“Severus, stay away from me.”
“What’s wrondg with you?” he snapped, stepping closer to the man. “You were finde beig around me yesterday. Hah-CHEHH.”
“That has nothing to do with it. Leave the room, please.”
“Why would I? Hah-CHOO, Ahr-SHESHH.”
“There was an injured kitten outside, and I went to take care of it. You’re not going to want to come near me right now.”
“Hah-CHOO. Go shower ad chadge before you cobe dear be. Heh-CHUHH, Ah-CHUSHOO.” Snape left the room until he heard Remus go upstairs, then got his water and went back to the guest room. 45 minutes later, he heard a knock at the door. “Combe ind.”
Remus came in, bearing tea, juice and breakfast. “Sorry about this morning. I just figured you didn’t want to be sneezing any more than you already are. I just had to help the kitten. I picked that up from living with Ash for so long.”
“She was always collecting strays, wasn’t she. Ind more ways thand one. Heh-AHSHOO.”
“Whatever she could do to ease the pain around her, I guess. Why don’t we eat, and I’ll show you one of my memories.”
Snape nodded. “Cand I have sombe bore of those pills you gave be yesterday?”
Remus handed him some cold medicine, and they sat back and ate. “Ash and I studied together a lot, too. We got to be pretty good friends over time. This is what sealed that friendship, and I believe it takes place around the same time as the one you showed me.”
**Remus’s Memory**
Remus Lupin lay in a bed in the hospital wing, It had been a hellish transformation, but he could never sleep the night after the full moon. During the day, he could sleep fine, but the moon kept him awake at night. On top of that, his allergies were bugging him, a fall aftereffect of the transformation. “Hihshoo, ihshoo.” he sneezed, blowing his nose and deciding to get up and walk around, since the infirmary was empty, or so he thought. He was staring out the window when a few sudden sneezes struck him. “Ehhshoo, ehh-ihshoo, ihhhshoo.”
“Bless you,” he heard a soft voice say. He turned around and saw a curtain being pulled back. “Hi, Remus.”
“Ashling? Are you okay? I thought you just had a cold. Why are you on ivs and oxygen?” He went and sat next to her.
“It’s a respiratory infection. I need the medication in me faster, and my lungs need a little help right now. You look horrible. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Madame Pomfrey wants me to spend the night here, and I can’t sleep. But I’ll let you rest.” He got up and started to walk away.”
“You’re a werewolf, aren’t you.” she stated.
“Wh-why would you think that?” He went and sat back down. “Aihhshoo.”
“I recognize the signs. You disappear at the full moon and look awful before and after, you get sick easily, especially around the full moon. You have allergies that worsen with the moon cycle, which is part of the heightened senses werewolves have. And it’s the night after the full moon, you’re in the hospital wing, and you can’t sleep, probably because the moon is too bright.”
“I think the antibiotics and oxygen are doing something to your brain. I am not a werewolf.”
“Yes, you are. I know about this stuff. And I can tell things about people by handling their things. One time, you left your wand in the library after we were studying, and I returned it to you. I saw you as a wolf then. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”
“So, are we not friends now?”
“Why wouldn’t we be friends anymore?”
“Who would want to be friends with a werewolf? Aren’t you afraid? Hihshoo, ah-hihhshoo.”
“My dad’s a werewolf. He was bitten when I was 2. My mom couldn’t handle it, so they got divorced. But I was always allowed to see him, just not during the full moon, of course.”
Remus smiled. “So, it doesn’t matter to you?”
“You’re my friend, Remus. You are a good, kind, caring person, who just happens to be a werewolf. It doesn’t matter to me.” She coughed.
“Thank you, Ashi.” He kissed her gently on the forehead. “You’re the greatest. Hishoo, eh-ihshh, ihh-kshhh. I hate how my allergies get bad after I transform. Although, it does beat being sick. I’ll let you get some sleep. We can work on catching up on homework when you’re better.”
“Thanks. I’ll need it.”
“Yeah, right. I’ll be trying to help you, and you’ll be teaching me. Night, Ash.”
“Night, Rems.”
**End Memory**
“She was the first person who knew that I was a werewolf. Her acceptance and reaction helped me tell the guys about it. Ahh-hih-ihhshh.”
“I never knew her dad was a werewolf.”
“Did you ever get to meet him?”
“No, we started dating the year he died. She wanted me to meet him that summer. I only met her step-dad. Heh-CHESHH, Eh-KISHH.”
“He was a wonderful man. Ashling was the most important thing in his life. She was devastated when he died.”
“I know. I don’t know how she made it through that.”
“She had you. Your love pulled her through.”
“But it wasn’t strong enough in the end. Hit-ITCHOOO.”
“Nothing was, and nothing would have been. She left some of her memories in a pensieve if you’d like to see them.”
Snape blew his nose. “I would. I think I need to.”