After the trip Veronica acted surprisingly casual around her coworker and friend, as if her forward display had never happened in the first place. Severus didn't know what to do, should he confront her on it?
She did say that he would know when the time came.
But who was she to say that he wanted to kiss her? He pondered, momentarily indignant over her bold assumption. What made her so damn special?
Don't you see, you fool? His mind scolded him, she's testing you and has been all year. She's been poking at your intentions and gauging your reactions. She knows everything, and she's toying with you.
That clever little minx.
With a disgruntled frown his grip tightened on the edges of the newspaper. He'd show her to try and read him.
Veronica, sitting next to him and sipping calmly from her glass, tried not to let her gaze wander anywhere near the Potions master. Her mind was a mess, every bit of her subconscious was basically setting itself on fire.
What the living hell had she been thinking?!
How could she be so forward? What happened to restraint? To professional dignity?
It had felt so right at the time! She had fun teasing him, watching him sputter and blush at her audaciousness as she behaved uncharacteristically flirtatious. She wasn't even sure he thought of her that way!
God, please let him think of her that way. If he didn't she would never be able to look him in the eye again.
After supper she sped away from the hall, trying not to look panicked as she hid in the rows of books in the Library.
"Veronica?"
The woman jumped and whipped around to find a pair of pale blue eyes staring down at her.
"Remus. Hi, did you need something?"
"Well no." He shook his head. "You just looked rather distressed after dinner I was wondering if something was bothering you."
Veronica swallowed and looked around. "Can I trust you Remus?" she asked in a whisper. Remus blinked and shrugged.
"Of course, is there something wrong?"
She sighed. "Can we talk somewhere private?"
Remus nodded and together they left the library and slipped down the halls and into the Defense class room where Remus locked the door. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" He asked and Veronica sat on one of the desks.
"You could say that" Veronica sighed, a hot blush rising to her cheeks. "If I tell you, do you promise not to tell anyone?"
"On my honor." Remus nodded, suspecting something serious had happened.
So Veronica explained everything. From the time the two teachers spent in Veronica's room, to the sudden invitation, to Severus's shyness and Veronica's own stupid boldness. She confessed her own complicated feelings and after she finished they sat in silence.
The weight in the woman's stomach grew heavier and heavier until Remus cleared his throat and blinked a few times.
"Wow." He breathed. "Well, I uh…this is a rather unusual set of circumstances." He began. "Have you and Severus spoke since this afternoon?"
"How could I possibly face him after that?" Veronica cradled her face in her hands. "I've never acted like that before, at least not that I can remember. I don't know why I did it?"
"Well… do you like him?"
"Of course I do, he's a wonderful friend."
"No I mean." Remus smiled a little "Do your feels extend beyond friendship?"
"I…" Veronica breathed. "No, yes…I don't know! Maybe it's a fluke, we've spent so much time together maybe my mind is fooling itself into thinking something it should be."
Remus shrugged. "Why shouldn't it be?"
"Because… we're friends. We trust each other. But How could I…I mean after…" she swallowed. She knew what she wanted to say.
How could she after Vince?
The man gave his life for her, they loved each with such strength she could never possibly find that again.
Remus sensed she wasn't giving him the whole story, but the power of the growing moon was draining him.
"I don't…" He began but was cut off by a knock at the door. Dragging his heavy body over to the door Remus pulled it open and Severus stood on the other side with a steaming goblet.
"Oh Severus, good Evening."
"Am I interrupting?" Severus raised a brow and Remus shifted slightly to try and block Veronica from him view.
"Certainly not." Remus tried to smile but it was not returned.
"Good, I have something to tell you." Severus stepped forward and Remus stepped back on reflex, letting him in.
Veronica felt a prickle go up her spine as Severus eyed her with surprise and slight disagreement. "Veronica, sorry to cut in but I need to speak with Remus."
She nodded wordlessly and slipped out between them, leaving the men to stand face to face. Severus's features pulled back in an unusually fierce scowl.
"Are you Daft?" He growled as soon as the door was closed.
"What do you mean?" Remus sighed and hauled himself over to his desk and slumped in his seat, the monthly illness was really taking its toll, and he expected an even rougher transformation.
"You know exactly what I mean, what is she doing here?" The long haired man demanded sternly.
"Talking, what else?" Remus eyed him.
"You know how you get this close to the full moon, you're too volatile to be around her alone." Severus insisted boldly and Remus raised a brow, not only at his presumptuousness but also at his surprising protectiveness.
"Oh?" Remus sat up a little. "Perhaps you'd better keep a closer eye on her then."
"And just what does that mean?" Severus growled hatefully. "I'll have you know I've done all I can to protect her."
"Except tell her to truth." Remus pointed out and Severus began to bit back before going silent. "Why haven't you told Severus? I know you're dying to."
"Because…she likes you. For some reason" Severus crossed his arms. "She wants to be your friend and it would be cruel of me to ruin that."
"Would it really matter, do you think?" The werewolf asked as he stood slowly. "Does she strike you as the type to shy away from someone like me, a monster?"
Severus swallowed, his hand moving slightly to his left forearm. He didn't care if Remus saw, he already knew to an extent.
"No" He shook his head. "She seems rather fond of monsters, the foolish girl."
"Then why haven't you told her?" Remus pressed and Severus avoided his gaze. "Because you don't want her to think you're as cruel as you act. If you exposed me she may not care about my condition, but she will care that you would do such a spiteful thing."
If Severus didn't have reason to hate Remus before, he did now.
How dare he read him so accurately?!
Fuming, Severus pushed the potion toward Remus with a growl, not caring if a little spilt over the rim of the cup and onto the desk.
"If anything happens to her. Anything. I will be holding you personally responsible for it." He spat and stormed out without another word, a tick away from boiling over.
How dare that simpering bastard patronize him?
Even if what he said was true, he had half a mind to hex that smug tone out of his voice. Maybe he should tell Veronica about Remus's furry little problem, just to spite him.
He stopped in his tracks.
No, he thought. That's exactly what he wanted him to do.
The Bastard.
