HIDDEN MARAUDER CHAPTER 6

"The times I was quiet in the library, I heard them talking about the deal..." Centaury answered and left me in that spot.

Having to look at Centaury's retreating back really made Remus to feel uncomfortable. He doesn't understand why... He then heard foot steps behind him and found James and Sirius talking at each other. They were laughing and it made Remus feel sick. He felt as though it was their entire fault. James looked at him, smiling.

"Hey, what's up Moony" James said in a cheery tone. But his face falters at Remus' facial expression.

"You gits" Remus said. "She found out all about the deal"

"What—how?" Sirius said, appalled.

"She has her ways to know certain things" Remus said shrewdly and left them clueless of what just happened. On his way to the common room, he found Lily with her arms crossed on her chest and glaring at him. What the hell...

"What the hell did you do?" Lily asked in her dangerous tone.

"Lily, I..."

"I thought you would be reasonable" Lily said and looked away. "She got her hopes up you know. She thought that you guys are really interested in knowing her"

"Honestly Lily, I really want to know her but..."

"Remus, she found out about your deal and it's thanks to you," she said glaring at the approaching Sirius and James "Centaury's confidence just went downhill" With that, she left.

"What was that all about?" James said bewildered.

"How am I supposed to know?" Sirius said not caring about Lily. "Come on, before some prefect caught us" Remus smirked at him.

James, Sirius, and Remus went to their dormitories and found Peter already sleeping in his bed. Remus quietly changed to his sleeping garments and crept to his four poster bed. He stared at the ceiling... Centaury's retreating back kept on playing on his mind. Her shaky and watery voice kept on echoing in his ears. What the hell had he done? He was talking nicely to her, then all of the sudden she was starting to cry.

What Remus doesn't understand was a particular feeling he felt in his stomach. It was giving some squirm, a kind of squirm that he had not experienced before. Was it guilt? Maybe. Centaury... a girl like no other, she was not affected by the marauders' appeal, was she? Anyways, he has a lot of things to do tomorrow. He's not likely going to let her bother his mind.

"Remus?—REMUS!" The voice shocked him. He was staring at Professor Slughorn who was expecting for an answer. He looked sideways and found James was looking at him with arched brows.

"Err—what's the question?" Remus asked and the other students laughed. Professor Slughorn chuckled bemusedly.

"As I was saying, Mr. Lupin, your partner is Ms. Edison if that is alright with you" Slughorn said and Remus nodded. "So, pack your things then and start making that potion with her"

Remus moved and received a glare from Lily. He walked to where Centaury was. Today, she was in her blond hair. She was staring at the cauldron in front of her. Remus doesn't understand, as he was going near her, his heart seemed to sink. It was like he's still feeling the guilt even though it was already a week after that incident. She seemed to have been avoiding him during class hours and free time. She has every right though.

"Hey there" Remus said and placed his book on the desk.

"Hello" She said nonchalantly.

"Let's start doing our potion then" Remus said calmly.

"You read the instructions and help me with the ingredients" Centaury said still not looking at him. It bothers him.

Remus and Centaury worked on their potion. They worked quietly and Remus kept on shooting covert looks on Centaury she didn't notice though. He reads instructions and Centaury made all the stirrings and adding the ingredient things. Remus could hear bickering and whispers behind them. He found that Lily was working with James. They were not a good pair and their potion was giving off some acrid smell. Which meant, Remus' and Centaury's potion might get the higher score and get a prize from Slughorn.

"... what are you going to do with that?" Sirius asked enviously to Remus eyeing at the potion that Slughorn gave them. Remus and Centaury was each given a price because of the perfect potion. Sirius could have won though, but he was busy ruining Severus' potion.

"Well... I'll save this potion for important matters" Remus said clutching his potion which can answer one problem with no difficulty. Once it was drunk, the drinker will have one of his problems solved.

"Ah well" James said. "I could use one of that..."

"You mean to get Lily to get out with you" Sirius smirked.

"Yeah" James said cockily and the marauders head to the great hall for lunch. James and the others sat in front of Lily and Centaury again.

Remus choose to sit in front of Centaury, he was determined to ask sorry now because he couldn't stand having a guilty feeling. And he was sure to be cranky for the next two weeks because the full moon is already approaching. James, Peter and Sirius were talking to each other animatedly. While Lily just ate her lunch quietly while surveying the marauders closely.

'Centaury... Can you hear me?' Remus said in his mind while looking at Centaury. Centaury suddenly stirred as though she was surprised. She looked upwards and her hazel eyes met his gray ones.

'Yes, why?' Centaury replied.

'Look, I'm sorry' Remus said and Centaury looked at her food and began to eat it. 'What I—we—did was quite foolish. You know we're keen to take some challenges, and I was roused to find out who you really was. I know it's a stupid deal that we have to include your privacy as to who you are. But apart from it, I really want to know you. And I am keen to be your friend'

'Are you really?' Centaury asked as she looked on his face and she looked like glowing.

'Yeah, I'll never lie to you and if I did you'll know it' Remus said smiling. 'I really am sorry, Centaury' Centaury's expression changed, looking at him as though he is a new hope.

'That's nice Remus' Centaury said smiling.

"Hey, why are you two smiling at each other?" Sirius asked. Remus just realized that it's been quiet a few moments ago.

"We just love to smile" Centaury smirks that made Sirius, James and Peter to recoil. She then changed her hair to auburn. 'Thank you Remus' she said in Remus' mind and left the great hall.

"Did she just smirk?" James said in awe at Remus.

"Quite a smirk!" Sirius said.

"She can be a bit of cheeky sometimes" Lily said and smiled at Remus, she too left the great hall. Sirius looked at Remus.

"Is there something between you and Centaury?" Sirius asked shrewdy.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Remus said and continued eating.

"You know Remus, you're being a mystery" James said in mockingly. "Don't worry; we're going to investigate you anyway"

Days passed by, Remus and Centaury became fast friends. They usually chat in their free times (now that Centaury shows up to him at her free hours at the common room, Library and Great hall) using their minds. Remus didn't dare to ask how she communicates with him, until she is ready to open it up to him. They share quite few stories about themselves. Remus learned that Centaury is a muggle-born witch and was a very gifted one. She is a part metamorphmagus, that's the reason that only her hair colour changes.

The October new moon was approaching. James, Sirius, and Peter are going to the room of requirements to test their potion. Remus instructed them what to do since he can't be with them because of his transformation. Add the bits of their animal blood and markings in their potion and focus on what they want to become. Remus told Centaury that he'll be gone for the next three days because he has to visit his sick mother, a lame excuse though, but Centaury buys it. Or so he thought.

(A/N: took time to upload this one, hehe uhm pls R&R,)
Thnks again Saturn Fate Silver Maxwell for Reviewing :D more twists are coming ^^