Just a quick note and I will leave you alone. I have to say a major thank you to both Lolabunny1992 and Spaz666 for all of your help in fixing the stuff I totally screwed up the first time around. I really hope you like the changes I made.
If you are an Inuyasha fan (or Sesshoumaru really) you should check out Bleeding Love by Lolabunny1992.
And finally, I don't own Harry Potter nor do I profit from this fanfic!
Remus stood across from the young woman, unsure if she would answer him. After a few moments, Melody finally spoke, "I don't know what you're talking about!"
He saw the slight stiffening of her muscles, the twitch of her left eye and knew she was lying. Even if she had been good at hiding the visual cues, he could smell the deceit rolling off of her in waves. "I'm very sure you do my dear." He came to the conclusion that she must not have been turned too long ago otherwise she would have learned to hide her lie better. At least now he understood why Dumbledore had brought them both here; she would need a lot of help and encouragement. He would be one of the few in the castle that could handle her without magic if she lost control. He extended his hand, trying to introduce himself again, but she quickly backed away from him.
Remus watched as she had tripped over her cloak in an attempt to move away from him. Without thinking, he rushed forward, catching her before she connected with the floor and pulled her up against his body. He became instantly aware that her robes were hiding a very curvaceous body as her breasts pressed against his chest and his arm settled around her waist. He froze when she began nuzzling his neck, and his heart almost stopped as her lips brushed gently against the sensitive skin there. Was she trying to feed on him, and if so why was that thought so intriguing?
Remus loosened his grip on Melody and cleared his throat hoping to catch her attention before things got out of hand.
She jumped away from him as if she had been burned and refused to look at him, the laces of her shoes being much more interesting at that moment. "I wasn't trying to harm you; I was just trying to introduce myself. I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." Try as he might, he just couldn't get the feeling of her nuzzling into him out of his head, or how her breath had sent shivers down his spine.
That was odd. No other woman had ever caused that reaction in him before. He opened his mouth and said something that Melody didn't hear. The whistle of the train sounded, announcing they would soon be arriving at Hogwarts. He shook his head, trying to clear it of her delicate scent. Lavender never seemed to suit anyone before but he liked the smell of it on her, and it made him wonder if she tasted just a good. What he didn't want was the underlying fear that radiated from her.
He cleared his throat again, trying to push those thoughts from his head, "If you aren't busy with Professor Dumbledore later, you should come to my office tonight after the sorting."
Melody's gaze flew to his face, worried that she might have already blown her one chance to stay at Hogwarts. "I didn't mean to Professor, I'm sorry!"
He gave her a small smile and shook his head "No need to apologize, but we need to find a way to curb your appetite, so you don't attack one of the other students." How could he berate her for almost giving into a new temptation, when he would have been glad to give in himself a moment ago? Dumbledore wanted him to help her, but he wasn't sure the Headmaster would still want him around after this latest development. How could Dumbledore want someone with that type of reaction to a student? He told himself that it was just wrong.
But she's of age, and if she wants you, there's nothing wrong with it! A small voice echoed through his mind. Lovely, the first female to attract the werewolf in him just so happened to be one of his students and a vampire none the less. He needed to talk to Dumbledore immediately!
Remus rushed from the car of the train as soon as it came to a halt. He had more questions than answers, and that needed to be corrected if he was going to be any help to this girl. He could tell by the look on her face that she was terrified of being found out, and he didn't blame her. Very few people in his life knew he was a werewolf for fear of their rejection or hatred.
Melody stood in place, unsure of what had just happened. She couldn't explain her reaction to him. The smell of blood had never been so appealing to her as it had just then. Yes, she had gone longer without eating then she should have, that might explain part of it, but she had never experienced the odd ache that seemed to originate between her thighs. Maybe it was just another part of being a vampire that no one had thought to explain to her yet. With a sigh, she headed off the train, met the tallest, hairiest man she had ever seen, and he took her to the castle with all of the first years by boat.
Lupin rushed to the Headmasters office and spoke the password to the stone gargoyle protecting the spiral staircase. He took the stairs two at a time. In his rush to talk to Dumbledore, he burst into the office, catching the last of the Potion masters words, "She's too much of a threat to the safety of every person in this castle." At the sudden appearance of Remus, Snape shut his mouth with an audible snap. He glared daggers at the new teacher, his distaste of the man carrying over from their school days together.
