"Dumbledore said you could have the whole week off if you wanted" said Remus's mum. It was Monday morning and Remus was preparing to go back to school. He was feeling very guilty about leaving her, but he just couldn't stand being around her crying any longer, he couldn't stand being around his Aunt Sylvia either, who had turned up everyday, offering sympathy to his mum, but only dirty looks and snide remarks to him.
"I just... I really just want to get back to school... I want to take my mind off of things... I'm really really sorry mum" he said pleadingly. She gave him a very tearful smile and said
"There's nothing to be sorry for. I understand... I'll get back to work soon as well. Well, I have to. They keep attacking bloody muggles though don't they. Paperwork keeps pouring in, it's hard thinking of so many excuses. Just glad I'm not an obliviator any more" she muttered shaking her head, a tear rollign slowly down her cheek. Remus wondered how such a tiny woman could have so much spare liquid in her body.
"I sorry mum"
"It's okay Remus. It doesn't matter. I wouldn't want to be hanging round here if I were you. Especially if I had friends and my boyfriend back at Hogwarts"
"It's not that I don't want to be here... I just..."
"Don't want to be here?"
"Mum..."
"Let's just drop it. Alright? Dumbledore's letting you use the fire in his office. That's good isn't it. I know how much you hate apparating"
"Yeah it's great... look mum... I'll stay if you want"
"Sweet heart, you want to go, so go. I'll be fine. Sylvia's coming over soon" She wiped her face and forced a smile. Remus grabbed a handful of floo powder and threw it into the recently lit fire
"Albus Dumbledore's office" Remus jumped, a booming voice rose up from the flames
"PASSWORD"
"Jesus Christ... Ice mice"
"CORRECT" The voice died and flames went an emerald green, Remus stepped into the fire. Just before he was trasported, his mother didn't wait quite long enough to collapse in tears on the sofa. Before Remus could fully register what he'd just seen, he was sucked up into the floo system. Blurred images of other wizards living rooms flashed by him and he was spat out of the fire place in Dumbledore's office
"Aah Remus, so nice to see you've arrived" Dumbledore said sadly "It really was terrible to hear of your-"
"Don't try and change the fucking subject Dumbledore" growled, to Remus's surprise, his defense against the dark arts professor, Professor Sheilds. The usually sweet and encouraging woman was looking flustered and had an ugly scowl on her face
"Please wait outside Remus, I would like to speak to you but as you can see..." Remus nodded and left Dumbledore's office and stood in, what he supposed was, the enterance hall. Closing the large wooden doors behind him he heard his professor screaming at Dumbledore
"My FAMILY Dumbledore! I just thank god my children moved out! It's a miracle my husband escaped!" he heard the soft murmur of Dumbledore's voice "No! No Way Dumbledore! It's to dangerous!" more soft murmuring "SHUT UP! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOUR JOB! AND FUCK YOUR FUCKING ORDER!" she emphasised the word "order" mockingly "I'll finish this year, then I'm gone! And make no mistake, I'm finishing the year for the kids, not for you!" she finished and banged through Dumbledore's doors dramatically. She smoothed down her clothes and hair, turning to Remus, she said softly
"My condolances Remus, it's terrible, it really is" she shook her head and left the room. Remus was shocked, he'd never heard anyone get angry at Dumbledore before. Nevermind swearing at him. He poked his head round the office door, Dumbledore ushered him in
"Have a seat Remus" he took the seat at Dumbledore's desk "I suppose there's nothing I can tell you that you won't have heard already"
"No, sir probably not"
"But let me tell you how saddened I was by the news. When I knew John, he was always a very able and kind boy, a Gryffindor so obviously brave, obviously noble. A prefect as well... Alas, we are at war. Though the Auror office and I myself are doing all we can, casulaties cannot be avoided. It is a disgrace that you should have to lose your father at such a young age... but as I said, people are doing all they can to battle Voldemort" Remus felt the same twinge he'd felt when his Uncle Nick mentioned that name at the funeral. Recognising his dicomfort Dumbledore continued "Remus, I'd like to remind you that fear of a name only increases fear of the thing it's self"
"I'm sorry Professor"
"No need to apologise. How is Rhea holding together?"
