Ch. 11 A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.
A/N: Ok. Here's the next chapter. I had a really hard time writing some of this because I didn't want parts of it to happen, but we all know how that is we really don't have a choice. Ok so on with the show.
Oh wait Disclaimer first. I don't own Harry Potter or anything else you recognize. If you don't recognize it, it may very well be mine.
The first week of January passed unnoticed. Jessi and Padma found a two-bedroom flat on Ringling Alley, a small residential area squished in behind Diagon Alley. They moved in and soon began their classes at St. Mungo's.
Classes at St. Mungo's were very similar to those the attended at Hogwarts. They still attended Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, and Charms, though everything was based in healing. They also added Anatomy and Physiology as well as Basic Healing. Jessi and Padma avoid Blaise at all costs, they did however begin to become close with two of the students from Beauxbatons, Brian Henderson and Camille Dulcis.
Jessi owled Remus nearly everyday. She didn't worry to much when he didn't owl her back right away, she figured he was overly busy, but when the letters started to come back unopened she was shocked. February 13th Jessi was sitting in the living room working on an essay on the properties of aconite when Padma came in holding a wrapped box.
"Jess…do you know anything about this? There's no card or anything" Padma asked.
"I sent that to Remus day's ago…I can't believe he sent it back" she stammered, stunned.
"Jessi, you don't look so good" Padma sat down across from Jessi looking at her worriedly.
"Padma, I…." she didn't finish her sentence she just calmly got up and walked into her room. She curled up on her bed and began to sob quietly.
The next morning Padma knocked softly on Jessi's door and threw a pillow at her to wake her up. She sat up and gazed out the window at the rain pouring down outside. Good, she thought at least the weather matches my mood. She flopped back down and pulled her blanket over her head, calling that she wasn't feeling well and was staying home to Padma. Once she heard her flat mate leave, she sat up and continued to watch the rain.
Jessi finally climbed out of bed. She dressed slowly, cast a charm to keep herself dry, and headed for Diagon Alley. She wandered aimlessly through the shops, finally settling herself with a book at Florean Fortescue's. She read quietly, until the rain started to lighten.
Jessi slipped her book back into her bag and left the ice cream parlor. She was about to head home, when she saw a flash of familiar sandy hair down the street a bit. She dashed towards Remus calling.
"Remus…would you wait" Jessi called exasperatedly, finally catching up and touching his shoulder lightly. When he turned around it wasn't Remus.
"Excuse me Miss, Do I know you" the stranger asked
"No, I'm so sorry I thought you were someone else" she said apologetically.
Jessi turned and started to head home again. She only made it as far as the Magical Menagerie before sinking onto a bench with her head in her hands. She began to cry softly not noticing when it started to rain again.
"Jessi, What happened? What's wrong?" she heard a voice asked.
"It's…" she stopped her reply when she saw Oliver standing in front of her looking very dry under his umbrella.
"Come on You can tell me" he coaxed gently, taking her hand and pulling her up off the bench so she was under the umbrella.
"I miss him so much Oliver and…." she began to cry again.
"Shhh…it'll be alright" he wrapped his free arm around her waist "Come on back to the Leaky Cauldron with me. We'll talk there where it's warm, after we get you dry."
Jessi nodded numbly and let Oliver lead her back. When they got there she heard him order drinks and food to be sent up and then let herself be led upstairs. Oliver preformed a quick drying charm, followed by a warming charm before sitting on the end of the bed and pulling her into his lap.
"Ok, What's wrong?" he said softly.
"I miss Remus terribly." she sobbed.
"Ah, so Lupin is the new man in your life" he said resting his chin on top of her head. "What else, it can't be just that you'd have gone to see him already."
"He won't return my owls, or he does but they're unopened. He won't take my Floo calls. I know he's angry but it hurts so much." she cried softly burying her head into his shoulder. "He sent back the chocolate I sent him, he never turns down chocolate. Ever" she continued to cry softly,
"It'll be alright" he said soothingly rocking her as she cried. He waved the bellboy in and directed him to set up at a table in the corner. He looked down at her, she seemed to be wasting away and she had large dark circles under her eyes. "Jess, when was the last time you ate anything?"
