𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗸, remus lupin

˗ˋ 44

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
✧
-: sixth year :-

── IN WHICH HE
CONFRONTS HER

. . .

Pandora was never a fan of getting dragged. She had found this just under two months previous, when she had been pulled out of the situation with that girl and her letter opener, just a day into her Hogwarts education.

And now, Remus was doing the very same thing, except he wasn't playing the role of rescuer or coming to her aide in a tricky situation. He hadn't pulled her away from an overly-protective older sibling who was far too concerned given that all it was was a slim piece of metal that she only really recquired because she thought the engravings were particularly pleasing to the eye.

Now, Remus had just pulled her away from her breakfast. Not that she had actually eaten any of the fruit she had piled onto her plate and was instead watching the beige-coloured tea in the cup swirling into a whirlpool as she stirred it. 

Her mind was too focused on other things to complete basic tasks. She just.. didn't want it. Pandora had never needed to think so much about another person and it was driving her crazy. It didn't make sense. Why did she remember it now - how did she remember it now and not when she first laid eyes on him.

Perhaps, and Pandora hated to think that there was anything more to it than finding Remus initially incredibly pretty in compairison to his peers - perhaps that was why she had been drawn to him in the first place.

She didn't want there to be, and so she had come up with a plan in the few minutes it took her to rush through school after her escape from the Gryffindor sixth year boy dorms and return to her own comfort. And, in hindsight, it may not have been the best idea, but she eventually figured that she may have to avoid Remus for a couple of days.

Just so that she had time to get her head around it, because even she couldn't deny that something strange was at play there, intertwining their fates for future convening. 

It had taken her little to no effort to find out his schedule and know exactly where not to go at exact times, but apparently, even that effort was wasted, because Remus had no intention of letting her fade into the metaphorical background. 

"I suppose it was only my mother who taught me that it was particularly impolite to interupt someones's meal in order to drag her around?" As much as she'd rather not mention her mother again until the day she died, Pandora pulled her hand away from Remus's grasps as she made the remark and they came to settle in one of the long, quiet corridors off of the Entrance Hall. 

"My mother had other things to deal with. More important things." The indications were subtle, and for that moment Pandora couldn't remember if he was aware of her knowledge on his lycanthropy, but it subdued her; he was right, his mother had to deal with her son being bitten by Fenrir Greyback and turned into something the rest of the world considered a murderous monster.

"If you say so." Pandora replied, crossing her arms over her stomach as her eyes landed on a small nook between an archway and the next windowsill and making a beeline for it, taking a seat and making sure the stiff black skirt that barely brushed against the top of her thighs covered up enough.

For once in his life, Remus let his eyes wander before blinking rapidly and following her there, taking a seat. He swallowed, clearing his throat. "I know that you remember." He began, noting the stiffness that overcame Pandora's figure. "I know you do, so don't even try and lie."

She was watching not him, but the tree across the courtyard from them. "Remember what?" She asked eventually, forcing back the bitter taste on her lips, making sure her tone was inquisitve, almost confused in nature.

"You know what, Pandora." Remus scoffed, shaking his head. "Merlin - I saw the look on your face, I took the stupid memory potion and now I know why. You remember that morning Pandora, don't try and deny it." 

"I.. I don't know what you're talking about." 

He couldn't quite believe it. Of course, there was always the chance that his accusations were completely baseless and floating around Pandora's head like they were nothing - but he just knew. He knew that she knew.

"Just look me in the eyes Pandora. Look me in the eyes and say it if you're really willing to let this whole thing be brushed under the rug." Remus clawed at it desperately. He didn't know why, but he couldn't stand the ambiguity that surrounded her constantly. How he could never be certain about anything she did or said - he just wanted one solid answer to one real question. Why wouldn't she accept that something she had done in the past had truely impacted him. 

There had never been someone who had acted so kindly towards a stranger like that. On a cold November morning, she had given him his coat - and now, he could say that her action was more dangerous than leaving him shivering and freezing. Just the previous night her mother had murdered a little girl to prove that her daughter's actions and disobedience would have consequences.

Pandora looked towards him. "I don't remember. I have no idea what you're talking about." She forced the words out. "I don't know, Remus. I don't. I swear. I don't know."

She was lying.

✧

a/n
btw i have a 
reggie fic out