A/N: Hey guys! I hope you all are liking the story so far! Thank you to those of you who have followed, favorited, or reviewed. I really appreciate it! I know I haven't had much Remus/Lauren interaction yet, but I promise its coming! Anyway, here's the next chapter and as always, read and review if you like! I'm always open to opinions and suggestions.
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Chapter 3: Wrong Place, Wrong Time
My first week of classes went by rather quickly. Being at NEWT level meant I could take as many or as little classes as I desired, but as I was on the Healer track, my load was pretty heavy. I already had several large assignments due, so I had been in the library every day after class researching and attempting to stay on top of things so I could avoid pulling the dreaded all-nighters.
I had only seen Remus a few times since what I had now dubbed as "The Incident." Most of them had been brief glances at a distance. The only time I was anywhere close to him was in DADA class and Potions, and he hadn't done anything out of the ordinary in either of those. I had decided that "the Incident" was just a weird one-time thing after he went back to his normal behavior. Which was not knowing I existed. Whether I was relieved or disappointed at that fact was yet to be determined.
On Saturday I woke up earlier than most of the other students and made my way down to the Great Hall to grab some breakfast, intending to spend most of my day in the library finishing up my assignments. Munching on some toast as I walked towards the library, I only met one other student, which made me tense up until I realized it was just a younger Hufflepuff. Only then did I realize that I had automatically reached for my wand and I now had it gripped in my hand. I quickly let it go as if had burned me and the Hufflepuff gave me an odd look as he passed. Great, now on top of outcast and crazy person, it's going to get around that I have a twitch. I avoided eye contact and continued on my way.
Really, I shouldn't be blamed for being so jumpy. I generally had to avoid being alone in hallways as that's when the Slytherins usually managed to corner and humiliate me. They never did anything horribly serious, but when one has to spend a weekend with Madam Pomfrey covered in boils that are rapidly multiplying, it tends to make said person a little wary of deserted hallways, to say the least.
Thankfully, no boils or other maladies befell me on this trip and I made it to the library in one piece. I quietly found a table in the very back corner that pretty much no one but me used, except for couples trying to find a quiet place to snog. Which I, unfortunately, had stumbled upon several times over the years. About had to burn my eyes out after I walked up on the last couple I interrupted, I thought with a small shudder. Shaking those thoughts out of my head, I sat down and got to work.
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Several hours later, I straightened up from where I had been hunched over the table with a grimace. Finally, I thought, with a glance out the window. I was shocked when I saw how low the sun was in the sky and I checked my watch. Bloody hell, it's almost dinner time. I've been in here all damn day. My stomach rumbled loudly in outrage that I had accidently skipped lunch. I quickly gathered my things and left the library, planning on dropping my things off in my room before I went to dinner. Distracted by my hunger, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Hence my shock when I collided, rather forcefully I might add, with something. I was knocked backwards onto my rear as I saw something black fall in the opposite direction.
Shit, that really wasn't good for the tailbone, I thought as I slowly stood back up, rubbing my hind end as I rose. That's when I realized that whatever I had run into was still on the floor in front of me. As I looked, I quickly realized it wasn't a something, but a someone, who I had not only plowed over, but I had also completely knocked all their things out of their hands. I immediately bent down to start helping them pick their things up, profusely spitting out apologies and cursing my clumsiness, when I saw a wand suddenly appear in my line of sight. Pointed directly at me.
…What the bloody hell?" I swallowed as I slowly looked up to find Severus Snape pointing his wand directly at me with a snarl on his face. I gulped again as I slowly stood up, cursing the fact that my wand was in my pocket. There was no way I could draw it and avoid getting hit. We stared at each other for a few seconds before Severus started to speak.
"You should watch where you're going Dixon. You're lucky I don't hex you right where you stand," he snarled out. "Get your filthy mudblood hands off my stuff." I realized I was still holding the books I had begun to pick up and quickly dropped them. He stared at me a few seconds more before lowering his wand. "Next time I won't be so nice. Now, get out of my sight." He then bent down to pick up his things again. I quickly headed past him and around the corner, wanting to get away before he changed his mind.
