January 1, 1994

Despite only just having gotten over her hangover from the previous nights celebrations Lucy showed up outside Remus Lupin's office at a quarter to eleven like they had planned. In one hand was her broom, in the other was a present she had forgotten to give to him between the debacle that had been Christmas Eve at her cousins and the party she had hosted the following day.

Lucy raised the hand curled around her broom to knock on the door only for Remus to open it before her knuckles ever met wood.

"Lucy!" He greeted warmly. He looked both ravishing and exhausted at the same time. His hair stuck up on the side of his head, and there were puffy bags under his eyes and the elastic of his underwear— Boxers, Lucy mused, He's definitely a boxers sort of man —peeked up over his sweater which had accidentally been tucked into the undergarment. "Happy New Years!"

"Happy New Years Remus," Lucy said, she presented his gift, "And a Merry belated Christmas." Remus looked down at the square shaped parcel.

"Lucy you know you didn't have to get me anything," Remus told her. She smirked, her lips quirked up flashing the corner of one of her canines at him.

"Is that your way of telling me you didn't get me anything?" She joked. Remus flushed a pretty pink that made Lucy feel giddy.

"I—well I didn't realize we were doing gifts," he said. Merlin he's adorable like this. I love it when he's embarrassed, she thought happily. How could anyone ever call this man a monster?

"It's cool that just means you'll have to get me an extra special birthday gift," she told him, handing over the terribly wrapped present. Even with the help of magic Lucy couldn't seem to nicely wrap gifts. Mrs. Weasley had always told her It doesn't matter what the outside looks like as long as put thought into the gift underneath, and while the sentiment was nice, Lucy who had been brought up on Presentation— perception —means everything couldn't help but feel embarrassed as Remus marveled at the still wrapped present.

"Sorry about the wrapping, I know it—"

"It's perfect?" Remus quipped, cutting her off. "It's better than anything I could have managed." He lead Lucy into the room as he started to tear at the paper.

"Really?"

"Course, usually if it don't come in it's own box I just plop it in bag—Lucy," he gasped as he marveled at his gift. It was a copy of William Shakespeare's First Folio, a book that had been put together shortly after the authors death, it was comprised of his plays. Out of the seven hundred that had been originally printed back then less then two hundred still remained and while it had been expensive in the muggle world the hefty price it had been hadn't even made a small ding in the family fortune.

"Lucy," he turned around, "This is—I can't—it's too much." The wrapping paper was still around the book, Lucy noticed Remus was careful to not touch the work.

"Honestly Remus it's cool."

"Cool? Lucy this must've coast a—a," Remus blinked as he tried to think of something other then the saying An arm and a leg.

"A whole dragons liver?" She offered smartly.

"Yes!"

"Well it didn't," Lucy said. Money was still deposited in the family Vaults do to the income of businesses her family had long ago partnered with, along with profits from well made investments and royalties from inventions and potions her ancestors had patented, and no matter how much Lucy spent twice as much always rolled in at the end of the month.

"Still I can't accept this," Remus told her.

"Of course you can, it's easy." Remus shot her a dry, but still grateful look.

"I meant I can't take something that was so expensive, especially when I got you nothing." Lucy understood where he came from, his pride wouldn't allow him to accept such a gift when he would never have been able to spend even an eighth of its worth as a present in return. Bill had been the same way when, in their first year, she'd given him new broom.

"You can't have of gotten me this," an eleven year old Bill Weasley said. His parents and siblings looked on with large eyes as they peered at the newest racing broom on the market. His younger brother Charlie gaped open mouthed at the broom. According to Bill the only two things the boy loved was dragons and Quidditch. Lucy made note that when he got to Hogwarts she'd get him a broom too.

"Why not? Do you not like it?" Lucy wondered.

"No—I do, really more than anything, it's just, all I got you was a picture," Bill pointed out. Lucy held the picture of the two of them against her chest protectively; both Lucy and Bill were asleep on one of the greenhouse benches, covered in mud. Bills robes were under Lucy's head while his was on her shoulder. Professor Sprout had taken it after they had helped her repot plants, only to then run around the green house for the next hour chasing after a gnome that had somehow gotten in.

"And I love the picture, more than anything," Lucy told him. A crease formed between her brows. She didn't understand why Bill sounded as if the picture was nothing. It was perfect because like the other girls in her dorm Lucy finally had a picture to put next to her bed frame. To show she wasn't alone.

"The broom must've cost a fortune," Bill explained, "And all I got you was a second hand frame and a picture that didn't cost anything."

"I don't care about the money Bill cause to me this picture is worth more than any broom!" Lucy exclaimed. Bill looked skeptical. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who had both been listening in jumped up when both Ronald and Ginny, and Meriri who started immediately after, started crying.

"How can a picture be worth more than a broom?" Lucy pressed her lips together and wondered how she could explain what she felt to Bill.

"Well," she started slowly, "You know how people pick on me because of my family, how cause no one writes me so they say no one loves me?" Bill nodded, while the children from the other houses bullied Lucy because her family was evil the older Slytherins who had lost loved ones to You-Know-Who picked on her saying how even she was to evil to love. "Well this picture proves them wrong doesn't it? It shows them that I do have a brother who cares about me." Bill beamed.

"You called me your brother," he said softly. Lucy pinkened.

"You're the one that said we could be a family," she murmured embarrassed. Bill leaned in and wrapped her in a warm hug. Lucy could feel emotion swell up under her lungs, suffocating her in a good way she still wasn't yet used too.

"I know I did. You're the best sister Lucy."

"And you're the best brother Bill."

