-No matter how you push me away
-I've known right from the start
-That you're the only one for me
-The Sovereign of my Heart
Anon
CHAPTER ONE: HOMECOMING
-13 Months Later-
It was a day very much like the one on which he had left, just over a year ago. Remus smiled disbelievingly of his luck, he had been overjoyed when Dumbledore had sent him the letter asking him to come back, although there was more than one reason behind this. But Remus didn't care about the circumstances, he had felt wanted, a feeling he was quite unused to and it made him feel all tingly inside.
He was so lost in his thoughts, that he didn't notice the other person hurrying up the corridor until it was to late -BANG!- they collided and a sound of books hitting the ground filled the air. "HEY! Watch where your going will you" snapped an irritated voice. Remus sighed, but felt a smile creep on his face "Why hello Minerva, it's just wonderful to see you to" he responded sarcastically, his smile getting ever wider. Minerva's head shot up and a look of complete shock was etched across her face, she had apparently been so busy trying to collect her books she hadn't even noticed who had bumped into her. "Remus...." Minerva said, her voice giving slightly. Remus laughed at the look on her face "No it's the tooth fairy" he joked "Of course it's me." The other Professor rolled her eyes that was one thing she always despised about him, he was always so damn cheerful. "Dumbledore told us you were coming back" she said lightly "He just forgot to mention when."
Remus laughed, was she actually attempting to humour him. An odd feeling came over Remus, it was like he was meeting her for the first time again, when he was the scared first year and she was the strict commanding fifth year. Minerva's steely composure quickly returned and she mentally scolded herself for letting her guard drop slightly. "Er.. Remus, I'd love to stay and chat but I have a ton of work to do. And I'm sure the headmaster would like to speak to you" she said, her usual sharp tone returning. Remus nodded thinking 'Typical Minerva.... Only concerned with work.'
The two of them parted and Remus headed toward Dumbledore's office, as he approached he could hear quiet muttering inside but he couldn't make out what was being said. He waited a moment and then knocked on the door, waiting for the inevitable "Come In!" to echo from inside the room. Remus opened the door tentatively and walked in standing close to the doorway. The Headmaster looked up at his visitor and a broad smile appeared on his face "Hello there Remus nice to see you, I wasn't expecting you so soon." Remus smirked wryly " I gathered that, Minerva almost died when she saw me" and he reaccounted his colleagues 'warm' welcome. Dumbledore laughed aloud " You know what Minerva's like, though I suppose it must have been quite a shock." Remus nodded in agreement, recalling the look on her face when he had bumped into her, "I'm in the same room as last time am I headmaster?" he questioned wanting to get settled in. Dumbledore nodded his eyes twinkling merrily, Remus smiled and turned to leave. "Oh and Remus..." the headmaster called, Remus turned back to face him "Welcome home." Remus said nothing in reply, but Dumbledore understood.
He left the office feeling totally at ease, walking down the corridor Remus was again lost in his thoughts, when for the second time that day he collided with someone and it happened to be the same person. "Oh for Gods sake not again!!" groaned Minerva, pulling herself up from the floor. Remus smirked and laughed " You should really watch where your going Minerva" he said, glee dripping off every word. She glared at him "I could say the same about you Remus, yet again away in Gaa-Gaa land" Minerva said coldly. Sighing, she began to pick up her impossible amount of books. Remus bent down and began to help her " You know Minerva" he mused " You could just, not carry as many books" Minerva glared at him again but this time her eyes softened. Remus smiled at her "You know, we really should stop meeting like this" he joked. Minerva's infamous temper rose and she fixed him with her steely gaze "Remus Lupin" she snapped "If I didn't know you any better, I'd say you purposely planned to bump into me!" her voice was icy, but even Remus noticed the uncomfortable look in her eye however slight it was.
"Here let me help you" said Remus, taking some of the books from Minerva's arms "You'll only bump into someone else, and someone who probably isn't as understanding as me." Minerva tried to protest but Remus had already began to walk down the corridor, leaving Minerva standing there feeling VERY annoyed at herself. The pair reached Minerva's office and she fumbled around in her pocket looking for the key, when she eventually found it she opened the door and turned to Remus. "Er.. Thank you.. " she said uncertainly, Remus smiled and dipped in a mock bow "Anything for a damsel in distress" he called cheerfully. Minerva rolled her eyes and sighed exasperatedly "Since when have I been one of those?" she asked feeling her temper rising, he always knew just how to wind her up. "Well always a damsel" Remus replied, wondering just how long her had before she cursed him "And one in distress..... Oh about twenty five minutes." Minerva's face was unreadable "Well Mr Lupin" she said coldly "Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't damsels supposed to be silly girls who sit around brushing their hair all day, waiting for some dumb Prince....... " She trailed off and Remus looked at her, wondering where this was going. Minerva stopped a moment and then started again "Because if they are, I, am most certainly not one... Now if you'll excuse me I have a lot of work to do" and she promptly slammed the door shut, in his face. Remus stared at the door a moment and laughed softly "Somethings never change" he muttered, before stalking off toward his office.
