Remus And The Dementor

Remus and the Dementor

By GreenLily

"You going home for Easter, Lily?" James asked while casually turning a chocolate frog into a peppermint toad.

"Don't know." Lily shrugged as she began levitating her empty plate.

"Is something wrong?" Annie asked.

"Vernon will be there. It's bad enough with Petunia alone, but it'll be unbearable with that tub of lard git she's dating. I'd rather have Snape or Avery for company." Lily replied.

Sirius made a face. "They must be really bad if you'd rather have Slytherins for company. Just thinking about people like that...I've lost my appetite, I'll never eat again!" Sirius pushed his plate away in mock disgust. James and Remus snorted into their pumpkin juice.

"Was Christmas really that bad?" Remus asked. Lily raised her eyebrows.

"You saw how my sister was where all of you came to wish me 'Merry Christmas' at the car. She acted like you were carrying some highly contagious disease. And then she had the nerve to call you all freaks. Has she even looked at her tub of lard boyfriend Dursley and that tub of lard sister of his. Marge has a mustache! And if you ask me, she's just a little too close to her dogs." The small group exploded with laughter.

"I've never felt so sorry for dogs in my life!" James commented and the group exploded again. Just then, Lily spotted Veronica McKinnon, a fifth year prefect and captain of the Griffin or Quidditch team, entering the Great Hall. She gestured Veronica to the empty seat next to her.

"Hi, Lily. Is there something you need?" Veronica asked as she sat down and poured herself some pumpkin juice.

"I was just wondering if you're staying here for Easter." Lily asked.

"I'm afraid so," Veronica sighed. "Mum and Dad are busy at the ministry. There have been some strange disappearances lately."

"I'm sorry," Lily said. She suddenly felt terrible for hoping that Veronica was staying. Veronica had become the older sister to Lily that Petunia never was. Ever since the day she had gone to Diagon Alley to pick up her school things and run into a group of future Slytherins. Lily heard the word 'Mudblood' for the first time. James, Sirius, and Remus had rushed to help her and Veronica had broken up the fray. She had apologized to the Evans and assured them that not all wizards were bigoted, bullying gits. Lily's parents had understood. They knew plenty of Muggles who were bigoted, bullying gits.

"Don't worry about it," Veronica said giving Lily a smile. "Are you staying?"

"I thought I might."

"Good, Arabella's going home and I could use some company." Veronica said and Lily grinned at her.

"Ready for the match, Ronnie," James asked.

"I suppose." Veronica replied.

"You'd better eat something," Peter said pushing a plate of bacon toward her.

"If I eat, I'll puke, but thanks anyway." Veronica said as she held her hand up.

"You're not nervous, are you?" Sirius asked. "You're playing Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw flattened them just before Christmas and you were incredible against Slytherin."

"I know, but underestimating your opponent can be fatal." Veronica replied. "I do want to keep winning after this year. We have three people graduating. Are any of you trying out next year?"

Lily and Annie both shook their heads. They both liked flying, but hated Bludgers. Peter shook his head as well. He was afraid of heights. James and Sirius, however, both grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "What about you Remus? James and Sirius only fill two spots and you're not a half bad flyer."

"Huh?" Remus looked up from his Defense Against the Dark Arts book.

"Remus, how can you be looking at homework at a time like this?" Sirius asked with mock melodrama. "You've just been offered a spot on the best ruddy Quidditch team in the school and you're reading about Kappas!"

"I can't play Quidditch," Remus said.

"Yes you can," said James.

"Alright, I don't want to play," Remus said shortly.

"Why don't you want to play?" Sirius asked in shock. Remus stared harder at his book.

"Well, I'm sick all the time. I'd miss practices and matches. It wouldn't be fair." James and Sirius exchanged glances. They decided not to press the subject any further. Remus must have inherited his illness from his mother who was sick enough that he was allowed to go home to visit her sometimes. In any case, it was a touchy subject for their normally good-humored friend.

"Ronnie, let's go. The match is in less than an hour." Veronica and her potential recruits turned to see Arabella Fennigan standing next to her boyfriend Teddy Figg.

"I thought that I was the one who was suppose to round everyone up," Veronica replied looking affronted.

"Well we couldn't wait any longer," said Teddy. Arabella grabbed Veronica's arm and pulled her up.

"See you at the game," Veronica said to her first year pals.

Forty minutes later the marauders along with Lily and Annie were sitting in the stands with the rest of the Gryffindors sporting scarlet rosettes.

"Where's Dumbledore?" Remus asked looking around.

"Got a call he had ter take from the ministry just a few minutes ago." Hagrid said from behind them.

"The ministry? Is anything wrong?" James asked.

