Harry Potter and the Forest of Shadows

Harry Potter andthe Forest of Shadows

**Chapter 2**

At five fifty-five exactly, for Rosemary praised punctuality, Remus walked into the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Rosemary was hopping up and down, one of her always bare feet in her hands.

Today she was dressed finely in a white, spring dress with a pink, gauze-like sash around her waist and tied at her back in a bow; the chest was snugly fit but from the bottom of the sash and down it flowed freely, trailing the ground behind her. Her hair was put in a braided plait on the back of her head, pink ribbons securing both ends of it.

She still wore the white amulet.

"Something wrong, Rosy?"

She jumped, put her foot down, and smoothed out her dress. Personally, Remus thought she was more proper than any woman from the past. But some days, her wild side would just creep out of her and surprise everyone. Her own sisters never understood the way her mind worked.

"Nothing. I just stubbed my toe."

"Shoes would help."

"No! I have not, will not, and never will wear shoes. I own one pair."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Shall we be off?"

"Of course. Catch." She threw him a blue, glowing orb. "It's supposed to do that. When I say so, push that small button on the top. Yes, that one."

Quickly, she slipped on a pink cloak and adjusted the hood so her braided plait was laying ontop of it. She waited approxiamately five seconds before saying quietly but loud enough so Remus could hear her, "Now."

They landed on the edge of a grassy yard belonging to the people who resided in Number One, Privet Drive. "Who would want to live in this place? It's so... boring."

"That's Petunia for you," Rosemary replied. "Nothing is allowed to be out of the ordinary."

She allowed Remus to help her up from the grass and they walked onto the scalding pavement. Rosemary gave a yelp and hopped into Remus' arms.

"I told you to wear shoes," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Rosemary? Rosy, is that you?"

Remus, putting a cooling and heat repeller charm on Rosemary's feet and setting her down, looked over where Arabella Figg was in her garden.

A smile shined on Rosemary's face. "Hi Bella!" she shouted. During Rosemary's first and second year, Arabella had been the librarian and they had befriended each other.

"What are you and Mr. Lupin doing here?"

"Checking up on Harry, of course. We need to go. I'll come by later, I promise," she said, waving as they walked to Number Four.

She knocked on the door and waited, her insides churning. A boy, just a few inches shorter than her with a little fat and a lot of muscle, opened the door.

"Who are you?" he asked distastefully.

"I've come to check up on Harry Potter."

A frightened look came over his face and he made to close the door, but Remus stopped him as Rosemary drew her wand. "Let us in, Dudley," she said, his name coming to her.

He jumped. "W-wait here," he said and left.

When he came back in, Petunia was with him.

"You," she spat, looking at Rosemary.

"Where is he, Petunia?" asked Rosemary, a dangerous edge in her voice.

"He-he...you, can't have him!"

"He is more mine than he is yours. Where is he?"

She pointed a shaking finger at the door of the cupboard under the stairs.

"Jesus, you're still using that thing. Can't you come up with something more original?" she snapped and yanked open the door from her past.

A wave of nausea came over her as the smell of blood filled her nostrils. Screams of the past came into her head and she gave a shiver. Remus laid a hand on her should, jerking her back to the present.

Yielding slightly, she looked into the cupboard and felt tears come to her eyes. Even she hadn't looked that bad.

Gently, she and Remus pulled the broken teenager from the cupboard. His face was a masterpiece of green, purple, and yellow. The glasses he usually bore weren't there and his left eye was cut by what looked like glass. His left arm was laying at an odd and sickeningly twisted angle while his wrist bent no way a wrist should. Ribs stuck out visibly under the bloody thrash marks and more bruises. Unconciously he winced as Rosemary gingerly touched his back.

A petite hand fell to his cheek and her thumb gently caressed his temple. After a few seconds she winced and pulled back as his own memories floated into his head. The tears she was desperately holding back, fell.

"Rose..." Petunia trailed off, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"No...I'm fine."

"Go. Take him somewhere he'll be safe."

Rosemary nodded, hugging Petunia's legs like a child. "Thank you."

"Go. Vernon'll be home any minute." Rosemary jumped to her feet.

"We need to use your fireplace. I'll put everything back like it was."

She cradled the broken child in her arms, smearing blood over her neat cloak. They entered the sitting room where Dudley was shrunken back in the shadows. "I won't hurt you," Rosemary reassured him quietly.

Waving her hand slightly, the wood over the fireplace fell in a neat pile. Another wave and green flames popped up.

"But they aren't-" Remus started, but was cut off by Rosemary.

"I have my ways. Take Harry to the Burrow. I need to give Petunia something."

Harry whimpered slightly as he was shifted into Remus' arms. As they disappeared, Rosemary twisted her hand into a fist and when she opened it, a piece of parchment was there.

"If you need me at all, write on this with a pen, pencil, etcetera. Okay?"

Petunia nodded and they hugged tightly. A noise from the driveway made them break apart.

"I'll see you soon. I promise," Rosemary said. She never broke her promises.

Quickly, she placed the slabs of wood back, tossed a conjured bag of candy at Dudley, and disappeared just as Vernon shut the front door.

