Lockwood Part 4

‘I’m afraid we have no choice, Anna.’ Kingsley Shacklebolt along with six other Aurors were at the Lockwood house, he really didn’t want to be, he’d much rather be in the middle of a pack of werewolves, but he was asked specifically to carry out this task. ‘The minister has sent me and you know I can’t disobey him directly.’

‘Then tell him he isn’t here.’ Anna yelled. ‘You won’t take my son!’

‘Anna, we know he’s here.’ Kingsley tried to keep the situation calm. ‘The minister knows he’s here and he knows George has come back. He isn’t stupid, he will know why and he will want to see Angie as soon as possible. Don’t make us treat you like every other criminal.’

‘Then don’t treat my son like one!’ Anna’s voice filled with venom and the slight twitch towards her wand had everyone pulling there’s out.

‘Everyone calm down!’ Kingsley boomed. ‘There is no need for violence here.’

‘Mum.’ Darren appeared at the bottom of the stairs, he had been crying, that much was obvious.

‘Darren, no.’

‘It’s okay,’ he said, comforting his mother. ‘I’ll be okay, I’ll be alright. Take care of Clara for me, she’s been stressed lately and the second Angie wakes up… tell her not to let anything stop her from coming for me. I know she won’t anyway and the minister will get the shock of his life, the day he tried to cross my sister.’

Anna began crying and wrapped her arms around her strong son.

‘I’ll be okay,’ he said into her hair. ‘I’ll be back before you know it.’

‘Come on, Darren.’ Kingsley said, calmly. ‘We’ll make this a smooth as we can.’

Darren pulled back and kissed his mother’s head. ‘I love you.’ He whispered and took a breath, apparating with the Aurors to the ministry. Anna couldn’t help but break down in tears, her son was gone and her daughter was closer to death than she had ever been.

Remus had managed to convince David to go to the hospital wing to see Angelina, breaking the second he saw her. He held her hand and cried, apologising over and over again for thinking she died, for thinking there was a chance she wouldn’t make it out alive. Remus allowed him the room to absorb everything, he really felt for David and hated the argument they’d had over Angelina.

Remus could see George beginning to get agitated and frowned at him in questioning.

‘Adrianna should have been here by now.’ He said and Remus checked his watch. It was getting late and Anna should have arrived by the afternoon, he didn’t even notice how much time had passed since arriving at the hospital wing.

‘Caught at work?’ Remus suggested.

‘No, she had the day off,’ George shook his head, glancing towards the doors. ‘She would have let me know if she was called in.’

George really didn’t want to leave Angelina, but Remus promised he wouldn’t leave her side and Dumbledore was wandering around to make sure the castle was secure, nothing would happen while they were there.

Remus couldn’t deny, he was a little worried about Anna, he had seen her regularly since George and Darren went to Tibet, knowing that she had very few other people to look after her while they were away. It had gotten to be too much for Remus to handle in the end and Lily soon took over, she just looked too much like Angelina and it killed Remus to look at her in the end. He hated that he felt that way, but he wasn’t sure what else to do.

Angelina needed him and he needed to be with her, to protect her while no one else was around to do so. If the minister found out where she was, Remus wouldn’t know what would happen to the Lockwoods.

It was like something was sucking all of the air from my lungs, something forcing me awake and breaking my ribs just to get enough oxygen back into my body.

‘Angelina.’ Remus was next to me, trying to help me calm down. Something was wrong though, someone was missing.

‘Darren, Darren,’ I panted. ‘Where is he?’

I could feel the difference in the room, I could feel the tension building.

‘Angelina, you need to breathe.’ Remus was tired, I could feel it in his touch. His warm hands, the ones I missed so much, gently helping me lie back down. My chest hurt, my body felt weaker than I thought possible, but Remus was with me, so I knew that everything would be okay in the end. ‘Angelina, please, breathe for me.’ He had been crying, I hated it when he was upset. I wanted to see him smile again. ‘Angelina.’ He begged again.

I felt my eyes snapping open, I wasn’t sure when I had closed them, but the second I did, I felt my lungs inflate with one glorious breath of cool air. Remus and his beautiful blue eyes staring down at me, I loved him, with everything I could muster, I loved him.

