𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 [𝐑. 𝐋𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐧]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐁𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍

Song:
Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers)
"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone."

Remus didn't think he'd ever run so fast in his entire life. It felt as if an eternity had passed since the second curse hit Callisto's back, a red gash immediately spreading on the thin, purple fabric of her shirt and the protective wards broke down. Madame Pomfrey immediately rushed to her side, turning her over and checking for responsiveness, only to be met with nothing.

Remus only stopped when he was right next to them, a hand on his shoulder as the matron instructed him to lift Callisto and follow her to the Hospital Ward.

Three smashed ribs -because they were past just being fractured- and a huge gash on her back, accompanied by a mild concussion. It was one of the rare times the matron had placed someone on their side, bandages wrapped around her back to stop the bleeding and some type of cool, blue gel charmed to stick on her bruised ribs.

Remus had refused to leave, Narcissa and one of the guys or Lily joining him alternatively in between classes and breaks. Slughorn and McGonagall had come to visit her as well, the former looking as if he was the one with the broken ribs, while the latter looked positively enraged.

"Want a chocolate frog, Lupin?" Narcissa asked, looking up from her book.

"Ehm...sure."

"Okay, then go and bring me some as well." She responded, smirking at the annoyed expression in his eyes. "Such a grumpy face, aren't you, Lupin?"

"You're no real delight either."

"Hm, fair." She shrugged, glancing over at Callisto. "So, are you going for those chocolate frogs or no?"

"No."

"Callie would want you to go, you know." Narcissa pressed, her smirk growing wider at his visible irritation. "She really loves her chocolate frogs."

"Are you always this annoying?"

"Are you always this vexed?"

"No, just when my friend gets fucked over during a duel." Remus snapped, sinking back into his seat. "Who the hell hits someone behind their back?"

"I do." She chirped, shrugging. "So does Callie." She added. "And did you just call her a friend, Lupin? You're hardly that."

"What are we then?"

Narcissa could only laugh because the moment the words left his lips, Callisto stirred, taking in a sharp breath.

"Even unconscious she's onto you, Lupin." Narcissa said teasingly, her blue eyes gleaming with amusement. "Hello, sunshine."

"SHE WOKE UP!" Remus shouted to the matron, unable to hide the urgency in his voice as he almost jumped off his seat. "Listo, are you okay?"

"Are you blind?"

"Sorry." He sheepishly muttered, his cheeks flaring red. Callisto winced in pain as she slowly moved her head, a wave of nausea hitting her.

"Hello deary." Madame Pomfrey said, handing the girl a bucket. Callisto pulled it close to her and she leaned over, coughing violently as she got sick. The pain on her head only seemed to get worse from the violent movement, her eyes blurring with tears.

"When I said I wanted chocolate frogs, I didn't mean that..." Narcissa mumbled, looking at Callisto with wide eyes.

"You did quite some damage." The matron stated, the bucket disappearing with a wave of her wand. "Three broken ribs and that nasty gash on your back. The concussion was by far the easier to treat."

"Three?"

"Practically smashed." The woman confirmed. "Don't move too much, Callisto. The wound may reopen."

"Lupin's drenched in blood." Narcissa commented, Callisto glancing over at the boy. His grey shirt was stained red in the center, covering his stomach and chest. "Patching you up was just graphic, love."

"Blood-replenishing potion didn't do much." Madame Pomfrey explained, an apologetic tone in her voice. "Only dittany worked, but I'm afraid it will scar."

"S'fine." Callisto shrugged, as Madame Pomfrey lifted the gel from her ribs. The cooling sensation immediately left her skin, leaving behind a burning feeling that spread up her chest and shoulder.
"Drink these potions over here and then rest, okay Callisto?"

"Yes." She replied, sending her a weak smile. "Thank you."

"No problem."

The woman left four vials on the small table and walked away, disappearing in her office. Callisto reached for the first vial, the intense scent of the liquid throwing her off. Remus snickered lightly at her expression, immediately recognizing the potion after having to drink it every full moon. The girl held in her breath and downed it, refusing to let her disgust show as she quickly finished the other three potions.

"Did I win?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Pretty sure it was deemed a tie because he collapsed right after you." Narcissa answered, a triumphant smile on her lips.

"Is he here?"

"No, he gained consciousness after a while." Remus responded, fidgeting with the ring on his middle finger nervously under her cold gaze. "You didn't put your name?"

"I'm not crazy." Callisto stated. "You put your name though."

"James and Sirius insisted."

And I also want to bash Roi's face in.

"Pity." Narcissa snarked. "And I had you for a strong-willed one."

