Author's Note

I want to thank everyone who has read the story so far and for everyone who has added it to their favorite stories and alert lists. So far there have been no reveiws, but I am going to assume because people are favoriting it and wanting alerts on it that some people are enjoying it. I know that this will be two chapters in one month, but I felt like I needed to go ahead and get things moving a bit quicker with updates. You may even have another chapter up before the week is out if I get bored again!

Have fun reading!

Chapter Three

"If heaven wasn't so far away

I'd pack up the kids and go for the day

Introduce them to their grandpa

Watch 'em laugh at the way he talks

I'd find my long lost cousin John

The one we left back in Vietnam

Show him a picture of his daughter now

She's a doctor and he'd be proud

Then tell him we'd be back in a couple of days

In the rear view mirror we'd all watch 'em wave

Yeah, and losing them wouldn't be so hard to take

If heaven wasn't so far away"

- Justin Moore

Austin sat in her room, looking up at the sky. November 25, 1977. Austin sighed as she looked down at the pictures in her hands. One was of her grandparents, the other of her parents and siblings. She was the youngest in the photograph. She was in each of them. Her grandpa was holding her and she was trying to jump at her grandma. In the other, she was being held upside down by her brothers as her parents were getting ready to catch her. The pictures didn't move, she had taken off the spell. She didn't want to see them move, her family was all dead.

Austin felt a tear roll down her cheek as she looked up at the full moon. Full moons were always painful for her; they reminded her of her family and what they stood for. Austin jumped as the door opened and saw Lily enter with a tray of food.

"You weren't at dinner." Lily explained as she sat the food on Austin's bed.

Austin wiped at her tear. "I'm not hungry tonight, Lils." Austin whispered so her voice didn't crack.

Lily nodded her head and backed out of the room. Austin smiled at how well her friend knew her. She hated for others to see her upset. Austin tucked the pictures to her chest and curled in a ball. She hated that she was alone, that she was an orphan. However, she would make the most out of her life since she was lucky enough to still have one. Her eyes closed tightly as she clutched at the pictures and sobbed uncontrollably.

Later in the night when the other girls came to bed, Austin snuck from the room and out of the tower completely. She headed straight for the hospital wing for she knew that she would need some sort of help. Her stock of potions for depression was low and she would need more. Austin closed her eyes tightly as a wave of pain hit her. Once it passed, she glared out the window at the full moon.

That damn thing. I hate it. Austin whispered into her mind before continuing her walk.

Austin found herself in front of the hospital wing quickly and Madam Pomfrey was already walking towards the doors. "Miss Cross, I wasn't expecting you to be here tonight."

"Dunno why, Madam. I ran out of my potions and…well, it's goin pretty bad tonight." Austin whispered because her voice couldn't handle going any louder.

Madam Pomfrey's face fell into a sympathetic frown as she wrapped the teenage girl into her arms. "You poor thing." The matron whispered before holding Austin out at arm's length. "Come on then. I'll go get your potion and we can stay up and talk for a little bit. Tell me about your family?"

Austin smiled softly and nodded her head as tears came back down her cheeks in fresh streaks. Madam Pomfrey was someone that Austin trusted with her entire being. This woman had been there for her when she first heard the news of her family's end. Madam Pomfrey was there for her and Austin had actually stayed in the hospital wing for quite a few weeks because she couldn't make herself stop crying.

Austin sat up in a bed closest to the office of the matron and curled up in a ball. The pictures of her family were resting on the sheets next to her. Madam Pomfrey was sitting at the foot of the bed with a comforting hand on her knee.

"My grandpa was a good man. He was always treated badly by other wizards. I hated it, but he told me not to get mad about it. He always expected it and he was used to it. He treated them fairly and if they ever needed somethin, he'd be there with it. That was how Grandpa was. Daddy was the same way. That's why he became a healer. He was really happy takin care of other people." Austin gave a watery smile.

"They sound wonderful, dear. You were very lucky to have them." Madam Pomfrey stated quietly.

"I wouldn't have changed them for the world. No matter what, they were the best men in the world to me, they were both my hero." Austin sniffled as she ran a finger over both her grandpa's face and her father's face. "I just can't believe their gone. It's been four years now, but I can't picture them not bein back in America waitin on me to come home."

Madam Pomfrey leaned over the bed and gave Austin a tight hug. "They are watching you, Miss Cross. You know they are, that's why you've been doing so well with studies and your depression is lessoning."

Austin nodded but didn't smile. "I think I wanna sleep now."

Madam Pomfrey smiled sadly before standing up and helping Austin lay down. After Austin rolled over, the matron exited back into her office. Austin already knew she wouldn't be sleeping tonight.