‘Remus.’ I breathed.

‘Yes, yes, it’s me.’ His hand brushed away any hair on my face and his lips pressed against my forehead, I never wanted him to stop.

‘Don’t stop.’ I said, just as he pulled away. Remus half smiled at me and pressed another kiss to my forehead, and another to my cheeks, and to my lips. He didn’t stop kissing me and it was bliss.

‘I’ve missed you,’ he said, holding my hand and stroking my forehead gently. Remus was so warm. ‘So much.’

I could see my hand in his, it was bony and pale. How could Remus stand touching it?

‘As beautiful as ever.’ Remus said, reading my mind. ‘I won’t ever think otherwise, no matter what.’

‘I love you.’ I whispered. Remus just began crying and smiling and kissing my hand, my wrist, my arm, he ran his hands over my arm, and I had just enough energy to move into his touch just a little.

‘I love you too. I’m so happy you’re home.’ Remus took a deep breath, trying to compose himself.

The moment was short-lived, and the sinking feeling came creeping back.

‘Where’s Darren?’ I asked again. Remus’s face dropped, I wanted so badly for it to go back to a smile. ‘Something happened to him, didn’t it?’ I could see my words were upsetting him, but I had to know where my brother was. ‘I dreamt that he was taken from the house, it felt real. Tell me he’s okay.’

Remus just watched me, pressing my hand to his cheek and trying to keep calm.

‘Promise me something,’ he said, still touching me anywhere he could reach. ‘Promise me that you will wait until you are strong enough, Angelina. You’re so weak, you’re in no condition to do any good for anyone right now, so please, just let me take care of you for a while.’

I nodded immediately, I would do anything if it meant seeing him happy and my brother again. Remus took another breath before telling me.

‘Darren has been taken to Azkaban,’ I could feel my rage beginning to burn. ‘The minister believes he and your father have been keeping your whereabouts a secret. He made it the ministry’s special interest to know where you are at all times, that means anyone keeping information about your location is considered to be a traitor by law. Darren asked that you be told as soon as you asked and that you let no one get in your way when going to plead his case. I’m asking you to just wait until you are strong enough, before you do anything rash.’

It was clear that my anger was beginning to heat me up, my skin didn’t look as pale and my grip on Remus’s hand was tightening. How could anyone think my brother was a traitor? They were the traitors, they were the ones who deserved to be punished.

‘Angelina?’

‘How long before I can leave?’ I asked and pain whipped across Remus’s face. He couldn’t answer, I knew that face, I knew the one where he wanted me just stay with him and not rush into anything. ‘Remus-‘

‘I know.’ His hand came to stroke my cheek. ‘Angelina, I know you can’t leave him. But I only just got you back, please just let me help you get better and then I won’t stand in your way.’

‘You’re suspiciously okay with this.’ I frowned.

Remus just laughed and continued to take deep breaths. ‘A lot has happened over the past two years; a lot has changed.’

It was only at that moment I realised where I was, the hospital wing. Why was I back at Hogwarts? I thought I was being taken to St Mungo’s or back home where my father could look after me.

‘I’ve changed as well,’ I could feel my tears falling from my eyes and Remus wiped every single one. ‘I hope you don’t hate me for it.’

‘I couldn’t.’ Remus shook his head. ‘I could never hate you. I love you Angelina, with all my heart.’

I wasn’t exactly sure of what happened after that, I must have blacked out, because the next thing I knew, I was dreaming about Azkaban.

‘How is she?’ Dumbledore asked, he approached the bed where Remus had been for the last week.

‘Better.’ Remus nodded and placed Angelina’s hand back down, she had only just lost consciousness again. He was getting desperate for the moments where she was awake and able to talk to him, they were few and far between and her memory seemed foggy. It was the third time she had asked about her brother, and the third time he asked her to promise him she would wait until she was strong enough before doing anything reckless.

George and Anna were fighting the ministry for Darren’s release, they would never quit, but could only fight as long as Angelina was safe. Dumbledore had offered sanctuary at Hogwarts and promised he would try to make Fudge see reason. But truthfully nothing could be done until Angelina woke up and could communicate clearly.

