Soul Love ~ ( Remus Lupin )

Chapter eight

On Sunday morning, she walked Regulus and Allegra to the courtyard, where they were leaving for Hogsmeade, bitterly and left before anyone could say goodbye. She headed immediately to her dorm, reaching for the fire whiskey she had clumsily tried to hide underneath her bed.

Being drunk by herself was as depressing as it sounded. Although she had forgotten what she was feeling miserable about, she soaked in the feeling anyway. The girl lay under a tree by the lake in the splotchy sun, letting tears pool in her eyes before they tiredly ran down her face. Her eyes traced the branches above her; they breathed and sighed with the cold wind, and dead leaves fell from them, occasionally gracing her face as they landed.

She had no thoughts, just washes of melancholy that idled in her mind.

Her view of the barren tree was suddenly interrupted, by an odd, upside-down face.

'Fuck me!' her whole body jumped.

Marigold's vision seemed to lag, as she sat up and turned her head around. Sirius was grinning at her innocently, a cigarette caught in between his teeth. Her eyes squinted as she processed it.

'You scared me, you bastard.' Her voice was loud, but hoarse; the girl felt streams of dried tears crack upon her face as she talked.

'Get up,' he smirked, 'we need you.'

She twisted her body around fully now, still sat on the ground.

'For fuck's sake Sirius, I'm not actually doing this prank thing.'

He acted as though he couldn't hear her, dragging the poor girl up and bringing her to the castle. She dug her heels into the muddy earth and couldn't stop herself from laughing when Sirius stumbled over her feet.

The three other boys up ahead hadn't seen them yet, and Marigold was still trying to bargain her way out. She pushed all her weight against the taller boy as he pushed her forwards, whilst whispering pleas, interrupting herself with quiet giggles.

They eventually grew closer though.

James and Peter were playing with a small ball, levitating it with their wands; Remus was sat silently underneath an arch next to them. There was a small group of first years on the other side of the courtyard, sat under a tree with books and scrolls sprawled out around them, but other than that, the five were seemingly alone. Remus noticed them first, squinting as he looked up at the two. His eyes stayed on Marigold lazily, as he watched her eyes flick over him. He couldn't help but feel judged.

Remus' clothes hung lazily on his body, as they often did – obviously too big for him, and full of stiches and patches from where they were too worn. What quickly pulled the girl's attention, however, was the state of the boy's face. His eyes were being dragged down by solid, heavy, purple bags, in fact his entire face seemed to be pulled downwards and stretched taut. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and the girl was almost certain she could see his veins. 

Marigold stayed silent as Sirius started talking to them. Although she was hearing his words, she couldn't really bring herself to listen. Her mind was hazy and slow, and her eyes stayed on Remus as the three boys began walking away, too lost in their chatter to realise the pair hadn't joined them. The auburn-haired boy was still sat.

'Aren't you coming?' Marigold rose an eyebrow.

He looked at her, suddenly taken aback, before slowly standing up, his legs clicking as he did so.

They caught up quickly, unnoticed by the others. The three in front of them were talking loudly, and Marigold hated the silence between her and Remus. He seemed oblivious though, tiredly dragging himself along next to her.