Everyone jumped as Rosemary appeared before their eyes. She smiled softly at Molly and Arthur who had gotten to their feet.

"Where is he?" she asked.

"Who're you?" Ron and Hermione demanded.

Rosemary had a particular fondness for children and couldn't ignore them. "Rosemary. No more questions. Now, Molly, where is he. I need to help him."

"Ron's room. Rosemary, is that you?"

"Yes. I'll talk to you later, but now I need a basin of water, two cloths, and Ginny."

"Me?" she asked incredously.

"Well, if that's your name, then yes. Come on."

She had been to the Weasleys countless times when she was younger and knew her way around. Without hesitating, she placed her cloak on the back of a chair and went up the stairs, Ginny following her.

Remus was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching the unsteady raise and fall of Harry's weak chest. Rosemary turned and saw Ginny shaking.

"Rosy, she's only fifteen. Are you sure-"

"Positive. I was eight when I saw the brutality of the world. I still have my innocence."

"Hardly," Remus said.

"Shut up Remus. And move. Ginny, come here. Yes, sit down."

Yielding slightly, she sat in Remus' vacant seat. Rosemary took Ginny's hand in her own and laid in on Harry's cheek just as she had done at the Dursleys. As if on instinct, Ginny's thumb found Harry's temple. After a few seconds she pulled back, whimpering slightly. Rosemary gave a wry smile.

"I thought so. Ginny, can you move, please?"

Remus gently pushed her out of the room, telling her to go get some sleep. He turned back at Rosemary with a furious gaze.

"How dare you? She's fifteen!" he hissed.

"I had to make sure. Hand me that basin," she replied, taking the bowl of water and two cloths she had asked for.

One cloth she set aside and the other was soaked in the warm water. She started with his face and gently wiped it clean of any blood. Then she went onto his arms, legs, and finally, his back.

Finally, she sighed heavily and leaned back. "Well, from what I can see a broken arm, fractured wrist, sprained ankle, about three cracked ribs, one broken, and a bad blow to the head."

"Will he wake up?"

"Of course. That's why I wanted the other cloth," she said smartly. "I'll be right back."

Downstairs in the living room, Ron and Hermione had fallen asleep on the couch, Fred and George were quietly discussing and working, Mrs. Weasley was reading, and Bill was sitting, staring with a gleeful smile at his little brother and his partner.

"Stop that," Rosemary snapped at him. "You leave them alone, Bill Weasley."

"Jesus, Rosy, is that you?"

"The one and only," she replied, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"How is-" Mrs. Weasley started.

"He's fine, Molly. But I'm still not quite done with him. Give me thirty minutes."

For a few moments she rumaged through her two pockets, producing a small vial and bandages.

Without another word she ran up the stairs. "Got it?" Remus asked.

"Yes," she replied absent-mindedly.

Carefully, she took of Harry's shirt and wrapped the bandages restraintly around his ribs. She did the same with his arm, wrist, and ankle. After putting some special lotion of the welts and belt marks and ointment on all the cuts to stop them from bleeding, she dumped three drops of the liqid from the vile onto a large corner of the cloth and put it under his nose.

Once he took a few whiffs, his good eye opened. On instinct, he shrunk back on the pillows.

"Harry, can you hear me?" Rosemary asked softly.

After waiting a few moments, he decided he liked that voice and answered in a hoarse whisper. "Yes."

"Good. Now, I'm going to give you a few directions and your going to need to follow them, okay?"

"Okay."

"First off, I don't want you moving. You'll hurt yourself even more. Next, tell me, do you feel sick or anything?"

"A little."

"Okay, no getting out of bed until I tell you. And last, don't talk anymore. Your vocal chords were damaged, by what seems to be screaming. So no talking. Capiche?"

He nodded.

"Now, Harry, Remus Lupin is going to stay with you while I get one or two things."

Leaving them alone, she went into the kitchen and grabbed a fever reducer and sleeping potion.

When she had taken his temperature, she had almost screamed.

"Harry," Rosemary said, returning, "I have two potions I need you to take."

The boy's brow furrowed in question.

"One is a fever reducer and the other is a sleeping potion. No, don't sit up. No moving."

She raised his head at a reasonable level and tipped both potions down his throat.

"Um, Miss Rosemary?"

Both Remus and Rosemary turned away from the sleeping teenager and looked where Ginny was standing.

"Ginny, just on time. I need a favor. Think you can stay with him tonight? He's just sleeping."

After a moment of thinking, she nodded. "Yes, of course."

"Thanks. That helps. Remus, help me up," she said, holding out her hands.

Instead, he just lifted her off the bed and cradled her in his arms. "Good night, Ginny," he said, smiling in thanks at her as she settled in a chair next to the bed.

When they were out of earshot, Remus looked down at Rosemary who was already falling asleep.

"Playing matchmaker, are we?"

She shifted slightly, laying her head against his chest. "If I were, you wouldn't know about it, would you?"

"I suppose not. But you are."

Rosemary smiled to herself. Oh, yes, Remus was right. She was going to make those two fall in love if it was the last thing she did.