Somehow, however, Austin was able to sleep. She woke up to the bright sun in her face and someone brushing her hair from her forehead. When she looked up, she was startled to see the emerald eyes of Lily Evans.

"Hi." Lily smiled softly.

Austin couldn't even force a smile. "Why are you here?"

Lily frowned and hurt flashed in her eyes before she took Austin's hand. "I heard where you were and decided that you'd like some company. I hope I'm not intruding."

Austin tried to smile but it came out as a grimace, she could tell. "I'm sorry if I worried ya, Lils."

Lily smiled and patted Austin's hand. "Don't you worry about that. Do you need anything?"

Austin shook her head as she sat up and pushed her knees to her chest. "Nah, I'm fine." Austin glanced out the window next to her. "Aren't you gonna miss lunch?"

Lily let go of Austin's hand, taking the hint. "If you need me for anything, Austin, just have Madam Pomfrey send me an owl. I'll come right away."

Austin nodded, not even looking at the red head. She didn't want company, she wanted to be locked in a dark room and never allowed outside of it. Austin buried her head into her knees, hating herself for not being there to help protect her family.

"Austin?" a rough voice came from across the aisle of beds.

Austin glanced up momentarily before she brought her head all the way up. "Hi, Remus." Austin muttered, noticing the scratches he had all over his face and hands. "What happened?"

"Just a little prank gone wrong. Shouldn't have let the others talk me into testing it." Remus chuckled, his voice getting better slowly. "Are you alright?"

Austin nodded, her face blank as she did. "Yeah, I'm a'right."

Remus' eyes told her that he knew she was lying. However, she didn't want to tell him…he'd hate her if he knew. Austin turned her face away just as Madam Pomfrey came out of her office with two potions. The first went to Remus and the second came to Austin.

"I'm going to keep both of you here for the rest of the day. By dinner I think you can both leave. That is if you feel up to it." Madam Pomfrey placed a motherly hand to Austin's knee that was still bent in front of her.

This contact caused Austin's eyes to water and she quickly downed her potion. "Thank you, Madam." Austin whispered before slipping away from the matron's touch and moved her body back under her blankets.

The door to the office shut and Austin knew that she was left alone with Remus. She did not expect to find Remus sitting on the edge of her bed. She wouldn't look at him; she didn't want him to see that no emotions but self-loathing were in her eyes. Remus' hand came out and touched her back.

"I remember in fourth year that you were in here. I knew why then; I understood it." Remus whispered as he rubbed her back up and down.

Austin felt her eyes fill with tears and under the blanket she touched her left forearm. "It hurts, Remus." Austin whispered, closing her eyes.

Austin didn't see Remus nod his head, but she felt him shift so his free hand could wipe away one of her tears. "I know. It'll hurt for a little while at least."

Austin didn't speak again, she just moved so she was curled against Remus, needing contact now so she didn't do something stupid.

Remus watched the next few days as Austin went through the motions. She wasn't smiling as much. She would continuously take potions that Slughorn would bring her or she had to go to the hospital wing to take. She didn't talk very often. The only time that she could be found in the common room was when she had come back from the library late at night and go up to her room. She hardly ate, only enough to keep herself alive.

All in all, it didn't help Remus when he saw her outside in the snow with Snape. He was watching from the library window as they sat on a thick blanket by the frozen lake. Both were wearing thick clothes and cloaks but Austin was leaning against Snape. Remus' hands clenched at his side as he watched them down there. It was painful for him to not be able to go down there and just rip Severus Snape from her.

"Moony, if you keep staring at them like that, they may just catch fire." Peter commented as he came to stand next to the young werewolf.

"Hi, Peter." Remus sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Do you remember that girl you liked in fifth year?" Peter stiffened but nodded his head. "How did you handle it when she dated someone else?"

It was Peter's turn to sigh. "Not very well, Moony. I hated the bloke and you all helped me prank him to the ends of the earth. It was worse when she got so sick she had to go home for the remainder of the year. She never has come back, but she's not dead…She's locked away in St. Mungo's." Peter shuddered and Remus placed a hand on the plump boys shoulder.

"Sorry for bringing it up, Wormtail. I forgot where she was." Remus whispered and squeezed Peter's shoulder.

Peter gave a soft smile up at his friend. "It's okay; just don't let the same thing happen between Austin and you."

Remus nodded his head before he turned his attention back to the window. Austin was now laughing, leaning her head back and allowing her hair to touch the snow behind her. Snape was smirking and reached for her so she didn't fall over. They were having fun…Austin was happy out there.

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