Fire and Water

I\'ve completed this story and my others so if you likey and want more, i promise to add chapters every couple of days - all you have to do in return is REVIEW!! My ego needs feeding or taking down a peg or two.





Chapter Two



The first year at Hogwarts went by quickly. Remus, James, Peter and Sirius became great mates, known by the end of the year as the Marauders. They enjoyed practical jokes and spent many long hours in detention. Krystal became friends with James and Sirius, but held Peter at a distance - something about the boy made her uncomfortable.

Krystal, Lily and Severus’ friendship continued, in spite of them being in different houses.



Remus and Krystal developed a close friendship, much to the surprise of their friends. The two were different in so many ways, but seemed to balance each other perfectly. ‘Like fire and water,’ Lily once observed, and it was an apt description. Remus was a calming, soothing influence on the exuberant girl; able to get her to settle and focus when nothing else worked, and Krystal made sure he managed to have fun and laughter in his days; not allowing him to become too serious or introverted. Lily also grew to enjoy Remus’ company, although steered clear of the other Marauders, disapproving of their love of rule breaking.



Krystal grew concerned about Remus throughout the year though. He had been ill a lot, and his parents had been sick as well, Remus needing to go home occasionally to help them. She didn’t know how he’d managed to get good grades in his classes. He didn’t like to talk about it, and she was, with difficulty, respecting his wishes. For now, anyway.



Krystal had overcome her dislike of using her wand to become proficient with it, coming top of her class in defence, and doing well in her other classes. She became impatient over the summer holidays for school to begin again.

She had spent time with Lily and Severus over the holidays, pouring over their textbooks for the next year. She asked Remus to visit, but he wrote to say he couldn’t - that his family was visiting. They sent letters back and forth though, the frequency increasing over the weeks so they were writing almost daily by the end of the holidays; and on her twelfth birthday he sent her a card and a gift - a Sneakascope.



On September 1st, Krystal and her mother were waiting on Platform 9 ¾ as her father loaded her trunk, groaning at the weight of it. Lily came running up to her and they hugged, Lily squealing excitedly and Krystal laughing.

“You’d think they hadn’t seen each other every day of the holidays,’ grumbled Lily’s father to Mr O‘Connor, heaving Lily’s trunk up next to Krystal’s.



“Hi Krystal, Hi Lily,’ called Sirius, walking with his parents, who looked down their noses at the two girls and their parents as they pushed Sirius past them. They turned to wave and Lily saw James Potter and his parents coming down the platform, turning her back. Krystal frowned and waved at James, who waved back. Lily turned and stuck her tongue out at him.

“Lils, he’s not that bad,’ Krystal said quietly.

“He’s a jerk, Krys. You’ve seen him tease Sev,’ Lily responded, frowning. Krystal opened her mouth, but was distracted by the change that came over Lily’s face as she looked over Krystal’s shoulder.



“Hi Krys, Hi Lily!’ said Remus, walking up behind the girls with his father. Lily squealed again, and threw her arms around him, Remus colouring a little at the enthusiastic greeting. Krystal laughed as Lily let Remus go.



“Hi Remus,’ she said, waving from behind Lily. Remus smiled at her, his deep blue eyes sparkling when he saw her. When Lily moved, Krystal moved forward and gave him a hug as well, squeezing him hard. Remus’ father put his trunk on the train, and pulled Remus aside, speaking to him in quiet tones. The train whistle blew and there was a rush of hugging and kissing and promises to write and study hard, before the kids rushed for the train.



Lily sat with Severus, but Krystal shook her head, saying that she wanted to talk to Remus and would join them later. She followed the four boys to an empty compartment, throwing herself down in between Remus and Sirius. “How was your holiday, Krys?’ asked James, trying to shove his bag in the luggage rack.

“Good thanks,’ she said, ‘Yours?’

He grunted as he finally got the bag all the way onto the rack. “Yeah, pretty good.”



Krystal glanced at Remus, her face showing concern. “Are you alright?’ she asked quietly. She’d noticed on the platform how ill he looked, as though he hadn’t slept in days.

He nodded. “I’m fine. Did you like your present?’ he asked, his voice low.

She grinned. “I did. Thank you. I bought it with me. I thought I might be able to use it to tell when you lot are planning nasty pranks on innocent bystanders,’ she said, aiming her comment at James and Sirius.

Sirius laughed, and said, “I hope you don’t think Snivellous is an innocent bystander, Krystal. He deserves everything he gets.”

