we are a low word count, any level of experience rp set in harry's 3rd year at hogwarts. students and adults alike are welcome! given we are set fairly early in the series, everything that happens from this point on will be up to us! perhaps sirius black will be cleared and peter arrested, or perhaps something darker lurks in the shadows...
Post by Nymphadora Tonks on Jul 13, 2018 2:36:32 GMT
One would assume that Rose would have been the subject, but no, not this time. Shove moved, to where she could access and apply the salves to the gashes. Maybe she was trying to pull conversation in so she wouldn't focus too much on what she was doing. Or touching for that matter. She did have something to say about the subject of his sister, as something had been worrying her; the last time Tonks hadn't seen her in awhile and usually Rose was very hard to miss.
"Beyond contrary belief, this is not about Rose," she said with a giggle, "but no. I've been thinking about uh, Sirius, actually. That night when he broke in, something just didn't seem... right. Like they evacuated the students and everything, but, McGonagall just didn't... seem surprised or shocked he'd gotten in. Dumbledore seemed rather calm about the whole thing too. It's a shame he managed to sneak past again..."
Well he was a little bit relieved he wouldn’t be having to talk about his sister who he had shut out very well the past month or so right now. He could feel the guilt pulling at his heart, but it was a feeling he had grown used to – it was something he almost always had, partially because he would constantly do things like this and partially because ever since James, Lily, and Peter died, he felt it was his fault they died. Peter died confronting Sirius, being a brave Gryffindor while he sat there mourning and depressed. It should’ve been him, not Peter.
“What do you mean? Are you suggesting Dumbledore and McGonagall are working with Sirius? They would never. Dumbledore protected the Potters. He probably seemed rather calm because that’s just how he is all the time. A calm, intelligent man, a beacon to help those who are panicking to calm. I trust Dumbledore with my life and – I really hope that’s not what you’re suggesting… otherwise… I don’t know what you’re trying to say. Everyone keeps saying there’s a rat in our group and yeah, there was, literally. Peter was a rat when he transformed. I know everyone means in the figurative sense, but… it hurts almost? He was a good man, he went after Sirius like a true Gryffindor after he betrayed us and he died for it. All that was left was a finger.”
He takes in a deep breath after the short little ‘I trust Dumbledore’ speech followed by those feelings that had been bubbling over. He knew that there were people like his sister trying to make things not as bad – maybe he could have one person still, but that was not how it was. There were so few people who knew, and they were all dead, Sirius, or Remus himself. Unless somehow James, Lily, or Peter miraculously survived being killed, there was no debate left.
Post by Nymphadora Tonks on Jul 14, 2018 4:10:52 GMT
She shook her head, "no. I'm not eluding to that at all."
But then he mentions Peter, and it was like another piece of the puzzle clicked into the place. Still, things just weren't adding up.
"I'm just saying, from the pieces of the story I've gotten, what has been defined as the truth, just doesn't sit right with me. That's all I'm trying to say."
She sat back, trying to think of a way to explain this delicately, "Like there's something more to this story we're missing."
She sighed, she wished she could elaborate more, but, she honestly just couldn't. However, the thought of rats reminded her. "Say, I've been trying help this kid out, Ron Weasley, I think? It seems his girlfriend's cat - has chased off his rat. Can you do me a favour and keep an eye out for it as well for me? I told him I would look for it while patrolling, but it seems like he's just vanished. The kid gave me a very specific description too." She went on to describe the poor creature. How pathetically thin it looked and apparently it had been loosing quite a bit of hair recently. A very familar description to the right person. "Kid claims it's because the cat has stressed him out since it seems to be keen on eating him."
Tonks rolls her eyes. "One of its paws is missing a toe, as well. Says the rat's been in his family for about twelve years. Showed up in their family garden and looking as if it had been attacked by a dog."
Remus stared at her for a moment, his breathing becoming a bit uneven, slightly flinching at the salve when she mentioned the rat that had gone missing. He quickly pulled the sheet off and reached for his shirt from a bag near the bed, having moved a little bit too fast, but he ignored the pain. He’d felt a lot worse pain before, and right now he was attempting to reconcile these facts. The cat she was referring to was Crookshanks he believed, given that Ron Weasley was friends with Hermione Granger, the owner of said cat who seemed to like him for some reason. While they weren’t dating, they could be misconstrued as such from an onlooker.
“I’ve got to find that map.” Those were his words and he was sure she would try to stop him from moving – and if Madame Pomfrey saw him moving like this she was likely going to have a lot of words with him about it. But this was important. There was a possibility… it was just too much of a coincidence.
Post by Nymphadora Tonks on Jul 14, 2018 4:25:10 GMT
"Whoa, whoa!" her hands were on his shoulders gentle and firm. Something, something had changed. Map? What map? She blinked, looking to him. "What's going on Remus?"
There was a look in his eye that told her that she had said something... shocking. And he had mentioned a map. This was what she was feeling. There was more to the whole preconceived truth that everyone had been led to believe. She gave him a firm squeeze of the shoulders, looking him over once to make sure he hadn't reopened any wounds.