"No, Lupin has many deficiencies in decision-making." Callisto drawled, trying to look anywhere but his blood-stained shirt. He had carried her all the way there and she was pretty sure the voice she heard before the curse hit her was his, but the anger stirring in her stomach cancelled everything out.

He's just playing with you again. He wants you for one thing and one thing only.

"You can leave now." She stated coldly. "We're not exactly friends."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Yes, you are." Callisto insisted, her jaw clenching. "I don't want you here, Remus. Get it through your thick skull."

There it was again, the familiar storring feeling in his stomach that he wished he could get rid of. It was bubbling, making his skin feel hot and his head spin.

Fucking jealousy.

"Bet you'd want Roi here instead of me."

She scoffed, "As a matter of fact, I'd much rather it."

Don't you dare fucking leave me again, Rem, I swear.

"Give him my fucking greetings then."

He stood up and left the room, his nails digging deep in his palm to stop the anger from rising to his head.

He regretted it the moment the door closed shut behind him with a loud thud, but there was nothing he could do now. Was it even worth it anymore? She was worth it, that was for sure, but she didn't want him. He had done too much damage, and Callisto just couldn't forgive him anymore. Hell, he had no right to be jealous. He was the one that pushed her away. He should be happy, because she was safe from him, even if she hated his guts.

Remus Lupin really wished he was one of those people that wanted their loved ones to be happy, even if that meant they had to stay away from him. He just wasn't. He wanted Callisto to be happy, but he wanted more than anything to be there for her. It was selfish and went up against his basic instincts, but he couldn't bear the thought of her smiling in someone else's arms.

Remus slumped up against the wall, closing his eyes. Immediately, pictures of her unconscious body swarmed in his mind, the anger dying down to give place to fear. He could easily be the one that had caused her all this harm if she ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time. He buried his head in his arms, trying to control his erratic breathing.

I promised to protect her.

He repeated over and over again, trying to push over the selfish thoughts.

I should be happy she's getting over me.

Tears started pricking his eyes as his breathing started to finally slow down, a terrible realization settling over in his mind.

I'm a monster.

~ ~ ~

"No, Professor!" Callisto stated, annoyance lacing her voice. "This is bullshit!"

"I know it is bullshit, Callisto." Horace stated, taking a crystallized pineapple from the box he had brought for Callisto. The girl narrowed her eyes at the gesture and he cleared his throat, leaving the candy back in the box. "May I take one, please?"

"Well, since you asked so politely, yes you may." The blonde gingerly said, huffing in annoyance. "I'm a better potioneer than their best fucking official."

"As true as this is, Callisto, the law is the law." Horace insisted, smiling sadly. "You're under 18, the potion would never get approved if they knew you were the creator."

"Under 18 and a bloody woman." Callisto bitterly said, trying to blink back the tears. "It's unfair."

"Look, the potion is going to the committee whatever happens." Slughorn sternly said, shaking his head. "We'll just have to...maneuver around the rules."

"What do you mean?"

"An alias." The man stated, his eyes glinting with more slyness Callisto could ever imagine him showing. "A fake potioneer, if you will. A cover-up."

"A man, over 18." Callisto murmured, Slughorn nodding courtly in agreement. "You want me to lie."

"I want your achievements to get the recognition they deserve, Callisto." He corrected. "I checked the potion today and it's going swimmingly. In fact, I added some belladonna, and it should be done much sooner."

"And who will that person be?"

"Anyone you want." Slughorn shrugged. "I suggest you pick a pureblood sounding name, though. It shouldn't matter to them, but you never know."

"What if they want to see me?" She nervously asked, a million thoughts swarming in her head. "What if we get caught?"

"Potioneers are eccentric people, Callisto. Nobody would bat an eyelash if you refused an audition. Besides, there's a person in the committee who we can trust with this little secret." He reassured her. "She's going to be on our side, no doubt."

She nodded, a bit unsurely, "It could work."

"It will work." He stated with absolute certainty. "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Georgiev wants to see you too. I believe your aunt is worried."

"You told my aunt!?"

"It's the school's policy, Callisto."

Callisto looked at the door, where Ivan's head popped in and she shot him a dirty look, shaking her head disapprovingly.

Horace laughed, standing up, "Goodbye, Callisto."

"Bye professor." She greeted, taking the candy on her bed as Ivan nodded courtly at the older professor and sat down on the chair next to her.

"Wow, two professors on the same day?" She hummed, snickering. "I really am irresistible."

"Oh shut up, Callisto." Ivan snorted, shaking his head. "How are you feeling?"

"I can't feel shit." She murmured, pointing at an empty vial. "Ivan, you could cut my ear off and I wouldn't feel a thing."

