Disclaimer: See the last 4 chapters.
Chapter 5: Back to School and Christmas
The rest of the summer holidays passed quickly and Alexandra still couldn't find out much about Remus. Soon, it was time for Remus to go back to Hogwarts.
"How am I going to keep in touch with you?" Alexandra asked at the 30th of August.
"When you finish writing your letter to me, just write my name in block letters on the envelope and leave it at your mailbox." Remus said, reminding himself to train his owl to recognize the letter from Alexandra's mailbox.
"No stamp needed?" Alexandra asked.
Remus shook his head and smiled. "Well, hope to see you in the Christmas holidays."
"Hope to see you too." Alexandra said.
"No stamp? How weird." She thought.
***
"Hey Alex, have a nice holiday?" Paris asked when Alexandra came into the class.
Alexandra smiled brightly.
"What's that smile mean? Found something new on butterflies? Or did you catch a rare butterfly during the holidays?" Paris asked, knowing Alexandra's great interest for butterflies.
Alexandra shook her head. "I met this man during the holidays and he's completely wonderful."
"Who? A wizard?" Paris asked in a boring tone.
"No! And Paris, you don't even believe in magic." Alexandra said, rolling her eyes.
"Fine. Who is he then?"
"A teacher from a boarding school."
"A teacher?" Paris asked. "How old is he?"
"34."
"What?! Alex, don't you think he is too, you know, old for you?"
"He's not my boyfriend." Alexandra said with her cheeks pink.
"I didn't say that." Paris said and grinned. "But you wish that he is, right?"
Alexandra didn't respond.
"Fine. It's really none of my business anyway but don't let Tim to hear that you have a boy," She paused. "Friend." She finished, separating the word "boyfriend" carefully. "Or he will not let you to hear the end of it."
"Why?"
"Didn't I tell you? He likes you."
"He? That slimeball? No way! "
"Way. And he is not ashamed to admit it."
"I don't care if he hears that I have a boy friend. I'm not his wife and I can do anything I want."
"By the way, what's that guy look like?"
"Got his picture right here." Alexandra said, taking out a photograph from her bag. The photograph was taken at the beach with the teachers during the holidays.
"Which one?" Paris asked. "The one with greasy hair?"
"No. The one kneeling beside me." Alexandra said and pointed.
"Are you sure he is 34?" Paris asked when she saw Remus' light brown and grey hair.
"Yes, I am sure. He told me." Alexandra said.
"Well, he's quite a catch....."
"What are you two looking at?" A voice asked and Alexandra and Paris turned around.
"Hi Tim." Paris said, snatching the photo and shoved it under her book. "We are looking at my boyfriend's photo."
"I don't know you have a boyfriend." Tim said, ruffling his blond hair.
"It's none of your business whether I have one or not." Paris said, lifting her head up.
"Whatever. Alexandra, are you free this weekend? Want to go bowling?" Tim asked.
"No to both questions. I'm busy." Alexandra said immediately. Tim is Slytherin-type of boy and she rather die than go anywhere with him.
"Fine, I'll ask you next time." Tim said casually, putting his hands in his pockets and left.
"I won't go anywhere with a Slytherin." Alexandra said in disgust.
"Slytherin?" Paris echoed. "What's Slytherin?"
"Didn't you watch Harry Potter?" Alexandra asked.
Paris thought for a while. "Oh yeah! Slytherin. And you are either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, am I right?"
"Not Ravenclaw. I'm too dumb for Ravenclaw." Alexandra grinned. "If I am a witch, I wish that I am in Gryffindor."
***
Remus was in the staff room reading Alexandra's letter when Sirius came in quietly, peered over Remus' shoulder and snatched his letter.
"Hey, give it back!" Remus said and he chased Sirius around in the staff room.
"Dear Remus, how are you at the boarding school?" Sirius read aloud while running. "I'm fine. I wonder how my mail is able to get to you even through there is no stamp or address require..." Sirius stopped and Remus grabbed the letter away from him.
"Ha!" Remus said and walked back to his seat.
Sirius just stared at Remus.
"What?" Remus asked.
Sirius swallowed. "Nothing."
***
"Sirius, did you notice something different about Professor Lupin?" Harry asked after the DADA lesson a few days later. (Remus was off sick again and Sirius was the substitute teacher.)
"In what way?" Sirius asked, collecting the students' essays.