The sentiment was stupid because while some people like Mrs. Weasley showed affection by making fudge and knitting sweaters Lucy bought people stuff.

"Remus the money's nothing okay? It might be to you but to me it's not, so really it's no big deal."

"Of course it is Lucy, how can I ever get you anything that'll ever measure up?" Remus resorted. He placed the book and the wrapping paper gently on the side of his desk.

"You could kiss me." The words were out of Lucy's mouth before she could think them through. Remus paused and looked at her.

"I can't give you what you want," Remus said in response. All I want is you, Lucy thought.

"And what do you think I want?" She wondered. She took a step closer to him, and then another and then a third until she was only a step away. Lucy dragged her hand along the desk until it was next to Remus'.

"Someone to come home too, to raise a few kids with and live a long happy life with," he answered her. Lucy shook her head.

"Kids, they arent in my plan," Lucy told him. Her stomach twisted painfully— just like it had when Merwyn brought it up —at the thought of perhaps ever putting her hypothetical child through the trauma she had gone through

"Then someone to come home to," Remus amended.

"That would be nice," Lucy hummed. Her grey eyes met his, they were clouded in lust and angst and resignment. "But more than that," her fingers danced up Remus' hand, up his arm, she stepped closer, "I want you. However you'll have me."

They were chest to chest. Lucy had on hand on his shoulder and another on his ribs; remus had both hands on her waist.

"Doesn't the age difference bother you?"

"No. You?"

"It makes me feel like I'm taking advantage of you," Remus told her. Their breathing synced up.

"How can you take advantage of me when I'm the one pursuing you? Asking for you to kiss me." Practically begging. Lucy looked up at him through her lashes.

"And you're sure of this? You want me, despite my age, my nonexistent vault, my condition?"

"I want you in spite of it," Lucy told him, "I want you because you make me laugh and you make me feel safe enough to cry, you make me feel like I'm my own person." She smiled. "And the fact you're fit doesn't hurt either you know."

Remus chuckled. When his laughter stop he peered at Lucy and pulled her more firmly to his chest.

"So just one kiss?" He mused. Lucy rose up on her toes,

"Maybe a few," she murmured against his lips.

Remus' lips fit against hers like a long lost puzzle piece. The kiss was firm, but his lips were soft, though she could feel a cut on his top lip against her own. And though there was no outwards explosion, no fireworks or angels singing Lucy felt her stomach catch her hammering heart and every part of her body warm from the inside out.

Lucy's fingers stretched to his hair, the soft light brown felt thin and airy hair between her fingers. Almost like a snitches wing. Remus' fingernails bit into her shirt as Lucy's tongue swiped across his bottom lip.

Lucy felt her breath hitch as Remus nipped at her bottom lip, only to take in between his own lips and suck on it pleasurably. Lucy opened her own mouth and slowly, testing the waters, Remus' tongue slithered in.

There was no fight for dominance like authors wrote about in Mrs. Weasleys love novels, just a dance. Lucy tugged lightly at Remus' hair and the werewolf pushed her against the edge of his desk, their lips never disconnecting.

And when they did, when Remus did pull his lips away from Lucy's it was so he could drag his teeth across her jaw and down her neck, pulling at bits of skin until her came across her pulse. There his arms circled her waist; Lucy, with her eyes closed, was flushed against Remus, panting as he kissed her neck.

Remus pulled away when Lucy moaned. It was a soft moan, the start of a symphony of noses. They both breathed heavily against the other.

His hands left her waist to cup her face, and hers his shoulders to rest against his erratic heart.

"Merlin Lupin, you've been holding out on me," Lucy said smartly. Her face was red and her pupils had been blown out wide.

"I guess that means you'll just have to come back for more," he smirked.

"I come back for the conversation, this is just a really nice bonus."

"Well then," Remus told her, stepping away, he grabbed the book behind her. "I'm going to start in on this if you want to join me by the fire."

"I'd love to but I should probably go say hello to the kids," Lucy told him. Remus leaned in and pecked her lips.

"Don't kill the Weasley twins," he told her. Her eyes narrowed.

"Why would I kill them?" She asked sharply. Remus smiled coyly.

"You'll see."

January 2, 1994

"Ms. Black?" Professor McGonagall caught up to Lucy as the younger witch walked towards the Hufflepuff common room.

"Hey Professor! How was your New Year's-Sorry I didn't see you last night I- err -went to bed early," Lucy tried to swallow her blush as she half lied to the Deputy Headmistress because she had gone to bed early the prior night; only it hadn't been her own bed. It had been Remus', both Lucy and the werewolf took turns reading passages from the First Folio between intense snogging sessions.

Professor McGonagall peered at her through the corner of her eye, disbelieving, but said nothing.

"That's quite alright Ms. Black, though we do have to speak about something important." Lucy paused midstep.

"Is everything okay Professor?" Mcgonagall turned and looked at the ex-Seeker.

"Mr. Potter got a broom over break, a firebolt. There was no note." Lucy felt an icy hand grip her lungs and squeeze.

"And you think Si-my-him, you think he sent Harry Potter a broom?"

"I do. I have Professor Flitwick going over the broom."

"Thank you for informing me," Lucy said with a nod and furrowed brow.

"That's not all Ms. Black. As the Headmaster pointed out, a broom like that costs money," Professor McGonagall said slowly. Lucy felt hot fury rise in her throat.

"And you think I gave him the money?" Lucy's jaw tightened.

"No, of course not, but the Headmaster and I are curious to where he could have gotten the money." Lucy nodded, her blood still hot with indignation.

