Love, Lies, and a Secret

Love, Lies, and a Secret

Chapter 10: The Muggleborn

"What to you mean allergic to magic?" Harry asked again, his voice trembling.

"I don't know," Neville explained as he tried to stop the convulsion without magic. "I don't know. It seems that the Potion worked differently in Hermione." He took a deep breath, and then looked at Remus. "There's nothing I can do," he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"No!" Harry cried in despair. "You need to do something. Susan-" He looked pleadingly at the former Hufflepuff.

She shook her head. "I don't know how to stop the convulsion...I can't use any spells... I'm sorry."

Harry began to pace, his hands running nervously through his hair. "No... No... I can't watch her die like this... No..."

"Neville," Tonks spoke quietly, her eyes red, "you said... You said that you can't help her because you can't use any spells on her, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, what if we take her to a Muggle doctor?"

The others looked at her with dumbstruck expressions across their faces.

"I mean, a Muggle doctor won't be able to help what has happened to her because of the Potion but they will be able to help with the convulsion... I think."

"Oh! That sounds like a great idea!" Neville exclaimed. "But...who? I don't know any Muggle Doc..."

"But I do!" Remus cried. "I'll go to his home!"

Harry had never felt so relieve. Thank Merlin! There was a chance that she would be alright.

"But be quick, Remus!" Neville cried. "She doesn't have much time!"

Remus just nodded and left.

*~*~*~*

Some time later...

"D-don't you think they are taking too bloody long?" Harry asked Remus, nervousness evident in his voice.

He and his former teacher were sitting in the waiting room of a private Muggle clinic.

"Susan and Mike are taking care of her, Harry. I trust them," Remus replied with a small sad smile.

Harry just nodded. "Er, Remus, how do you know this Mike person? I mean, he is a Muggle-"

"-born. Michael Navy is a Muggleborn," Remus explained.

"I don't understand. If he is a Wizard, why-"

"Why is he working with Muggle medicine?"

"Well, yeah."

Remus smiled sadly. "He decided to abandon the Wizard Word." Not waiting for Harry's reply, Remus continued, "You see, Mike went to Hogwarts with me, and your parents. He was in Ravenclaw. He was the Ravenclaw Prefect and used to date your mum's best friend, Jane. Jane Adams."

Harry looked to Remus in surprise. "I have never heard about this Jane."

Sighing deeply, Remus said, "She was murdered by Fenrir a year before you were born." Remus closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath. In his mind's eye, he could still see Jane's smile, he could still see Mary...

*~*Flashback*~*

Kings Cross

September 1^st, 1975

Fifteen-year-old Remus Lupin had just arrived at King's Cross Station and was awaiting the arrival of his best friends: James, Sirius, and Peter. He was wondering if he should pass through the wall to Platform 9 ¾ to wait for them there, or if he should simply wait on the Muggle side of the Station. It was then that someone bumped into him. It was a teenaged girl. Her hair was a bit bushy, and her eyes were a beautiful chocolate color.

Remus was never what people would call a "ladies' man", like Sirius was. In fact, he was really shy in the aspect, but now, for the first time in his life, he felt his heart beating a little faster when he looked at the girl before him.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" the girl said, blushing.

Remus was about to open his mouth to respond when he heard a voice behind him.

"Mary!" He turned around and saw Jane Adams, a Ravenclaw girl, who was the best friend of Lily Evans. She was with her parents, who were Muggles.

"Jane," Remus greeted her.

"Hi, Remus!" she replied with a smile. "What are you doing here alone?"

"Oh, my dad had to work so I went alone. I'm waiting for the guys," Remus explained.

"Oh. Did you see Lily?" Jane inquired.

"Not yet."

"Jane, dear, why don't you introduce us to your friend?" her father said gently.

She slapped her own forehead lightly with a hand. "Oh! How silly of me!"

"Mum, dad, this is Remus Lupin. He's a fifth year, like me, but he's in Gryffindor. Remus, these are my mum and dad. Paul and Anne Adams."

"Nice to meet you," they said as each shook hands with Remus.

"Oh, and of course...this is my baby sister, Mary!" Jane said smiling broadly, indicating Mary.

Remus turned to Mary, and smiled at her, holding his hand out to her. "Nice to meet you, Mary."

She took his hand, and whispered, shyly, "Nice to meet you, Remus."

*~*End Flashback*~*

'But that was the past,' Remus thought, shaking his head to rid himself of the memories.

"Jane's death was the last straw for Mike. You see, a few months before her death, his family was tortured and killed by Death Eaters. He was the only one who survived," Remus explained, looking grim.

Harry gasped. "That's horrible!" he exclaimed.

"That's why he decided to stay away from the Wizarding World."

Harry shook his head, sadly. "I can't blame him."

