Moon Phases // Professor Lupin

Chapter Seventeen

The next week went on very slowly. Not only was defense against the dark arts still very awkward, but now potions was enough to make Paisley want to take a draught of living death. At least Snape didn't pick on her anymore.

"You okay?" Madison whispered to Paisley in astronomy.

She nodded unconvincingly.

"Really, because normally at this point in the class you'd be asleep, drooling all over your desk. Instead you're looking at Ursa Minor like it just killed your dog."

It was true, Paisley's mind was on other things.

"Listen, I know I'm not a Ravenclaw but I'm smart enough to know that you're not doing too hot."

"Do you and Winston ever fight?" Paisley asked suddenly.

"Well, um, I guess we do. Over silly things. Like, he'll be on a rant about the duality of man, or whatever, and he'll get really fired up. I guess we haven't ever had a big argument about anything."

"Oh," Paisley nodded, "Well, what if you had a secret that you couldn't tell Winston? And if you told him it could really hurt and confuse him."

"I'd tell him," Madison said without hesitation, "Healthy relationships aren't based on secrets. Anything he's going through, I'd gladly go through with him."

Easier said than done.

After astronomy she sent another paper bag full of food to the forest using Weymouth. She was growing to miss Sirius. She couldn't imagine how he felt, considering she was the only real human interaction he had.

She missed Remus even more. So many times, she considered telling him the truth. Was it worth ruining their relationship?

No, he was overreacting. She was allowed to keep things from him.

But she knew his biggest secret.

This was different. This secret was for his own protection.

This went on for almost a month.

By Valentine's Day, couples were frolicking around the castle, exchanging gifts and flowers with one another. Marley, and Hank, being the only single ones in the group (Sydney was now rendezvousing with a Gryffindor seventh year), planned out a day of pretending to do stereotypical couple things platonically. This left Paisley all alone.

There was a knock on her dorm door. She unplugged her headphones from her cassette player and rose to open the door.

"Hey," Chris said from the other side.

"Hi," Paisley said back, "Did you need something?"

"What, I can't just say hi to you? Jeez..."

"Uh," Paisley didn't know how to respond, "But do you?"

"No, Paisley, I don't need anything," Chris scoffed.

"Oh," Paisley was now leaning on the door, growing tired of the brief interaction already.

"I got you this," Chris said finally, and rather aggressively, holding out a small box in her hand.

Paisley took it cautiously and opened it. Inside was a small charm in the shape of a daisy.

"It's a mendacium. I got it from my brother when I was home for the holiday. I haven't much use for it...thought you might like it."

"Mendacium?" Paisley asked, fiddling with the charm in her fingers.

"Means lies in Latin, if I'm not mistaken," Chris took it from her and said, "I have blonde hair."

The charm began to vibrate rapidly.