ENIGMA

ENIGMA

Chapter 3-Friends For Sure

Michelle and Severus had formed a friendship. Both now knew what it was like to be at the end of James and Sirius’ pranks.
But what Michelle didn’t know is that Remus walked away from James and Sirius. Michelle and Severus entered the courtyard and were sitting on the stone benches in front of the fountain.
Remus decided to take a walk and found them out there.
He pulled his robe righter around him and his Prefects badge catching the sunlight. He had to tell Michelle that there was a Prefects’ meeting that afternoon and that they had to get to the empty classroom on the fourth floor around 4 o’clock.
He nervously began approaching them. Michelle was leaning close to Severus, who had an opened book on his lap. Michelle’s hazel eyes were skimming the paragraphs and mouthing the words as she read. Severus whispered something to her. A gust of wind fluttered her chocolate brown hair, blowing it back away from her face and exposing small diamond stud earrings in her ears.
Remus’ heart fluttered slightly.
She looks so pretty like that. Remus found himself thinking. Again, he shook his head, but he knew damn well he meant to think that.
As he approached, he caught site of the spine of the book.
Lycanthropy
His heart suddenly froze.
Michelle looked up.
“What do you want?” she asked coldly.
“I-I just wanted to let you know that there’s a Prefects meeting this afternoon around 4 Pm,” Remus said.
“Thanks,” she said and returned her attention back to the book.
“I-I also wanted to let you know that I walked away from James and Sirius,” Remus went on hoping that she would accept his apology for not saying something to them.
“Well, congratulations,” Michelle said sarcastically. “You get a blue ribbon for opening your eyes.”
“Wait,” Severus said suddenly. “You walked away from them? I didn’t think that was possible.”
Remus’ green eyes never left Michelle’s.
“Can I talk to you, Michelle?” he asked.
“What for?”
“Please?”
“Ugh, fine,” she said and handed the book back to Severus.
Remus pulled Michelle aside away from the ear shot of Severus.
Michelle stood in front of him with her arms folded over her chest. Remus faced her.
“What is it, Remus?” Michelle asked stiffly.
Remus knew she was really angry with him because she always called him ‘Moony’ whenever they were alone.
“I just wanted to apologize, Michelle,” Remus said. “I should’ve said something to those jerks a long time ago.”
“Duh,” Michelle snapped. “But instead, you let Sirius grab me in the library, you let James bewitch my mirror to show an old, fat hag, you let Sirius steal my clothes that time when I was in the shower and I had absolutely nothing to wear but a towel that I had to wear into the Great Hall at dinner time and endure taunts, catcalls and someone throwing me some tampons as it was my time that month.”
Her hazel eyes were narrowed with anger.
“I really enjoyed that little detour,” she added venomously.
Remus inhaled.
He knew he should’ve said something. He began mentally kicking himself. He hung his head.
That had been one of the cruelest things Sirius had done. It had actually been him throwing the feminine products at Michelle but no one told her.
“I know,” he said quietly. “I’m really sorry about that. But I’ve walked away from them now. I want nothing to do with them. I just want you to be my best friend again.”
Michelle’s anger didn’t falter.
“Then, you let James and Sirius pressure you into staying with them because they didn’t want you to be friends with me,” she went on. “You let them dictate you because you’re afraid to stand up to them. Obviously I took it as though you agreed with them and you were scared to stand up to them. I understand they’re your friends too, but so am I.”
Before Remus could reply, James and Sirius stepped out into the courtyard.
“Look at that,” Sirius cracked. “It’s a whole family of losers!”
Remus narrowed his eyes and involuntarily stepped in front of Michelle.
“One of which USED to be our best friend,” James added glaring at Remus.
“Back off,” Remus snarled. “Michelle has more class then you two.”
“Whoa back talk!” Sirius laughed.
Remus reached into his robe and his hand clasped around his wand, slowly pulling it out and lowering it against his side with his arm.
The tip of the wand was pointed to the ground.
James had seen it and in a flash had his own wand out. He flicked it and Remus flew backwards, his back hitting the stone fountain, then crashing into the water itself.
“Remus!” Michelle cried momentarily forgetting how angry she was at him.
She rushed over to the edge of the fountain and leaned over, turning Remus onto his back. He was soaked from head to toe, but had a bleeding gash on his temple that mixed with the water streaking down his face.
Michelle looked up at James.
“You’re a sick bastard,” she rasped at him. “Attacking him like that.”
“Anyone associated with you is now an enemy that we have to get rid of,” Sirius said stiffly.
“Fuck you,” Michelle spat.
James flicked his wand at Michelle so that her skirt rode up and as she frantically tried to get it to calm down, the more it stayed like that.
“Look, Sirius,” James said mockingly. “Looks like Michelle’s in need of fresh drawers. Doesn’t she wash them? Cause I thought I got a whiff of something fowl.”
Sirius chortled.
Severus came to Michelle’s defense and shot the Stupefy spell toward James. It hit James right in the side and he fell to the side frozen.
Michelle’s skirt finally settled down again and she rushed over to Remus. Remus was slowly waking up and moaned as Severus rushed to his left side and Michelle on his right. They both swung an arm around their shoulders and glared at Sirius as they headed back to the castle and up to the hospital wing.

