Taming the True Fire (HP)

The next week felt rather dull after the excitement of the weekend, and life at Hogwarts was slowly returning to normal. The second-years were mostly occupied with school assignments, which had the unpleasant habit of accumulating out of nowhere. Consequently, Catherine was forced to pause her research on Animagi to finish a History of Magic essay on the International the Warlock Convention of 1289, the two parchments professor Slughorn required on the various methods of potions storage, and the comparative analysis of the basic techniques for inanimate-to-inanimate transfiguration for Professor McGonagall. 

The witch was surprised to see James and Sirius keeping her company in the Library that week, but it turned out they decided to help Remus with his homework due to the approaching full moon on Friday. Catherine thought it was a splendid idea and volunteered to take care of the Astronomy assignment they expected Professor Sinistra to give them after the class on Friday evening. 

"Attention, everybody!" – the Astronomy teacher clapped her hands to attract the students' attention in the midst of the noise produced by the howling wind and the clattering teeth of the Gryffindor second-years on the top of the Astronomy Tower – "Please take out your telescopes and moon charts and gather around."

The young witches and wizards clumped together in an attempt to accumulate some heath. Sirius was rubbing his hands and frowning at Sinistra, who looked especially thrilled, gazing at the rather clear sky above. 

"You're in luck today not only because the weather is clear…" – started the Professor.

"Yeah, some luck that is." – growled Sirius.

"…but also, because we're going to spectate an especially rare event tonight." – continued Sinistra, pretending not to hear the boy – "Around once in every three years, we witness a combination between a Supermoon and a Blood moon, called Super Blood Moon. Can anyone tell me what a Supermoon is?"

"A Supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, appearing larger and brighter in the sky." – answered Lily immediately. 

"Exactly, Miss Evans! Five points to Gryffindor." – smiled the older witch – "Now, who can tell me what a Blood moon is?" 

"A Blood moon refers to a total lunar eclipse during a full moon." – Catherine replied swiftly. 

"Correct, Miss Plantier, and another five points to Gryffindor." – nodded the Professor – "Both Supermoon and Blood moon are rare occurrences on their own, but the combination is even rarer and a spectacular view. In addition, it affects magic in many different ways. You may want to take notes."

After half an hour of taking notes and another hour of observing the Super Blood Moon while filling in their moon charts, the Gryffindors finally returned to their Common Room. 

"I think I'll never feel warm again." – complained James, crouching in front of the fireplace. 

"I believe another five minutes and I would have lost a toe or two." – moaned Sirius, joining his friend – "Aren't you cold, Flame?"

"No, not really." – answered Catherine, taking a seat in her favourite burgundy armchair – "But I rarely feel cold in general."

Sirius reached out and took the girl's hand in his.

"What are you talking about? Your skin is ice cold." – he objected, looking at the young witch with suspicion.

"My skin gets cold, but I don't feel it." – she explained calmly – "I have always been like that. It's kind of problematic because I never know if I wear enough clothes, and eventually, I catch a cold."

"You're really weird, you know?" – grinned Sirius at his friend who rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, I'm going to bed. I promised Hagrid to teach him how to make brownies tomorrow." – she said, heading towards the girls' dormitory.

"Oi, bring back some for us as well!" – shouted James after her – "Just please make sure they're from the ones you made, not Hagrid's." 

***

'James did have a point.' – thought Catherine the next day as she was returning from the Gamekeeper's hut, carrying a tray of brownies for the boys. She was uncertain about how Hagrid managed to make his brownies harder than the shells of the walnuts they used in them, but it was a fact. Nevertheless, he appeared to like the treats and ate most of them while they were still hot. 

The boys were not in the Common Room, so Catherine left the brownies in her bedroom and went to the Owlery to check on Orion. When she returned to the Gryffindor Tower, Sirius, James, and Peter were sitting in one corner, discussing something with grim faces.

"Hey!" – Catherine greeted when she joined them – "What's the matter?"

"Peter forgot there was a disappearing step on the fifth floor and twisted his ankle. We took him to the Hospital Wing, and we overheard Madame Pomfrey talking with McGonagall that Remus was there." – answered James, carefully looking around.

