Chapter 27

Romantic Getaway

22 November 1996

I knocked on the door before stepping into the warm office. "You wanted to see me, Professor?"

McGonagall looked up from her paperwork. "Yes, this is for you," she said, holding out a small letter. "Miss Tonks brought it by earlier for you, but you were in class."

My heart swelled with joy. If it was a letter delivered by Tonks, then it was most likely the long awaited letter from…

"It's from Remus!"

"I figured as much," McGonagall said dryly as she returned to her grading.

Meanwhile, I took a seat in a nearby chair and read over his words. It began with the typical "I love you" and "I miss you." The middle was filled with a few things that made me blush reading them and yearn to act upon them. But the end…

"I don't believe this."

"Hmm?"

I read over his words again, just to make sure I'd read them correctly.

"I don't believe this!" I leapt to my feet.

"If you don't enlighten me, then I cannot shed light on the situation," McGonagall said.

I looked over at her as she continued to work; I'd nearly forgotten I was in her office.

"He…Remus says he'll be in Hogsmeade next weekend."

"I see… Well, it looks like you're do for a visit as well." She smiled.

"Really? That… that would be amazing, but, I can't. I have rounds next weekend."

Ever since the attack on Katie Bell, security around the castle had been increased. We Professors were now patrolling the halls through the night. We took shifts each weekend.

"I'll see that they are covered for you."

"Oh, would you? That's… that's amazing. Thank you, Professor."

"You won't be getting out of them entirely, you know? You'll simply trade weekends with someone."

"Oh of course! I'll take someone's rounds this weekend, if they want. I'll even patrol the next two after."

"Just one will suffice. So, you and Mr. Lupin are…good then?"

"We're a bit more than that, I think. He's turned me into a giddy schoolgirl with a crush…but with a few more adult tendencies."

"Good, because it's nice to see you happy again."

"I was happy before."

"Yes, but this is different. It's… a deeper happiness. You're a good match for each other; I've always thought so. He brings out the best in you, as you do for him. That's the way it should be. There'll be a ring on that finger before long."

"I wouldn't hold your breath on that one, Professor. Last time I argued for a ring and a family and it tore us apart. I thought I needed it to show him how much I loved him, to show the world how much… But this time… it doesn't matter what the world thinks. I love him and he knows it, and there's nothing I need to do, or say, or wear to make him see it. A piece of metal can't make me love him more, and the absence of one won't make me love him less."

"Still… I'd be surprised if there wasn't one there by year's end. How are Jonathan's studies coming?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Well, I think. He's on his second attempt with the leaf still, but the full moon is Monday. We're hoping for a clear sky. If not though, he's already said he'll wait until after the holidays to begin again; he needs a break from the taste."

"Smart boy."

"Tell me about it. I wish we'd been as much. We were so eager to get to the next phase, that we all went home with the leaf still in and realized we couldn't eat any of the food. So we all agreed to take it out start over when we got back. That was two weeks of Mandrake Mouth for nowt. Well… I'll let you get back to your grading. Thanks again for this."

I held up the letter in a wave before leaving her office.

30 November 1996

Hair, combed and cooperative: check. Clothes, cozy and comfortable yet flattering: check. Teeth, free of food and breath minty fresh: check and check. Lastly, overnight bag packed with a few changes of clothes including some to sleep in (not that I was planning to use those much) and all the necessary toiletries: check, check, and check.

It was finally here. After waiting, possibly the longest week, my weekend with Remus in Hogsmeade was finally here. With a final check in the mirror, I grabbed my cloak, scarf and gloves, and my bag and headed down to the Entrance Hall to meet Professor Flitwick. I may have been among everyone's favorite professor, or at least I was, but I still lacked some of the perks of being a Head of House. This year, that included the updates to the new security wards around the grounds. Only the Heads of House, Dumbledore, and Poppy had clearance to lower them.

