Her.

Sienna couldn’t sleep that night. She might’ve gotten only an hour or two of sleep throughout the entire night, but once she woke up at three in the morning and couldn’t go back to sleep, she just decided to wait out the sunrise. She quietly got out of bed, changed and went downstairs.

She didn’t plan out that far ahead, but after a few seconds of stupidly standing still in the middle of the common room she decided to go on a walk around the school before sunrise, to take her mind off of the moon. So, she made sure she had her wand, and walked out of the portrait hole.

It was still way before curfew, and she knew if anyone saw her she would be in trouble. Sienna thought for a minute on where she should go, and finally settled on trying to find the kitchens. She’d heard a few Hufflepuff students talking about the food in the Great Hall, and wondering how it got there, when an older group of Hufflepuffs explained that there was a huge kitchen in Hogwarts, and a giant group of elves who made all the food.

Sienna had no idea how she was going to find the kitchens, but she settled on just walking around the halls, and (taking advice from her brother) checking behind every tapestry and every painting.

She was walking through a narrow hallway on the second floor when a ghost flew out of a random wall and bumped into her. Well, more flew through Sienna and out the other side. Sienna felt a weird cold and shivery feeling when the ghost flew through her.

“Um? Where’s your ‘sorry’?” She asked the ghost. She always had an attitude in the morning, especially the mornings with the full moon, so she was incredibly annoyed at how the ghost just flew through her and didn’t even apologise.

“Excuse me?” The ghost seemed appalled that Sienna would even think to talk to them. “Do you know who I am, Mudblood?”

“I mean, no, it’s only my third day, but seeing as you made a blood purity comment I can only assume you’re something to do with Slytherin?” Sienna answered.

“You think you’re so smart, do you, little girl?” The ghost snarled at Sienna. She only shrugged in response. The ghost sighed, and introduced himself, “I’m the Bloody Baron. Slytherin house ghost.”

Sienna smiled smugly to herself, as her assumption was correct. She stuck her hand out like she always did when meeting new people.

“Sienna Lupin.” She said. The Bloody Baron rolled his eyes at Sienna’s hand, but Sienna didn’t back down and pushed her hand further towards the ghost.

“How do you suppose I do that?” The Bloody Baron sighed at Sienna’s hand.

“I’m trying to teach you manners.” Sienna responded. “Just because you’re a ghost doesn’t excuse your poor behaviour. Now come on, Bloody Baron.” She spoke the last words as if mocking the ghost.

The ghost eyed her hand wearily for a few more seconds, before sighing and sticking out his own hand. Sienna grasped the cold air around his hand and bobbed her hand up and down, as if shaking his hand. The Bloody Baron copied Sienna’s movements.

“See?” Sienna said, retreating her hand and dropping it at her side. “That wasn’t hard, was it?”

“You’re an annoying little girl, you know that?” The Bloody Baron spat.

“Thanks.” Grinned Sienna. “Now, apologise for bumping into me.”

The ghost grumbled under his breath like a little kid who just got put into timeout. “Sorry.” He mumbled at last.

“Perfect!” Sienna smiled sweetly. “Oh also, would you happen to know where the kitchens are?”

“Why?” The ghost raised his eyebrow.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Sienna scoffed. “Just tell me.”

“What will you give me if I do?”

“I won’t tell anyone how nice and polite the Bloody Baron is.” Sienna smirked.

The Bloody Baron seemed to think it over for a few seconds, before sighing and saying,

“Take a right down this hallway, then down the stairs, and keep walking ‘till you see a painting of a bowl of fruits. Tickle the pear and you’re in.”

Sienna smiled, “Thank you, Baron.” As she turned around, she waved a hand saying “Bye!” and she could swear she could actually see the ghost smiling ever so slightly as he said ‘goodbye’ back.

Sienna took a right when she came to the end of the hallway, and there were stairs just like the Bloody Baron said there would be. Then, she walked through the hallway at the end of the stairs and after a minute or two, she found that same painting the Bloody Baron was talking about.

There was a bowl of fruits illustrated on it, with two apples, a banana, a pear, and a pineapple. Sienna lifted up her hand towards the pear, and tickled it. She felt a bit silly doing it, but when the painting swung back and an entrance to the kitchens opened up, that feeling melted away.

If Sienna was being honest, she was half expecting the Bloody Baron to trick her and give her the wrong directions. But as she was walking through the kitchen filled with little elves running around she couldn’t help but think smugly at how she cracked the Slytherin house ghost and actually sort of befriended him.

The elves didn’t seem to notice Sienna at first, but when they did, they were all over her.

“Hello, miss!”

“To what do we own the pleasure, miss?”

“Miss, what is your name?”

“Would you like anything, miss?”

Sienna thought she would explode from all the little voices screaming up at her, so she held out her hand, and all the voices stopped. She was kind of surprised that worked.

“Um, hey guys!” She smiled at the elves.

“Hello miss! It is a great pleasure to have a young master in our kitchens! Would you like anything, miss?” One of the elves spoke up.

“Oh no, no thank you.” Sienna shook her head politely. “And please, call me Sienna.“

The elves nodded, but didn’t move away. Their big bright eyes seemed like huge lights shining up at Sienna, expecting her to do something.

“Er…Would you guys mind if I just sat here for a few minutes? Just before the sun rises.” Sienna asked.

