12123
Mind Walking And Other Incidents
Back in the boys dorm we could hear swearing coming from the bathroom as James battled to get the make-up off. Sirius had excused himself earlier, which left Remus and me alone. We were lying on his bed and I was still grinning from the success of the dare.
"You're very pleased with yourself, aren't you?"
I nodded from where I was snuggled up against him. "I don't think Sev knew what hit him."
If he was surprised at my use of Snape's first name he didn't show it. "Yes, the pick-up line was genius."
"Extremely corny, too."
He smiled and then looked at me slyly. "I've lost my teddy bear, can I have you?"
I sat up and whacked him with the pillow. "I think a wolf plushy would be better for you!"
He laughed, pushed me back down and sat with a leg on either side of me. "How dare you make fun of my very suave attempt to seduce you!" He leaned down and was about to kiss me when the door burst open and he rolled off onto his back, groaning.
"Michelle!" Lily marched straight up to me. "Would you care to explain why it was MY skirt James used for his dare?"
Hee hee, she said James again.
"Oh, you saw that did you?"
"Yes! It was hilarious!" Then another swear word emanated from the bathroom.
"Oh dear, he can't get it off can he?" I saw her repressing a smirk. "I want my skirt back."
Then she left the room.
Remus looked at me. I looked back at him.
He immediately rolled back over and pressed his lips down hard on mine. When he drew back I felt lightheaded.
He smirked. "Just in case we get interrupted again."
Soon after that James came out.
"Get this damn stuff off me!" He said gratingly.
"Okay wait here." I made a short trip back to the other dorm to get the remover. As soon as I had finished James strode out of the room.
I gazed after him. "I haven't upset him too much have I?"
Remus shrugged. "He'll get over it."
Signs of tiredness were starting to show on his face.
"How long is it till the next full moon?" I asked gently.
"Friday."
He didn't even have to look at a calendar. I grimaced.
"I have the guys though." He added. "They help."
Right, they were animagi. Come to think of it…
"Can I come with you? I asked suddenly.
"No!" His response was instant and sharp.
"But I –"
"No buts!" He gritted his teeth. "You're not coming and that's it."
It was clear he wasn't going to budge from his decision.
"Fine." I said moodily.
He surveyed me. "You're not going to give up are you? I could hurt you, Michelle. Stop being so stubborn."
I sighed; he wrapped his arms around me and pecked me on the lips.
"Don't you need to go see Professor Dumbledore soon?"
I glanced at the clock on his bedside table. I was already 4 minutes late.
"Yep, gotta go, bye." I kissed him again before jumping up and running down the stairs.
-)(-
Luckily it did not take me long to find and get up the staircase to Dumbledore's office. Once there the door swung open and I took a seat in front of his desk.
"Good evening, Miss Hunter."
"Evening, Professor. Sorry I'm late."
He inclined his head. "No matter, lemon drop?"
I shook my head, sitting on my hands.
What was with him and lemon drops? Crazy old man.
There was an (I felt) uncomfortable silence before he continued.
"I wish to explore the possibilities of 'mind walking' with you."
"You mean like I did with Lily?"
"Yes. I believe she would make the best person to try it on as she has already experienced it."
"Okay."
He pressed two of his fingers together.
"I do not think you will need to travel, in this instance. Perhaps concentrating on a person..?"
I blinked, "Now?"
He nodded. "When you're ready."
I closed my eyes and tried to picture Lily in my mind. Suddenly an odd feeling came over me, like my head was expanding. Yet I could still feel it there. I flinched as I suddenly felt Dumbledore's presence somewhere in my mind. I frowned, trying to concentrate on Lily. Soon I found her, the information entering my mind that she was in the Common room on the couch. I could picture the scene perfectly. Then she moved. I realised it was actually more like I was an invisible orb in the room, able to see everything. It was like my orb had tendrils and I reached one out to connect with Lily's head. Suddenly the scene disappeared but I was aware of Lily in my mind.
"Lily?"
Could she hear me yet?
"Michelle?" She sounded just like she normally did. "Is she in trouble again?"
"Lily, I'm in your head. Don't ask me how."
"Am I hallucinating?"
"No, I'm in Dumbledore's office. 'Mind walking.'"
"Cool! But uh… does that mean you can hear my every thought?"
"I'm not sure, but I'm not going to try."
"Thanks. Err, gotta go, can you terminate?"
