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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2012 18:42:11 GMT -5
It was going to be a long night.
Transferring his weight from foot to foot, the awkward dance was the only thing that was currently keeping Remus Lupin from outright pacing. Motion, in turn, was the only think that kept his head from nodding forward or his eyes to actual close, achieving the highly difficult task of falling asleep on his feet. Several floors above him, he knew that his bed was calling for him - all satin covers and cushy mattress, sitting cold and waiting for him to crawl in and settle down for the night.
"Hmm?" He looked up, blinking owlishly and peering into the semi-gloom of the otherwise empty entrance hall, only seconds later remembering that he was, in fact a wizard, and therefore had the means of remedying the lack of light. "Lumos." With the muttered spell, visibility improved - illuminating the familiar red-haired witch he'd been waiting for.
"Evening, Lily." He mumbled, a small smile growing on his face both at the sight of his friend and the realization that the fight to keep awake would be much, much easier now that they could get moving. "How'er things? Decent holidays?"
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Post by levans on Jun 22, 2012 20:36:04 GMT -5
Lily was running slightly late to meet Remus in the entrance hall. She rushed through the halls and finally reached the stairs were she had to wait for an agonizing 3 minutes for them to align just right. Finally they did and and she continued to rush down those. She was almost all the way down the stairs when she whispered, "Remus?" hoping he could hear her. In response she got a "Hmm?" and the hall lit with light.
"Evening to you as well, Remus," she greeted him with a smile. She was still trying to catch her breath so it all sounded a little rushed. She waited a moment to catch her breath before answering him. "Holidays went fairly well, I suppose. My sister has a new boyfriend." Lily didn't bother to mention that Petunia had refused to introduce him to her. "How were yours? I hope they were well," she said smiling.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2012 20:58:13 GMT -5
Switching his wand to his non-dominate hand, he allowed the light to dim a bit. It was just two of them, after all - and he didn't need to blind his patrolling partner. "That sounds nice." If those were the biggest events of her summer, well - he supposed things were well enough for her. Reading the paper from time to time nowadays, you'd have to wonder.
In regards to his own summer, he gave a casual shrug. "They were fair. Visited the shore for a week or two." Not that it showed too much. Remus didn't 'do' tanned and tone, after all. "It was nice enough. Certainly can't complain. At least with OWLs over, didn't need to worry about getting too worked up about - things."
He didn't let the quiet lapse for long - seeing as talking would be the best way to pass the time as the moved through the floor - and because it was always slightly uncomfortable to be out and about without a sound in the usually boisterous castle. "So, your sister." He started. Not meaning to pry, but - talk was best "She must be very happy then, yeah? Is he a nice bloke?"
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Post by levans on Jun 23, 2012 0:52:03 GMT -5
"Ah, yes OWLs. How were yours?" Lily had done quiet well receiving an OWL in every subject except for Divination but that was okay with her. She really hadn't planned on carrying on with Divination anyway. She politely acknowledged Remus's reference to "things" of which she knew about. She didn't want to make anything awkward by bringing it up. She was sure Remus didn't want to talk about it
As they began to walk around the normally bustling castle that was eerily quiet at night, Remus began to strike up a conversation by asking about Lily's sister once again. She inwardly groaned. Talking about Petunia was always a sore subject for Lily. She'd really only ever talked about it with... with Severus.
"Oh yeah, she's really quite thrilled. Talks about him all the time. Um, you know I'm not really sure if he's all that nice. From what I've heard he sounds pretty boring to be honest. You see, Petunia's a little... embarrassed of me," Lily confessed. "That's why she hasn't introduced him to me. Mum and dad have met him though. I'm surprised they don't have lock jaw from all the smiles they fake when she talks about him." Lily was sure "talks about him" was an understatement. It was more like Petunia bragged about him.
Lily hated to admit it but Petunia couldn't stand her. Their relationship had never been the same ever since Lily had found out she was a witch and no matter how many times she tried to mend it Petunia refused to work with her. She was always pulling away or ignoring her and Lily just didn't know what to do. But she definitely hadn't given up.