“Yes, of course you can, miss Sienna!” Another elf said. Two elves brought Sienna a stool, and she sat down on it, thanking the elves. The elves went back to work, expect the smallest one.

“So, all you do around here is cook?” Sienna asked.

“And bake.” The small elf nodded up at Sienna.

“Who gave you this job? Dumbledore?” Sienna wondered.

“Yup!” The small elf answered. Another elf, seemingly an older one, rushed over to stand beside the smaller one, and smacked them softly with a towel.

“That’s not how we respond, Hermey.” The older elf scolded. They turned to Sienna, and said in a matter-of-factly tone, “Yes, our great master Dumbledore let us cook here. But we wouldn’t talk about this as a job. It’s really a pleasure to be here, and to be serving our great master Dumbledore.”

Sienna nodded slowly. “Do you get paid?”

“Oh no, we wouldn’t dream of getting paid. Our great master Dumbledore really did us a favour by letting us cook here. We should be thanking him everyday, not asking for payment.” The older elf explained.

“Oh. Okay, thanks.” Sienna smiled warmly. The elf nodded and walked away, towards a few pots on a stove beside two other elves. Sienna turned back to the younger elf. “Hermey, right?”

“Yup! Er, I mean, yes miss.” Hermey responded.

“You really don’t need to be so formal. Please, call me Sienna and talk to me however you like.” Sienna grinned.

“Thanks, Sienna.” Hermey smiled.

—

Sienna and Hermey had a very nice conversation, talking about the school. She couldn’t tell you how much she sat there talking to him.

At one point, Sienna looked up towards the small excuse for a window at the top of one of the walls in the kitchen, and she could see the first few rays of sun streaking out across the Hogwarts grounds. She jumped up from her stool, saying,

“Thanks for the company, Hermey, but I got to go. I might come by later. Bye!” She said the last word to the entire room of elves, and they all bid her goodbye back, and Sienna sprinted out of the kitchens, and back out into the hallway.

She ran all the way out to the Whomping Willow, and by the time she got there she was completely out of breath. The sun was still only a small sliver of orange on the horizon, but Sienna supposed Remus must be already transformed back.

She picked up the longest stick she could find, and manoeuvred it around the moving branches of the tree, towards the knot in the roots. The stick made contact with it, and the Whomping Willow froze right away.

Sienna didn’t waste any time and slipped into the small hole at the bottom of the tree’s trunk, and made her way down the narrow path towards the shack.

Once she got to the end of the passageway, she pushed through the trapdoor and climbed up into the shack. Sienna took out her wand, took off some of the enchantments McGonnagall taught her the night before, and knocked on the door to the room where she left Remus.

There was a small and weak hum of agreement at the other side of the door, and Sienna pushed it open. There, Remus was lying on the ground in a fetal position, covered in blood and open wounds.

Sienna quickly made her way over to her twin brother, and put a blanket over him.

“Is that better? Or is the fabric just irritating you more? I could take it off if it’s bad. I can try a warming spell on you, though I suppose if it goes wrong that would be way worse. Or I could-“

“Stop.” Remus croaked. Sienna immediately shut up. “It’s okay. Blanket is fine. Thanks.”

Remus’ voice was so weak and hoarse. Sienna really wanted to bend down and hug her brother, but decided against it. A hug is really not what Remus needed right now.

“I reckon Pomfrey will be up soon.” Sienna said, keeping her voice low.

“Thanks.” Remus croaked again. He made to nod his head, but winced when he moved it.

“Don’t move.” Sienna said. “Just stay there. Go to sleep. I know you’re going to pass out from the pain anyway, so go on. No need to be brave.” She was whispering and lightly playing with Remus’ hair, just like a mother would if she was comforting her child after a breakdown.

Remus didn’t say anything, and after a few minutes his breathing became slow and steady, and he seemed to relax more, so Sienna supposed he had passed out. She just sat there, with Remus’ head right beside her lap, until Madam Pomfrey arrived.

“Hello, Sienna. How is he?” She asked as soon as she walked through.

“As fine as he can be. Asleep.” Sienna answered. Madam Pomfrey nodded.

“Well alright. Let’s get him back up to the castle.” She smiled. She waved her wand, and a stretcher appeared. She hovered Remus into it, and somehow Remus slept through it.

Sienna, Madam Pomfrey and Remus on the stretcher made their way back to the castle, and to the hospital wing. As they were walking, Sienna and Madam Pomfrey were making small talk about the school and classes. Usually, Sienna tried to avoid small talk because it could become awkward quite fast. But when she was speaking with Madam Pomfrey, she felt at ease. She felt safe talking to her. And so she actually quite enjoyed the walk to the hospital wing.

Once the three of them made it to the wing, Remus got put down on the bed at the very end, right beside a window. Sienna immediately brought up a stool and sat down beside him, and insisted on sitting there the whole day. But alas, breakfast was in a few hours, and then classes, so she really couldn’t.

Remus had woken up, but Madam Pomfrey made him drink a Sleeping Draught to drown out the pain. Before Remus fell back asleep, him and Sienna had a chat. Sienna told him she’ll go back up to the dorms and grab Remus’ books. She’ll go down to breakfast with the rest, and bring Remus something to eat. Then at classes she’ll make sure to bring all the homework down to the hospital wing for Remus to work on.

So, once Remus fell asleep, Sienna went back up to the Gryffindor common room.