div class="chapter preface group" style="border-width: 1px 0px 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.5em 3em; padding: 0.643em 0.643em 0px; float: none; color: #2a2a2a; border-style: solid initial initial initial;"
div id="notes" class="notes module" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.643em; position: relative; width: auto; float: none; clear: right; min-height: 5em;"
blockquote class="userstuff" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 1em; line-height: normal; font-family: 'lucida grande', 'lucida sans unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0.643em; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.286em; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"** Stars will mark the beginning of some darker content than what I usually put into my work, consider this a trigger warning for the referenced sexual Abuse, Rape/Non-con, Explicit sexual content and all Torture tags./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"P.S this chapter turned out considerably longer than intended at 10, almost 11 pages. More than my usual 7-8. and No full moon this chapter, but there will be one next chapter if not the chapter afterwards!/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Please /br /_/p
/blockquote
/div
/div
div class="userstuff module" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 1088.64px; float: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: #2a2a2a;" role="article"
h3 id="work" class="landmark heading" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0.25em; border-image: initial; outline: 0px; font-weight: 500; font-style: inherit; font-size: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0.125em; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; height: 0px; clear: both; color: transparent; border-color: initial initial #333333 initial; border-style: initial initial double initial;"Chapter Text/h3
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" align="center"November 24sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1993,/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Make sure you read the chapter on unforgivable curses; I'll expect your essays by end of lessons next Wednesday." They'd held class in the staff room again, Lupin had insisted because the space was bigger and there was more room to spread out for groups. Now as everyone packed up their books a loud chatter filled the space./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Miss Price, if you could stay back a moment? I have something I'd like to speak to you about." The formality in his voice was something she would never get used to and a few sets of eyes looked at her curiously./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh, yeah…but I can't stay too long, I have Charms next."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Not to worry, I'll be quick. I can write you a note if you need." As the last of the students filed out of the room Seren came to stand in front of Lupin, "How familiar are you with Harry?" she looked at him curiously, "Can't say we've really spoken since the train, why?" he motioned towards the door as they began walking./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Harry approached me about learning the Patronus Charm and I wondered if I might enlist your help." Rounding the corner and heading back into the main corridor Seren offered a friendly hello to the Grey lady who smiled as she passed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I'd be more than happy to help, if that's what you really want, but what made you think of me?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Not many young witches and wizards pick up on the Patronus charm so quickly, the fact that you did and you cast the charm with silent magic is exactly why you're the best fit to assist. Though I never asked, how did you cast silent magic? We haven't covered it in class yet."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I've been practicing silent magic since what should have been my fifth year…mainly healing charms and spells. Helped keep the sanity for a bit."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"The two parted ways as he continued on towards his classroom and she wandered down the stairs towards Charms./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I'll see you later, Professor Lupin!" she called up as the staircase began to move./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" align="center"December 6sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1993./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Two weeks before the end of the term the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling opaline white and the muddy grounds were revealed one morning covered in glittering frost. The castle was abuzz with talks of Christmas and how everyone was going to spend their holidays. Professor Flitwick had already decorated the charms classroom with shimmering lights that turned out to be real fluttering fairies./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"A second Hogsmeade trip would take place on the last week of term, meaning Seren could actually attend this one without fear of having to rush back to the castle and her mind began to wander on what she might buy for Christmas presents, not that she had a ton of people to shop for and then she began to wonder if she might ask Dumbledore to borrow the fireplace in his office to make a withdrawal from Gringotts. Figuring it couldn't hurt to ask she excused herself from the lunch table and made her way to the front of the room, Passing by the three familiar Gryffindor's./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Seren!" she stopped, turning to face Hermione, "Afternoon, Hermione." Harry and Ron looked up at her, "How's your term been so far? We were just talking about the Hogsmeade trip next week. Are you going?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""My terms been a bit chaotic, I have double everything this year, potions with Snape right away in the mornings every other day, but I think I'm finally wearing him down." She joked, "I'm also in Advanced transfigurations, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, which reminds me—" she turned and looked at Harry,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Professor Lupin has asked that I help with teaching you the Patronus charm over next term, so we'll be seeing quite a bit more of each other."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""That's brilliant!." Seren couldn't help but giggle at his enthusiasm, "That's the spirit, Harry." The shaggy haired boy seemed to be beaming now despite previous chatter of Hogsmeade, "How difficult are N.E.W.T's level courses?" she was full on laughing now at Hermione's question, "Well, if you like writing essays WHILE doing copious amounts of hair pulling research, then they're great." Hermione smiled, "In all actuality, they aren't too terribly difficult, it's a lot of recap from previous years on top of the new curriculum."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Sounds exciting." Hermione smiled; Ron looked at her like she was insane "Exciting? sounds like torture." Seren gave the ginger boy a look, "It wouldn't be torture at all if you actually do the work. Honestly, how do you think you can get a job when you seem to be keen on slacking off?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh, don't you start now, you sound like my mum." The two girls seemed to share a look before starting to laugh. "I've got to talk with Dumbledore about something, but I'll see you three later."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"As she turned down the Aisle she saw Dumbledore departing, "Professor Dumbledore!" the elderly man stopped his walk and turned to face her with a familiar smile./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Ah, Miss price, what can I help you with?" he motioned for them to continue walking, "I was actually wondering if I might ask a favor. With the Hogsmeade trip next week I was hoping I might make a trip to Gringotts"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Albus fixed her with a concerned look, "Miss Price, I'm not sure a trip to Diagon Alley alone is in your best interest."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Please, sir. I'm 18 now and no longer underage. I can defend myself."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Be that as it may, Miss Price you are still a student at my school and I cannot in good conscience allow you to go alone, not so soon after your rescue."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""So, send someone with me." she could tell the headmaster was getting frustrated with her persistence, "Please professor, it's important."