Not Alone After All

Chapter XXXIV

Early the next day, Laura was the first one out of her bed and away from the hospital wing. Her bones were healed, but Madam Pomfrey had demanded for her to be careful, for her wrist would be quite fragile for maybe a few more weeks. That morning, Laura had decided to visit her favourite professor; Remus Lupin.

She knocked on the door, earning a small 'come in'. Laura pushed the door open and slowly walked in.

"Hey," Lupin greeted her. Laura frowned upon realising what he was doing: he was packing.

"You're leaving?" She asked, surprised. Remus offered her a quick smile. "Did- did Dumbledore-"

"No," he reassured. "I resigned. Word travels fast, and when the students start telling their parents about their werewolf professor..."

"Oh, come on," she whined. "You could still stay."

"Laura you broke your wrist last night," he reminded her, using it as an argument.

"That wasn't you!" She quickly said. Did he think he had attacked her? She had to make this right. "I literally fell, on my own. I tripped, completely my fault." Lupin looked down.

"I know I didn't hurt you. Not directly, anyway," he said. "But you were only running in the forest because of me. And Peter escaped because of me."

"But at least something good came out of it," Laura said with a small smile. "Sirius escaped too. And Buckbeak."

"Did you-"

"Not me. Pretty sure it was Harry and Hermione," she told them.

There was a silence.

"You know what I was wondering?" Remus spoke up. "How come you're still twelve in second year? Are you a year early?"

"Uh, yeah," she said, looking down in embarrassment. "People don't usually notice it, seeing as I don't celebrate my birthday."

"You skipped a year?"

"Well, I did muggle primary school before this, and I skipped a year there. Photographic memory, and all," she explained, earning a frown from Remus. "I just... I remember everything I see. Exactly as I see it."

"So in written exams..." Lupin trailed off.

"I'm quite good at those," Laura looked down, her ears going as red as her hair. "If I pay attention to what I read," she added, a memory of a failed exam in fifth grade french resurfacing.

"That's... that's almost cheating," Lupin frowned, but then smiled. "But since I'm not your professor anymore, I definetly do not feel guilty about it." Laura laughed. "Also, I spoke to Dumbledore. He agreed that you and Harry deserved a time-off between the events of last night and the exams that are to come."

Laura frowned. What was he talking about? Time-off?

"And he agreed to allow the two of you to go to Hogsmade with the rest of the students today," he revealed. Laura gasped, a grin appearing on her face. "But you are to stick with your friends and not cause any trouble-"

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Laura exclaimed, jumping at his neck and hugged. Remus' body was still sore from the events of last night, but he couldn't care less. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, hugging Laurie - hugging his goddaughter. They separated after a few moments.

"I spoke to your twin friends," Remus told her. "Asked them to keep an eye on you." Laurie rolled her eyes.

"You do realise I'll be babysitting the whole time, yes? You have doomed me," she said as a joke, but her face was cold. Lupin laughed.