"My Mum? She's... she's not so good sir... hasn't really stopped crying for the last five days... she's got a lot of work to do and my aunt keeps visiting her so, it'll take her mind off Dad"
"And how are you Remus?"
"I'm... I'm... fine I suppose. I felt really sort of... hollow and weird at first... then I was sort of overcome with like... shock. Then my started to stomach hurt... still does... then I was just miserable. I'm still pretty miserable in all honesty"
"Are you sure you're ready to be back Remus?" asked Dumbledore earnestly, his eyes peering sadly through is half moon spectacles
"I'm sure Professor. Being at home really won't help me feel better"
"I see" he nodded, understanding that Remus couldn't bare to be around his mother. Remus now adding unbelievable guilt to his list of shitty feelings. "I understand how you feel Remus. If I were you, I'd just want to have my mind taken off of the whole situation" Remus sat for a moment, too curious to contain his next question
"Is Professor Shields leaving sir?"
"It would appear so. She will be finishing the school year"
"I know... I heard"
"I really must refresh the silencing charm on those doors" he smiled serenely
"Were... were her family attacked, sir?"
"They were" Dumbledore stood up "I won't keep you any longer Remus, as I'm sure you would much rather be with your friends, who have been pestering Professor McGonagall and I for news on you and your return for the last few days"
"They have?" Remus blushed "Oh... sorry sir"
"One Sirius Black, has been particularly... hmm, a more polite word for irritating is needed" he smiled knowingly at Remus, who blushed a deeper red
"I'll go then" he said shyly. He picked up his bag, which he'd dropped when he came out of the fire place "What time is it, Professor?"
"It is ten to ten"
"Oh... I'm late" said Remus, making his way for the door "Thanks professor"
"You are very welcome Remus" he smiled warmly and Remus left the office for Gryfindor tower, to pick up his things for his morning lessons. He was rather looking forward to the distraction Herbology would provide him.
*
Sirius scowled as he re-potted the ugly Bubotuber plant, irritated at how careful he was having to be with the vile slug like thing. Where the hell was Remus? He was supposed to be back three minutes ago...
"Why have I got to be so gentle with it?" he snarled, not to anyone in particular, Lily Evans replied smartly
"Because if you're rough with it, you'll get pus all over you and the pus'll damage your skin"
"Damage how?" he asked
"Boils I think" she replied
"You're so clever Evans" said James, messing up his already untidy Black hair "Look how gentle I am"
"Yes, I see Potter"
"I'm told I'm a very gentle lover" he said with a smary raise of his brow "Want to go out with me?"
"Fuck off" she said flatly, continuing to tend to her Bubotuber
"You're so smooth" smirked Sirius. James scowled
"She doesn't know what she's missing Prongs" said Peter
"Bloody hell Wormtail, could you get any gayer?" said James contemptuously
"Yeah, I could start shagging Moony" he sniggered
"Don't be a dick" said Sirius "I'm not shagging him yet anyway" he said begrudingly
"Really? Merlin's beard Sirius, why not?" said James curiously. Peter squirmed and busied himself with his bubotuber
"We're just going to let it happen when it happens... it hasn't happened yet" Sirius sighed
"Why not?" Asked James
"You're a bit too interested in this for a straight guy" said Sirius with a smirk
"What? You're my best friend, and you're going out with my second best friend, am I not allowed to be interested in your relationship?"
"Out relationship, fair enough, our sex life, a bit weird"
"Sor-ry! I'm just curious is all, if you don't want to talk about it" James pouted
"I'm only teasing you fool" he punched James on the arm "no need to get pissy, I don't mind talking about it"
"Cool, so why hasn't it happened yet?"
"I don't know... when it looks like it might we keep getting interupted"
"Sorry about that, by the way" said James with an evil smirk
"It's fine" sighed Sirius "I just hope you know, if you ever snag Evans, I'm going to put dragon dung in your bed"
"Fair enough" he shrugged
"And if we don't get interupted, then we end up doing other... stuff. And after the... stuff atleast one of us is usually to tired to do anything else"
"Aww, lacking stamina in your old age?"