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I cannot allow you to go, but I can go in your stead." Seren looked at him curiously, "You'd need only lend me your vault key and I will return it to you at breakfast tomorrow morning."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"She gave a dejected nod, and fished around in her small bag, passing over a silver key. "I don't need more than half a pouch full of mixed." Dumbledore nodded with a smile before they went their separate ways."/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" align="center"December 18sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1993/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Snow had once again begun to fall as students climbed into carriages bound for Hogsmeade. She had made a mental check list of things she wanted to buy as gifts./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Mind if I join you?" she turned towards the source of the voice, "Hello Remus." She smiled as he climbed into the carriage, pulling the door closed. "Doing some Christmas shopping?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yeah, though my list is short. I thought I'd bring some stuff back for harry as well, since his relatives never signed the permission slip." Remus smiled back at her, "That's very thoughtful of you. and He mentioned you talked to them over breakfast about next term. I appreciate you accepting the offer to guide him in the Patronus charm."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well, you asked me to and even if I'm a bit hesitant I want to help." He took the seat beside her as the carriage began to roll off "I think it's admirable." She leaned her head on his shoulder, "My mum always says that broken people have the kindest hearts. I think I'm starting to understand that lesson."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Hmm. I think that's true on some accounts, but sometimes broken people are irreparable." She gave a small nod as the carriage continued along, "So…are you staying about for Christmas? I know everyone goes home for the holidays."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I'll be staying for most of it, I'll be spending Christmas eve at my fathers though, he sent a dinner invite." Seren recalled Christmases spent at home and seemed contemplative. "My mum used to make such a big deal about Christmas dinners, she'd make this big feast that she knew we'd have to live off of the entire break even after we were well and sick of ham and the surplus of vegetables. I think even you would have laughed."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Our Christmas dinners were always small, my mum insisted on cooking the muggle way. I did always want a little brother or sister though."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I think you'd be an overprotective big brother. You're already and overprotective teacher." She teased, earning a soft tug on her hair in response, "I can still dish out detentions on these trips, you know." She shrugged, "Just means I can spend more time with you. I know how much you span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"love/span our quality time together." Lupin stared at her blankly, "It's like you're encouraging my decisions."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"She merely smiled at him as the carriage came to a halt, "The decision on doling out detentions rests entirely on you, don't let me influence your decisions. Besides, you know where my room is…" her face suddenly turned bright red when she realized what she'd said, "I'm sorry…that was out of line." Remus climbed out of the carriage first, offering a hand to help her down which she accepted./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well, all things considered between the two of us, I've certainly been the most forward." Seren closed the carriage door as it began to pull away, leaning down she turned bright red at his next statement, "And I do know where your room is." Remus smirked playfully at her as he corrected himself, letting go of her hand as they walked into the village./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I think I'm going to do my Christmas shopping and then spend some time at the three broomsticks. I've missed Butterbeer." The village hadn't changed much, though it seems a few new shops popped up , "How about this." She turned to face him, curious as they walked, "What is it?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Meet me at the hogs head once you've finished your shopping. It'll be less crowded than the Broomsticks." She'd heard of the Hogs head but it had a reputation for shady business practice, "Are you sure it's safe?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""It's perfectly safe, it looks a bit off though, doesn't it? it's a hot spot for The trade of information." She scuffed her shoe in the soft layer of snow, seemingly sheepish at the idea of going to the off-the-beaten-path tavern, "If you're certain it's safe…then I'll meet you there." Remus noticed as she turned her head to look up at the falling snow now, that she looked oddly childlike and he couldn't help but smile fondly as he reached up, ruffling her messy hair./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Remus left to head for the Hogshead leaving Seren standing outside Honeydukes, turning towards the store she noticed the large ministry notice./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC:/span/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Customers are reminded that until further notice,/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" dementors will be patrolling the streets of Hogsmeade every night after sundown./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"This measure has been put in place for the safety of Hogsmeade residents/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" and will be lifted upon the recapture of Sirius black./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"It is therefore advisable that you complete your shopping/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Well before nightfall./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Merry Christmas./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Wonderful. They've taken over the school grounds and Hogsmeade." She shuddered opening the door to the sweet shop and setting about picking up an assortment of different things to bring back to the castle, avoiding the large barrel of Bertie Botts near the door she picked up a couple of different chocolate bars and then moved to fill a small bag with the honey toffee and some peppermint crème's before filling another bag with sugar quills, pepper imps and fizzing whizbees./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Having paid for her treats she stepped back out of the shop, looking towards Gladrag's wizard wear, wondering if she might find something in there as a gift. The soft tinkling of a bell rang overhead./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Welcome in dear, is there something I can help you find today?" An older witch poked her head out of the backroom./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh, Um…I'm trying to find a gift for my…well…it's kind of a complicated situation." The woman seemed to have a knowing smile, "Well, if it's for your significant other can I get some more information about them?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well…he's a bit older, and I worry about him a lot because he gets sick so often. Maybe…something to keep him warm?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Ah, I just got a nice winter set in. Come, come, take a look!" the woman disappeared back into the backroom and re-emerged moments later with a cherry colored box, lifting the cover to reveal a long grey topcoat, a pair of black wool gloves and a matching black and grey scarf./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Hey, you're that young lady from the prophet!" she looked up cautiously, "Almost didn't recognize you with hair. Pretty brave wandering about the village by yourself, 'specially right now with Black on the loose."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh, I'm not alone." She replied with a smile, "Um, how much for—"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""for you, 15 galleons." Seren passed over the money, "Is…is it possible to get it gift wrapped?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Of course!" the woman gave another smile, tapping the box lightly with her wand before passing it over, "I hope he enjoys the gift, dear." She made a stop at several other shops along the way before finally making her way towards the Hogshead Inn./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well, there you are. I was worried you may have gotten lost." Seren look about the Inn curiously as she made her way to the booth in the back. "Did you get everything off your list?