Krystal frowned, annoyed. “No one deserves all that, Sirius,’ she said, standing up. “I’ll see you later, Remus.” Remus opened his mouth to try and call her back, but she left quickly.



The first few months at Hogwarts went by quickly. One day, just after Christmas holidays, Krystal noticed Remus missing at breakfast again.

“Where’s Remus?’ she asked Sirius, a frown creasing her forehead. “Don’t tell me he’s sick again! Or he‘s gone home to help his parents,” Sirius looked at her, and she saw her worry reflected in his face.

“You don’t believe him either?” he asked quietly.



Krystal shook her head. “There’s something going on. No one is sick that much, and I saw his parents in Diagon Alley over Christmas - they didn’t look ill to me.”

Sirius looked around to see if anyone was listening. “He said before dinner last night he felt sick, that he was going to see Madam Pomfrey for a potion, but he never came back - I stayed up late waiting, but I fell asleep. His bed wasn’t slept in this morning, though.”



Krystal stared at him for a moment. “I’m going up to the infirmary,’ she said firmly, standing up. “This is ridiculous.” She strode off, hearing his footsteps behind her as she ran up the stairs.

“Hang on, Krys,’ he said, catching up with her. “Madam Pomfrey won’t let you in. We’ve tried before.”

She stopped, turning to face him. “Well, you’re the brilliant prankster. Think of something!’ she said.



Sirius frowned and looked at her, a sausage still in his hand. Krystal stared back at him, before she smiled, whipping out her wand and pointing it at him.

“Sorry, Sirius,’ she said, before raising her wand to shoulder height. “Waddiwasi!” she cried, watching as the sausage he was holding flew out of his hand and jammed itself up his nose.



He yelled, and put his hands to his face to try and pull it out. “Leave it,’ hissed Krystal, glaring at him meaningfully. “I’ll take you to the infirmary and get Madam Pomfrey to look at it.”

Sirius stopped tugging on the sausage and he looked at her, his face a mix of annoyance and appreciation.

“Next time, warn me,’ he said, as they turned and ran up the stairs.



Krystal stuck her head around the door of the infirmary. She didn’t see the nurse, but she could see the beds. They were all empty except one, which had a curtain around it. “He must be in there,’ Sirius said, his voice sounding strange with the sausage still stuffed up a nostril.

Krystal looked around again. “I can’t see her. Let’s go have a look and see if it’s him,’ she whispered.



They crept quietly towards the bed, getting to within a few feet of it before the nurse came out of her office and saw them.

“What are you two doing here?’ she said, striding quickly towards them, pulling the curtain more firmly around the cubicle.

“We…we were looking for you, Madam Pomfrey. Look!’ Krystal indicated Sirius’ nose. “Someone hexed Sirius, and we didn’t want to try and get it out in case we did some damage. It‘s shoved pretty far up there.”

She saw Sirius’ admiring look and shrugged modestly behind the nurse’s back as she took hold of Sirius and led him to a nearby chair.



“You can go back to your breakfast, Miss O’Connor,’ she said over her shoulder. Krystal was trying to look through the crack in the curtain, and started when Madam Pomfrey spoke to her.

“Oh. Well, alright,’ she stammered. She walked towards the exit, watching as Madam Pomfrey gave her attention to Sirius and his nose.



She stopped, backing up until she was creeping along the wall, slowly moving around the room, towards the curtained cubicle. Sirius could see what she was doing and did his best to keep Madam Pomfrey distracted. Krystal was next to the bed now, and she reached out to try and pull the curtains apart a little. The curtains squeaked a little as they ran along the tracks, but Sirius heard it and started complaining loudly, “It really hurts now!”

Krystal smiled a little at his dramatic overacting, then bit her lip as she slipped into the cubicle, closing the curtain behind her.



Krystal stopped, looking down at the bed in horror. It was Remus in the bed, but he was bruised and battered, his face and arms had cuts on them and he was an awful grey colour. Krystal felt her breath leave her lungs as she stared at her friend. What on earth had happened to him? As she stood next to the bed in shock, Remus stirred, his eyes opening.



He blinked a few times, groaning a little as he stretched. He caught sight of Krystal next to him, her face pale and shocked, and froze. “Krystal?” he said softly, his own face stunned.

“What happened to you?’ she whispered. “Who did this?”

Remus shook his head, looking away from her. “I’m fine, I….I got too close to the Whomping Willow.”