"No, usually it'll be at night, so we're tired before hand anyway"
"You do stuff while me and Pete are in the dorm?"
"We wait till you're both well asleep first"
"Eww... The stuff that goes on behind closed curtains" James said shaking his head, Sirius sniggered, feeling a little more cheerful than he did before
"Oh, and there's no way we'll be having sex for a while considering what's just happened"
"Why not?"
"His dad just died Prongs! It would be like taking advantage of him"
"Aah, I s'pose... he's back today isn't he?"
"Yes... He's late, as a matter of fact" said Sirius glancing at his watch with a frown.
"He is? I though he was due back at quarter to ten"
"Exactly, it's nine minutes to, he's late"
"Six minutes!"
"Exactly! Six minutes he should've been here for... where is he?" Sirius frowned and craned his neck, looking outside for any sign of Remus
"He'll be here soon, a watched pot never boils, you know" smirked James. Sirius's frown decended to a full blown scowl
"Shut up" Sirius sighed and checked his watch again (he was seven minutes late now)
"What've we got next lesson?" asked Peter
"DADA I think" said Evans helpfully when Sirius and James both ignored him
"Did you hear about Professor Shields's husband?" said the girl standing next to Evans. She was quite small and slim and had short dark hair and a round face. Sirius nudged James and whispered
"what's that girl's name?"
"Alice"
"Oh yeah" he said loudly. She hangs round Evans a lot... Sirius used to sit with her in... was it astronamy or transfiguration?
"Did you hear about it, Sirius?" she asked
"No, I was saying "oh yeah" about something else. What happened?"
"It was in the prophet this morning. Her husband got attacked by Death Eaters. He escaped but he's a bit banged up. They think the death Eaters were after her son and daughter, Jo and Jack, 'cos they just started auror training, but they moved out of Professor Shields's house a few weeks ago."
"That's lucky" said Evans
"It really is, I think it all looks a bit dodgy to be honest." James, Sirius and Evans gave her a confused look "Not that her kids moved out, that her husband escaped. He's not like an Auror or anything, he works in Flourish and Blotts, you know, just a bit wierd that fully trained auror's haven't managed to fight them off, but some guy who works in a book shop managed to get away alive." Said Alice quietly, checking over her shoulder
"That is a bit funny isn't it" said Evans chewing her lip "Maybe he made a deal with them or something"
"That's what I thought" said Alice with an enthusiastic nod
"Maybe we should tell Dumbledore..." said Evans warily
"Chances are ladies" said James smugly "Dumbledore's thought of it already" he messed his hair up again
"You're probably right Potter" said Alice, with a slight sigh, she squeezed her bubotuber which began to seep foul smelling puss on her hands "Ugh!" a series of very painful looking boils erupted on her hand "I hate Herbology" she growled "Professor Sprout! My bubotuber started... pussing, can I go to the hospital wing?" Professor Sprout rolled her eyes and sighed
"Yes yes, go on. I did tell you about being gentle with them"
"I know Professor" Alice moaned as she made her way out of the green house, boil covered hand held aloft. "Oh, hello Remus" she said happily
"Hey Alice" he repiled miserably "Bubotuber puss?"
"Yep, one of these day I will have a herbology lesson where the plants don't assult me"
"I doubt that Alice" called Evans, grinning. Sirius dropped his bubotuber and ran over to Remus, excitedly pulling him into a furiously tight hug.
"Sirius... you're crushing me" said Remus, Sirius released him with an apologetic smile and shrug
"Are you alright?"
"I'm a bit shit, but I'm nothing compared to my mum" he said exasperatedly as they walked back over to James and Peter
"Aww, is she bad?"
"She's really really bad. She didn't really stop crying for the entier time I was home" he sighed "I felt really bad about leaving her but... it was just so awful being around her" he said sadly. Remus looked completely despondent. His face was fixed into the puppy dog eyes that Remus only usually used as a weapon.
