Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) - Book One (Marauder Era)

Chapter Eight - What Kind Of Healer Kicks A Broken Leg?

"They aren't my friends, ma'am. I don't... have friends. I--I d-didn't think to tell them anything. Nobody asked me anything when I left." Remus thought about Pettigrew watching him pack a towel in his school bag, and Remus telling him he wasn't doing anything. "So they've been told I'm sick?"

"Yes."

He nodded and finished off the rest of the food. "'K, I'll say that if they ask when I go back. Could I have some more? Please?" he added after a pause, remembering his manners. Then he realized he had been carrying on a conversation like a normal person all this time, and his cheeks flushed with pleasure.

Pomfrey left to get him more food and he settled back to wait, yawning a bit from still being tired. He usually slept all day on the days during the moon, with the exception of meals. His eyelids started fluttering close then snapped wide open when he heard voices past the door.

"...why not? We want to give him something!" demanded the haughty voice of Black.

"I told you, Mr. Lupin is in no state for company."

"Just for a couple minutes, we won't make him worse," promised Potter.

"No. Now please leave the hospital wing unless you're injured."

"OW!!!" Potter suddenly cried out and Remus heard a great crashing sound. "MY LEG IS BROKEN! MERLIN HELP ME!"

"Mr. Potter get off the floor!" Pomfrey snapped.

"MY LEG IS BROKEN, MADAME POMFREY, I CAN'T!"

"Madame Pomfrey, please, look at him!" Black gasped out. "He's very injured!"

"Ouch!" Potter yelped. "Why did you kick me?! What kind of healer are you?!"

"Your leg is most certainly not broken and I did not kick you, I nudged you! Now get up and leave this instant before I spell you out!"

Remus heard grumbles and then a moment later the door to his room opened and Pomfrey came in with another tray of food. "I heard all of that," he said as she put the tray in his lap. "Th--they're not my friends."

"I don't think they know that," she said a bit grouchily. "If they try again tonight I will use force."

"Madame Pomfrey..." He finally slowed down with the eating and looked up at the young witch. "I d--don't understand why I'm brought back here. Wouldn't it be easier and safer if I stayed there?"

"Remus, you are eleven years old," she said sternly. "We are not leaving you alone in that house all day for multiple days in a row! Perhaps when you're a bit older."

Remus finished off his food and she took the tray away so he could drift back to sleep, dreaming about being in the house and everything kept growing... or maybe he was shrinking. They were very strange dreams, and he was a bit relieved when Pomfrey woke him up for dinner. All his wounds were completely healed by that point except for a pinkish fading scar on his leg, and he changed into his regular clothes (rather slowly since he still felt weak) so Pomfrey could take him back outside to the Whomping Willow. Isn't it more dangerous this way? he wondered, wanting to argue more. Coming and going every day?

Pomfrey took him to the house and left after he went through the trap door, not coming into the house this time. Remus read for the rest of the evening and then tucked everything away in the wardrobe to once again wait for the moon to rise and the pain of transformation consume him once more.

*

On Monday morning, Remus's body felt more broken than the night before but he was still able to limp to the shower after he finished turning back into a human body (or whatever that was supposed to be) to get cleaned off before Pomfrey showed up. He cried out as his soapy hands skimmed over the jagged flesh and at one point the pain was so much he passed out. He woke up to Pomfrey wrapping a large bandage around his middle.