Poppy pulled on her grey robes and left her room to head down the main
corridor, her strides brisk as she made her way down to a particular
Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's rooms. She knew perfectly well
tonight wasn't just a normal evening. Hardly a normal evening in any sense
of the word, she thought to herself as she continued her purposeful strides
down to the room in question. As she passed a series paintings, she could
definitely feel their eyes upon her, which made her sorely wish they'd find
something else to look at.
"Where are we off to, hmm?" A particularly stocky medieval woman asked, standing beside the orchard that the artist had painted her in. Poppy didn't even spare a glance at the painting as she continued her way. "Never you mind," she returned, turning the corner gladly as it meant that the woman in the painting could no longer see her.
As Poppy finally reached the room in question the door opened, which made Poppy wonder if he knew she was coming. Remus stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind him. He turned and spotted her, his eyebrow arching a little as he took in the sight of her there before him. Apparently then he'd not been expecting her, Poppy realized as she took in his expression.
"Poppy, what are you doing here?" Remus asked, his voice quiet as he ran his hand through his hair. She didn't answer right away, opting instead to take in the shadows under his eyes and the slight hoarseness to his voice. His hair also showed signs of strain, as if he'd tossed and turned quite a bit trying to get sleep. He looked so tired, it nearly broke her heart.
Her hands ached to ease the pain from his body, as she felt his strain and fatigue permeate her being. It came upon her in waves as she stood there, looking upon him. "Remus, I'm quite surprised with you," she finally began to say. "You know perfectly well what I am doing here. I am here to escort you to the Whomping Willow as I have done before." Poppy told him, gazing with level intensity into his grey-green eyes.
For a very intelligent and intuitive man, he apparently hadn't seen that one coming, as he merely blinked and stared at her. "Escort me?" He asked, his brow just barely burrowed, his eyes holding a slightly quizzical expression in them.
Mastering the impulse not to shake her head and sigh, Poppy stared back at him with quite the serious expression. Was that so surprising? She'd always walked him to the Whomping Willow which just happened to be located above an entrance to a tunnel which lead to the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade. She'd always escorted him there for his transformations when he'd been in school. While he wasn't a student anymore, and hadn't been one for years, he was here and she would escort him as she had always done. It wasn't even for the sake of tradition why she was doing this. It was her way of revealing her care and regard for him. A small way of telling him how much she loved him.
Poppy gazed back into his eyes, her expression never wavering. "Yes," she finally answered him with a level gaze. "For old time's sake," she added, for his own peace of mind, hoping that he'd understand. He smiled a little smile then, tilting his head just slightly as he apparently remembered the times past. Nodding he offered his arm to her, "If you wish it," he responded quietly, his voice soft.
Taking his arm gently, Poppy checked herself. It would not to to indulge her fantasies anymore than she'd already done. How many times since his return to Hogwarts had she imagined walking arm in arm with him? How many times had she imagined herself holding his hand and tasting of his lips? Each day was so hard, as he was so close but so far away to her. Close enough to speak to and have tea with, but far away enough that she had to constantly check her thoughts and impulses.
As she passed down the main stairwell on his arm, they happened to pass one of the castle's many stained glass windows, where she caught a reflection of the two of them. She and Remus were reflected a thousand times over, in colors of glinting red, green, white, amber, and amethyst. The colors and reflections wove a spell around her. Only in those beautiful glass panes could she be that close to him. Only in that light could she have a deeper intimacy with him. The sight of it held her transfixed so much that she continued to gaze at it as they passed it by and even saw it in her mind's eye as she and Remus left the castle and crossed the grounds to the Whomping Willow.
Reaching the base of the tree, Remus bent over and tapped the hidden knot on the tree which caused the tree's branches to stop their swaying and which revealed the hidden door. He turned back to her then, his eyes bright in the bluish-purple twilight. "I thank you for escorting me, Poppy," he told her, his eyes curiously intense. "Here's to old times," Remus smiled a small smile before he gave her hand a small squeeze. Her heart beat just a little faster at the contact, her hand warm in his.
