Of Foxes and Wolves

Chapter Five

"This is so difficult." I moaned, staring at the feather on the table in front of me that refused to move.

It had been a month since the start of classes and nearly everything was going wonderfully. Lucius was leaving me alone, I was becoming less shy, and I was spending time with my friends. The only thing not going so well, was my Defense Against the Dark Arts grade.

"It's really not that difficult. You've just got to concentrate on the incantation and keep that thought in your mind until you can cast it." James said this as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

"I am concentrating!" I cried, smacking my hands down on the table. "This isn't even possible!"

"Of course it is. You're just not concentrating." With one fluid motion of his wand, James had the feather floating.

"I hate you, James Potter. I hate you and your ability to be able to not pay attention in class and still be able to do things perfectly." I groaned. I crossed my arms on the table and laid my head down on them. "It just isn't fair."

"Ah, but you see, you don't actually hate me. You only wish you hated me." James pointed out.

"No I do hate you." I said, but my voice was obstructed by the table and my arms.

James was interrupted by Remus taking a seat on the bench with me before he had a chance to reply.

"What are you two up to?" He asked, poking me in the arm with his wand.

"Nonverbal spells." I groaned into my arms. I decided I no longer wanted to deal with the stress of nonverbal spells so I laid my forehead on Remus's shoulder and proposed that we do something.

"No, no you've got to learn this." Remus said.

I looked up to him to protest and gasped, taking in his appearance for the first time that morning. He was pale and had very dark circles under his eyes; he looked exhausted.

"Are you okay?" I mumbled, taking one of my thumbs and rubbing lightly over the dark circles. "You look awful."

"I'm fine. Just a rough night." He gave a small smile, grabbing my hand that was on his face. "Don't worry about it."

"But -" I began to protest.

"No buts, I'm fine. I promise." He reassured me.

I didn't believe him but I nodded anyways. He let our hands fall apart and smiled a little more, as if that would make me believe him.

"Now, let's see if I can help you with the nonverbal spells." Remus said. He picked up the feather from where James let it fall and placed it in front of me.

"Good luck. She's absolutely impossible. I'll catch you two later, I'm going to find Sirius." James got up from the table and left us in the Great Hall with a two fingered wave.

"I'm not impossible. James is just a bad teacher." I said.

Remus laughed and said, "Oh yes, I know. Why did you go to him for help?"

"Because he was here when I came down. Also he seemed to grasp the concept rather quickly."

"Yes, he's good at that. What aspect of the nonverbal spells are you having the most trouble with?"

"All of it." I admitted, looking at him with an expression of apology.

"We'd better get to work then." Remus said. "So, first I want you to try Wingardium Leviosa on your own so I can see how you're doing it, alright?"