Monday 19th March 1973
"I have a spot of good news," Madam Pomfrey smiled warmly, "I didn't want to mention it in case we couldn't sort things out in time - but you'll be seeing me over the summer."
For a moment, Remus dared hope that this meant he was not going back to St Edmund's, but the medi-witch continued, "Mrs Orwell, your matron at the children's home, has kindly permitted me to apparate onto the grounds at dawn following both full moons this summer." She smiled widely.
Ah well. It was better than nothing. He smiled back weakly,
"Great!" He croaked. His arms and legs felt heavy as lead, he could barely raise his head to drink the potion she was offering him.
It was about four o'clock in the afternoon and Remus had missed his lessons - he'd been asleep most of the day. Sleep was still the only remedy that seemed to really work.
"I told Dumbledore I would do it with or without his permission - I couldn't live with myself if you arrived here in September in the same state you did last year."
"I could stay at a wizard's house this summer, that would be even safer," Remus tried, "My friend James-"
"I'm sorry, dear," Madam Pomfrey shook her head, "It's just not safe enough. The Potters did get in touch, but we need to preserve your anonymity for as long as we can - I know it isn't much fun for you, but it's better you stay with muggles."
Remus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It would only be two months, and the summer was still ages away. Stay positive, stay positive.
A sudden clattering noise at the end of the ward jerked Remus out of his meditative chant. Madam Pomfrey frowned and turned to look around Remus's bed curtain.
"Mr Pettigrew!" She shouted, "What do you think you are doing?!"
"S-s-sorry Madam Pomfrey - we were just..."
"Pick those bedpans up right now and put them back in the cupboard! And you can wipe that smirk off your face, Mr Black, give him a hand."
"Hiya, Remu," James peeked around the curtain, "Sorry about all the noise."
Remus grinned, trying to sit up.
"S'ok."
"Lie down!" Madam Pomfey chastised, "You've had three broken bones you silly boy."
"I'm feeling much better!"
*CRASH*
"MR PETTIGREW, WHAT DID I SAY?!" Madam Pomfrey disappeared, looking very cross.
James slumped into the chair beside Remus's bed.
"Ready to go?" He asked, casually. Remus could always count on James not to treat him like an invalid.
"If she'll let me," Remus nodded to the curtain Pomfrey had vanished behind. "How was the match?"
"Smashed it," James nodded enthusiastically, dropping the snitch into Remus's lap. He ran his fingers through his hair as if to regain that feeling of having just touched down. "Made one of the Ravenclaw beaters cry."
"How nice."
"How was... y'know, your night?"
"Fine." Remus replied dryly, twisting his mouth. They didn't often talk about the full moons - and Remus was pretty glad about that. He didn't like the idea of them knowing too much. Pain was a personal thing.
"Three broken bones, did she say?"
"Yeah. All fixed now though, she's amazing, only takes one spell. Muggles have to wear plaster casts for weeks and weeks."