"I don't know....maybe weird. I mean, sometimes I can hear him whistling down the stairs. While we are copying down the notes, he is staring out of the window. And a few days ago, he smiled at Professor Snape even after Snape insulted his way of teaching us."
Sirius sighed. "Come on Harry, let's go to the lake."
***
"So this Alexandra is a pure muggle?" Harry asked, sitting on the grass near the lake.
"That's the problem." Sirius said, hanging upside down from a tree branch. "I mean, if Remus tells Alexandra that he is a wizard and a werewolf, she is going to have a nasty shock or worse, leave him. You know, like Voldemort's parents."
"I don't think Professor Lupin is stupid enough to tell her that." Harry said slowly.
"I know, but she's bound to find out sooner or later." Sirius said, caught hold of the tree branch with his both hands and sat upright. "What if their relationship won't work out? How is Alexandra going to accept the fact that her boyfriend is a werewolf? If Alexandra doesn't mind, how is she going to fit in the wizarding world if Remus married her? And what if Alexandra's friends find out about us and tells the rest of the Muggles?" He asked worriedly, swinging his legs.
"Now that is a problem." Harry said. "But look at Seamus' parents. His dad is a Muggle, his mom is a witch, and they can get along just fine. And I think the Ministry of Magic will send obliviators to modify Alexandra's friends' memory if they get to know anything about us."
"Yeah, but Seamus' mom is not a werewolf..." Sirius started.
"Sirius, I think we should let nature to take its course."
"I guess so." Sirius said, jumping down from the tree. "But I hope Remus knows what he is doing. If he forgets to drink the Wolfsbane Potion and goes out with Alexandra on a full moon...." He stopped, shuddered to think what would happen if Remus turned into a werewolf on a Muggle street.
***
Time flies and soon, Christmas holidays were around the corner. Remus decided to stay at home during Christmas ("Yeah right," Sirius said to Harry. "I bet you 3 Galleons that he will visit Alexandra.") While Sirius decided to stay for Hogwarts with Harry and Ron. (Because Ron can't stand Percy at home)
Remus was marking his students' essays when his owl flew in with a letter.
"Thanks." He said and took the letter. He opened the envelope and read:
Dear Remus,
Are you going home for the holidays? If you are, why don't we go out together during Christmas Eve?
Alexandra
Remus looked at his lunar chart and grinned, grabbed his Muggle pen and paper (that he borrowed from Harry so that Alexandra won't know that he is a wizard) and wrote:
Dear Alexandra,
I am going home for the holidays and yes, we will go out together during Christmas Eve. I will meet you at your house on that day.
Remus
After Remus sent his letter, he frowned. Doesn't that mean that he has to buy a Christmas gift for Alexandra? What a Muggle girl like for a gift?
"Looks like I have to ask." He said to himself dryly.
***
"Miss Granger! There you are! Can I ask you something?" Remus said when he caught Hermione on the morning before the students left for the holidays.
"Sure."
"Err...how am I going to put it... Ah! Look, I have this Muggle friend and I want to give her a Christmas gift but I don't know what to give her so can you, like, tell me what a Muggle girl like for a gift?"
"How old is she?" Hermione asked.
"22."
"What's she like?"
"Sweet." Remus said shortly.
"Well....I will suggest a music box. Does she like music?"
Remus shrugged. "I dunno. But a music box sounds nice. Thanks, Miss Granger! And 5 points to Gryffindor!"
***
"I bought you a gift, hope that you like it." Remus said, handing Alexandra her gift (which he put in a bag) on his way seeing Alexandra's home during Christmas Eve.
"Why, thank you! I bought yours too." Alexandra said and handed Remus his gift.
"Thanks."
"So....how are the rest of the teachers?" Alexandra asked.
"They are fine." Remus said and they went silent.
When they arrived to Alexandra's residence, Alexandra looked down at her digital watch and exclaimed: "Oh look! One minute left until Christmas! Just wait." She whispered and looked at her watch. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one..." She snapped her fingers and the houses around her yelled: "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
"Merry Christmas!" Alexandra said happily and Remus smiled.
"Want to sit down?"
"Err, no thanks." Remus said quickly.
"Remus, did you forget something?" Alexandra said, trying not to smile.
"What?" Remus asked blankly.
Alexandra pointed upwards and Remus looked up. He raised his eyebrows at the mistletoe at the ceiling. "Oh, that."