"It's alright Remus... I get that, you don't have to feel bad" said Sirius sadly
"You alright Moony?" said James concernedly
"Are you okay Remus?" asked Evans, moving closer to them and putting a hand on Remus's soulder
"No... I'm er... I'm not too bad.... I – I... don't want to talk about it" he shrugged Evans's hand away and dropped his eyes to the floor
"Mr. Lupin, you're back" said Professor Sprout "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine" he said, eyes fixed on his shoes
"Well, the lesson's only got ten minutes left so, just work with one of your friends, I'll give you your own plant next lesson, when we'll be harveting the puss" There was an audible groan from everyone in the class "I'm sorry class, but Madam Pomfrey has run out of puss completely! Apparently it's the only thing stopping some students cursing their acne off"
*
Sirius spent his entire DADA lesson staring nervously at Remus. Remus who still had that terrible miserable look on his face, that threatened to tear Sirius's heart in two. He felt helpless.
Nothing he could say. Nothing he could ask. Nothing he could do.
He stared. Remus usually looked a bit tired and a bit sad (it's the eyes that did it) but today, he just looked awful. Sirius was sure Remus had gotten atleast two shades paler (he was almost Snape pale) and a stone lighter since the last time he saw him. The gold eyes and thick lashes were just visable behind heavy black bags. The honey coloured, neatly toussled, mop of hair Sirius was so used to, was looking atypically lank, messy and flat. He looked like a particularly tortured cross between a panda and a herion addict.
Remus looked so miserable and ill Sirius was sure he even caught Snape eyeing him with a flicker of sympathy on that cold sallow face. Professor Shields was ranting on about the importance of knowing how to cast a proper shield charm, she was looking quite viscious as she marched back and forth across the classroom. Sirius, in a moment of desperation, slid a note over to Remus
Is there absaloutly anything in the world I could do to make you feel better? x
Remus looked at him, the heavily bagged eyes looked as if they had a war waging behind them, he pursed his lips, twisting them round his drawn face. He shrugged shook his head and slid Sirius's note back over to him. Sirius wrote to him again
Have you eaten or even slept lately?
Remus shook his head and scribbled on the parchment. His usually ridiculously neat hand wrtining was shaky and unfamiliar
Neither since Friday, my stomach has been hurting.
You look so pale Rem. You really have to eat Sirius was about to slide the note across the desk. He quickly added And sleep, you have to do that as well
I know mummy, I'm sorry. Remus gave him half a cheeky grin, which Sirius earnestly, desperately, returned. Sirius began to gnaw at his fingers, a nervous guesture which he thought he'd grown out of early on in third year. Nibbling at his own skin, had a slight calming effect, so did the knowledge that he could atleast do something useful for Remus, he could feed him.
"... some people who work in the Department of magical law enforcement can't even produce a decent enough shield charm. It's insane, it really is. Now I doubt many of you will be able to produce one first time, but why don't we let our resident defensive genius" Professor Shields smiled proudly at Remus, who's eyes didn't leave Sirius "That's you Remus" He looked over at her
"It is? Oh.. sorry"
"Nothing wrong with a bit of modesty Remus. I'd like you to come up here and demonstrate a shield charm for the class"
"I... I don't know Professor" her face dropped to a sympathetc smile, she titlted her head to one side
"Not feeling up to it eh? Are you alright?"
"I... I... erm" Remus blushed. Sirius looked around him, the whole class had turned around to look at Remus, all with their heads tilted on one side, smiling sadly. Remus frowned and cleared his throat (Sirius knew he wouldn't be able to put up with this level of attention and sympathy for too long) "Acctually... just a shield charm... I'll be fine to do it... I'm alright"
"You're sure?" said Shields sweetly
"I'm fine" He got up from the desk, he stumbled a bit as he stood and tracked to the front desk. He took his wand in his right hand. Sirius noticed him make a pained face and snake his left arm around his torso as he walked to the front of the class. He stood facing the professor
"Class" Professor Shields began proudly "you are about to see one of the most effictive shield charms you'll ever see, are you ready Remus?"
"Yep"
"Right, 1, 2, 3 Stupe-"
"Protego" said Remus, almost lazily. The jet of red light sent from their teacher's wand bounced away from Remus and hit the ceiling, a small fall of plaster dust crumbled from the ceiling "oops... sorry" Professor Shields beamed
"No problem at all Remus. With any luck, atleast one of you will be able to produce something half as effective as that. Would anyone like to have a go?" before she'd finished speaking both Evans's and Snape's hands flew into the air, both of them producing quite pathetic "ooo ooo ooo pick me" whines.