"Dunno." Hagrid replied. The crowd suddenly erupted as the Gryffindor team took the field. It suddenly became very cold. James felt his breath catch in his throat. He looked up in horror to see at least twenty Dementors swarming around the field. People began to panic and run from the stands onto the field. Several teachers were casting feeble Patronous Charms, but they did very little. James looked around for his friends who had been separated from him by the crowds. He spotted Remus with a Dementor hovering right over him. Remus appeared to be having a seizure. He went rigid and collapsed.

"REMUS!" James called in terror. He tried to get to his friend but was unable to push through the crowd of panicking students. Veronica had also seen Remus collapse and rushed to hi side. She cupped his head in her hands. There were tears on his cheeks. Something horrible must have happened to him to cause him to collapse. Veronica tried to remain focused as the Dementor hovered over her taking deep, rattling breaths. She wasn't sure how must longer she could hold on when a warm feeling suddenly came over her. Something large and silver was driving the Dementors away. Professor Dumbledore stood at the edge of the Quidditch field looking angrier than anyone could have possibly imagined. Veronica looked around to see that several other students had passed out. Remus let out a low moan in her arms. He looked up at her confused.

"Sshh," Veronica said gently as James ran to her side and bent over Remus. Remus sat up quickly before Veronica could push him back down. He clung to his knees.

"I fainted," he muttered.

"Hey Remus, it's alright. Dementors are horrible things. It could have happened to anyone," James said putting his hand on Remus's shoulder. Remus buried his face in his knees and clutched his hair. It wasn't all right. He saw the wolf ripping into his shoulder again, his parents screaming. He had never stopped thinking about that night. Thinking about it and reliving it were two completely different things.

"Remus, talk to me, please," James said giving Remus's shoulder a gentle squeeze. Remus did not answer or even move. Arabella, Teddy, Sirius, Lily, Peter, and Annie ran up at that moment.

"You guys alright?" Arabella asked.

"As alright as we can be I suppose," Veronica answered.

"What's the matter, Lupin?" Snape called from behind the group. "Did the scary Dementor make little Lupi pass out?" Avery and Lestange snickered beside him.

"Shut up, Snape," James said through gritted teeth; his fist clenched at his side.

"You know, Potter, it's funny," Snape sneered. "I always thought Pettigrew was your weakest friend. Guess I was wrong."

Peter went scarlet. Sirius was overcome with rage. He whirled around and his fist crashed into Snape's jaw. Snape staggered backward. Avery and Lestrange started forward but stopped as Teddy placed himself between them and Sirius. The first year Slytherins did not dare take on the burly fifth year Gryffindor. James and Lily seized the back of Sirius's robes. Snape began to message his jaw.

"You'll get yours soon enough, Black," Snape said silkily. "These Dementors were only the beginning." Snape jerked his head at Lestrange and Avery and they walked away.

"What did he mean, the Dementors were just the beginning?" Lily asked Veronica.

"I don't know," Veronica said with a shudder. Madam Pomfrey approached the group.

"Have any of you had chocolate yet?" she asked. Everyone but Remus shook his or her heads. His face was still buried in his knees. "Take some, all of you!" she said in a voice that left no room for argument. Everyone but Remus took a piece. He still refused to move. Madam Pomfrey knelt down beside one of her most frequent patients. She put her hand on his back. "Remus, did you faint?" Remus nodded without looking up. Madam Pomfrey felt his forehead. "Oh dear, you're all clammy," she said. "I'd better take you up to the hospital wing."

Remus wiped his eyes and got to his feet without looking at his friends.

"Veronica," Madam Pomfrey said. "Will you and the other prefects make sure that everyone has some chocolate?" Veronica nodded and Madam Pomfrey handed her the box. "If anyone else has passed out, make sure they get to the hospital wing." With that, Madam Pomfrey put her hands on Remus's shoulders and steered him to the hospital wing. Veronica took the chocolate and left to find the other prefects. Arabella and Teddy followed her.

"I don't think I've ever seen Remus that upset," James commented.

"Yeah, and that greasy haired git Snape just had to throw his two pence in," Sirius scowled.

"Do you think Remus'll be alright?" Lily asked.

"I hope so," said James. "Something really horrible must have happened to him to make him faint like that."

"What do Dementors do to people?" Lily asked.

"Make them relive the worst experiences of their lives," Annie answered.

"So that's why I kept hearing Vernon Dursley."

"Must be," James snorted.

"Betcha anything some Slytherins summoned them here as a joke," Sirius said.

"Why would they do that?" Peter asked trembling.

"I sure it has something to do with whatever Snape was talking about when he said it was only the beginning," Sirius replied.

