*Lupin's Loony Love*
I don't own any legal rights to Harry Potter (darn)
Lupin entered the Great Hall soaking wet, yet still with a cheerful attitude. The train ride from platform 9 3/4 was uneventful, however it proved entertaining to listen to the first years tell about their fears. There was always the fear of losing all articles of clothing while being sorted into the houses.
Glancing at the decorated tables, Lupin felt the cheery atmosphere sink in. Teachers laughter could be heard coming from the head table, and the ghosts were telling tales of what their lives were like in the past. Just before he reached the steps to the head table Dumbledore proclaimed, "Remus! Dear friend welcome back!". This statement was followed by silence as all members of the staff turned to gaze at him. Lupin smiled and then nodded his head, "The real pleasure is seeing all of you again." all the teachers smiled broadly at his charm. Snape however looked as if he had just swallowed poison. Snape had probably seen enough of Lupin, in his opinion, during the summer while delivering his potions. Stepping up to the head table, he sat in an empty seat next to Minerva McGonagall, and with every ounce of charm he owned he kissed her hand.
"I see that your manners are as flattering as ever," Minerva said laughing like a schoolgirl.
"Now, now Remus. We can't have you charming the teachers so much that they forget their duties, right Minerva?" Dumbledore asked with a twinkle in his eye. Professor McGonagall giggled and then stepped of the platform, putting on her 'shut-up-and-move-it' frown. Lupin sat slowly on his chair and glanced up and down the row of teachers, which looked the same as when he was last here except for one. Down at the end of the table, sitting next to Severus Snape, sat a young woman with highly excited features surrounded by her head full of brown curly hair. Seeing Lupin glancing at her, she stood up revealing her tall yet slender form. Smiling, she approached Remus, and took the chair that Minerva was sitting in.
"Hello," she said smiling as she rested her chin on her hand, "I'm new here as you probably already know, and I'm trying to introduce myself to everyone. Then I can go back to being my quiet self."
"Ahh, yes the quiet life is quite enjoyable," Lupin said smiling glancing at her brown eyes.
"Olivia Wittleburg." She said sticking out her hand, as Lupin shook it.
"Remus Lupin." Olivia smiled broadly, "And you are teaching what?"
"Oh, sorry," she said giggling as if she had a little bit too much pumpkin juice, "I'm going to be Professor Snape's assistant. You see I'm going to be a potions major, I hope to be able to research for people in the future. Now, what are you teaching?" Olivia said smiling broadly, proud of her future plans.
"I'm the defense against the dark arts teacher," Lupin said smiling at Olivia who was staring up at the stormy ceiling.
"I was a student a Hogwarts awhile ago, I remember the fear of being sorted." Olivia said sighing as she got up from the chair. "Well, I better go sit down where I'm supposed too before Professor McGonagall wonders what I'm doing in her chair. So, I guess I'll be seeing you around?" Olivia smiled as Lupin slowly shook his head. She retreated back to her seat where Snape was glaring at people. Lupin watched as the first few students entered the hall, amazed as usual at the wonder of the scenery. Soon the students were entering in large groups, chattering about what they had done over the summer. Harry caught Lupin's eye, and then waved at the DADA professor. Hermione was of course asking students of their OWL scores, and then comparing them to her own which turned the other student red with embarrassment. Laughter rang throughout the hall, but when Dumbledore stood up, silence consumed the place.
"I hope you all have enjoyed your summer, and I am sure you are looking forward to another year of learning." there were a few boo's after his statement, but they were silenced with the motion of his hand. "Professor McGonagall?" Dumbledore said glancing towards the doors, and then they suddenly flew open emitting the nervous first years. Lupin smiled as the new students listened with wonder as the sorting hat put on it's show, applause as usual rang out after the stunning performance. The first new name to be sorted was called out by Professor McGonagall, "Lola Abberson!". As the sorting continued, the new students took their places at the destined tables and watched their friends being sorted with a sense of relief on their faces. Lupin turned to glance at Olivia, and saw her watching the sorting hat while drinking more pumpkin juice to most likely calm her nerves. "Zane Zopres!" ended the ceremony, and before the congregations eyes Dumbledore stood to introduce the teachers.
"Welcome First Years! Now it is my duty to introduce the one's whom will influence your life for the next year. First of All, Professor McGonagall the transfiguration teacher, Hagrid our care of magical creatures..." Lupin began to tune out the names and the minimal applause that followed the names, he was instead watching the ceiling to pass the time.
"And to return for the second time, Professor Lupin who will be our defense against the dark arts teacher," this statement brought Lupin back to his senses, and applause greeted his ears. Lupin smiled and waved then the hall fell silent.
"Last but not least, Olivia Wittleburg! She will be assisting Professor Snape for a limited amount of time," there were cheers and then their were open mouths at Olivia when she waved and winked at a few of the first years. "And that concludes the introductions, and I think it is time to eat." Dumbledore's hands rose up while the food began to appear on the tables. Lupin smiled at Minerva when she sat down and turned to Professor Flitwick to have a discussion on the events of the previous year.
