Chapter Thirty-Four
Game On
We're both looking for something
We've been afraid to find
It's easier to be broken
It's easier to hide
(First Time - Lifehouse)September 2nd, 1974Since the full moon fell on the first of September, Remus was not aboard the
Hogwarts Express. Instead, he had been Side-Alonged to school a day early so he could be
taken to the Shrieking Shack without bringing attention to himself.
Mia was taking her mother's advice to heart and decided to try and enjoy her life in
the moment—with Remus.
After the Sorting of new students and the start-of-term feast were over, she retired
to the hospital wing to wait for Remus, something she had not done for a few years. Madam
Pomfrey initially insisted on sending her back to Gryffindor Tower, but Mia had taken a
page out of her Slytherin mother's book and feigned sickness in order to stay the night.
When Remus was brought in the following morning, she was glad to see that his
wounds were not as bad as she remembered. She watched from her own bed as Madam
Pomfrey healed his back and the few scratches he had inflicted on himself, including a new
one across his chest. Had he not been wounded, Mia would have blushed at the sight.
Remus used to be very skinny, bordering on underweight, but playing Quidditch with
James and Sirius over the summer—not to mention the physical stress of his monthly
transformations—had put a little bulk on him.
When Madam Pomfrey stepped out of the room to let Remus sleep, Mia slipped
behind the curtain, sliding onto the chair beside his bed, and quickly took hold of his hand.
Remus yawned, slowly opening his eyes and turning his head to the side to look at
her. "Morning."
She smiled sweetly at him. "Morning."