22/10/2023
Hi I'm trying to write as much as I can to publish once a week! This is one of the ones I stocked up on.
October 2006
Remus slumped down onto a bench at the Gryffindor table. He had rushed from the infirmary after Madam Pomfrey gave him a few potions for his aches and pains. He felt something poke his shoulder and saw Sirius leaning towards him.
"The rude Hufflepuff girl is looking at you," he pointed past Remus' shoulder.
Remus hesitantly turned, careful of his sore ribs. There, staring intently at him, was the girl that helped him the previous night. Remus winced remembering his promise to explain. Maybe if he ignored her she would forget. But as if she heard his thoughts, the girl packed up and walked towards the Marauders. Remus leapt up and started stuffing his bag.
"I got to go, um…Professor McGonagall needs me for…something."
He did not wait for a response and sped through the hall. As Remus reached the doors of the Great Hall, he peeked back. The girl was standing next to his friends, who looked like they were trying to make excuses for where he was. Remus let out a sigh of relief and leaned against the door. His friends helped him even if they did not understand the situation. He looked up, noticing the people standing in the corridor looking at him. Remus tried to act natural and started walking to Charms. He didn't know how to respond to the questions the girl would be sure to ask. So he just had to ignore her until she forgot about it.
November 2006
"Look out, she's back," James whispered to Remus as they walked the halls after classes.
Remus sped up, the boys following behind. He had been dodging the girl, Kiara, for the past month. He realized she was in his Ancient Runes class a few days after the incident when she answered a question from the front of the room. He couldn't believe he hadn't noticed her before, but he also didn't spend classes trying to make friends. Now he noticed her everywhere.
Every time Gryffindor had a class with Hufflepuff he sat hunched between his friends, avoiding her eyes. He finally explained the incident to them a few weeks after. James had been worried about her exposing his secret whereas Sirius and Peter began plotting a way to blackmail her. They eventually made a 26 step plan on how to salvage the situation if she found out. Their actions were helpful but they didn't dampen the fear of being kicked out of Hogwarts. The constant looking over his shoulder and rushing out of classrooms grew tiring and he knew she would corner him soon, but he still tried to delay it as long as possible. He knew he wasn't being brave but he didn't know what to do. She was a complete stranger and wouldn't understand.
A pull on his bag jolted him from his thoughts. He turned slowly, scared of what he would find. There she was glaring at him.
"Excuse me, I need a word with Remus," Kiara declared, pulling said boy by the arm. "Don't worry, I'll return him in one piece."
Remus looked back at his friends, but their helpless faces did little to help his confidence.
Kiara stormed down the corridor and approached a tapestry. She released Remus' bag, which she had been holding like a leash, and paced back and forth three times, then came to a stop. Remus was beginning to think she was a little mad, when the tapestry shimmered and disappeared. Behind it was a solid oak door. The Gryffindor was shocked, he thought he and his friends knew everything about Hogwarts, but the door staring him straight in the face proved otherwise.
"Follow me," Kiara said, walking into the room without a backwards glance.
As he stepped through the door a wave of warmth soothed his aching bones. The cold weather did little for his condition and with the full moon approaching he felt even worse. The girl sat on an overstuffed armchair. Remus sat down in one of the couches opposite the fire as far from the possibly mad girl.
"What happened that night?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Remus fiddled with a loose string from his sweater.
"You told me 'later'. It is later." The girl looked frustrated, her hands curled into tight fists.
"I'm sorry… I can't tell you," Remus said, looking away from the girl and towards the fire
"Please! I can't let you go through whatever horrible thing is happening."
"How do you know it will happen again? I mean, it was a one time thing."
"Come on, I'm not stupid. You were acting like you had that happen to you before. No one's first thought when they are hurting is to go away from the safety of a castle and into a tree!"
"You don't understand what is happening." At least he hoped she couldn't, there was no way he had let it slip.
"Help me understand! I can't leave you knowing that that is happening again and again to you! It's horrible."
"No. It isn't safe." He got up to leave.
"Fine! Don't tell me, but let me help. I'm good at healing. I saw you get to the Hall the day after. You were in pain." She stood up and walked towards him.
"I can't let you help, you barely even know me," Remus looked up at her sheepishly.
The girl sighed, "I can heal you and I will. Non negotiable."
"But…" he trailed off.
"I'm helping, if you won't let me I'll find out what you are trying to keep from me."
"It isn't safe…"
"I don't care. I will help you and hopefully one day you can trust me enough to tell me why you looked so horrible that night. Even though I want to know, I promise not to go looking for answers. All you have to do is let me heal you," she reached for his hand, "Please."
He looked down at her face. It finally registered for him that even if he told her no she would still try to help and probably end up injured.
"Fine, but you have to listen to me. If I tell you to leave, you leave, even if you think I need help, ok?"
She nodded, letting go of his hand and walked away from him. She reached into her bag and took out a small notebook the size of her palm, along with a muggle pen. She flipped through the pages, searching for something. She turned to Remus, finally finding what she was looking for, and sat next to him.
"I need you to explain your condition." She looked at him expectantly.
"But-"
"I won't try to find out what you have. I need to know so I can help. The scan I did last time can tell me things, but I need to know other symptoms you have."
Remus sighed and started to explain his symptoms and when it would happen again. Kiara dutifully took notes until they fell into an awkward silence. Kiara fiddled with her pen for a while before setting it down and walking to the door.
"I'll see you. Ok?" She asked, once again looking worried.
"Yes."
He grabbed his bag and followed her back out of the room. She seemed shy now that she wasn't forcing him to accept her help. They walked side by side until they got back to one of the main halls. When they arrived in front of the doors to the courtyard they split ways. Kiara continued past the doors with a small farwell while Remus went through to the yard.
He sighed and looked for his friends. They were waiting on the green wrapped up in sweaters and scarves. He walked towards them, preparing for the inevitable interrogation they had planned for the walk down to Hogsmeade.
"What happened?" Sirius asked, as they started heading towards the gate. The wind picked up as they left the safety of the stone walls. Remus shivered and pulled his sweater tighter. Sirius, upon noticing, pulled out a jacket from his bag, rolling his eyes.
"How do you always forget how cold you get?"
"I don't know." Remus replied, pulling on one of Sirius' leather jackets.
Peter wandered in front of them, walking backwards, "Which question is that answer for?"
"Don't do that, you'll trip." James chided.
"No I won't."
"Yes, you will. The ground is uneven."
Their bickering started and they walked ahead, conveniently leaving Remus to the mercies of Sirius.
"So, what happened? Do we need to initiate 'Plan Stop Hope from Spilling the Beans'?" Sirius tried to throw an arm over Remus' shoulder. Why he tried Remus never knew. Sirius was the shortest of the Marauders, but still insisted on acting like he was taller.
"Not yet. She told me she just wants to help and that if I let her heal me she won't even try to find out."
"Wow, I'm not sure we can open the 'Remus is the Best' Club for one new member. We're pretty full."
"You are terrible at naming things," Remus sighed, rolling his eyes. He shoved the idiot away running ahead to the others.
Thanks for reading! Please review. It can be a comment, criticism, question, etc, but please review! It helps so much when you do!
- Natalie