When the children had stuffed themselfs beyond the regular measure, Professor stood up and announced that it was time for the students to put themselves to bed in order to be able to get up in the morning. A few laughs were added after this statement as the hall cleared out. The teachers also made their departure, hurrying to go and get their sleep. Lupin was very tired but still he waited until Olivia caught up with him for something she had to say.
"Well, that was interesting being on the teachers side," she started only to hiccup and before she could continue what she was going to say, she found her eyelids beginning to droop.
"I think you may have had a little bit too much pumpkin juice," Lupin said smiling, "let me help you to your room."
"It's just down there, I'm sure I can make it," she said, while Lupin insisted and therefore she gave in and let him walk her down the hall.
"It was a pleasure meeting you Professor Wittleburg." Lupin said as Olivia walked in her door.
"The pleasure was mine, Professor Lupin." She smiled and then waved while slowly shutting the door. Lupin stood for a few moments and then retreated the other way towards his room. As he rounded the corner towards his door he unexpectedly saw someone standing in front of his door.
"Remus Lupin!" called an excited voice as a figure rushed up to him and hugged him. "It's been too long!"
"I'm sure it has," he said pushing the figure back to gaze into the eyes of Madame Hooch.
"And you, have not lost an ounce of charm I see," she said grabbing his cheek and twisting it.
"My, what are you doing here so late?" Lupin said trying his best to not sound tired.
"Waiting for you of course, why you are so modest!" she said slapping him on the arm.
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, my dear friend, but I seem to be a little bit more tired than I had expected. I do hope I can make it up to you." Lupin of course hoped that this woman would just leave him alone, but he had to be polite.
"Of course you can make it up! Breakfast and lunch tomorrow would be splendid, and then dinner also would be nice!" she said clapping her hands in front of her face. "Why we can talk about the predictions of who will win the Quidditch cup this year!"
"Splendid." Lupin said with a ounce of annoyance leaking out of his voice.
"You don't like the idea?" Madam Hooch asked while the tears were for sure welling up in her eyes.
"It's just that Dumbledore doesn't exactly approve of personal meetings going on with teachers and..."
"Dumbledore won't mind two colleagues talking about the favorite sport in the magical world, besides he'll never know," she interrupted leaving Lupin shocked as she advanced on him. He slowly inched his way to the wall and there was no escape.
"How can I say no to that? Except I can't make breakfast, you know all the lesson plans to make up and all." Lupin wishing he had an excuse for lunch and dinner also.
"I understand," she said looking disappointed for a moment, then broadly smiling she said, "Well, I better let you get your beauty rest." She then stood up on her tiptoes and puckered her lips, while closing her eyes. Lupin felt extremely uncomfortable, and instead of giving her a kiss on the lips, he took her hand and gently smooched it.
"Ah you are a shy one!" she said and then without notice she slapped his butt. Lupin emitted a yelp as Madame Hooch walked away winking at him. As soon as she had gone out of sight, Lupin ran to his door and opened it, hoping that there would be no more unexpected guests that night. Lupin magically lit a candle and sunk by the door to sit on the ground and wonder with horror what he had just got himself into.
Sirius smiled broadly thinking about how perfect his plan was probably going. His plan had started with the letter filled with romantic poetry, followed by a forged signature of Remus's name. The only question then was who to send it too. Then it struck him. Madame Hooch. She had always seemed somewhat lonely to him in the descriptions Harry gave him of all his teachers. So he placed her name at the top of the page and sent it to Madame Hooch by owl mail. Lupin was going to owe him one, once he pulled this off.
Lupin awoke with a headache, from the lack of sleep he had received. He was too busy wondering how he was going to make it through not just one, but two invigorating talk sessions of Quidditch. It's not that he didn't like the sport, he loved to watch it, but Madame Hooch always went deeper in the explanations of Quidditch. Groaning, he got up from bed and put on some of his robes that bore the symbol of Hogwarts.
"Well," Lupin said talking to himself, "it's better than running for your life from some cursed object." He thought about back at headquarters and knew that he would rather be there than here just for a day.
"Today," Lupin's voice rang out in the classroom that was filled with students, "we are going to learn about trolls." It was the best thing that Lupin could teach on the first day so that the students could get used to his teaching style. "First we'll look up the information in the book, followed by a trip to observe the actual trolls." There were several whispers with fear in them, but Lupin knew that once they learned the material, there would be no reason to fear the trolls. Lupin watched his second year students as they read a chapter out of 'Defend or be killed'. Once you got over the title, the information was good enough to learn from. Lupin let his mind wander to the dreaded situation that he had gotten himself into. It was only fifty minuets away, but when he looked back up at the clock, it was five, and then the bell rang. The kids stood up from their desks, and a few of them stayed after to tell Lupin that they liked his style of teaching. As much as Lupin wished it wouldn't come, he knew he couldn't just not show up. It would be terribly rude, and he would for sure lose a friend indeed. Smiling he locked up his classroom, and dragging his feet while doing so, he made his way to the Great hall for lunch.
Hehe, it will get much more interesting next chapter. So anyways thanks to my first two reviewers, THANK-YOU. And also, if anyone has a suggestion for a match for Lupin, I'm open to suggestions as usual. Lol :)