Semele Perdita

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Semele Perdita

Written By: LadyAkako

Chapter 5: Watching The People Drop Like Flies

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-Lily-

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Through a haze of black dots, I cracked an eye open, absorbing the blinding lights in the room slowly. The first thing that clicked in my head was that the room I was in is very---white.

The second was that my head felt as if it would crack open if I moved even a pinch. I didn't experiment. As I reached up to console my throbbing temple, a scolding voice stopped me.

“Ms. Evans, although it's nice to see you're finally up, I would prefer if you stayed still,” Madam Pomfrey walked towards me briskly. I'm not sure if she was that sharp-eyed or if she was just psychic as I had just opened my still dot-ridden eyes a split second ago it seemed.

I tried to respond but realized for the first time that my mouth was akin to sandpaper at the moment. It probably wasn't a good idea to even think about speaking at the moment. I wouldn't be able to for hours if my tongue didn't shrink a few sizes anytime soon.

Madam Pomfrey speaking once more, however, interrupted my thoughts about the transformation of my tongue into lead weight.

“Ms. Evans, care to explain why you were passed out this morning?” her voice was gentle, but pressing. I immediately ran a scan of my brain. I had passed out? When?

The answer came to me with a flash of pain. This morning…the hallway…the memory of the news…her parents death. I might have fainted again but the burning presence of Madam Pomfrey's eyes kept me from slipping back into the darkness.

I couldn't tell her that though…I couldn't tell anyone. I didn't want their pity. I hated when I could see pity in people's eyes. I am not going to become a charity case. I can't let that happen.

If I could I would have told her I hadn't had enough to eat lately, but of course my tongue was still refusing to even form words. The whole not eating thing sounded like a legitimate answer and was probably true. I hadn't been eating much as my appetite had decreased with shocking amounts.

“I guess I'll have to ask you later then,” Madam Pomfrey's mouth twitched a little as I gestured at my throat hopelessly. “Ms. Riley commented on your lack of appetite lately, that must be it. I suggest you begin to monitor yourself more carefully as to avoid these events from happening in the future.”

I nodded, knowing that Meara had covered for me. I wondered if she was still here, even if I couldn't talk I could still apologize to her for ignoring her this morning…

Madam Pomfrey frowned at me and looked as if she wanted to sigh. She must think I was an anorexic or something. Note to self: make sure you eat a lot when the she was watching from now on.

“In case you're wondering Ms. Riley left just a few minutes ago for supper. I'm sure she'll return soon as she was very concerned about you, Ms. Evans. Now if you'll just wait here for a moment…” she trailed off and scurried into her office. I could hear her rummaging around in there and wondered what she was doing.

She came out with a goblet of a potion that was letting off a wispy smoke. It reminded slightly of the mist that dry ice gave off.

“Drink up, Ms. Evans. When you awake, if you are feeling up to it you may return to your dormitory. Just check out with me before you leave,” was her words to me. I hardly paid attention as I took the goblet carefully into my hands.

I waited until Pomfrey had gone back into her office before looking down at the thick liquid embedded in the cup. It was dark, reminding me of chocolate. It probably tasted like mud.

I shut my eyes tightly in anticipation of the nasty flavoring of the drink as I lifted it slowly to my parted lips. The thickness of the liquid surprised me as it crept into my mouth, bathing my still papery tongue in sheets of an unidentifiable taste. One thing I was sure of, it didn't taste like chocolate. In fact, I probably didn't want to know what it tasted like, I mused.

I slowly felt the fuzzy corners creeping closer together over the white walls of the hall. Soon the soft sounds faded into the background, sounding like static from a radio. A radio, they were wonderful weren't they? I love music…

My thoughts slowly became more jumbled as the corners drew closer together. I smiled slightly, how did I get here again? Madam Pomfrey never said…I would have to ask her that later, I guess…

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-James-

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The Lawler Antidote is used to relieve the vocal chords of stress. It is often used to ease strain from the soft palette or damage to the voice box.