"I don't know, I'm sure I ate at some point yesterday" she said though her answer was muffled by his shoulder.
"When was the last time you slept?"
"I don't remember" she said looking up at him.
"Well those two things we can take care of now." he said leading her over to the table. "Eat." he said with finality
Jessi stared down at the plate then looked back up at Oliver. He'd taken a seat across from her and was contemplating his own meal. "Thank You" she said softly, before she began eating. They sat silently eating.
"Here" Oliver said handing her an oversized t-shirt, when they were done eating. "Change and get some sleep. I have something to take care of but I'll be back."
"Thank You." she nodded heading toward the bathroom. She changed slowly, surveying her reflection in the mirror, she sighed softly folding her still semi-damp robes, and exited the bathroom. She sat on the edge of the bed and smiled weakly at Oliver who was stoking the fire. "Thank You again Oliver"
"It's not a problem" he said crossing over to her. "Now, get in that bed and sleep." he said with a mock sternness.
"Yes, sir" she laughed softly. She climbed into the bed and leaned back against the pillows. "Oliver?….Why are you here?"
"What do you mean?" he asked sitting on the edge of the bed facing her.
"Here, with me on Valentine's Day, I mean what about your plans." she asked seriously.
"I wasn't exactly looking for you earlier. I didn't have plans today. I'm not exactly a fan of Valentine's Day you know." he said softly.
"I know" she slipped her hand into his. "You've been so great this afternoon, and I know this is your least favorite day." she sat up and hugged him
"Can we not talk about this please?" he asked softly, resting his head on her shoulder.
"Yeah, you had to go anyway didn't you?" she sat back against the pillows.
"Mmmhmmm" he smirked at her.
"What? And Don't give me that look" she said rolling her eyes.
"What look? I don't know what you're talking about." he said fakely innocent.
"That 'I'm up to something' look"
"What are you up to?" he asked shocked.
"Not me you" she smiled, pushing his shoulder.
"Me? I'm up to something? You're nutty" he said tickling her.
"I….am….not" Jessi spit out giggling. She scrambled to get away from him but he caught her and pinned her underneath him. Oliver smiled down at her and she smiled back. They were so close she could feel his breath on her face. He leaned in closely and kissed her.
"Oliver…" she whispered softly.
Oliver kissed her hungrily, his hands slipping beneath the thin material of the t-shirt. He felt Jessi respond almost immediately slinking her arms around him. He began to push the shirt up slowly his thumbs grazing her sides as he went.
"Oliver, Wait" Jessi said suddenly pulling away from him. She slid out from under him drawing her knees to her chest.
"What is it?" he said with a soft groan. Collapsing face down on the bed.
"We can't do this, it isn't right" she murmured.
"What makes it wrong, Jess" he turned his head to look at her.
"I'm with Remus. I love him. That in itself is enough." she said softly "Add to that, the fact that it's Valentine's Day, and you're always over emotional because today is when Ellie left you."
"We're not talking about Ellie" he said
"Yes, Oliver, we are. I know she hurt you when she left you. She was your first love and what she did was rotten. She left you at the alter, and I know it still hurts, but you can't draw into a hole every Valentine's. Do you realize that today was the nicest Valentine's Day we ever had together? We aren't even together."
"Merlin, I'm so sorry Jessi, You were upset and I took advantage of that, I'm so so sorry" he said sitting up.
"It's ok, we were both upset, and it didn't really go anywhere"
"Thank Merlin for that" he said continuing quickly when she shot him a glare. "Sweetheart when were together I would have jumped at the chance for what just nearly happened to have happened. But I don't know what I'd do if I was responsible for the demise of your relationship with Remus."
"I think it's about time for me to leave. Padma will be getting back soon, I'm supposed to be sick in bed." she said with a small laugh.
