(12)The Triangle

Early the next morning, or rather, a few hours later, it was time to leave Grimmauld & return to Hogwarts. Everyone was back in their school robes, ready to apparate or portkey to the castle.

"What are you two giggling about?" Ron asked as he noticed Lupin & Harry standing by themselves, looking mischevious!

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Lupin yelped, his smile spelling the word "lie" all over his face!

"Uh-uh, sure!" Ron crossed his arms.

"Alright!" Harry sighed. "But don't tell her!"

"Oh, & leave Severus out of it, too!" Lupin cast a dark look to Snape's back. "Let's GO!" Lupin grabbed Ron & pulled him to a Portkey he was holding & the three of them beamed away to Hogwarts.

"Coming Merida?"

Merida glanced around & saw Mr. Weasley. "What are you smiling about?"

"No reason!" Mr. Weasley laughed. "But you have to get there right now!"

"Where?"

"Come now!" Mr. Weasley held out a Portkey & the two of them landed in front of Hogwarts' gates.

"& where's everyone else?" Merida looked around.

"They'll be here!" said Lupin. "We just left a little earlier to get something ready for you!"

"& here it comes now!" said Mr. Weasley. Around the corner came Harry & Ron in an open white sleigh pulled by Salem! Merida started giggling!

"OK stop!" Harry pulled the riens. Salem started trotting! "Hey! Stop! WHOA!" Salem skidded to a stop inches, in front of Merida. Ron jumped down beside Lupin as Harry grinned sheepishly! Harry climbed down & offered a hand to Merida. "Care for a ride?"

"Is it safe?" Merida laughed.

"You can drive!" said Harry.

"Wise decision!" Merida grabbed the reins as Harry lifted her up & climbed in after her. "Aren't you three coming?"

"Nope!" Ron said.

"We'll walk down!" said Lupin.

"Have fun!" Mr. Weasley waved them away.

The white sleigh was hardly visible against the fields of snow & the fluffy flakes falling slowly. Salem's black fur & golden horn was the only indication of movement! He had on a silver harness with brass buckles & a string of tiny bells that tinkled merrily with his pacing. Merida guided him easily down towards the castle. "Oh, Harry!" Merida lay against him. "It's beautiful!"

"Yeah, it sure is!" Harry said, though he was only looking at her & occasionally the black horse-back in front of them.

"I wish it could last longer!" said Merida as she noticed the castle begining to loom over them.

"Who says it can't?" Harry asked. "Until your father shows up, we can ride around the castle grounds!"

"Ooooo, you're bold?" Merida teased. "I like that!" She turned Salem around & headed down to the Quidditch Pitch. Merida suddenly gave Harry a wicked look. "Hang on!"

"Wha--AHHHHHHH!" Harry hung on for dear life as Merida commanded Salem into a canter! The sleigh zoomed forward! Merida laughed at him. "I can make him go faster?"

"Oh, no! This is fine!" Harry gulped.

"Scared, Potter?"

"N-n-n-no!" Harry finally got used to the swaying. "I can get used to this! How do you do that? I can't even make him stop!"

"Harry, you're talking to a girl who's being around horses since she was 5!" Merida laughed. "Here, you try! Just keep it steady!" She handed Harry the reins as Salem cantered across the grounds. "Hi, Hagrid!" she waved quickly as the passed the hut on the edge of the forrest! Hagrid waved back, laughing.

"I'm alright!" Harry said. "I can do this!" He turned Salem around & settled into a speedy canter back to the castle.

"No, Harry!" Merida yelped. "Horses! Running in the direction of barns! You lost him, Harry!"

Salem picked up his pace, ran for the castle, eyes on the Thestral barn. He sped up the hill, drawing the sleigh easily. Merida was laughing.

