𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛𝙨𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙚 || 𝙍. 𝙇𝙪𝙥𝙞𝙣

Christmas Secrets

Remus Lupin had been avoiding Ast recently, and she wanted to get to the bottom of it. Was it something she had said? Something she'd done? Did he know that Ast knew that he was a werewolf. All these questions and not enough answers.

Term ended two days ago and James, Sirius, and Remus were staying back at Hogwarts with Ast. Peter was going to stay too but there was a family emergency so he had to go home immediately. Which was a shame because Ast quite enjoyed Peter's company. At least they were the only ones from their year there. There were two boys in second year and one girl in seventh.

"Ast..Ast..Ast!" Someone said.

Ast snapped out of her train of her daydream and saw James standing in front of her with his hands on his hips. They were in the common room and it was 10 p.m. Snow was falling heavily outside and the common room was decorated for Christmas.

"Hmm-What?" She asked.

"Sirius and I are going to the kitchens to grab some food, wanna join?"

"I'm good thanks,"

"Suit yourself then."

He and Sirius left but on the way out, James stopped and whispered something to Remus. Once they were gone, Remus came and sat next to her on the rug by the fire.

"Ast, there's something I need to tell you," he began and she suddenly felt nervous.

"What's wrong?" She asked, trying to not stutter.

"I've debated on whether I should tell you this but you deserve to know. Please don't hate me for what I'm about to say. If you don't want to be my friend then that's okay. Well, actually it won't be ok-"

"Remus, spit it out!"

"Right, yeah, erm- Asteria... I'm... I'm a werewolf."

She smiled, "Why would I hate you Remus?"

"Well because people are usually frightened by my kind so I thought... you know."

"Well I'm not. Want to know why? Because my brother is a werewolf too."

"Your brother's a werewolf! Is that who I've been seeing in the shack?"

Ast nodded. "He's learnt to control it, he's using a potion I made for him that keeps him sane whilst transforming. I could lend some to you if you want."

"So is that why you knew how to heal me a while ago?"

She nodded, "I also stopped you from attacking the others,"

"How?"

"Promise me you won't tell anyone?"

"I promise,"

Ast held out her pinky finger. Remus stared at it for a split second before realising what she wanted. He locked his pinky with hers.

"I'm an animagus." She said.

"Really?"

She nodded again. "Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me this Remus, I know it must be so hard for you. But you are not alone, and you're a wonderful human being, regardless of what other people have to say."

She rested her hand on his and squeezed it tightly. He brought his eyes up to meet hers. Brown on green. Something about her eyes made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

"Thank you for accepting me. I hope I haven't disappointed you," he said shyly.

"Remus I don't know your middle name Lupin, how could you ever disappoint me? If people think badly of you just because of your condition, then they're blatantly wrong. You deserve happiness."