Ch. 6. Detention

A/N- I really like this Chapter. It didn't go the way I had it planned but that just goes to show…you can't plan. Ok on with the story. Oh yeah. Squishy rocks, Thanks for all the help.

Disclaimer.- Haven't done this in awhile figured I should. I don't own Harry Potter. If you don't recognize it, it may very well be mine, or I may have borrowed it with permission from someone else.

Now on with the story………

Later that night, Jessi knocked on the door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom softly. The day in Hogsmeade had been emotionally draining and she didn't feel like dealing with detention tonight. She shifted her bag to her other shoulder while she waited for him to answer the door.

"You may enter" she heard him say through the door. She quickly and quietly opened the door. She grumbled under her breath as she entered, thinking to herself Who made him King.

"Good to see you are on time Miss Carmichael. Now tonight you are going to be washing the desks without magic. Soap and water are in that bucket, along with a sponge" his voice was clipped and formal.

"Just peachy" she said sarcastically as she dropped her bag into one of the chairs.

"Get to work, no talking" he snapped at her

Jessi rolled her eyes and walked over to the bucket. She lifted the bucket up a little to quickly and splashed water on to the floor as she moved to the far side of the room. She saw him turn to grade papers. She turned her back to him and bent over a desk cleaning it with slow methodical strokes, her anger and sadness slowly slipping away.

Remus sat behind his desk trying to grade the essays that the 5th years had turned in today. He got through several and found himself sneaking glances at Jessi as she cleaned the desks. He returned to the essay in front of him trying his best to ignore her but the next time he glanced up at her he noticed that her expression had changed from intense anger to something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her, He sat there, essay forgotten, just openly staring.

Jessi could feel him staring at her but she ignored him, moving on to the next desk, she groaned softly and pushed her hair out of her face. She was tired and ready to just do a cleaning spell and be done with it. She glanced over the 5 rows she'd already cleaned and then turned and saw she still had 6 more, she sighed dejectedly and slumped into a chair:

"Something wrong Miss Carmichael?" he asked stonily as he stood up.

"No" she snapped quickly "I'm just taking a break...don't have a cow or anything"

"One of the reasons you have this detention is because you were talking back." he said as he approached her.

"Must be a character flaw" she shrugged nonchalantly, she looked up at him eyebrows raised "Was there something you wanted?"

"Just observing your technique" he said glancing over at the already cleaned desks.

"cleaning does not require technique" she rolled her eyes at him.

"It does if it is unsatisfactory" he drawled, putting emphasis out the last word.

"Unsatisfactory huh?" she shot out of her chair, eyes flashing.

"You heard what I said." he said sounding rather Snape like.

"Did I?" she glanced from his face to the bucket of water on the floor at her feet.

"Yes you did" he said harshly.

"You really are a giant prat you know" she picked the bucket up gently.

"Excuse me?" he said rather maliciously

"You heard me" she said, gripping the handle of the bucket so hard her knuckles were white.

"Would you like to come back for the rest of the week for detention?" his tone had not changed, and he seemed oblivious to the fact that she was holding onto the bucket.

"You can't give me detention because your mad at me you know that right," she asked him incredulously.

"Oh its not just because I'm angry with you Miss Carmichael. You are not only insulting a professor, but provoking one too," he ground out between clenched teeth.

"Insulting?…and open your mouth when you talk"

"I do believe you had called me a giant prat not only five minutes ago…and I am Ignoring that last comment"

"Ah that...that wasn't an insult it was the truth"

"Truth or not, you are still provoking a professor"

"Merlin's Beard you're infuriating," she glanced from the bucket of water to him and smirked ",but I'll be here it isn't like I have a choice," she glanced at the water before tossing it in his face, she turned on her heal and headed for the door.

Remus sputtered for a moment, letting the water drip off of his face. He realized that she was leaving, and he turned around and walked quickly up to her, he grabbing her wrist. "That was uncalled for," he said trying to keep a straight face. In fact that was what he need to calm down. He was dripping wet from his head down, and still holding onto her wrist.

"It was called for actually," she glanced down at where he was holding onto her wrist.

"I think you are right actually…" he said visibly trying to hold back his smile, "I'm feeling rather... better now..."
"Well let's be glad you feel better" she said still glaring at him

"I, um err..." he shut his mouth before saying anymore
"You what?" she snapped.
"I'm sorry" he grimaced and grumbled softly

"You have nothing to be sorry for Professor" she turned to go but he was still holding onto her.