"Good evening, Remus. I hope to find you well, come morning." Poppy whispered, still transfixed with the sight of him. Her feet were rooted to spot and she didn't wish to move away, even for a moment. She was mesmerized and did not wish to wake from the beauty of her dream. "You will, Poppy," he whispered back, "you will."
Poppy's breath caught in her throat. His hand was no longer holding hers, but caressing her cheek in a slow and tender motion. She was rendered speechless as she stared into the grey-green depths of his eyes, the very same eyes that meant the world to her. The eyes that she saw almost every night in her dreams; the very same dreams that were a feast to her senses. Closing her own eyes, she just barely leaned into his touch, savoring the feel of his hand against her face.
She heard him take in a sharp breath the next moment. Opening her eyes, she refocused them on him. "Is it possible?" He asked her, his eyes locked on hers and his hand still soft on her cheek. In answer she lifted her own hand to lay over his. "Yes, more than possible," she murmured, her heart racing faster than she could keep up. She was aware of each breath they took and of her heart beat resounding within her and in her ears.
His eyes widened and brightened, illuminated with a light from within. In a moment he crossed the small space between them and captured her lips in a kiss both passionate and chaste, full of promise. Everything else was forgotten; his condition, the approach of the full moon, and the small fact that they were in view of the windows where anyone could have been watching. None of it mattered. The only thing that did matter was his arm about her waist and his lips on hers. The only thing that mattered was that their secret had been revealed to each other; their long quiet love and devotion had been unleashed.
"I never thought it possible," Remus whispered in a quiet and reverent voice when they'd broke apart, resting his forehead against hers, his breathing a little erratic. "Neither did I," her own breaths coming in shallow gasps as she leaned into him a little. She smiled, her fingers tracing a path on those lips she'd finally tasted of, her heart filled to burst with happiness. He too smiled at her, equally happy before a slight wince appeared upon his features. "I do not wish to go now, but I must." Remus spoke, his voice a little pained. Poppy shook her head and pushed him a little towards the door. "We'll speak tomorrow, just go and worry not." She told him before tasting his lips again in a quick kiss; a butterfly's kiss.
He smiled with his eyes and then disappeared into the tunnel, leaving Poppy beneath the tree gazing at the spot where he'd been. Touching a finger to her lips, she knew she hadn't been dreaming. It had finally happened, the thing that she had wanted for so long had finally happened. For the first time ever, it hadn't been a dream. It was real. Beaming with a brilliant smile, she wrapped an arm around herself and proceeded back to the castle doors.
Walking up the stairwell and proceeding to the fourth floor where the hospital wing was located, she replayed the scene in her mind, aching to go back and stay the evening with him even if he was in his wolf form. She wanted to be with him forever and always, in any way that she could be. Though, she consoled herself with the fact that the dawn would bring the promise of her long cherished dream coming true.
She'd just barely turned the corner of the corridor when she happened upon Severus Snape. Surprised, she stopped in her tracks, her mouth opening to greet him but the words failed to come. He nodded curtly to her, surveyed her with scrutiny, and went on his way down the corridor with his black robes swishing around him; shadows following his figure down the corridor.
Poppy's surprise hadn't been caused by seeing him. No, it was fact that he and some of the other professors were given to a patrol of the castle when evening fell. No, the thing that surprised her was a quick sting in her heart followed by a wave of fear. Somehow, she felt he would trouble, danger to Remus. She couldn't even explain it or describe it. It was just something she felt which made no sense since she knew Albus trusted him and vouched for him. She knew that if he was indeed a danger Albus would know and would take care of it, But somewhere deep down, she knew he would be the carrion crow and bring harm. She shivered at the thought, wrapping both arms around herself.