When I arrived at the Entrance Hall, Professor Flitwick wasn't there yet. So I popped into the Great Hall to see if Jonathan was there. I'd been trying to track him down to see if he wanted to walk down to the gate with us, but so far he'd been rather elusive since the full moon. Which, by the way, was on a cloudless night allowing Jonathan to move on to the next phase: his daily mediations at sunrise and sunset. I found Jonathan at last at the Gryffindor table surrounded by an array of food where he was amorously shoveling it in his mouth.

"You know you'll get sick if you eat all of that," I said.

"Don' care," he said thickly with a mouthful. I eyed him reproachfully and he swallowed. "Sorry. But do you realize how long it's been since I've been able to eat and actually taste my food?"

"Oh…about fifty-six days or so?"

"Precisely!" he said after doing the math in his head. Then he shoveled another few spoons in his mouth. I pinched my eyes closed to avoid looking at the monstrosity.

"Right. Well, I just came to see if you wanted to come down to the gate with me to see your father, but…I see that you're busy."

"'Orry 'um…"

"Save it, Jonathan. Don't talk with your mouth full and chew with it shut. Despite popular belief, you are never too old to be grounded by your Mum."

He grinned and swallowed. "That's what Mums like to think."

I did my best to cock an eyebrow, but it wasn't as affective as Remus' and both eyebrows rose instead. Jonathan laughed and shook his head.

"I'd love to come down and see Dad, but… I don't really fancy watching they two of you make goo-goo eyes at each other until I leave."

"We do not make goo-goo eyes at each other."

"Yeah…you do. But anyways, tell him I said hi. Maybe I'll come down on Sunday and meet you then?"

"I'm sure he'd love that. Well, I see Professor Flitwick waiting for me now; I'll see you later. Don't forget to do your daily meditations."

"Amato Animo Animato Animagus. I got it. Bye, Mum."

I waved bye as he shoveled yet another spoonful in his mouth.

Flitwick was waiting for me in the hall, and after wrapping up with scarf and gloves we set off at a quick trot. The wind was a bitter blast against the exposed skin of our face, and our pace quickened ever so slightly. As we neared the gate, the beautiful vision of a tall, lanky frame came into sight. I would known the outline of his body anywhere, but in case there was any doubt, Leo could smell him in the air.

"He's really here," I breathed. "I… wait… Who's that with him?"

"It appears to be the Headmaster."

Flitwick was right; it was Dumbledore. That was plain to see the closer we got.

"Should we hold back, do you think? I mean, they may be discussing Order business. Remus' latest mission and all."

"So openly though?" he asked.

"True," I said and we carried on.

As we grew nearer it became evident that they were indeed talking about Order business, as our ears filled with a ringing buzz. Professor Flitwick and I looked at each other before slowing our pace slightly. Then all at once the charm was lifted and the buzzing stopped.

"Hmm, so that's what the muffalito charm feels like," I said, rubbing my ear as though I had gotten too much water in it during a shower.

"Sorry, we were just…" Remus began but I cut him off with a raised hand.

"Stop. Perhaps it's best if I don't know all the details. You're here, clearly alive, and all four limbs appear to be intact."

"Complete with all nineteen digits."

"Good…wait, what?"

"I'm joking. I have all twenty." He smiled.

"Not funny, Mr. Lupin."

"On the contrary. Teasing you is always fun."

"Watch it, or I'll head back up to the castle."

"No you won't."

I wanted to retort, but Dumbledore chuckling reminded me that we weren't alone…yet.

"Ah, to be young and in love," the Headmaster said.

"Those were the days," Flitwick added.

"You know, I don't think we've ever heard of those days for you before. I'm sure there's a story or two there," I said, trying to turn the focus away from me and Remus.

"Oh there is, Miss Potter, but that is for another day I believe. I'm sure the last thing you want right now is to be held up by a story from one of us."

"Indeed," Dumbledore said. "But, I was on my way down for a drink if either of you care to join me."

"Oh not today, Albus. I promised Minerva it would be a quick trip for me, and I dare say these two have other plans," Flitwick said as he pointed towards me and Remus. I could feel my cheeks growing hot despite the cold air.

"Ah yes, I'm sure. Very well then. A good day to you all."