"Your aunt was worried." Ivan said, handing her a chocolate bar. "She almost came here, but I told her you'd be fine."

"How adorable of you to comfort her, Ivan." She commented, smirking. "It's almost as if y-"

"Don't say it."

"As if you like her." Callisto finished, taking a bite out of her syruped candy. "I think she likes you too, you know."

"Callisto, your aunt and I are strictly friends."

"That's a lie." The girl stated, sighing. "But, okay."

It had been obvious for years that Ivan liked Elena, but neither of the two would ever admit it. They settled for each other's friendship, for reasons Callisto didn't really understand. Ivan had been great to both of them, and Elena deserved someone as caring as him. There was no reason for them not to be together.

"If you want to talk about crushes, let's talk about yours."

Her gaze hardened, "Fuck off."

"What happened between you two, huh?" Ivan asked curiously. They had stopped talking to each other in DADA, Remus looking at her like he was a lost puppy while she blatantly ignored him.

"Nothing of importance." She shrugged. "We're just not good for each other. Either way, it's none of your business. You're a teacher here, remember? I doubt a professor of your caliber would settle for gossiping with injured ladies over candy."

"Now, careful there, lady." Ivan laughed. "I'm still the same man who carried your teddy bears around for you."

"And you did a wack job at it too." She huffed. "Why the hell would you put Owl on a chair and not the bloody tree? Have you seen lots of owls sitting on chairs?"

"Have you seen many owls having tea parties?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I have." She responded, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "As I said, he's irrelevant."

"Then why are you so annoyed?"

"Because he keeps talking to me!" She retorted, huffing. "I don't want to talk, why is that so hard to understand?"

"If he was really annoying you, you would have poisoned him by now." Ivan pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "It's okay to like people, you know."

"That's rich coming from you."

"Some people are just better off as friends, Callisto." Ivan patiently answered. "Do yourself a favor and talk to him again. You're going to fail my class."

"Fuck your class."

"Just talk to him, okay?" He pleaded. "He cares a lot for you."

"Doubt it."

"You're such a difficult person, I swear." He sighed, shaking his head tiringly. "All Claire women are difficult, but you take the lead."

"Thanks, it's the self-respect."

"Or the incredible stubbornness." He corrected, letting out a laugh. "But that is okay. You learn to tolerate it."

She paused for a moment, curiosity gnawing her insides.

"How's the full moon?"

He seemed taken aback by her question, mostly because Callisto, just like her aunt, had never asked him about the full moon. What had made him become closer to their little family was that they never asked about it, unless it was to make sure he was feeling okay. There was no chatting about it, it was as if it didn't exist. He had asked Elena about it when he had first met her, and she had seemed genuinely confused.

Why would we talk about that? Doesn't make any difference, and it's too boring of a topic.

"Could be worse." He responded, shrugging. "Madam Pomfrey's a great healer."

"That's good." She hummed, nodding. "Does it hurt?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Not as much as it used to though." He admitted. "It's worse until you're thirty. Hormones and shit..."

"Or, maybe you were just fucking weird."

"You're so mean." Ivan said, laughing. "Bossy as a child, bossy and mean as a teenager."

"I wasn't bossy, Ivan. You just couldn't follow instructions." She huffed, unable to constrain a small, reminiscent smile. "Elena always knew what I was talking about."

"No, you were just bossy." He insisted. "Elena told me she had a niece, and you were five at the time, so I thought it was going to be this cute, little child. And okay, sure, you had your little flowers and your yellow tights and that goddamn teddy bear you'd drag around everywhere by its tail, but you were a demon spawn."

"Is it because I kept on calling you a zombie?"

"It's not exactly a compliment, Callisto." He mumbled, frowning. "Would you like it if I called you a zombie?"

"I wouldn't care."

"I'm not a zombie." Callisto snorted at the incredulous expression on his face. It would always annoy him, especially when the full moon was close. She had always found it hilarious, mostly because of his reactions. She had a long history of nicknames, including vampire, banshee, giant, troll and fairy, but she had settled on zombie.

"That sounds an awful lot like what a zombie would say."

"No." He stated sternly. "And stop being stubborn."

Callisto sighed, shaking her head.

"I'll think about it."

~ ~ ~
Idk about other fanfics, but in this one, the holy trinity of professors is Minnie, Slughorn and Ivan.
I don't make the rules
(Except I do)
Teenage angst in the first part of the chapter, wholesome Callisto and Ivan I'm the second part.
Stay tuned for more, shit is going to be going down until this final chapter.
As you may have noticed, this is a quite long fanfic.
I'd love to hear opinions on characters.
What would you like to see more of?