Ethereal [George Weasley]

𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧 - 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙞𝙣

The days turned into weeks, and before I knew it, it was February. Regarding the Patronus lessons, Lupin had cancelled on us for the rest of the January. So much to our dismay, we couldn't practice.

It was odd. He was ill quite often, at least once a month. After one lesson, I hung back and I asked him if he had any health issues. I knew it was rather nosy, but I couldn't help myself. Despite being very quiet and reserved, I was also quite the chatterbox when I got to know people.

Lupin laughed when I asked this.

"It isn't funny." I said, shuffling my feet. "If you do have any underlying health issues, then you should see a Healer."

"Oh, Jessica." Lupin smiled. "I'm absolutely fine."

"But you're not." I said, my voice laced with concern. "If you're not ill, then how come we're assigned a substitute teacher at least once a month? And when you finally turn up, you look as if you're on Death's door?"

"Well..." Lupin begun. "It's the winter season. I have a weak system, so I can catch the flu very quickly."

I blinked.

"I didn't know the flu resulted in scars." I stated.

Lupin said nothing for a moment.

"My scars are from... eczema." Lupin responded finally. "My skin irritates easily."

I sighed.

"Okay." I said. "But if you are ill and just don't want to tell me, then you should go to a Healer. Or at least Madam Pomfrey."

Lupin smiled.

"I'll take that in mind."

#

I didn't bother to tell my friends about my conversation with Lupin when I returned to the Common Room. Harley was at practice, Lindsey was visiting Hagrid and Buckbeak, and Amanda and Evelyn didn't really suspect much.

However that night, everything changed. We were all sleeping soundly in our beds, when suddenly we heard a loud and terrifying scream. We shot up in our beds immediately. Lindsey - out of fear - ran into my bed and grabbed on my arm. Gizmo and Trésor pounced into their respective owner's embraces.

"What was that?" Amanda quivered.

"I don't know." I gulped.

There was another scream and we could hear people getting up and moving around.

"C'mon, let's go see." Harley said bravely as we all followed her out of the dorm.

We ran downstairs, where nearly all of the Gryffindor students stood.

"What's going on?" Evelyn said.

"It's Black!" Ron said. "He tried to kill me."

"Somebody go get McGonagall!" A voice said as Percy, being Head Boy, went and did just that.

"What do you mean tried to kill you?" Amanda pressed.

All eyes landed on Ron as he began to speak.

"I was sleeping of course. And suddenly I hear this weird scratching. I wake up and see him, towering over me." Ron said, before gulping. "With a knife!"

There were gasps around the room as everyone took in what he was saying.

"Why would he want to kill you?" Ginny said.

"Bet he has his reasons." Fred snorted.

"You're lying." Harley said, shaking her head.

"I'm not!" Ron said. "I'm being serious. He fled as soon as I screamed."