Have Faith - R. Lupin

Chapter 1

The hallways were filled with the bustling students of Hogwarts. First years were seen running about trying to locate their classes in the enormous castle, meanwhile the seventh years watched with amusing smirks playing on their lips.  Al, like any other sixth year, was taking N.E.W.T. level classes, making the work load even heavier than the previous year. Faith was as frantic as a first year, trying to get to class on time, after rushing to the Ravenclaw tower to retrieve her Transfiguration essay that she had forgotten.

Another sixth year happened to be heading in the opposite direction, causing them to crash into each other when the corner met. The boy stumbled back, but managed to keep composure, unlike Al who tumbled to the ground. The delicate flower crown floated from her head, landing in front of the tall boy's feet.

"Sorry, here."

His voice, blunt and scratchy, as if it hurt every time he dared to utter a word.

She delicately took the head piece from his grasp, placing it on her head while voicing her thanks. Taking no interest his profile, she hastily shuffled past, and running off in the empty hallways.

Remus Lupin fell onto the wall, leaning his shoulder and the side of his head against it. He took shaky breathes as he steadied himself and hobbled of towards his first class of the day, shaking like a leaf in the wind, even though there was none.

~*~

It was the final lesson of the day and although he was practically asleep on the desk, he grumpy and on the verge of snapping and refused to miss out on as much school as physically possible. Even if that meant being confined in a stuffy potions classroom, which only made his migraine worse.

Sitting on the potions desk beside him was the infamous James Potter whom was worried about his friend's wellbeing, believing that he should be resting up in the hospital wing in preparation for the oncoming night. But no matter how much how tried to convince him, he never swayed.

The girl with the flower crown arrived in the classroom right on time, choosing to sit at an empty bench behind the two marauders rather than the only other spot, which was next to a rather sour looking Slytherin.

Sirius Black ran into the classroom barely puffing with a wheezing Peter Pettigrew following. Both of their faces slightly black from soot.

The handsome Black child walked up to the bench behind his friends, only realising it was preoccupied after he sat down and turned to talk to Peter, only to find Al.

"Oi," he was casually leaning against the table, looking right at her as he spoke, "Would you mind clearing up this seat for my friend Peter here? This is where we always sit."

Not wanting to cause a scene she started fishing up her belongings to head towards the other empty seat.

"Come on Sirius just leave her be," James tried reasoning, "she's not doing any harm."

Irritated whining was heard from Sirius.

"But these are our seats."

By this time Al had already replaced the empty space in her book bag with her potions supplies. As she moved away from the table, her strap caught on the corner, making her books fall to the ground with a loud 'clonk'.

Peter, who was standing beside Sirius, jumped feet into the air at the sudden noise and bumped into Remus' back. James held his breath, knowing exactly how his friend could be this close to the full moon.

"Peter just sit over there and Sirius, stop complaining! You're making my headache even worse than before with your constant whining! Seriously! Be mature for once in your life!"

Up until this point Slughorn had been oblivious to the situation occurring at the back of his classroom.

"Lupin, ten points from Gryffindor! There is absolutely no need to yell in my class," He continued, but lowered his voice, "Although I don't disagree with you."

The exhausted boy slumped back onto the desk. Sweat dripped from his shiny forehead onto the desk. He felt defeated, as if the disease had finally won. There was only black.

~*~

Lupin had passed out shortly after his outburst and was taken to the hospital wing. As Potter and Black supported their unconscious friend, they passed Al, giving her a brief glance of Lupin's face.

He had such a pale, sickly complexion that it made her stomach twist. His eye sockets were a deep shade of purple, his forehead glistening with sweat and cheekbones that had sunken in more that Al deemed physically possible.

For the remainder of the day Al's mind was consumed with thoughts of Lupin, and how terribly sick he had to have been to be able to pull off that shocking appearance.

None of the three troublesome teens were seen until the following day.

~*~

Remus Lupin returned to classes two days after the predicament in Slughorn's classroom occurred.

It was very peculiar that someone who seemed so fatally sick, could spring back as if only a measly cold held them back.

~*~

'Their love was as obvious as the stars in the middle of the day, but it could be seen from the other side of the world.'