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yeah, I found everything." Seren tucked the bags under the table to keep them hidden, "What's your poison?" she gave him a confused look, "My…poison?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""He's asking what you want to drink."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh…um…a glass of fire whiskey?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Make that two." The man nodded and walked away. "Fire whiskey?" she shrugged, "Wandering the village alone made me kind of nervous, I haven't gone anywhere alone in months…" she blushed, "You were always tagging along over summer and there's loads of other students and staff at Hogwarts." The man returned with two glasses filled mid-way with a warm amber colored liquid./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I suppose you're right. but why didn't you say anything if you were nervous?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well…I can't expect you to hold my hand forever. Sure, what happened was traumatic, but if I let that fear control me I may as well check myself into St. Mungo's." he lifted the glass to his mouth taking a large gulp and scrunching his face at the burn, "That'll be Ogden's old." He coughed, setting the glass back on the table, "That bad?" she'd never tried Fire whiskey, but she'd heard it had a strong cinnamon taste./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Picking up her own glass she mimicked his action, wincing at the immediate burn as the amber liquid slid down her throat. Remus chuckled at her face as she drank, "I'd never have pegged you as an alcohol fan." Setting the glass down on the table she grimaced, "Well, considering it's the first time I've ever had it, I'd say I'm not." He looked mildly impressed yet also slightly concerned, "I see, well I can't say I condone making it a habit." He'd developed a small drinking habit in his time leaving Hogwarts behind, a depression hitting after Sirius had murdered their friends. He'd rather not see the same for her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""It's certainly an acquired taste." She nodded towards the glass, "Not something I'll make a habit of drinking. So…Your dads for Christmas eve, what's he like?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""My father used to be one of those black tie, ministry suit types. Opposed dangerous creatures for a long time and was even behind some of the more restrictive laws put into effect against werewolves until my accident. But he was always kind if not a bit scatter brained at home when I was a boy. He began advocating for werewolf rights as I started getting older and people began protesting my attendance at school. We also moved around a lot, just like you and your mother since there are only so many excuses that can be made."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Seren's face scrunched up again as she took another sip of the fire whiskey, "Ugh…Maybe I should have just ordered a butterbeer…but the sweetness makes me sick. Your father sounds like an incredible man, and it's nice to know there are people out there advocating for us" she mumbled the last part under her breath as Remus laughed, elated at her scrunched up face./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""It meant a lot to me that his perspective changed, but I made sure I moved out when I came of age so I wasn't a burden on him." He watched her expression shift again, "I think I probably would have done the same, but part of me hopes I could have continued to rely on my mum. She had every opportunity at her disposal to leave me behind and no one would have chastised the decision, but she stayed. I think it's just human nature to want to be near to our loved ones. We're social creatures by nature, after all."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yes, I suppose your right." he set his glass back on the table, looking around the room as a new face entered the establishment, "Keep your head down."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Hmm." She was going to look where he was but he stopped her, "No, don't." carefully he drew his wand and muttered some odd spell over the table. "Remus, who are they?" he motioned for her to move closer./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Alecto and Amycus Carrow. Two of Voldemorts most devoted followers." He whispered, watching the pair./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Carrow…"the name was familiar, and as she tried to figure out why it came slamming back to her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""the man…Amycus, he was there…He…" Remus shushed her as the two stepped closer, ignorant of the two werewolves mere feet from them, only able to see an empty booth as they walked past./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""He was…" there was a far away look in her eyes again, as if hearing Amycus's voice had triggered something. Once the closing of a door could be heard he flicked his wand over the table again, letting the enchantment fall./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Seren?" he lightly touched her shoulder, retracting his hand when she flinched away from him, "Talk to me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Is everything alright, Sir?" one of the Bar staff had come over to see if they needed refills. "we're alright, she's just a bit tired, is all." Remus quickly paid before gently helping Seren out of the booth. His hand snagging her bags from beneath./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Let's get you outside, fresh air will do some good." She stumbled along behind him as he led her out into the cold winter air. "Talk to me, what were you seeing?" her hand twitched at her side, reaching up slowly to grab onto his jacket. His concern only grew as she refused to answer his question./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Seren." There was a brief flash of something in his hand that made him take a step back, her hand closing on his jacket sleeve./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Help me…" there was another flash in his mind./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The room was dim, lit only by candles and Remus found himself looking around cautiously, the sound of rattling chains drew his attention to the doorway where he saw a faceless figure shove the prisoner in, slamming and locking the door behind her. The Men and women in the room were immaculately dressed but the room fell to silence as the young woman's body hit the ground./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Gentleman." He looked from the small, emaciated young girl on the floor to the man speaking, Another stepped away from the crowd, snatching up the chain leash around the girls neck, dragging her across the black marble floor, "A filthy half-breed where it belongs." The man yanked the chain upwards, tearing the bag from the body's face and Remus felt bile in his throat as he watched what happened/span span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"next./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"she was suddenly assaulted from behind, and her body was shoved down onto a table. Her ass stuck up in the air, and eyes were back onto her as some of them laughed. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Just another filthy little mongrel bitch." The man behind her spread her legs out, using his wand to wrap rough rope around her ankles and secure them to the legs of the table. her hands were cuffed behind her back. With a simple flick of his wand, they were secured to the ceiling with another length of rope, her body was positioned in such a way that it would be nearly impossible to stand or perform any kind of significant moving. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"One bye one the men and women of the room began to surround the table, laughing at the restrained young girl rendered unable to speak or scream or cry and he watched as she shook as one by one they took turns, as if she were merely a toy./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Look at this wanton whore," he spat, earning murmurs of agreement from the others. "Wet for old men she doesn't know. Tiny little bitch waiting to be fucked," he watched the horrifying memory reproachfully as Lucius Malfoy slapped her ass roughly, which her body jolted at, causing the men to laugh/span span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"again. He pushed the head of his cane against her pussy, hitting her again as she shook in terror and pain./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Be a good little doggy now and take your treat."