"Sure."
"Remus and Sirius are my parents. I'm adopted. Remus and Sirius have been together for over twenty years now." Kain said. "Okay? I find nothing wrong with that. I come from a very tolerant family. If you love someone you marry them for love no matter what gender." He said. Kain smiled. "You have a beautiful smile."
Kain felt herself blush. Had he really just said that? No one told her she was beautiful unless it was family or friends. Hearing it from him was strange but nice. "I have to go. I'll see you at dinner I guess. Bye." HE walked away. She could not be falling in love with him. Orian was howling in joy about the up coming moon. The moon was tomorrow. The rest of the day Kain had been in her own world a bit.
~.o0o~o0o~o0o.~
The Slytherin house team watched each of the Gryffindor teams members deciding which ones they were going to take down. The main one to go after was Kain she was the one who had put the three in the hospital. She was a beater with much power but she was still a girl. They would not continue to be beaten by a house of fools. They would win by picking off the players. Starting with Kain.
~.o0o~o0o~o0o.~
The next day Kain was avoiding Arrum like the plague. She couldn't get away. He seemed to find her every other corner. She had no way of knowing where he was because she had left the Marauders Map. She couldn't be seen with claws and teeth eyes that weren't normal. She was walking with Alanna to another class upon turning the corner she saw Arrum and went the other way. "Kain?" Alanna looked after her friend.
"I'm going to Dumbledore's to hide out till tonight. I'll see you tomorrow around dinner alright." she ran down the hall to the head master's office. "Lemon drops." She said the password had worked. With Dumbledore you could never tell what it was he had a thing for muggle sweets. She stepped in just a few feet. "Professor Dumbledore?"
"Hello Kain. How are you today?" the older wizard asked. "I need cover to get to the Hospital wing. Moon's not far now. You may use the floo." He said. "Thank you."
"You know Kain lovers are more accepting then you think." The old wizard said. "He is NOT my lover." She nodded before throwing the floo power at her feet.
Following the moon Kain hadn't suffered much. Just scratches and a few cuts. The others had covered for her saying she wasn't feeling well or something. It was the end of November the last game of Quidditch was in just a few days. Everyone from the two teams were glaring at each other when passing in halls. Slytherin wanted revenge and Gryffindor would not be intimidated. Lions vs. snakes.
~.o0o~o0o~o0o.~
"I'm worried. Maybe you should get one of Kain's friends to convince her to sit this game out. I got a feeling something bad is going to happen." Raoul said. "I'll talk to Dawn about it when she gets in." Bill said. Arrum was suited up in his padding. "They've been waiting, I over heard one of them saying they couldn't wait to knock her from her broom." Gareth said. Dawn came in with Jenna. She saw the grim look on Bill's face. "What's wrong?" She didn't bother to sit down. "I need you to take me to Kain it's really important." Bill said. "Why what's wrong?" Jenna asked. "Slytherin is out to get her. I heard one of them say they would knock her from her broom." he said. "Follow me." Dawn took off the others following. Knowing Kain she was with Madam hooch now. The game wasn't going to start for a good half hour.
"Kain? Kain?" They all called her name. "What?" They looked up and saw her looking down at them. Her hair was in it's long ponytail, she was already suited up as well. "Wynterwood get your arse up here we're starting soon and Micky wants to tell us something come on." She said. "Kain you can't play. You're going to get hurt. Bad. Please sit this one out." Arrum begged. "No. I'm staying. They can try if they want to but I'm no coward." She said. "No your stubborn and a bloody idiot." Arrum said. I'm playing you sit out." She said.
The game was getting started. On the field Slytherin had their plan figured out. They would let the beaters take Kain down. They would have to hit them at her every time they came near. Brooms flew about zipping past each other the quaffle being passed around from team to team and person to person. This close to December it was dreadfully cold. But that wouldn't stop them. The others sat in the stands looking around the field trying to keep up with their two highflying friends. They followed them shouting look out every time a bludger got to close regardless that the two couldn't hear them.
It was nerve wrecking watching the game. To many close calls for Kain and Arrum had nearly been knocked to the ground. The bludger was yet again knocked to Kain from a rather close range. The bludger was then after her like it had been not long ago. Tricking it she sent it into a tower. The quaffle had been dropped and hit Kain throwing her from the broom to the point she was holding on. The Slytherin beater knocked the bludger at her. Kain fell to the ground but having been fairly close was able to get back up again.
The other players flew about throwing the quaffle. Regardless of knocking the bludger away the other was knocked from behind her somewhere doing it's job it take her off her broom. Kain fell to the ground in a heap clutching her leg. The others looked watched in horror as she fell to the ground. "She's hurt something. She can't get up." Raoul told them looking through his binoculars at the girl. Kain ignored her pain and crawled to her broom and forced herself back up into the air bat in hand. "She's lunatic!" Jenna yelled. "Don't give up do you?"
