Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) Book Three (Marauders Era)

Chapter Forty - The Blame Game

Author's note: CW for a very brief thought of wanting to cut body parts off

-x-

Remus woke up in the hospital wing like usual; however, unlike usual he was in one of the regular beds with curtains shut around him, or at least as far as he could tell with his wonky vision. He propped himself up, hissing out as pain engulfed his arms. Grunting, he pushed himself into a sitting position so he could look. His hands were still red and covered in a rash which extended up his arms nearly to his elbows. His face was hurting too. It felt like his cheeks and eyes were puffed up.

He remembered Pomfrey cleaning him completely off and spreading more of the cream stuff on the worst spots. He remembered her putting him in hospital pajamas and getting him into a bed. He also remembered hearing Slughorn chewing Pomfrey out for putting Remus ahead of Runcorn, who had been severely injured. Pomfrey responded that Professor Shafiq had more than adequately cared for Runcorn. They had argued some more, but Remus didn't really remember what was said.

He also remembered other bits. Being in utter agony (worse than this), and wondering if this was the worst he had ever felt. He knew, deep down, he had been in worse condition but in this moment he couldn't remember, couldn't think. He had thrashed in bed, begging for the pain and itchiness to stop. It had felt like the swollen parts of his body were also swollen on the inside, pressing in until everything felt tight.

He remembered another moment he had woken up and stared at his red, swollen hands, wondering what would happen if he simply cut them off.

Another time he caved in and scratched at his face, gasping with regret immediately. Pomfrey came running when she heard his noises and forced some sleep potion into him. She bent over him, hand stroking his hair, promising him he'd feel better soon when the potion on the burning parts of him finished working. His slitted eyes shut, and he fell asleep again, and that's all he remembered so he figured the sleeping draught had worked well.

Wolfsbane. He stared down at his reddish hands, wishing he had let the chair hit him. He had forgotten he was near some of the poisonous plants. They were very fenced off, with little signs saying not to go near. The wolfsbane was wedged against the edge of the greenhouse, far away from where he'd normally be.

Did anyone see? Did anyone guess? He had run out of the greenhouse pretty fast. Maybe people would think he fell into something else. Hopefully.

What time is it? He swung his legs out of bed and saw a few red streaks on his left ankle. Vaguely, he recalled only having one sock on because he had been in a hurry to get dressed. Most of his body had been protected, thankfully. His hands and face got the brunt of the poison. He could not imagine what would have happened if it had gotten onto more places, or into him.

His searching feet found slippers and he pushed aside one of the curtains, a little surprised to see several of the beds were occupied. His eyes flickered to the clock and after studying it for a moment he managed to figure out it was a little after six pm. He had been out for five hours and missed all his classes.

"Lupin!"

He jumped a little, yelped from the pain when he moved his body, then shrank back at the eager voice. It was Rivers, a few beds away. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with him and he was sitting up with a magazine or comic book in his lap, a big grin on his face.

"Good to see... oh! What's wrong with your face?"

All right, so that meant at least one person or a few people didn't know exactly where he fell. In all the chaos, he doubted anyone had paid him much attention other than the Marauders, and maybe Lily. "Erm, I f-fell in some poisonous plants," Remus mumbled, hoping that that would be a satisfying enough response. Would Rivers know it was wolfsbane? "What happened to... to you?"