Chapter 604 - Reconciliations Ⅳ (1/2)
Four figures rush down the infirmary corridor only to roughly slide to a stop in front of Rowan. ”What happened?” Sirius panted as he and Pettigrew were still wearing their Quidditch robes not having had time to change, before rushing to the infirmary.
”He fainted,” Rowan replied with a tiny twitch of a smirk on her face. But much more seriously, she adds, ”Apparently he's been rather stressed as of late, and finally everything came to head, and he was overwhelmed by everything.”
A look of guilt flashed across all four boys' faces especially that of Sirius and Pettigrew. ”It's all my fault,” Pettigrew whispered as he hung his mousey colored head. ”I-. I should have stopped Sirius and Remus-.”
Seeing Pettigrew's downtrodden head, Lupin reaches over and squeezes Pettigrew's shoulder. ”It wasn't your fault, Peter. We thought we were doing the right thing, and we were, but maybe we just went the wrong way about doing it. You're our friend just as much as James is, Pete.”
Not looking very convinced at Lupin's words, Pettigrew nods his head, when Severus sighs and regretfully says, ”I should have done something earlier. I had been meaning to have a private word with Madam Pomfrey regarding the fact that James did not look all that right as of late. But with Prefect duties and studying for our O.W.L.'s and N.E.W.T.'s I just completely forgot about him.”
Lupin nods his head in understanding at Severus, while Sirius just looks completely devastated blaming himself for everything. Before Sirius can continue to wallow in his guilt, Rowan says, ”You are all not to blame, it is what it is. Anywho, he is waiting for the four of you.”
”Is he angry?” Sirius awkwardly asked.
”No,” Rowan honestly answered. ”But I do think, you should have a frank conversation with him. It would do all of you some good.”
All three boys nod their heads in understanding except for Lupin, who says, ”And what about you, Rowan?”
”We had our own private conversation,” Rowan somewhat truthfully replied. Because they had, but they simply had discussed anything more on the subject.
Lupin does not appear to be convinced by Rowan's response, but he does not further press her as Sirius hurries away and the rest of them hastily follow. Rowan does not turn to watch them go as she steadily strides away. She had Prefect duties to fulfill, and nor was it her place to be present and participate in such a private discussion. Even though a tiny part of herself whispered that she was the unofficial member of the Marauder's, but she firmly ignored the tiny voice, and darted away.
The four youths make their way into the infirmary and glance around to only see the figure of Madam Pomfrey sternly stare at them causing them to halt in their steps. Without a word, she simply points at one of the infirmary beds with the curtains drawn, before pinning down her current patient with a simple glare.