"Not the family vault," Lucy told her, "The moment I turned seventeen I wrote to the goblins, as Head of House I put specific instructions on who is and isn't allowed access. He isn't."

"Any idea where he could have gotten the money?" Lucy bit her lip.

Cissy would never, Lucy thought, Lucius hates him and Cissy still thinks he's a stain upon the family name. Andy wouldn't either so who would give him hundreds of thousands of galleons so he could elaborately murder Harry Potter?

"My samchon, my Uncle Alphard," Lucy told the older witch as she remembered the large tapestry in her childhood home, "Was my mother's younger brother. He was burned off the family tapestry, disowned, shortly after he his death. My mother thought Alphard willing Sirius-" Lucy hissed the name, "His estate was the equivalence of being a blood traitor."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Thank you Ms. Black."

January 3, 1994

Though she had been part of the staff, technically Lucy Black was not a Professor she was a flying instructor and Quidditch coach meaning she didn't have tests to grade or papers to correct, which was why, after classes on the first day of term when seventh years Oliver Wood and Marcus Flint, and the Ravenclaw Chaser Whitney Jackson and the Hufflepuff Beater Ryan Lockley all entered her office Lucy, with her feet up on her desk, to amuse herself had been spinning several paper swans she had made above her head in a swirling, never ending vortex.

"Uh, Madam Lucy?" Whitney Jackson questioned from the mouth of the door, only her head poking in.

Lucy looked at the open door and grinned at the girl. "Miss. Jackson! Are misters Wood, Flint and Lockley with you?"

"Right here Madam!" Oliver Wood said, he leaned over Whitney Jackson and stuck his head through the door. Whitney elbowed the Scottish Boy in the ribs,

"Two steps back Wood," the young girl growled threateningly, "Now." While Lucy had heard about the young girls temper the flying instructor was sure Oliver had witnessed it first hand because without any hesitation the boy had thrown himself back into— if the loud Oomph was any indication —Marcus Flint.

"—Off me Wood!" Flint growled out from behind the door.

Teenagers, Lucy mused. "Alright how about you all just come in and take a seat." The four entered the room. Whitney took one corner stool while Lockley took the other leaving both Wood and Flint to sit next to each other, their shoulders brushed against one another and their knees knocked into each other.

"Did we do something wrong Madam?" Wood wondered as he fidgeted on his stool, his hands curled around the end of his sweater.

"No actually, the opposite," Lucy pulled out four gel pens, dark blue, purple, red and orange, and four sheets of parchment with names already written on them from her top drawer. "I've called you all here because I'd like to know what you all plan to do after school."

"Work in the Department of Mysteries," Whitney Jackson said without any hesitation. She held her head up proudly.

"Not play Quidditch?" Lucy wondered. Whitney shook her head.

"Nah, Quidditch is fun and all, and I love it but the Department of Mysteries ma'am," Miss. Jackson stressed. Lucy laughed, six years before Lucy herself had said the exact opposite.

"Not the Ministry?" Mr. Weasley asked over breakfast. Five year old Ginny sat on one of Lucy's knees and munched on the sausage Lucy has cut up for her. Bill sat next to her with Ron on his other side, struggling to reach for the syrup. Meiri sat across from Ron, next to Mia, the six year old redhead accidently knocked over her orange juice into the fourteen year old girls lap.

"Nah," Lucy shook her head as Mia assured a tear eyes Meiri everything was okay, "The Ministry seems cool and all but Quidditch!" Ginny perked up,

"Quidd-it!" The young girl cheered through a mouthful of food.

"Well then if you're sure you can leave."

"Have a nice night Professor," Whitney waved, she smiled at Lockley and glared at Wood before rushing out of the room. Flint didn't bother to move over a seat.

"And what about you boys, do you all want to play Quidditch?"

"Yes!" Lockley And Wood said simultaneously. Lucy raised a brow at Marcus Flint.

"Mr. Flint?"

"My father wants me to run the family business," Flint said. Lucy knew the Flints ran the imports and exports of the wizarding world; it had been her family who had given them money to start the business up eight centuries ago.

"I'm not asking what your father wants you to do Mr. Flint, I'm asking if you want to play Quidditch," told Lucy.

"Yes." Lucy nodded.

"Then I'm sure a letter from me explaining how good you are on a broom will help persuade him," Lucy told Flint. Both pureblood knew that it wasn't the letter that would persuade Sir Flint but rather the fact that she, Lady Black has noticed his sons talent.

"Thank you. Now here each of you take one of these," Lucy handed each boy a paper and pen. "Now each of those are a list of teams looking for talent, either on their reserves or their first line and I want you to mark down four teams you can see yourself playing on."

"Why?" Asked Lockley.

"So I can have those teams scouts at your next game."

"Scouts?" Wood echoed. Lucy nodded, the boy looked like he would faint at any moment.

"That is what I said Mr. Wood."

"You think we're good enough to play professionally?"

"Of course I do Mr. Wood, That is why I called you here," Lucy teased the dazed boy.

"I would like to say the Tornades scout, Tim West, will be coming to a game too because half of our— their —reserves have either come down with dragon pox, gotten pregnant or— what did Sean do—right or quite to travel the world in search of some kind of stone."

"Someone quite because they wanted to find a nice rock?" Marcus Flint blinked. Lucy nodded remembering Birch's last letter. Birch had called Fargus Sean a Crackpot; I mean honestly Black who quits their career to go looking for a grain of truth from a children's book?

"Apparently he's looking for some type of magical stone. Either way Timmy will be visiting for each of your games." Each of the boys nodded and carefully selected four teams before they handed Lucy back the pens and parchment.