Remus finally woke up to find that there was a bandage on his temple. He blinked and saw Michelle and Severus sitting on either side of him on the cot.
“Thank God you’re okay!” Michelle cried throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. Her chin rested on his shoulder. Tears formed in her hazel/honey colored eyes.
Remus felt a tingle of warmth spreading throughout his body as she hugged him. He felt a twinge of heat rising to his cheeks.
Severus raised an eyebrow when he saw Lupin blushing when Michelle hugged him.
If they were best friends, why is he blushing like that? Severus wondered.
Remus caught Severus watching him with a raised eyebrow and quickly cleared his throat as he gave Michelle a quick squeeze and she released him.
“You’ve got a minor concussion,” Michelle explained to him. “But it’s nothing serious.”
Remus noticed his clothes were damp and remembered his short flight in the air before crashing into the fountain.
“Michelle told Professor Dumbledore what James did,” Severus explained. “Professor Dumbledore has ordered them to stay away from us. Also, we’ll be sharing the Slytherin dorms. She told him everything.”
“They’re in BIG trouble,” Michelle said. “McGonagall’s having them do 300 lines each and they have detention for a month.”
Remus sighed.
“That won’t phase them,” he said. “Right now they’re furious and thinking of a way to get back at us. It’s only going to add to their thirst for revenge.”
Severus got up.
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
He got up and left.
Michelle stared into Remus’ eyes.
“Look,” she said quietly. “It will be a while before I can accept your apology, but our friendship is going to mend slowly.”
Remus nodded. He was just relieved that Michelle was talking to him again.
Michelle put a hand over Remus’. At her touch, Remus felt a tingle running down his spine.
“Did you really walk away from James and Sirius?” she asked incredulously.
Remus nodded.
“Yeah,” he said. “They were really being jerks and I couldn’t stand it anymore. If they don’t accept you, they don’t accept me.”
With that a pink tinge spread across his cheeks when he said that. Michelle smiled and took her hand off Remus’.
“That’s sweet,” she said.
Remus had picked up on the way that Severus was looking at Michelle when he had come back.
Remus had to admit, he felt another tingle of jealousy. But he knew Maddie would probably go out with Severus because they had a lot in common. Both were the brunt of James and Sirius’ horrid pranking and endless tormenting.
Remus mentally kicked himself for the images that began flashing across his mind with Michelle and Severus snogging.
Remus shook his head, ridding his mind of those pictures. He was now focused on Michelle.