"Alright. When you're ready I'll walk you."
Jessi climbed out of the bed and hurried into the bathroom. She re-donned her robes and slipped her shoes on. She pulled her hair into a ponytail as she left the bathroom. She smiled at Oliver who was sitting at the desk, writing. "Are you ready to go?" she asked
"Yup let's go." he said leading her down the stairs.
They ambled slowly back towards Ringling Alley. They stopped several times, so Oliver could autograph things for fans. They also stopped once at the stationary store because Jessi saw embellished parchment she just had to have, but they left without it anyway because she started to get teary-eyed at the thought of Remus not writing back. When the finally reached her flat the stopped just outside the door.
"Thank You Jessi" Oliver said smiling.
"What for? You picked me up off the street remember, I didn't do anything for you." she said quizzically.
"Yes, you did. You made me realize I can't live my life in the past. I can't spend every February 14th trying to drown myself with Firewhiskey" he stated.
"Is that where you were headed earlier?"
"Yeah, so thanks"
"Thank you to you too" she said quietly before hugging him.
"No problem" he kissed her softly on the forehead. Just as he was about to pull away there was a bright flash off to the side and someone apparated away. "Damn fanatics" he muttered.
"You know you love it" she laughed
"Yeah you're right, I do. I'll call you later and see how you're doing ok?"
"Sure, I'll talk to you later Oliver" she slipped into her flat hoping Padma wasn't back yet. Jessi let up a sigh of relief when she saw her flat mate wasn't there. She sat on the couch and began a rather long owl to Remus.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning Remus Lupin was sitting at the staff table at Hogwart's, gloomily stabbing his eggs with his fork. He missed Jessi terribly but didn't have any intention of reading any of her owls, he knew that they all probably contained the words that would break his heart. I don't love you Remus. Remus knew he'd be unable to keep his emotions in check when he read those words, written in her familiar small loopy hand-writing.
"Can you believe it, Jessi and Oliver are back together, I always knew they were meant to be together." he heard Lavender Brown tell Mandy Brocklehurst and Parvati Patil "It's all over the Prophet this morning."
"It's all so terribly romantic" Parvati gushed as they walked by.
Remus snatched his copy of the Daily Prophet up off the table if front of him. He'd set it aside when it had come not really caring about what it said until now. There it was right on the front page. Jessi locked in Oliver's arms, kissing him passionately. He growled lowly slamming the paper down on the table, drawing the attention of his fellow Professors.
"Albus, I'll need someone to watch my classes today, or I'll cancel them. I have something personal to take care of." he said shortly, turning to face the Headmaster.
"It will be taken care of Remus" Dumbledore said , nodding knowingly at him.
Remus got up and stormed out of the Great Hall. Everyone who passed him in the hall saw that his usually serene blue eyes had turned a slightly yellowish color and were flashing angrily. When he reached his office he stormed in slamming the door so hard behind him it splintered. He scanned his office quickly for something to break. When he didn't find anything he threw his fist into the cold stone wall, and then kicked his bookcase to bits just for good measure.
When he was done he was still seething with anger. He Flooed quickly to the Three Broomsticks and then quickly apparated to Ringling Alley. He ran the whole way to her the flat he seen her enter with Padma in the pictures, the two had sent to Hogwarts. He pounded on the door when he got there, and was taken by surprise when Jessi opened the door in her pajamas, holding a cup of tea.
"Remus?" she asked shocked, nearly dropping her cup.
"Hello Jessica" he bit out glaring at her.
"W-What are you doing here? Don't You have classes?" she asked confused.
"Dumbledore took my classes for the day" he snapped "And are you going to make me stand out you front step all bloody day?"
"No, I'm just surprised to see you here. I don't think Padma is around, or she's still asleep, we don't have classes today" she stepped out of the doorway letting him in.
"I don't give a damn if Padma is here or not."