"The Wasps Mr. Flint?" Lucy laughed, it was no secret that, after a match the Tornadoes had won, Lucy and her teammates had once gotten into a brawl with the Wasps after their Chaser Alexander Goodvik sucker punched Jeffords. "How you hurt me so."

Marcus Flint went red.

"It's cool," she waved the blushing boy off, "I'll send the letters out tonight—though are you sure Mr. Lockley? The Cannons?"

"They're my grandfather's favorite ma'am," the Hufflepuff answered. Lucy nodded.

"Alright then, all of you, have a nice evening."

"You too Madam, and thank you!" Lockley said as he walked out of the room. Flint whispered something to Wood who nodded,

"Thanks Madam, this means a bunch!" Wood told Lucy, he stuck his hand out and shook hers gratefully.

"It's no trouble Mr. Wood."

Just like the time the captains had meet Marcus Flint had been the last to leave.

"Thanks, for saying you'll write my father. And the opportunity." Marcus Flint was stiff with insecurity. Lucy smiled at the boy,

"Like I said Mr. Flint, it's no trouble."

January 5, 1994

"I want to teach you how to produce a patronus," Remus had said one afternoon. It had come out of nowhere, a random exclamation in a sea of small talk.

"I'm sorry you want to do what?" Lucy looked at Remus, the pair of them were in the staff room, Burbage, who sat across the room grading papers, looked ready to pull her own hair out as she scribbled away on some poor students essay. She muttered under her breath, 'Holy fucking ignorant shit why did I become a Professor?'

Sinestra, who sat across from her did not console her, instead she looked down blankly at her own stack of papers; 'How the fuck are these idiots N.E.W.T students? They're so dumb.' For a moment Lucy wondered if the Astronomy Professor would burst into frustrated tears.

"I want to teach you how to produce a patronus," Remus repeated. Lucy started to laugh only to quickly realize her— Lucy wasn't quite sure what they were, just that they had made out twice more since the first of the new year —whatever was serious.

"Oh, you're not kidding."

"Why would I be kidding? McGonagall says a pair of sixth years were nearly attacked and after what happened to you and Harry there seems that the Dementors will continue to refuse to listen to the Headmaster about not coming onto the ground and—uh, I don't want you to be a sitting duck the next time your on the pitch or walking from Hagrids."

"That's sweet," Lucy said tenderly, "But I can't produce a patronus."

"Of course you can," Remus told her firmly, "I'm teaching Harry and he can already produce a few whisps and I'm sure if he can you can too." Lucy grabbed Remus' hand from across the table and squeezed. Lucy noticed that both Burbage and Sinestra had paused from rethinking their careers to listen in like nosy busybodys.

"I'm touched you think that I can, I am, but I can't, and it's not for lack of trying or anything, I assure you. I'm just someone who can't." Remus frowned and turned his hand over so their palms were touching, his fingers traced her ulnar artery.

"I don't believe that," he told her. He rose from his chair, Lucy followed suit after a pointed look and like Remus she took out her wand. He paused, his eyes closed and he breathed deeply. Burbage and Sinestra no longer seemed to try and hide their curiosity and had turned in their seats to look.

"Expecto Patronum!" Remus voice was firm when a silvery figure— a wolf —sprouted from his wand.

"Merlin!" Lucy gasped in amazement. She could remember both other times she had seen a patronus, the first having been when her classmates preformed the spell, Bills patronus was a black bear; the second time had been when Dora learned to produce one for her aurora training, hers had been a jack rabbit but Remus' wolf captured Lucy's attention more then either Bills or Dora's ever had. Because as the wolf landed on the stone floor there was no jealousy at his ability just awement.

Remus opened his eyes as the wolf jumped upon the table and then kept into the air, circling above Lucy before it traveled back down to rest at her feet before fading from existence.

"You try," Remus told her with a grin.

"Why? Following that act would be like Percy following the Weird Sisters," Lucy said slyly trying to wiggle her way out of making a fool of herself. Something Remus seemed intent on seeing.

"While I can't attest to Mr. Weasley's singing I can attest to your magical ability, come on."

"Yeah!" Burbage cheered happily, "Come on!" Sinestras' "Come on," seemed much more mocking then Burbages.

"Alright," Lucy said, "Seeing as I'm not going to get out of this." She positioned her wand.

"Think of the happiest memory you have—"

Lucy thought. She thought of Regulus teaching her to fly, she thought of Bill wrapping her in his arms at only eleven years old, promising to be her new family. She thought of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley welcoming her into their home and how giddy she felt the first time someone asked if she was Lucy Black the girl who had helped save the school and close the Vaults, not Lucy Black Sirius Black's sister.

"—and feel that memory. I vision it as a real corporal thing." Remus instructed. And she did. She shut her eyes just had Remus had and breathed deeply through her nose.

"Expecto Patronum!" But as she envisioned each of those memories she also remembered being nine and hearing her brother was dead. She remembered exactly why Bill had had to promise her that they could be a family. Why his parents had to welcome her into their home and why she had felt so giddy when she was so happy to be asked if she had risked her life for some insane adventure.

She opened her eyes to Sinestra biting back a smile.

Wipe that smile off her face! A voice crowed. Lucy clutched her wand and turned to Remus as Burbage chided her broom cupboard buddy to be nice.

"I told you Remus I can't do it."

"That was your first try," Remus said.

"More like hundredth. It's fine really, my Defense Professor in my seventh year said it was natural for some children to be unable to produce a patronus." Of course her Professor had been talking about children of and or related to Death Eaters but still that statement decently applied to her.

