Just a Kiss

Summary

Werewolves aren't liked in Wizarding society because they become a beast only once a month. Austin Cross doesn't care what normal people think of werewolves, she knows something else. Will she be able to cure Remus Lupin's self-image or will die trying?

Prologue

Four twelve-year-old boys chase a girl of the same age down corridors of Hogwart's Castle. Her corn stalk colored hair flew out behind her as she turned a corner quickly. She tried to run faster as she dodged suits of armor and other students that were in the corridors. The boys that were chasing her were furious with her. She could actually understand a little of it…but, really! They prank people all the time! Can they not take a prank directed at them?

The night before the girl in question had waited until the four boys left the common room of Gryffindor Tower and snuck up to their rooms. She jinxed their clothes, all of them to be exact, to turn pink right in the middle of potions the next morning. It wasn't that nice baby pastel pink, either…no, this pink was bright and neon and it would stay on every set of clothes that the boys had for a week. The girl smiled brightly as she ran as she thought of it.

In potions today when their clothes changed, the girl had laughed and drew attention to the boys. That was when they got upset with her and chased her from the room. Well, she may have started the chase when they turned to glare at her. They had always known it was her when she did something to them—she was the only one brave enough to, or maybe it was stupid enough. She had darted from the classroom and didn't even bother gathering her things.

At the moment, however, the girl didn't falter in her steps as she saw one of the boys in front of her. Instead she kept running towards him. He smiled widely, thinking she would just run straight into him. She grinned back and about three feet from him, she slid onto the floor and right through his legs. She didn't think he was too happy with that.

She laughed again as she turned down another corridor, but that was a wrong turn. She ended up cornering herself in a dead end. She turned around as soon as she got to the wall. She pushed her back against the stones, hoping that they would give and she would just fall through. She didn't have that kind of luck. The boys stopped in front of her and grinned wickedly at her.

"Come on, boys! It was just a bit'a fun!" She tried to tell them, her American country accent coming through as her tone shivered.

"Never thought we'd see the day the great Austin Cross got scared." James Potter chuckled as he pushed his glasses back up his nose.

The girl smiled carefully and waved her fingers quickly. "Well, all ya'll know that everyone can get scared. Ya should've seen your faces when ya noticed your clothes." She grinned now and couldn't help the pride of her work growing in her chest.

The boys glowered as they moved in. Yet, they didn't get too far. Another girl rushed up and in a flash of red hair, this new girl stepped between the group of boys and Austin. "What do you think you are doing?" The red head questioned heatedly.

"Didn't you see what she did to us, Evans?" Sirius Black questioned as he tossed his black hair from his face.

"Yes, I did, Black. That doesn't give any of you the excuse, though, to go and chase her through the castle!" Lily Evans glowered at the boys.

James had a crush on Lily from the first time he laid eyes on her. Austin knew this and grinned widely as she took a hold of Lily's shoulders. "And now, if you would excuse us. We have business to attend to somewhere that is in front of a teacher."

With that, the girls rushed back down the hall with laughter trailing behind them.

Austin didn't really get away with pranking the boys. Instead they waited a little while and got her when she wasn't paying attention. She had bright lime green skin with purple polka dots for a week. Course, that didn't stop them from continuing to prank each other.

Author's Note:

Welcome to a new story! I hope that everyone enjoys this. Also, I am hoping to have chapters up quite often, but life can be busy. If we go more than a month without an update, please let me know and I will get a new chapter up as soon as possible. If anyone has any helpful comments for me in regards to the story, let me know as well. I always enjoy getting help from my fellow authors and usually take the help in regard to my next project.

Now, just enjoy and have fun as the story unfolds before you!

- A. Moonbeam