Disclaimer: Lorien is mine but anyone else present in this story was the marvelous creation of JK Rowling. ( They all needed something to do until HP book 5 is done.) I am only borrowing them (although they seem to like it here) I promise to return them in time for book 5.

A/N: Atheis Gainsborough you have two nights detention with Mr Filch. Twenty points from Slytherin, and I will let Argus revert to the old forms of detention if you make me take points from my own house again. :p Ahem. Yes, well back to the story.

Full Moon Confessions ~*~

Lorien leaned against the door. She was surprised at how protective she felt about Remus. She was unable to do anything to stop this and it frustrated her.

"Lorien?"

She could tell he was close to the other side of the door.

"I'm here," she said, speaking close to her own side of the door.

"Promise me you won't open the door, no matter what," he said.

"I promise. Is it soon?"

"Soon, but not yet," came the answer.

"Oh."

"Lorien?" He spoke again. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she replied.

He paused for a moment and then spoke. "You're helping."

"I'm glad," she said softly.

Remus suddenly found himself telling her just how much it helped not to have to do this alone, how long it had been since he'd had friends around him that understood and accepted his cursed transformations. He spoke of how frustrating it was to be an outcast; always eyed with suspicion when people discovered the truth about him.

"As if you have a choice." Lorien's voice was steady but there were tears in her eyes. It grew quiet.

"Remus?"

"Remus?" she repeated.

"I'm here," he finally answered.

"It's going to be ok," she told him. "I understand better than you know. I want to tell you something."

"What?" He sounded curious.

"Do you know what the Nemorosi are?" she asked.

"I think so."

Lorien explained. "The Nemorosi are a group of witches and wizards dedicated to practicing the art of wandless magic. They believe that magical ability lies solely within the individual and that much of the power that individual possesses is derived from the natural world around us. Nemorosi philosophy dictates that the stronger the link with the natural world, and the stronger the individual's grasp of their own mind's capacity, the stronger the witch or the wizard may be."

"I see," said Remus on the other side.

"Many of the most powerful wizards known have been Nemorosi or have at least studied Nemorosi philosophy. I find it unfortunate that more people do not at least accept the concepts as valid ones, and some treat the Nemorosi with contempt. I think the average wizard thinks of us as a bunch of harmless tree-hugging crackpots." She laughed a little.

"You're Nemorosi?" he asked, a little surprised.

"Yes, think I'm a flake?" She laughed, but she was unsure how Remus would react.

"You got rid of the migraine without a wand or potion," he observed.

"Yes," she said.

"Nemorosi magic?" he asked.

"Yes. I find it combines well with more traditional medical practices. One is not necessarily better than the other. It's a question of finding the right balance." Lorien realized she sounded a lot like her mentor, Perth Taber.

"Lorien?" Lupin's voice sounded tired.

"Yes?" she answered.

"If you can get rid of the headache I'm going to have in the morning, I'll be out there hugging any tree you want."

She leaned her forehead against the door and smiled.

A groan sounded from the other side of the door.

"Remus?" Her head snapped up.

No answer. Silence.

"Remus?" she repeated.

More groaning, louder, more intense. He let out a sharp cry.

"Remus!" Lorien was getting frantic.

More cries. A crash.

"Merlin's beard! Remus!" She pressed herself against the door, fighting the urge to unlock it.

A long wail.

Another long wail.

Silence.

"Remus?" she asked tentatively.

She jumped as the long piercing howl shattered the quiet.

It had happened.

She could hear the wolf moving in the room. Claws clicked as he approached the door. She heard the snuffling as the wolf sniffed her scent under the door.

"It'll be over in a few hours," she said softly. "I'll let you get some rest."

Lorien turned to leave.

A small whine.

She turned back. "Ok. I'll stay"

No answer, but Lorien seated herself on the floor with her back against the door. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

"I'll be right here, Remus."

She felt the door shudder slightly as the large wolf lay down behind her with a sigh.

The first early morning rays of light peeked over the windowsill at the end of the hall. Slowly they traveled across the floor as the sun set out on it's journey for the day.

Lorien stirred as the light reached her and looked about the hallway. All was quiet.

She stiffly pulled herself to her feet from where she had been sleeping, propped up against the door to the room behind her.

'It should be over.'

She unlocked the door.

At first she found the door difficult to move, as if it had become much heavier during the night, but as she managed to open it enough to peer inside, she realized why. Remus was curled up on the floor, asleep with his back pressed against the door.

She squeezed through the narrow opening and knelt down beside him. His breathing was slightly ragged and he looked very pale. She reached down and placed her fingers on his throat. A strong, steady pulse met her fingertips.

