Forty-first Spell

[courageous_wit]

[since the filters aren't working properly, Hermione needs to be a bit more clever about her phrasing. Lemony gave her a good idea about codes. Of course, Sirius might not understand this at all. Ah, well]

Padfoot, I would like to speak with you about the son of Rhea Silvia. Please meet me where the hippogriff stays at your earliest convenience.

To everyone else, this has happened before and should pass in time.

Comments

[heirofficium]

[ Sirius had a feeling this was coming. Of course Remus would've gone to Granger.

But Rhea Silvia? Where the hippogriff stays? He overheard that man talking on the journal about speaking in code, but this is downright impossible. ]

What are you on about, Granger? Meet you where?

[courageous_wit]

[maybe mentioning the hippogriff was too vague]

A hippogriff is part horse, and horses are commonly kept in stables.

dictated -> action

[heirofficium]

[ maybe just a little ]

Ah. Gimme a few minutes.

[ He might as well get this over with, even if he doesn't have any answers for the questions she's undoubtedly going to ask. After making sure he's at least tidy enough to be seen out of his room, he Apparates down to the castle entrance nearest to the stables and makes his way out. ]

I imagine this is about Remus, yes? You didn't need to make it a riddle, you know.

[courageous_wit]

[she sees him, steeling herself for yet another uncomfortable conversation] I was trying to keep it a bit more mum, considering how the journals are behaving lately. It's a sensitive topic.

[heirofficium]

[ Sirius sighs, also trying to prepare himself for a conversation he never thought he'd be having. ]

Go on, then. Ask your questions, say your piece, whatever it is you want to subject me to.

[courageous_wit]

Just... promise you'll be kind to him, all right? I don't want to see your friendship hurt because of what he said.

[heirofficium]

What?

[ He blinks. That's a rather silly thing to say. ]

What makes you think I'd be unkind to Moony? Sure, I don't know what to make of what he said, but I'm not going to hate my best mate for fancying me.

[courageous_wit]

You need to tell him that. He thinks you'll be disgusted.

[heirofficium]

Shit... 'course he thinks that... damn...

[ He brings his hand up to rub his face. ]

I can't just go and tell him that, though. He's going to start asking me things.

[courageous_wit]

Like you all probably wanted to ask me things when I admitted I knew you all in the future. I've decided to give you answers if you ask them. [that's an open invitation to ask her about the future, Sirius]

[heirofficium]

I highly doubt telling me you're from the future and Remus telling me he's in love with me are things that should be lumped together, Granger.

[ He looks away, giving a small grump of annoyance, and sighs again. ]

Alright, then. Fine. Did you know he fancied me all along? Are we... a--a thing in the future?

[courageous_wit]

[well, she did promise she would tell the truth about this]

No, you aren't a "thing" in the future. But I wouldn't make any decisions based on that. A woman I think of as my sister met her husband here, and they're from different worlds.

[heirofficium]

[ He nods mutely, carding a hand through his hair. ]

What do you know about me, then...?

[courageous_wit]

I know you suffered a lot after getting out of school. In ways you seemed more doglike, a bit more wild but also broken and sad. But you still had a good heart; you were willing to give your life for people you loved.

[heirofficium]

[ There's something, maybe not in what she says, but how she says it that rings funny in Sirius' head.

Suddenly, he is very wary of this girl standing before him. ]

You're not telling me everything.

[courageous_wit]

[she sighs] You were locked in Azkaban for twelve years. You escape and break into Hogwarts. The Minister wanted to administer the Dementor's Kiss but my friend Harry and I helped you escape on a hippogriff.

After that you were free for about a year, but then were forced to stay in your parents' home. It wouldn't have surprised me if you and Remus grew close in that time

[heirofficium]

[ He nods as he digests all this, still frowning. ]

Good to know... [ But he looks at her again, his gaze a little more intense now. ]

Why are you using 'were' instead of 'are', Hermione?

[courageous_wit]

Because all of that was in the past for me. I know it's the future for you. Perhaps I should say "will be" next time.