‘Better is good.’ The headmaster sat opposite his Dark Arts teacher and Remus was hyper aware of how exhausted he looked. ‘You should get some sleep, Remus.’

‘I can’t. If she wakes up and I’m not here-‘

‘She will be seen to by Poppy,’ Dumbledore cut in. ‘Do not risk your own health for hers, she needs you to stay strong while she regains her own strength.’

‘I made a promise.’ Remus shook his head.

Dumbledore didn’t say anything else, he just nodded and left Remus in peace.

It was a long couple of weeks, the students had gone home, the chamber was no longer a concern for the teachers and Remus was in need of Angelina more than ever. He tried so hard to figure out what she needed, he asked her when she was awake if there was anything he could do and all she ever asked was that he climb into bed next to her and read. He never refused.

It was just feeling her frail body against his that gave him hope. He had begun regaining any lost weight and she was finally getting stronger, her skin wasn’t as pale and she was able to stay awake a little longer than before. But she still wasn’t able to talk about what happened. Remus was the only one with any amount of patience left to remain with her and not lose his temper.

Benji had managed to write a short letter and given the circumstances, it was dangerous that he even attempted to communicate with the school. Remus wouldn’t dare reply in case his message was intercepted.

Remus,

Just a quick update. Darren’s hearing is on the 25th July. Seeing as you are close with the Lockwood family, I thought this might interest you.

Please send mine and Jocelyne’s love to all at Hogwarts. Jackson and Harper have been asking to see their godparents again, it would be nice if you could make time to visit.

Benji

They had become accustomed to speaking in a formal manner so as to avoid any unwanted attention. Remus knew full well what he was trying to tell him and Angelina needed to know.

‘Good morning.’ He said, seeing her eyes open, her beautiful, ocean blue eyes. He had missed her more than his heart could take. ‘How are you?’

‘I missed you.’

‘I didn’t leave, I’ve been here all this time.’ Remus brushed the hair from her cheek, it was looking thicker and her cheek weren’t as hollow as they had been.

‘I know, but I miss you when I close my eyes.’ She scanned his face and smiled, letting a tear fall from the corner of her eye. Remus brushed his thumb over it and smiled down at her. ‘Where’s Darren?’

Remus sighed. ‘You remember I told you, he was taken to Azkaban.’

‘I remember.’ She nodded and indicated that she wanted to sit up. Remus helped her adjust the pillows and sit up to face him. ‘Why is he there?’

Remus went through the same conversation again, telling her why Darren was in Azkaban and about the letter from Benji.

‘We should go to the hearing.’ Angelina said, sipping her pumpkin juice, she seemed much more awake than usual. ‘I can’t let Darren do this alone.’

‘I understand that, but I am worried that if you simply turn up unannounced, it may upset the minister and cause more harm than good.’ Remus tired so hard to make her see that she wasn’t ready to leave, but he feared he was losing that battle and quickly.

‘How long before I am ready to leave?’

‘It’s difficult to say, we can’t really work out what’s wrong to make a prediction.’

Angelina suddenly looked at him, it was like she was remembering something. ‘I need to tell you things. Things that happened, they’re important. But I need my brother back so he can know as well. I have to go and get him.’

‘Angelina, you promised me.’ That had her stopping everything, she was half way out of bed, but the second she remembered her promise, she froze. ‘You promised that you would let me take care of you until you were strong enough to leave.’

Angelina thought for a moment, but soon tucked herself back under the sheets and sighed.

‘Angelina, I am afraid for what you’re about to do,’ Remus said, calmly. ‘But I learnt the hard way that there’s no stopping you once you’ve put your mind to something… just let me help you survive whatever it is you’re about to go running into.’ He ran his hands over her arm again, hoping it would somehow help her to see that he was only trying to help her. ‘I have had a lot of time to think over the past two years, a lot of time to wonder about us and I think I know what my role in this is now. You are so incredibly important to so many people and I hasten to add that I still can’t believe that you chose me out of all the appropriate suitors, nevertheless,’ he stopped her speaking, before she could interrupt. ‘I accept that you have and will always be grateful for the love you have given me.’ Remus swallowed, nothing else seemed as important as this, nothing about the minister, David, Darren or even the chamber seemed important. ‘I can never be the hero that you are to so many, I could never have the courage to stand against people that you have no problem putting in their place and I could never be as important as you are. But I can be yours, I can be everything you need to survive, I can help you get better when you come home and I can help you be strong again when you decide to go somewhere dangerous. That, I believe, will be the role I play in our relationship.’ Remus could see the familiar confusion and it almost made him smile, it was the only way he knew she was back. ‘Angelina, I couldn’t go to Tibet to find you, I wish I could have, but with my condition, it would have taken too long for me to adjust and if you had returned in that time…’

‘My father came.’

