⠀ ❝ And in the back of her mind, Katie knew that her words were a lie. Because if her nightmares could creep up into her mind and become her reality, she would be damned if this Remus Lupin - his lips, his hands, his ragged breath, his willing rec...
[ Lily's eyes widened and her mouth stood agape for a quick moment. "Stop smiling like that. You look just like Potter." ]
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The halls were decently empty when they left the Great Hall. Katie had convinced James and Sirius to leave early for class, seeing as Professor Mcgonagall threatened Sirius and James with detentions should they be tardy to Transfiguration again.
She tried not to think of how her incoming interaction with Remus would be. There was plenty she wanted to ask, to cry, to scream, to yell; but a transfiguration lesson wasn't the time for that.
Lily walked slightly ahead of her, not questioning the silence. Beside her, Peter was fidgeting with his book uncomfortably. He wasn't used to a quiet Katherine Hart.
"Hey Katie? You alright?" Katie turned her head to see Peter's concerned face. She shook her head to get out of her thoughts.
She attempted to smile at the boy next to her, but it felt more than lackluster. "Right, sorry Pete. It must be real boring to walk next to someone who won't talk," she joked. He watched her for a few seconds more, his eyebrows scrunched. His lips tipped upwards the slightest bit when Katie didn't let her own smile drop.
At last they finally reached the Transfiguration classroom, greeted by Minerva Mcgonagall's signature raised eyebrows. "Potter, Black. I'm surprised to see you two punctual."
Sirius strode to his seat, but not before he sent the aging professor a wink. "We're full of surprises Minnie."
Professor McGonagall merely rolled her eyes at his remark before beginning to sort through some objects on her desk. As Katie went to take her usual seat, she noticed Remus' dejected figure sitting not too far from them. His head was laid down on the desk and upon inspection, Katie guessed that he was asleep. His hair was sticking out in ways she'd never seen it and his back was rising in steady motions.
Peter had taken the seat beside him, though didn't wake him. Lily sat down next to her, placing her bookbag on the edge of the wooden table. Her eyes looked back and forth between Katie and Remus' sleeping figure. "Everything alright with Remus?"
The sound of Professor McGonagall's voice interrupted the words on her lips. "Mr. Lupin if I may ask you to keep awake now that class has begun," she remarked sternly, but not harshly. She watched as Remus slowly awoke from his state of sleep, rubbing at his eyes. He muttered a quiet, 'Sorry Professor' before straightening up.
His eyes wandered around the classroom as he slowly blinked away the sleep from his eyes. They landed very lightly on Katie for a split second too long. But that split second was more than enough for Katherine Hart to see the pain and guilt that filled his eyes at the sight of her. It was more than enough for Katherine Hart to understand this would be a long couple of weeks.