His eyes fluttered open at her touch and he groaned. It took him a minute to focus on where he was and then on her.

"Hi." He smiled weakly.

"Hi," she returned softly. "How's your head?"

"Not so good. You have your work cut out."

"Let's see what we can do."

She helped him to his knees, and then to his feet, and he leaned on her heavily as she guided him to the bedroom. She helped him sit on the edge of the bed and then went to get water. He gratefully took the glass she brought and drained it.

"Thanks," he said.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Yes." He sounded exhausted.

"Close your eyes and relax."

She stepped closer and placed her hands on his temples.

He became aware of the warm sensation radiating from her fingers, and felt the pain receded further, and further.

"That's much bet....."

"Shhh..."she cut him off.

Removing her hands from his temples she placed one on his forehead and the other at the base of his skull. He felt her press her fingers firmly on either side of his neck, and then draw them slowly downward to his shoulders. The stiffness in his neck was replaced with the now- familiar healing warmth.

"Now," she said, removing her hands, "you should rest."

He opened his eyes and looked up at her.

"Lorien...I...thank you."

"You're welcome. Now sleep." She was smiling but insistent. "I'll be back later, but at the moment I have to go get ready for class."

"All right."

She turned to leave.

"Lorien?"

"Yes?" She turned back.

"I'm glad that you told me what you did last night. It makes me feel that you trust me," Remus said.

"I do Remus. You shared a lot with me as well," Lorien replied.

"Yes but you had more of a choice. You could have chosen not to say anything," Remus pointed out.

"I'm not hiding anything, Remus. It's who I am," she said.

"I'd like to know more about who you are, Lorien." He gazed at her steadily.

She smiled and he realized she was blushing as she stepped away.

"Get some rest. I'll see you later."

"OK," he replied with a weak smile.

He laid his head on the pillow after she'd closed the door and smiled to himself.

Lorien returned to her own chambers to get ready for the rest of the day. She was trying to review which topics she needed to cover for which classes, but her mind kept going back to last night.

'Why did I tell him so much? I guess it's because I wanted him to hear it from me.'

She realized then, as she thought about it, that they were friends. She'd known him less than two weeks, but she trusted him already and knew a connection had been forged.

She headed to the classroom for her first class of the day.

"What?" Ron asked, as he walked with Harry and Hermione to their last class.

"I said, I think we're in trouble in Defense Against the Dark Arts this afternoon," Hermione repeated.

"Why?"

"Because the full moon was last night."

"What does the full moon...oh no!" Realization dawned on Ron.

Harry looked pale. "So, that means that Remus won't be teaching class today. That means..."

"Snape," Ron groaned.

"Ugh!" Harry joined in.

"It's a no-win situation," complained Hermione. "If we ditch class, Snape'll take away points, and if we go to class he'll probably find some reason to deduct points too."

"Let's get it over with," moaned Harry.

The three friend entered the classroom and took their seats.

"Look!" whispered Ron. "Check Malfoy."

Harry turned to look at the Slytherin students across the room. Draco Malfoy and company appeared even more smug than usual.

"He's just dying to see Snape pounce on a Gryffindor." Ron looked miserable as the door opened.

"Good afternoon," Lorien greeted the class.

Ron beamed at Harry. "We're saved!" he whispered happily.

Across the room, Draco's smile was becoming a puzzled frown.

"I'm sure you all realize by now why Professor Lupin is not here this afternoon. I can assure you that he is fine and will be back in classes tomorrow. Meanwhile, I will be filling in for him this afternoon."

"Great!" Malfoy leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. He managed to pout through most of the class, during which Lorien covered a fair bit of history and legend of the vampire.

"Professor Lupin will pick up where we left off next class. Please be sure to read the first 20 pages about vampires for then."

Harry, Ron and Hermione walked past Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle as they left the classroom.

"That was a great class, don't you think?" Harry said in a loud voice.

"A great class! Absolutely smashing," Ron agreed loudly, flashing an angelic smile at the Slytherins.

"Fascinating class, don't you think, Draco?" Hermione laughed as she walked past. He sneered at her.

"What would you know? You think they're all fascinating, you little mudblood know-it-all."

"Mr. Malfoy, may I see you for a moment?" The stern expression on Lorien's face told them all that she'd overheard.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the classroom grinning. "What a great class!" Ron repeated as they headed off down the hallway together.

"Mr. Malfoy. I hope that I never hear you repeat what I heard you say just now. That goes for the classroom and the hospital wing. I hope that you don't speak that way in front of the younger Slytherins. You should really set a better example. I'm afraid I must deduct 5 points from Slytherin."

