The Marauders: Year One (female)

60. That Sort of Reminder 17 friday

Remus smiled gratefully as a House Elf wearing a large Santa hat on its head passed her a steaming mug of hot chocolate. 'Thanks,' she said.

'You is very welcome, Miss!' The House Elf bounced on the balls of its feet and clasped its hands together. 'Is you wanting anything more, Miss?'

Remus took a sip from her drink. 'I'm all set, thanks. This is one of the most delicious things I've tasted, by the way.' She took another sip, looking at the Elf's hat. 'So, do you like working here?'

'Of course!' squeaked the elf. 'Tilly is always happy to serve.'

'How come you're wearing that hat, then?' asked Remus cautiously, not wanting to offend the Elf or anything. 'I'm not trying to pry, but aren't you free if they give you clothes?'

Tilly looked from side to side, leaning forward so that only Remus could hear her whisper. 'Technically, Tilly is free, as is all the Elves here, Miss, but Tilly loves serving her masters and mistresses so much that I is willing to stay and help taking care of you.'

Remus leaned back, and lay in her bed, looking thoughtful. 'I see.'

'Goodbye, Miss!' exclaimed Tilly happily, as she picked up her tray of snacks and hot beverages again. 'I is hoping I will be seeing you again!'

'Me, too,' said Remus warmly, waving as the Elf moved to the next bed, where a grumpy looking man was sitting with his arms folded, a large pair of glittery wings sticking out of holes cut into his nightgown.

A young woman was sitting on the chair next to him, pressing her lips into a thin line and trying her best not to smile. 'It's all right, sweetie!' she exclaimed, as he refused to look at her. 'Nobody's looking at you. It's a Hospital Ward. There are plenty of people in here with weirder problems. I saw a girl downstairs who couldn't stop talking in haikus. I think you should be happy it's not worse.'

The man did not look amused. One of his wings flicked in annoyance, and a shower of glitter fell over them. 'See?' he said in despair. 'I feel like a Christmas doll from the top of the tree. All I need is a sparkly little wand now, and I'll be fit to take my place on the throne as queen of the fairies.'

The lady coughed through the glitter clouds. 'Nonsense. I think your wings are the most manly thing I've ever seen.' She reached into her handbag. 'Lipstick?'

Remus snorted, and quickly looked away as it looked like the man was about to explode into a purple winged devil instead.

The Healers had tried to bring some sense of festivity into the dorm, and it was decorated with tinsel, fake snow, and floating baubles that chased you around and offered you hand sanitizer incessantly until you gave in, or hexed them.

It was honestly more annoying than pleasant, in Remus' opinion. All she wanted was some time alone with her thoughts.

It was just under a week until Christmas, and she would be going home on Christmas Eve. She was glad. She was so, so tired of staying cooped up in a hospital, and tired of not seeing her friends. This whole fiasco had taken much longer than she had ever thought it would. Originally, she had only come to be treated for the damage she'd inflicted upon herself as a wolf, but the whole thing had turned into a horrible fiasco like something out of a nightmare, and Remus was all too ready to get out of her and get back to Hogwarts with the girls.

Speaking of which, they'd all sent her a group letter. It was probably Sirius' idea. She evidently hadn't wanted to reply to the somewhat fierce letter Remus had sent her, and had persuaded the others to write one big letter to Remus on behalf of all of them. Cowardly and lazy.

Sirius really had reached another level. But Remus couldn't really bring herself to be angry with her. She missed her, and her stupid quirks, and even the annoying, never-ending questions and nosiness. Because it meant Sirius cared, and that mattered to Remus, even if it was a bloody nuisance sometimes.