"Oh, You're bleeding" she said softly, running her thumb lightly over his knuckles. "What happened? I'll get a bandage." she said quickly turning to head into the kitchen.
"I don't need you to heal me" he said coldly, clamping his hand around her wrist to stop her.
"Remus?" she looked at him worriedly, noticing his eye for the first time "What's wrong? Why are you so angry…this certainly can't still be about New Year's which I can fully explain…"
Remus cut her off when he hauled her against him and crushed his lips to hers. He held her tightly his fingers digging into the soft flesh of her wrist, while his other arm was clamped around her waist. He kissed her savagely ,pouring all of his anger and hurt from the previous weeks into it. His tongue forced its way into her mouth and he continued to attack her lips until she whimpered softly and they were both gasping for air.
"Tell me Oliver Wood makes you feel this way" he said angrily. letting go of her wrist.
"Tell you , that…WHAT?" she looked up at him shocked. "H-How?" she stumbled over the question as she slumped onto the couch.
"It's front page news in the Prophet, did you think I wouldn't find out?"
"T-t-that Prophet?" she stammered. "Oh Merlin" she hopped up off the couch and bolted into the kitchen. She didn't know if Remus followed or not. She sighed with relief when she saw the paper sitting on the counter. She stalked over and picked it up groaning when she saw the photo of Oliver and herself on the front page. She picked up the paper and turned quickly to go back into the living room, she gasped slightly when she came up against Remus' chest.
"You don't look surprised, love" he spat the last word like venom.
"Surprised no not really" she said calmly.
"You could have told me the truth Jessica"
"First don't call me that" she shuddered visibly at the sound of her full name on his lips. "Second, I knew that someone took a picture of Oliver and I yesterday, however that is most certainly not the picture they took."
"What are you talking about?" he snapped.
"I'm talking about the fact that I was at Diagon Alley yesterday. Depressed because you returned another of my owls unopened."
"Yeah I want to read in a letter that you've changed your mind about us"
"Would you stop interrupting or do you not want to hear this" she snapped. "And have I ever given you any indication that I didn't love you?"
"A picture is worth a thousand words" he snapped.
"Ok…I'm telling this story and you're shutting up" she said pushing past him into the living room.
"Fine but this better be damn good Jessica" he muttered, following her.
"I told you not to call me that" she said as she perched herself on an arm of the couch. "Now shut up and listen. I was in Diagon Alley yesterday, missing you like mad, I thought I saw you but I was wrong, so there I was sitting all alone in the middle of Diagon Alley in the rain, balling my eyes out and up comes Oliver, We went back to the Leaky Cauldron and he made me eat something, we talked for a bit and he held me while I cried some more, and then her brought me back here" And I'll just leave out the fact that we snogged after we ate.
"Where you proceeded to snog him senseless in gratitude." Remus snapped.
"Wrong." she said chucking a pillow at his head, which he promptly caught "Where he kissed my forehead, the same way my brother does, and some reporter took a picture. Pictures can be doctored you know"
"You can look me in the eye and tell me you didn't kiss Oliver Wood yesterday." he said seriously.
"I.." she looked at him seriously. "No I can't I won't lie to you"
"You already did." he said shortly getting up and heading toward the door.
"No I didn't, not really" she moved in between him and the door. "I told you I didn't kiss Oliver like that in that picture"
"Does it really make a difference when it was. Yesterday was Valentine's Day Jessi, you should have been with me not him." he said glaring at her.
"Yes I should have been, and had you given me any indication you wanted me there I would have been there faster than you can say Hogwarts, but you didn't. You send my owls back unopened, You won't take my Floo calls….."
"And that makes it ok for you to turn to someone else?" he said sadly.
"I did not turn to someone else" she seethed. "He was there when I needed him. We kissed once maybe twice, but you know what I was thinking the whole time? That I wished I was with you." she turned away from him.
"This hasn't been the first time you have turned to Wood is it? I saw you those few days before Christmas with him in the Leaky Cauldron. The two of you looked like you didn't have a care in the world."
