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New Year's Blues
Thanks to the wonderful Mcg's cat, here's my edited entry:
Hundreds of fireworks lit up the winter sky. Remus Lupin sat alone high up in an oak tree covered in an invisibility cloak he was supposed to be returning to Alastor Moody for a friend. He had been invited to a party at the Weasley’s, but he denied. Normally he would have jumped on the invitation; he didn’t get many of them these days. But tonight too many memories of the old days weighed heavily on his mind.
Eleven years and three months ago James and Lily Potter had been killed by Voldemort, Harry Potter was living at his muggle aunt’s home, having recently turned twelve, Peter Pettigrew was dead, and Sirius Black was in locked up somewhere in Azkaban.
He sighed, fighting back tears. “Well, here’s to the Marauders,” he said in remembrance of the friends he used to have.
No more full moon fun, no more pranks, no more.. no more..n- He cupped his face in his hands and let the tears fall.
Where am I supposed to go now? I’m so confused. Is there really a God up there? How could this happen? My life is torn apart. All these questions but no answers.
He’d been able to keep his control of his emotions for eleven years, but tonight brought back feelings he couldn’t control.
Scuffling noises came from a clump of bushes.
It’s probably just a dog, he thought
A shrill scream pierced the night and a soft red light came from the bush. A hand flopped into view, but it was quickly removed. Grateful for the cloak, Remus apparated out of the tree he was sitting in and crept closer to see a man tuck a wand inside his robes and drag the stunned woman deeper into a wooded area.
“STOP!” Remus yelled and pulled out his wand.
The man, keeping his face out of view, raised his right hand, which was missing the index finger, waved, and apparated.
There was something familiar about that man. He was short, stout, and had sandy blond hair that was tinged with grey. A gut feeling told Remus that he’d known the man before, but without the face to go with the memory, he was just a thought buzzing inside Remus’ head.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Morning light streaked through the window in Remus’ rented bedroom at the Leaky Cauldron. James had left him a nice sum of money but this was the first he had spent of it.
Walking down stairs into the lobby, he re-read the letter he had written to Albus Dumbledore the previous night.
Albus,
Last night while I was watching the fireworks in a small town in West Sussex, I heard a woman scream. Being under Mad-Eye’s cloak, I went to investigate. I saw a short, fat, man with sandy hair and his index finger on his right hand missing stun and apparate off with the woman before I could stop him. I’m concerned because the man seemed oddly familiar. Please inform me of any information you may have on anyone resembling this man.
Happy New Year,
Remus Lupin.
He attached the letter to a black spectacled owl who seemed glad of something to do. This was the first day of 1993 and Remus still didn’t feel much like celebrating. He grabbed a bagel and some pumpkin juice off of a passing tray that was serving various people around the lobby.
~~~~~~~~~~
Diagon Alley was packed with people from various corners of the world who had come to celebrate the New Year with their relatives. Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor didn’t have any empty seats so Remus took his triple fudge ice cream with brownie chunks with him to Flourish and Blott’s Bookstore.
It was considerably less crowded than any of the other stores he had entered before. He went off into the darkest corner he could find, still eating his ice cream, and started reading Building Magical Homes With Small Galleons by H.G. Tea-Vee II.
After being thrown out by an angry manager for eating in his shop, Lupin was starting to get restless. Strolling along some of the less congested streets he felt as if he had no purpose in this world.
Two men were slightly outlined in the dim shadows. A red light flashed and one fell limply to the ground. Remus raised his arm, wand in hand.
“Expelliarmus!” he yelled.
“Expecto Patronum!” the other man said at the same time.
A shiny silver groundhog emerged from the tip of the enemy’s wand illuminating the surroundings enough for Remus to see a short, fat man with sandy blond hair and a right hand missing an index finger. Then he was knocked out by the groundhog patronus.
Remus woke up, drenched in cold sweat, still in the middle of the street, with a red-orange feather lying on his chest. He quickly jumped up (though he decided that wasn’t such a good idea when the pain shot through his head down to his toes). Dumbledore. He must get to Dumbledore! After the pain dulled he apparated to Hogsmeade.
Thankfully, Hogsmeade was not as busy as Diagon Alley. This allowed Remus to run up to the castle (it was more of a limping jog actually) in about fifteen minutes.
“Drooble’s B-best Blowing Gum,” he wheezed at the statue before Dumbledore’s office.
Dumbledore sat at his large desk looking only slightly disturbed by Remus’ smell and torn robes. A small big-eared house-elf dressed in a towel with the Hogwarts crest on the front stood to the side. Dumbledore motioned for Remus to sit. He did, stroking his blond-grey hair and trying his best to straighten his robes.
“Our mystery man has taken another,” Remus said.
“Yes, unfortunately, he has. I believe he is responsible for several other missing wizards and witches. Tell me Remus, what was so familiar about this man?” Dumbledore’s blue eyes stared into Lupin’s amber ones.
“I don’t know. Just the way he moved, his posture maybe. I ‘m not sure. Just some sort of déjà vu. Do you have any idea as to who he is?”
“Yes, Remus I do, though if I told you, you probably wouldn’t believe it.”
“Try me.”
“Alright. Peter Pettigrew,” he said.
“What? But Peter’s dead! He died twelve years ago! He’s one of the reasons Sirius is locked up in Azkaban!” Remus cried.
Dumbledore must’ve eaten one too many lemon drops to think that Peter Pettigrew was alive! Remus thought.
“Listen, All that was found of Pettigrew was a finger. It would be simple enough to cut off his finger and apparate away after killing twelve muggles. With his family background, Mr. Black seemed a much likelier candidate to commit murder and betray his friends than Pettigrew,” Replied Dumbledore calmly. “I think that he will try to stay true to Voldemort and will try to take Harry Potter. I need you here to prevent that. Though Pettigrew was brave enough to pull off his stunt, I do not think he has enough courage to face you and will probabably stay away as long as you’re watching Harry. That should be an easy enough task with you teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.”
“I still don’t believe you, Albus, but if it means saving Harry from Voldemort’s grasp I’ll do it,” Remus said after five minute’s silence.
Dumbledore smiled. “Good, it’s settled then! This kind elf here will show you to your room. Goodnight – Professor.”
This post has been edited by lupinsmyman: Feb 23 2006, 08:22 PM
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OH MY COW!
What?
I couldn't afford a gosh, so I bought a cow.
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Year of the Dog Duel, Submissions
evlpez Year of the Dog Duel Jan 29 2006, 09:28 AM
Jan 29 2006, 09:28 AM