/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Stop…"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" he knew calling out was useless, this was her memory and he could see everything. The death eaters taking advantage of her, fucking her, torturing her for sport…/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Crucio." Her body seized in the restraints as someone yanked on the chain around her neck, choking her as tears poured down her face. More and more things made sense to him as he watched them, the truth behind why she'd been so terrified of him and the healers that day in St. Mungo's, why she had screamed and kicked him off of her at the Leaky cauldron. How many times had she been abused like this?/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The spell stopped, allowing her a moments reprieve before it was cast again, another witch in the crowd had cast a sight removal charm as she was untied and thrown unceremoniously to the cold tiles, small form shivering as her chest heaved. Without warning the cane was yanked out of her./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"That's when he saw Amycus step up, yanking roughly on the chain leash and pulling her to her knees, forcing her mouth open, "Imperio." Against her will, like a marionette, she took his cock into her mouth as he controlled her, forcing her to move and holding her at the base of him until her face started to turn blue before he'd finally give her a moment of repreive, watching her cough and sputter as pre-cum dripped down her lips before he'd restart the spell./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Good girl, obeying your masters."/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"As the memory played out he found himself disgusted./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Help me!"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" dull, lifeless eyes seemed to look right at him now as the memory began to fade./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"The feeling of slamming back into his body left him shaken and she stared at him like a frightened child, hand still gripping his coat sleeve. Looking down at her he lightly touched her cheek, waiting for her to flinch away from him. When she made no further movement he ran his thumb across her cheek, tracking along her freckles./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Hey." His voice was soft, "No one is going to hurt you, not here." He felt he was always reassuring her she was safe, but he would continue to do so until the belief settled in. most of his life he'd been dealing with broken and damaged things and he'd gotten quite good at fixing them, but this was something he wasn't certain how to fix. Seren wasn't a material object, she was human, and even with all of his patience, these kinds of scars had long lasting effects./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"And yet, she trusted him. She had let him near her when she'd found out they were the same, had let him touch her, kiss her, she had even agreed to spend her life with him as his mate. Sure, they had only done part of the ritual, but she was marked now and as far as werewolf law was concerned she was now off limits to other werewolves. But Werewolf law was not wizarding law and he knew as well as any that dark wizards took what they wanted with no regard to the damage it might cause./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Remus considered himself a patient man, and he would wait for as long as it took for her to trust him enough to finish the Mating ritual./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You shared that memory with me, why?" watery green eyes finally landed on his face but she said nothing, only stepping closer until her arms wrapped around him/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'Help me.'/span the words echoed like a bell and once again realization slapped him in the face. The reason she couldn't give names when Dumbledore had asked her…it was because she didn't know them, they had blinded her in every interaction./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""How did you know it was Amycus that was there that night?" she kept her face buried in his shirt as he worked his fingers through her hair./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""His voice…" of course, it wasn't uncommon to memorize vocal patterns, it was just more common in infants and children./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Are you angry?" he was angry, but he was angry at those men and women in that room. He was angry that they'd been so cruel, even to a child./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I am angry, but not at you. I'm angry for you." he was angry that she wasn't. he was angry that she had every right to hate the world and yet still chose to see the good in people./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You can be angry too, you know." She seemed to have calmed down as he felt her arms slip from his back, "I could…but what good would it do me to be angry at people I don't know? It doesn't change anything if I am or I'm not."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""it changes everything. Being angry doesn't mean you go blindly seeking revenge, it's a perfectly normal emotion and one everyone feels. Can it lead to terrible things? For some, Yes. However, it can also be turned into a powerful driving force for success. I want you to be angry, just as I want to see you happy, and smiling and laughing. You should be free to explore those emotions and everything that comes with them."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"As his words sunk in she looked at the ground again, "I just…I can't." suddenly he was pulling her along the pathway,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Where are we going?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Somewhere private." She looked stunned, "P-private?" he led her down a side path into the trees, the Shrieking shack not too much farther down the way./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Why did you bring me out into the middle of the woods?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Scream."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""What?" he gave her a very serious look, "You heard me, Scream. We have hours before the carriages head back to school and we will stand her as long as it takes. Now scream."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Are you out of your—" she jumped as he let out a sudden scream of his own, "Go on, scream!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Ahhhh…" she winced at how sad her scream had sounded and he gave her a pitiable look./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""That was pathetic. Come on!" he reprimanded as he screamed again./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""AHHHHH!" she could hear his voice echo back, "Just like this, come on!" hesitantly she took in a deep breath before screaming at the top of her lungs, "There you go, that's more like it. Again!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""AHHHHHH!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he smiled proudly at her as the two of them just stood screaming at nothing in the middle of the forest outside the village, Seren eventually breaking into fits of laughter as she fell back into the snow with a loud huff. Remus walked over, looking down at her as she laughed, unable to contain his own from bubbling up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""See, doesn't that feel better?" she continued to laugh as she looked up at him, "It does, thank you. but I still think you're a nutter. What if someone had seen you dragging me away into the forest?" she laughed again./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh please, I'm the least suspect to do devious things with a student…" he trailed off, "Although our relationship may not be the best example of that. Don't give me that look." He laughed again as she flashed him puppy dog eyes as he offered a hand up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Cheeky." He lightly tugged on her hair again, giving her another fond smile as she brushed snow off her clothes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""But you love me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I do." He paused, eyes wide as he realized what he'd just said. The two shared in a similarly stunned look./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You love me?" Remus seemed to fumble for a moment as his brain caught up with his sudden admission, looking into her wide and curious eyes as he took a few steps closer, bringing his hand to her face again and placing a soft kiss to her lips./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I do."/p