"Were you spying on me? I happened to run into Oliver in a muggle bookstore that day. Until then I hadn't seen him for nearly a year" she said coolly.
"I was not spying on you, this is a free country. I stopped in the Leaky Cauldron after I finished my shopping" he snapped.
"I hate to tell you this, but this is not a free country. It's a monarchy. You know ruled by a King and Queen." she said sarcastically.
"I realize that Jessica" he said coldly.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT" she screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Would you stop you're bloody screaming. You make it seem like I'm the one who turned to Wood." Remus said coldly.
"Don't curse at me. I'll scream if I want it's my flat, and for the LAST time, I didn't turn to Oliver. Not that you'll ever believe me. You never believed a word I say." Jessi's voice dropped slightly but was still raised.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean" he snapped.
"Nothing absolutely Nothing" she said muttered.
Remus was about to reply when a black barn owl landed on the window. He saw Jessi shudder visibly as she moved to the window. She shook her head telling the bird to go away. When it didn't she opened the window and cursed softly when the bird pecked her hard enough to draw blood.
"Hello Longfellow" she muttered to the bird. "What now?" The bird dropped a red. slightly smoking envelope before pecking Jessi again and flying out the window.
"You should open that before it explodes." Remus said smirking.
"I know that….."she spoke softly, opening the envelope warily.
"JESSICA ANNE CARMICHAEL!!" her mother's high pitched voice screeched through the flat. "HOW COULD YOU DISGRACE YOUR FAMILY LIKE THIS? YOU ALWAYS WERE A WORTHLESS, GOOD-FOR-NOTHING CHILD AND FROM THE PICTURE IN THE PAPER THIS MORNING IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE TURNED INTO A WORTHLESS GOOD-FOR-NOTHING WHORE. I HOPE YOUR PLEASED WITH YOURSELF." When the screeching stopped the letter burst into flames, landing on the living room coffee table.
Jessi sank slowly onto the couch. She was staring blankly at the slight burn mark on the table. She drew her knees up to her chest resting her head on them, crying softly.
"Apparently someone else isn't very happy with you" Remus said sardonically.
"Oh, sod off" she muttered not looking up.
"Who was that from?" he asked.
"My psychotic mother." she whispered, wiping her eyes.
"Well, It's probably good she found out about you and Wood. I'm sure she'd rather you with a Quidditch Player than a monster." he muttered depreciatively.
"Remus you are not a monster."
"Oh really?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Really" she said plainly.
"Would you care to elaborate?"
"Remus, you're an incredible person with a kind heart, who happens to turn into a wolf once a month. It isn't something you can help, and it doesn't change who you are."
"That would be a lot more convincing if I thought you actually cared."
"That isn't fair, Remus, saying I don't care about you. That's just plain unfair of you."
"You haven't exactly been fair either." he snapped.
"What do you mean by that? What exactly do you think happened?" she asked seriously.
"I think you slept with Wood and just aren't telling me" he spat his accusation at her.
"If I wanted to sleep with Oliver don't you think I would have done it when we were actually dating? Not when I was with someone else?" she asked her voice rising slightly.
"How do I know you didn't sleep with him when you were dating?" he asked harshly.
Jessi didn't answer him immediately, she just sat there staring at him. Her eyes and voice filled with pain as she stood up. She spoke her voice barely above a whisper. "I cannot believe you would say that." Her voice caught in her throat and raised a bit "You of all people should know that until the night of the Yule Ball I was a virgin." she didn't give him a chance to respond but turned and fled to her room locking the door behind her.
Remus stared after her dumbfounded. He'd had know clue. He walked quickly to the door she'd gone through and tried to open it finding it locked. He knocked softly. "Jessi?"
"Go away" her muffled voice came through the door.
"No, I won't go away. Now open the bloody door." he said getting slightly annoyed.