"Fine, whatever just leave then…." he dropped her wrist and moved away from her.
She turned to go but realized she'd left her bag in the room, she turned to go back into the room and walked into him. She felt him lose his balance as he fell , accidentally grabbing onto her arms. She fell unceremoniously on top of him, she glanced up at him and then turned her head trying to hide a smirk.
"Oh you think this is funny" she asked pretending to be mad, when she saw him trying to hide a smirk.
"Yes I do. Do you have a problem with that?"
She help but burst into giggles. She was shaking with laughter. She felt his chest rumble softly as he started to chuckle as well. She shifted her weight and slid out of his lap onto the floor next to him. "What?" she asked, glancing up at him when he stopped laughing.

"Nothing," he said looking at her. He raised his sleeve and used it to dry his face.
"Looks like you're um.....all washed up?" She said with a smirk.
"This soap tastes bloody awful...." he said grimacing "It brings back the memories of old punishments..."
"You...got punished?" she raised and eyebrow at that.

"Well, yeah. I did hang out with James Potter and Sirius Black..."
"It's still hard to believe you ever got detention" she smiled softly.

"Got the old bar of soap in the mouth when I got home for the summer... well whenever they visited me.. They brought the best and worst out in me. I did help them quite a bit though.... it was fun.." When he stopped his voice had taken on a sad and distant tone.

"I.....I'm sorry" she said as she slipped her hand into his and squeezed gently.
"There's nothing for you to be sorry for." He said waving her apology off. "Ah well.. enough self pity..." he said looking briefly down at her hand in his and then back up to her face. They must look ridiculous. His hair wet, and both of them sitting on the floor, holding hands…slightly.
"It's been quite a day" she sighed softly. When she realized she was holding his hand she let go abruptly. She began to fiddle with the hem on the sleeve of her robe.
"Yeah it has been." he said off handedly. He looked away from her and stared at the ceiling.
"Are you ok Professor" she asked him softly.

"Fine, just fine." he glanced over at her.

"Alright...if you say so" she said her voice tinged with worry

He turned and looked straight into her eyes. He didn't say anything he looked down at her face and into her green eyes. He had forgotten the way that they had always glinted in the light from the lanterns on the walls, and was happy that they still did

"W-w-what?" she looked at him shocked.
"Nothing Jessi.... nothing..." His voice was soft and quiet.
"Ooook" she said skeptically, moving to get up. She was quite stunned when he moved a hand to rest on her shoulder pulling her back down. She sat next to him, smiling questioningly "Yes?"

"Thanks.. I needed to err…… calm down a bit I guess."

"Um...you're welcome I guess" she smiled slightly when he nodded
He nodded and brushed his fingers briefly against her cheek. He regretted almost immediately. He saw her eyes widened at his touch, although he was uncertain if it was from shock or fear.

"Um...I should probably go" she stammered, standing quickly.
"Ok then," he nodded "Remember you still have detention for tomorrow night..." he smirked
"Fine whatever" she said, glaring at him.

"I was just kidding you know, you don't have to come for detention, but I do have some essays that need to be graded"

"I think I can handle that" she rolled her eyes.
"I hope you can..." he said teasingly.
She stuck her tongue out at him playfully before disappearing into the classroom. She walked over to the chair where she'd thrown her bag, she picked it up and slung it over her shoulder. She glanced around the room noticing that she'd never actually finished cleaning the desks, She did a quick cleaning spell before stuffing her wand back into her bag and exiting the classroom. When she re-entered the hall she watched him momentarily, He looks so sad she thought to herself. "Why the long face cowboy" she asked cheerily.

"Where do you come up with these absurd names?" he snorted, changing the topic quickly.
"I dunno...and you didn't answer the question" she shrugged.
"What question?"
"Why the long face?" she repeated herself.
"Oh, that, err…. nothing much. Now that I answered your question, would you care to enlighten me with the answer to yours?"
"The answer to what?" she looked at him curiously.