Kain didn't answer she flew over him and was once again flying around protecting her teammates ignoring the pain. "There's no way she's not feeling that? Madam Pomphrey is going to be so upset." Alanna said. Off heaven knows where in the air the seekers were chasing the snitch around the grounds and were beginning to circle back. The two seekers were pushing each other trying to keep up with the snitch. Gryffindors were brave and very often did stupid things but to fly near the whopping willow to win Quidditch. Never. The Slytherin boy went right after it missing branches but the tree came to life swinging it's branches and knocking the boy from his broom. The snitch took off back to the Quidditch pitch. It was caught the boy flew in holding it above his head flying around as ten more points.
The teams settled down to the ground. Kain dropped to the ground when getting from her broom her leg was throbbing painfully. All color had drained from her face. "Kain. Are you insane? Come one you're going to Pomphrey." Arrum went to pick her up. "Don't touch me. Don't." It was clear to him that she was in pain. Arrum ignored it and slipped one arm around her back and the other around her knees. She let out a cry of pain as she was lifted.
"That was stupid thing to do." he said carrying her. "Can you fuss about it when I'm not in so much pain?" the others had joined then on the walk to the hospital wing. "Why would you do it? Are you were you trying to land yourself in the hospital for the next week unconscious?" Dawn said furious. "Like I said before yell at me later. We get it was stupid. I'll be yelled at all week by the looks of it." Her voice was strained.
"Hardheaded. Stubborn. Reckless. Stupid."
Bill got the door and opened it. Arrum walked in and set Kain on a bed careful of her leg. "What happened?" Pomphrey asked looking at the lot of them. "Quidditch. Broken leg. Then after falling she got back on her broom and continued to play." Jenna eyed her friend. Pomphrey looked at the girl with a look far less then pleased. "I have a mind to leave you there for and hour or two. What were you thinking?" Pomphrey walked away to get what she would need.
An hour later Kain had been fussed at by a dozen or so people about what she had done. IT could have been much worst. "I have a good mind not to give this over to Poppy and let you sit for the night." Snape stood next to the bed. True he was a Slytherin but he cared for the student never the less. "Please I'm in pain as it is and I've been scolded enough for one day. Arrum, Jenna, Bill, Micky, Alanna, Poppy, Dawn, Raoul, Gareth, Aunt Minnie and three players from the team. Please I've suffered enough for one day." She said.
When Poppy had uncovered her leg of the padding it was clear that it was broken as well as a bit purple. Now she was being forced to sit in the hospital for the next few days while her bones grew back. Skele-grow on the nightstand next to her bed. "Here.
Why didn't you just listen to him?" Snape asked. "Because I wasn't about to be a coward just because they couldn't take losing." She said.
"Well your going to lose next year and when you do you will have green and silver hair to strut about in." Snape said a grin on his face. "Never. Giant bat." She grumbled.
"Five points from Gryffindor and I will see you in class by Tuesday." Snape said his outer robes flowing behind him as he left. This was a royal pain. The moon was two and a half weeks away and the winter Solstice was just a few days after. Then it was home for the holidays. December would be a very month. Minus the potions brewing they would be doing in a few days.
The next few weeks would be hell. She couldn't wait to get on train and go home. Severus was joining them again that year for the holidays. She doesn't think he would ever throw another snowball at Remus. The man was kind throwing them back.
~.o0o~o0o~o0o.~
Over the next few days of being trapped in the hospital Kain had a few visitors. Them being her friends and a Mr. Arrum Wynterwood. He hadn't been happy the day he carried her into the hospital but he had calmed down now. He even brought her a good-sized book to ready for her stay.
He didn't say anything about the Winter Solstice. Which was joy to Kain. He didn't question how she would get out of it. She was after all a marauder in her own way. Many students still remembered the dress prank on the Slytherins. If anyone could get out of it she could.
She was still a mystery to him he wanted to know her. At least be friends he could live with that for a while. He found out very little about her during the conversations they had. But everything he learned helped.
~.o0o.o0o.o0o.~
After her release from the hospital wing Kain returned to her classes with joy. You was in history of magic with Dawn when she heard a voice she knew all to well call into the room for her. "Ms. Lupin take your things get the rest of the notes and the homework assignment from someone else later. You may go." Kain got up her books in hand. "Professor Snape what's this all about?" She asked jogging to keep up with the pace of the tall man.
"We have potions to make and I cannot do this alone. A fever-reducing potion. St. Mungo's and Poppy require them. I will leave you with the cauldrons in the classroom while I will work with the cauldrons I have in my private potions lab. I have no room in my potions lab for the extra cauldrons, which are the ones you'll keep watch over. You know how to make the potion. I've left you more then enough." Snape said.
"You're trusting me in your class room alone?" She questioned. Snape nodded. They entered the room at least 30 cauldrons were set out about the desks. "Set your things down in there." He pointed to his office. "Then go to Professor Sprout she's waiting for you with Mandrake roots which we'll need now go." Snape instructed her. Kain shed her outer robe to run without tripping. Snape set out the ingredients for the potions in the classroom. This would be the first potion he let her go about totally alone on.
He knew she wouldn't mess this up. Kain ran all the way to the green house where she found Professor Sprout getting the last of the Mandrake roots and putting them into a box. "There you are deary. Here you go get straight off then." she witched the box closed and handed them to her. Kain nodded her thanks and dashed off for the classroom again.