"I said go away"
"Fine , I'm coming in" he pulled out his wand and unlocked the door. He entered the room quietly, and stood at the end of her bed. He thought the room fitted her perfectly. It was done in shades of blue, purple, and green. The furniture was all made of a light colored wood and the softly flowing curtains on the windows and around the bed gave the room a clean flowing feeling. "Were you really?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, I was" she said through her tears, turning to look at him.
"Jessi, I'm sorry if I'd known…''he moved to the side of the bed she was sitting on.
"No, don't. Don't let that small revelation change your opinion of me. I mean I wouldn't want the TRUTH to actually convince you I'm not the whore you think I am." she hung her head, softly crying. "Goodbye Remus." with that small goodbye she apparated with a soft pop.
"Bloody Hell" Remus roared as she left. He sunk to his knees, burying his hands in his hair. He knew he'd hurt her, and that he'd said things he shouldn't. His breath came in heavy shallow spurts and he sat on the floor of her room cursing and berating himself. He couldn't take the pain, the uncertainty of this anymore. He had to talk to her. "But where in the hell did she go?" he said softly to himself. He had no clue. He did know exactly who to ask though.
He apparated quickly to Hogsmeade and jogged up to the school. He tore through the hallways, nearly knocking Snape over, on his way towards the Heads rooms. He pounded on the door frantically, when Harry answered the door finally he hugged him and asked to come in. "I need to talk to Hermione" he said quickly.
"Alright, I'll get her, there's tea over there if you want some" Harry said warily, as he walked away from Remus. When he returned with Hermione, Remus nearly jumped for joy.
"What is it Professor?" Hermione asked sitting down in a chair across from him.
"Where would Jessi go if she wanted to hide from everyone, including me, the one place she thinks no one can find her." he asked bluntly.
"Well I'm not really sure Remus" she said quietly, looking between Remus and Harry who was standing behind her.
"Hermione please?" Remus pleaded.
"Why would she hide from you anyway?" Harry asked.
"I said some things I shouldn't have" Remus said quietly. "Please, Hermione, I have to find her." he pleaded again.
"I don't know, if she wants to hide from you I really shouldn't tell you" Hermione was torn, should she tell him or keep Jessi's secret.
"Please Hermione, I'm begging you, If I put this off for to long she may never forgive me"
"She might not forgive you now, depending on what you said." Harry snapped.
"What is your problem Harry? If you have something to say just bloody say it" Remus said looking over Hermione's head.
"If you hurt her……"Harry didn't finish the sentence just let the veiled threat hang.
"I already did, and it's killing me. That's why I need to find her" Remus said not meeting either Harry or Hermione's eyes.
"Her Aunts" Hermione said quietly. "She'd go to her Aunt Carlene's in Southampton."
"Thank You Hermione, Thank You" he jumped up and ran out of the room before Harry or Hermione could respond.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jessi apparated onto he cliffs of Southampton, in front of a large gray stone house. She hurried towards the door stumbling slightly as her vision blurred. She reached the door just as the rain started to pour. She knocked on the door softly, dashing her tears with the back of her hand.
"Jessi, sweetheart what's wrong?" a woman in her early thirties, with straight black hair and green eyes answered the door.
"Aunt Carlene" she started crying again as her aunt wrapped an arm around her shoulders and lead her into the house.
"Come on in out of the rain. Are you still in your Pajamas? What happened?" Carlene Clearwater fired off rapid questions as she lead her sobbing niece into the house.
"You haven't seen the paper today yet have you?" Jessi sobbed.
"No, I can't say I have, Daniel usually takes it with him to work in the morning. Why don't you run up to Penny's room and change into dry cloths, I'll make tea and then you can tell me what has you so upset."
"Thank You" she said softly to her aunt. She slipped quietly up the kitchens stairs to her cousin Penelope's room. She opened the door softly and smiled at all the purple, Some things never change, she thought to herself as she moved to the closet. Since Penelope had just recently married Charlie Weasley the selection in the closet was sparse, Jessi selected a pair of jeans and a white, long-sleeved shirt with the words 'Hogwarts Quidditch' emblazoned in blue across the front. She dressed quickly and ran her fingers through her matted hair. She left the room feeling slightly better, she was about to go back down the stairs when she heard a small cry. She back stepped quickly and entered a dimly lit nursery.
