Eclipse| Harry Potter fanfiction

16. ⋆ ⟡ ꙳ ⭑ ⋆ Pieces of a puzzle ⋆ ⟡ ꙳ ⭑ ⋆

Athena
SIRIUS BLACK, REMUS LUPIN, JOANNA Mother, and Eloise Hughes—I recited their names in my head over and over again, trying to find some sort of connection. Mother was at the centre of it, though. Both Sirius and Professor Lupin were in the same year as Mother back when she was studying at Hogwarts, but that's when the connection between them ended. As for Eloise and this mystery Joanna lady, I couldn't fit them into the puzzle at all.

I lightly banged my head on the tree behind me and let out a groan.

It is all interlinked.

But how?

I was under a tree that shielded me from the sun's relentless torture. Why did winter have to go so quickly? Here, was one of the places I liked to go when I had to think because of the tranquil hush that settled around.

I sat cross-legged on the freshly trimmed grass. An open potions book rested on my lap, leading the rest to believe that I was a studious student. In truth, I was analysing the photo of Mother and Professor Lupin during their prime years, which was nudged between the pages of my book.

I've examined that photo, trying several ways to prove that the happy girl in the photo was not Mother. Professor Lupin had this tight grip on her that made me sense that if he lost her, then a permanent scar would be left on his heart.

"Funny seeing you here," a familiar voice came from behind me, and that led me to shut the book without delay.

I twisted my head around to see Professor Lupin in his all-too-familiar shaggy robes. Before I could figure out a way to escape, he was already seated next to me on the grass. It was quite as he looked at the scenery ahead of us while I looked at him, trying to figure something out.

Snape once said, during a defense against the dark arts lesson he had to teach because Professor Lupin was sick, that werewolves are cursed with unsettling scars, even in their human form. So, of course, my eyes were drawn to the long scars that ran along his cheek and forehead. It wasn't the first time the thought of Professor Lupin being a werewolf crossed my mind, but I often brushed it off because he didn't fit the image of a common werewolf.

Werewolves are bloodthirsty creatures that hunt and eat whatever crosses their path. Professor Lupin was more of a pygmy puff than a werewolf.

"What's on your mind, Ms. Kara?" He asked me, flashing a small smile.

I thought about ignoring the question, but there was just too much that was going on in my head to keep quiet.

"Imagine, Professor, you live your whole life maintaining this image your parents created, and you are completely content with it. But suddenly, you start asking yourself questions. All the whys, whos, and hows. You've asked your parents, but they clearly don't want you to know, but that now makes you want to know more. You know it's wrong, trying to find out the secrets your parents so clearly want to hide from you, but the need to know is just so overpowering."

Professor Lupin stared at me for some time, probably trying to figure out how to respond to such a rare, emotionally charged confession.

"I am guessing that you are talking about your mother?"

"I don't understand her, Professor. She makes herself out to be this perfect witch with absolute no feelings yet—she dated you."

I paused, shocked that I had revealed a very confident piece of information. Professor Lupin's eyes took on a hunted look when I mentioned the word 'dated'. He instantly went a shade lighter, as if a ghost from the past had come to haunt him.

"Your mother told you this," he asked with such great caution, fearing my answer.

"No, she, um, she-," I failed to find the right words, so I opened my book and handed the picture over to him.