Shivering still, she made it to her room and readied herself for bed. After donning her nightgown, she moved to the window to take a last look at the Whomping Willow, thoughts of Remus fresh in mind. Sighing, she turned away and layed herself down, wrapping her quilt tightly about her as if it were Remus' own arms there to protect her in her sleep.
"Si seulement..."
"Where are we off to, hmm?" A particularly stocky medieval woman asked, standing beside the orchard that the artist had painted her in. Poppy didn't even spare a glance at the painting as she continued her way. "Never you mind," she returned, turning the corner gladly as it meant that the woman in the painting could no longer see her.
As Poppy finally reached the room in question the door opened, which made Poppy wonder if he knew she was coming. Remus stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind him. He turned and spotted her, his eyebrow arching a little as he took in the sight of her there before him. Apparently then he'd not been expecting her, Poppy realized as she took in his expression.
"Poppy, what are you doing here?" Remus asked, his voice quiet as he ran his hand through his hair. She didn't answer right away, opting instead to take in the shadows under his eyes and the slight hoarseness to his voice. His hair also showed signs of strain, as if he'd tossed and turned quite a bit trying to get sleep. He looked so tired, it nearly broke her heart.
Her hands ached to ease the pain from his body, as she felt his strain and fatigue permeate her being. It came upon her in waves as she stood there, looking upon him. "Remus, I'm quite surprised with you," she finally began to say. "You know perfectly well what I am doing here. I am here to escort you to the Whomping Willow as I have done before." Poppy told him, gazing with level intensity into his grey-green eyes.
For a very intelligent and intuitive man, he apparently hadn't seen that one coming, as he merely blinked and stared at her. "Escort me?" He asked, his brow just barely burrowed, his eyes holding a slightly quizzical expression in them.
Mastering the impulse not to shake her head and sigh, Poppy stared back at him with quite the serious expression. Was that so surprising? She'd always walked him to the Whomping Willow which just happened to be located above an entrance to a tunnel which lead to the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade. She'd always escorted him there for his transformations when he'd been in school. While he wasn't a student anymore, and hadn't been one for years, he was here and she would escort him as she had always done. It wasn't even for the sake of tradition why she was doing this. It was her way of revealing her care and regard for him. A small way of telling him how much she loved him.
Poppy gazed back into his eyes, her expression never wavering. "Yes," she finally answered him with a level gaze. "For old time's sake," she added, for his own peace of mind, hoping that he'd understand. He smiled a little smile then, tilting his head just slightly as he apparently remembered the times past. Nodding he offered his arm to her, "If you wish it," he responded quietly, his voice soft.
Taking his arm gently, Poppy checked herself. It would not to to indulge her fantasies anymore than she'd already done. How many times since his return to Hogwarts had she imagined walking arm in arm with him? How many times had she imagined herself holding his hand and tasting of his lips? Each day was so hard, as he was so close but so far away to her. Close enough to speak to and have tea with, but far away enough that she had to constantly check her thoughts and impulses.
As she passed down the main stairwell on his arm, they happened to pass one of the castle's many stained glass windows, where she caught a reflection of the two of them. She and Remus were reflected a thousand times over, in colors of glinting red, green, white, amber, and amethyst. The colors and reflections wove a spell around her. Only in those beautiful glass panes could she be that close to him. Only in that light could she have a deeper intimacy with him. The sight of it held her transfixed so much that she continued to gaze at it as they passed it by and even saw it in her mind's eye as she and Remus left the castle and crossed the grounds to the Whomping Willow.
Reaching the base of the tree, Remus bent over and tapped the hidden knot on the tree which caused the tree's branches to stop their swaying and which revealed the hidden door. He turned back to her then, his eyes bright in the bluish-purple twilight. "I thank you for escorting me, Poppy," he told her, his eyes curiously intense. "Here's to old times," Remus smiled a small smile before he gave her hand a small squeeze. Her heart beat just a little faster at the contact, her hand warm in his.