/div
div id="notes" class="notes module" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.643em; position: relative; width: auto; float: none; clear: right; min-height: 5em;"
blockquote class="userstuff" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 1em; line-height: normal; font-family: 'lucida grande', 'lucida sans unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0.643em; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 1.286em; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"** Stars will mark the beginning of some darker content than what I usually put into my work, consider this a trigger warning for the referenced sexual Abuse, Rape/Non-con, Explicit sexual content and all Torture tags./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"P.S this chapter turned out considerably longer than intended at 10, almost 11 pages. More than my usual 7-8. and No full moon this chapter, but there will be one next chapter if not the chapter afterwards!/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Please /br /_/p
/blockquote
/div
/div
div class="userstuff module" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 1088.64px; float: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: #2a2a2a;" role="article"
h3 id="work" class="landmark heading" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0.25em; border-image: initial; outline: 0px; font-weight: 500; font-style: inherit; font-size: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0.125em; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; height: 0px; clear: both; color: transparent; border-color: initial initial #333333 initial; border-style: initial initial double initial;"Chapter Text/h3
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" align="center"November 24sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1993,/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Make sure you read the chapter on unforgivable curses; I'll expect your essays by end of lessons next Wednesday." They'd held class in the staff room again, Lupin had insisted because the space was bigger and there was more room to spread out for groups. Now as everyone packed up their books a loud chatter filled the space./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Miss Price, if you could stay back a moment? I have something I'd like to speak to you about." The formality in his voice was something she would never get used to and a few sets of eyes looked at her curiously./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh, yeah…but I can't stay too long, I have Charms next."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Not to worry, I'll be quick. I can write you a note if you need." As the last of the students filed out of the room Seren came to stand in front of Lupin, "How familiar are you with Harry?" she looked at him curiously, "Can't say we've really spoken since the train, why?" he motioned towards the door as they began walking./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Harry approached me about learning the Patronus Charm and I wondered if I might enlist your help." Rounding the corner and heading back into the main corridor Seren offered a friendly hello to the Grey lady who smiled as she passed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I'd be more than happy to help, if that's what you really want, but what made you think of me?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Not many young witches and wizards pick up on the Patronus charm so quickly, the fact that you did and you cast the charm with silent magic is exactly why you're the best fit to assist. Though I never asked, how did you cast silent magic? We haven't covered it in class yet."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I've been practicing silent magic since what should have been my fifth year…mainly healing charms and spells. Helped keep the sanity for a bit."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"The two parted ways as he continued on towards his classroom and she wandered down the stairs towards Charms./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I'll see you later, Professor Lupin!" she called up as the staircase began to move./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" align="center"December 6sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1993./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Two weeks before the end of the term the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling opaline white and the muddy grounds were revealed one morning covered in glittering frost. The castle was abuzz with talks of Christmas and how everyone was going to spend their holidays. Professor Flitwick had already decorated the charms classroom with shimmering lights that turned out to be real fluttering fairies./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"A second Hogsmeade trip would take place on the last week of term, meaning Seren could actually attend this one without fear of having to rush back to the castle and her mind began to wander on what she might buy for Christmas presents, not that she had a ton of people to shop for and then she began to wonder if she might ask Dumbledore to borrow the fireplace in his office to make a withdrawal from Gringotts. Figuring it couldn't hurt to ask she excused herself from the lunch table and made her way to the front of the room, Passing by the three familiar Gryffindor's./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Seren!" she stopped, turning to face Hermione, "Afternoon, Hermione." Harry and Ron looked up at her, "How's your term been so far? We were just talking about the Hogsmeade trip next week. Are you going?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""My terms been a bit chaotic, I have double everything this year, potions with Snape right away in the mornings every other day, but I think I'm finally wearing him down." She joked, "I'm also in Advanced transfigurations, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, which reminds me—" she turned and looked at Harry,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Professor Lupin has asked that I help with teaching you the Patronus charm over next term, so we'll be seeing quite a bit more of each other."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""That's brilliant!." Seren couldn't help but giggle at his enthusiasm, "That's the spirit, Harry." The shaggy haired boy seemed to be beaming now despite previous chatter of Hogsmeade, "How difficult are N.E.W.T's level courses?" she was full on laughing now at Hermione's question, "Well, if you like writing essays WHILE doing copious amounts of hair pulling research, then they're great." Hermione smiled, "In all actuality, they aren't too terribly difficult, it's a lot of recap from previous years on top of the new curriculum."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Sounds exciting." Hermione smiled; Ron looked at her like she was insane "Exciting? sounds like torture." Seren gave the ginger boy a look, "It wouldn't be torture at all if you actually do the work. Honestly, how do you think you can get a job when you seem to be keen on slacking off?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh, don't you start now, you sound like my mum." The two girls seemed to share a look before starting to laugh. "I've got to talk with Dumbledore about something, but I'll see you three later."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"As she turned down the Aisle she saw Dumbledore departing, "Professor Dumbledore!" the elderly man stopped his walk and turned to face her with a familiar smile./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Ah, Miss price, what can I help you with?" he motioned for them to continue walking, "I was actually wondering if I might ask a favor. With the Hogsmeade trip next week I was hoping I might make a trip to Gringotts"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Albus fixed her with a concerned look, "Miss Price, I'm not sure a trip to Diagon Alley alone is in your best interest."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Please, sir. I'm 18 now and no longer underage. I can defend myself."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Be that as it may, Miss Price you are still a student at my school and I cannot in good conscience allow you to go alone, not so soon after your rescue."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""So, send someone with me." she could tell the headmaster was getting frustrated with her persistence, "Please professor, it's important."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I cannot allow you to go, but I can go in your stead." Seren looked at him curiously, "You'd need only lend me your vault key and I will return it to you at breakfast tomorrow morning."