Chapter 3- Classroom Antics

"You're my darkness." "But I wanna be your light."

Natalie:
I was nearly ripping the hair out of my head. Vici wasn't awake yet. It had been three days, and she wasn't awake yet. I'd hardly left her bedside, except for the lessons I knew were compulsory...but even then I couldn't focus. Vici wasn't awake yet. It had been three days. She wasn't awake.

My fellow Slytherins thought I had finally gone insane. Hanging out with a Ravenclaw, was bad, but stressing over the health and well-being of one I called my best friend was almost catastrophic in regards to their views: Slytherin's were above every other house. I was, technically, lowering myself to their level. But I was Natalie Roberts, so I ignored them. And because I ignored them, they left me alone.

But four of the people in the entire world that I could not – would not – bring myself to forgive, were the Marauders. Peter, though wasn't actually a major part in this disastrous 'prank' was a part of the group, so I made him suffer. James Potter, the designated head of the Marauders, was not only suffering by me but also by the 'love' of his life, Lily Evans. I had underestimated that red head. Sirius Black, my recently declared arch nemesis, took the full brunt of this prank's downfall. His long line of girls awaiting his attention, ever dwindled. Then there was Remus Lupin. Since the 'incident' and I liked to refer to it, he had been feeling rather ill and looked it. Every time I crossed him in the corridor or locked eyes with him in the Great Hall he seemed so, so sad. But I didn't dwell long on their misery. My own despair was at the forefront of my mind every waking moment.

Vici moaned and thrashed in her sleep, her eyes occasionally opening but glazed over and never quite seeing. It was like she was in her own little world, far away from the land of the living. But the worst news I could have heard came early this afternoon.

I'd walked into the hospital wing, as per usual, sat down beside Vic's bed and gripped her hand. Then Madame Pomfrey excited her small office, her face grim. She sent me that knowing look, the same one she'd sent me that night she had first treated Vici.

"Just lay it on me, Poppy," I said, gulping. I was a Slytherin, I shouldn't be feeling so weak. So helpless. I wasn't a Gryffindor, I didn't need to be brave, but I needed to be strong for Vici.
Madame Pomfrey didn't even chastise me for using her first name. "Vici has been getting better..."

"But?"

"But there have been some other – er – complications."

"Like what?"

"It seems that the sores in her throat, given to her by the severe reaction she had to the leaves, created painful rashes to break out on her neck. Add to that the result of alcohol, which she does not seem as immune too, and you've got something that will take time to heal."

I looked at Vici's sleeping face, "When will she wake up?"

"It may still be another week, I believe. She needs to be not only recover physically, but mentally as well. She has gone through something traumatic. She needs all the rest she can receive."
I nodded. "Thank you."

"You better get to class now, Miss Roberts. I believe you have Transfiguration," Madame Pomfrey said.

I nodded meekly, giving one last squeeze to Vici's hand. "Catch you later, V. Don't wake up without me."

"Have you eaten anything for breakfast?" Madame Pomfrey called before I was halfway out the wing.

I shook my head.

Madame Pomfrey 'tsked' before handing me a wrapped up buttery croissant. "Eat that whilst you walk there."

I nodded and continued my trek out the door and towards the classroom. The class that I was beginning to hate for two simple reasons. One, I rather sucked at Transfiguration. Two, Remus Lupin sat beside me.

Somehow, through my miraculous luck, I managed to get to class just as Professor McGonagall entered. She only sent me a small glance, one that seemed to hold a slicker of sympathy before returning to her normal stern stare. Remus was already sitting in his seat as I slid in beside him. I didn't look at him or return the small smile he sent me. I could see his face crumple, but my heart was made of stone.

"Today," announced Professor McGonagall, "we will be learning the Avifors Spell. Can anyone tell me what this certain spell can do?"

Remus shifted beside me, putting his hand meekly up into the air. I indiscreetly rolled my eyes. I didn't have a problem with people being smart – hey, my best friend was a Ravenclaw – but at the moment all the Marauders had to do to annoy me was breathe, so...

"Yes, Mr Lupin."

"I believe this certain spell is used to transform objects into bats or birds," Remus said a little shyly.

Professor McGonagall nodded, looking over the top of her spectacles at the sandy haired boy. "Correct. Five points to Gryffindor." I almost groaned. "Though, it is most likely that the object will solidify into a flock of black bats, more so than birds." Remus' cheeks started to turn slightly pink, and I couldn't help looking at him. His eyes connected with mine curiously, and I hastily looked away and back at the Professor. "It is a rather complicated spell and some of you may not be able to master it before the end of this lesson, but I can assure you that with practice you shall be able to perform it with ease." Professor McGonagall pulled out her wand. "Allow me to demonstrate." She cleared her throat, raised her wand arm and with a complicated flourish of her wand said the incantation, "Avifors."

