-1 About a fortnight after Alex had spoken to Mirrim, rumours about her and Snape had started up again. Apparently she'd called him Severus and it had sparked off suspicion and cruelty. Those who disliked Snape we using it to discredit him and insinuate that he had more than a professional interest in Alex. Those who disliked Alex were suggesting she was trying to seduce Snape for her own interests. Those who disliked them both were creating connections between Alex's reputation as an accomplished potions maker and Snape's attitude towards her. Favouritism simply didn't cover it. After all, Alex was a Ravenclaw, even a Slytherin would have been bombarded with comments after everything that had happened. Although events had little to do with Mirrim, they worried her. Lupin may not share the amount of dislike that Snape was faced with by students, but any whisper of an affair between him and a student would spark rumours and speculation of a similar kind to those Alex and Snape had to endure. Mirrim knew that if she ever made the mistake that Alex had and give people ammunition to attack her and Lupin with she would never forgive herself. Where Snape and Alex were strong (and Snape at least was used to insults and prejudice), Lupin was gentle, not soft or weak, but Mirrim got the impression that cruel rumours would hurt and affect him more than they did Snape.

"What kind of wand is that, Mirrim?"

"Ten inches, phoenix feather, willow." Lupin's eyebrows rose.

A rare combination Miss Hallows. Much like yourself really. Perhaps it is true when they say the wand chooses the wizard...or the witch in this case." He smiled. Mirrim smiled back, but didn't understand why he was so interested. "You know Mirrim, phoenix feathers are often a good core for defensive spells as well as the dark arts. It is no wonder you're a rare and talented witch with a wand like that." Mirrim was a little confused. It was obvious he was paying her a compliment but she couldn't work out what he was complimenting her on. Her rarity? Uniqueness? Skill? Personality? Individuality?

"I'm afraid I don't follow what you're trying to say professor."

"Sorry Mirrim. It's just…you're so unique, there's something about you that's significantly different and I'm trying to figure out exactly what it is." Mirrim looked away. There was something different about him too, and it was killing her. How did Alex cope? Did she lie awake at night thinking of Snape like Mirrim did with Lupin? Did she lose her appetite and spend her days wishing things were different? Mirrim hadn't really observed how Alex looked when they'd talked, but when she saw her now she noticed dark shadows underneath Alex's eyes. Alex didn't seem to eat much and sometimes looked as if she was miles away, lost in thought. She was going through exactly the same thing.

It wasn't until Mirrim was fourteen that Lupin noticed the change in her.

"You look very pale Mirrim, are you feeling alright?"

"Fine, sir." Lupin noticed the shadows underneath Mirrim's eyes.

"You're sleeping alright?"

"Yes, sir." Mirrim frowned, wondering where all Lupin's sudden concern was coming from. Lupin was getting worried, Mirrim insisted she was fine but, truth be told, she looked ill. She didn't look awful, Lupin doubted she'd looked awful a day in her life, but she looked drained, almost detached.

You must look after yourself, Mirrim. You're brain is not the only part of you that needs stimulation and substance. Are you eating enough?" Mirrim didn't know what to say to this. She knew full well she wasn't eating as well as she should, her thoughts were so full of him there was little room for food. On more than one occasion she would break from work or her thoughts only to realise she'd missed a meal. When she didn't miss one she often didn't feel like eating. Her prolonged pause, averted eyes and hesitation were enough to confirm Lupin's suspicions and set alarm bells ringing.

"Alright, Miss Hallows here's how it's going to work. You come to our lessons earlier and have something like a snack and a drink. Half-way through we have a ten minute break with refreshments then at the and we have a meal, agreed?" Mirrim was slightly taken aback, but simply nodded. "And make sure you get enough sleep. Oh wait, you said you were." Damn! She hadn't. He'd asked if she was sleeping alright, she was. She didn't mention it was often no more than two or three hours. Lupin noticed her twitch. "You're not sleeping much either are you?" His voice was low and gentle. "Is something troubling you? Please tell me, I may be able to help." Mirrim couldn't take it any more, she simply couldn't. She clearly wasn't as strong as Alex. It was hard enough to love Lupin so completely, but he didn't have to make it harder by loving her in such a platonic impersonal way.

"Please sir, you are only my teacher. I will agree to let you help me get back to eating properly, but my personal problems are my own." She left quickly, ordering herself not to cry. If it carried on like this he would break her, and the feelings she'd hidden for so long would spill out. She couldn't let that happen, he couldn't know how she felt. It would ruin everything, she wasn't prepared to lose him, and if that meant going back to formalities she was going to do it. She couldn't lose him, not now. She looked out of a window, she saw Alex sitting by the lake, she looked miserable. This was how it was, and it wasn't going to end. Both Mirrim and Alex were going to be unhappy forever, because they were in incurable love, and it was never, going to be returned.