I withdrew from her head, the tendril snapping back like a rubber band. I saw James was coming down the stairs and Lily quickly ducked behind a couch as he went past, obviously trying to avoid him.
Then I snuffed out the orb. I gasped as I bent over in the chair, my head felt like it was on fire from the inside for a second. It was weird being able to see out of my own eyes again.
Dumbledore was surveying me over his half-moon glasses, blue eyes twinkling.
"It worked?" He asked.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, feeling sick.
"From your reaction I would guess that you withdrew too quickly, it should not happen once you get used to it if I am correct. I trust you will not use this to spy on people?"
I shook my head this time.
"You seem to be very powerful already. I think it may be wise for you to have occulumency lessons to learn to block your mind. I will contact you another time."
"Okay." I bid him farewall before getting up and leaving the office.
-)(-
The next day I had potions last.
"Hi." I said, putting my stuff on the desk.
Snape grunted in response.
As usual Professor Slughorn wrote the instructions on the board. We collected the ingredients and straight away Snape started correcting the instructions, saying things like: "Crush it with the flat of the blade, it's more effective."
He still insisted on writing in the columns of his potions book, adding things here and there that he thought was better.
"Any comment today?" I asked as I added the latest thing to the cauldron. It bubbled and turned a pale green colour.
"Haven't I told you enough already? You must know my whole life story by now." He said wryly.
"I suppose."
"So I'm free?"
"I guess."
"Good."
-)(-
At the end of the lesson I went to the library to find a book to help me write my essay on vampires for DADA. I sat at my customary table and was just getting started when someone pulled out the chair opposite me and sat down. I looked up and a feeling of dread filled my stomach.
"So. You and Lupin, huh?"
It was Miles Sprint.
"Funny, seeing as you had just gone out with me a few days earlier." He continued.
"What do you want?" I asked. "I'm busy."
"I want to know why you ran away from me. We could have been so good together, Michelle." He reached for my hand across the table; I pulled it away from him and felt my stomach heave like I was going to be sick.
"I don't think so. I don't even know you properly." And you're a creep. I added silently.
"We could get to know each other… Why don't I meet you somewhere private tonight? You could bring a friend."
I tried not to let the revulsion show on my face. "No, I don't really –"
"You know you want to."
Suddenly a voice I was familiar with cut in that sent warm tingles all the way to my toes.
"I don't believe she wants to go anywhere with you, Sprint."
Remus! His eyes were smoldering with suppressed anger as he glared at Sprint.
Miles stood up and faced him, trying to look intimidating, which was hard as Remus was a good 6 inches taller than him.
"Yeah? Well I don't believe you can speak for her." He looked at me. "Are you going to let him do that?"
I looked up at him and shrugged. "Yeah, because he's right."
"Bitch."
Remus balled his hands into fists. I quickly grabbed one of his hands and pulled him into the seat next to me before he could do anything rash. He didn't relax until Sprint had left the library.
I hugged him. "Thank you."
"I hate that guy." He muttered darkly.
"I'm willing to bet a lot of people do."
Remus gripped my hand tighter. "You didn't secretly want to go with him did you? After all you did agree to go out with him before."
"Um… Actually, that was to make you jealous."
He glanced at me. "He's human at least."
I made a frustrated noise and hit him on the arm. "Stop saying that! I don't care! I like you!"
He turned teasing, arching an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? How much do you like me?"
I felt myself colour slightly and smiled, "A lot."
"Well I like you a lot, too."
Then he leaned in and kissed me on the mouth. It took me a few seconds to remember where we were.
"Remus." I hissed. "Wrong place."
He grinned and then stood up, pulling me with him by the hand.
-)(-
It was a long time before we both walked into the Common room, hand in hand. Cassie, Alison and Lily were all sitting on the couches by the fire and they looked over when we came in.
Remus smiled and kissed me on the cheek before retreating upstairs and I went to sit with them.
"So," Cassie said. "Where have you been?"
"Snogging Remus in a dark corridor?" Alison asked teasingly.
"No." I said. She was right though, sort of. He had pulled me into one of the secret passages around Hogwarts and engaged me in a very thorough make-out session.
"I hope you used protection." Lily said with a very straight face.
Then we all burst out laughing.
"Group hug!" Alison yelled out randomly.
So we all got up and hugged each other.
Then suddenly two other pairs of arms appeared around us.
"The hug bunny has arrived!." Said Sirius as he and James joined in our hug.
I laughed, feeling happier then I had in days.