There was a bright blue light that erupted from Professor McGonagall's wand, and as the puff of smoke settled the small turtle she'd aimed at, had disappeared. In its place were five small black bats stretching their wings. I had to admit that the magic was pretty cool, but when Professor McGonagall mentioned some not being able to master this spell within the lesson she had basically been referring to me directly. Before the bats could start flapping around the room, Professor McGonagall had silently flicker her wand and turned the bats back to a turtle.
She then turned to the class, "Now, I would like you to please pair up with your seating partner, and grab one of the live targets from the front. Take turns practicing this spell. If one of you manages to turn your targets successfully, simply use the 'impedimenta jinx' then call me over immediately. You may begin."

I groaned softly before turning to face Remus. He gave me that awkward lopsided smile of his, only emphasizing the small scars that ran along his face.

"Would you like me to grab our animal?" he asked in his familiarly smooth voice.

"Whatever," I said, waving him off.

He returned only a few moments later holding a small echidna. As he sat back down, placing the animal on the desk in front of us, I raised my eyebrow.

"An echidna?"

He shrugged, "I've always wanted to hold one. Once you get past their spikes, they're actually not all that bad."

I leant down so my eyes were in line with its body. "I've never seen one. I thought they were only in Australia."

"They are," he smiled, "but who knows where Minnie gets her little pets from."
"Magic," I breathed.

He beamed at me, his eyes twinkling. "Give it a little pat. Then we should start practicing the spell."

I gave him a skeptical look, "Isn't he dangerous? Those spikes look pretty sharp, it may spear my hand."

"Nah," Remus said, rather amused. "Actually they are pretty placid. I read that they only use their spines when they are being attacked or scared. This little guy," he reached forward and gently stroked along his spiny back, "wouldn't hurt a fly."

I still wasn't entirely convinced, animals – besides Mindy – didn't seem to like me much. Xenophilius Lovegood's pet newt nearly got thrown out the window once when it got too close to me...I can't really remember how...

"Come on," Remus encouraged. "I dare you."

The magic three words that could basically get me to do anything. I slitted my eyes at him, but obeyed, reaching forward and sliding one finger along the, surprisingly, smooth back of the echidna.

"See, it isn't that bad."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered. "Let's start."

We both took it in turns at muttering the spell, and Remus was doing considerably better than me. By his fifth shot he was able to turn our little echidna into a blacker version with wings sprouting from its back – Professor McGonagall had to set the poor thing right again, but gave him much praise. However, I on the other hand wasn't able to even replicate the wand motion that Professor McGonagall had demonstrated.

Remus chuckled, "You have to move it like this," he did the same complicated swishing motion, "see?"

I crossed my arms in frustration, "It is no use. I suck at this. If Vici was here, I'd..." I stopped myself. All lesson I'd hardly had passing thoughts of Vici since I'd walked in, but now I just had to go back and remind myself again. I looked down at the floor, trying to ignore the guilty look Remus was giving me. "Stop staring at me," I snapped.

"You know I am really sorry for that. It was so, so stupid of us. It was all Prongs and Pads idea. They snuck some from Slughorn's stores, if I'd known what would have happened – Vici is one of my closest friends, I would never want something to happen to her, and I - " his voice broke slightly. "I hate to see you hurt, Natalie. I really, really do."

I whirled around to face him, sending him a half angry, half curious glare, "Why would you care about me?!"

Remus seemed to be taken back a little, his cheeks started to turn pink. He looked...well cute – wait, what? "Because – er – well you – um – you care so much about all your friends – "
"I only have one."

" - you are so passionate about everything you do, and even though you might come off as rude and snappy you are just really confident," he said. His ears had turned a bright red, and his eyes flickered back down towards our echidna.

I sent him a skeptical look, "But I'm none of those things. I'm a bitch 100% of the time, I like being the horrible and manipulative person I am. I'm in Slytherin for Merlin's sake!"

But Remus simply shrugged, not meeting my eyes. He returned to practicing, swishing his wand perfectly and muttering 'Avifors' in the smooth and deep voice of his. A felt a tingle of goose bumps rising on my skin. Then his wand emitted a blue light, and pop! The echidna had turned into a little swarm of bats. I stared wide eyed at Remus, who still refused to look at me. He quickly followed Professor McGonagall's instructions to slow their flight before calling her over to our desk.