"Oh, no!" Harry suddenly yelped. "Everyone returned from Grimmauld & your father is staring at us!" The sleigh flew past, showering Professor Snape with tiny icicles of snow! "Ohhhhhhhh! Sorry, sir!" Harry managed to yelp as Salem turned the corner & disappeared out of sight! Snape just stood there & glowered, his black cape & hair now white enough for a wedding!

Salem entered the barn, dragging a white sleigh, a hysterically laughing Merida & a doomed Harry along with him! "Yeah!" Merida jumped off the sleigh! "Who's up for round two?! I'd love to do that to father again!"

"Oyyy!" Harry yelped as he gingerly stepped down. "From now on, I'll stick to traditional romances! Flowers & whatnot!"

"Oh, shush, Harry!" Merida laughed at him. "That was fun!" She unharnessed Salem from the sleigh & put him away. Harry magiced the sleigh & harnesses away.

"Ok!" Harry sighed. "Let's get this over with!"

"I'll just tell him I was driving!" Merida said. "After all, I was for a while!"

"Just not at that particular time!" Harry gulped. He looked oddly at Merida. "Are you trying to say I drive like a girl?"

"Oh, Harry!" Merida gasped for air. "I can't laugh anymore, my dear girly driver!" Harry rolled his eyes. "Maybe I can teach you how to control him?" Merida said when she finally put on a straight face.

"Snape first! Then MAYBE Salem!" said Harry.

Merida & Harry entered the castle. "I was waiting for you!" Snape glared.

"Now, father!" Merida warned. "I was just----!"

"Silence!" Snape snapped, shaking off some of the melting snow. Merida tried hard not to giggle. "JUST.........what did you think you were doing?!"

"Well, I just wanted to do something special for Merida," Harry began. "Lupin gave me an----------actually forget Lupin!" Harry yelped as he noticed Snape's face change at the very mention of the name!

"REMUS!!!!!!! GET OVER HERE!" Snape snapped as Lupin, unfortuntaly, just happened to walk by.

"Nice one, Harry!" Merida muttered.

"Why did you tell Mr. Potter here to use Holy City Jerusalem in a sleigh ride?" Snape snapped.

"Something special for Harry to do with Merida!" Lupin glared. "You gave her that unicorn, so let her use it!"

"Potter was driving it, you fool!" Snape snapped. "& he made that horse & sleigh shower me with snow! Hush Merida!" She had let out a laugh!

"Ohhhhhhhh! So THAT'S why you looked like you just stepped out of a shower!" Lupin laughed. "So sorry I missed that sight, Harry! Do it again someday!" Snape started growling low, but stopped when he remembered Harry & Merida were close by! "What was that, Severus?" Lupin raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing!" Snape snapped.

"It sounded like something to me?" Lupin fixed his eyes on Snape.

"It was nothing, I tell you!" Snape snapped. "Merida! Potter! Go to your Tower!"

"But....." Merida glanced at Lupin.

"It's alright, Miss Snape!" said Lupin, though he avoiding catching her eyes. "Just go!"

"No longer in denial, are you?" Snape glared at Lupin, once Harry & Merida were out of sight.

"So what?" Lupin snarled. "So long as Merida doesn't know, who cares?"

"I care!" Snape snapped. "I can barely stand to see her with Potter. I don't need you loving her!"

"So you would prefer me to hate her?" Lupin snapped. "Like I do you?" Snape growled again. "I'm sure Harry & Merida where wondering about that earlier!" Lupin said. "I told you that lycanthropy is impossible to hide!"

"Actually, Merida thinks it's just a bad habit I picked up from you!" Snape half-smiled. "She doesn't know!"

"Oh you picked up that "bad habit" from me, alright!" Lupin smiled unhappily back. Snape yanked his cape firmly around himself, making sure the wet snow sprayed Lupin, & left!

"That was hilarious!" said Breann.

"Yeah, seeing Snape getting snowwed up with that sleigh!" Cho laughed.

"I wanted to do it again, actually!" said Merida. "But I don't think Harry & Salem get along very well!" Merida & a few of her girlfriends were in the library later that day, catching up on their Christmastime apart.