"What? You can't do that, can you? I mean you're not a professor!" Draco stared at her incredulously.

"I am acting on behalf of Professor Lupin, and can deduct points as deemed necessary. If you feel that I'm being unfair, keep in mind that while I feel Professor Lupin would most definitely have deducted 5 points for your comments, if I were acting on my own behalf I would have taken 10."

The sour expression returned as Draco turned and stalked out of the room.

At dinner that night Ron and Harry found themselves telling Fred and George about what had happened in Defense.

"So is she any good as a teacher?" Fred asked.

"Not bad, but the coolest thing is she took points from Slytherin," said Ron.

"Really?" asked George.

Harry chimed in. "Yeah, off Malfoy."

"What'd she get him for?" asked George.

Ron was grinning. "He called Hermione a Mudblood in class. Slytherin is minus 5."

"Cool!" said Fred and George together.

After dinner Hermione headed to the library, and Harry followed Ron back to the Gryffindor tower. When they reached the dormitory Harry found an owl waiting for him.

"That's odd," said Harry. "It's not often we get mail after dinner." He took the letter from the large bird and opened it."

"What is it?" asked Ron when he saw Harry's face brighten.

Harry looked up and handed Ron the letter.

Dear Harry,

I hope that everything is well with you. Things are ok with me here. I got an owl from Lupin saying that he's back at Hogwarts. It makes me feel better to know that he's there with you. Send me an owl letting me know exactly which weekend is the first outing at Hogsmeade. I think that Snuffles may be paying you a visit.

Sirius.

Harry and Ron beamed at each other. They could hardly wait to tell Hermione.

Lorien took a plate of food with her when she went to check on Remus after dinner.

"Come in," he answered when she knocked.

She noted, when she entered, that he looked a little tired but not too bad.

"Hi."

"Hi. Hungry?" she asked.

"A bit. How were classes?" Remus asked curiously.

"Fine," she replied.

"Good." He was relieved that everything apparently went ok.

"It would be good if you ate something," she said.

"I will in a while. What I really need is some fresh air after being cooped up all day."

"Want to walk outside?" Lorien ventured.

"No. I have a better idea. Come with me." He took her by the elbow and led her back out the door.

"Where are we going?"

He smiled mischievously. "You'll see."

She followed him down several passages, and then up a very long flight of stairs to a heavy wooden door. She felt a strong breeze as he opened the door and beckoned her to follow him through.

They were in the astronomy tower.

There weren't many stars visible yet in the twilight, but the waning moon was rising in the distance.

Remus had stepped to the wall surrounding the perimeter of the tower, and stood gazing at it. Lorien moved to stand near him as he spoke.

"You know, it's been just about forever since I've actually seen the full moon. I mean like this." He pointed to himself.

"How old were you when it happened?"

"About eight." He recalled the tale to her, talking in a soft voice as the breeze stirred his hair from time to time.

"Remus, I'm ... I'm sorry." She gently touched his arm.

"You don't need to feel sorry for me." He worried that she might pity him.

"It's not that. It's just sad that something so difficult has happened in your life."

"I see. I have had good things happen too." He was smiling. "Especially lately."

"Really? Like what?" She was teasing him and he became very aware of the hand she was resting on his wrist.

"Like coming back to Hogwarts. Being able to teach again.....meeting you....." He trailed off as he looked at her.

She gazed at him steadily and he felt turmoil welling up about whether or not he should seize this opportunity. What if she were upset? He didn't want to scare her away.

'Ok, Lupin. Where's that Gryffindor courage?' He made up his mind.

"Lorien." He spoke her name softly as he moved a step closer. He reached out and gently touched her cheek, and let his hand slide under her hair to draw her face closer. She didn't resist, and he felt her grip on his arm tighten ever so slightly.

He leaned close, his soft gray eyes locked upon hers. His gaze went to her lips as he drew her in.

BANG!

They both jumped as the great wooden door slammed open and a dozen or more students clamored into the tower.

Remus rolled his eyes in an exaggerated fashion as Lorien gently pulled back and stood discreetly several feet away.

Professor Sinistra followed her class into the tower.

Lorien shot Remus a shy smile and made her way through the excited students to the stairs.

"Good evening," she greeted Sinistra on her way down the stairs.

"Hello." Sinistra glanced down the stairs at the retreating witch, and then up at Lupin.

"Good Evening, Professor Lupin." A sly smile made its way across her face. "Enjoying the night air, are we?"

"Just leaving." He smiled at her as he walked past.

Lorien was nowhere to be seen. At first he was disappointed, but then the realization of what had almost happened hit him.

Remus Lupin bounded happily down the rest of the stairs.