"Are you alright?" she asked as she glanced at him.
"Yeah, what do you mean?"
"You're sick again huh?"
"Yeah."
"Why are you always sick?"
"I just have a bad immune system."
"You should get something for that, it can't be fun being sick all the time."
"It's not so bad."
"But its kind of a downer when people are sick, not that you're a downer- I mean when people are sick- forget it." She said and he laughed and she rolled her eyes.
"What are you doing for the Christmas break?"
"Going home, see the family, you know, all that stuff. What about you?"
"Going back home too, it wont be half as cold and I wont have to walk around a dreary cold castle all day. It will be nice to visit home; you know, eat normal food for once." She said with a smile as she looked out to the lake. "Let's go down to the lake." She said as she started off towards the lake and Remus followed, pulling his jacket close to keep warm. It always seemed harder to stay warm when the full moon was coming up, he felt so weak and tired and the only thing he wanted to do was stay in bed all day, but there was something about Rebecca, he didn't feel so weak and tired as usual and he almost felt normal but there was always the lingering thought of his lycanthropy in the back of his mind that always brought him back.
"Do you think it's all the way frozen over?" She asked as she looked over the iced over lake.
"I don't know if it is cold enough yet."
"You mean its gets colder?" She asked wide eyed as she turned around and looked at him.
"Colder than this? Yeah this is nothing."
"Oh how I miss the States." She said with a sigh and sat down on one of the logs and patted next to her for him to sit. He walked over and sat down next to her and watched her as she gazed over the lake.
"As cold as it is, it sure is pretty. We don't have hills and lakes in New York, a lot of buildings though, lots of tall buildings. I do love the mountains and the forest. There is something so free about them yet scary." She said as she glanced towards the Forbidden Forest.
"I know what you mean." He said with a nod and she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Are you cold?"
"I'm fine." She said with a small smile.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I am sure Remus." She said and looked back to the lake. The Giant Squid lifted its tentacles out of the lake and flopped them around, breaking up the ice that had formed on the surface of the lake and she watched in amazement.
"Where on earth did the Giant Squid come from?"
"People say that it used to be Hagrid's, he likes to keep big and dangerous sorts of creatures and I guess he released it in to the lake and it's been there ever since. But I think it's been here probably much longer than Hagrid has so I doubt it."
"What does it eat?"
"I would imagine fish."
"What else lives in the lake?"
"I am pretty sure there are mer-people, stuff like Grindylows and such."
"Want to keep walking?"
"Yeah sure." He said as he got up and held a hand out to her and she smiled and took it and he pulled her up and they continued to walk along the lake.
"Here." He said as he slipped off his jacket and held it out to her and she looked at him and frowned.
"Remus I am fine, really."
"You're cold."
"Yeah but you're sick."
"I can't get any more sick. Please take it."
"Remus if you die out here from the cold, I can't carry you back." She said seriously and he chuckled and offered the jacket to her again.
"Are you sure?" She asked as she studied him and he did the best he could to keep his composure, as cold as he was, he didn't want her to be cold, even if it meant him freezing his ass off.
"Yes I am sure, please take the jacket." He said and she sighed and took it from him and slipped it on and she smiled as she pulled it close to herself. It smelled just like him, like books and chocolate. Her fingers slipped in to the pockets and she felt something inside and she pulled it out.
"Do you always carry chocolate on you?" She asked and he looked over at her and bit back a bashful smile.
"Sometimes."
"May I?" She asked and he nodded.
"Please, help yourself." He said and she broke off a piece and popped it in to her mouth and offered him some. He took some and she wrapped it back up and stuck it back in to the pocket as they continued to walk.
"Oh my goodness." Lily said as she looked at the paper.
"What?"
"There was another attack, a whole family." Lily said fearfully as she handed the paper to Jenny and Tessa.
"The attacks are coming almost every other week now; just last week Jamie Mason's family was killed." Lily said with a sigh.
"You- Know- Who is getting more followers." Tessa said and folded the paper.
"Why do you guys call him that? Why don't you just say his name?"
"We don't dare speak his name, its said to be taboo." Jenny said in hushed whispers.
"Right." Rebecca said with a nod and buttered her toast. She looked up as a large raven flew in to the Great Hall towards Rebecca.
"What the hell is Cassius doing here?" Rebecca asked as the raven dropped a small envelope on her food and she grabbed an apple off the table and hurled it towards the raven, skimming it by the feathers.
"Stupid bird." She growled as she sat back down.
"Was that necessary? You really could have hurt that bird." Lily said concerned and Rebecca grumbled under her breath.
"That bird and I do not get along very well, I had to using Andy's owl because he kept trying to peck me every time I would come near him to deliver a letter, he used to tear up my homework if I left it out." She said and picked up the letter and wiped it off with a napkin and opened it up.
Rebecca,
This year instead of having the family over for Christmas, your father and I are taking a 2 week cruise around South America; we won't be back in time for Christmas. Aunt Mary, Uncle Tom, Zeph and Danny have gone with some friends to California for Christmas. Have a good holiday.