Instructions to brew:

Stir in 3 tablespoons of lemon extract and….

An old Potions textbook lay open in my lap to a particularly worn-out page. This was only last year's book, but I had flipped through it so many times, it had become worn with age. Different pages were dog-eared through random parts of the book, as was the one with the Lawler Antidote on it.

Rubbing my eyes tiredly, I yawned. I leaned back, stretching out my tensed back. It seemed like I had been in the same position for hours, which glancing up at the time meters on the wall, I probably had.

Looking around the library with half-closed lids, I wondered if it was to late to go ask Professor Hadrian for the ingredients to make the Antidote. My voice had been cracking lately and I was well past puberty so I figured I might be coming down with some kind of bug. Plus, I really didn't want my voice to crack in front of Sirius; he would never let me live it down. He might go around singing in a girly voice, “Oh My God, James is growing up!!!” too. You can never be too careful when you have a loon for a best mate, you know.

Speaking of loons, I guess my potion would have to wait as the aforementioned loon came striding into the library. It was almost comical how Sirius could look so natural in here. He had only stepped foot in here to do research for our “project” to help Remus when we found out his condition. His feet were very reluctant even then.

He obviously needed something and I was sure I was about to found out. Sirius had spotted me in my little corner and was heading my way, flashing an occasional smile or nod at different people he knew along the way. Typical. Sirius couldn't go anywhere without playing up his popularity, even just by smiling. It just came to some people naturally I guess.

As Sirius came closer, I started gathering my things and stuffing them in my bag. No doubt whatever had made Sirius venture into unknown territory had to be—err—serious. No pun intended of course, the joke gets old after years and years of hearing it. Trust me.

I started walking to meet Sirius halfway and saw him nod to me thankfully. He obviously didn't want to penetrate any deeper into bookworm land. It could be dangerous.

We both walked from the library without a word. After a few minutes, Sirius gestured towards a deserted classroom. I nodded, curious to find out what was going on.

Sirius cleared his throat, sucking on his lower lip as if in deep thought on how to phrase his next words.

“Peter's still unconscious, poor bloke,” Sirius stated, with a slight smile on his face. He was obviously trying to avoid the real point of his news, as was his normal habit. He had issues with the phrase `don't beat around the bush.' He had forever. “Pomfrey said he would be out for a while. He woke up a few hours ago but she must have given him one of those knockout potions. I think she gave Evans one too. She looked like she'd been out for hours and not looking anymore alive than when what she looked like earlier.”

I brushed the news aside, as common sense would have told me that. People didn't wake up from dead faints immediately.

“What did you really want to tell me, Padfoot?” I asked patiently.

Sirius swallowed visibly.

“It's Moony,” he started softly. “His…symptoms are already starting and he still has over 3 days. He was sick all over the floor in our dorm just a few minutes ago. His symptoms never start this early. They were supposed to start Friday, not today.”

“Did you take him to the Wing?” I asked, not expecting the news.

“Of course I took him to the Wing, Prongs,” Sirius growled back at me. “I'm not that thick. Pomfrey looked worried and she gave him some potion right away. I couldn't tell what it was because she wouldn't let me stay.”

“Odd,” I stated thoughtfully. “I wonder if maybe we counted the moon phase wrong this month?”

It was possible, we had done it before, I was certain that we hadn't though. We were usually very careful about it and if Pomfrey looked worried about it…

“No, Pomfrey would have had the right count and not had to worry about it,” I answered myself. I looked up at Sirius with a twinge of worry. Something was wrong.

“We can go by the Wing to check on Wormtail later and take a look at Moony. Maybe he's just genuinely sick this time. It could happen,” Sirius tried to reason with me. I nodded, but I could sense even through his calmness, Sirius was worried as well about Remus.

We both headed to supper without many words said between us. We sat in our normal places, in the middle of the large Gryffindor table.

I wolfed down some food as quickly as I could. The taste of the usually delicious food came off as glue to my dry mouth. I waited patiently for Sirius to finish his food.

He looked up at me after a few minutes, pushing his plate away, “Ready?”

