When Black Met Blue (Marauder Fanfic)

chapter 31*Edited*

'She’s waking up,’ Sirus whispered, smiling down at Orla.

‘Morning, handsome,’ she said sleepily. Remus heard James snigger, but kept his eyes shut, as planned.

‘Good morning,’ Sirius said, sounding distinctly amused.

‘Are you blushing, Paddy?’ James asked sounding amused. There was silence after that and Remus assumed that both Sirius and Orla were now red-faced. His suspicions were confirmed when James laughed and said, ‘Look at you two. Your both turning into a bunch of pansies’ James laughed again.

Remus decided to intervene; Orla was going to be annoyed enough in a few minutes without James stirring her up and the last thing they needed was an angry vampire on their hands. Remus moaned. ‘Is Moony all right?’ Orla asked worriedly. Her voice was a little scratchy, no doubt from screaming all night.

‘I don’t know,’ Sirius lied, as planned. ‘He hasn’t woken yet.’

‘Moony,’ James said, shaking Remus’ shoulder, as planned. Remus blinked and opened his eyes. Aware of Orla’s gaze, he staged a yawn and the groaned, pressing a hand to his head. ‘You look awful,’ James said brightly.

Remus scowled. Turning his back to Orla, James winked. Remus clutched his head again. ‘Oh, Rem,’ Orla said sympathetically. ‘Bad night?’

‘Awful,’ Remus said, the croak coming to his voice easier than usual because of tonight's full-moon. He was probably overdoing it a bit, but Orla didn’t seem to notice. ‘I didn’t sleep well.’ That, of course, had more to do with Orla’s screaming than his impending transformation, but he was hardly going to say that.

Orla watched him for a moment and then nodded. ‘Come on, then. Hospital Wing.’

'No,' Remus said. 'I'm fine, really.' He counted to five and then sucked in a breath, as if in pain.

'Remus,' Sirius said gently.

'I'm all right,' Remus sighed. 'Really.' Truthfully, he was a little sore and had a throbbing headache, but he was used to those. It was more that Orla would never believe his act if he didn't put up a little bit of a fight first; unless he woke up growling, he always fought with his friends about going to the Hospital Wing. It was so unnecessary and meant he'd miss the day's lessons. He groaned again.

'Moony,' Orla said reasonably, 'I know you don't like the Hospital Wing but you're obviously not well.' Remus glared at him. 'I'm not going to make you stay there,' Orla added hastily, 'but I think you should at least let Madam Pomfrey check you over.' Remus almost laughed. Orla didn't understand the irony of his words yet but he would soon.

‘Whazgoinon?’ Peter mumbled from the couch. 

‘I’m taking Moony to the Hospital Wing,’ Orla said. ‘Prongs, are you coming?’

‘I don’t get an invitation?’ Sirius asked, smiling. 

Orla hugged him then got up. ‘I suppose you can come if you want to, Padfoot.’

He laughed. ‘I think you can manage a Werewolf on your own.’

‘All right, then,’ Orla said, messing up his hair. ‘I’ll see you three in the Great Hall.’

* * *

‘So, Mr Lupin, what can I do for you this morning?’ Madam Pomfrey asked with a maternal smile.

Remus straightened instantly. ‘Oh I'm fine but Orla has been having trouble sleeping,’ he told the matron. Orla’s face was priceless; she seemed unable to do anything but gape. In Remus’ opinion, she looked rather like a deer in the headlights.

‘Of course you were taken with Sirius too weren't you. Has this been happening long?’ Madam Pomfrey asked, her eyes flicking to Orla.

‘It was only last night, as far as I’m aware,’ Remus said. For some reason, Orla flushed. ‘Fawkes?’ Orla ignored him, apparently over the shock of being tricked into going to visiting the Hospital Wing. She was looking more like a cornered wolf than a deer, now.

‘Miss Blue?’

‘I’m fine,’ Orla said stubbornly, lifting her chin. 

‘“Fine” screamed all night,’ Remus told Madam Pomfrey. That comment earned him a glare from Orla. He knew he deserved it; it was cruel of him to turn Orla in like this. But it needed to be done, especially if Madam Pomfrey could help her.

'You should have come earlier Miss Blue this could have been easily solved," Madam Pomfrey said giving Orla a friendly smile. Orla grimaced, obviously swallowing a sarcastic reply; there was nothing Orla hated more than condescension. ‘Did you go to St Mungo' after your... experience? Did Professor Dumbledore say anything’

‘I was there for a day or two,’ Orla said stiffly, shuffling awkwardly on the spot. ‘They said I didn't have that much trauma.’ she gave Remus a very pointed look.