"So, how did it go?" Lavendar cooed.

"Was it romantic?" asked Susan.

"Well, it was for me!" Merida laughed. "Poor Harry! I think he's mad at Salem right now!" All the girls started giggling.

"Shhhhhhhh!" came the usual hushes of others!

"What do you have there?" Susan suddenly asked.

"What?"

"This?" Cho pointed to the diamond necklace that Merida still had.

"Oh, that's Professor Lupin's present!" Merida took it off & handed it out for the girls to pass around. "These are from Harry!" Merida pulled off some earrings. They were also in diamonds! "The strangest thing, both Lupin & Harry gave me diamonds!"

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yeeeeeeeeaaaaahhhhh!" all the other girls suddenly rang out as one voice!

"What?" Merida laughed at them.

"Men only give diamonds to the girls they love!" Breann said.

"Yeah!" said Susan. "You're in a love triangle, baby!"

"Oh!" Merida scoffed. "I am not!"

"Oh come on Meri!" Cho laughed. "This necklace looks like its worth hundreds of galleons! Lupin's got a crush on you, the sly dog!"

"He does not!" Merida yelped.

"Look at it this way!" said Lavendar. "Why would Harry give you those earrings? They look pretty expensive too!"

"So?" Merida glowered, sightly bashful!

"Lupin's in love with you & so is Harry!" Cho stated matter-of-factly!

"Girl! Have you forgotten who my father is?!" Merida yelped. "He hates those two men with a passion. Lupin would be foolish to even think of love!"

"Love knows no bounds!" Cho laughed.

"Besides, Lupin's cute too!" Susan teased.

"So was Lockhart!" Merida defended. All the girls laughed! "It's Harry I love & for your info, this necklace originally wasn't meant for me!" Merida ignored their giggles. "Lupin said he had it for many years, ever since he was a puppy! It was meant for someone else that died!"

"Awwwwwww not that old line!" Cho cooed. "Ahem-mm" Cho did an impressoin of what she considered to be a typical guy! "I would really like to give you this. I had it for someone else but I think you're better!"

"Translates as:" Breann added. "Get in bed right now!" Everyone screamed!

"Shhhhhhhhh!"

"For Merlin's sake!" Merida laughed. "That would be furthest from Lupin's mind! He'd have Harry to deal with!"

"Sure, honey!" Lavender teased.

"Besides," Merida went on. "what if he lovebites?" That was answered by smothered giggles! "Ok, whatever!" Merida tried to quiet them. "Actually, I think Harry & Lupin planned it that way! To give me diamonds. Nothing special there!"

"What makes you say that?" asked Breann.

"Well, they planned the sleigh ride together!" Merida defended. "& Ron helped them! Really, I think Lupin is just giving Harry pointers on what to do with me! That doesn't mean he's in love with me!"

"Have it your way, Meri!" Cho said. "but dont say we didn't tell you so when you end up at the wedding altar someday...........with Lupin instead of Harry!"

"You girls are impossible!" Merida laughed. "Well, we'd better get ready for our first class tomorrow!" Merida got up & headed for the door.

"Sure thing!" said Susan. "By the way, it's Lupin's Dark Arts first thing!" Merida kept her eyes on the door leading out of the library as her girlfriends snickered behind her! She felt her cheeks go hot for a moment.

"Watch him!" Susan whispered to Merida the next morning in Lupin's DADA. "You'll see! He glances at you sometimes!"

"Probably because he's mad at me for whispering with you!" Merida glowered.

"No!" Susan snapped softly. "It's more then that, I kno----!"

"Miss Bones! Miss Snape!" Lupin's voice rang out suddenly through the room. "Please be quiet! You're in the middle of a test!"

"Told you!" Merida smiled wickedly at Susan!

"Miss Snape!"

"Sorry, sir" Merida yelped & focused on her paper!

