Éthérée

CHAPTER 16

Audrey did not sleep at all that night. She was constantly worrying what would happen the following morning. What Remus would be like. How the boys would react. How everything would go. She was a nervous wreck. Remus had trusted her to keep his secret, and she had royally messed up, leading to the boys knowing about his problem. She couldn't bring herself to go back to her dorm because she knew that Lily would have thousands of questions as to where she had gone. And she was furious at James and Sirius, the absolute idiots. She stayed in the Girls bathroom that night, at least what was left of the night. She fished around in her pocket, and pulled out a Muggle medicine called 'Asprin' to help her with her pounding headache.

At about 6 o'clock, she left that place, first going to the Kitchens to get some chocolate for her friend, and then reaching the Hospital Wing. She expected an unconsious Remus lying on the bed. But what she didn't expect, was three boys sitting at his bedside, worry etched on their faces.

As soon as she stepped inside the Hospital Wing, their heads shot towards her. She wordlessly came to Remus, placing the chocolate bars on his bedside, and sitting down opposite to the three.

"So, what to do now?" Audrey asked them, drawing in a deep breath.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked calmly.

"Now that you know about his monthly little problem, what will you do?" Audrey replied in the same civil manner. As soon as she uttered those words, as if on cue, Remus groaned and woke up from his sleep.

"Hey Remmy," she spoke softly, running a hand through his hair.

"Good morning little Wolfie," James said, smirking.

Audrey chuckled at this, while Remus looked, to put it simply, utterly mortified.

"Oh merlin, oh merlin, shit, shit, shit, shit, oh god, oh god," Remus started muttering in a panicked manner.

"Okay, Remus, breath. It's okay, it's okay,"Audrey soothingly said, trying to calm him down.

"I need to leave Hogwarts. Yeah, that's it, that's what I need to do," he said, taking in short breaths.

"Wait, what? Why do you need to leave Hogwarts?" Sirius asked.

"Because, you know my secret. I'm a beast. A monster,"

"Remus, you iron your socks. Forgive us if we aren't trembling at the sight of you," James said chuckling.

"Wait so, you aren't going to tell the school about me?" Lupin asked in reassurance, as if he couldn't believe their words.

"Of course not mate! What do you think, we'll just go blabbing on about you?" Sirius exclaimed.

"Well- I, uh," Remus stuttered, clearly embarrassed.

"We are your best friends. You can trust us with your secret Remus," Peter spoke reassuringly.

"Thank you. This means so much to me," Remus spoke after a moment, too shocked with their acceptance.

"Now give us one of your big bear hugs," Sirius said, smirking, and without waiting for an answer, the three boys embraced a smiling Remus.

"What are you waiting for Aud?" Sirius asked the girl who was standing  in a corner, smiling at the four.

She chuckled, and joined the group hug excitedly. After a few moments of staying like that, Madame Pomfrey shooed the four away as she fretted over Remus. Audrey lightly kissed his cheek and the group made their way out of the hospital wing.

"So, have long have you known Aud?" James asked his twin.

"First year, sometime before Christmas," she replied.

"Why didn't you tell me? I'm your twin," he said with a frown, clearly hurt.

"James, it wasn't my secret to tell. And I tried to persuade Remus countless number of times, I did. But he just never budged,"

"So that's what you both have been hiding from us? You aren't dating?" Sirius asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Exactly. And he's like a brother to me. I'd never date him. It's like saying I'd date James or Peter, or you, Sirius," she said with a chuckle.

"Oh," Sirius replied, looking just a tad disappointed.

"Well, I usually like my mornings with a little less of awkward silence, so I'm going to head to the Great Hall. Coming?" James asked after about five minutes of extreme silence.

"Yeah, let's go," Audrey said with a smile.

"No, wait. You and Pete go on ahead. I need to talk to Audrey," Sirius told James, and he nodded, making way to the Great Hall with Peter.

"Is everything alright?" the girl asked, confused.

Sirius looked at her, his eyes full of an emotion that she couldn't describe. He lightly tucked a strand of her blond hair behind her ear, and held her hands lovingly. He looked deep into her eyes, as if looking into her soul. "I saw your eyes. You cried the whole night, didn't you?" He softly asked.

"What did you expect me to do?" she replied.

"I'm sorry. I know that you were worried, and obviously I shouldn't have been dumb enough to go to the Whomping Willow. And I know you were hurt. I'm truly sorry Aud," he said, not breaking eye contact.

She lightly smiled at him.

"I looked for you too. I scoured the entire castle. I couldn't find you. Hell, I even had to wake up Lily, ask her where you were. She said she didn't know. Where were you?" He asked.

"I was in the Girls' bathroom," Audrey said with a light chuckle.

"That make sense," Sirius said, chuckling as well.

Then they started  walking towards the Great Hall.

"So, what did you mean when you said that you would never date me?" Sirius asked.

Audrey looked at him, eyebrows furrowed in confusion at first. And as soon as realization hit her, she started vigorously blushing.

"Well, I guess I-" she started, but was immediately disturbed by Lily Evans running down the hallway, yelling Audrey's name. She was engulfed into a huge hug by the ginger, who put so much force into it, she stumbled and had to be steadied by Sirius.

"You! Where were you!? Do you realize that this bloke woke me up at three in the morning because he couldn't find you!" Lily yelled at the blond, pointing towards Sirius, who raised his hands in surrender.

"I know, and I'm sorry! Really!" Audrey said.

"Where were you?"

"I- I can't tell you, but, I swear, I was alright. I am alright,"

Lily sighed angrily, but gave up the topic, knowing that the girl would not tell anything. That was the thing about Audrey, she was probably the most stubborn person you'd ever meet.

"Don't ever wake me up again in the middle of the night Sirius," Lily spoke threateningly.

"Hey! If I'm not getting my beauty sleep, no one is! This doesn't happen by magic!" Sirius exclaimed, pointing at his face, making the two girls laugh. He swung an arm across both of them, and the three walked to the Great Hall, James almost jinxing Sirius for having his arm over Lily.

****

They know! 

Rewritten- 13th January 2021

-kaash