"Ah, never mind." he said waving it off. He looked at his watch and saw that it was after curfew.
"No tell me"
"Nothing. Don't push your luck tonight young lady. You should head up. Its past curfew"
"I'm not pushing my luck.......yet" she smiled up at him mischievously.
"Key word there, yet"
"Exactly...yet"
"And yet you are still not leaving..." he motioned her to the door laughing softly.
"Oh...fine just banish me" she said as she moved to the door of the classroom.
"I'll be coming with you to help you from Filch and other nasty creatures of the night" he laughed "I also need to stretch my old legs for a bit"
"I'm not afraid of Filch and you aren't old"
"Why wouldn't you be afraid of him, I still am, and yes I am old."
"Filch is a pushover if you play your cards right...and you are not"

"Well does it look like he'd take kindly to me? No I thought not. And do you even know my real age? Sure I may look 26...."
"26......I was thinking younger than 40" she said laughing softly.
"Well thanks." he said dryly "No really I'm about... " he counted on his fingers and looked thoughtful for a moment " 38.. I think...."
"You think" she looked at him quizzically

"Yes, I think... "

"Still 38 is not old"

"For me it is. Well anyway, enough discussing my age. Now I wonder where old Peevsie is...."
"Umm...I'd rather not find out...last time I saw him he dropped green slime on me" She shuddered at the memory.

"Green?" he snorted but tried to cover it up with a cough "That should have been interesting... He dropped fluorescent Pink slime on Sirius and James in our second year..."
Jessi smirked trying to picture Sirius Black…pink. She walked alongside him silently. She was glad the weren't fighting anymore but didn't want to say anything to make him angry again.
"So..." he said breaking the palpable silence.
"Yeees?" she glanced up at him.
"Anything new happening around school?……. Any good gossip?" he asked in a girlish voice
She couldn't help but laugh at the tone of his voice. He was imitating Parvati and Lavender perfectly. "Oh you mean besides that I snogged 'The Andrew Scottsdale' no" she said rolling her eyes "How do rumors travel so fast around here anyway."
Remus' left eye twitched at the mention of Scottsdale. He was really starting to dislike that kid. "There are so many girls, and we all know that news spreads like wildfire amongst you lot"
"When did you develop a twitch Professor?....and I do not gossip"
"Twitch? I don't know what you're talking about. And every girl gossips at one point or another"
"You do to know what I'm talking about...you twitched...and this girl doesn't....not to anyone except Hermione...and maybe Ginny"
"That still counts. And I do…not…have a twitch"
"Ok so I gossip occasionally...and Yes you do"
"Prove it" he said stopping.
She moved in front of him looking directly into his eyes. "Ok.....Andrew Scottsdale" she said calmly, with a tinge of annoyance in her voice. She watched as he tried to control it but he couldn't, it was involuntary, his left eye twitched as soon as the name left her lips. "See you twitched"

"Err...." He said glancing around the corridor.
"So answer the question....When did you develop a twitch" she smiled up at him innocently.
"When? I don't exactly know...." he rubbed the back of his neck, not meeting her eyes.
"Uh huh" she said rolling her eyes at him.

"Don't roll your eyes at me... I seriously don't know..."
"I'm sure you don't" she said sarcastically passive.
"Don't you ever let anything go?" he sighed.

"No" she grinned
"Thought that." he continued to walk down the all towards the staircases "Hurry along then, don't want you to be too much later, even though I doubt you even missed much back up at the tower"
"Probably not I think everyone was mostly going to sleep...it was the first Hogsmeade weekend since.....…" she trailed off.
"I know. I didn't go. I couldn't...." his smirk slipped away from his face.
"I wouldn't have been able to with out Harry Hermione and Ron" she said quietly.
"Be glad that you have friends as good as they are Jessi. I mean it. Keep them as close as you can"
"I plan on it...they really are wonderful"
"Yeah" he said softly looking down to his feet.

They talked quietly as they made their way back towards Gryffindor Tower. They pause momentarily on the 4th floor while Remus took points from several 3rd years for being out after hours. They stopped when the reached the portrait hole.

"Goodnight Jessi"

"And muggle cell phones certainly are an…." she stopped mid sentence realizing they had reached the Common Room "Oh yeah…Goodnight Professor." She disappeared through the doorway with a smile and a slight wave of her hand.

"That girl is something else..." Remus chuckled softly as she left. He stood there with a dopey smile. His thoughts were Interrupted by the Fat Lady, guardian of Gryffindor Tower.

"Remus Lupin are you going to stand there all night grinning like a fool?" she inquired.

"Hello to you too Priscilla"

"Don't Change the subject….it's quite obvious you like that girl" she said sternly.

"Yes Cilla…I adore that girl….but she's my student" he answered, his smile slowly fading.

"Remus…I haven't seen you smile like that since you were a student here"

"Cilla don't start" he snapped at the painting

"Remus…you let the last person who made you smile go……don't make the same mistake twice" the Fat Lady said quietly.

"Alright…Alright…..I'll do something about it…Goodnight Priscilla" he answered unhappily.

"Goodnight"

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