The Bright Side of a Full Moon

Exams came and went by too fast for my liking. The upside was that with all the studying Lily helped me with,I felt as if I were able to answer ever question with ease. The downside, however meant that it was time to go home to my family.

I was so worried about what all could possibly happen at home- scared even.

So, as I was packing my packs, I found my eyes growing cloudy with tears. I know that most people would be overjoyed to go home and see their families; but not me. Not at all. In fact, I was scared out of my mind what my family was going to do to me. My own brother had me beaten until I was put in the hospital. If my own brother would to that to me, then only Merlin knows what my parents would do.

Saying good-bye was far the worst part. Even though we had the entire train ride back to London together, Lily was already crying by time I walked into the common room.

"I can't believe that this is our last year together. Oh I'm going to miss you so much!" She cried, holding me tightly against her body. James and Sirius were a few feet away watching, and laughing at the scene in front of them. "Lily, sweetheart, I still need to breathe." I gasped out, trying to wiggle my way out of her hold. She pulled away ever so slightly so that she was able to look down at me with tears in her eyes.

"How am I the only one upset about this?" She questioned, turning to look at the boys standing behind her.It was then that Remus walked into the room.

His hair was disheveled and it looked like he had been in a rush to throw his clothes on before leaving his dorm. It was like he was running late for something. What could he possibly be late for? Did he oversleep?

"Because we still have hours together before we actually have to say good-bye." I pointed out to the red head. "She has a point, Evans." Sirius was the one to laugh at my words. "I know, but I'm still sad! This is our last year with Aries! Are you three heartless or something?" Lily gasped out, once more looking at the boys.

James stepped forward, wrapping his arm around Lily's shoulder, and pulled her away from me. "It's not like it's the ed of the world, honestly, you're acting like you're never going to see her again." James spoke in a soft voice. There was something about the way he was looking at her. It was like you could tell how much he really cared about her. Just through the look in his eyes. I longed for someone to look at me the way he looked at her.

My eyes flashed to Remus for a brief moment.

"No, but what about when she goes home- what if they hurt her?? We won't be there to help her or protect her from them!" Slowly, I began to understand why Lily was so upset about all of this. She been by my side since the moment we met, protecting me. Now that was all about to change.

No one really said anything as we all made our way out of the common room, through the castle, and down to the train. That's when it all seemed to become real. Why did I have to go home to my family? Why couldn't I just stay at Hogwarts with my friends? With all the things running through my mind, I began to wonder what was going to happen when I did finally arrive at home.

What is my family going to do?

On the train, we all sat together. James and Lily sat next to each other, curled up together and taking up a bit more space. While Remus, Sirius and I were sitting cramped together. I was sitting next to window, Remus was closest to the compartment door, while Sirius was sitting cramped in-between the two of us.

"I can't believe that our time at Hogwarts is really over." Lily sighed with a content sigh. She had her head resting against Jame's shoulder. Even with all the times Lily had rejected James over the years, they really are the perfect couple. "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll be back here some day." James said with a reassuring smile. Though, his nice moment was ruined when Sirius jumped up from his seat in-between Remus and I. "I can't take it anymore, I need space!" Sirius shouted, before sitting down in the floor with his back against the wall.

I couldn't help but laugh slightly as I took the chance to stretch my body out. Though, the more I thought about his actions, I couldn't help but think that this had something to do with his plan to get Remus and I together.

I though nothing of Sirius moving to sit in floor until a group of Slytherins went walking past. Severus Snape was at the back of the group. "Look here, it seems like you've finally found your place. In the floor- like the filthy mutt you are." He sneered before walking away. Though, I hadn't missed the glance in Lily's direction.

That boy was head over heels for a girl that barely acknowledged his existence. Granted, they used to be best friends before Lily met James. They weren't as close after that; but when Severus lost his temper and called her a mudblood is what really tore the two of them apart completely.

Just like Regulus and I. Though, I didn't want the two of us to be torn apart the way that Lily and Severus had been. Realizing that, I jumped up and left the compartment with a brief 'be right back' to everyone else.

I was frantic trying to find him, but thankfully he was only one car over- buying some sweets from the trolly. "Reg! I'm so glad I found you. We need to talk." I said as I approached him. At first, he turned to walk away- ignoring me- but I was quick to run after him and grab his wrist. "Reg, please, I know things between us have been rough recently, but please. Just hear me out, I'm sorry." I pleaded.

Ever so slowly, Regulus turned around to face me. There was a very sullen look on his face which only made me feel worse about the situation at hand. My reaction to his accidental slip of tongue is what lead us to where we are now.

But would he forgive me for my behavior?

"Give me one reason why I should listen to you, Nyx." His voice was slightly animalistic as he looked down at me. Something in his tone made my heart sink down in my chest, and I was suddenly less confident that I could fix things between the two of us. "Because I realize now that I shouldn't have reacted the way I did, and I'm sorry. I've seen people fall apart after things like this, and I don't want that to happen to us." I was already on the verge of tears.

Without saying a word, Regulus stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. I was shocked by the hug at first, but before I could even move to hug him back, he pulled away from me. Then, he leaned down so his lips were right next to my ear.

"We fell apart a long time ago, Nyx." With that, he walked away. Leaving me standing there feeling like a complete fool. He didn't even hear me out, wouldn't even give me a chance. So, I had lost him completely. My oldest friend-gone. Just like that.

Turning, I began making my way back to the compartment I had been in with the others. Except when I got back, Remus was the only one still sitting there. I didn't bother asking where they all went, and instead just sat down in my seat. "Nyx, what's wrong?" Remus questioned, turning ever so slightly so that he was facing me. I, however, wasn't looking at him. Instead, I was looking out the window with tears in my eyes.

When I didn't answer him, he moved closer and placed his hand softly on my knee. "Nyx, please, tell me what's wrong?" He spoke again, softly. I sniffled, trying to keep my nose from running as I turned my head to look at him. "I went to find Regulus and apologize for the way I had been acting towards him recently. My oldest friend- and he wouldn't even hear me out. Just walked away from me, like I was nothing." I explained to him, there were tears now rolling silently down my cheeks as I looked
into Remus' eyes.

Silently, and hesitantly, Remus reached out and placed his arm around my shoulders before pulling me into his side. He held me there in a comforting manner, as more tears rolled down from my eyes.

When the other rejoined us, no one dare ask why I had very obviously had been crying or why Remus was holding me. Instead, they simply took the same seats they had been in when I left to go find Reg. From the corner of my eye, I could see Sirius sitting in the floor with a smirk on his face.

As much as I have admired and longed to be with Remus over the years, something about Sirius' intentions with his silly little plan just didn't feel right to me. Something about it woke some form of doubt within me.

We all stay like that, sitting together in silence. That is, at least, until we arrived at Kings Cross Station back in London.

Lily once more began crying as we all said actual good-byes. I knew as soon as I stepped off of this train, I would be ripped away from my friends and whisked back to my family. So, I didn't hesitate to hold on to my friends for as long as I could.

Evan was waiting for me outside of the train, as soon as he was able to he harshly grabbed onto my upper arm and began dragging me along behind him. It was blatantly obvious that he was very unhappy with me as he dragged me through the sea of people. As I struggled to back to my group of friends who were somewhere behind me, I couldn't help but feel as if this was going to be the last time together as friends.

As a family.