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"She gave a dejected nod, and fished around in her small bag, passing over a silver key. "I don't need more than half a pouch full of mixed." Dumbledore nodded with a smile before they went their separate ways."/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" align="center"December 18sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1993/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Snow had once again begun to fall as students climbed into carriages bound for Hogsmeade. She had made a mental check list of things she wanted to buy as gifts./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Mind if I join you?" she turned towards the source of the voice, "Hello Remus." She smiled as he climbed into the carriage, pulling the door closed. "Doing some Christmas shopping?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yeah, though my list is short. I thought I'd bring some stuff back for harry as well, since his relatives never signed the permission slip." Remus smiled back at her, "That's very thoughtful of you. and He mentioned you talked to them over breakfast about next term. I appreciate you accepting the offer to guide him in the Patronus charm."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well, you asked me to and even if I'm a bit hesitant I want to help." He took the seat beside her as the carriage began to roll off "I think it's admirable." She leaned her head on his shoulder, "My mum always says that broken people have the kindest hearts. I think I'm starting to understand that lesson."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Hmm. I think that's true on some accounts, but sometimes broken people are irreparable." She gave a small nod as the carriage continued along, "So…are you staying about for Christmas? I know everyone goes home for the holidays."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I'll be staying for most of it, I'll be spending Christmas eve at my fathers though, he sent a dinner invite." Seren recalled Christmases spent at home and seemed contemplative. "My mum used to make such a big deal about Christmas dinners, she'd make this big feast that she knew we'd have to live off of the entire break even after we were well and sick of ham and the surplus of vegetables. I think even you would have laughed."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Our Christmas dinners were always small, my mum insisted on cooking the muggle way. I did always want a little brother or sister though."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I think you'd be an overprotective big brother. You're already and overprotective teacher." She teased, earning a soft tug on her hair in response, "I can still dish out detentions on these trips, you know." She shrugged, "Just means I can spend more time with you. I know how much you span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"love/span our quality time together." Lupin stared at her blankly, "It's like you're encouraging my decisions."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"She merely smiled at him as the carriage came to a halt, "The decision on doling out detentions rests entirely on you, don't let me influence your decisions. Besides, you know where my room is…" her face suddenly turned bright red when she realized what she'd said, "I'm sorry…that was out of line." Remus climbed out of the carriage first, offering a hand to help her down which she accepted./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well, all things considered between the two of us, I've certainly been the most forward." Seren closed the carriage door as it began to pull away, leaning down she turned bright red at his next statement, "And I do know where your room is." Remus smirked playfully at her as he corrected himself, letting go of her hand as they walked into the village./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I think I'm going to do my Christmas shopping and then spend some time at the three broomsticks. I've missed Butterbeer." The village hadn't changed much, though it seems a few new shops popped up , "How about this." She turned to face him, curious as they walked, "What is it?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Meet me at the hogs head once you've finished your shopping. It'll be less crowded than the Broomsticks." She'd heard of the Hogs head but it had a reputation for shady business practice, "Are you sure it's safe?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""It's perfectly safe, it looks a bit off though, doesn't it? it's a hot spot for The trade of information." She scuffed her shoe in the soft layer of snow, seemingly sheepish at the idea of going to the off-the-beaten-path tavern, "If you're certain it's safe…then I'll meet you there." Remus noticed as she turned her head to look up at the falling snow now, that she looked oddly childlike and he couldn't help but smile fondly as he reached up, ruffling her messy hair./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Remus left to head for the Hogshead leaving Seren standing outside Honeydukes, turning towards the store she noticed the large ministry notice./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC:/span/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Customers are reminded that until further notice,/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" dementors will be patrolling the streets of Hogsmeade every night after sundown./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"This measure has been put in place for the safety of Hogsmeade residents/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" and will be lifted upon the recapture of Sirius black./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"It is therefore advisable that you complete your shopping/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Well before nightfall./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Merry Christmas./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Wonderful. They've taken over the school grounds and Hogsmeade." She shuddered opening the door to the sweet shop and setting about picking up an assortment of different things to bring back to the castle, avoiding the large barrel of Bertie Botts near the door she picked up a couple of different chocolate bars and then moved to fill a small bag with the honey toffee and some peppermint crème's before filling another bag with sugar quills, pepper imps and fizzing whizbees./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Having paid for her treats she stepped back out of the shop, looking towards Gladrag's wizard wear, wondering if she might find something in there as a gift. The soft tinkling of a bell rang overhead./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Welcome in dear, is there something I can help you find today?" An older witch poked her head out of the backroom./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh, Um…I'm trying to find a gift for my…well…it's kind of a complicated situation." The woman seemed to have a knowing smile, "Well, if it's for your significant other can I get some more information about them?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well…he's a bit older, and I worry about him a lot because he gets sick so often. Maybe…something to keep him warm?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Ah, I just got a nice winter set in. Come, come, take a look!" the woman disappeared back into the backroom and re-emerged moments later with a cherry colored box, lifting the cover to reveal a long grey topcoat, a pair of black wool gloves and a matching black and grey scarf./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Hey, you're that young lady from the prophet!" she looked up cautiously, "Almost didn't recognize you with hair. Pretty brave wandering about the village by yourself, 'specially right now with Black on the loose."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh, I'm not alone." She replied with a smile, "Um, how much for—"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""for you, 15 galleons." Seren passed over the money, "Is…is it possible to get it gift wrapped?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Of course!" the woman gave another smile, tapping the box lightly with her wand before passing it over, "I hope he enjoys the gift, dear." She made a stop at several other shops along the way before finally making her way towards the Hogshead Inn./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well, there you are. I was worried you may have gotten lost." Seren look about the Inn curiously as she made her way to the booth in the back. "Did you get everything off your list?