A Broken Inheritance

Chapter 12: A Change of Heart

Remus chuckled softly, but there was something about the sound—something knowing—that made James glance up sharply. Sirius noticed it too, his grey eyes narrowing as he studied Remus.

"Wait a minute," Sirius said, leaning closer. "Why do you look like you know something we don't?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Remus replied smoothly, though the slight lift of his brow betrayed him.

"Oh, don't you?" Sirius pressed, his grin widening. "You know something about Gaunt. Something you haven't told us."

Remus sighed, closing his book with deliberate slowness. "It's not a big deal."

"It's huge," Sirius declared, practically vibrating with excitement. "You've been holding out on us, Moony! What is it? Spill."

Remus gave him a sidelong look, as though debating how much to say. Finally, he shrugged. "It's nothing. It's just that we've... crossed paths a few times."

"Crossed paths?" Sirius repeated, his voice a mix of disbelief and mock betrayal. "Moony! Have you been fraternising with my darling cousin behind my back?"

Remus rolled his eyes, but there was a faint smirk on his lips. "I wouldn't get too jealous, Sirius. Anastasia isn't exactly forthcoming with her life story."

"That's not an answer," James shot back, his frustration growing. "Come on, Moony. You can't drop something like this and then not explain."

Remus sighed, though his calm demeanor did little to quell the rising excitement in Sirius. "We've only shared a few conversations," Remus admitted, his tone casual, "And a bottle of dittany here and there. It's nothing dramatic."

"Nothing dramatic?" Sirius echoed, his voice climbing an octave. "Remus Lupin, you absolute traitor. I thought I was your favourite Black!"

"You're not even my favourite Black dog," Remus quipped, earning a bark of laughter from Sirius and a groan from James.

"This isn't funny," James said, glaring at Remus. "You—you've been talking to her? When? How?"

Remus's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of discomfort in his eyes. "She's caught me in the hospital wing a few times," he said, his voice quiet. "After full moons."

The table fell silent. Sirius's grin vanished entirely, replaced by wide-eyed shock. "She knows?"

Remus nodded. "She figured it out. Didn't take much obviously—she's clever, observant. Didn't press me on it, though. Just... started showing up. We've shared potions a few times for cuts and bruises. That's all."

Sirius stared at him, slack-jawed. "You've bonded over bloody hospital visits? That's... disturbingly on-brand for you, Moony."

Sirius leaned back in his seat, running a hand through his hair as he processed this revelation. "Merlin. I can't believe I didn't know. I mean, bloody hell, Moony, I thought I was your confidant."

"You're being dramatic," Remus said dryly, though there was a softness in his tone.

James stared at him, the jealousy curling in his chest sharper now. It seemed so easy for Remus to talk about it, so natural. But more than that, Anastasia's kindness—her willingness to keep a secret so deeply personal—felt almost impossible to reconcile with the cold, guarded girl he knew.

James frowned, leaning forward. "What does she even talk about with you?"

Remus smiled faintly, his tone careful but teasing. "Wouldn't you like to know?"