Inside her room Minerva was fuming. 'That man is the most insufferable person I have ever met!' she thought furiously, and she vented some of this anger by throwing a pillow, full force at the wall. Minerva calmed quickly and began to work, but found her concentration somewhat broken. Finally she gave up completely and lay on her bed pondering her conversation with Remus. 'A damsel' she thought and then laughed out loud, "Really the rubbish he comes up with" she muttered, but then fell silent. Minerva felt the embarassment again, there had been something else she had wanted to say when describing damsels 'They're beautiful.' She sighed sadly and looked around her room, the only reason she hadn't said it was because she had been scared of him ridiculing her. At that thought Minerva stopped herself, since when had she been concerned about what other people thought of her, since when had she been concerned about what Remus thought of her. After a moments deliberation she decided 'Never!' Minerva suddenly felt drained and she curled up on her bed and fell asleep.
Remus too was thinking about the conversation with Minerva. He felt oddly guilty for putting her on the spot like that, he hadn't meant to, he had only been joking about. But Remus could tell Minerva hadn't said everything she had wanted to, he had known her to long to doubt his instincts about her. Even though she had kept her shrewd defence up he could tell that something he had said, had bothered her. Remus gave a deep sigh and sat down at his desk, he just knew Minerva was going to hold this against him for a LONG time, if anyone knew how to hold a grudge it was her. Laughing a little, Remus set about his work thinking 'Lets wait and see.'
Remus awoke the next morning with a stiff neck, and mentally cursed himself for falling asleep at his desk. He sat up and pulled of his work glasses which were dangling from one ear. Rubbing his neck he began a search for a clock, he had no idea what time it was and was suprised it hadn't woken him up, he was sure he had set it. Remus soon found the required item and jumped up when he discovered the time "Oh No! I'm gonna miss breakfast!" he groaned sprinting for the door. Running down the corridor several thoughts ran through Remus's mind, generally sounding like this 'Oh I'm such a prat, over sleeping on my first day back!' Skidding into the hall Remus realised he was too late "Ah man!" he and his stomach groaned. He sat down at one of the long house tables and promptly began banging his head on it "Stupid -bang- Alarm -bang- Clock -bang- Not -bang- Waking -bang - Me -bang- Up -bang-."
He stopped after a moment, hearing laughter behind him. Now feeling like the worlds most colossal prat, Remus turned and faced the amused person behind him, it was Minerva. "Oh please don't stop on my account" she said with amused venom, it was clear she was still annoyed about yesterday "I was hoping it would knock some sense into you." Remus let out a groan and let his head drop to the table with an extra loud -BANG!- Minerva rolled her eyes and sat down beside him "Stop that, I was only joking" she said, resisting the urge to yank up his head by the hair. Then Minerva warmed a little and pushed some toast toward him "Here" she said "Have some of this, you look starved." Remus gratefully accepted it, he hadn't eaten in over twenty four hours and so quickly devoured the first piece "Er.. thanks" he whispered, giving her a little smile. There was a brief awkward silence between them, which Minerva chose to break "So Remus... Why so late?" she asked. Remus sighed "I thought THAT was obvious" he said dryly "Since you were listening to me 'Knocing in some sense' as you so gracefully put it" there was annoyance in his tone and this amused Minerva, for once she had annoyed him. He snatched another piece of toast from the plate and Minerva smiled " I heard some thing about an alarm clock but not much else, that was overshadowed by bangs" her voice was light and airy.
After another silence Minerva rose wanting to leave, she still had a lot of work to do. As she walked toward the door Remus called out to her, 'Oh What Now!' she thought savagely, whirling around and fixing Remus with her penetrating glare. Remus looked very uncomfortable "Er.. well.. I" he stuttered aimlessly "Well.. I.. er wanted to apologise for last night.. I could tell I was making you uncomfortable.. so I'm er sorry" his voice was nervous but full of sincerity. Minerva's glare dropped and she looked at him surprised, she hadn't been expecting that. All she could do was answer him with an "It's okay" before turning around and fleeing the hall, her face flushed with embarassment.