Like Real People Do (R.A.B)

11

~ The Letter

Remus Lupin and Sirius Black sat together on an empty cot in the hospital wing. Remus twiddled his thumbs anxiously as Madame Pomfrey stirred a purple colored potion clockwise. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Sirius looking at him funny.

"Here, should be ready," the older witch said using her wand to place some potion into a flask.

The shy Gryffindor boy thanked her and he and Sirius stood to make their way to charms. When they were finally out of earshot from Madame, Remus spoke, "Why have you been giving me a funny look the last half-hour?"

Sirius inhaled deeply and shoved a hand in his pocket extracting a familiar crumbled paper. Pushing his hair behind his ears he stopped and looked Remus dead in the eyes.

"Did you happen to know that Regulus Black, my brother, was the one who sent this note to our Kendra?" he said slowly and carefully.

Remus knew he couldn't lie. Not under Sirius' penetrating stare. Suddenly he began to sweat.

"I-I well," Remus started, now fidgeting, "I had an inkling I suppose."

He wrung his hands awkwardly in-front of him waiting for his friends next words. Sirius just nodded thoughtfully at him and continued to stroll towards the charms classroom.

The air felt strangely tense. Remus was confused as to why Sirius hadn't thrown a fit. James was obviously protective, but the way Remus had heard Sirius talk about Kendra made him sure the black-haired boy felt the same massively protective nature.

"I've seen the way she looks at him, and he looks at her." Sirius said suddenly, a light shudder running down his back at the thought.

Beside him, Remus stayed quiet unsure of what to say. The two turned down another corridor headed for the staircase to take them to the third floor where their class was located.

"Does she talk to you or Dorcas about these things, she probably shouldn't talk to me, but she definitely needs someone to talk to about.. things." Sirius said thoughtfully. His eyebrows were pinched together tightly and he seemed to look a bit constipated.

"Um I guess she had mentioned it," Remus started, "mentioned Regulus before I mean."

Sirius nodded again, the same thoughtful look spread across his face. The two boys were now heading up a non-moving staircase and passed a cheery looking Marlene McKinnon on the way.

"Hello boys," she said as she passed by. Her messy dark hair resembled Sirius' and so did her mischievous gaze.

Remus muttered a soft "hello," in reply. On the other hand, Sirius was still deep in thought. Thankfully, Marlene didn't seem to notice her friends lack of response and continued down the now moving staircase.

"Pads, what about this has got you in such a state?" The wolfish boy asked as the reached the top of the staircase. He had never seen his friend act so alarmingly calm.

The charms classroom was now in view and Remus could see Lily's red hair through the doorway.

"Nothing mate, just something Monty told me before term. It's nothing really." He said but Remus could smell something along the lines of a lie. A familiar scent that seem to follow his friends around since Kendra had suddenly appeared. He had never mentioned it but it weighted heavy on his mind where many other unanswered things sat.

Remus had many questions about Kendra, though he had never asked. His biggest one being just who exactly was she?