A/N: Hello there! Today is a particularly miserable day in Canterbury amd I simply had to stop revising; the medieval allegory was getting to me. Anyway, thank you to all of those who are reading, enjoying and reviewing. I'm glad that I redeemed myself in the last chapter; don't want to start going of the boil.

As a treat I have decided to upload two chapters. This is partially because I need to pick up the rate of uploads in order to get it all up before the 21st July. Oh well, hopefully this will make some of you who are enjoying this happy.

Let's see what Remus and Eleanor have been up to, shall we?

A hug thanks to Meg and Rosie. They know what for by now.

Disclaimer: I wish I owned them sometimes. I merely borrow them. No need to sue.


They had run as fast as they could down the spiralling staircase from the Astronomy Tower and along the deserted corridors. Remus had completely forgotten about the lesson that was scheduled to take place there that evening. Remus had assumed that whatever their conversation would be about, it would be over long before that evening's Astronomy lesson began, but somehow, once they'd stopped talking, he'd lost himself in Eleanor's moist lips and wandering hands, and forgotten all about the lesson until they heard the door opening below them, causing them to spring apart. After somehow communicating a wordless plan, they had slipped as quietly as they could down the narrow stairs, blending into the class that had just entered, before running, laughing, out of the door.

By now the prefects would be wandering the halls, but Remus didn't have time to care. As he felt himself being pulled along by Eleanor – her hand in his, her hair whipping about her flushed, smiling face – Remus forgot to edge around the soft patches of moonlight that fell across the carpet. His enemy now forgotten, he streaked along behind her, his heart pounding, his teeth clenched to suppress the laughter that was threatening to surface once more. He was amazed at how effortlessly she seemed to run; how little it seemed to affect her, as she suddenly halted, not even out of breath, turning to Remus and mouthing, "Filch; down the corridor."

Eleanor went to move, yet Remus held her back, suddenly remembering a corridor that was concealed behind a tapestry to their right. He, James, Peter and Sirius had hidden there last year after they had lured Peeves into Filch's office, and locked them in there together. Eleanor had no time to protest as, lifting the tapestry, Remus guided her through the door before following, closing the door behind them.

To Remus' surprise, the corridor was not dark. Dim torches lined the hallway, much dimmer and less ornate than those in the corridor they had just left, but they gave a decent amount of light all the same. Both Eleanor and Remus were silent, listening for Filch's footsteps as he passed, until, as soon as they were sure that he had moved out of earshot, Eleanor turned to Remus and said, "How did you know this was here?"

Remus thought of the map, considering his options, before replying, "I sort of…stumbled across it…"

"Really?" Eleanor asked, more than a little disbelieving as she placed a hand on her hip and did her best imitation of a disapproving look. Remus responded by placing one hand over his heart and saying earnestly, "I solemnly swear."

"Hmmm." Eleanor placed her hands on Remus' shoulders and even in the poor light, he could clearly see that everything she was saying was in jest. Very slowly, she began to run her hands up and down his shoulders, and Remus heard the way she took a sharp intake of breath as he suddenly moved a little closer. "Then why don't I believe you?"

"Because…" Remus said slowly, his hands reciprocating her touches as he gently began to stroke her back through her jumper. Eleanor smiled and shook her head, unwilling to believe him even though he continued, "You're obviously of a suspicious and mistrusting nature…"

Eleanor dug her nails lightly into his shoulders as punishment, yet Remus could tell by her expression that he had gotten away with it entirely.

"That must be it," Eleanor agreed with a light toss of her head. She sidestepped away from his touch, her eyes mischievous as she continued, "And considering that's the case, I really shouldn't spend anymore time with someone so strange."

Remus gave a little snort of laughter. "Strange?"

Eleanor nodded and moved away as Remus tried to regain contact. "Yes…strange…" Her determination to leave was faltering as Remus now reached out and tenderly took her hand in his. "To be honest, I don't think I can trust you."