"Well done, Mr Lupin. Ten points to Gryffindor for excelling in such a complex spell." She then turned to me. "Five points to Slytherin for working as a team."

"But I didn't – " but Professor McGonagall had already walked away. The swarm of bats gone from our laps. I was still staring dumbfounded at Remus. Surely, he didn't really think that I was such a good person? I'd only ever been told I was a bitch – well, Vici was the only person who told me otherwise, but she was my best friend so that didn't count. He couldn't possibly mean it...could he?

"Right class," Professor McGonagall said, addressing everyone. "Congratulations to those who were able to successfully transform their target, you shall receive no homework. Though I want all of those who were unable to perform this transfiguration spell to practice in their spare time, and I expect to see increased improvement by next lesson." Her eyes seemed to find me. "You are dismissed."

Remus rose from his seat, as though to quickly rush away, but I managed to block his path. Standing up against him, I realized just how tall he really was. Honestly, he must have been passing the six foot height range by now. And me, being the short 5'4 that I am, had to really crane my neck to look up at him. For some reason, I had become very aware of just how close we were, and I gulped. His eyes – how had I never noticed his eyes before? – they were such a brilliant mix of hazel and gold...I could lose myself in them –

"Natalie," he sighed. "Please may I get pass?"

I shook my head, as an answer and to clear my head of its sudden fogginess. "Remus...what? What's so funny?"

Remus was suddenly smiling, "I believe that is the first time you've called me by my name since the incident."

I raised an eyebrow, "You care if I call you by your name?"

Remus shrugged – god those shrugs were getting on my nerves – "It makes me feel as though we are friends."

I didn't know what to say. Where we...friends?

"I've never been very good at making friends," I admitted to him.

"Well," he smiled, gently turning my body so we walked side by side out of the classroom, "maybe we can change that."

Against my will, a smile tweaked the corner of my lips upwards, "I think I'd like that...Remus."

He practically beamed at me, "Me too, Natalie."

"If we are going to be friends, call me Nat. All my other friends do," I winked.
"By other friends you mean...?"

"Vici. Who else?" I smirked.

We walked out of the classroom, and along the corridor together.

Suddenly Remus turned to me, seemingly spurred on by something, "Do you think – well – um – I know that you – er – don't enjoy Transfiguration very much. Would you – possibly – like some help with the homework? I mean, I don't mind it." His cheeks had turned an even brighter red than before, and he was mumbling his words. It was...sweet? "You don't have to. I understand if you don't want to. I'm not asking you out or anything...just helping out a – er – friend." His words had sped up, making me giggle.

I gave him a little smirk, relishing his look of anticipation. "Hmm..." his eyes seemed to be waiting for the rejection. "Alright. I could always use some help, especially from a friend." Remus beamed at me. I could almost read his thoughts – Really?! "Yes, really." He grinned. "Though, it is definitely not a date. I don't so dates. It purely platonic. Homework, and that's it."

Remus nodded, unable to wipe the grin from his face, "Of course."

"Meet me in the library after dinner. I should be free then," I instructed.

"Great!" he said. "Really great."

"Now wipe that smile off your face," I said mischievously. "It's like you've just been given chocolate for the first time..."

Remus gave me a side glance, "You like chocolate?"

I scoffed, "Of course. Who doesn't?"

An odd expression seemed to pass over Remus' face, but before I could decipher what it was, someone had come and ruined our friendly moment together.

"Moony!" Black barked, slinging his arm across his friend's shoulders. "Where have you been running off to. Hopefully not hanging out with Slytherin trash?" Black sent me a smirk.
"Black," I said, sending him a vicious glare. "Always a pleasure to see your fucked up face."

Black glared at me, "I can assure you, the pleasure is all mine."

"I doubt it," I snorted.

Black ignored me, turning back to Remus. "James and Peter are waiting for you, mate. Say goodbye to your new pet, and come pull some pranks with us."

Remus hit Black on the head, "I'll be with you in a second." He waited until Black had walked off and out of hearing distance. "I'm sorry about him," he said.

"Don't be, Sirius Black says and does whatever he wants to whoever he wants," I said. I could feel that the moment we seemed to have had was lost. "I've got to go check on Vici. Catch you round, Lupin."

"Yeah," I heard him mutter. "See you after dinner?"

It was a question. And I regretted my next words.

"Probably not."