The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

48. The Collision Theory

The hall has cleared out by the time I pass it, and there are only a few students milling around. Ignoring my own hunger, I head towards the hospital wing. The doors are ajar, and to my luck, Madame Pomfrey seems to be busy with a Ravenclaw third year. I edge towards the supplies cabinet-

"May I help you, Miss Novak?" Pomfrey almost demands.
Think.
Think.

"Yeah," I rub my stomach, "it's just that it's y'know, my time of the month and..."

"Say no more dear." She smiles sympathetically, "I'll fetch you a hot water bottle."

My acting skills are improving.
While her back is turned, I grab a few bandages from the cabinet, and stuff them inside my bag. She comes back with one of her famous charmed hot water bottles that stay warm for hours, "Thank you."

"No problem, dear." She turns back to the Ravenclaw, and I almost run out.

*

SIRIUS

Remus can hardly stand by the time we enter the room he changes in. I help him to the floor as James goes to secure the front and back doors, and Peter double checks that everything is 'Moony-proof'.

"Breathe." I hold his arm for support as his bones start to shift into place.

"You're talking to me as if I'm going into labour." He tries to laugh, but it ends with coughing, which ends with coughing up blood. The process will get faster as he gets older, but his teenage body still has to adjust, meaning he'll have to live through this for a few more years, "Sirius!"

"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere." I grab an old pillow off of the battered bed and place it under his head as he falls on his side clutching at his ribs, one of which seems to be pushing at his skin.

It's going to be a long few hours.

*

AYLIN

The common room is eerily silent, and the embers of the fire are slowly dying out. I creep up the stairs and into the dormitory-

"Where the Hell have you been?!" I bombarded by first a furious cry, and then a tight hug. Even in the darkness of the room, Lily's eyes have their usual shine, but now they're filled with worry.

I put my fingers to my lips, quickly pulling her outside of the dorm so as not to wake the others, "I just need a few things."

"I thought you went after Remus." She sighs, but when I look down at my feet, she hisses, "Don't you even think about doing that."

"Obviously not!" I try not to raise my voice, "I just collected a few things the boys need... afterwards."

"At least tell me next time." She sighs, going back into the room, "You coming?"

"I need to write up an essay first." I say, taking one of her muggle pens and a piece of parchment before heading downstairs to write it at the table. If I'm going to wait up, I'd better do something useful. Like the Herbology essay that's supposed to be due in tomorrow.

With no Remus to distract me, I get on to writing about six inches of the homework, watching the hours tick by on the grandfather clock across the room.
The clock strikes twelve, and the familiar soft chimes play.
After seven inches, I close my eyes for just a few seconds, only to open them again to see that an hour has passed.
It's half past two now.
The summary takes another half an hour, after which I take my homework to my room. With a spare blanket under one arm, and my bag over the other shoulder, I head out of the common room.