“So...you think that the
darkest wizard in the world is cursing me?” Rachel asked me,
smiling slightly.

“Actually, Rachel, I do. I
think he knows about you and...that's it,” I answered. Rachel
nodded.

“What do you think he wants
from me?” she asked.

“I don't know. Maybe he
needs something you have...such as, the curse. Maybe it's
transferable...or something. I don't know, but we need to find out
soon.” I said. She nodded and looked down. She was still in the
hospital wing, but she was supposed to get out in a few hours, if
Madam Pomfrey “approved of her.” There was only nine more days
until the year was over, and summer vacation began. In other words, I
was officially an adult in nine days.

“Yeah, that's probably a
good idea,” Rachel answered. She grasped for my hand and held it
tightly. I brought my other hand to her hair and began stroking it.
She closed her eyes and sighed as I brought my lips to hers and
kissed her softly.

“Remus, I don't know if
we're safe -”

“Oh, yeah, I know we're not
safe,” I said. “He-Who-Must-Now-Be-Named is at the school and is
cursing you. Not safe at all.” Rachel frowned.

“But here's the thing: I
feel safe right now. I'm with you, and I'm happy, and you're going to
get better, you have to, or I
am telling you, I will never, never, be
the same. Never. So you need to get better. For me,” I said, a few
tears streaming down my cheeks. She wiped them away with her soft
fingers.

“I didn't know I meant that
much to you,” she whispered. I brought my head closer to hers until
our foreheads were touching.

“You don't even know,” I
said, and we stayed like that for a few seconds until Pomfrey came
bustling in.

“Er
– excuse me, Mr. Lupin, but this young lady needs medical
attention. And I don't think snogging her will heal her,” she
said, frowning at us. I sat back into the small plastic chair and
watched her examine Rachel again and cast a few spells. She ordered
her to eat some food, then turned to me.

“Remus, you should go back
to your common room. It's late,” she said. I shook my head.

“No, I'm going to stay
here,” I said, then frowned. It felt weird to say 'no' to a
teacher. But she just pursed her lips and bustled away.

I grabbed Rachel's hand and
gripped it tightly.

I sighed, frustrated. Of
course I couldn't have a normal relationship with a girl. I was
supposed to die in less than two weeks and the most powerful dark
wizard in the world was after Rachel. What a wonderful pairing.

Somehow, I fell asleep in the
hard chair, and didn't wake up again until I saw James tip-toeing
through the room.

“What is it, James?” I
asked. James tapped his watch.

“First class is in five
minutes,” he said quietly, glancing at Rachel. “When can she come
back?”

“She was supposed to come
back last night,” I said, then frowned. “But Pomfrey didn't let
her.” Right then Madam Pomfrey came into the room and nodded at me
and Rachel.

“Yes, Remus, Rachel is
better. There was severe injury in her brain, but a few obscure
spells solved that problem. She can go to class with you.” I
brought my face to hers and kissed her gently to wake her up.

She squirmed a bit until her
eyes flickered open. She winced.

“Hey,”
I whispered. “Our first class is in five minutes.” Her eyes
widened and she jumped out of bed – literally. She grabbed her
clothes from the nightstand and rushed to the bathroom to change into
her robes.

She walked back, looking
tired, but beautiful anyway. She winced every time she turned her
head, and she didn't seem to be thinking straight. Nevertheless, she
went to her classes, wrote notes, did everything she usually did. She
seemed totally normal, except the spark – the spark that made her
Rachel – it was gone. She was like a machine, writing notes and
eating and walking to classes and answering questions, but she wasn't
Rachel. I was probably the only one who noticed, but it was
definitely there. I didn't know exactly how until the next day, when
“Professor Delrid” decided to show his true profile and the
school at whole decided to break apart.