"Well I'm your Defense Professor now—"

"I'm not a seventh year anymore Remus," Lucy chuckled.

"No matter what your fantasies say otherwise," Sinestra muttered loud enough for both Remus and Lucy to go red.

"W-Wh-What I-I-I meant was, I'm the Defense Professor now and I say you'll be casting some form of a patronus by June." Remus stammered.

"Whatever you say Professor," Lucy smirked. Remus' ears burned.

"Merlin," Sinestra yakked disgusted.

January 6, 1993

Lucy, while Remus chattered to Professor McGonagall and Sinestra, listened to Professor Sprout talk about how her Snargaluff, one of the many magical plants that tended to try to kill those around it, had nearly done in Professor Flitwick— who had been tucked away in the Hospital Wing, still knocked out —when he'd gone to speak with her when Penny and Dora's Spectacled owl Ramon nearly landed in her cereal.

The owl hooted loudly drawing most of the staff's attention to him.

"Do you always have to do that?" Lucy scolded the owl as she took the letter attached to his leg. Ramon hooted just as loud in response, his eyes shined indignantly. Too much of Dora's personality had rubbed off on the chocolate feathered owl.

The owl snapped up a marshmallow Quaffle from Lucy's bowl before taking off in the sky.

"Bloody chicken," Lucy grumbled as she opened the letter.

Wotcher Luce!

Pens hoping you and that bloke of yours can stop by Hogs Head around eight! She knows you like him and wants to try to get over her fear, she says it's a childish fear and as an adult woman she needs to get over it. I mean it's not and she really should but still… anyway hope to see you two at eight!

Dora

Next to Dora's name was a crudely drawn happy face that made Lucy crack a smile.

"Whos it from deary?" Sprout wondered as she forked more eggs onto her plate.

"Dora," Lucy told her.

"Oh well I hope everything's okay," Sprout said. Lucy knew that while her cousin had caused heaps of trouble for her Head of House, whether it be due to the Vaults or a prank the curly haired Herbologist had just simply adored the colorful twenty year old.

"Uh—yeah everything's cool," Lucy put the letter in her robes breast pocket, and eyed Remus, who had gone back to his conversation with the two lesbians.

I'll talk to him at lunch.

…

Later that night, despite the fact that it had been less talking and more helping Remus through a panic attack during their lunch break, Lucy and Remus Lupin sat in one of the booths at Hogs Head waiting for the two twenty year old lesbians to walk through the door.

Lucy placed her hand over Remus', his bouncing leg jostled hers. "Relax," she smiled easily, "Everything'll be okay."

"You say that now," Remus scoffed.

"Yeah, and when we're heading back up to the castle I'll be saying I told you so," Lucy said. Her thumb ran along a scar that extended across the back of his hand.

"You've already lost Andromeda over me, I don't want you to have to lose a friend too," Remus told her, his eyes fluttering to the door anxiously.

"One, I didn't lose Andy," Lucy pointed out, "She's just being over dramatic, honestly Remus, come six months time she'll be writing me again asking me to give Ophelia the talk— Merlin knows Dora and Ted already called not it. Two, Penny and I spoke Christmas day, and three, Penny wants to get over her fear, she knows it's stupid."

"And what if she can't? What if Andromeda doesn't—her reaction wasn't over dramatic Lucy, it was perfectly normal." Lucy's brows knitted together.

Normal? "Do people usually freak out like that when they find out?" Lucy felt a hot ball of anger build in her throat.

"Thinking twice about being seen in public with me?" Remus somewhat snapped dryly.

"No you dick," Lucy hissed hurt that he would even suggest that, "But I am thinking about having you write down the names of anyone who has ever reacted like Andy."

"Why?"

"So I can hex them." Remus' lips twitched and he leaned down to press them against Lucy's, who was glaring at an empty space on the table when a feminine cough made both Hogwarts staff members look up.

Like usual Dora Tonks was sporting short pink hair and Penny, who stood next to her girlfriend, tightly clinging to the metamorphmagus hand, wore her blonde hair in twin braids.

Both Remus and Lucy stood up.

"Wotcher Remus!" Dora stuck out her empty hand.

"Tonks," the older man greeted, shaking it. "It's good to see you again. I'm sorry I spoiled your Christmas."

"You didn't spoil anything, mum just blew her top like usual. I mean you should have seen her when I said I wanted to be an Aurora," Dora waved off. Lucy smiled thankfully at her cousin who winked welcomingly. She pulled her hand to her side and stepped back, pushing Penny, who wore a an anxious smile similar to Remus' forward.

"Remus," Penny nodded.

"Mrs. Haysworth," Remus said respectfully. He had said it softly, the same way one would greet a scared animal.

"Penny," the blonde insisted. "Please call me Penny." She then sat across from Remus and Lucy, Dora next to her on the outside of the booth.

"I know I shouldn't be scared of you," Penny started, "Lucy told me how you take a potion every month and how you've never hurt anyone—" Lucy threaded her fingers through Remus' under the table, "—And I want to overcome it, I do, I liked you before I knew and I wouldn't be fair if I didn't afterwords. I just—it's hard."

"I understand," Remus told her, "You're handling this much better than some people twice you age do and I want to thank you."

You shouldn't have to, Lucy thought, Basic human decency shouldn't be a courtesy you're afforded but a right you deserve. Lucy of course didn't say that.

"I think maybe you should know why I'm scared," Penny started hesitantly.

"I assume it's because of horror stories you grew up hearing," Remus said. Penny shook her head. Dora's unoccupied hand moved from the table to Penny's knee.

