Love takes off masks that we fear that we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.

James A. Baldwin

Chapter 5- Touching Old Wounds

Misty looked up in the pale blue sky to see that the sun was high in the sky. It would be near to one o'clock soon and she didn't want to be late for her and Lupin's lunch. She really hoped he would be paying because she hadn't the strength to go back to her room. Plus, she still wasn't sure that the men who had been after her wouldn't be there waiting for her. She was almost certain they were death eaters. The last thing Misty needed was to get involved with a group of those shady characters again after fighting to escape their grasp. She had been in the dark side of things for far to long.

Misty reached out to tug on the robes of an older man with a little white beard. He turned and looked at her kindly. She liked the way his face looked, it gave her confidence to ask him what time it was.

"Sir, can I bother you for the time?" she asked.

"Why it is one fifteen, young lady." he returned with a smile.

"Thank you." she said, getting up to rush into the crowd that seamed to have gotten larger as the day had gone by.

She was late and she didn't know what Lupin would think of this. Hopefully he wouldn't just leave, disgusted with her. She knew quite a few people that would do that but they were not exactly easy going folks. She ran through the cobble stone streets knocking over cauldrons and leaping over small children. To a bystander she might have looked like the devil himself was after her. While she ran up a small hill, that felt like a small mountain, she saw Asgoth's Street Shop in the distance and raced toward it. She skidded to a stop right in front of Lupin who steadied her. She leaned her arm on his shoulder while she caught her breath.

"Sorry......I'm late.....time got......the best....of me." she said trying to put on a winning smile.

"Don't worry about it." he said.

"Shall we?" she asked, taking his arm to lead her to where their destination might be.

"Yes, yes. I figured why not have lunch at my place since it would be cheaper that way. Sound good?" he asked.

"Your place, huh? I see where your going Lupin, you scoundrel. But I do agree with you that it would be cheaper."

However unprofessional this meal was turning out to be she couldn't say no to a free meal. Plus at his house, he just might be more open to questions about Black. She only hoped that he would not get the wrong idea and try to kiss her or something. The last thing she needed was an unnecessary romance. Especially with a wanted murderer's friend.

Remus Lupin led her to a book shop and opened the door to her. When they both got inside he walked over to a fireplace and beckoned her to follow. He grabbed a fistful of floo powder from a jar by the hearth and threw it in the fire that was going. The flames turned green and rose higher. He stepped in and gave Misty a wink.

"687 Frog Pond Village!" he yelled and disappeared from sight.

Misty stepped hesitantly toward the giant emerald flames and stepped in the flames. She felt the familiar warm feeling as she tried to remember the address.

"687 Frog Pond Village!" she exclaimed.

Misty began to spin rapidly and saw the many fireplaces sweep past her. When she at last stopped she fell forward into a room filled to the brim with books. Lupin caught her just before she fell to the ground. She lifted up her blues eyes to his brown ones and she could see the kindness behind them.

"So this where you live, right?"she asked looking the place over.

"Yep, this it. It's not much but I do what I can." he answered.

"Hey, I live in a room in the Leaky Cauldron that has a bathroom that looks like could be classified as a crime scene." she said laughing.

Misty lifted her eyes to his deep brown eyes that conveyed an undercurrent of emotion. She had never seen a man with kinder eyes. She felt like he was the equivalent of a good book and a soothing bath. She thought that he could make a woman very happy. Remus Lupin was the personification of cozy comfort.

"Shall we?" he asked gesturing towards a small round table with two wooden chairs at each side positioned in front of the only window in the room.

Misty walked over to delightfully worn table in interest. She loved how everything in this room looked like it had been used for many years. It was warm and inviting in a mother's favorite recipe way. She was not ashamed to say that it gave her a fuzzy feeling inside. Is this how other people live, she asked sitting down at one of the chairs.

"You look like you've never seen a table before." Remus said, pulling her out of her quiet longing.

"I like your place." she said looking once more at his flat, "I like your life."

"Well, I'm ready to share." he said jokingly with a smile.

He sat down in the opposite chair. They just sat there with nothing really to say for a few moments. It was nice not to have to talk for once. To not to force the conversation. Remus wave his wand and a plat of sandwiches appeared on the grooved table. She reached forward slowly and picked up a sandwich carefully. She leaned back and ate it thoughtfully. Lupin seemed to find this fascinating as he continued to star at her for a few more moments before also collecting a sandwich also.

This simple exchange continued for how long neither knew. After the small lunch was finished Misty leaned back in her wooden chair and looked at Lupin with interest. What a fascinating man, she thought. To be perfectly honest, she had never met anyone who didn't put up a front just to keep the conversation flowing. She could see him reading the newspaper with some classy woman. Occasionally asking how she is or what she is reading. Misty sighed inwardly at what a strikingly beautiful scene it really was.