"Neither can I," Remus replied heavily.

Harry was about to say something when Dr. Navy and Susan showed up in the room.

"How is she? Is she alright?" Harry asked hurriedly, as he stood up from the couch. "I need to see her!"

"Calm down, my boy!" Mike Navy said with a tired smile. "Your girlfriend is going to be alright."

Harry felt so happy that he didn't even try to correct Mike's mistake. Smiling broadly, he turned to Susan. "Susan?"

She nodded. "She's going be fine, Harry."

"C-Can I see her?" he asked a little shyly, as a result of his original outburst.

"Yes, of course," Dr. Navy said. "She's sleeping but you can see her." He turned to Remus. "You can too, Remus."

"Thank you, Mike," Remus said, and Mike Navy just nodded.

*~*~*~*

"She's so pale," Harry commented to no one in particular as soon as he saw Hermione lying in the clinic's bed.

He walked towards the bed and gently placed his trembling fingers on her cheek. He closed his eyes briefly, opening them again a moment later, as he sighed deeply.

"She still has the bruises."

"I can't use a Healing charm on her," Mike said, "and that's exactly that I need to talk to you about."

"What? What is it?" Harry asked a bit frantically and turned to Susan. "Is this... you know...about the Potion?" he whispered the last part, a little unsure to how much Dr. Mike Navy could know.

"Miss Bones here told me that Hermione was in contact with some kind of deadly Potion. I'm aware of its effects, but fortunately she hasn't lost her magical abilities. I don't know why, but that isn't what concerns me. At least not now," Mike explained.

"What is it, Mike?" Remus asked. "Neville, er... Neville Longbottom, the other Healer, had said that she was allergic to magic," Remus explained, informing Dr. Navy of what Neville, who had stayed back at his flat with Terry, had said.

"Neville? Neville Longbottom?" Mike asked with a smile. "Is he-?"

Remus nodded. "Yes, Frank's son."

"Right," Mike replied a bit sadly. "Well, as I was saying, she didn't lose her powers but she has developed some kind of allergy to magic and-"

Harry was about to say something but Mike put up a hand to make him stop. "This allergy is temporary; it will only last while she has the Potion in her system. And before you panic, the Potion will leave her body naturally, with time. However-"

"Oh thank Merlin!" Harry cried. He couldn't believe that Hermione was going to be alright.

"However," Mike continued, "there is a little inconvenience."

"What inconvenience?" Harry asked worriedly.

"She can't be in a magical environment during her healing."

"Oh." Harry didn't know exactly what to say.

"Well, I think this won't be a problem," Remus commented. "She can stay with her parents. They are Muggles and-"

"But they live in Winchester!" Harry complained. "It's... It's too far..."

Mike Navy shook his head, slightly amused at the young man. "Winchester isn't that far. It's only fifty-five minutes by train. Muggle train, of course."

"Well, if it is the only way," Harry replied, defeated.

"It'll be the best thing for her, Harry," Remus said. "Of course we have to talk to Hermione first, but I think it will be a problem for her. And-" He turned to Mike. "She must go by Muggle transportation, right?"

Mike nodded. "Yes, it's the only way. She will be unable to handle an Apparation or Portkey."

"And Flooing is out of question too. Her parents don't have a Floo network," agreed Susan.

Harry looked at Hermione and then at the doctor, suddenly remembering something.

"Er, Dr. Navy," he said hesitantly, "they used the Cruciatus on her and-and probably other curses...I mean- what-"

To everyone's surprise, Mike gave a hollow laugh. "Well, this is a bit ironic, actually. Yes, she was tortured by the use of Cruciatus. However, it didn't affect her system."

"What do you mean?" Remus asked. "She didn't feel the curse? That's impossible!"

Mike shook his head. "No, she felt it, unfortunately. However, the traces of the curse, those that normally stay in the system after an attack-" He bit his lip trying to think of an easier way to explain. "What I mean is the Cruciatus didn't leave any sequels."

"H-How?" Harry asked.

"That's why I said it is ironic. It was this Potion. You see, the potion was supposed to reap off the magic, right? Well, it seems, fortunately, that it didn't work correctly. However, it did reap off some of the magic of her body, the magic that didn't belong to her."

"The curses," Harry concluded.

"Yes, the curses. The Potion killed any trace of magic that wasn't hers. In truth, the Potion did save her life. Otherwise, I've no idea how we would heal her without the use of magic."

"Oh," Harry managed to say. The Potion had been Hermione's doom and salvation.

"Well, if you don't have any other questions..." said Mike, looking at his wristwatch, and then turned to Remus. "Remus, I really have to go home, my in-laws are coming to dinner. When we arrived, I put some anti-magic wards on the clinic so you don't need to worry about that." He then shook his head. "God, twenty years without using a wand... oh well..." He sighed, sobering. "I don't think that will have to change-"

He looked at Hermione. "She might have some nightmares."