Krystal frowned. Remus was a hopeless liar, and she could see he wasn’t telling her the truth.

“Why are you lying to me?’ she hissed, her voice hurt. He looked up at her and she was surprised to see the panic in his face.

“I can’t tell you, Krys,” he whispered.



Before she could respond, she heard Madame Pomfrey’s voice, telling Sirius to hold still while she pulled the sausage out of his nostril.

“Don’t tell them about this, please,’ Remus begged once he realised Sirius was also in the infirmary.

Krystal looked uneasily over her shoulder, and then turned back to Remus. “Only if you promise to tell me what’s wrong,’ she said, moving towards the part in the curtains. Remus began to shake his head, but Krystal spoke again.

“Promise me, Remus or I’ll tell them - all of them - and they’ll all be up here.”

He stared at her, then looked down at the bed. “I promise - just don’t tell anyone,” he said, his voice low.

Krystal nodded, and shot him one last look of concern before disappearing through the curtains.



Remus heard Sirius yelp as Madame Pomfrey extracted the sausage from his nose.

“I thought I told you to go, Miss O’Connor?’ the nurse said.

He heard Krystal’s voice mumble something about checking on Sirius, before the nurse shooed them out of the infirmary. When she popped her head around the curtain, Remus looked at her worriedly.

“I think I need to see Professor Dumbledore,’ he said.



Krystal was sitting in Transfiguration class, supposedly turning a mouse blue, when a flash of green came from the fireplace, and a piece of parchment came flying out. Professor McGonagall caught it, glanced at the note and looked over at Krystal.

“Miss O’Connor, you are wanted in the Headmaster’s Office.”

Krystal looked up, surprised. She gathered her books together and left the room, with a worried glance back at Sirius, who was looking uneasy.



Professor Dumbledore was waiting at the bottom the spiral staircase for her.

“Krystal, come,’ he said, waving to the stairs.

He followed her up and opened the door of his office. She entered the room, stopping abruptly when she saw Remus sitting on a chair in front of a desk.

“Sit please,’ said Dumbledore, as Remus turned at the sound of his voice. He looked almost as sick as he had that morning, but now also had another look on his face - shame.



Krystal sat slowly on the chair next to him, looking from her friend to Dumbledore.

“Mr Lupin tells me that you paid him a visit in the hospital wing this morning, Miss O’Connor,’ the headmaster said, his voice light as he sat in a chair behind his desk. Krystal turned to look at Remus, who was looking at the floor.

“Yes,’ she replied, looking back to her cousin. “I was worried about him. He’s sick a lot.”

“I understand that you are concerned about your friend, but it is up to him whether he wants to tell you about his medical problems,’ Albus said firmly. ‘You will not tell anyone that you saw him this morning - whether Remus chooses to tell you or not.”



Krystal frowned and looked up at Albus, her eyes defiant. “What is so bad that he can’t tell me?’ she retorted, turning back to Remus, who was now looking at her.

“I thought I was your friend,’ she said, her face showing her hurt. Remus also looked pained, and turned his face to Professor Dumbledore, who shrugged his shoulders.



“I have told you that I think Miss O’Connor can be trusted, but the final choice is yours, Remus,’ he said, leaning back in his chair and eyeing the two children thoughtfully. He suddenly jumped up, having made a decision.

“Excuse me,’ he said, walking towards the door. “I will be back momentarily. Talk amongst yourselves.”



Remus and Krystal were both a little startled by the Headmaster’s sudden exit. They looked at each other, then Remus looked away.

“I’m going, too,’ said Krystal, feeling a little angry at him. Obviously, he didn’t consider her a friend; didn’t trust her.

She stood and moved towards the door, when she heard his voice say, “You’ll hate me.”



Turning back around, her anger disappeared when she saw the tear rolling down his cheek.

‘If I tell you, you’ll hate me, Krys. And…you’re my best friend, I don’t want you to think I’m……..” his voice faded and he shook his head.

“Remus,’ she said, moving quickly to crouch in front of him. She reached out and took his hands. “I could never hate you - no matter what you tell me. You’re my best friend too, Remus. I just want to help you.”

When he shook his head again, she said, “Nothing could be that bad. If you‘re ill,…..”

He interrupted her, looking at the floor. “I’m not sick,’ he whispered. “I’m…..I’m a werewolf.”

Krystal blinked: his words were the last she had expected to hear.

“What?” she said, not sure she’d heard him correctly.