"Lauren? Are you ok?" she asked softly reaching for the light switch.
"Jessi" she didn't have time to answer before a small, trembling, raven haired child threw her arms around Jessi's leg. Jessi scooped the small girl up holding her close.
"It's ok Lauren. Shhh….tell me what happened." she soothed the small girl planting a kiss on the top of her head.
"I h-h-had a bad dream" the child whimpered.
"Ok, Shhh don't cry, let's go down stairs I think your mum is making tea." she rocked Lauren softly as she went down the stairs.
"What happened?" Carlene asked when she saw her four year-old daughters tear streaked face.
"Bad Dream" Jessi said quietly.
"Oh, Lauren sweetheart, Come here" Carlene held her arms out and the little girl snuggled into her mothers arms her crying slowly subsiding. "This has been happening a lot lately, she wakes up hysterical and won't tell us why other than she had a bad dream." she said worriedly.
"That is unusual, have you thought about taking her to a mind reader?" Jessi asked as she pulled the whistling teakettle off the stove.
"She's to young the won't see her till she's five" Carlene flattened her daughters hair as she slept. "She should be ok for now, she won't remember whatever it is when she wakes up again. Here why don't you take her and I'll pour the tea."
"Sure" Jessi took the sleeping child and settled into a chair at the table listening to her aunt talk as she prepared the tea. When Carlene sat back down she looked at Jessi seriously.
"Ok now, What happened? Why were you crying?"
" Everything is so messed up" Jessi said quietly willing herself not to cry.
"What's everything, munchkin, be more specific."
Jessi launched carefully into the story. She told her aunt everything, from the first moment on the train , their first kiss, the night of the Yule Ball, her last words to Remus before she'd shown up at the door, not leaving out a single detail. When she was finished she was crying softly.
"Oh, Munchkin" Carlene moved around the table pulling her niece into her arms. "We'll figure something out."
"I don't know if he'll ever speak to me again…..I wouldn't blame him"
"I'm sure he'll speak to you" Carlene said softly. She looked up when she heard a knock on the door. "I'll get that and be right back" she walked quickly to the front door, pulling it open. She gasped in shock when she saw a drenched Remus standing there. "Well speak of the devil, it's been awhile Remus, I assume you want to see my niece?"
"Hello Carlene" Remus said softly. "Yes, I'm here for Jessi"
"Remus, I'll let you in, but if you make her cry again…" Carlene warned quietly.
"I won't, I'll do everything in my power to see that she never has a reason to cry" Remus said quickly, he'd gone extremely pale.
"Fine, come in then, I'll go get Jessi"
"You don't have to come get me. I'm right here" Jessi said from the kitchen doorway, Lauren balanced on her hip. "How did you find me Remus?"
"It isn't important Jessi" Remus said stepping in from outside.
"It's important to me." she said softly.
"Hermione" he said simply "I nearly got down on my knees and begged her to tell me where you'd go"
"I see" Jessi said with a small nod.
"I'm going to take Lauren back up to the nursery, Call if you need anything" Carlene said, taking Lauren and disappearing into the kitchen.
"Jessi" Remus crossed the room quickly "I'm so sorry. I never should have accused you of anything."
"No you shouldn't have" she answered not meeting his eyes. " I need you to trust me. I've never given you a reason not to."
" No you haven't, except…" he trailed off.
"Except what?" she asked quietly.
"I hate to bring this up but you did admit to kissing Wood in his hotel room" Remus answered quietly.
"I did, because I didn't want to lie to you."
"Jessi, Do you want to go back to being with Wood?" he asked his eyes clouded over with pain.
"No, that's ridiculous." she looked up at him seriously.