He grinned embarrassedly. "Oh well, it's tradition after all.." He said slowly and kissed Alexandra's cheek quickly. He blushed deeply and smiled. "Merry Christmas. I....err, have to go now." He whispered.
Alexandra's cheeks went pink and she smiled back. "Goodnight." She said softly and kissed Remus' cheek before she closed the door.
Remus walked down the path slowly, then he grinned happily to himself and continued walking, whistling.
***
The next morning, Remus started to open his Christmas gifts. First he unwrapped Sirius' gift and received a box of Muggle chocolates. And he grinned at Sirius' card:
Merry Christmas, Moony! How is the belladonna?
Padfoot
Then he received a new suitcase from Harry, a pack of Exploding Snap, a box of wizard chess from Ron, a new year of lunar chart from Hermione, a big Christmas card signed by all teachers, even Snape (Remus assumed that he was forced to write on Remus' card.) And a box of Wolfsbane Potion without a card on it.
"From Snape. Who else?" He said and turned to Alexandra's gift and he received a book on vampires. "Great, I can use it for my DADA lessons." He smiled and picked up Alexandra's card:
Merry Christmas Remus, hope that you are not afraid of vampires.
P.S: I think I am in love with you.
Alexandra
Remus' smile widened when he read that.
***
Alexandra had opened all her gifts and Remus' and Paris' gifts were the ones left. She picked up Remus' gift and unwrapped it.
"Oh, it's beautiful!" She exclaimed at the black music box with a picture of butterfly on the cover and when she opened it, a small butterfly model hovered and danced to the music gaily. "Aw, how cute." She whispered and touched the butterfly's colorful wings gently. She put the music box down and read Remus' card:
Merry Christmas Alexandra, hope that you like music.
P.S: I think I am hopelessly in love with you.
Remus J. Lupin
Alexandra smiled and clutched the card closely to her heart. "Looks like our minds link, Remus." She whispered, thinking of what she had written on Remus' card.
She put down the card and turned to Paris' card:
Merry Christmas, Alex! I know that you like Harry Potter and so I buy these just for you. Hope that you have not read them yet.
Paris
Alexandra opened Paris' gift.
"Paris, you are the best!" She exclaimed and read the titles of the two books again: "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
Chapter 5: Back to School and Christmas
The rest of the summer holidays passed quickly and Alexandra still couldn't find out much about Remus. Soon, it was time for Remus to go back to Hogwarts.
"How am I going to keep in touch with you?" Alexandra asked at the 30th of August.
"When you finish writing your letter to me, just write my name in block letters on the envelope and leave it at your mailbox." Remus said, reminding himself to train his owl to recognize the letter from Alexandra's mailbox.
"No stamp needed?" Alexandra asked.
Remus shook his head and smiled. "Well, hope to see you in the Christmas holidays."
"Hope to see you too." Alexandra said.
"No stamp? How weird." She thought.
***
"Hey Alex, have a nice holiday?" Paris asked when Alexandra came into the class.
Alexandra smiled brightly.
"What's that smile mean? Found something new on butterflies? Or did you catch a rare butterfly during the holidays?" Paris asked, knowing Alexandra's great interest for butterflies.
Alexandra shook her head. "I met this man during the holidays and he's completely wonderful."
"Who? A wizard?" Paris asked in a boring tone.
"No! And Paris, you don't even believe in magic." Alexandra said, rolling her eyes.
"Fine. Who is he then?"
"A teacher from a boarding school."
"A teacher?" Paris asked. "How old is he?"
"34."
"What?! Alex, don't you think he is too, you know, old for you?"
"He's not my boyfriend." Alexandra said with her cheeks pink.
"I didn't say that." Paris said and grinned. "But you wish that he is, right?"
Alexandra didn't respond.
"Fine. It's really none of my business anyway but don't let Tim to hear that you have a boy," She paused. "Friend." She finished, separating the word "boyfriend" carefully. "Or he will not let you to hear the end of it."
"Why?"
"Didn't I tell you? He likes you."
"He? That slimeball? No way! "
"Way. And he is not ashamed to admit it."
"I don't care if he hears that I have a boy friend. I'm not his wife and I can do anything I want."
"By the way, what's that guy look like?"
"Got his picture right here." Alexandra said, taking out a photograph from her bag. The photograph was taken at the beach with the teachers during the holidays.
"Which one?" Paris asked. "The one with greasy hair?"