“I’m a werewolf,’ he repeated, still looking at the ground.



Krystal frowned, staring at him for a moment before she stood up, letting go of his hands as she sat back down in the chair next to him. She looked at him, not knowing what to say. She’d never met a werewolf before, and didn’t know a lot about them, except how dangerous they were supposed to be. Looking at the skinny boy next to her, she found it hard to believe that he could possibly be the kind of creature she’d heard described.

“How? How can you be a werewolf? I don’t understand,’ she said.



“I was bitten years ago, when I was really little. Ever since, once a month at the full moon, I turn into a werewolf,’ he said, his voice so low and mournful she could barely hear him. “I’m not sick - I go to the Shrieking Shack once a month to change, then, when it’s over, I come back.”

Krystal thought about his absences - they were every month or so.



She looked at him, still not sure if he was playing a joke on her.

“How do you get to the Shrieking Shack?’ she asked, watching his face for a trace of a lie. ‘Isn’t it haunted?’

He looked up at her as he said, “Madame Pomfrey takes me through a tunnel. It starts under the Whomping Willow and goes all the way to the Shack. And it isn‘t haunted. It‘s me people hear in there.”

Krystal remembered the thought of his she had accidently heard last year - that the Willow had been planted for him.



“But how did you get hurt? You had cuts and bruises all over you. Did the Whomping Willow really do that?,’ she asked, still a little stunned by his announcement.

“No. I did it - when I was transformed,” he answered, his jaw clenching. Krystal’s face creased in concern.

“You did all that to yourself?’ she whispered, remembering how battered he’d looked. Remus nodded and Krystal reached out for his hand again, holding it tight.



Remus looked at her in surprise when she took his hand.

‘Does it hurt? The transformation?’ she asked, looking almost afraid to hear the answer. He swallowed hard, remembering the agony of the previous night.

‘Yes,’ he answered, his voice low. ‘It hurts a lot.’



Krystal saw the pain in his face and her own screwed up in empathy. “I’m so sorry, Remus,’ she said, her eyes filling with tears. “I was so horrible to you this morning and now I’ve forced you to tell me…..”

She shook her head, angry with herself for pushing him. ‘I’m an awful friend.’

“You don’t hate me?’ he asked, his voice incredulous.



She looked at him in confusion. “Why would I hate you?’ she said. Remus shook his head, unable to believe she wasn’t scared or disgusted by what he was.

“I’m a monster,’ he said, his voice cracking.

Krystal shook her head. “No, you’re not,’ she said fiercely. “Once a month, you are….ill. That doesn’t change who you are the rest of the time.”



Remus couldn’t believe she was being so supportive. Maybe she didn’t understand what he really was.

‘I’m dangerous, Krys,’ he said, surprised when she laughed a little.

‘Remus, I’m more scared of my dentist than I am of you,’ she said, her smile fading when she saw how worried he still was. ‘Did you really think this would make me hate you?’



He nodded, and she glared at him. ‘You don’t have a lot of faith in me, do you?’ she said, a little annoyed.

‘Most people hate werewolves, Krys - for good reason,’ he explained.

‘Well, I don’t know any other werewolves, Remus, but I know you,’ she said, her voice firm. ‘You’re no monster.’



She put her arms around him and squeezed him hard. ‘I don’t like you talking about yourself like that, Remus,’ she said quietly into his ear. ‘You’re my friend. Nothing will change that.’

Remus felt tears well up in his eyes as he put his arms around her and hugged her back. “Thank you, Krys,’ he said softly into her hair. ‘You’re a better friend than I deserve.’

She shook her head. ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she admonished him.



Neither of them saw Albus in the doorway, smiling in a knowing way.

‘Well,’ he said finally, entering the room, startling them and making them jump apart.

‘I see you’ve made a decision, Mr Lupin. Miss O’Connor, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how important it is that this stays a secret?’



Krystal shook her head. ‘I know how to keep a secret, Sir,’ she said with a smile at him. ‘Yes, I’m sure you do.’ he agreed giving her a wry smile. ‘There is no point in you returning to your class now, Krystal. If he is feeling up to it, perhaps Mr Lupin would like some company in the hospital wing for a while.’



Remus grinned. ‘Yeah,’ he said, grateful that he might not have to spend so much time alone now that Krystal knew his secret. ‘I’d like that.’

Krystal smiled as well. ‘You know, I really think Remus would get better faster if I spent the whole day with him,’ she said cheekily.