He took in a pained breath and looked to her, shirt in his hands. It was almost a look of… hope? There was so much going through his head with the description of that rat, with everything that was going on. There was so much that would make sense, things that didn’t make sense before. How would Sirius have known Harry was at Hogwarts – not quite just that, but he would likely have started saying ‘he’s at Hogwarts’ when Harry turned 11 if he guessed it, not during his third year. So, something had to have changed. He didn’t know about the Weasleys getting in the paper recently, so he didn’t have that piece to connect yet.
“Dora, you’re job is to catch Sirius Black. But…” He held himself around the middle where the most pain was coming from. “Back when I was in school, James, Peter, Sirius and I created a map that would tell you where everyone in the school could be found – but with one caveat: we were the only ones who could see each other on the map. It helped us get out of trouble, avoid people like Filch, and things like that.”
He looked down for a moment and then back to her. “That cat, he likes me for some reason. He’s very intelligent and I think he might be part kneazle, and you know that means very high intelligence. Animals have a unique ability to sense… things in people and other beings and if – if that cat sensed… and realized…”
He trailed off realizing he likely wasn’t making any sense. “I spent years with those boys, and I know their forms better than anyone else that wasn’t part of our group. Around them, during… that time, I would calm down and I would be able to reclaim my mind around them. What you just described to me about that rat… and the fact it was… 12 years ago. Attacked by a dog. Missing a finger. What if… Peter survived? And if he did… What if Sirius is innocent?”
Post by Nymphadora Tonks on Jul 14, 2018 4:46:20 GMT
Eyes wide, she sat there, looking at him, her brows suddenly furrowed in thought and she threaded her hand through her hair, taking this information in.
It was mind-boggling, but it only further led her to believe that her gut instinct had been right. There was more to this than everyone let on.
"It seems this rat has found a really good hiding spot, somewhere on grounds, and I for the life of me cannot seem to locate him. It's almost like it doesn't want to be found if that makes any sense? Normal garden rats you'd come across eventually, as they'd come out for food, or whatever. But it's been weeks since I'd told him I'd look."
That, in itself, was just strange. "Well, I guess the first thing we gotta do, is to locate that map of yours then? Do you think you'd know where it might be? Any clues?"
It was a big leap in faith, but he was willing to make it out of desperation of wanting someone even if that meant he had been wrong for twelve years. He also had to keep in mind it could be wrong and not to get his hopes up too much. But he wanted this so bad because then it would mean he wasn’t alone when it came to the people from school. He would have someone from earlier that wasn’t his sister - a friend.
He gave Dora the happiest smile he could muster and quickly pushed himself to kiss her happily and fully. ”The Weasley twins. Rose told me they had our map. I’ve been meaning to collect it from them but the couple of times I’ve encountered them they didn’t seem to know what I was talking about - they did obviously but they wouldn’t tell me about it. Probably afraid I’d give it back to Filch.”
Post by Nymphadora Tonks on Jul 14, 2018 18:42:22 GMT
Whatever she had been thinking about, she completely lost when his lips touched hers. Now, he had done this before, but each time, there had been a twang of bittersweetness. This, however, was different. It was... it was almost like hope. Her heart pounded against her chest. SHe was getting through to him! Excellent. Rose will be happy to hear about that...if she could figure out where the girl had hidden away. Seems like the two of them had a switch in personalities. She responded instantly, kissing back. But he had pulled away much too quickly.
However, upon hearing about the Weasley twins, she groaned. "Did you know they blew up a toilet in their first year? Part of me wished I wasn't so focused on exams that year - they would've given me a run for my money on pranks, those two. But that just means it's going to be difficult. Rose seems to be good friends with them? Maybe she can ask to borrow it?"
It was then she looked down and saw the darkening of the bandages around his midsection and she sighed, waving her wand to summon over the supply cart with bandages. Pomfrey would kill her if she had to redress him. "But for now, you need to calm down. You've reopened your wounds. Weasley twins aren't going anywhere."
She gently pushed him back into the bed and her sleeves up and moved to sit on the edge. Now, to be honest, she could've just severed the bandages from him, but girl-in-love instinct told her unwrapping them the hard way and being so intimately close was a better option. She was just innocently changing his bandages! Sure, Nymphadora, sure. Keep telling yourself that. But if an excuse to be close to him arose, take it she would. She was focused on what her hands were doing, 'innocently' trailing touches along his skin as she removed the soiled bandage. Bandages removed, she shifted to retrieve the salve from the bedside table, eyes ghosting a gaze to his ad she once again 'focused' on the take before her. His torso was littered in scarves and if her teachings on werewolves were correct, most of them were self-inflicted. If they had been in a more private place, she would have kissed every single one of them, if only in hope to take the dull pain from each. But she did not want to face the wrath of Madam Pomfrey. A softly muttered 'tergeo' had the blood cleared away and she was able to apply the salve. Again.. gentle touches, but she couldn't help but be teasing with them as well.