"When I was a kid," Penny's eyes watered and her breathing grew heavy, "When I was thirteen, right before my third year, I saw a werewolf kill a friend of mine." Remus drew in a sharp breath. "Our families had taken us to Kew gardens and neither of us knew that it—that what, who, we saw —was a werewolf."

Remus was quite for a moment, Penny bit her lip to stop the tears from falling and Lucy pressed her shoulder against Remus'.

"Your fear is perfectly understandable," Remus said understandably.

"But not of you," Lucy spoke, her voice even and heavy, "Not of you when you're like this." When you're this kind, caring man who can't seem to hate someone who terrified of his very being.

"Right," Penny nodded, "My fear of you isn't valid because you're not the werewolf that killed my friend, your Lucy's—" Penny looked at Lucy quizzically. "Lucy's whatever."

"He shouldn't be feared because he's kind," Lucy corrected Penny, the same way a mother might correct a child's math problem, "He deserves basic respect and common courtesy we're all granted because he's a great bloke that we're all lucky to know, not because he's snogging me."

Dora snorted, and Penny nodded, "You're right," she agreed, while Remus turned to Lucy.

"You really think that?"

"Of course you git," Lucy smiled, she knocked her elbow into his. Remus wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed the corner of her temple.

"I'm lucky to know you," he murdered into her hair before turning back to Penny, ready to answer any questioned she had.

January 10, 1994

Remus Lupin had Lucy pushed up against the wall the old broomshed, one of the barrels Lucy had levitated into the small wooden shed before getting ambushed by the werewolf had been knocked over in their zealousness and the silk scarf Andre had given Lucy for Christmas stretched across the floor. Both their jackets were open, and both were only half on— despite the frigid temperature outside of the shed neither educator felt even the slightest bit cold —and Remus' gloves hung half way out his back pocket.

His hands moved up from her waist to stop midway up her ribcage as Lucy clung to the ends of his limply hanging scarf.

Lucy moaned as Remus placed his knee between her legs; she rolled against his thigh, something that caused the man to let out a low sounding growl as their teeth knocked against each other as their kissing got more frenzied. Lucy, craving friction, rolled herself against Remus' thigh again.

Remus pulled away, his breathing ragged. Lucy frowned, her lips followed his for a second before she leaned back against the wall, a crease formed between her brows.

"Can—can I?" He panted, his face pink. Lucy opened her eyes.

"What?" Lucy was just about ready to let the werewolf do just about anything if it meant he'd continue to kiss her.

"I didn't just want to—don't just want to—can I touch you?" Remus foundered ungracefully, his eyes wandering down to his chest. Lucy grinned, Jane had never asked, she had been timid and slow but she had never asked; neither had Lynch, the only other man Lucy been with before, he had been rough— of course their time together had always either been after a few pints or a fight —but to hear Remus ask her permission it made her heart soar in her chest.

"Yea," she said softly, she nodded,

"Can I touch you?" She asked in return, she could feel him pressing up against her stomach. Remus nodded, swallowing thickly.

Lucy moved to capture Remus' lips once more as his hand moved from her ribs to her breast; one of her hands moved to rest against his shoulder for stability while the other trailed down his body until she was cupping him.

She squeezed him, her thumb brushed over the zipper of pants as she traveled over the throbbing outline of his cock. Remus's pressed himself against her hand, breathing harshly.

His thumb brushed over Lucy's nipple, not harshly but hard enough where the fabric of her bra scrape against her flesh. A pleasurable moan vibrated through Lucy. Remus pinched at the her breast before slowly slipping his hand under her shirt. Lucy arched her back away from the wall and into Remus.

Lucy bit and tugged at the man's lip before moving back to overtake his mouth. He pulled down her bra and cupped her breast in his hand; Lucy felt goosebumps raise, thought she wasn't quite sure if was because Remus' hand felt like ice or because it was his hand.

Lucy's lips moved across his jaw- she teased his earlobe for a moment, nibbling on it, before she made her way— leaving behind a trail of butterfly kisses —to the hollow point of his throat, just under his bobbing Adam's apple. Remus let out a shuddering breath.

Lucy looked up at him through her lashes and smiled coyly. Remus moved the leg that was between hers and rubbed his thigh against her in a deliciously slow motion. Remus, as Lucy leaned her head back, her eyes shut blissfully, swooped down and latched his lips against the underside of her jaw.

Lucy rolled herself harder against his thigh as Remus sucked on the patch of skin. Lucy could feel a red hot coil tightening in her lower abdomen when a familiar voice called out;

"Lucy!" The witch in question jerked away from Remus, grimacing. "Lucy are you out here?"

"Yes Professor Sprout!" Lucy shouted towards the door, Remus jumped at the raised volume. "I'll be with you in a moment!" She turned to the man,

"I promised to help Sprout decorate her room. It's hers and Pomfrey's anniversary." Remus peered down at her fondly.

"That's sweet of you," he observed. Lucy pinkened.

"Shut the fuck up Lupin," she grumbled before dislodging herself from the werewolf. She picked up her scarf and smiled at him smiled at him,

"See you at dinner?" She wondered as she wrapped the silk around herself.

"I'll save you some pork belly." Lucy, grinning, couldn't stop herself from leaning in and pecking his lips.

…

Lucy had only just finished charming the various tiny Cupid's to levitate in the air when she noticed Professor Sprout eyeing her.

"Everything okay Professor?" Lucy wondered with raised brows.

"Of course dear, I was just trying to figure out who gave you that hickey," Professor Sprout smirked. Both of Lucy's hands clapped against the side of her neck.

