The Untold Story of RAB

Halloween I

Sunday, October 31st, 1976

After much pleading and promises to take it easy, Madame Pomfrey allowed for Diana to be released from the hospital. After a night's rest and lots of Skele-Gro, she was feeling much better and no longer did she wince at every breath.

Ginerva and Remus were tasked by Madame Pomfrey to escort Diana down to breakfast. Ginerva because she was there when Madame Pomfrey relented and allowed Diana to leave the wing, and Remus because he was a prefect and as Pomfrey said, she needed someone she knew and had authority to go with Diana.

Throwing on a pair of jeans, a Gryffindor jumper over her bandaged wrapped chest, and her white sneakers behind the hospital curtain, she felt rather embarrassed for having troubled Remus and Ginerva but both of them denied any trouble when she apologized.

She pushed back the curtain, slightly wincing at the big movement. Ginevra's eyes lit up with concern. Before she could say anything Diana said, "I'm fine."

Remus pointed towards the white flowers in the vase, "someone really loves you."

"Pardon?" Diana said. What on earth was he talking about.

"Those are camellias right?"

Ginerva and Diana nodded.

"Well," he said, now a little awkward. "You're supposed to give them to someone you love, someone you adore. They're pretty difficult to get your hands on in Hogwarts since they grow about two hundred yards into the forbidden forest."

"How do you know all that?" Ginerva asked.

"Oh, last year we had to brew a love potion. Camellias aren't really an ingredient but they make the potion more potent so Lily and I trekked into the forest to get them.

Ginerva suppressed a smile and chuckled, "I don't think the Slytherin team knew what they meant."

Remus smiled as well, "probably not."

Diana joined them but knew it was not that simple. Was this some sort of message from Regulus or just a coincidence?

Remus and Ginerva walked her to the Great Hall where the students were beginning to trickle in for breakfast. On their way downstairs Ginerva looked at her like a porcelain doll ready to break, always asking if she needed a hand. Diana knew it came from a place of love but she already felt like she might break, she didn't need anyone else to think that.

That's what she liked about Remus. He didn't coddle her, let her feel the pain and let her deal with herself on her own. It made her feel like a person.

The Hall took her breath away, there were pumpkins and gourds everywhere, autumnal leaves lined the hall.

"The decoration team isn't done yet, but the rest of the castle looks beautiful too," Ginerva informed her.

Remus said his goodbyes and went to find his friends.

Ginerva sat down with Diana, Saoirse, and Margeret. Over the past month Ginerva had become a lot closer with them, they hung out all the time and she was really a part of their group. Diana was glad, she really liked Ginerva.

As her friends began to talk about the Halloween dance that evening, which Diana had entirely forgotten about. She knocked on the door the mind bridge.

"Regulus?"

"Yes? Everything ok?"

"Yes. Tonight during the dance we'll go to Dumbledore's office. Everyone will be busy so no one will see us. Dumbledore always leaves early. We'll sneak off separately and meet him in his office", she said

"Alright. See you tonight."