With that, Dumbledore turned and headed on his way. Professor Flitwick bobbled along after him. The moment the two of them rounded the corner, Remus pounced on me pulling my lips to his in a searing kiss.

"I've wanted to do that for ages," his said, lips still brushing against mine.

"I know. Me too." I could feel the familiar prick of tears behind my eyes.

"Jonathan didn't want to come down?"

"He's currently shoveling food in his mouth like it's a dying commodity. And he said he didn't want to watch us make goo-goo eyes at each other. He says 'hi' though."

"Goo-goo eyes, huh? He has a point. Come on, let's get out of the snow." He kissed me again before apparating us away.

We arrived in a chilled room and Remus quickly flicked his wand toward the hearth where the fire roared to life again. Then he promptly turned his attention, and his lips, back to me. He kissed me with such fervor that his teeth scraped against my bottom lip. I couldn't stop the small moan I made as my gloved hands gripped his cloak tighter. I wanted more of him, all of him. I didn't realize I was crying until the tear made its way down my cheek and mingled with our kiss.

"I'm sorry. Are you all right?" he asked, bare thumbs rubbing over my cheeks and his breathing heavy.

I nodded and kissed his palm. "I'm fine. I'm just… I'm so happy you're here. I've missed you, Remus."

"I've missed you too. More than I thought was possible."

We kissed again, but gentler this time.

"Where is 'here', by the way?" I asked as I took a step back to remove my gloves and scarf.

"The Hog's Head," he replied taking my cloak and hanging it with his on the wall.

"The perfect place for romantic getaway."

"It worked for us before."

"That it did." I smiled, recalling the memory. "We told McGonagall we were going home for the break, and we told our parents we were staying at the castle."

"I can't believe she bought that when all the others stayed behind."

I laughed. "As I've gotten to know her better over the last few years, I am certain that she knew exactly what we were doing."

"And she let us go anyway?"

I shrugged. "We were eighteen, together for nearly a year-and-a-half; I think she was glad we were decent enough to take if off campus. Besides, she was always a big supporter of us. She says we're a good match."

"I knew I had good reason to like her."

"So, why the Hog's Head again? Why not take us home?"

Remus shrugged sheepishly. "Honestly? Because I came in last night to be nearer to you. And I figured…Abe's still less likely to judge us."

The way he looked at me, I suddenly knew that he knew everything I'd been trying to keep from him. I sighed and cast my eyes downward.

"Tonks told you, didn't she?"

"She did. As happy as I am that you two are talking again, I wish that you would have told me, Kate."

"How? When? To what purpose, Remus? They're just words." Even as the words left my mouth, I could feel my throat constricting. And I knew Remus could tell.

"Maybe, but some words carry a sting of their own."

"What do you want me to say, Remus? Do you want to hear that you were right? That once people found out about you, about us, then they started treating me differently? Do you want me to tell you how much it sucked to be thrown out of a shop simply because of whom I chose to love? Do you want to know of all the whispers I've heard in the corridors when the students didn't know I was around? Or of how it pains me to watch them struggle with their belief in me because they think I'm a pretty cool professor, but as a person they simply see me as a Packie they're not supposed to like?

"Because, yeah, it sucks and it hurts…more than I thought I would and more than I want it to. But get this, Remus, because I won't keep repeating myself: I. Still. Don't. Care. I don't care what people say about me. I don't care what the world thinks of me. I don't need their approval or their consent to love you. The only people whose opinions matter to me, the only people who could make me question this relationship are Jonathan, Harry, and you, Remus. Now I know how they feel about us, so please, please tell me you're still good with this."

In the span of a single heartbeat Remus had closed the distance between us. He cradled me to him, kissed my forehead, and wiped away every tear I didn't know was falling. Then he kissed me a hundred times over and told me he loved me for each kiss.

Despite the rocky start, we managed to salvage the rest of our weekend together and had a very pleasurable evening. My insistence of not caring what the world thought of me was nothing new. Remus had heard the argument time and time again the first go-around. But now it felt like something between us shifted; I'm not sure what it was. Maybe my words finally sunk in, but in the course of those twenty-four hours, Remus and I connected in a way we never had before.