“Yeah, let's go.” I answered.

We both stood up and walked out from the Great Hall. I could feel a few pairs of wondering eyes on us. It wasn't normal that Sirius and I walked out of the Great Hall silently. There was usually some sort of explosion.

When we reached the Hospital Wing, I looked at the two doors carefully.

“You should go in and ask to see Peter and while you're talking to Pomfrey, I'll sneak by to Remus' bed to see him. I'll ask him what's going on and once I walk out of the Wing you can leave. Make sure you dramatize this thing, Padfoot. She won't by it if you don't,” I laid out my plot to him. He nodded carefully and straightened himself up.

“Off I go then,” he grinned at me before disappearing into the Wing.

I pressed my ear to the door listening for Sirius to begin his pleading with Pomfrey to see Wormtail.

“Oh Madam Pomfrey,” Sirius sang out. “I'm here to see a friend of mine who fell a few days ago. He's quite a charming fellow, Peter Pettigrew…”

I didn't here the rest of Sirius' speech because I had slipped out of earshot and into a shadow the wall was casting in the Wing. I was in. Now to find Remus…

I looked through different curtains, seeing mostly empty beds. When I cam to one with a certain pale, redheaded Prefect, I froze momentarily. Though her skin had regained a drop of color and wasn't alabaster anymore, she still looked incredibly pale and sickly. She was sleeping soundly, no sound coming from her. If her stomach hadn't been moving ever so slightly, I would have believed her dead.

 I moved on, knowing I had to find Remus. I didn't have much time. Luckily, after two more beds, I found him. He wasn't sleeping, that I could tell, but his eyes were closed.

“Moony,” I hissed. “It's me, Prongs.”

“James?” he asked groggily, his eyes flickering open. He smiled up at me, but it was a small grin as if it pained him to do so.

“Did she say what was wrong? Your symptoms never start this early,” I asked anxiously.

“Don't worry, its just pneumonia. I'm just really sick, on top of the full moon coming soon. I'll be fine, she gave me some medicine to clear up my lungs. I won't be going back to class though; she said I would have to stay through Saturday because of both of the conditions. I don't mind much, just be sure to take good notes and not completely space out in class, okay?” Remus explained in a low, scratchy voice.

I nodded, slightly relieved that nothing was seriously wrong. Madam Pomfrey could take care of pneumonia in a heartbeat and she was just keeping him to make sure it wasn't something more.

Suddenly, I heard a large clatter across the Wing and Looked around.

“I'd better go, sounds like my times running out,” I flashed a grin at Remus and ran from the Wing.

I closed the doors soundly behind me, waiting for Sirius calmly. He would probably get banned from the Wing for the next year for knocking down whatever he had. I didn't worry, though. Sirius was technically banned from the Wing unless he was terminally ill, but Pomfrey still let him in occasionally.

Just then, he stumbled out the Wing, grinning broadly. He looked as if he was holding in laughter.

“Moony's fine,” I said quietly. “He said it was just some pneumonia and Pomfrey was keeping him till Saturday to make sure it wasn't something more.”

Sirius nodded and pulled me aside into another classroom. It was only once the door had been closed did Sirius start to laugh like a demented hyena. I stared at my friend in wonder, what had he done this time?

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Hpfanmelissa ~ thank you, I try to put myself in the situation I create and see how I feel and then write from that emotion, it makes it seem more real to me:-)

Snuffles ~ now then this word `evil' seems to be coming up a lot concerning me…I hope this chapter is long enough for you and I'll update as soon as I can

Nadine ~ thanks you for the HUGE compliment…I really try to make the story real and not completely fake like so many other stories…and as for the inter-house relationship…you'll see *hehe* I really hate it when Peter is suspiciously absent all the time so I'm trying to give him a nice part in this story not huge, but substantial for a secondary character btw which story are you talking about being your favorite, I always love to read well-written L/J stories there aren't many out there it seems….*sigh*

Please review guys, it means the world and gets chapters out sooner, I promise!