"Is it….ridiculous I mean." he asked
"Even if I wasn't in love with you I wouldn't go back to Oliver. Ever"
"Y-y-y-you love me?" he stammered carefully.
"Of course I Love you. I already told you that. You're the one who never believed it." She said with a slight smile.
"Just hearing you say that…if I died right now I'd die the happiest man on earth." he smiled and kissed her softly.
"If you die on me I'll kill you" she murmured softly against his lips.
"But I'd already be dead" he joked.
"Then I'd bring you back to life and kill you again" she smiled and laughed softly.
"I've missed you Jessi. I love you more than you could ever possibly know. " he whispered against her lips before kissing her again
Carlene couldn't help but smile at the sight that greeted when she reached the landing above the Drawing Room. Her niece was situated in Remus' lap, their foreheads resting against each other, fingers laced together talking lowly. She continued her way into the room setting a now very awake Lauren on the floor. "I'm glad you two have patched things up" she said smiling at them.
"Hello Again, Carlene" Remus said looking over his shoulder at her.
"Remus, munchkin, I think…."
"JESSI" Carlene was cut off abruptly when Lauren caught sight of her cousin and ran over.
"Hi Lauren, did you have a good nap?" Jessi asked smiling.
"Yes" Lauren stopped midway to Jessi looking at Remus warily. "I don't like him." she said pointing to Remus and taking a step back.
"That's not very nice Laur, you don't even know him." Jessi said reasonably, glancing up at Remus with a small shrug.
"He made you cry. I don't like him" Lauren glared at Remus.
"Lauren, when was I crying?" Jessi asked carefully.
"When you came into my room earlier, after my bad dream" she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"You remember that?" Carlene asked shocked.
"Yes, mummy"
"Lauren come here sweetie." Jessi said motioning Lauren forward.
"huh uh" Lauren shock her head emphatically.
"Yes huh" Jessi grinned at her.
"Ok" Lauren rushed forward, and climbed into Jessi's lap. "I still don't like him"
"Well I like him lots" Jessi said ruffling Lauren's hair.
"Does he belong to you?" Lauren asked looking between them.
"Well…"
"Yes. I belong to Jessi, now and always." Remus said cutting Jessi off. Jessi smiled and buried her head in his shoulder momentarily before looking back at Lauren.
"If he belongs to you then I like him" Lauren said smiling at Remus and planting a wet kiss on his cheek.
They spent the rest of the afternoon in the Drawing Room talking and laughing. When the rain stopped Jessi and Remus took Lauren outside while Carlene took a Floo call from Penelope. They sat in the late afternoon light, looking out over the ocean, eventually Lauren came and nestled into Jessi's lap and fell asleep. Jessi and Remus sat for a while longer before Carlene came out. They said their good byes and both apparated back to Jessi's flat.
Jessi unlocked the door of the darkened flat and pulled Remus in behind her. She giggled softly as she turned to face him. She slid her arms around his neck kissing him. "Ah Ah" she said as he tried to turn on the lights.
"Jessi…" he groan , tightening his arms around her waist.
"Shhh…You'll wake Padma up" Jessi giggled into his neck.
"We'll have to take up quieter pursuits then won't we" he moved to the couch taking her with him. He situated both Jessi and himself carefully as he captured her lips.
The fire in the fireplace threw gentle orange light across the room, but neither Remus or Jessi noticed. They were lost to the world. Knowing only each other. Tentative touches, explorative tastes, the kind know only to new lovers, progressed to fervent kisses and passionate strokes.
At some point they moved into the bedroom. Dropping their clothing haphazardly on the floor as the tumbled into the bed. They moved together. Slowly at first, the speed and intensity slowly building. When they both collapsed breathing heavily, Jessi curled against Remus' side her head resting on his shoulder. Remus drew his arms tighter around her. They clung to each other softly. Each praying for morning to be kept at bay. Hoping against hope to remain in their secluded world.
A/N: Ok Ya'll Click it and send a review. -- WaterLili