After a few days, Remus was allowed to leave the hospital wing. James and Sirius had served their detention at this point.
Remus and Michelle were walking down the corridor, heading to Potions class. James and Sirius began approaching them.
Michelle’s body tensed up and Remus glared at them with such anger that Michelle had never seen in him before.
“Leave us alone,” Remus snarled, his green eyes flashing.
Michelle oddly thought she saw an arc of jaundice creeping across his iris.
“We just wanted to see how you two lovebirds are doing,” Sirius asked. “We didn’t mean to attack you. We felt really guilty about it.”
“Sure you did,” Remus snapped.
“Will you come back with us?” James asked with genuine remorse.
“No,” Remus snapped. “You take me back, you take Michelle too or no deal.”
Michelle regarded them warily. They were known to take back what they say. Sirius was proof of that.
But something in their expressions had Michelle a bit curious too. She didn’t think they intentionally meant to hurt Remus and now felt extremely guilty for doing it, especially since they really could’ve given him a serious head injury.
James exhaled and turned to Michelle.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized earnestly extending his hand out to her. “We really feel bad about tormenting you.”
“Or is this some kind of prank?” Michelle asked tilting her chin up. “That once I accept you’re going right back to the tormenting?”
Remus glanced at Michelle before turning his eyes back onto James and Sirius waiting for them to reply.
“No, we mean it this time,” James said nodding. “We’re sorry.”
Michelle raised an eyebrow at James, but took his hand slowly. James shook it.
Perhaps these Neanderthals are slowly coming around, Michelle thought.
Although, she was still on her guard with these two. She didn’t trust them as far as she could see them.
Michelle was still warily watching them as Remus exhaled loudly and finally answered.
“Fine,” he replied. “But the minute I see you going to torment her, I’m gone…got it?”
Remus wasn’t used to giving people ultimatums, but he found he liked the new assertive side of himself.
But there was something about Michelle. He knew she had to be in his life and he couldn’t explain it.
Sirius gave Michelle a hug that startled her, but she slowly felt her body relaxing. Perhaps this time it was genuine. Sirius released her and then it was James’ turn to hug her.
Once that was done, Michelle looked up and saw Lily Evans approaching them. James let out a catcall whistle.
“Looking good Evans,” he called to her. “Want to come with me to the Spring Dance next month?”
“No,” Lily snapped at him scowling. “Besides, I just came by to talk to Remus and Michelle.”
Ignoring them, she lightly grabbed Remus and Michelle’s arms pulling them down the corridor to their next class.
“He’s so arrogant,” Lily hissed as they slipped into the classroom and took their seats. This time, Michelle sat down beside Remus. Behind Michelle and Remus were Lily and Peter. Peter was the only one who she talked to without scowling in frustration. Peter was actually understanding and he seemed like a good friend, he just confused sometimes and lost in the way to be popular.
“The only Marauder I talk to is Peter,” Lily scoffed behind them, giving Sirius and James a cold stare as they entered the classroom next.
“Marauder?” Michelle asked curiously turning to Remus next to her.
“It’s a nickname that we came up with…James, Sirius, Peter and myself,” Remus explained.
“Ah,” Michelle said and took out her supplies. She dipped her quill into an ink bottle and began writing her name down at the top of the parchment. Her chocolate brown layered hair was fluffed around her shoulders. She had pinned some of it back and clasped the hair with a light blue barrette. Some of the shorter strands had hung down, framing her angelic features.
Remus never realized just how cute Michelle really was. She had a heart shaped face, bright, clear hazel eyes that looked similar to a slightly darkened ember. She had the perfect nose and her lips were small, but perfect. Michelle was wearing am amber colored eye shadow with clear lip gloss. In her ears were small sapphire dangly earrings. Her Gryffindor tie was set neatly against her throat and tucked into the V-neckline of her sweater vest. Her robe was left opened, exposing the sweater vest and skirt. She had crossed her legs underneath the table. Her eyes skimmed over the parchment as Professor Tanner waved her wand over the blackboard and the instructions magically appeared in neat script. Every once and a while, Michelle would raised her head to glance at the instructions, then lower her eyes back to the parchment. Michelle looked up and caught him watching her.
She gave him a smile. He smiled back before she returned her eyes to the board.

When class was over, Severus pulled Michelle aside. Remus stood next to Michelle, keeping silent.
James and Sirius passed them and began tormenting Severus, but not Michelle. Perhaps things would be alright now between them all and they could get along.
“Snivellus, did we find our self a new girlfriend?” James taunted draping an arm around Michelle’s shoulder. “You’re going to have competition there buddy.”
“What are you talking about?” Severus sneered back at him. “She’s just my friend.”
“That’s what Remus says but we see the way he looks at her,” James went on.
Remus’ head snapped up.
Please tell me James didn’t….Remus thought to himself panicked.
“Shove off, Potter,” Severus sneered. “I’m afraid due to that large cranium of yours your brain simply absorbs helium instead of oxygen.”
Sirius was grinning.
“It’s true,” Sirius said. “Remus has a hard on for Michelle.”
Remus felt his face flushing with color. He didn’t dare look at Michelle because he knew she’d be rolling with laughter. Instead, he turned so sharply that his bag slipped off his shoulder and fell to the floor before he flew off down the corridor.