"Okay, Severus, come up to the front" Snape stalked excitedly to the front of the class room. James nudged Sirius in the ribs and whispered
"This'll be a laugh" he sniggered "Snivvely thinks he's absaloutly shit hot at this subject you know. Just 'cos he fucks around with Dark arts... prick. Watch him make a complete tit of himself" James leaned over Sirius and gave Remus a pat on the back as he sat down and a thumbs up, which Remus half heartedly returned
"You know the incantation Severus?"
"Obviously" Snape sneered
"Right... okay, 1, 2, 3 stupefy!" the jet of red light blew from the end of Professor Shields's wand
"Protego!" called Snape, his shield charm failed. Miserably. Snape fell back onto the floor, his head making a heavy thunk as it hit the ground. Sirius, James and Peter broke off into a quiet fit of laughter and snorting. Evans turned round, her deep green eyes drilling furious holes in them.
"Now class, this is what happens when you're arrogant when it comes to deffense. Mr. Snape here, swaggers up, thinking the charm is so easy to perform..." Shields continued to ramble. James turned to Sirius
"Brilliant! And he has the cheek to call us arrogant" said James
"Might be true to be honest, but atleast we have the talent to back our arrogance up" said Sirius rolling his eyes "God he's disgusting" Sirius scowled at Snape. He was so greasy and dirty looking... Sirius bet he'd acctually be sticky to touch. He unconciously wiped his hands on his robes at the thought.
*
"Come on Moony... eat something, please?" pleaded Sirius. His initial happiness at the prospect of being useful had quickly faded. Remus, now in the unforgiving light of the Great Hall was looking even thinner and sicker than he had a mere hour ago, his left arm still snaked around his stomach, right arm being used to bring a goblet of pumpkin juice to his mouth.
"I feel sick Sirius... I really can't"
"You feel sick because you haven't eaten or slept in days... come on Rem... you're going to end up in the hospital wing" Remus didn't answer in words, but with a twinge of his brow and a twist of his mouth. Sirius decided to try a different tactic. He stuck his bottom lip and fluttered his eyes "Pwease Wemus? If you're not vewy well, then I'll be sad" he made his lip quiver. Remus snorted, put down his goblet of pumpkin juice and picked up his fork. He stabbed weakly at a stem of broccoli and popped it in his mouth. He chewed slowly and, with what looked like a great deal of effort, swallowed.
"Happy now?" said Remus his face still twisted
"Not really... eat a bit more"
"I..."
"Come on! Do it for me!" Remus's eyes flicked down to his virtually untouched dinner "Please Remus" Sirius sighed, he swallowed, nervous about words he'd only said twice before, and only when he very little control over himself "I love you, you know... and... and if you make yourself ill... I'll..."
"Love you too" said Remus quietly "listen... if I end up vomiting later-"
"I'll take full responsibility... I'll even hold your hair back for you" Said Sirius triumphantly. Remus ate very slowly, and only his vegetables,completely ignoring the much needed helpings of carbs and protien on his plate. But at least it was something.
"What time is it?" asked Remus
"quarter to seven, why?"
"Oh bollocks, I'm extremely late for my DADA group" Remus slammed his fork down, quicly drained thelast of the pumpkin juice from his goblet and ran from the hall. Sirius got up and made his way, alone, back up to Gryffindor tower.
*
Fisher and Katrina were sitting quietly when Remus arrived. Katrina was laughing very awkwardly, hunched up with her hands in her greasy strawberry blonde hair, to hers and Remus's delight, her skin had cleared up very nicely over the last few weeks and she had been growing more confident. Fisher was smiling at her and pushed his glasses up his nose, his sea green eyes twinkling.