"Ah right on time Remus, if you will excuse us, Severus, as you can see I have an appointment with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor that cannot wait. We can finish this discussion after the sorting ceremony is done."
"As you wish." Severus walked over to the door, intending to slam it behind him but seemed to think better of it in the last second; he poked his head around the corner "Just remember potions only help her kind so much, especially this early on. I will not be held responsible for anything that happens if you have placed too much faith in one girl." He pulled the door shut and made his way to the Great Hall.
Remus sank down into a chair across from Dumbledore's desk, and placed his head in his hands, his fingers twisting in his hair. "I hadn't meant to interrupt; I just need to speak to you about Miss Delphinium...I...I don't think I'm the best person to help her as you had originally thought."
Professor Dumbledore shook his head slightly, "As I told Severus, we have an appointment to keep, and it's obvious that you need it more then he does." Albus took in his new professor's appearance and concluded that he had already met the girl in question. "You aren't the only one that seems to think that there is no help for her here. I had asked Severus to brew the potion she would require to function as a normal part of this school, but as you saw that didn't go according to plan. Unfortunately, he is right, the potion will dull the effects of the sun on her as well as bring her heightened senses back down to a more normal level, but she will always need to be careful. Too much direct sunlight will assuredly kill her, and as for her senses, if she were to miss a dose or takes it too late, they may become more than she can handle on her own." Dumbledore let the information sink in for a moment before continuing, " It is a simple potion to produce if one has the time to do so, but she will be so busy with her last year of study that I fear she will not. I will ask Professor Flitwick to take up the task sin-"
A deep growl emanated from Lupin's chest before he could stop it. He clapped a hand over his mouth, his gaze sliding down to the floor before him. How had this girl gotten under his skin so quickly? A very animalistic part of him demanded he rush down below and claim her before any other had the chance, but the more human side of him cringed at the idea. She was not a piece of property for him to mark as he saw fit. He reminded himself forcefully that she was one of his students! It wasn't right! He wouldn't take advantage of an innocent girl like that.
He looked up at the headmaster with an expression torn between revolution and desperation. "I can't be the one to help her; I don't trust myself around her! I've only been around her for maybe five minutes, and I find myself wanting her." He got to his feet and paced the floor restlessly in frustration. He was utterly at a loss for what to do in this situation.
"Ah, so it's not that you don't believe you can't help her, you think you will do something you will regret?"
Remus came to a stop, looked Dumbledore in the eye "Merlin's Beard no! I feel like I'm going to die if I can't claim her...like my very breath depends on her." He turned away from Dumbledore to stare at the wall, too disgusted with himself. He couldn't bear to see the same look from his old friend. Little did he know a hopeful smile was all that Dumbledore cast his direction. "I'm a professor, and she's my student...nothing but a child just reaching adulthood..." He looked back to Dumbledore, his eyes filled with desperation and regret having spilled the truth like this. "Albus, I shouldn't even be allowed to stay here, this is madness." He sank back into the chair, dropping his head back into his hands and whispered, "How could anyone want a monster like me?" He then explained what had happened on the train just before they arrived at the school.
Dumbledore sat quietly, listening to him carefully, considering what to sincerely say to Remus. "Have you ever felt anything like this before Remus?" to that the professor just shook his head. "And you feel nothing for the other students?" Again he shook his head no. "Then I see no real issue with your feelings unless she doesn't return them."
His head shot up, looking at Dumbledore dumbfounded. "How could there possibly be no issue here? I've never had such a strong reaction from the wolf in me before, and I don't want to hurt her! She's still a kid." She didn't feel like a kid the little voice called out.
Remus pushed the thought away as ridiculous. "I can't ruin her life for her." He shook his head again, "How can I possibly feel like this for her? Just being what we are should have us despising each other."
Dumbledore thought for a minute, "It may be because you were designed to care for each other." He shrugged his shoulders unsure of why it mattered; there was no way to guarantee she felt the same way at this point. "Her life is already ruined in her eyes, Remus. Her family will have nothing to do with her, and most of the wizarding world will shun her because of the acts of one careless vampire. He ruined what life she had over the summer. Don't you remember what it was like when you were turned?"