Remus laughed when she noted about the twins and he shook his head. Honestly, if the map were to fall into anyone’s hands, their younger selves would be proud it fell into those two’s hands because everything he heard and saw about them made him think of his little group more and more. Especially James and Sirius, the best of friends who would team up on everything. James would be so proud of those two, and honestly if Remus hadn’t been pining over lost time he would be proud and also try to control those boys, just like he tried to control his little group.
“Perhaps, but I would have to talk to Rose about that. I don’t know if she even wants to see me.” Remus sighed looking as she started to undo his bandages. He did feel the pain, but he had been so used to it, he normally would just ignore the pain. However, as she started to undo the bandages, he wondered why she didn’t just use magic to undo them, but he could feel her gentle touch and her closeness.
“Sorry, I got… excited. If I’m right – if we’re right, if – Peter is still alive…” Remus clenched his fists and then looked to her eyes which were fairly close. He felt her fingers along his scars as she started to apply the salve and he let out a shaky breath, closing his eyes and leaning back against the pillow. “Dora, can I see that note I gave you?”
Post by Nymphadora Tonks on Jul 15, 2018 2:22:49 GMT
"To be honest with you," she said, finishing up with the salve and cleaning her hands off. "I think she needs you more than ever. It's been awhile since even I have seen her, even, and the last time I saw her... she honestly didn't look.... like herself. Like something was bothering her."
She smiled at him, kissing his cheek. "No, I understand. It changes everything you were told."
She finished up with wrapping the bandages and made sure everything was back on the card in an orderly fashion (ie in the same places she found it); and rose a brow at him. She fished the note out of the same place she had last put it, like it hadn't even moved and held it out to him, curiosity in her gaze.
“I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe she never wants to see me again, I don’t know.” He shrugs watching as she cleaned off her hands. “I’m not an easy person to get along with, especially when it concerns people like her. We’re oil and water, she and I. We’re… a lot alike but we’re also very different.” He sighs looking away for a moment.
When she took out the note he quickly summoned a quill and used his knee to scribble something out and writing something under the original note. He folded it up and handed it to her. It would feel a little bit heavier than before, not by much, but a little bit. “The same… rules apply. Until everything is over with Sirius, or you are completely sure whatever is in there will not affect you nor our relationship until after Sirius is dealt with, you keep it unread.”
Post by Nymphadora Tonks on Jul 15, 2018 4:51:50 GMT
She frowned and shook her head, "I don't claim to know what happened between the two of you, but, she's sought me out a number of times before this, seemingly just to talk. But even I know heartbreak when I see it."
She trails her fingers against his cheek, threading them through his hair. "I know it's hard for you because you don't want to be a burden. But like me, she doesn't care. She just doesn't want to see you hurt anymore; she just wants you happy. She wants the best for you as you want the best for her. She wants your trust and your love. She wants to be apart of your life, just as much as she wants you to be apart of hers. It's not hard for anyone to see how unconditionally she loves you."
The slight heaviness of the note now peaked her curiosity and she looked to him, expression serious. Every part of her wanted to open this note now, all her faith and trust in him now. But she also didn't want to seem brash. She was sure the first thing he wrote had been that he was a werewolf. Too bad Sirius ruined that one. She tucked it into the same spot from before. "I tell you, it won't. But we'll let this settle for now."
“A lot of things happened, Dora.” He took in a deep breath and gave her a sweet kiss on her cheek. “I love her, but… There’s just some things I can’t do that she wants me to do. She might not care… but I do.”
He places a hand along his chest where the bandages were, holding himself tightly. “When I was very young, before… everything happened, do you know what I wanted to be? I wanted to be just like my father, catching the ‘nasty werewolves’ and saving people.” He looked away a guilty look on his face. There was a lot he wanted to say, a lot he probably should say, but he stopped himself from going too far into the self-deprecation as she likely wouldn’t appreciate that. “How can I save people when I’m the one that causes them harm? How can I save people when I’m constantly being saved by others?” There we go, that’s not as bad as he could’ve said. Good job Remus for not completely destroying everything with your words.
“When – When – When you do read it, I want to be there for it.”
Post by Nymphadora Tonks on Jul 17, 2018 17:14:01 GMT
"Funny enough, life, uh, finds a way to changing people's thoughts and feelings," she said. "And you can still be that person, you've just learned a whole new perspective. That werewolves aren't all terrible people. They, in fact, are victims of a terrible crime. But given on what they decide to do after they're attacked, how they choose to live their life, determines how they should be judged."
She saw the look of guilt and kissed his cheek. "You chose to hide away in order to protect your loved ones and it was a very heavy sacrifice. But we're telling you that you don't need to do that anymore. There's strength in numbers, Remus and you'll find that helping loved ones, or saving the whole world, is best done with others. It's a kind of what comes around goes around sort of thing."
She brushes her thumbs along his cheeks softly, smiling. "Your sister is well aware of your sacrifices and she believes you've paid enough dues to the world, and it's time for it to pay you back, and if she's the one to do it, she will."