Albus chuckled. ‘Oh, I’m sure he would,‘ he said. ‘But it will not do for both of you to get behind in your classes. Go on, off you go,’ he said, waving his hands at them.



They walked slowly back to the infirmary, stopping occasionally as Remus tired.

‘Here,’ said Krystal, putting her arm around his waist.

‘Someone will see us, Krys,’ he warned, though grateful for her help.

She grinned and dragged his arm around her shoulders. ‘Then I guess they’ll think you’re my boyfriend,’ she said with a giggle.

He laughed too, but the thought that he might not mind if people believed she was his girlfriend flashed through his mind before he could stop it.



He could feel his face get hot, and he was never happier to see Madame Pomfrey, who fussed over him and got him back into bed quickly. Krystal watched until the nurse left him alone, then jumped up onto the foot of the bed, watching him carefully.



‘Do you want to go to sleep?’ she asked when he yawned. Remus shook his head quickly. He was tired, but she was only here until her next class and he wanted to make the most of having someone other than Madame Pomfrey to talk to.

‘Tell me what you did to Sirius this morning so you could sneak in here?’ he said.



Krystal laughed and told him how hilarious Sirius had looked with that sausage shoved up his nose. Remus laughed until he grabbed his sore ribs.

‘Ow!’ he complained, still laughing until he saw her look of concern. ‘It’s alright, Krys. It’s not that bad this time,’ he told her.

She frowned at him. ‘How bad is it normally?’ she asked, a little alarmed.

His amusement faded completely now, and he talked about his affliction, explaining what happened and how the wolf took its frustration and resentment out on itself. He saw her worry deepening as he spoke and, for a moment, wished he hadn‘t told her.







Madame Pomfrey poked her head around the curtains and told Krystal it was time for her to leave. She nodded and slipped off the bed, frowning at him for a moment. A sudden fear shot through him as he thought now she knew more about what he turned into, she’d decided he was really a monster, and wanted nothing more to do with him.



This was dispelled however, when she put her arms around him, holding him tight.

‘Will you be here still tonight?’ she asked quietly, as his arms came around her. He nodded, and she pulled away.

‘See you tonight, then,’ she said, with a smile. Remus felt relieved, and smiled back at her.

‘Thanks, Krys,’ he said as she turned around. She waved at him, and left the infirmary.



Sirius was full of questions when Krystal arrived in the Dining Room for lunch. ‘Well?’ he demanded, pulling her aside. ‘Did he tell you what was wrong with Remus?’

Krystal had kept her word to her friend earlier that morning. She had told Sirius that Remus was sleeping when they were in the hospital wing earlier, and that there didn’t look to be anything wrong with him. She looked at his worried face now and felt bad for the lie she was about to tell.



‘Someone saw me hex you this morning, and told the teachers,’ she said, having thought of this tale on the way back down from the infirmary. ‘I told Dumbledore why I did it, and he took me to see Remus.’ She took a breath.

‘He’s got a cold, Sirius. A bad one, but just a cold.’



Sirius frowned at her. ‘You’re kidding?’ he said, his face screwed up in disbelief.

Krystal shrugged. ‘I know,’ she said, and now I’ve got a detention tonight for hexing you.’ Sirius laughed, but said, ‘I’ll tell Dumbledore we were mucking around….’ But she shook her head.

‘He knows, but he said it was a dangerous thing to do and I need to understand that.’ She shrugged again. ‘He won’t change his mind. I’ll just do the detention, Sirius. It’s no big deal.’



After dinner, Krystal snuck up to the infirmary to see a greatly improved Remus sitting up reading a textbook. He looked up when she opened the curtains, and grinned.

‘I thought you might not have come,’ he admitted, when she asked him why he looked so relieved. She shook her head at him.

‘We really need to do something about your lack of faith in me, Remus,’ she said, pulling herself back up onto the foot of his bed.



‘It’s not that I don’t have faith in you, Krys,’ he said, not wanting her to think he believed her to be untrustworthy. ‘It’s just….well, you’ve had some time to think about everything, and…..’

‘And since I’m your best friend, its made not a bit of difference to how I feel,’ she interrupted, pulling a pack of Exploding Snap cards from her robes.

‘I’ve told you, Remus. It doesn’t bother me. You’re still the same person you were yesterday.’

He swallowed hard against the lump that had risen in his throat.

‘Now, stop stalling,’ she said, giving him a card. ‘You’re just scared I’m going to beat your butt at Snap again.’