"Good evening, Remus. I hope to find you well, come morning." Poppy whispered, still transfixed with the sight of him. Her feet were rooted to spot and she didn't wish to move away, even for a moment. She was mesmerized and did not wish to wake from the beauty of her dream. "You will, Poppy," he whispered back, "you will."
Poppy's breath caught in her throat. His hand was no longer holding hers, but caressing her cheek in a slow and tender motion. She was rendered speechless as she stared into the grey-green depths of his eyes, the very same eyes that meant the world to her. The eyes that she saw almost every night in her dreams; the very same dreams that were a feast to her senses. Closing her own eyes, she just barely leaned into his touch, savoring the feel of his hand against her face.
She heard him take in a sharp breath the next moment. Opening her eyes, she refocused them on him. "Is it possible?" He asked her, his eyes locked on hers and his hand still soft on her cheek. In answer she lifted her own hand to lay over his. "Yes, more than possible," she murmured, her heart racing faster than she could keep up. She was aware of each breath they took and of her heart beat resounding within her and in her ears.
His eyes widened and brightened, illuminated with a light from within. In a moment he crossed the small space between them and captured her lips in a kiss both passionate and chaste, full of promise. Everything else was forgotten; his condition, the approach of the full moon, and the small fact that they were in view of the windows where anyone could have been watching. None of it mattered. The only thing that did matter was his arm about her waist and his lips on hers. The only thing that mattered was that their secret had been revealed to each other; their long quiet love and devotion had been unleashed.
"I never thought it possible," Remus whispered in a quiet and reverent voice when they'd broke apart, resting his forehead against hers, his breathing a little erratic. "Neither did I," her own breaths coming in shallow gasps as she leaned into him a little. She smiled, her fingers tracing a path on those lips she'd finally tasted of, her heart filled to burst with happiness. He too smiled at her, equally happy before a slight wince appeared upon his features. "I do not wish to go now, but I must." Remus spoke, his voice a little pained. Poppy shook her head and pushed him a little towards the door. "We'll speak tomorrow, just go and worry not." She told him before tasting his lips again in a quick kiss; a butterfly's kiss.
He smiled with his eyes and then disappeared into the tunnel, leaving Poppy beneath the tree gazing at the spot where he'd been. Touching a finger to her lips, she knew she hadn't been dreaming. It had finally happened, the thing that she had wanted for so long had finally happened. For the first time ever, it hadn't been a dream. It was real. Beaming with a brilliant smile, she wrapped an arm around herself and proceeded back to the castle doors.
Walking up the stairwell and proceeding to the fourth floor where the hospital wing was located, she replayed the scene in her mind, aching to go back and stay the evening with him even if he was in his wolf form. She wanted to be with him forever and always, in any way that she could be. Though, she consoled herself with the fact that the dawn would bring the promise of her long cherished dream coming true.
She'd just barely turned the corner of the corridor when she happened upon Severus Snape. Surprised, she stopped in her tracks, her mouth opening to greet him but the words failed to come. He nodded curtly to her, surveyed her with scrutiny, and went on his way down the corridor with his black robes swishing around him; shadows following his figure down the corridor.
Poppy's surprise hadn't been caused by seeing him. No, it was fact that he and some of the other professors were given to a patrol of the castle when evening fell. No, the thing that surprised her was a quick sting in her heart followed by a wave of fear. Somehow, she felt he would trouble, danger to Remus. She couldn't even explain it or describe it. It was just something she felt which made no sense since she knew Albus trusted him and vouched for him. She knew that if he was indeed a danger Albus would know and would take care of it, But somewhere deep down, she knew he would be the carrion crow and bring harm. She shivered at the thought, wrapping both arms around herself.
Shivering still, she made it to her room and readied herself for bed. After donning her nightgown, she moved to the window to take a last look at the Whomping Willow, thoughts of Remus fresh in mind. Sighing, she turned away and layed herself down, wrapping her quilt tightly about her as if it were Remus' own arms there to protect her in her sleep.
"Si seulement..."