One Year Later

A Story of Time

Written by PDMD

Disclaimer: I do not own any references to the magical world and muggle world referred to in the remarkable Harry Potter series by the magnificent J. K. Rowling. I do not own any references to any books or fan fictions of others that I use to create my very own original characters, books such as My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, or the Claidi's Journals series, by Tanith Lee to any other books and stories I have forgotten to mention, for I have lost track during the process of creating my most defined characters used in this story. I am in fact not making money of the production of this, so please don't sue me, for I do not have anything that's worth anything to you, if that makes sense. XD

Author's Notes: This story is kind of like the one I use when I role-play with my good friend Milo. This story is for Milo, Meghan, Amanda, Heidi, Emily, Sophie, Anya, and everyone I forgot. Certainly I shall include you in the author's notes for the next chapter.

Also, I had this up on once before, but I thought sucked, so I took it off. Just recently, months later, I opened up the file, began to continue chapter two, and printed it out to edit. I'm sorry if this seems repettative, but please review. I need the critisism. ;;

Prologue:

The rapping knock on his door woke Remus J. Lupin that night. He took a moment of precious time to let his brain process his surroundings. His gaze traveled down at the piece of parchment he had been writing the next week's class plan on. Hinky Punks again. The imprint of his cheek was upon the parchment, created from his drool mixing with the ink while he dozed off. He cursed himself for falling asleep at his desk again, though he couldn't help it all too much. The full moon was nearly upon them, making him especially lethargic.

There was the penitrating knock again. He grumbled to himself about people who decided to come around to bother him this late at night. But ate his words and grinned broadly as he swung open the door and let his gaze rest on the woman standing before him.

"Well, good evening, Miss Falcon."

Claidissa Freya Star Falcon, the Falconry professor, gave him a heartfelt grin in return. "Good evening, Mr. Moony. May I come in and have a little chat?" Oh, dear muggle Christ, he loved it when she used his childhood nickname. Stepping aside and showing her into his office, he conjured up a chair for her to sit in across from his desk.

He closed the door behind her and swallowed against the lump of anxiety that always formed in his throat whenever he was around her. Tonight, though, it had formed larger than usual, because the wolf in him could smell from all the way from across the room the herbs of her shampoo and that sexy undertone that was hers alone. Restraint of the wolf was difficult as he walked around the chair she had occupied to sit on the edge of his desk.

"So, what can I do for you?" He noticed that she was biting her lower lip in an effort to control giggles, and the fact that she was struggling to keep her gaze leveled with his; every now and again she glanced down at his cheek. Of course! Idiot squib, he was! Laughing, he reached his hand up to wipe the ink from his face, but only succeeded in doing a horrible job smearing it.

His heart beat faster at the light sound of her laughter. That was one sound he would love forever. She stood, shaking her head, as she summoned a washcloth to rub away the ink. It felt like being shocked by an electrical wire when her hand touched his face, even though it was through the rag.

He took his right index finger and wiped some ink from his face, applying it over the feather shaped scar that rested under her left eye. The laughter in her eyes deepened into something much more sensual at Remus' touch. She hesitantly reached her other hand up and gingerly grazed it over his clean cheek. The pounding of his heart suddenly drowned out all thought and sound. He cupped her face tentatively, his eyes lowering to her lips. He felt a surge of arousal sweep through him as he noticed that they were parted in invitation. Like a man in a trance, he lowered his lips to hers, smiling at her through half lidded eyes.

And then he was a goner. Fire poured through his veins as he brought his arms around her. Her lips tasted like sweet autumn apples, just harvested and succulent. He bit back a groan as he felt her move her lips against his and murmur, "Oh, Remus…." She stood on the balls of her feet and arched her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, molding herself against him.

More, the wolf in him ordered. Remus had never obeyed the wolf before unless he wasn't under the influence of Wolfsbane during the time period between the rising and setting of the full moon, but now he felt his body do as it was told as he parted her lips with his tongue. He swallowed her moan as their tongues dueled. It scared him that he followed the wolf's orders, but he would think about that later. Right now he was busy kissing Claidi.

His hand slipped under her leg and was utterly disappointed when she pulled away several inches. Through foggy eyes, he looked down at her, trying to remember how all this had started. "Remus…" she murmured. "We can't…. The students…" Bugger the students, Remus thought. But in the end he nodded and let his arms fall to his sides. She hesitantly pulled away; stepping back so there was the proper amount of distance between them.

Bloody manners.

Claidi reached up to finish wiping the ink from his face and then disposed of the cloth. She then, quite seductively, linked her arms around waist, resting her chin against his chest. As they smiled tenderly at eachother, he entwined his fingers in her golden-brown ponytail. The tone of her gaze switched, quite suddenly, to a very serious one. "If anything was to ever happen to me," she began, "anything that may take me away from you, from what we have, I want you to promise me that you'll wait for me. Because I will come back." He noticed a glint of sorrow in her eyes as she said this. It made his heart jump into his throat.