"What? I-I don't—uh, um —have a hickey?" Lucy stuttered, her face turning a violent shade of pink.

"Of course not my mistake, must be a— What are the kids saying these days? A stinging hex to the neck?" Sprout giggled.

"I'm—Well, see here—It's actually a funny story," Lucy tripped, her mind racing wondering how this was more embarrassing than when Sinestra had come upon her Jane.

"It's fine," Sprout waved off, "As long as you and Mr. Lee are being safe—"

"Lee? Barnaby Lee? Merlin no!" Lucy's eyes widened. This time it was Sprout who turned pink.

"Ms. Snyde?"

"No!" Lucy shook her head admiently. "I—Don't tell anyone. Only Dora and Penny know," the British-Korean witch said, her hands finally detaching from her neck.

"You have my word," Sprout swore.

"Remus, we've sorta, kinda, been snogging since just after the new year."

"I knew it!" Sprout cried, she wiggled a finger up at the ceiling, "In your face Minierva!"

"You and McGonagall were betting on when Remus and I started snogging?" Lucy wondered in disbelief.

"Poppy, Flitwick and Burbage too. Minerva said the pair of you had gotten together around early December. Charity and I both agreed nothing had happened until the two of you had come back after break."

"And Flitwick and Pomfrey?"

"Poppy thought the two of you started seeing each other in—" Sprouts lips came together, "—October? Flitwick was sure after Remus apologized in November there was something there."

"Seriously?" Lucy knew Professors did this with students, betting on when two love struck kids would get together, pairing up fancies and kids they just thought would be cute cute because after a certain point you need the drama, but she had no idea that they did it with the colleagues as well.

"Quite."

"How much did you bet?"

"Five galleons."

"I have more on how long Flint and Wood think they can keep what they have a secret!"

January 13, 1994

"Mr. Wood if you're here about Mr. Potter's broom again I swear to Merlin I will bar Gryffindor from the pitch for the next month, is that clear?" Lucy called out to the seventh year without looking up from the letters she had been writing.

"Have a nice day Madam!"

January 17, 1994

Lucy had been sitting at her desk, joking around with Remus and Professor Sprout when Meiri Prewett through open her door looking frazzled.

"Meiri?" Lucy asked concerned, standing from her desk, "What's wrong?"

"I—boys!" She shouted, her fingers wrapping around the ends of her hair and pulling. "They're so stupid! Why do we keep them around!"

"Should I feel offended?" Remus wondered mirthfully. Meiri's eyes widened when she noticed both Remus and Professor Sprout.

"Oh, Professors, I—" Lucy snickered at the younger girls heavily flushed face. "I should go?"

"Not uh," Lucy shook her head, "Sit." She pointed at a stool. Meiri timidly sat down, her eyes refusing to meet anyone of the adults eyes.

"Now what did Ron do?" Lucy asked.

"Nothing, It wasn't Ron," Meiri murmured.

"Harry?" Meiri shook her head, "The twins?"

"Theo." Lucy's eyebrows raised.

"What did Mr. Nott do?" Lucy knew she wasn't above hexing a student.

"Nothing! Not really! I mean—he thinks Daphne Greengrass is pretty!" Meiri glared at floor.

"Oh," Lucy looked at Remus and Sprout, the former who had been twiddling his fingers while the ladder looked at Meiri sadly. "I'll speak to you two at dinner?" Lucy said to the two Professors, both of whom nodded and scurried out of the room—though Professor Sprout made sure to squeeze Meiri's shoulder before she exited the room after Remus.

"You fancy Theo?" Lucy asked delicately.

"No!" Meiri sighed, "Yes. Maybe I don't know, I don't want to. He's my friend, you know? Not Rons or anyone else's, mines." No she didn't, perhaps if she had brothers who were closer in age— and weren't dead or on the run —she might but she didn't.

"No? Not really." Meiri slumped forward. "Do you want advice on how to stop fancying him or how to get him to fancy you or…?" Lucy asked confused.

"Why's he think Daphne Greengrass is pretty?" Lucy heard the rest of the question loud and clear; Why doesn't he think I'm pretty.

"You're beautiful Mer," Lucy promised. And Meiri Prewett was; sure she may not have been a Narcissa Black two point zero but she was beautiful in her own right; she was taller than most girls, skinny and freckled with a head full of orange-red waves and a brilliant smile to boot.

"You're have to say that because you're my big sister," Meiri said.

"No I don't, but I am because it's true. And besides who cares if Theodore Nott thinks Greengrass is cute?"

"Me? That's the whole reason I'm here?"

"I was being sarcastic you snot, what I meant was just because he thinks Daphne is pretty doesn't mean he doesn't think you aren't. He's a boy, they usually think most girls are pretty."

"Then how do you know they like you?" Meiri wondered. Lucy pressed her lips together in thought. The only reason she had known Remus liked her was because he had said so, if he hadn't Lucy was sure she would have remained clueless.

"I don't know," Lucy told her truthfully. With girls it was simple, they were more touchy, slightly more mocking in a caring sense and always happy to be around you. But with boys?

"No idea?" Lucy shrugged.

"I'd write to Bill and ask him," Lucy told her.

"But then he'll tell Charlie who'll tell auntie Molly and uncle Arthur who'll tell Percy and he'll tell the twins who will tell Ron who then I'll have to murder because then the whole school will know because Ron can't keep his mouth shut!"

"Ask Bill not to tell anyone," Lucy said obviously.

"And he won't?"

