Portrait of a girl (editing)

Chapter 13

Dec. 28th, 1993 (full moon)

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To know how the current situation had arisen one must first understand what had come to pass. For Remus Lupin that was figuring out why Seren was currently passed out in a pile of snow and how long she had been there.

He'd merely been out for a bit of a walk to stretch his aching bones and muscles when he'd seen what he initially thought was just one of the many creatures that inhabited the ground until he'd gotten closer and felt a stone sink in his stomach. As he got closer he gingerly reached out to shake her awake but recoiled when he felt how hot her skin was.

"Seren?" she was burning up but her skin looked pallid, "Seren can you hear me?" there was a soft groan and he hesitated to move her in case she was hurt. The least likely scenario given everyone was still gone for the holidays. He pulled off his coat and carefully wrapped it around her as he scooped her up.

"No..." her body shook as he lifted her out of the snow drift, "You can't stay out here, you'll die." She groaned again curling into him as he carried her back into the castle, "'s hot..." of course it was hot who knew how bad her fever was. He could take her to madame Pomfrey but if this was another werewolf thing she would only be able to do so much.

"How long were you outside?" he had to keep her focused, "Seren?" he lightly shook her, waking her up again, "Talk to me, how long were you outside?"

"dunno...where am I?" he picked up the pace, deciding to let Pomfrey see to her after all. He nudged the door to the infirmary open and hurried in, "Poppy?!" the elderly matron stepped out of the back room, "What's all this commotion about?" seeing the young woman in his arms she motioned for him to set her on one of the beds.

"Where did you find her?"

"She was outside, but she couldn't tell me how long I think she's delirious." He carefully brushed some wet hair from her face. The warm air from the castle melted any lingering frost but it did little to return color to her skin. Lupin watched frantic as Poppy rummaged through her potions store coming back with a few things.

"It's a full moon tonight." He already knew that. He'd imagined she'd have found herself in his room as she did every month for transformations, it had become ritualistic now. She'd show up and they'd have a normal conversation over tea and whatever food the House elf Teeky had brought, enjoy one another's company and then share the same space until both reverted back the next morning.

Finding her out in the snow was not.

"normally I'd suggest she stay for observation, but as you know full well, I am not equipped to handle sick werewolves, but I can give you what she'll need for the night and then you can report back to me tomorrow when you're feeling up to it. he took the potions from Poppy, looking back at the fitful girl on the cot, careful as he lifted her back into his arms and unable to help the soft smile as she curled back into him.

"you smell good..." he merely looked down at her wondering if this was the fever before he continued on the way to his office/bedroom. "Shh." His voice was soothing as he cast a silent spell to open the office door. "I'm going to set you down in one of the armchairs and get you some blanket's, is that alright?" he chuckled as she whined at being set down, quickly flicking his wand at the fireplace as he disappeared into the hidden back bedroom, returning quickly with some spare blankets.

"Nooooo." She tried to fight him away as he moved her, trying to wrap her in a blanket so she could sweat the fever out. "Seren, stop...fighting..." she toppled out of the chair and onto the floor and he merely stared down at her, "don't want it. 's too hot." Hoisting her back off the floor he gently set her back in the chair, checking for any injuries before wrapping her in the blanket again which she once again quickly threw off, her eyes flashing gold in annoyance.