She wouldn't leave him by choice; he'd learned that by now. He wanted to protect her now. He wanted to keep her with him throughout the night so he could watch her, and then follow her around again during the day. He wouldn't lose her, not again.

"Claidi…are you…leaving?" he asked, voice frantic. "Is something wrong? If it's about the Other Realm" She put a finger to his lips. Swallowing firmly against the lump in his throat, he nodded.

She grinned in thanks and brought her lips up to his, brushing the chapped skin of hers against the smooth skin of his, letting her arms fall. "G'night, my Moony." She turned and left Remus standing there, alone in the dark, loneliness of his office.

There was a tapping on the glass of his window when Remus awoke the next morning. Rolling over to acknowledge the bird there, he noticed that it was not the normal Ministry owl that brought him the Daily Prophet. Groaning, he swung his legs over the creaking side of the bed and schlepped across the cold, stone floor to open the window.

The bird immediately shot in to the room, baring right and landing at Lupin's feet. Remus jumped back as it transformed into a woman no older than Miss Falcon; in reality, she was several years younger. Taianess Caroline Star stood before him, a former student of his, animorph, and sister to Claidi. Her long, dark, black hair cascaded over her shoulders, much in contrast to her sister, who had a light, golden shade of brown for hair color, and wore it up in a pony tail as much as possible. Her skin was naturally, yet unhealthily, pale, and her yellow eyes were sharp as they bore into Remus with urgency.

"Did you get yours?" she asked, her voice was as panicked as the look on her face as she spat out the question in a short breath.

Remus gave her a puzzled look in return, yet his eyes were concerned as he asked, "Got what?" He put a hand out to rub her shoulder comfortingly, but she immediately shrugged away.

Another owl, once again not belonging to the Ministry, answered his question as it flew in and dropped a sheet of parchment at his feet. Cautiously bending down to retrieve it, he opened it as his body straightened again.

His skin went almost as pale as Taia's. His breathing became short and he had a sudden, sharp stabbing feeling in his chest, as if some one had stuck the sword of Godric Gryffindor through him. He quickly read the letter, and then read it again, stumbling backwards towards his bed as he tried to find something solid to support his body with. He read it for a third time and it felt like his heart had stopped.

Claidi, his Claidi, was gone.

His note read:

My Remus -

It hurts me so much to have to write these words to you, to tell you that after all that wanting, I can't have you. After last night, I never planned on truly leaving. But I had to. I have a job to do.

When you read this, know that I do intend to keep my promise and return to you. I will return if it costs me my life.

I wanted to stay so badly, to stay with you forever and for always. But, as I've said before, I have a job to do, so please forgive me.

I don't know when I'll be back, I don't know how I'll get back, but I know I'll be back some day. Please don't pity yourself, or Taia, or give anyone else a chance to pity you. You have no reason to mourn, because I am a woman of my word.

I must wrap this up now, for I am running out of parchment and I must begin my journey. I'll miss you more than you can imagine.

- Claidissa Freya Star Falcon

Tears were now stinging his cheeks as he read it one, final time and looked up at Taia. "She's not gone," he lied, "I know she's not gone." Taia started to protest, but he didn't give her a chance. He bolted from the room and hurried through the corridors and up and down various staircases.

His heart was hammering in his head, lodging itself in his throat while, at the same time, falling like a steel block to the bottom of his stomach. He ran, ignoring all those who jumped out of his path as he went. She's not gone, he tried to convince himself. She wouldn't leave him so suddenly like that if it were her choice.

He reached her tower and burst through the door and fell flat on his face from tripping over the threshold. Not consciously feeling any pain, he jumped to his feet. He nearly fell back to the floor from the shock of what he saw. Boxes. Crates. Packages. All of Claidi's belongings seemed to be packed or taken down. He felt like he was going to be sick.

Taia as a cat ran in behind him and stopped dead when she saw what he was looking at. After a moment of transforming, she timidly placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Remus, are you ok?"

Was he ok? No, of course he wasn't ok! He wanted to yell and scream at his former student, show her just how ok he was, but all he could do was turn around and break down in her arms. Out of her element for a moment, Taia just stood there awkwardly, but soon moved her arms around him comfortingly. "Shhh, it's ok, it's ok to cry. Don't worry, I'm here," she cooed. He tried to get a hold on his emotions and turned around to face the room again. He swallowed against the tears as he set his sight on a piece of parchment wrapped around something on Claidi's - what had been Claidi's - desk.

He crossed the room in a matter of seconds and picked up the note that was attached to the parcel and read the following:

Remus or Taia -

Take care of this for me; I'll need it back some day.

- Claidi

He started to cry again as he unwrapped the bundle and slipped her willow wand into his pocket. He'd take good care of it.