Priori Incantatem [HARRY POTTER FANFICTION]

Chapter 25: Disaster

Chapter 25: Disaster

Lily yawned and stretched, glancing round her. Considering it was a Friday night, there were a surprising number of people in the library. But they, like her, were trying to get their homework in order before the Hogsmeade trip tomorrow. The approaching holidays had led to a veritable avalanche of homework for the entire school and most of the Hogwarts student body hadn't been keeping up with it as they should have, leaving them buried in work at the weekends.

Finishing her perusal of the library, Lily turned her attention to the person across from her. She'd been completely shocked when James had offered to come to the library with her and had been even more shocked when he hadn't immediately suggested that they sneak off and snog somewhere. He had actually been completely engrossed in 1001 Magical Herbs and Fungi, of all things, for two hours now. How had she not known that her boyfriend was so interested in Herbology and why did she find that so hard to believe?

Out of the corner of her eye, Lily noticed some movement coming from the general direction of the Defence Against the Dark Arts shelves. Turning, she spotted Kathleen waving frantically at her. What in Merlin's name?

Making certain that James was still engrossed in herbs and fungi, Lily casually made her way over to her friend.

The moment Lily left, James pulled out the book he had hidden behind the Herbology text and studied the cover again. Muggle Like Me: One Wizard's Experiences in Muggle London was proving to be quite helpful, but James found some of it to be a bit far-fetched. A man who went about in a truck delivering people's post indeed. And why would anyone buy little pieces of paper to lick and stick on their letters so that this mythical postman could carry their letters about when they could just buy an owl? Probably this postman was some sort of story told to Muggle children, like Santa Claus.

And the sports! Why would anyone want to play, let alone watch, this football thing? Only one ball that stayed on the ground while teams of men kicked it about? What did you even need an entire team for if there was only one ball? There weren't even any Bludgers to stop the teams from scoring. Who did stop them, other players? Who in their right mind would allow that? He wondered if Lily had ever played football.

Shaking his head at these peculiarities, James returned to the Muggle Studies section to do some more research. As long as he didn't have to send a letter by "the postman" and Mr. Evans wasn't a football fan, he should be all right.

*** 

As soon as Lily got close enough, Kathleen reached out and yanked her out of sight between the shelves.

"Kathleen!" Lily exclaimed. "What are you on about, for Merlin's sake?"

"Lily - Lily -" Kathleen was clearly distraught. "I've been in here since four reading and reading and I think - I think - "

"Slow down," Lily said patiently. "Start from the beginning. Why have you been reading in here since four?"

Kathleen took a deep breath, trying to be calm. "I came to do some research about Remus. Lily, I know he told me that he caught a cold from his mum, but the way he looked in the hospital - I just wanted to - check. So I looked up his symptoms in this Symptoms of Magical Illnesses book - the paleness and sweatiness, and lack of energy and from there I looked up MORE things and I've narrowed it down." Kathleen indicated the sheaf of papers in her hand.

"Of course, it could be loads of things, but all the symptoms combined together and the way he's been sick so often -" Kathleen broke off, looking tense.

"Just say it," Lily urged, feeling terrible that her friend was so upset and that she couldn't tell her the truth.

"Lily, I think Remus is a werewolf," Kathleen opened her eyes and regarded Lily worriedly.