Chapter 25: Hurt
Dorcas paced the floor of Alice and Frank's house; she couldn't help it. Her best friends were missing and she couldn't do anything to help them.
"So they just left in the middle of the night?" Alice asked.
"As far as I know," Remus said. "I didn't see any other signs that said otherwise."
"Why would they do that?" Frank asked. "Did they say anything about knowing where she was?"
"No," Remus replied. "You know how impulsive James and Sirius are. I should have seen this coming."
"It's not your fault, Remus," Alice spoke, gently.
"I should have known," was all Remus said.
Dorcas sighed as she sat down. "I can't believe they did this! Those prats! I'm going to kill them!"
"Get in line," Remus mumbled.
"You guys can stay here until they're found, if you want," Alice offered.
"Yeah, we don't mind," Frank said.
"Thanks, but I'd rather go back to my flat," Dorcas stated. "You coming, Remus?"
Alice and Frank exchanged looks at this comment, but didn't say anything about.
"Yeah, I'll be over later," Remus told her.
Dorcas walked out and Apparated to her flat. She hoped Remus would make it back safely.
Dorcas was awoken by a loud crashing noise. She jumped up and grabbed her wand.
"Sorry," she heard a voice say.
Seeing Remus, she lowered her wand.
He was clutching his arm to his side. She got off the couch immediately.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I think I splinched myself," he said.
"Let me see it," Dorcas demanded.
She gently took his arm so she could examine it. There was blood soaking through the sleeves so she rolled it up so she could look at it. Remus winced. A gash spiraled down his upper arm.
"Take off your shirt," Dorcas ordered.
"What?" Remus choked out as she moved over to the couch where she had left her wand.
"Take your shirt off," she repeated. "I need you make sure that's all there is."
Remus pulled his shirt off and sat down on the couch. Dorcas went into the kitchen to get some Dittany. She came rushing back and lightly applied some to his arm. New skin appeared where the gash had been. She sighed with relief. Looking at Remus, she noticed something she hadn't before. Remus' face was wet. He had been crying.
"Are you alright?" she asked, brushing her thumb over his cheek.
He nodded mutely. Another tear slipped out of his eye.
"Hey, they're going to come back," she said. "I promise. No matter what we have to do to find them. I promise you, we will find them."
Remus looked at her. There was something different in his eyes. Like he wanted to say something, but couldn't. Dorcas smiled reassuringly at him.
"You can tell me anything," she said.
Suddenly she was flat on the couch with Remus on top of her, his lips moving determinedly against hers. She was a bit shocked at first, but after a moment, she kissed him back. She pushed herself up against him her hands going to his hair.
She hadn't expected Remus to be the one to make the first move. She had always assumed that he would never 'compromise a girl's honor', so to speak. Not that she minded, because right now his hands were delightful things to her. No, she quite liked this side of Remus.
Dorcas stirred from her place on the couch. She sat up with the blanket around her. Remus sat on the edge of the couch pulling his shirt on.
"Leaving so soon?" she asked. "I was hoping you would stay."
He smiled slightly.
"Yes, I have some things to do," he told her.
"Oh, maybe I could help you," she suggested.
"No!" he said abruptly.
When a hurt look crossed her face, he amended what he had said.
"I mean, I just need some time on my own to figure things out."
"What do you need to figure out?" she asked. "I don't understand."
He sighed.
"Look, I didn't mean to do that last night all right?" he said not looking at her. "I was distraught. I'm not saying this because I'm trying to hurt you. That's the last thing I want to do, but I don't think this is good idea. It would only end in disaster."
"Is this because you're a werewolf?" Dorcas asked as Remus cringed. "I don't care what you are. Whoever did that to you wasn't in their right mind. It's not your fault."
"It has nothing to do with that," Remus replied, coolly. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Remus, please, don't shut me out," she pleaded. "Just tell me what's wrong. We can do this together, but only if you let me help you."
"It's nothing that can be helped," he argued, standing up. "I just. . . .I have to focus on finding James and Sirius right now."
"I don't think Sirius and James would want you to give up what you wanted because of them," she said.
"How the hell do you know what they would want?!" Remus shouted, turning to face her.
Dorcas shrunk back at this. Remus Lupin was hard to make angry, but when you did he was a force to be reckoned with.
But Dorcas wasn't afraid of him; she knew he wouldn't hurt her.
"Because they aren't just your friends. They're mine too, and besides Lily and Karen are out there too. You think you're the only person hurting right now?! You think that I don't know what it feels like to have my friends ripped away from me without getting to say good-bye?!" her voice got louder with each word she spoke.
"I can't do this," Remus said, marching to the front door.
"Then run away!" Dorcas screamed after him. "Don't expect me to welcome you back with open arms when you realize what you've done!"
The door slammed and Dorcas burst into tears. How could he do this to her? He loved her one moment and was gone the next. She rocked herself back and forth until her tears wouldn't come anymore. She wiped her eyes and stood up. Quickly she got dressed. She needed to straighten herself out. She was not going to let a boy do this to her.
A/N: Now before anyone says anything about how Remus was acting, I know he isn't like that normally. But just think about how he feels. His best friends are missing and he doesn't know if they are dead or alive. Wouldn't you be frustrated. Next chapter will be about Lily and James. Promise. Leave a review!