The Platform
On the night of the full moon in August, Nora lay in her bed reading. It was quite hard to read that night, trying to ignore the deafening silence beating around her. Dad always put silencing charms on the cellar so the neighbors wouldn’t hear her brother. The family never slept well on full moons, the fear of Remus getting hurt keeping them from resting. Occasionally Nora would even hear Mum cleaning the kitchen in the middle of the night from stress. Nora would usually read until hours after her usual bedtime. Mum and Dad never noticed though.
The next day, Nora awoke to the sounds of one of her parents hurrying past her door and soft murmuring from the room over. A glance at the curtains told her it was just past sunrise. Pulling herself out of bed, she padded over to Remus’s room in her oversized lilac nightie. The door had been left slightly ajar, so Nora peeked through.
Remus was sitting up in his bed, pillows squished in behind him. A look of exhaustion covered his face as Mum reassured him and gave him a potion that even Nora could smell from where she was standing. She could see a thick white bandage peeking out from behind his shirt collar as the boy drank the potion. Nora winced. That would be a new scar. She knew how much Remus hated his scars.
“Nora,” She didn't hear Dad come up from behind her.
“I wanted to see if he was alright,” Nora muttered, turning around to face her father.
Dad's face softened considerably. Nora could see the wrinkles around the edges. They got more distinct after every moon.
“You can see him later, when he's had some rest,” Dad told her, still in a stern tone. His eyes were still gazing softly at Nora. Though she could see the sadness masked behind them.
—
Both Remus and Nora had read all of the assigned first year books before September 1st. Remus’s favorite book was A History of Magic, while Nora’s favorite book was Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Remus would think that the depictions of beasts in that book would scare a small girl like his sister, but apparently living with a werewolf had hardened her up.
The day after the August full moon, Remus awoke to the sound of a page being turned. Smiling, he opened his eyes a fraction. Nora was sitting at the foot of his bed reading his first year potions textbook. Crossed legged, she looked so content studying the pages with some kind of ferocity to absorb the knowledge inside the book. It was not unusual for Remus to find this look on his little sister's face.
“I finished Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them last night,” Nora said in her quiet voice, not looking up from the book.
“How did you know I was awake?” Remus rasped.
“Your toes twitched,” she answered softly.
Remus smiled at his sister, wiggling his toes some more. She looked up and smirked back at him. Remus sat up with his back leaning against the pillows, flinching when the long gash along his side flared with pain. Nora noticed, he could tell, but she didn’t say anything
“I bet you that you’re going to be in Gryffindor,” she commented.
Remus frowned. “And why is that?”
“No other eleven year old would be brave enough to tolerate the pain,” Nora said.
Remus hummed thoughtfully. “I doubt it,” he said finally.
“Then what house do you think you’re going to be in?” Nora persisted.
“Let’s see.”
—
September 1st finally came. It came with a flustered family stuffing last minute items into a battered trunk and flooing together to Kings Cross Station. Platform nine and three quarters. The two siblings looked around with wide eyes. Students, in robes and muggle clothes, young and old, bustled around the platform. The younger ones were crying and hugging their parents, while the older ones hurried off to find their friends. The Hogwarts Express puffed white steam in the background.
Remus whirled around to face his parents, fear sharpening his eyes. “I don’t want to go anymore. What if they find out what I am?” he whispered.
Hope Lupin wrapped Remus in a hug, murmuring words into his ear. When he came out of the hug, his eyes had softened and he looked slightly more relaxed. The boy briefly embraced Dad too, who patted him on the back and said, “you’ll do great son.”
Lastly, Remus turned to Nora. Without a moment’s hesitation, she tackled her brother into a hug. “I’m going to miss you,” she breathed.
“I’ll miss you too,” Remus responded into her ear, wrapping his arms around her in a protective gesture. Because he will always protect Nora. And Nora will always protect him.
“Bet you a chocolate bar you’re going to be in Gryffindor.”
Remus laughed. “Well, it’s only two more years until you’re coming to Hogwarts too.”
A whistle blew. Time for Remus to leave. He detached himself from the hug and said his final goodbyes. Nora watched him as he weaved through the hordes of parents and the last students rushing towards the train. She watched the train blow a puff of steam and inch its way out of the platform. She watched kids stick their heads out of the windows and wave to their teary parents. She watched the end of the train disappear around the corner, other young kids chasing it.
Nora really was going to miss Remus.