‘Yes, as did Darren, he’s been back and forth for Quidditch, claiming some old injury has been catching up to him, all of it to cover up the real reason they’ve been away.’ Remus nodded.

Angelina thought to herself for a moment or two, before frowning and shaking her head. ‘I have so much to tell you and I get the feeling that just telling you won’t be enough for you to understand.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I want to show you, but you’re right, I’m not strong enough yet.’ She sighed and brought her other hand to move the stray hair away from his face, the same way he had done every time she woke up. ‘The oracles taught me a lot of things, some of the magic we were looking at seems mad, I mean it really does,’ that made Remus half laugh, given everything, he wasn’t sure what she could say that he wouldn’t believe. ‘And I don’t want to be misunderstood when I tell you, I want you to try something with you, something that I think Tenzin did with me before he died.’

Remus just watched her for a moment, her wonderfully blue eyes bore into him, begged him to agree. He nodded and Angelina just smiled her excited smile.

‘It won’t hurt, I promise.’

Nathan was excited to do the rounds, he’d never thought it possible that he would be in this position before, but thanks to Professor Lupin, here he was.

‘Right,’ Lily turned to face the four new Healers. ‘Remember to keep notes, things that seem irrelevant are often the most important when it comes to patient care. Over the next few days we’ll start to look at what each of your strengths are and focus on your weaknesses. Healer training is hard, it’s gruelling and often you will think you live in this place, but these people need us and we are taking on the responsibility of potentially being the only people in the world who care. So, let’s begin.’

Nathan went around each patient and took all the notes his parchment could fit. Lily Potter was a great teacher, she was clam, collected and nothing seemed to faze her. Her voice was soothing when talking to patients, something that Nathan took note of and tried to put it into action when he had his own patient to care for.

All the Healers were given a low priority patient to take care of, Nathan was in the middle of reassuring his patient when Lily approached.

‘Haywood, can I have a word?’ She said, whatever she wanted Nathan for, it was serious. Nathan followed Lily to an empty office, she immediately put up silencing charms and put the radio on, turning it a little louder than an acceptable level. She approached Nathan, invading his personal space and spoke in no more than a whisper. ‘Is Angie safe?’

It was the last thing Nathan expected to be asked. Clearly she was talking about the Lockwoods, but why would she need to know if Angie was safe? Was there a chance she wasn’t?

‘Darren, her brother, has been taken to Azkaban,’ she continued to whisper. ‘Angie, upon hearing this, will react and it may not be in the way we would like her to.’

‘Why is he in Azkaban?’ Nathan kept his voice low as well, it seemed silly considering how much noise there was in the room and the silencing charms.

‘The minister has placed Angie on the special interest list, the list itself isn’t common knowledge, though many of us believe it should be,’ Lily explained. ‘It’s how Fudge keeps an eye on people, but if he asks you for the whereabouts of someone on that list and you lie, you will be called a traitor to the ministry and be sent to Azkaban. Its unfair, but where the Lockwoods are concerned, it’s extremely dangerous. So, I ask again, is she safe?’

Nathan debated saying anything, remembering what Lupin said about the way he used information.

‘She’s safe.’ Nathan nodded.

Lily visibly deflated. ‘That can only mean Remus is with her.’ Nathan nodded again. ‘Good. It’s the safest place for her then. Tell no one what you know, Nathan.’

She didn’t wait for Nathan to reply, instead Lily turned the radio off and took down the charms, ushering Nathan out of the office. He suddenly had a very bad feeling about the Lockwoods, secrets were being kept and it was never a good thing.