"No. The one kneeling beside me." Alexandra said and pointed.
"Are you sure he is 34?" Paris asked when she saw Remus' light brown and grey hair.
"Yes, I am sure. He told me." Alexandra said.
"Well, he's quite a catch....."
"What are you two looking at?" A voice asked and Alexandra and Paris turned around.
"Hi Tim." Paris said, snatching the photo and shoved it under her book. "We are looking at my boyfriend's photo."
"I don't know you have a boyfriend." Tim said, ruffling his blond hair.
"It's none of your business whether I have one or not." Paris said, lifting her head up.
"Whatever. Alexandra, are you free this weekend? Want to go bowling?" Tim asked.
"No to both questions. I'm busy." Alexandra said immediately. Tim is Slytherin-type of boy and she rather die than go anywhere with him.
"Fine, I'll ask you next time." Tim said casually, putting his hands in his pockets and left.
"I won't go anywhere with a Slytherin." Alexandra said in disgust.
"Slytherin?" Paris echoed. "What's Slytherin?"
"Didn't you watch Harry Potter?" Alexandra asked.
Paris thought for a while. "Oh yeah! Slytherin. And you are either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, am I right?"
"Not Ravenclaw. I'm too dumb for Ravenclaw." Alexandra grinned. "If I am a witch, I wish that I am in Gryffindor."
***
Remus was in the staff room reading Alexandra's letter when Sirius came in quietly, peered over Remus' shoulder and snatched his letter.
"Hey, give it back!" Remus said and he chased Sirius around in the staff room.
"Dear Remus, how are you at the boarding school?" Sirius read aloud while running. "I'm fine. I wonder how my mail is able to get to you even through there is no stamp or address require..." Sirius stopped and Remus grabbed the letter away from him.
"Ha!" Remus said and walked back to his seat.
Sirius just stared at Remus.
"What?" Remus asked.
Sirius swallowed. "Nothing."
***
"Sirius, did you notice something different about Professor Lupin?" Harry asked after the DADA lesson a few days later. (Remus was off sick again and Sirius was the substitute teacher.)
"In what way?" Sirius asked, collecting the students' essays.
"I don't know....maybe weird. I mean, sometimes I can hear him whistling down the stairs. While we are copying down the notes, he is staring out of the window. And a few days ago, he smiled at Professor Snape even after Snape insulted his way of teaching us."
Sirius sighed. "Come on Harry, let's go to the lake."
***
"So this Alexandra is a pure muggle?" Harry asked, sitting on the grass near the lake.
"That's the problem." Sirius said, hanging upside down from a tree branch. "I mean, if Remus tells Alexandra that he is a wizard and a werewolf, she is going to have a nasty shock or worse, leave him. You know, like Voldemort's parents."
"I don't think Professor Lupin is stupid enough to tell her that." Harry said slowly.
"I know, but she's bound to find out sooner or later." Sirius said, caught hold of the tree branch with his both hands and sat upright. "What if their relationship won't work out? How is Alexandra going to accept the fact that her boyfriend is a werewolf? If Alexandra doesn't mind, how is she going to fit in the wizarding world if Remus married her? And what if Alexandra's friends find out about us and tells the rest of the Muggles?" He asked worriedly, swinging his legs.
"Now that is a problem." Harry said. "But look at Seamus' parents. His dad is a Muggle, his mom is a witch, and they can get along just fine. And I think the Ministry of Magic will send obliviators to modify Alexandra's friends' memory if they get to know anything about us."
"Yeah, but Seamus' mom is not a werewolf..." Sirius started.
"Sirius, I think we should let nature to take its course."
"I guess so." Sirius said, jumping down from the tree. "But I hope Remus knows what he is doing. If he forgets to drink the Wolfsbane Potion and goes out with Alexandra on a full moon...." He stopped, shuddered to think what would happen if Remus turned into a werewolf on a Muggle street.
***
Time flies and soon, Christmas holidays were around the corner. Remus decided to stay at home during Christmas ("Yeah right," Sirius said to Harry. "I bet you 3 Galleons that he will visit Alexandra.") While Sirius decided to stay for Hogwarts with Harry and Ron. (Because Ron can't stand Percy at home)
Remus was marking his students' essays when his owl flew in with a letter.
"Thanks." He said and took the letter. He opened the envelope and read:
Dear Remus,
Are you going home for the holidays? If you are, why don't we go out together during Christmas Eve?