Mon and Dad
"Yeah that's just great." Rebecca muttered to herself as she folded the letter in to her bag.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked as she leaned over.
"My parents are going to South America for Christmas." She said and stabbed into her eggs. "I mean it's not completely awful but I had been expecting to go home for two weeks." She said and glared at her plate. It was something like her parents to do something like this. Change plans unexpectedly without even giving her hardly a heads up. Break started in less than a week and now she had to find something else short notice to do for the Christmas break, perfect.
After breakfast Rebecca looked around for Remus to go to Ancient Ruins with but saw him no where in sight.
"James." She called as she walked over to him.
"Yes ma'am?"
"Have you seen Remus?"
"Oh he isn't here today, his mum is sick so we went home to see her."
"Really? He didn't say anything to me yesterday."
"Yeah it was real sudden." James said and Rebecca raised an eyebrow at him, knowing full well he was lying.
"Right." She said slowly and pursed her lips. "Alright, see you later then." She said and turned on her heel and walked down the hall.
"You don't think she knows do you?" James asked Sirius as he walked up with Peter.
"How could she possibly know?"
"I don't know, I think she is getting suspicious, she always asks where he is on full moons."
"She doesn't know anything, she isn't that smart, come on." He said and pulled him towards the Entrance Hall to head out to Care of Magical Creatures.
Rebecca walked around Hogsmead slowly, peering in to shops looking for things for her friends for Christmas. She had already gotten Lily a new quill set with peacock, ostrich, and swan feathers. She got Jenny a year subscription of Witch Weekly and Tessa a make up kit, James a broom cleaning kit, and Andrew a new dragon skin wallet.
She searched through the shops for something for Remus, not sure about what to get him. She walked in to the book shop and looked around for something he might like. She ran her fingers over the spines of books, browsing quickly for a subject that would perk his interest. She knew he liked Defense Against the Dark Arts, it was one of his best subjects. She pulled out a book and flipped through it, most of the spells more advanced from what they were learning in school at the moment, most of them some that Rebecca had never even heard of. She looked at the cover, 'Advance Defensive Spells and Hexes.' She was fairly sure that Remus didn't have it. She brought it to the counter and bought it and stepped out of the store, curing the cold as she pulled her hat down over her ears and zipped her jacket all the way up. She walked down to the Three Broomsticks and stepped inside and found an empty table and ordered a butter beer.
"Is there a reason you always seem to come alone to Hogsmead?" Sirius asked as he sat down across from her.
"What do you want Sirius?"
"Just here to bug you, the usual stuff." He said with a smirk and took a drink of his own drink which smelled a hint of firewhiskey.
"Are you drinking Firewhiskey?" She asked and he looked in to the mug.
"See that barmaid over there." He said pointing to a young woman working at the bar wearing a rather revealing outfit. "She and I go way back." He said and she looked over and he gave her a wink and she smiled and looked back down at the glasses she was drying. "So I get pretty much anything my little heart desires." He said and took another drink of his drink.
"You don't ever get tired of sleeping with random girls?"
"No, why would I?"
"You must be a very lonely person Sirius." She said with a shake of her head.
"I am the farthest thing from lonely my dear, I am the opposite of lonely. What about you? You always come to Hogsmead alone."
"I choose to Sirius, don't you have a whore you should be shagging or something?" She asked sarcastically.
"Eh ditched her, she wasn't too much fun, she talked too much."
"Have you ever tried talking to a girl rather than just shag her?"
"Why would I want to do that?"
"You're a sick person Sirius, go away." She said and turned away from him.
"Did you get me anything for Christmas?" He asked as he leaned in towards her and she looked at him.
"Why on earth would I get you something for Christmas?"
"I got you something."
"Why would you get me something for Christmas? Have you forgotten we hate each other?"
"I am sure we can put our hate aside for one day." He said and looked in to his mug.
"Right." She said sarcastically with a nod and turned away.
"Are you going to get me anything?"
"No!" She said and he shrugged.
"I will be terribly hurt of you don't, it's Christmas after all, it's the time for giving, family and friends."
"Well we are neither family nor friends so I don't see the logic."
"But it's the time for giving, give for the sake of Christmas."
"Go away Sirius."
"I think you'll like it." He said as he got up and gave her a wink and walked from the table. She watched him out of the corner of her eye until he was gone, secretly wondering what Sirius had gotten her, if he had indeed gotten her something. She shook her head to herself and finished off her drink and headed out of the Three Broomsticks.
Rebecca headed up to the tower and saw someone sitting outside by the portrait and as she got closer she realized it was Remus.
"Remus, what are you doing outside?" She asked and he looked up at her, he looked tired and worn out, just like he had a few days ago.
"Becky?" He said as he blinked a few times and she nodded as she walked up.
"I don't have the password. Cant get in without the password." He said with a sigh and she held her hand out to him.
"Come on." She said and he took her hand and she pulled him up.
"Yellow Submarine." She said to the fat Lady and the portrait opened up and Rebecca and Remus stepped through.