"Sorry for unloading all that on you," Lily apoligized as they rounded a corner. "I just haven't had anyone to talk to for awhile. All the girls have been busy since school began and it's just been building inside me."
ooc// just to clarify- Lily knows about his "furry problem", correct?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2012 6:00:54 GMT -5
ooc // Sure, she'd have to have found out at some point. That's cool.
Ducking his head slightly at the mention of grades, Remus mumbled something about having gotten on all right. Truth was, he'd had a remarkable streak of luck - save for Potions, but seeing as he nearly blew apart his own cauldron on several occasions he hadn't been planning on keeping with that course anyways. Astronomy and Potions had fallen by the wayside - but his parents had been thrilled to find he had gotten an OWL in essentially every other subject, even a handful of O's.
"At least it was a nice holiday in that there wasn't that bearing down on us." He added, although he failed to mention that now that those were over, they were hardly out of the woods as far as testing for their futures went.
"Oh?" He kept his questioning voice as neutral as he could, although he was beginning to think that there was something a bit off about Lily's explanation. He wondered if he'd pushed some unforeseen boundary, asking about a sister who he now learned didn't get on well. Should he say he was sorry to hear that? For bringing it up? Offer some sort of comfort or encouragement? He was lost on how to proceed, until Lily herself gave him an opening.
"It's quite alright." He argued. "No need to apologize. If you need to talk to someone, well - might as well be someone who asks nosy questions in the first place." Then, as it seemed like a right sort of thing he made as if to nudge her arm with his elbow in what he hoped was a comforting, yet not too personal move.
"Maybe Things'll get better. " He reasoned. "It's understandable, growing a bit apart while you're away at school, isn't it?"
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Post by levans on Jun 25, 2012 21:18:21 GMT -5
"Thanks, Remus," Lily said softly. She smiled as he nudged her in an effort to comfort her. "And yes, I suppose we've definitely grown apart since I've been at school but it all really started out when I first learned I was a witch." Lily had known back then that her sister was jealous even though she would swear up and down now that she wasn't and has never been. Whenever Lily would speak to her sister it usually would end with her calling Lily a freak and storming off. Thinking of that made her feel like it wouldn't get better.
Lily didn't say much for the next few minutes as they continued to walk around patrolling the school. Every once in a while Lily would check behind a tapestry she knew lead to a secret tunnel. They hadn't found anybody lurking after curfew so far which was a good thing.
"So, how are things at home?" Lily asked, trying to clear away the awkward silence. They rounded another corner and she checked another tapestry. There was nothing but a few spider webs hiding in the tunnel behind it. "And how about here at school since it began? Are you dealing well with... things?" She hoped Remus didn't think she was prying too much and that she wasn't making him uncomfortable.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2012 14:32:54 GMT -5
Merlin. Remus wasn't quite sure if he should break the silence that followed Lily's confession – although it felt as if the unsettling puzzle pieces had fallen into place rather suddenly. At least he thought he did. Remus had no siblings, of course. But he knew what it meant to some people about being different. It must have been horrible, to get that sort of feeling from people you saw as family. Especially because usually they were the few people you were supposed to depend on for unlimited support.
It just seemed like one of those things best left as it was. Lily was a wonderful friend, but Remus would always be tentative about offering advice. It wasn't that he wasn't good material to be an 'agony aunt' – but there was always that chance that a boundary could be crossed, and keeping within those lines were sometimes the best thing to do. Besides, offering to listen was the best he could do – because sometimes people commenting on personal matters really wasn't the best approach. He continued their patrol as if they had just slipped into a natural silence – although glancing occasionally Lily's way to make sure she seemed alright.
Eventually, the conversation started again – in much more neutral territory, and Remus gladly jumped on the topic. “Oh, they're well as can be expected. Mum got a bit of extra work doing some alterations for people, she seems to enjoy it.” Mrs. Lupin spent a lot of summer in front of a basket of other people's clothes, watching Remus and his father working outside, or sitting after supper struggling through a game of chess. She laughed and claimed that she had at least had had a lot of practice, thanks to her son's habit of being very rough on things he owned. “ And school is...school. I'm actually sort of excited to start the project on combative hexes. Practical.” Not that it was very pleasant thinking about exactly how useful they might be in the current climate of the Wizarding World.