"So nice to see you've eventually decided to join us Remus" he joked with a smirk
"Sorry... time got away from me a bit"
"No matter, is it Trini?" She shook her head
"I'm really sorry ab-b-bout your D-d-dad Rem-mus" she said sadly, briefly making eye contact with him
"Me too Remus... I mean... shit, I can't imagine... are you alright?" added Fisher nervously
"If I had a galleon for everytime some one had asked me if I was alright, I'd be a very rich man" they smiled at him "I'm pretty crap to be honest with you" Katrina looked despondant at this. Fosher stood and put his arm round Remus's shoulder, squeezing him a little
"You'll be okay... time heals all wounds you know" He scowled at himself "Ugh! Sorry, what an awful thing for me to say..."
"It doesn't matter Fisher, it's true... Let's change the subject. Erm... it's... what three weeks till your OWL's now?"
"Two" corrected Katrina
"Really... Shit" said Fisher "I though we had longer" he laughed "Oh well... I'm pretty confident with everything acctually" he grinned "Especially DADA. Professor Shields says on my way to an Outstanding!"
"She said that t-t-to me as well" beamed Katrina "I've n-never gotten an oustanding in anything before"
"Bull shit woman!" said Fisher with a wider grin "Your potion work is shit hot! And you're the only person who has a hope in hell in divination"
"My G-g-grandmother was a seer... I've never made a real p-p-p-prophecy b-before though. I'm just a g-good guesser. P-people are very p-p-p-p-p" she sighed "very p-p-p-p" she groaned a little "P-predicatble" she smiled
"So you're telling me, you don't need me any more?" said Remus, mock offededly. Fisher chuckled
"for the time being, no. But when my NEWT work grades come crashing down because you haven't been there to help me, I'll need you again" Fisher sniggered again but Katrina's face dropped
"I just realised... this'll p-p-probably b-be our last week of lessons, won't it?" she said sadly
"It's not like you won't see us again Trini!" said Fisher
"I know... it's just... sad"
"It is sad... because this is our last lesson" said Remus "I have to spend more time with the transfiguration group and since you two were doing so well, I... this sucks" he sighed deeply and dreaded who he might be forced to teach next year, she shook his head and, for the second time that evening, hastily changed the subject "Is there anything on the curriculum either of you aren't sure about?" He looked at Katrina and Fisher, Katrina shook her head
"I'm alright mate... really alright acctually" said Fisher, Katrina began to nod in agreement with him
"Wow... I... er... well... I suppose you can go early if you want"
"We can?" said Katrina excitedly "C-cool... thank you so much Remus... I'll see you b-both lat-t-ter" She skipped out of the room, uncharacteristically jolly
"What's gotten into her?" said Remus with a grin
"She has a date" said Fisher with a grin
"Good for her! Who with?"
"Jack Clunes" said Fisher with a swift eyebrow raise. Jack Clunes was the sixth year seeker for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, so good looking that he turned heads when he walked down corridors and was often the cause of much sighing and swooning
"Wow" said Remus
"I know! Out Trini's done well for herself, hasn't she?" said Fisher beaming even wider
"I'll say" said Remus with a chuckle "I thought you fancied her" said Remus offhandedly. Fisher turned to face him
"Me and Trini? No way... don't get me wrong, she's gorgeous but... I don't know. I alway... fancied someone else in this class more" Fisher said sheepishly he began to blush and had a Bollocks did I just say that? look on his face. Remus's face dropped and he put his hands on Fisher's shoulders
"Oh no... I had no idea... it must have been so hard for you losing her"
"What?"
"Well... you meant Annabell, didn't you?"
"No... I meant" he went redder and pushed his glasses up, he cleared his throat and pulled his glasses of, revealing slightly wider, still twinkling green eyes. "I meant you... Remus"
"Oh jesus... I-" he began, but he was interupted by Fisher, who had decided that this was an appropriate moment to kiss Remus, very hard on the mouth. Remus panicked and disconnected himself, jumping very far back "I had... what?" Fisher put his glasses back on, an absaloutly furious shade of red
"Shit... I'm really sorry... you don't... I'll go" Fisher started for the door
"NO! I'm sorry Fisher... It's not that I don't like you..."