"In the Hospital Wing? But why?" – asked Catherine anxiously. 

"We don't know. Apparently, something went wrong during the transformation last night, or so we've overheard. Madame Pomfrey didn't want to tell us anything, and she also didn't allow us to visit him." – said Sirius bitterly. 

Catherine's heart sank. She spent the remaining afternoon and the evening deep in thought and even skipped dinner. The typical Saturday evening noise of the Common Room was irritating her, so she went to bed early, excusing herself with a headache. However, she was not able to fall asleep. After trying for a few hours, she finally gave up, quietly dressed herself, and left the dormitory, taking the tray of forgotten brownies with her. 

Hogwarts at night was a completely different experience. It was so quiet that Catherine could hear her own breath. Every shadow looked like Mrs Norris, Filch, or a teacher, usually in the form of Professor Thorne. Trying to move as swiftly and quietly as humanly possible, the young witch finally reached the Hospital Wing on the second floor and gently opened the door, just enough to sneak inside. 

There was solely one bed being occupied, at the very end of the room, with curtains tightly closed around it. Madame Pomfrey was apparently asleep in her room, judging by the rhythmic snoring coming from there. The girl quickly reached the bed and silently opened the curtains, gasping in horror. Even with the little dim light coming from the Matron's room, Catherine was able to see the gruesome slash wounds on Remus' face. By the bandages, she determined the situation was similar with the rest of his body.

"Catherine?" – she heard Remus' weak voice – "What are you doing here this late at night?"

"Shh! Madame Pomfrey doesn't know I'm here." – the girl whispered – "Light, Remus! What happened to you? Haven't you said they isolate you before you transform?" 

"Yes, they do. The transformation… it's really a torture. You know…it's hard to feel how your body changes and lose your mind simultaneously, being left with just a flicker of your consciousness. But sometimes it's way worse than others. I couldn't act upon my instincts, and I ended up hurting myself." – the boy said quietly, avoiding his friend's gaze. 

"So, you did this to yourself?" – asked Catherine, feeling something choking her. 

"I know. I must look terrible. But at least I didn't hurt anyone else, and Madame Pomfrey is positive that no visible scars would be left on my face because they reacted quickly." – mumbled Remus, still looking sideways. 

"This is not the point, Remus!" – the young witch said, fighting the urge to shout and express the storm of emotions she was feeling – "If you knew, this could have been prevented. Your pain and suffering do matter!" 

"You are too kind for your own good." – whispered the wizard in the bed, finally daring to look at his friend – "That's why I insist you guys stop this nonsense about becoming Animagi. I'm just too dangerous. It's bad enough I endanger my classmates by studying at Hogwarts. I can't betray Dumbledore."

"What betrayal? We want to do this in order to help you preserve the human part inside of you even during your transformation." – hissed Catherine – "I thought we've already discussed this. For now, just concentrate on recovering."

"But..." – Remus couldn't protest further because Catherine used the opportunity to shove a brownie in his mouth.

"You know..." – said Catherine contemplatively while Remus was chewing the chocolate delight – "I wonder if this bad effect on your transformation had something to do with the Super Blood Moon. It affects magic in various ways. We learned about it yesterday during the Astronomy class." 

"I don't know; this is the first time I hear about it." – Remus finally managed to say – "Maybe I can ask Professor Dumbledore; if someone knows, it should be him, right?"

"I guess…" – mumbled the girl – "It's worth observing the effects of Supermoon and Blood moon on you. There's no reason to worry about such a bad transformation for the next three years anyway. More importantly, do you want another brownie?"

Remus looked at the young witch and smiled.

"How could I say no? If you bring me such delicious treats after every transformation, they may end up not being so bad."

"It's a deal!" – the Gryffindor girl immediately agreed. 

"Flame, I was merely joking!" – exclaimed the young wizard anxiously.

"Too late! I told you – no way you're getting rid of me anymore, Moony!" – Catherine chuckled and planted a quick kiss on the forehead of the stunned Remus.