~.o0o~o0o~o0o.~
If anyone went looking for the two one would be found in the potions classroom working. The teacher could be found in his rooms in his potions lab working just as hard to make the potions. Kain went from cauldron to cauldron lighting the fire one after the other. The ingredients were already ground up or chopped besides the fresh mandrake root.
Kain had all the cauldrons under control but now the room was getting hot. It would be half an hour before she could add the porcupine quills. She sat in the office waiting out the time doing her homework or reading a book keeping close eye on the time. When Kain looked up again she realized lunch had gone by and it was time to add the quills to the potion.
The hours continued to pass till the sun had sunken into the horizon. Dinner was going on now and would end soon. "Leaf bring Ms. Kain something to eat know she get hungry." Leaf placed the tray of food on the desk. "Thank you Leaf." Kain said. Leaf then snapped her fingers and a hunk of brown paper appeared in her hands. "Raw steak for Ms. Kain too. Didn't eat any last moon." She set the package on the desk as well.
"Thank you Leaf." Kain said again. "Good night." She was gone the next minute. Kain checked the potions first then tucked into her food. It had finally come to the point where the potions would have to sit for the next four hours heating. Then cool for one the bottled. "Kain?" Snape walked into the classroom and strode to the office to see his student reading. Kain looked up. "Shouldn't you be down stairs watching your potions?" She said.
"Trying to get rid of me. I came to check on you. I see you've eaten." he said. "Only three hours to go then breakfast and school." She said. "You'll never make it through the day. You'll be like Black stay up all night then sleep in classes the next day. You don't have to go to classes tomorrow your teaches have been informed." He said.
"Okay I'll sleep tomorrow but after I bottle the potions up will I slip off to my room."
"Fine. I'll check in again in a hour or so." The old bat was getting soft because of the kid. She was to loveable to hate.
"Why are you up?" dawn asked. "I'm hungry I'm going to the kitchens to get something to eat." Kain said slipping on her shoe. "You'll get in trouble. We only have three hours till breakfast starts just go back to sleep." Dawn grumbled. Kain couldn't wait that long in was five in the morning. "I'm going." She slipped out the door and down the stairs.
The halls were empty of students and teachers. But it didn't stop the werewolf from pecking around corners. When she got to the door the house elf to answer was not Leaf but a different one whose name she could not remember. He gave her what she requested. Kain sunk back into her room and closed the curtains to her bed before opening the paper and eating.
She quickly finished and put the paper in the trash bin. The sun had begun to come up and the others were waking up now. Tonight was the full moon. The Winter Solstice was four days away. The next day everyone would be leaving to go home for the holidays.
"So what are we doing tonight?" Alanna asked. "It's going to be freezing tonight and the shack if we light a fire can get fairly warm. But the light will call to someone. We could walk around the school and lake." Kain suggested. "How about Hagrid I'm sure he won't mind the company. We could stay warm and makes rounds with him." Jenna suggested. "I don't think he would mind. Besides I can ride in his pocket rather then have you three carried me." Alanna spoke.
Her form was a ferret. It was rather funny watching her. "Kain!" Arrum came and sat next to her. She turned away from him. Her eyes were brown and her canines had grown. "What's wrong?" He leaned forward but she looked away. "She's not feeling well and would really rather you not catch anything. She's only here to eat then she's going to bed." Jenna said. "Oh. Well I hope you feel better then Kain." Arrum got up his hand on her shoulder. When it was gone the area was warm and his scent lingered. "I'll be with Madam Pomphrey for the rest of the day." Kain said leaving. If anything should could help the mediwitch for the day. See you around six." She walked down the hall.
While with the mediwitch Poppy tried to pursued the young into finding a dress with her. Kain declined. Poppy said she would look good in green or gray. Something medieval. "I don't dance and I don't wear dresses Poppy. Last time you saw me wear a dress willingly I was seven. Why not ask Aunt Minnie to go with you?' Kain asked.
"She already is going with me. As well as Sprouts." Sprouts was Professor Sprout's nickname. Everyone was really getting into the whole thing. She would be the only one not there. "I'm going to go put the cures and things in Alphabetical order." Kain got from her chair and went into the storage room. Dumbledore must have everyone going dressed in his or her best. Maybe she could do it for just one night.
Get all dressed up like the others and go out to the thing. "Kain we're here." The three showed up. "That time already?" She looked out a window. "Poppy we're going to be at Hagrid's tonight because of the cold. We'll be in by morning if not sooner." Jenna said and they walked out.
Hagrid was happy to see the students. He was happy to have company on chilly nights. Every hour they made rounds then went back to the hut to warm up by the fire. The girls all curled up by the fire while Hagrid had tea or dozed. "Kain wake up it's time to go in hurry." Dawn work her up with a nudge to her shoulder. They left from the hut and headed back to the school going to their room. As the sun peaked over the horizon Kain turned back. She cringed at the sound of her back cracking. The quartet each got into their own beds and feel asleep within minutes of their heads touching the pillow.