"How does he do that?" Susan muttered. "He was all the way on the other side of the room!"

"Who knows?" Merida shrugged, hoping the conversation would end there!

"Honestly, must I take points from my own House?" Lupin warned. "& when will you ladies realise you have a werwolf in front of you? I may be human at the moment but I still retain my K9 sensiblities!" Lupin narrowed his eyes at Susan for a moment, before returning to his desk, but glanced away from Merida.

Susan glowered at being singled out! She quickly scribbled a note & slipped it to Merida before Lupin turned to face the class. See? Lupin didn't even look at you! He's bashful!

Merida rolled her eyes & wrote back: Get a life! Get 9 of them!

Susan tried not to laugh & sent back a final note: You're just as struck by him as Lupin is with you! You've forgotten wolves are dogs; not cats!

Merida went crossed-eyed for a moment at that! I'm not in love with him like that at all! Shut up Susan! Before I sic father on you! was her reply! Merida heard a soft snicker but no more.

Finally, that class was over! Merida was anxious to flee away from Susan! "Bones! Snape! Remain behind!" Lupin ordered. Merida & Susan glanced at each other & plopped back onto their seats, dejectedly. Lupin let out a long soft growl. "I don't like failing my students when they get good scores!" Lupin began. "You both passed this little quiz 100%! Now you mind telling me why?"

"Sir?" Susan gulped.

"You're.....a.......good Professor who teaches us well?" Merida stammered.

Lupin fixed his eyes on Susan. "No! You were passing notes for at least five minutes! I'm sorry, but I won't except cheating. You both will fail & retake that test, SEPERATLY! & I also hate to do this but 25 points each shall be taken!"

"No, sir! We weren't cheating!" Susan yelped. "We-We-We were just talking about something.....something--er--special!"

"Special?" Lupin laughed softly. "Special as in the correct answers?"

"No!" Merida yelped. "Something else!"

"Like what?" Lupin finally managed to look at Merida for a moment.

"Er---uh--well," Merida yelped. How could she tell him they were fantasizing about his love?

Susan started giggling uncontrollably for some stupid reason! "Nothing we can say!"

"Oh? Really?" Lupin smiled sweetly but evilly at her. "Well then, I'll just have to read them myself, won't I?" He held up the notes in his hand.

"No!" Merida pounced on him! "Give them to me! Please! We weren't cheating! It has to do with--with--with boys! We were talkng of--er---uh Harry!"

"Yes!" Susan agreed. "Rather sexy, I might add!" Merida cast her a demonic look! "Please don't read them! They're--uh--personal!"

"So explain to me why you just can't talk to Harry himself afterward?" Lupin asked.

"Because it has to do with his Christmas present!" Merida yelped. "I forgot to give him one because I was-----er-----too worried about you & father fighting!"

Lupin sighed. "Alright then! I'll let you go this time! But if I EVER catch you two passing notes again, I'll have you expelled!" He handed the notes to Merida. "Funny thing though, I saw you give Harry SOMETHING on Christmas!" Lupin left them with that, smiling wickedly!

"Rather sexy?" Merida snapped when Lupin was gone. "Susan you idiot! What if he did read them? I would have killed myself if he did & save Voldomort the trouble! Rather sexy!"

"I've heard werwolves are rather passoinate lovers!" Susan teased.

"Shut up!" Merida yelped. "I'm happy with Harry! Now let's drop this!"

"Suit yourself!" Susan muttered. "Just ask him!"

"Yeah right!" Merida scoffed. "I'm more interested in what he & father are practically murdering each other about! & I'll know in a month!"

"A month?" Susan asked. "Full moon? You think your dad is a werwolf?"

"No not that!" Merida said. "I'll just know in a month!"

"Ooooooooohhhhh you're going to get all Veela-istic on Lupin, aren't you?" Susan teased.

"Will you be quiet!" Merida snapped. "Let's get to father's class."