Seeing as Lily had shared her sisterly problems with him, it seemed only fair that he could offer up tidbits into his own personal demons. After all, it wasn't like Lily didn't already know how literal the term was for him. And remarkably she hadn't run for the hills when she did. “It's...there.” He sighed, his expression changing ever so slightly. “But, I've actually felt better since coming back to school. It's a bit easier to keep busy here. Distraction is the best way to keep from thinking about it, which helps deal with it.” He tried to smile again, giving a little shrug, as if to say 'what can you do?' Not a lot - but of course being back at school had other benefits, which indeed made his illness easier to deal with.
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Post by levans on Jul 1, 2012 17:05:07 GMT -5
"So I take it your mum is doing well then?" Lily asked politely. They were back to less personal conversation and she could tell they both felt more comfortable about that. "And how's your father?"
"Combative hexes, yes those should be fun. I'm sure that along with those will come a nice, long essay on how you perform them, their uses and all that good stuff for homework." Lily didn't mind the homework though. She usually finished it quickly but she was surprised how much their amount of homework had increased from just last year.
"That's good. I'm glad you've found ways of distracting yourself. Suppose that makes it easier." Lily smiled back at Remus even though she was still pretty sure it bother him. She wished she could help but there wasn't much she could do for his "condition".
They rounded another corner, almost finishing their rounds when Lily thought she'd seen a shadow. She blew it off as a reflection of the light from their wands and turned back to Remus. "So how's Peter?" Lily remembered having to tutor Peter in a few subjects last year to help him pass his OWLs. "I suppose he's doing alright in school?" She didn't bother to ask how Potter and Black were. She knew how they were- causing as much trouble as they had before.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2012 11:04:08 GMT -5
“Yeah – she really enjoys working. I mean – she's never complained.” None of the Lupins ever really complained – although the might have had a reason to. He was forever grateful with his parent's good spirits. It was something he was happy to have rub off on him. But unfortunately he couldn't say as much for his father's good luck. He distracted himself by checking the door to a classroom – making sure that it was locked, to make sure Lily didn't see his smile falter. “Well...dad likes work around home too. We were fixing up the back porch for most of the summer. Found an entire family of doxies living underneath, you wouldn't believe. We'll always be busy, you know? Never need to look farther than your own backyard if there's work to be done.”
He managed to slip back into his regular mood soon enough. “Oh yeah. Plenty of distractions.” He smiled rather wryly, but knowing that Lily knew exactly how beneficial that – although that's what he hadn't exactly meant when he said being at school 'helped' things. “And of course, It'll be more like one essay and a few sessions of proofreading.” Remus was a little surprised that Lily brought up Peter – until he remembered that he wasn't the only one to help him, either. Particularly when panic set in for everyone in the face of Ordinary Wizarding Levels.
“He did quite well, actually.” He admitted. “At least, he's passed in most of his classes. He made it, in any case – and I'm glad for that. James and Sirius end up driving me barmy if W- Pete wasn't around.” He paused once he'd realized that maybe he shouldn't have said that. It generally wasn't good for anyone's health to mention James Potter around Lily Evans – just like it wasn't good for your sanity if you breached the subject in the boy's dormitory. But he'd already dived into that deep in with both feet, hadn't he? He cleared his throat, finding himself jumping subjects yet again.
“I mean – ah. He's looking forward to this year. I mean – we've at least got a break from another major exam yet – and most of the classes are the one's we've really gotten an interest in. It should make things a little easier not struggling through a class you've got no interest in.”
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Post by levans on Jul 28, 2012 2:13:33 GMT -5
"Well that's good," Lily said politely. She'd never met Mr. or Mrs. Lupin personally, she had only seen them on the platform of the train station, seeing their son off to school. "Doxies, ugh. Mean little buggers." Lily had only ever had to deal with doxies during DADA classes which tended to be a controlled environment but she'd heard some pretty terrible stories about how doxies could be if you didn't take care of them quickly. "That's true," she said. "Plenty of work in your own back yard." She smiled. Her mum stayed at home while her father worked and did most of the house work. They didn't actually do work in their backyard but there was the occasional curtain for her to mend.
