Cast Aside

Moon Moods and Werewolf Spotting

A/N I am so busy and have so many things going on right now. I haven't even been crocheting. Homeschooling and co op drama and volleyball and soccer and babies and family drama and housework and distracting podcasts. I just finished 27 after much work and many plot holes. Now I am stumbling over yet another snag ugh I hate not having more pre written. Next time I will finish a fic before I start uploading lol I had an idea for a crack fic involving Harry and Draco somehow being sent to the Blaze and the Monster Machines world. If you have kids and watch their shows it might appeal but it will DEFFINITLY be finished before uploading if I write it.

Chapter 25

There had been a few weeks during the war, while they'd been on the run, that Remus Lupin had been with them. George couldn't now remember why he'd been with them, but he thought it had something to do with Tonks. During that time, there had been a new moon. Remus had been so exhausted, so hardly functional they had feared for his life. Only his infrequent snarling if they bothered him overmuch assured them he was still alive.

After experiencing the dark and moonless night for himself, George thought he understood a bit of what the older man had felt.

Ever since the full moon, George had felt just a bit different. He'd expected the stronger, almost lurid sense of smell. And the sharper reflexes—though he suspected he still had nothing on Remus—were not surprising either. There was a… something though. He couldn't quite put into words how it felt. Thankfully nobody had asked him to explain it.

Hermione had subtly changed shampoos after noticing him trying to hide his disgust when she'd stepped out of the shower their first night in France. When George had found Fabian reading in the middle of the night, having been awoken by the turning of pages and occasional sighs, Gideon had joked they'd need stronger silencing charms when they brought ladies round. But there had been no probing questions, as he'd expected there to be.

Whether they were respecting his privacy or simply genuinely uninterested—something that, knowing Hermione, he rather doubted—they'd not mentioned it. While it was nice at first, he was beginning to feel the need to discuss it with someone.

And after the shit night he'd just had, he was feeling especially curious. It was too bad he couldn't talk to Bill. George missed him fiercely, especially now. It was grand and all being like an older uncle to him, but every now and then he needed an older brother's wisdom.

The strong, and decidedly welcome, scent of an invigoration potion laced builder's tea preceded Hermione into their room. Her hair was dampening the shoulders of her t-shirt and a folded parchment stuck out between the fingers that held her own mug. Just then, all George cared about was the tea.

"Finally up, I see. Feeling better?"

He nodded, reaching for the caffeine she offered. It burned down his throat, a blessed, wonderful feeling. "A fair bit, ya. I was so sore… and tired." He took another long sip of his tea as she gingerly sat on the bed beside him. "Reckon I'll be alright now though."

Glancing at the parchment again, his eyes caught on her lip, trapped between teeth as she eyed him curiously. He smirked. There it was. "Something you'd like to ask me, love?"

A faint dusting of pink graced her cheeks and her eyes widened slightly. Realizing she'd been caught, she turned away to hurriedly finish her own tea. "What? Of course not, don't be silly." Before he could assure her it was alright, she passed him the parchment. "This came early this morning. It's from Kingsley."

Laughing softly—so they were minding his privacy after all—he scanned the note.

I've done some thinking. I know you aren't likely to trust me with whatever it is you're up to, and I know you're up to something, but I've become disillusioned. I can't accept what was risked in order to get to you. After you left, Moody and I tried to discover the truth to no avail. He still somehow has lingering faith but I've not had decades of friendship to secure my allegiance.