Chapter 4
Remus was wrapping up his Prefect rounds when a familiar voice called to him from down a corridor.
"Hey, Remus!" He turned and waved as Y/N strode towards him. "I was hoping I'd find you."
"Y/N, nice to see you, it's not your night for rounds though is it?" She shook her head.
"I wanted to chat with you, come down here, there's a place I want to show you." She turned and led the way to a secluded lounge area and gestured for him to take a seat opposite her while she sank into a comfortable chair herself. He sat hesitantly.
"We don't usually chat like this, what's up?"
"I just wanted to check up on you, with the full moon coming up and all." He froze, staring at her.
"What- what do you mean?" He was certain his voice had jumped up several octaves and cleared his throat a few times before trying again. "What do you mean?" She gave him a small smile.
"Remus, Remus, don't take me for a fool. It's just rude."
"I really don't know what you mean." She leaned back in the chair.
"You do. Don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone. If I was you would have been busted years ago." He gaped.
"How? When?" She shrugged.
"When? Middle of year two. As for how? I have a talent. There are very few secrets in Hogwarts that I don't know. Some people may call it a gift if you will." He swallowed nervously.
"And what would you call it?" She seemed to consider the question for a moment.
"What it is. A tool. It doesn't matter how I got it or what it is. Just how I use it."
"And how do you use it?" She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers.
"To help most of the time. Which is why I came to you. You're struggling. I wanted to have a talk with you." For a moment he thought about questioning the 'most of the time' part but a memory popped into his mind.
"Like with Peter." She nodded. "And you talked with James too at some point." She nodded again. "What'd you tell them?" A humored smile played across her lips.
"I'll never tell. But we're getting quite off track. How are you holding up?" Remus hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"You'll never tell?" She nodded.
"I swear." He hesitated again.
"Well, honestly not great, it's... taxing. Not just physically but... mentally as well."
"That's very fair. Anything specifically that's been bothering you?"
"Just..." he paused and glanced around, "I'm just worried that someone will get hurt." She nodded.
"That's a valid concern to have. You have a great heart Remus. But, let's take a step back if you can. Logically, bear with me here, logically is there any way for that to happen?"
"I mean something can always go wrong-" She cut him off.
"And the world could explode this very minute and kill everyone on it. I'm not asking for worst case scenarios, I'm asking, logically, in the situation that you and everyone else has created, can anyone actually get hurt?" He thought for several moments before finally responding.
"I suppose not, no."
"Exactly, you've created a safe, as much as it can be, situation. So all the guilt and worry you're feeling is, in a nutshell, quite pointless."
"But-"
"Now I'm not saying that you can just logic everything away because you can't. I'm saying that overwhelming yourself thinking of worst case scenarios all the time isn't accomplishing anything. You have a life outside of planning for the full moon. Go be you. Go have fun. Stop staying in the dorms reading everything you possibly can on werewolves and magical wards and go to Hogsmeade or your boyfriend’s Quidditch games, yes I know about that too, or whatever." She waved her hands vaguely. "You're a teenager, just have fun."
"How-"
"Like I said, there are few secrets in Hogwarts I don't know. But just, be you, enjoy your time. You're allowed to do that. Think about yourself for once. Be selfish." He stared for a few moments.
"Okay."
"Good. You've been making me miserable with all your worrying and I'm not even the one involved."
"Okay but like... how?" She shrugged.
"I watch people's eyes, you can tell a lot about someone through their eyes. Also I listen to everything, I have a good network, and I'm really good at lurking."
"That got really deep and then really creepy." She sighed.
"I know."
"How much do you know though?" A strand of hair fell onto her face and she blew it off carelessly.
"A lot. More than one ever should know."
"And when you said you used it for good mostly what did that mean?" She grinned.
"Well I wouldn't be a proper Slytherin without a few people under my thumb would I? Sure nothing I use for blackmail is particularly dangerous but oh is it embarrassing."
"Oh no." Y/N laughed.
"No need to be worried, I'd never blackmail you. I'm far too fond of you to do that. Like I said, you have quite a good heart, it's pleasantly adorable. Rather like a cute dog. But your rounds are almost up and I'm sure you have at least one person waiting up for you." He blushed lightly and stood.
"Thanks for the talk." She stood as well.
"Of course, I'm here if you ever need to chat." He nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind. And if you ever need to talk I'm not nearly as wise as you but I can listen." She smiled and cooed.
"Like a cute dog. I have to get back to the dorms now, goodnight Remus." She turned and in a few steps she slipped down a corridor and vanished. Remus just shook his head and set off for the Gryffindor dorms.