Geez, somebody's grumpy, I thought to myself as I tried to play off the incident that had just occurred. It didn't really work. My heart was still pounding and my hands even had a slight tremor. Severus had always scared me a bit more than the other Slytherins. Sure, Severus generally wasn't one of the people who outwardly targeted me, but I had DADA class with him, and let me tell you, that boy knew his shit about the Dark Arts. And I, for one, did not want to be on the business end of his wand should he decide to throw out a hex when he was in a mood. Like today. Apparently.
Walking on, I once again wasn't really paying attention to where I was going as I was still trying to pull myself together. I rounded a corner, when all of a sudden I found myself covered in something cold, wet, and sticky.
I gasped loudly at the sudden onslaught of cold and froze. After a few seconds of shock, I slowly looked down to see myself covered in thick, green, disgusting slime. I quickly looked up and around the hallway, but it appeared deserted except for me. I looked down at myself again and just couldn't help myself.
"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK! I SWEAR ON MERLIN HIS FUCKING SELF WHOEVER THE FUCK DID THIS…" I abruptly stopped my irritated rambling as I heard low voices coming from an alcove slightly up the hall.
"…wait, that didn't sound like Snivellus"
"…it almost sounded like…like a girl."
"SHIT," I heard a now obviously male voice shout out. I then saw, not one, but 4 males emerge from alcove. The Marauders to be exact. And they were all staring at me in growing horror.
Sirius was the first one out and one who had stopped closest to me. His mouth was open in shock. I had never actually been this close to him, and even with all the anger I was feeling, I couldn't help the "DAMN SON. AND I THOUGHT HE WAS FINE FROM A DISTANCE" that ran through my head. James was next to him wearing a similar expression, except his held a tinge of guilt. Peter was behind them both and he had both hands up covering his mouth in horror. And finally I looked at Remus. "Good Lord, even when I'm seething with rage and he's standing next to Sirius fucking looks like a Greek god Black, he still looks good." Remus was staring at me with the same look of shock that quickly morphed into one of pure guilt and concern. He slowly brought a hand up to cover his mouth as he stared, obviously unsure of what to say or do, his bluish-green eyes slowly looking at me up and down.
We stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, the only sound being the slime still covering me dripping to the ground. The combination of the steady splat sound of the slime hitting the floor and the looks of fear on all the boy's faces suddenly made me realize how funny the situation was. Just like that, all my anger I had at being suddenly covered in thick slime faded away and was replaced by amusement. Their faces were just so priceless. "Eh, I never was good at holding a grudge anyway"
I was just about to start laughing when suddenly footsteps could be heard coming towards the corridor and I heard Filch's voice was saying "No, I heard the shout come from this way Professor. I'm sure of it." The boys' look of panic grew, if that was even possible. I had to take action or they were going to get into trouble. Seeing them still standing there, I moved towards them quickly and whispered "Quick, get back in the alcove!" They all stayed frozen, just looking at me. "Stop staring and move! Or do you want detention?" I grabbed the closest one, which happened to be Sirius and shoved him towards the alcove. They all seemed to unfreeze at the movement and quickly scrambled to follow him. James's foot has just disappeared when I saw Filch and McGonagall come around the corner.
They stopped as they saw me standing alone in the hallway, covered in bright green goo. McGonagall recovered from her shock at seeing what I'm sure was an odd sight first and moved towards me.
"Ms. Dixon, are you alright?" "Acting skills, don't fail me now." I quickly threw on a fake smile.
"Yes, Professor, I-I'm alright. I think" I put on what I hoped was a small, self-depreciating smile. "Seems I've become the target of another Slytherin prank," I said with a humorless chuckle as I looked down at me feet.
McGonagall's face softened as she looked at me in sympathy. "Did you see who it was, Ms. Dixon?"
"No, unfortunately all I saw was some people disappearing around the corner."
McGonagall sighed as she looked at me. "Well, unfortunately I can't punish them if I don't know who did it." She straightened up "Come along, I'll escort you back to your common room."
I managed a small smile. "Thank you Professor. I'd appreciate it" She turned and started to walk off, with me following behind. I risked a quick glance back to see Remus peering out of the alcove with a look I couldn't quite distinguish, but what almost looked like admiration. I managed to give him a small smile before I turned and caught up with McGonagall.
