Chapter Twenty
Within seconds, someone had taken Lin from Remus's arms. He looked up as he attempted to catch his breath. Arthur laid her down on the Weasleys' weathered, orange sofa, being careful to keep the cloak wrapped around her.
Literally the second Arthur stepped away Albus ran forward to her. Her eyes were closed almost restfully. She had not moved from where Mr. Weasley had set her down. Apparently, she was unconscious again.
As soon as he could, Remus rushed to her side, taking one of her hands in his. "Albus, we need to heal her."
"We can't. He's charmed the wounds," the elderly man replied sadly and worriedly.
"What can we do, then?" he asked.
"Stay with her, Remus. Severus, do you know of anything which could help?"
"I know one which might help, might. If not, I can create a suitable remedy," he said, turning to the fireplace.
Most of the rest of them filed out after him, flooing to their destination. Now, all that remained were Minerva (Prof. McGonagall), Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, Remus, Albus, Lin, and Alastor Moody.
"He's still out there, Albus. He'll come for her, no matter the protections we give her. You know that," Moody said seriously before he, too, left.
"Albus, what has he done to her?" Minerva asked.
"He's claimed her, and in doing so broken something in her. She won't live long unless she has a reason to fight."
"Is she fading?" the elderly woman asked worriedly.
Albus looked up to her and said in a voice that was far from calm, "Yes."
oooooooooo
Back in the living room, Remus refused to leave Lin even for a moment. For the rest of that day, he sat beside her, sometimes holding her hand or running his fingers through her hair. He even slept on the floor beside her that night. I will not leave you again...I love you...
Lin did not wake the next day or the day after. They all began to despair of her ever waking up, but Remus would hear none of it. He sat by her day after day as she grew every thinner and paler. He dripped water and soup down her throat, hoping it would sustain her until she woke. Still she slumbered on.
After two weeks, Remus began to lose hope. He told no one, but they could all see the change in him when they came to visit. He ate less and less, slept not at all, and spent most of the day staring off into space with the most pained expression on his face.
Another week went by and winter break came. The Weasley children and Harry returned to the burrow, and Hermione visited nearly daily. The cheer of the holidays was overshadowed by an ever-present grief which grew more marked day by day. This effect was personified by the now assured presence of Lin on the couch and Remus sitting beside her, nearly as gone to the world as she.
On Christmas eve, harry, Ron, and Hermione finally decided to attempt to speak with him. Hermione, being the girl, was most comfortable in speaking about feelings, so she was the one who tapped his shoulder. She was the one to which he turned his head with a forlorn look in his eyes. For a second, she was struck dumb, unable to speak for her sympathy for his obvious anguish.
When she recovered herself, Hermione asked, "Has she gotten any better?"
"No," he whispered, sounding half strangled and more than a little anguished.
"Is there any chance?" she asked delicately.
"Of course there's a chance. There has to be a chance," he said vehemently.
An awkward silence ensued. Seconds later, it was punctured by Hermione asking the question bluntly, "Do you love her?"
Remus silently looked at Hermione. Pain and longing mixed on his face as he turned back to look at Lin. "Time changes everything," he said, letting his head drop to rest on Lin's arm. It moved.
It moved. She moved. She moved!
"Get Albus, Molly, and Severus!" Remus said urgently as his eyes searched for anymore movement. Her fingers twitched. Her eyes flicked back and forth under the lids.
Remus placed a hand on her cheek whilst grasping her other hand in his. Her lips moved slightly, almost a twitch. Her voice, lowering even than a whisper, spoke as the wind, "No...Remus, help..."
"Lin, wake up," he pleaded as Molly Weasley raced into the room.
"How is she? I've just flooed Dumbledore. He'll be here within a minute," she said in one long breath.
"She spoke, but she's still asleep. I think she's having a nightmare," he said, looking from the aging woman back to his love.