"I heard your mom was sick, how is she?" She asked and Remus looked at her, unsure of what to say for a moment.
"Uh she is fine." He said with a shake of his head and looked at the floor.
"It's nothing serious right?"
"No."
"That's good." She said and observed him. She could tell he was lying about something. Perhaps he hadn't gone to see his mother and he was hiding something else.
"I have some chocolate, do you want some?" She asked as they entered the common room.
"Uh sure." He said and sat down on the couch and she pulled out a large bar of chocolate and tossed it to him.
"I'll be right back; I need to drop these off upstairs." She said and went upstairs and locked everything away in her trunk and came back downstairs and took her seat with Remus.
"Are you going home tomorrow?" He asked as he broke off a piece and handed the rest back to her.
"Uh no, I think I am staying here for Christmas, Andy is going home to visit his family, they are going to Montana to visit his aunt and cousins and my parents are going to South America on a cruise, and I wouldn't dare spend Christmas with my sister and her idiot fiancé Ryan." She muttered and broke off a piece of chocolate.
"Really? You're staying here all by yourself?"
"Yeah, I am sure I will be able to find plenty to do for two weeks, you know, get all the homework done, find all the secret passages in this castle." She said and sighed. "Read every god damn book in the library. You know, the fun stuff." She said sarcastically and leaned her head back.
"I'm sorry you have to be here by yourself." He said and she looked at him and shrugged and held out the chocolate to him and he broke off another piece.
"Do you know if Sirius got me something for Christmas?" She asked and his eyebrows shot up.
"What?"
"Yeah I know we hate each other and all, we saw each other in Three Broomsticks and he told me he got me a gift, I am kind of worried, I am wondering if perhaps he got me anthrax or maybe a time bomb or something life threatening like that."
"Uh I wasn't aware." He said confused and she laughed.
"Yeah I am about as confused as you, believe me." She said and bit off a piece of chocolate and then paused.
"I think I know what I am going to get Sirius for Christmas." She said with a smile as she looked at Remus.
"You look a bit too happy to be talking about Sirius Black, where is Becky and what have you done with her?" He asked and she waved him off.
"I think he will be pleasantly surprised." She said with a smile and offered him some chocolate with a smile on her face and he cautiously took the chocolate as she chuckled to herself, unsure of how to quite react.
"Hey, are you heading down to the entrance hall?" Rebecca asked as she saw Remus packing something in to his bag on the couch.
"Yeah, I'm running a little late, Padfoot, Prongs and Wormtail are probably already down at the station by now, I couldn't find my book." He said and slipped the strap of his bag over his shoulder.
"Can I walk with you?"
"Yeah sure if you want." He said and motioned to the door and they walked out together.
"Do you get along with your parent much Remus?" She asked as they walked.
"Uh pretty well I suppose, me mum is a little overprotective, but I know she means well, my father is pretty great too." He said with a small smile. "Do you?"
"No, my mom and I fight all the time, my sister is prissy and ignorant and my father…well he isn't always around so it's hard to say about him. The only people I actually get along with are my two cousins, Zephyr and Daniel, they are the reason I know how to throw a right hook as well as I do." She said with a laugh. "They are also the reason the holidays are somewhat bearable. They are kind of like older brothers."
"I sometimes wish I had siblings, maybe a brother."
"Trust me, siblings are over rated."
"Maybe, but it would be a little less lonely at home, but I got Prongs, Pads and Wormtail so I guess they make up for it." He said with a smile and they stopped and turned to each other.
"Are you sure you are going to be alright by yourself for two weeks?"
"Well if you come back and there are paintings of blood on the walls and the whole castle is in chaos then you will know it didn't go so well." She said with a smile and he laughed.
"Well I hope you have a good Christmas, despite." He said and she smiled.
"Thanks Remus, you too." She said and he nodded and she took a step towards him and stood in front of him. He held his breath as he looked at her smiling at him. All of a sudden she reached out and grabbed him by the front of his shirt and wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and pulled him in to a kiss. His head spun and his limbs felt like jelly, his mind went blank and he saw stars as her soft lips pressed up against his. He hardly had time to react before she pulled away with her cheeks slightly pink and she pat his chest as he just stared at her wide eyed and she pointed up.
"Have a good Christmas Remus." She said and walked down the hall from him and he touched his still tingling lips as he looked up and saw mistletoe hanging above where they had been standing and he looked back down the hall and she was gone. He let out a shaky breath and rubbed the back of his neck and ran it through his hair wondering what he was standing in the hall for. Oh yeah, he was on his way to the train station which he was now very late for. He grabbed his bag that had dropped off his shoulder and took off down the hall.
Thanks for reading, i hope you enjoyed it =) Please R & R
Well its a bit early but i had some spare time when i got home from camping, i should have actually been studying for my finals but oh well, i just wanted to write this chapter. This wekk will be kind of funky, i have finals, my birthday and the graduation ceremony so i will see how it goes, i hope everyone had a good weekend.