It was becoming a routine now, Remus and I meeting in the common room at nearly one in the morning. I hardly slept, and I knew I was keeping Remus up. I could see it now, he stifled a yawn while I talked.
I was talking about nothing really, just some random things he'd asked about. This time he asked about my home before I moved here, and I told him every detail that came to mind.
"And there was this beautiful garden in the back," I said softly. Remus was holding me in his arms, I felt so strong when he did, like nothing could hurt me. Even my heart felt whole when he was there. "Why don't you talk. I feel like a motor mouth."
"I didn't think there was anything you wanted to know," he said. His mouth was near my ear, and when he talked, I could feel his breath curl around my face, I nearly shuddered from delight.
"Oh course I want to know more about you," I said. "I feel like we haven't talked at all this year."
"Well what do you want to know?" he asked.
"What is your family like?" Remus made sure he stayed off the topic of family, I knew that, but I was still curious to know about his.
"Well," he said. "My mum's a muggle. She doesn't have a job, thanks to my dad. My dad works at the Ministry, he makes more money than we would ever need, but he tends to waste it all on useless junk."
"Do you have any siblings?" I asked.
"Yeah, two sisters."
"What must that be like?" I asked with a smile. "Living with three girls in one house."
"It's even worse since my dad's hardly ever home," he said with a chuckle. "But they're pretty good, most of the time at least."
"What's your mum like?" I asked. I had always wondered what a muggle did in their free time, but I was more interested in what other mothers were like, I was sure they weren't all like mine, especially when I looked at James' mum.
"She's nice, almost too nice." Even with only a few words it sounded like he really admired her. I yearned for a mum like that. "She was the first to accept me when I was bitten." His voice was barely audible, even when his mouth was next to my ear, I had to block out the sound of the fire to hear him.
"Your dad didn't accept you?" I asked, linking it with how my mother was, and still is.
"No," he said, shaking his head slightly. "He thought I was a disgrace, he couldn't even look at me."
"That's how my mum was," I whispered. "And she's still like that."
"My mum convinced my dad that I wasn't so bad," he went on after a moment of silnce. "But I can still see the look in his eye."
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"Don't be. You have to go through the same thing." He began playing with my hair, twirling it around his fingers.
"True, true," I muttered, trying to forget about my mother. It wasn't working too well. "I wish I could have a mum like yours."
"It is nice," he agreed.
"Remus?"
"Yes?"
"Thanks," I whispered.
"For what?" he asked, confused.
"For not leaving me, like everyone else did," I said.
"I would never leave you," he whispered.
"Even if I did something utterly unforgiveable?" I asked softly.
"Never."
"Thanks," I said again. "I was surprised, you know, I thought you would have also abanded me. Like everyone else."
"They'll come to their minds," Remus reasurred me.
"But I hurt Sirius," I said. "I don't think he'll ever forgive me. And James is his best friends."
"But James is also your family," Remus pointed out. "And Sirius can't stay mad at you forever."
"You don't know that," I said. "I must have really hurt him."
"Don't worry about it, Aleesha," Remus said. I loved it when he said my name, it was like he curled it off his tongue.
"You sound tired," I said. "You should go to bed. It's nearly three in the morning."
"Only if you go to bed also," he answered. "It looks like you haven't slept in years.
"I sleep enough," I defended.
"No you don't," he chuckled. "You look like a vampire." I sighed with defeat, though I knew he was right.
"Okay, okay." I got up off him, and waited while he stood up. "Goodnight, Remus."
"Goodnight, Aleesha," Remus whispered. Then, before he left, he pecked me on my lips. I stood, stunned, as he disappeared up the staircase.
I smiled, then ran up the staircase and to my dorm, not feeling one bit tired.
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