Remus nodded, understanding part of what he was saying. If it hadn't been for his friends, he would have ended his life. Here she had no one to turn to, and he at least knew what it was like to have your entire world turn upside down and feel as if you didn't belong anymore.
"Maybe what you feel for this girl is just a protective streak because of the similar circumstances. If so then she could use a friend and protector at this time." Remus cast him a doubtful look, so he continued to talk, "If it is something more, I advise you to be careful, as you have said she is young, and I don't mean in the way of normal age or maturity. She has only been a vampire for a few short months and may not be able to control her urges or strength."
"I don't know why you have such faith in me Albus, but I'll do the best that I can to help her. As for the potion, I'll brew it myself. I know how much Severus despises my kind, and I can only assume he isn't overly fond of vampires either, I don't want her to come to any harm."
Dumbledore stood and ushered Lupin towards the door, "You will also need to help her find a way to quench her thirst, if she were to attack one of the students out of hunger, there would be no way of keeping her out of Azkaban. You can try adding different things to the potions or even finding a willing soul to donate blood to curb the undeniable hunger that will rip through her. There has been no potion that will ease it as of yet; maybe you will be the one to find it. Now we must get downstairs to see the results of the sorting."
Melody stood with the nervous group of children in the large hallway wondering what was going to happen now. She was so distracted that the large entrance went unnoticed. She kept going over her reaction to Professor Lupin on the train. He had been the only person to touch her in three months, and damn had it felt good. With a single motion, she had gone from feeling terrified to safe as he pulled her against him. And Merlin, his scent still clung to her robes, pulling her back to that moment more than the memories of his arms around her could. He had a unique masculine smell, almost earthy and she had almost gotten a taste.
The arrival of an old, thin witch pulled Melody from her reverie as she explained how the sorting would take place. Professor McGonagall led the students into the dining hall where it seemed every eye followed her through the room.
Melody did her best to ignore them as she took in the Great Hall. There were four massive tables lined with students; each table had a splash of color along with the black robes. The number of students made her nervous as she walked between two rows and couldn't help but wonder if she was ready to be around so many people.
The first year students clustered together at the end of the tables where a tattered old hat sat on a wooden stool. She stood behind the younger students and searched the head table for Professor Dumbledore, maybe she would be able to explain the incident before Lupin had a chance to speak with him. When she noticed he wasn't there either, she started to worry that she would be on her way home soon.
Melody jumped as one of the first year girls elbowed her, she had been so distracted she had missed Professor McGonagall calling her name. Embarrassed, she took her spot on the stool, and the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. As it called out that she was to go to the Gryffindor house, Professors Dumbledore and Lupin walked into the hall and took seats at the main table. One of the four tables erupted into applause, so she headed to the end of the bench.
When Melody sat down, several of the younger students seemed to slide farther down the seat, as if afraid of her. She rolled her eyes and forced herself to ignore them. It wasn't their fault that they were afraid of her, everyone seemed to be now.
After the last of the students had been sorted, the Headmaster stood and made a grand speech, then food appeared at each table to the enjoyment of the kids all around her. The room was filled with the happy chatter of both the students and staff.
Melody stared at the food in disgust, and couldn't help thinking about Professor Lupin's scent, would she ever be able to get that close again? At that moment she felt as if she were being watched. She turned her attention to the head table to see two men staring at her. One was a man with long, greasy hair and a large nose; the other was Professor Lupin. His eyes locked on hers for a brief second before he looked away as another teacher called his name.
After the dinner was over, the students filed out of the Great Hall and went to their respective houses, but Melody walked up to the head table, intent on avoiding talking to Lupin. "Professor Dumbledore, I need to speak with you about Professor Lupin, he says-" Dumbledore leaned forward, "I am aware of the situation Miss Delphinium, and I believe that Remus may be the one person here that can help you more than I can. Trust in him, even if you don't trust yourself." He took his leave and left her standing before Professor Lupin.
He came around the table and stood beside her, "Please follow me." He walked down the hall, and she stayed several steps behind him to avoid a repeat of the incident on the train. When they arrived at his office, it was full of glass jars holding all kinds of small magical creatures in them. She heard him mutter a spell to lock the door and another to keep those outside from hearing their discussion. He took a few steps in her direction, "Now shall we begin?"