"Very wise," he said, pressing his lips to her hand. Eleanor sighed as Remus raised his eyes to hers. "In fact, I would thoroughly advise that you go back to your dormitory at once."

Eleanor blushed, her voice barely above a whisper as she nodded and said, "It is getting late."

For the first time in hours Remus felt the familiar feeling of concern returning, as he realised just how much time he had spent with her, away from his friends. The last time he had seen them had been just after Potions, and yet Remus was convinced, judging by Sirius' treatment of him before they had departed, that he wouldn't exactly have been missed. Remus allowed Eleanor's hand to fall from his own and, clearing his throat awkwardly, the flirtation between them suddenly forgotten, mumbled, "You're right. Filch will have gone by now. We should be going."

"You're worrying now, aren't you?" Eleanor asked, a knowing smile playing about her lips. Remus shrugged; he intended to deny it, but knew that she would not believe him, so he changed his mind and said, "A little bit."

Eleanor nodded.

"I suppose this is something I'll just have to get used to then…"

"I'm not always like this," Remus said hurriedly, concerned that maybe, finally, her interest in him was waning. Eleanor's eyes were upon him as he took a step towards her, his face etched with worry as he pressed on, "I'm not always this way."

"I know," Eleanor whispered, her lips inviting him to lean forwards and kiss them once more; he was immediately certain, once again, that she would not just go off him. The way her mouth was soft and submissive; the way her body automatically pressed against his so their forms melted into one another. Although this was new and unusual to him, Remus was sure that this was something that, with enough practice, he could excel at. He had often wondered just what it was that made other girls and boys at Hogwarts feel that they needed to be surgically attached by the lips, but as he felt Eleanor's soft hands snake around his waist, he suddenly understood.

The kiss ended and Remus smiled as Eleanor lightly pressed her forehead to his and said in a breathy whisper, "I'll just have to take you as you are then."

Remus lifted his hand and pressed it against Eleanor's cheek as he asked warmly, "What about my strangeness?" Eleanor laughed, allowing Remus' hand to slip over her mouth so she could gently kiss his palm before saying, "Especially your strangeness."

Remus nodded, content with her answer, as he softly moved away. However much he felt he could stay here forever and never attend another lesson again, he somehow knew that he could not be so frivolous. He shook his head to rid himself of the spell of her touch as he asked, "Will you be alright going back to your dormitory?"

Eleanor shrugged and, after stuffing her hands in her pockets and rocking back on her heels, said, "Course I will. Will you?"

"I'm a prefect, remember?"

"Ah, the perfect cover." Remus blushed before replying, "Something like that."

Silence fell between them; each individually unwilling to be the first to leave. Somewhere, deep inside, Remus was afraid that if he left the safety of their hidden corridor, then the moment would break and tomorrow he would wake and believe that this evening had just been a dream. If he left now, Remus was sure that he would convince himself that Eleanor still didn't like him or, worse still, he'd find himself uncertain once more whether being with Eleanor was what he truly wanted.

"So I'll see you around then?" Her question seemed to hang on the air between them, and Remus was a little confused by it. Was this night not part of something bigger as he had assumed? He still hadn't asked her out, so, officially, nothing really existed between them. He had not taken Eleanor for the kind of girl who did this sort of thing often and then forgot about it the next day; he'd believed that, even though nothing had been said on the matter, she was now his girlfriend, yet something about the flippancy of her question caused Remus to worry that maybe, just maybe, this evening hadn't meant as much to her as it had to him.

"So are we…" Remus' voice caused Eleanor to halt before the doorway and turn back round to face him. Remus blushed and automatically turned away as he mumbled to the floor beneath his feet, "Well…I mean…does this mean we are…you know…going out?" Remus cringed at his own words as he spoke them and Eleanor tutted before saying, "Do you really have to ask me that?"

Remus shook his head and, after rolling her eyes, Eleanor smiled affectionately before slipping out through the door.


A sweet moment there. Slightly fluffy for me I think. Anyway let me know what you think by hitting that review button. See you over at the next chapter! xxx