Alexandra
Remus looked at his lunar chart and grinned, grabbed his Muggle pen and paper (that he borrowed from Harry so that Alexandra won't know that he is a wizard) and wrote:
Dear Alexandra,
I am going home for the holidays and yes, we will go out together during Christmas Eve. I will meet you at your house on that day.
Remus
After Remus sent his letter, he frowned. Doesn't that mean that he has to buy a Christmas gift for Alexandra? What a Muggle girl like for a gift?
"Looks like I have to ask." He said to himself dryly.
***
"Miss Granger! There you are! Can I ask you something?" Remus said when he caught Hermione on the morning before the students left for the holidays.
"Sure."
"Err...how am I going to put it... Ah! Look, I have this Muggle friend and I want to give her a Christmas gift but I don't know what to give her so can you, like, tell me what a Muggle girl like for a gift?"
"How old is she?" Hermione asked.
"22."
"What's she like?"
"Sweet." Remus said shortly.
"Well....I will suggest a music box. Does she like music?"
Remus shrugged. "I dunno. But a music box sounds nice. Thanks, Miss Granger! And 5 points to Gryffindor!"
***
"I bought you a gift, hope that you like it." Remus said, handing Alexandra her gift (which he put in a bag) on his way seeing Alexandra's home during Christmas Eve.
"Why, thank you! I bought yours too." Alexandra said and handed Remus his gift.
"Thanks."
"So....how are the rest of the teachers?" Alexandra asked.
"They are fine." Remus said and they went silent.
When they arrived to Alexandra's residence, Alexandra looked down at her digital watch and exclaimed: "Oh look! One minute left until Christmas! Just wait." She whispered and looked at her watch. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one..." She snapped her fingers and the houses around her yelled: "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
"Merry Christmas!" Alexandra said happily and Remus smiled.
"Want to sit down?"
"Err, no thanks." Remus said quickly.
"Remus, did you forget something?" Alexandra said, trying not to smile.
"What?" Remus asked blankly.
Alexandra pointed upwards and Remus looked up. He raised his eyebrows at the mistletoe at the ceiling. "Oh, that."
He grinned embarrassedly. "Oh well, it's tradition after all.." He said slowly and kissed Alexandra's cheek quickly. He blushed deeply and smiled. "Merry Christmas. I....err, have to go now." He whispered.
Alexandra's cheeks went pink and she smiled back. "Goodnight." She said softly and kissed Remus' cheek before she closed the door.
Remus walked down the path slowly, then he grinned happily to himself and continued walking, whistling.
***
The next morning, Remus started to open his Christmas gifts. First he unwrapped Sirius' gift and received a box of Muggle chocolates. And he grinned at Sirius' card:
Merry Christmas, Moony! How is the belladonna?
Padfoot
Then he received a new suitcase from Harry, a pack of Exploding Snap, a box of wizard chess from Ron, a new year of lunar chart from Hermione, a big Christmas card signed by all teachers, even Snape (Remus assumed that he was forced to write on Remus' card.) And a box of Wolfsbane Potion without a card on it.
"From Snape. Who else?" He said and turned to Alexandra's gift and he received a book on vampires. "Great, I can use it for my DADA lessons." He smiled and picked up Alexandra's card:
Merry Christmas Remus, hope that you are not afraid of vampires.
P.S: I think I am in love with you.
Alexandra
Remus' smile widened when he read that.
***
Alexandra had opened all her gifts and Remus' and Paris' gifts were the ones left. She picked up Remus' gift and unwrapped it.
"Oh, it's beautiful!" She exclaimed at the black music box with a picture of butterfly on the cover and when she opened it, a small butterfly model hovered and danced to the music gaily. "Aw, how cute." She whispered and touched the butterfly's colorful wings gently. She put the music box down and read Remus' card:
Merry Christmas Alexandra, hope that you like music.
P.S: I think I am hopelessly in love with you.
Remus J. Lupin
Alexandra smiled and clutched the card closely to her heart. "Looks like our minds link, Remus." She whispered, thinking of what she had written on Remus' card.
She put down the card and turned to Paris' card:
Merry Christmas, Alex! I know that you like Harry Potter and so I buy these just for you. Hope that you have not read them yet.
Paris
Alexandra opened Paris' gift.
"Paris, you are the best!" She exclaimed and read the titles of the two books again: "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"