"Oh, no..." Diana whispered to herself in horror and suddenly went pale, turning her face sideways to look at where Remus was sound asleep beneath the blankets.

"Remus! Remus, please wake up!" Diana started pushing him by the arm urgently, glad that she had used a locking and silencing charm on her bedroom door the previous night.

"Whas' happenin'?" Remus mumbled sleepily, slowly opening his eyes.

"Diana, are you still asleep? Wake up!" Her mother's voice came again, growing impatient. Diana's heart sank when she saw the doorknob turn, but she sighed in relief when the door didn't open.

     Diana picked up her wand and took off the silencing charm from the door so she could answer her mother, though she kept the door locked.

"Don't come in! I'm naked!" Diana yelled out the first thing that came into her mind. "I'm changing my clothes!"

Finally coming to his senses, Remus snapped awake, abruptly sitting up with his eyes wide in terror when he realized what was actually happening around him.

"Then why is the door locked?" her mother asked irritably.

"So people like you won't barge into the room when I don't have clothes on, Mother!" Diana yelled back, while Remus briskly hopped off the bed, all color draining from his face.

     "Where's my shirt?" Remus asked as quietly as possible, moving around the room until he found it on the floor beside the bed, putting it on.

     "Quickly, hide!" Diana whispered urgently, almost mouthing the words so that her mother wouldn't hear her speaking.

     "What? Where?"

     "In my wardrobe! Quickly!"

     Knowing that he didn't have enough time to climb back out of the window and had no other choice, Remus hurriedly walked into Diana's wardrobe. She then closed its doors behind him before changing out of her sleeping gown and into her formal clothes as quickly as humanly possible.

      "Diana! What's taking you so long!?" Mrs. Greengrass began to knock again, but Diana was just in time to unlock the door with her wand and open it.

"Good morning, mother," Diana said casually, with the calmest smile she could manage without letting her panic show.

"Morning?" Her mother scoffed. "Diana, it's nearly noon! You missed breakfast! And no matter how many times I called you, you just wouldn't answer."

"I'm sorry. I — I had slept in."

"I had hoped that at least you were getting ready."

"I have gotten ready," said Diana, gesturing at her dress which she usually wore during the day around the house. Sleeping gowns were only allowed inside the bedroom.

Her mother looked her up and down. "Oh, but you can't possibly think that this dress is suitable for today."

"Why? What's happening today?"

Her mother's eyes widened at those words. "Diana, I spoke to you about it the night you arrived home! Or were you not listening to a single word I was saying?"

Knowing that her mother would give her a long speech of scolding if Diana admitted to not listening, she lied and said, "Of course I was listening, Mother. I just supposed you were talking about some other event."

Come on, Diana! You're better than this! You can come up with way better lies, Diana thought to herself bitterly, but she felt too distracted and nervous to think properly.

"No. This is the only event happening today. And it's an important one," her mother said firmly. "Now please take that dress off. I'll choose another one for you to wear today."

"No!" Diana suddenly exclaimed as her mother walked past her and was just about to reach for the wardrobe's doorknob.

Mrs. Greengrass halted, much to Diana's relief, and turned to face her with irritation. "What has gotten into you today!?"

"I-I'm sorry, Mother," she mumbled, trying to hide away her surging panic. "I — I've got my... lady problems."

"Oh..." Her mother's face softened ever so slightly. "Well, I'll ask the house elf to make you a hot beverage and bring you a painkilling potion. Until then, take a shower and get ready, because your father will be home in an hour and we'll leave then. And for once in your life, please comb your hair."

"Of course." Diana nodded with a little smile, relieved that the danger had died down. "And trust me with the dress, Mother. I'm seventeen; I know how to dress properly. I promise not to let you down."

     A smile finally grew on Mrs. Greengrass's lips. She raised her hand and cupped Diana's chin softly. "Thank you. I'm sure you're going to make us all proud, my beautiful girl."

     "Of cour —"

     "Hang on..." Her mother suddenly frowned. "What is that?"

      The panic returned to Diana. Had her mother somehow seen Remus? Had Diana not thrown the bloody cloths away? She was sure that she had gotten rid of them all.

     "What is what?" Diana muttered weakly, her heartbeat picking up.

      "That bruise," said Mrs. Greengrass, pointing at the spot on Diana's skin, right above her collarbone.

      Diana's mouth went dry, her pulse striking through her skin as panic twisted in her stomach. She had to think fast, or the consequences would be severe.

      "I... haha, funny story," Diana laughed nervously, searching her brain for a good lie. "You see, last night I had dropped my quill and I bent down to pick it. But when I wanted to get up, I accidentally hit the edge of my desk."

      Diana held her mother's gaze for what felt like an eternity, hoping that she would buy it.

     "Oh... you should be more careful, honey," she said at last, and Diana had to hold herself back from sighing in relief. "Well, you better choose a dress that covers is up. We don't want them to mistake the bruise for... something else," Mrs. Greengrass said awkwardly. "Anyway, be ready and come downstairs in an hour so we can leave."

     With one last little smile, her mother left the room and closed its door behind her. Promptly, Diana took out her wand and cast the locking and silencing charms on the door before opening the wardrobe for Remus to walk out.

      "That was a close one," she said, placing a hand over her fast-beating heart. "I thought I would die from a heart attack."

       "Tell me about it — ouch!" Remus winced in pain when Diana smacked him across the arm. "What was that for!?"

      "For giving me the hickey!" Diana scowled. "Did you really have to?"

      Remus couldn't help but to chuckle. "Sorry. I was caught up in the moment."

      "Well, you should leave now before our house elf comes with my beverage and sees you."

      "All right." Remus nodded, turning around to walk toward the balcony's window. But he halted and turned back, pacing toward Diana. He then grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her hard, pulling away with a playful smile. "I'll miss you."

     Diana grinned, her cheeks growing warm. "I'll miss you, too."

      Remus knew a thing or two about sneaking around and escaping without being seen or caught, after six years of being a Marauder and hiding away from Filch. And so, he climbed down the pipings and Disapparated the moment his feet hit the ground.

      Diana let out a shaky breath, finally calming down a little. And so, she went to take a quick shower, all the while wondering where her mother was going to take her, and why it was such a big deal to her family.