained. He told everyone that they did not have to do the essay, since we had already covered werewolves two years ago. Katie Bell sighed as she tucked away her parchment rolls, giving a sad look to Alicia. He did say that if anyone did in fact do the essay, he'll give extra credit. Taeryn swore under his breath.

After class, I packed my things and was about to leave when a hand touched my shoulder. I looked up and saw that it was Lupin.

"Professor Snape did tell me you weren't in class the other day," he said quietly, watching some students leave before looking back at me.

"I was sick," I said, hitching my bag over my shoulder. "I still haven't talked to him about it. Apparently he was angry that I was out."

Lupin nodded, his tired face sad.

"I'll talk to him first before you do anything rash." He gave me a tired smile. "Just make sure, next time, you get an excuse slip from Madam Pomfrey."

I fought the urge to challenge him on this simple request. Instead however I opened my big mouth.

"Professor Snape already knew I was up there. He came up."

Lupin furrowed his eyebrows.

"Taeryn and Ben were making it seem like he didn't know I was out…"

"That's how it was told to me, too. I'll talk to Professor Snape. Do you have a class after this one?"

I shook my head as he nodded.

"Well, would you like to come with me?"

I sighed as he lead the way out of the room. I gave Alicia a look as I followed Lupin to the dungeons.

Snape had just gotten finished teaching a class and was heading to his own office when we approached him. His eyes quickly darted from Lupin to me, as if he saw something I didn't.

"Yes, Lupin?" he asked, coldly.

"I was just informed that you actually had knowledge of Mr. Cartwright's illness the other day when he wasn't in class."

Snape flared his nostrils as he glared at Lupin.

"I don't think a headache should be classified as a reason to miss class."

I clenched my jaw.

"You know full well, Professor, that I was sick," I growled, challenging him.

His direction turned to me. I stared him in the eye. I could feel my blood begin to rise as the tension grew thick.

It seemed Lupin could feel the sparks in the air too.

"Severus, I will deal with the disciplinary actions accordingly," he said quietly.

Snape huffed.

"Of course you will, Lupin."

Lupin escorted me out of Snape's office. My hands were trembling as I had been fighting the urge to punch Snape. Lupin seemed to have gotten the gist, too. Once we were out of the dungeons, he turned to face me.

"Chiron, just make sure you get an excuse slip from Madam Pomfrey. And before you begin to protest," he added as I opened my mouth to do so, "I do believe that you were sick. Just try not to let it happen again, alright?"

I nodded slowly, looking at the floor. He patted my shoulder and left me standing in the entrance hall. I wasn't feeling any sort of relief. Actually, I was starting to resent Lupin's sincerity and calmness. Maybe it was bothering me that he didn't even ask me what was actually wrong with me, but I wouldn't have told him anyway.

I went into the library, hoping that maybe I could finish that God-forsaken essay for history of magic about the becoming of vampires and their revolts in society in the 1800s. Not something I was looking forward to. Or I could write back to Suzi finally.

I found Hermione Granger sitting at a table with books in front of her, her hair looking bushier than usual. She was a year below me, and always had her nose in a book. This was really the first time I had seen her all term sitting.

I approached her table.

"D'you mind?" I asked quietly, pointing to a spot opposite and some ways from her.

She nearly jumped at the sound of my voice. She looked up at me, with a look of trying to figure out what was going on. Once she recognized me, she nodded with an exasperated sigh.

I took a seat and took out some parchment, my quill and ink, and my history book. Such a useless subject, I thought as I dipped my quill into the ink and wrote my name on the parchment. I began writing what I could remember before I needed to look things up.

"History?" Hermione asked.

I nodded, not looking at her, as I wrote about the vampires.

"You don't look too excited about it," she observed.

I looked over at her and rolled my eyes.

"Thrilled."

She smiled slightly, hiding the fact that she had rather large front teeth.

"And you?"

"Ancient Runes," she said, holding her parchment up and giving it a once over. "Next I'm going to have to work on Arithmancy."

Two subjects I understand, I thought as I smiled and nodded at her.

We didn't talk much more after that. Hermione wasn't really one to talk too many people when she was in her study-bubble. I caught myself looking over at her every now and then however. She started her Arithmancy work, one hand in her hair. I began wondering how many classes she was taking, but didn't bother to ask. Fed up with vampires, I pulled out a smaller piece of parchment and began writing back to Suzi.

Hey, Suzi.

Things are alright here. No very exciting. Homework is a bore. Life is alright. I'm sitting in the library attempting to write an essay. And the moon isn't giving me too much hell. Just the usual. Haven't had detention yet, but, unlike you, I try to stay out of trouble. Snape's tried to give me detention (he's the potion's teacher here). We have a new teacher who's too nice. He knows his stuff, though. I'm waiting for the day when Taeryn will pull a prank on him. Daph seems to like him. Hope Mum didn't beat you too hard. Or maybe you need it. Tell her I said hi and sorry for not writing. There just isn't much to write about. I'll write to her when something interesting happens here.

Chiron

Reading over it once more, I folded it up and put it in my bag. I heard Hermione giggle under her breath. I looked up at her, giving her a look.

"That didn't look like an essay to me," she said in her all-knowing voice.

I chuckled.

"Just a letter. Mum was upset that I hadn't written, so she made a friend in detention write to me."

"Is your mother a teacher?"

I nodded, bringing my essay back in front of me and staring at it.

"Potions, actually. In the States."

I looked over at her to find her studying my face.

"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I didn't particularly care for people staring at me, especially since I had fresh scratch marks on one side of my face. I had a horrible feeling she was staring at the cuts.

"How did you get those scratch marks?" she asked quietly.

"Daphne's cat," I lied, looking away. I picked up my history book and opened to the chapter on vampires, hoping that maybe she would get the hint that I really didn't want to talk about it.

Thankfully, she got the hint and didn't say anything to me until the bell rang for lunch. She packed her things away, said bye to me, and left the library quickly. Knowing what I did know of Hermione, she'll find some way to figure it all out. I couldn't decide if that bothered me or if it impressed me.