"It's just that you don't find me attractive, it's fine..." his voice was thick, the sea green eyes swam with humiliated tears "I understand" he ran for the door
"FISHER! Wait..." it was too late, Fisher was gone. Remus heard him run up the corridor and Remus knew he had no chance of catching him. He felt insanely guilty. His stomach seized up even more than it had before, he slumped down at the nearest desk. He hadn't meant to hurt poor Fisher but what was he supposed to do? He was dating Sirius! He was in love with Sirius! He couldn't have just stood there and kissed him... Why did he run out without letting Remus explain... It's not that he didn't find Fisher attractive, he did, he was a really good looking boy! He just didn't think of him like that, these days, he rarely thought of anyone apart from Sirius like that. He slammed his head down on the desk, smacking it repeatedly on the wood
"This has been the worst week of my life" he thought aloud "If it wasn't for Sirius, I'd hurl myself off the astronamy tower"
"You would?... but who would teach me Transfiguration?" flatly asked a familiar, cold, clipped, refined voice
"Narci- Miss Black"
"You might as well call me Narcissa now... after all... you are the only reason I'm going to pass this exam, with flying clours, by the look of things" she said casually, leaning against the classroom door, she examanned her perfectly manicured nails
"Thanks..."
"I'd like to thank you as well Lupin. For giving up you time to help me" she said this sarcastically and begrudingly, but Remus knew her well enough by now to know that she acctually meant this thanks and she was simply trying to keep up appearances. At least, he hoped so.
"It was no trouble... I love to teach"
"Quite" she said coldly. She gracefully kicked the classroom door shut behind her as she entered the room. She perched elegantly on a desk "My cousin, Sirius"
"What about him?"
"You're... fond of him, aren't you?"
"Yes... quite fond of him"
"And he, in turn, is quite fond of you?"
"Yes.. yes he is"
"Well, I'm going to repay you by not mentioning your mutual fondness to my family and by making sure none of them find out"
"You will?"
"Mmm, I do not like Sirius, I make no mistake, but I don't wish to see him removed from the family tree, not do I want his parents to mistreat him as, alas, they do poor Regulus"
"Thank you Narcissa"
"You're welcome, Lupin. The conversation we just had never leaves this classroom, understand?"
"Of course Narcissa"
"I'm sorry to hear of your father"
"You are?"
"No, I was being polite. But thank you any way, I am greatful. Goodbye Remus"
"Er... goodbye Narcissa" She stood up from the desk and glided out of the room. Leaving Remus to think about the surreal events of the last half an hour
*
Sirius was surprised at how tired he was. Being around Remus today had been very draining. He trudged up to Gryffindor tower and told James and Peter he was going upstairs for a nap, not even bothering to draw the hangings on his bed, he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He was having an interesting dream in which pirates heavily featured when he was woken up by the sound of Remus slamming the dormitory door behind him.
"You're early" he said enquiringly, beckoning Remus to join him. Remus kick his shoes off and pulled off hs robes and threw himself down on the bed next to Sirius "Rough night?" Sirius asked as he drew the hangings round his bed and subtly cast a silencing charm
"You have no fucking idea... I just... I could've done without stuff"
"tell me all about it" Remus snuggled close to him
"You know Gabe Fisher from my DADA group?"
"Blonde, Ravenclaw in the year above us?"
"That's him. He fancies me"
"What?"
"Yeah... He kissed me. Obviously I didn't let him... he went bright red and looked all teary, muttered somethign about me not finding him attractive before bolting... more guilt to add on top of leaving my mum... oh my mum..." Remus's voice began to crack "I'm so exhausted Sirius" he snuffled, Sirius felt his tears dampening his arm "I'm so so exhausted... physically, emotionally, mentally" he let out a small whimper "And you know what?"
"What?" said Sirius, holding Remus close and stroking his hairm wiping a tear away with his thumb
"I miss my Dad" at which point Remus started to sob. Hard. Feeling oddly paternal all of a sudden Sirius held him tightly, as tightly as he could till his sobs died away and drifted into heavy breathing. Sirius lay a deeply sleeping Remus down on his back. He watched his chest fall and rise. A stray tear every now and then falling from his flickering eyes.
A/N you know, I intended this chapter to be a bit more cheerful than the last...
Oh well, Review, favourite etc. If you aren't too annoyed with me for writing depressing chapters : P