"So how have you been since school?" she asked.

"We went to school together?" he asked.

"Yes we did though I wasn't exactly what you would call popular. I don't think you ever really talked to me. I was a bit of a strange girl."

"That was different time in my life, you know." he said with a look of reminiscence.

"As it was mine."

"To answer your question in all honesty. I've kind of jumped around a bit. I did teach at Hogwarts for a while though."

"Oh really! That must have been an interesting experience teaching at the place you went to school. I used to think I could be a teacher but after all these years I just don't know. I've really chosen an unorthodox road in my life." she replied sadly.

"You should do it."

"I don't think so. It's a little late." she relied quickly.

"No, really, You should do it if you feel that it is something that calls to you. I believe in doing what makes you happy." he said passionately.

"Thanks for the advice but I think I'm quite set at where I'm at. At least for a while." Misty said.

"What exactly do you do?" he asked.

"I'm a freelance auror working fo the Ministry right now." she answered.

"Would I be too forward if I were to ask what you are working on at the moment." he asked clearly interested.

"Actually I'm on the Sirius Black case." she replied delicately.

"Oh." Remus paled slightly at her answer if that is possible.

"You were friends during school, right?" she asked hoping he wouldn't get up and kick her out of his place.

"Yes." he said very slowly.

"Mabie you could give me a run down of what kind of a guy he was." she said pulling out her parchment of notes. Remus didn't say anything, he just stared at the parchment and quill in her hands.

"Is this ok?" she asked waving her quill in the air. He nodded.

"Um, I don't really know what to say. He was always cracking some kind of joke or doing a prank. He was really a great guy. But I'll be the first to say he was hot headed. It was really his only downfall. I mean sure he had his fair share of fights and such but he wasn't a blood thirsty murderer or anything. I knew him since my fist year in school and I'll be damned if someone says that he's this evil man." he said with anger flaring up in his brown eyes.

The curtain of silence that fell upon both of them, wrapping them up, and nothing could be said.

"You're a good looking guy, Remus. Do you know that?" Misty lifting the veil of silence that was threatening to choke them both. Remus grinned at her.

"That was random."

"I know." she said also smiling, "Let's not talk about my work."

Remus looked over her, taking all of her in. Misty liked the way she felt talking like this.

"So do you have a name bag lady?" Sirius asked charmingly.

"Well, I'm beginning to get rather attached to Bag Lady, but my name is Misty Lewis. You really should know at least my last name since we've had this class together for the last nine months. Tut, tut, what a disappointment." she replied jokingly.

Sirius laughed.

"Misty? Misty? Are you alright?" Remus asked. Misty shook her head.

"You not alright." he said beginning to get up.

"No, no, I'm just tired that's all. Listen I've really ought to be going. I fear I may have taken up to much of you time." she said while getting up from her seat.

"No you haven't. Stay for dinner won't you. I'm not much of a cook but I try." he said with hope.

"I really need to be going. Thanks for the offer. Mabie I'll take you on that later." she said.

Misty got all the way up and walked over to the fireplace which was serving as one of the many book stands. She turned around to see that Remus was right behind her. She leaned forward to give him a hug and he made a move to kiss her on the cheek. She felt his soft lips brush up against her cheek and her stomach gave a flip flop.

"What are you talking about Misty? How exactly did he hurt you? I don't see any bruises but I can tell by the look in your eyes that something happened." Sirius asked tenderly and climbing up the stairs to hold her arms as if to keep her from falling.

Misty started to cry once more but did not divulge the reason for her pain. He wiped her tears with his fingers and he leaned forward to brush his lips on hers. She responded by pulling his head closer and deepening the kiss. It was as if he had entered her soul and risen a bit of her pain away. She broke away suddenly and stared at his beautiful face before jogging up the rest of the stairs.

Misty gently gave Remus's chest a soft push and turned around. She could feel herself wanting to cry though she wasn't quite sure why. What was she doing. Reminiscing about things that happened sixteen years ago. What ever it was it was unnerving her and breaking down the wall she had. She grabbed a handful of floo powder and tossed it into the fire.

"I'm sorry for being so rude. We should do this again." She said over her shoulder and walked into the green flames of the fireplace.

Disclaimer- I own nothing.

A.N.- This chapter took a while to get out. Procrastination is a pain the butt. i want to thank my reveiwers.

Also, Misty didn't recognize Remus at first because the last time she saw him he was seventeen.He's changed a bit since then. Plus, it's been a while since she has been anyhwere near London.