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yeah, I found everything." Seren tucked the bags under the table to keep them hidden, "What's your poison?" she gave him a confused look, "My…poison?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""He's asking what you want to drink."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh…um…a glass of fire whiskey?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Make that two." The man nodded and walked away. "Fire whiskey?" she shrugged, "Wandering the village alone made me kind of nervous, I haven't gone anywhere alone in months…" she blushed, "You were always tagging along over summer and there's loads of other students and staff at Hogwarts." The man returned with two glasses filled mid-way with a warm amber colored liquid./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I suppose you're right. but why didn't you say anything if you were nervous?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well…I can't expect you to hold my hand forever. Sure, what happened was traumatic, but if I let that fear control me I may as well check myself into St. Mungo's." he lifted the glass to his mouth taking a large gulp and scrunching his face at the burn, "That'll be Ogden's old." He coughed, setting the glass back on the table, "That bad?" she'd never tried Fire whiskey, but she'd heard it had a strong cinnamon taste./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Picking up her own glass she mimicked his action, wincing at the immediate burn as the amber liquid slid down her throat. Remus chuckled at her face as she drank, "I'd never have pegged you as an alcohol fan." Setting the glass down on the table she grimaced, "Well, considering it's the first time I've ever had it, I'd say I'm not." He looked mildly impressed yet also slightly concerned, "I see, well I can't say I condone making it a habit." He'd developed a small drinking habit in his time leaving Hogwarts behind, a depression hitting after Sirius had murdered their friends. He'd rather not see the same for her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""It's certainly an acquired taste." She nodded towards the glass, "Not something I'll make a habit of drinking. So…Your dads for Christmas eve, what's he like?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""My father used to be one of those black tie, ministry suit types. Opposed dangerous creatures for a long time and was even behind some of the more restrictive laws put into effect against werewolves until my accident. But he was always kind if not a bit scatter brained at home when I was a boy. He began advocating for werewolf rights as I started getting older and people began protesting my attendance at school. We also moved around a lot, just like you and your mother since there are only so many excuses that can be made."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Seren's face scrunched up again as she took another sip of the fire whiskey, "Ugh…Maybe I should have just ordered a butterbeer…but the sweetness makes me sick. Your father sounds like an incredible man, and it's nice to know there are people out there advocating for us" she mumbled the last part under her breath as Remus laughed, elated at her scrunched up face./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""It meant a lot to me that his perspective changed, but I made sure I moved out when I came of age so I wasn't a burden on him." He watched her expression shift again, "I think I probably would have done the same, but part of me hopes I could have continued to rely on my mum. She had every opportunity at her disposal to leave me behind and no one would have chastised the decision, but she stayed. I think it's just human nature to want to be near to our loved ones. We're social creatures by nature, after all."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yes, I suppose your right." he set his glass back on the table, looking around the room as a new face entered the establishment, "Keep your head down."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Hmm." She was going to look where he was but he stopped her, "No, don't." carefully he drew his wand and muttered some odd spell over the table. "Remus, who are they?" he motioned for her to move closer./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Alecto and Amycus Carrow. Two of Voldemorts most devoted followers." He whispered, watching the pair./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Carrow…"the name was familiar, and as she tried to figure out why it came slamming back to her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""the man…Amycus, he was there…He…" Remus shushed her as the two stepped closer, ignorant of the two werewolves mere feet from them, only able to see an empty booth as they walked past./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""He was…" there was a far away look in her eyes again, as if hearing Amycus's voice had triggered something. Once the closing of a door could be heard he flicked his wand over the table again, letting the enchantment fall./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Seren?" he lightly touched her shoulder, retracting his hand when she flinched away from him, "Talk to me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Is everything alright, Sir?" one of the Bar staff had come over to see if they needed refills. "we're alright, she's just a bit tired, is all." Remus quickly paid before gently helping Seren out of the booth. His hand snagging her bags from beneath./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Let's get you outside, fresh air will do some good." She stumbled along behind him as he led her out into the cold winter air. "Talk to me, what were you seeing?" her hand twitched at her side, reaching up slowly to grab onto his jacket. His concern only grew as she refused to answer his question./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Seren." There was a brief flash of something in his hand that made him take a step back, her hand closing on his jacket sleeve./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Help me…" there was another flash in his mind./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The room was dim, lit only by candles and Remus found himself looking around cautiously, the sound of rattling chains drew his attention to the doorway where he saw a faceless figure shove the prisoner in, slamming and locking the door behind her. The Men and women in the room were immaculately dressed but the room fell to silence as the young woman's body hit the ground./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Gentleman." He looked from the small, emaciated young girl on the floor to the man speaking, Another stepped away from the crowd, snatching up the chain leash around the girls neck, dragging her across the black marble floor, "A filthy half-breed where it belongs." The man yanked the chain upwards, tearing the bag from the body's face and Remus felt bile in his throat as he watched what happened/span span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"next./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"she was suddenly assaulted from behind, and her body was shoved down onto a table. Her ass stuck up in the air, and eyes were back onto her as some of them laughed. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Just another filthy little mongrel bitch." The man behind her spread her legs out, using his wand to wrap rough rope around her ankles and secure them to the legs of the table. her hands were cuffed behind her back. With a simple flick of his wand, they were secured to the ceiling with another length of rope, her body was positioned in such a way that it would be nearly impossible to stand or perform any kind of significant moving. /span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"One bye one the men and women of the room began to surround the table, laughing at the restrained young girl rendered unable to speak or scream or cry and he watched as she shook as one by one they took turns, as if she were merely a toy./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Look at this wanton whore," he spat, earning murmurs of agreement from the others. "Wet for old men she doesn't know. Tiny little bitch waiting to be fucked," he watched the horrifying memory reproachfully as Lucius Malfoy slapped her ass roughly, which her body jolted at, causing the men to laugh/span span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"again. He pushed the head of his cane against her pussy, hitting her again as she shook in terror and pain./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Be a good little doggy now and take your treat."