Lily gritted her teeth at the mention of James Potter. She pretended not to hear and instead addressed the subject of Peter. "At least he passed most. I'll admit, I had my doubts." She remembered tutoring Peter. It had been quite difficult and he had really tried her patience but she'd managed to get through it without throwing anything or yelling at him. Peter hadn't been quite as careful as Remus was about mentioning James. She could tell he practically worshiped him and talked about him all the time. Sometimes it had taken all her restraint not to just storm out. She usually just ended up talking over him loudly.
Lily allowed her jaw to relax. "Well it's a good thing he can enjoy his classes now." She noticed Remus was slightly nervous but she was already over the mention of James and in the process of forgetting it. "I'm enjoying my classes as well. How are yours?" she asked politely.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2012 13:43:21 GMT -5
"Yeah - it's not that bad. At least around the house we get to spend a lot of time together." They were probably one of the closer family you would meet. Compared to people like Sirius, he knew he was right lucky in who he had ended up with for parents. Maybe it was cheesy as hell to say, but his mum and dad were the first real friends he had ever had - long before he had earned acceptance from people like Lily and his fellow Marauders. Whereas other people might have been a little embarrassed to admit being close to their parents at sixteen, he was rather proud.
He almost sighed with relief that Lily let his slip up over James pass. It wasn't that he wasn't on his friends side - but that he understood where both parties were coming from. James like of Lily was genuine - but at the same point she could sympathize with his fellow Prefect that his ways of trying to get her attention were stringent at best - and somewhat stalker-like at their worst. Last thing he wanted to do was get in the middle of something he wanted nothing to do with, and had no say in anyways. "Exactly. It was a bit of a close thing, I think. But scraping by is still getting by." As far as he knew, nobody had ever actually failed EVERY class in OWLs - but they were still highly important. Not to mention, he felt as if his personal tutoring of his friend might even have had something to do with it as well. It felt good to do something productive like that.
"Oh yeah. I think he was happy to get out of a few things in the end - he gets to take most of the stuff he likes now without struggling with the harder bits. I am too, actually. Your probably not the right person to say this too - but I'm rather glad that I've stopped potions now. I have no idea how I got away without blowing up half the dungeons. Slughorn'll probably be breathing a sigh of relief now that I'm gone. "
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Post by levans on Aug 3, 2012 14:08:57 GMT -5
"That's nice," Lily said. She spent plenty of time with her mum and enough with her dad. She didn't see her sister much anymore though. She didn't come around a lot and Lily would sometimes notice the puffed up eyes and red splotches on her mum's face which was a sign she'd just got off the phone with Petunia. Whenever she would talk to her Petunia would usually yell something about how she'd always loved Lily more and then angrily hang up, leaving her mum crying.
Lily laughed. She knew very well how much Remus didn't like potions and would never admit it, but was relieved herself that he was no longer taking the class. There'd been a few close calls with his cauldron almost being blown to smithereens. Slughorn wasn't the only one breathing a sigh of relief that Remus was gone. "Ah, no it's ok. I understand why. Potions isn't everyone's forte." Lily was probably the same way with divination as Remus was with potions.
ooc// sorry it took forever and it's quite pitiful but next time it'll be better, promise.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2012 19:31:01 GMT -5
It would really have been interesting to know who actually was more relieved that Remus' time in the Potion's lab was over - The Professor, his classmates or Remus himself. There were very few areas he would consider being rubbish in, but that was certainly one of them. Usually, not knowing something was as simple to remedy as heading to a textbook for the answers - but he had read his books cover to cover on that subject and it didn't do anything to make him less of a disaster. He quite honestly did not understand how anyone did understand it.
"Well it certainly wasn't mine, " He agreed, but he trailed off before continuing. He took a few more steps, but stopped rather suddenly, as if listening for something. The first and foremost thing they were supposed to be doing, after all, was patrolling - and while they had slipped into companionable chatter it didn't mean either of them were likely to forget about their current job.
"You didn't....hear something, did you?"
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