Notes: So, this is the last chapter until I get some feedback. Mainly because I have so little written for the next chapter, and I'm not inspired to write without reviews. There's a preview for what's to come at the end of the chapter, so if you like it, please let me know and I will continue.

Laelia sat in her office one evening going over the notes Dumbledore had given her. It had been a week since her encounter with Snape, and she still hadn't met Remus Lupin. She was beginning to think she would have to work on the curriculum herself, when she looked up from her papers to see a man dressed in tattered robes standing in front of her desk. Why hadn't she heard him enter?

Jumping up from her chair in shock, Laelia glared angrily at the man and demanded, "who are you and what are you doing in my office? And while we're at it, who told you to come in?"

The man smiled warmly, and replied, "Professor Dumbledore told me you would be expecting me - I'm Remus Lupin. Sorry if I startled you."

"A little late, aren't you?" she snapped irritably. The fact that he had managed to sneak into her office without her realizing it had put her in a foul mood, and gotten their relationship off to a rocky start.

"I apologize, Professor Wiltshire," he replied with a boyish grin. "What were you working on?"

"Pardon?" she asked, confusion written on her features - she hadn't been working on anything, she had been waiting for him to help her start.

Lupin gestured to the bundle of papers in her hands, his boyish grin growing larger and more mischievous.

"Oh," Laelia muttered, embarrassed, "I was going over the notes that Dumbledore gave me. It's a basic rundown of what levels he thinks the students in the different years are at and a few ideas - nothing too specific."

"May I have a look?" he asked, holding out his hand for the papers.

"Sure," she mumbled. "Why not?" Quietly she handed him the papers, and watched his thoughtful expression as he went over the papers.

"Have you any ideas for what to teach the students?" he asked as he finished reading Dumbledore's curriculum.

"Isn't that why you're here?" she sneered.

"Well, we're off to a great start, aren't we?" Lupin chuckled. Laelia merely raised an eyebrow and sat back down behind her desk, assuming an imperious air that rather reminded Remus of Severus Snape. "Albus didn't mention much about your qualifications, might I ask what they are? Perhaps that will give me an idea of how to help you."

"Let's say that I am well versed in the dark arts and countering them, and leave it at that," Laelia replied with a wicked smirk.

"Fair enough," he conceded. "Why don't we begin with me telling you what I taught the children when I was here, then?"

"All right."

Lupin then proceeded to tell her all about his lessons with the boggarts and grindylows and whatnot, while Laelia listened intently, interrupting only rarely with questions. She had heard about his private lessons with Harry, and decided to ask what he taught the Boy-Who-Lived, as it could be useful information no matter what side she chose.

A couple of hours later, Lupin finished explaining what he could remember of his lessons. "Remember: a lot of the children seem to respond better to practical lessons, so do try to have as many of those as possible."

"Do you think any of the students would be advanced enough for the patronus?" she inquired. By this time they were both seated on the same side of her desk, and speaking more amicably, though Laelia was still far from trusting him.

"Perhaps the sixth and seventh years," he replied uncertainly. "Start off smaller and see what they can do."

"All right," she agreed, nodding her head. "What made you leave Hogwarts, by the by?"

"I wasn't wanted here by some . . . among other things," he replied mysteriously.

"All right." If Lupin didn't want to answer, she wouldn't push him - she didn't care that much anyway.

"It's getting late," he muttered as he checked the clock in the corner. "Perhaps we could continue this tomorrow? Over a butterbeer and dinner at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade?"

Just then Laelia looked up and saw Snape standing in her doorway, and he didn't look happy to see Lupin.

"What in the name of Merlin are you doing here, Lupin?" he drawled dangerously.

"Albus asked me to help Professor Wiltshire with her Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons, Severus," Lupin replied tiredly.

"Over dinner?" Snape sneered.

Tension hung thick in the air as the two stared at each other for a long while - Snape with animosity, Lupin with uneasiness. "Maybe I ought to leave," Lupin suggested finally, then he turned to Laelia and smiled. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Wiltshire." And with that he left her office without another word.

"You ought to be more careful who you keep company with, Wiltshire," Snape growled.

"I'll keep company with whomever I choose, Snape!" she exclaimed as she pushed past him to the hallway. At a run she attempted to catch up with Lupin, who had gotten a considerable distance from her office in such a short time. "Lupin!" she called.

Upon hearing his name called, he turned and smiled at her. "Miss Wiltshire?"

"I'd be happy to join you tomorrow evening, Lupin," she said with a smile. While she didn't dislike Lupin, she still didn't completely trust him, so it was a shock to her that the smile wasn't entirely forced.

"Wonderful," he chuckled pleasantly. "I'll pick you up at your office at, say, four o'clock tomorrow afternoon? We can walk to Hogsmeade."

"That sounds terrific, Lupin."

"Call me Remus," he offered cheerily.

"Then, please, call me Laelia," she said amicably. She would show Snape just how she felt about his opinions on who she kept company with.

Preview of Chapter 5:

"Do you think you are ready, Professor Wiltshire?" he sneered as she took her seat beside him.

Laelia pursed her lips in irritation, then forced a sweet smile and replied, "why, yes, I do believe I am. Remus has been quite helpful this past week." The slight twitch at the corner of Snape's eye told her that the comment had hit its mark. Her smile became malicious at the thought of how she would be able to torment him in the future with his hatred of Lupin.

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