"I'll stay with her, doctor," said Susan.

"I will too," exclaimed Harry.

"Very well. If you need anything, just call me at home." He took his belongs and was about to leave the room when Harry called.

"Sir!"

Mike turned around.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you for saving her life," Harry said, his eyes bright.

Mike Navy grinned. "You're welcome, my boy." He looked again at the witch lying in the bed. "I know what's like to lose someone you love." He took a deep breath. "Remus, before I go, may I have a quick word with you?"

"Sure." Remus turned to Susan and Harry. "I'll be right back."

*~*~*~*

Outside the Room

"Everything is really okay, right?" Remus asked, concerned. Hermione was a special girl and he cared about her more than he let on to the others. Of course it didn't mean he had sexual or romantic feelings for her. No, it was simply an urge to protect the young brown haired witch; he considered himself to be a bit like an uncle to her.

"Yes, everything is really okay," Mike Navy said with a tired smile. "This girl... Hermione... She seems to be very special..."

"More than you know," Remus answered with a sigh. "She's the most brilliant witch I have ever seen." He paused a second, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I feel like I'm responsible for her, you know? Harry has the Weasleys, me, and all of the Wizarding World...What I am trying to say is, that all her family is Muggle and-"

Mike put a hand on Remus' shoulder. "I understand," he said. "You feel like you need to look out for her."

Remus nodded slightly.

"She will be fine," Mike spoke again. "The most important thing now, is for her to stay away from magic for a while. I intend to visit her when she is with her parents, to make sure that everything is fine." He stopped and bit his lower lip briefly. "I want to talk with you about something else, too, Remus."

Remus looked at his old friend with curiosity. "What is it?"

"You know how I left this magical a long time ago... I am never really in contact with the Wizarding World anymore. Yes, I have heard about Harry Potter's triumphs against Voldemort. I may live in the Muggle World, but some things are kind of difficult not to get wind of." He sighed and then continued, "I'm really sorry that I didn't contact you after Mary... and then Lily and Ja-"

But then Remus held up a hand, making Mike stop speaking. "W-what about Mary?" Remus had always thought that Mary had left the country. James had said so, well not in those many words but... "What about her?"

Mike's eyes saddened. "Oh, I thought you knew."

"Knew? Knew what?"

"Mary died, Remus," he said in a regretful tone. "She died, two years after Jane-"

Remus' body began to shake, and his heart suddenly felt constricted. "What hap- how?" he managed to ask, as he let himself fall into a chair.

"I don't know exactly- but it seems that it was a car accident," he explained. "Speaking honestly, I just know it because it was in the Obituaries, a Muggle paper in Winchester."

"Winchester?" Remus repeated in a whisper. It was there that he had seen her for the last time. She was with a baby, working as a baby sitter.

Mike nodded, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. He always thought that Remus had known about Mary. "I am really sorry Remus...I thought- I thought you knew-"

Remus smiled weakly. "It's okay. I-I was just taken by surprise." He took a deep breath, trying to pull himself together, as he fought the unbelievable urge to cry. "You said earlier that you wanted to talk-"

"Oh, yes," Mike said, still looking at Remus a little sadly. "It's just, my oldest daughter, Julie, she's ten years old and I think that next year, she will be receiving her Hogwarts letter."

Remus smiled genuinely. "Oh, has she been showing accidental magic?"

"Yeah, it was quite funny actually. She turned the neighbor's dog pink." He laughed a little. "Amy, my wife always knew about my condition. It was my choice to leave the Wizarding World, but I am not going to keep my daughter from knowing of it."

Remus nodded but didn't say anything.

"That's why I want to talk with you. Not now, of course. But I want to know everything that had happened all the years I was away."

"Of course, Mike. Let's just set a date."

Mike looked again at his wristwatch. "Oh bloody hell! I'm really late."

He walked towards the door, and Remus stood up from the chair and followed him. "I'll try to be back at the end of the day. I'll tell my secretary to cancel of tomorrow's patients." He opened the door, but before stepping out of the clinic, he turned around, reaching out his hand. "It was good to see you again, Remus."

Remus took his hand, shacking it. "Likewise, Mike. And thank you so much for all that you have done."

Mike Navy shook his head lightly. "It was nothing. And tell Harry Potter that his girlfriend will be alright. No need to worry," he said before leaving.

"Oh, Hermione isn't-" Remus tried to say but Mike was already out of sight.

Sighing, Remus Lupin closed the door, wondering how the hell they were going to tell Hermione's real boyfriend, Ron Weasley, about all that had happened.

'This isn't going to be pretty.'

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