"When Mia asked Bill and I for advice on Charlie before she and him started dating and Bill didn't let anything slip. Honestly he's great at keeping secrets." Meiri bit her lip.

"Alright, And you're sure he won't say anything?"

"Positive."

January 26, 1994

The night before the full moon Lucy sat on the couch in Remus' room in front of the blazing fire, he sat on the opposite end of the sofa, their legs tangled together in the middle under a large red and white knitted blanket Lucy had brought with her. Their plates sat on the coffee table, empty as Remus read a line from the A Midsummer Night's Dream in the First Folio copy.

"I must confess that I have heard so much and with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof—" the werewolf's voice caught in his throat as Lucy, slowly ran her foot along the length of Remus' leg.

"Why'd you stop?" Lucy wondered curiously, her foot still running the course of Remus' leg; his ankle, his calf, his knee, the inside of his thigh, and then back down just as slowly she had gone up it. He cleared his throat with a heated look in Lucy's direction.

"But being overfull of self-affairs, my mind did lose it.—But, Demetrius, come. And come, Egeus. You shall go with me." Lucy turned her head and her hair fell to one side, her sweaters collar fell just low enough to show off only the top of her collar bone. She grinned coyly when she caught sight of Remus looking at her, hungry.

"You stopped again," Lucy said, her voice light.

"Did I?" Remus questioned, his voice husky. Lucy flashed the man a pearly smile.

"You did." She threaded her fingers through her hair, only to run the pads of them down her neck when they reached the back of her head. Her fingers curled around the collar of her sweater; she caught her glossy lip between her teeth.

"Well maybe I found something better to do," Remus told her. He set the plain stip of parchment he used for a bookmark to hold his place before carefully putting the book on the coffee table before he turned back to her.

"Well don't play coy," Lucy said ironically, "Tell me." Remus moved his legs to kneel on the cushions in front of Lucy, she kept her elbows underneath her and her chest puffed out as grinned up at Remus.

"You," he said simply. In a flash Lucy had thrown herself onto her knees too, she pressed herself against Remus. Her fingers curled around the tee shirt he'd sleep in. One of his hands rested dangerously low on her back—not that she minded.

"And what exactly," Lucy spoke seductively, his lips were so close to hers that she was able to taste him without even touching him, "Are you going to do to me?"

Remus didn't verbally answer, instead he feverishly pressed his lips against Lucy's and plunged his younger into his mouth. Lucy felt her teeth knock against his as Remus groped her; her nails clawed at his chest and at the side of his neck.

The knitted blanket fell to the floor in a crumpled heap.

After Lucy had momentarily tore herself away to gulp at the air she did not press her lips back against Remus' but rather his neck. She nipped harshly at his Adam's apple— Remus tilted his head back as his hands trailed up under her sweater; Lucy shivered in delight as Remus opened up her bra —her fingers trailed down the center of his ribcage, past his belly button and paused when she reached the elastic of his pants. He pushed his pelvis to her with a groan.

Lucy could feel him pressed through his grey pajama pants, up against her lower stomach.

His hand came sunder the loosely hanging bra— the straps hung limply against her triceps under her sweater —cupped her breast and squeezed lightly before squeezing a second time, this time much harsher. Lucy moaned in Remus' mouth at the action. His thumb brushed over her harding nipple before taking it between his fingers, rolling it. She could feel her blood start to heat up.

Lucy's hand, for the first time slithered past his boxers. Remus jumped at the feeling, which caused Lucy to freeze. She jerked her head back, her lips still pressed against his,

"I can stop," she told him seriously. And she would, if he wanted her to, there would be no pleading or trying to get Remus back in the mood if this was as far as he wanted to go; she would lay back down and continue to listen to him recite old works of literature. Even if he mind wouldn't be on Shakespeare.

"Don't," he murdered before he resumed their kiss. His fingers worked against her breasts with a new vigor, his lips trailed across the base of Lucy's throat and as she grasped his cock in her hands— Lucy could feel the vein in the side throbbing—Remus went to grasp the hem of her sweater only for Lucy to grab one of his hands.

"I—my shirt stays on." Remus looked her confused, a crease formed between his brows. "My scars," she told him shyly. He nodded understandingly and dropped the hem before one hand slid into her pants while the other blacked on her waist.

"Is—is this okay?" He panted as Lucy's thumb brushed over the head of his cock. She nodded with a hum as she jerked her wrist. Remus moved his pelvis with her, groaning blissfully as he worked his own fingers. Lucy jerked when his fingers found her clit, she could feel Remus smirk against her lips.

Lucy could feel precum leak from Remus' cock.

After a moment, after Remus' thighs started to shake he slid a finger inside of her. Lucy's breath hitched as his teeth caught her earlobe. Lucy squeezed him; Remus breathed harshly through his nose before he put a second finger in Lucy. She moaned loudly.

His fingers started to work, curling and spreading apart while his thumb contained to rub her.

A coil below Lucy's navil started to tighten as her blood started to get hotter. Remus' breathing became even more ragged as Lucy sped up her pace. He came first, she could feel him on her wrist as he released with tired moan—though his fingers never stopped. In fact, as he road out his high he continued to goad Lucy to her own release until she too was seeing white, gasping, her heart hammering in her chest.

Lucy she took her hand out of his pants, and his hers and reached for his wand that laid next to the empty plates.

"Scourgify," he muttered pointing at her wrist before relating the spell at his hand. He tossed his wand back on the coffee table and wound his arms around Lucy's waist, bringing her to lay against his chest as he lowered himself back into his original spot.

"Merlin," he breathed with a chuckle. Lucy snorted.

"You can say that again."