/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Stop…"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" he knew calling out was useless, this was her memory and he could see everything. The death eaters taking advantage of her, fucking her, torturing her for sport…/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Crucio." Her body seized in the restraints as someone yanked on the chain around her neck, choking her as tears poured down her face. More and more things made sense to him as he watched them, the truth behind why she'd been so terrified of him and the healers that day in St. Mungo's, why she had screamed and kicked him off of her at the Leaky cauldron. How many times had she been abused like this?/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The spell stopped, allowing her a moments reprieve before it was cast again, another witch in the crowd had cast a sight removal charm as she was untied and thrown unceremoniously to the cold tiles, small form shivering as her chest heaved. Without warning the cane was yanked out of her./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"That's when he saw Amycus step up, yanking roughly on the chain leash and pulling her to her knees, forcing her mouth open, "Imperio." Against her will, like a marionette, she took his cock into her mouth as he controlled her, forcing her to move and holding her at the base of him until her face started to turn blue before he'd finally give her a moment of repreive, watching her cough and sputter as pre-cum dripped down her lips before he'd restart the spell./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;""Good girl, obeying your masters."/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"As the memory played out he found himself disgusted./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Help me!"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" dull, lifeless eyes seemed to look right at him now as the memory began to fade./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"The feeling of slamming back into his body left him shaken and she stared at him like a frightened child, hand still gripping his coat sleeve. Looking down at her he lightly touched her cheek, waiting for her to flinch away from him. When she made no further movement he ran his thumb across her cheek, tracking along her freckles./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Hey." His voice was soft, "No one is going to hurt you, not here." He felt he was always reassuring her she was safe, but he would continue to do so until the belief settled in. most of his life he'd been dealing with broken and damaged things and he'd gotten quite good at fixing them, but this was something he wasn't certain how to fix. Seren wasn't a material object, she was human, and even with all of his patience, these kinds of scars had long lasting effects./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"And yet, she trusted him. She had let him near her when she'd found out they were the same, had let him touch her, kiss her, she had even agreed to spend her life with him as his mate. Sure, they had only done part of the ritual, but she was marked now and as far as werewolf law was concerned she was now off limits to other werewolves. But Werewolf law was not wizarding law and he knew as well as any that dark wizards took what they wanted with no regard to the damage it might cause./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Remus considered himself a patient man, and he would wait for as long as it took for her to trust him enough to finish the Mating ritual./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You shared that memory with me, why?" watery green eyes finally landed on his face but she said nothing, only stepping closer until her arms wrapped around him/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'Help me.'/span the words echoed like a bell and once again realization slapped him in the face. The reason she couldn't give names when Dumbledore had asked her…it was because she didn't know them, they had blinded her in every interaction./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""How did you know it was Amycus that was there that night?" she kept her face buried in his shirt as he worked his fingers through her hair./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""His voice…" of course, it wasn't uncommon to memorize vocal patterns, it was just more common in infants and children./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Are you angry?" he was angry, but he was angry at those men and women in that room. He was angry that they'd been so cruel, even to a child./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I am angry, but not at you. I'm angry for you." he was angry that she wasn't. he was angry that she had every right to hate the world and yet still chose to see the good in people./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You can be angry too, you know." She seemed to have calmed down as he felt her arms slip from his back, "I could…but what good would it do me to be angry at people I don't know? It doesn't change anything if I am or I'm not."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""it changes everything. Being angry doesn't mean you go blindly seeking revenge, it's a perfectly normal emotion and one everyone feels. Can it lead to terrible things? For some, Yes. However, it can also be turned into a powerful driving force for success. I want you to be angry, just as I want to see you happy, and smiling and laughing. You should be free to explore those emotions and everything that comes with them."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"As his words sunk in she looked at the ground again, "I just…I can't." suddenly he was pulling her along the pathway,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Where are we going?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Somewhere private." She looked stunned, "P-private?" he led her down a side path into the trees, the Shrieking shack not too much farther down the way./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Why did you bring me out into the middle of the woods?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Scream."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""What?" he gave her a very serious look, "You heard me, Scream. We have hours before the carriages head back to school and we will stand her as long as it takes. Now scream."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Are you out of your—" she jumped as he let out a sudden scream of his own, "Go on, scream!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Ahhhh…" she winced at how sad her scream had sounded and he gave her a pitiable look./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""That was pathetic. Come on!" he reprimanded as he screamed again./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""AHHHHH!" she could hear his voice echo back, "Just like this, come on!" hesitantly she took in a deep breath before screaming at the top of her lungs, "There you go, that's more like it. Again!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""AHHHHHH!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he smiled proudly at her as the two of them just stood screaming at nothing in the middle of the forest outside the village, Seren eventually breaking into fits of laughter as she fell back into the snow with a loud huff. Remus walked over, looking down at her as she laughed, unable to contain his own from bubbling up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""See, doesn't that feel better?" she continued to laugh as she looked up at him, "It does, thank you. but I still think you're a nutter. What if someone had seen you dragging me away into the forest?" she laughed again./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh please, I'm the least suspect to do devious things with a student…" he trailed off, "Although our relationship may not be the best example of that. Don't give me that look." He laughed again as she flashed him puppy dog eyes as he offered a hand up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Cheeky." He lightly tugged on her hair again, giving her another fond smile as she brushed snow off her clothes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""But you love me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I do." He paused, eyes wide as he realized what he'd just said. The two shared in a similarly stunned look./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You love me?" Remus seemed to fumble for a moment as his brain caught up with his sudden admission, looking into her wide and curious eyes as he took a few steps closer, bringing his hand to her face again and placing a soft kiss to her lips./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I do."/p
/div