---------------------------

Remus awoke Sunday morning in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had insisted that he spend the night. He hadn't argued. He didn't feel like seeing his friends. They wanted to know what was really upsetting him. It wasn't embarrassment from passing out. If they knew that he was a werewolf, they would cease to be his friends. Remus would have given anything to be letting off a dungbomb with James and Sirius and facing Filch with them. He wanted to fight Snape and his Slytherins for picking on Peter or Lily. He always did that with his two best friends as well.

Madam Pomfrey came in and felt his forehead. "Looks like a good night's sleep did the trick," she said.

"Is it okay for me to leave?" Remus asked.

"I suppose. Would you like me to send for your friends?"

"No," Remus said curtly. "I don't want to talk to them yet." With that, Remus hopped off his bed and strolled to the door. I'll go to Hagrid's, Remus thought. I can talk to Hagrid.

Remus arrived at Hagrid's hut five minutes later. He knocked on the door and heard, Molar the boarhound barking excitedly. Hagrid opened the door and smiled warmly.

"Remus, glad ter see yeh up an' about again. Come in. Come in." Hagrid put his hand on Remus's shoulder and ushered him inside. He gestured to a large chair and Remus sat. His feet barely met the end of the chair.

"Cup 'o tea?" Hagrid asked.

"Sure," Remus said trying to return Hagrid's smile.

"Rough day yesterday, wasn't it?" Hagrid asked as he handed Remus a cup of tea. Remus shrugged. "Seen yer friends yet terday? They were really worried about yeh yesterday."

"I don't want to see them yet."

"Blimey! Why not?"

"They don't understand. I don't want them to understand."

"I'm sure they'll understand. They really care about yeh."

"They won't care about me anymore if they find out what I am."

'I don' think yer given 'em enough credit."

"What would you know about it?" Remus said, suddenly angry. "You don't have some terrible secret that would cause the magic community despise you!"

"Yer sure about that are yeh?" Hagrid asked. Remus looked at him quizzically. Hagrid leaned forward. "Me mum was a giant, see." Remus's jaw dropped. Hagrid wasn't like a giant. Giants were vicious and cruel. Hagrid was kind and gentle. "Most magic folk don't like giants but Dumbledore admitted me anyway. Gave me a job an' trusted me even after I was expelled. Great man, Dumbledore."

"I'm sorry I snapped at you, Hagrid."

"Ferget it. Do yeh think less 'o me now?"

"No, of course not."

"An' yer friends won' think no less 'o you. They won' see yeh as a monster, they'll see yeh as their friend."

Remus sighed and smiled at Hagrid. Hagrid was probably right. James and Sirius weren't bigots. Peter might be scared of him at first, but he would come around. Lily and Annie would probably try to comfort him after the transformations. Remus just wasn't ready to tell them yet. There was a knock at the door. Hagrid got up to answer it. Remus could hear James' voice.

"Is Remus here, Hagrid?" Hagrid looked over his shoulder at Remus who nodded.

"Yer in luck. Come in." James entered followed Sirius, Lily, Peter, and Annie.

"You alright, Remus?" Sirius asked.

"Better than I was yesterday," Remus replied with a grin.

"We were really worried about you," said Annie.

"I just needed some time alone," Remus shrugged. Seeing the concerned looks on his friends' faces he added, "Snape wasn't very nice yesterday. I have a sudden urge to put a dungbomb in his Potions book. That might get him to wash his hair." The friends all burst into laughter.

"That's our Remus," Sirius said clapping Remus on the shoulder.

"I think I have a few dungbombs in my trunk," said James.

"What are we waiting for?" Remus asked.

"We have a mission to accomplish," James said. They all started for the door. As she was about to leave Lily turned to Hagrid.

"You aren't going to tell anyone what we're up to, are you," she asked.

"What would I tell," Hagrid asked with his eyes twinkling. Lily grinned back

As the six friends walked back to the castle, Peter looked at Remus concerned. "Are you sure you're alright, Remus?" he asked. Sirius elbowed Peter in the ribs.

"I'm fine," Remus replied.

"Well, we were just thinking that something horrible must have happened to you to make you faint yesterday," Peter continued. Sirius elbowed him harder this time.

"It's alright, Sirius," Remus said. "Yes something really terrible did happen to me when I was really little. I'm just not ready to talk about it yet. Can we just leave it there for now?"

Remus's five friends exchanged quick glances. Then James turned to him. "Yes, we can leave it there for now, Remus. Just remember, if you ever want to talk, we'll listen."

I hope so,

Remus thought. "I know. Let's get that dungbomb, shall we?"

"Yes, we shall," Sirius replied.

As the friends continued to the castle, Remus made a mental note to learn how to produce a good, strong Patronous.