Chapter 5: A Change in Love

Danae stormed deeper into the forest catching her dress on almost every plant and life form around. Running footsteps could be heard behind her as Remus tried hard to catch up, quickly she darted behind a tree and took a deep breath. Remus stopped on the other side and sighed as he closed his eyes in exhaustion. He knew he said something completely wrong and had to find her to apologise for his own feelings if not just for hers.

"Miss Felise? Are you still here? Miss Felise?"

He called through the trees trying not to disturb anything that might be sleeping but it was loud enough. Danae held her breath on the other side of the tree, tears had stained her face and her eyes were red it was apparent she had been crying. His words affected her more than she had anticipated. She let out a little gasp as she needed air and Remus turned quickly and stared at the tree.

"Miss Felise… I am sorry. Truly I am. I did not mean what I said nor the way it sounded. Forgive me? It seems all I have succeeding doing is creating a barrier between us rather than achieving a friendship."

He leant against his side of his tree and sighed as he rubbed his eyes, he had just left Neville where he had fallen and hadn't given him a second thought. Danae couldn't help but smile on the other side of the tree she hadn't exactly helped and her intentions weren't pure to begin with but things seemed to change over a couple of days.

"A Professor Student friendship I presume you mean? If you do then I'd say we have one of those sir after all you are stood talking to me through a tree."

She added as she leant her back against it and stared into the darkness. Remus sighed with happiness as she spoke, thankful that he hadn't been talking to himself and that she had seemed to be on talking terms with him too.

"You know I haven't had to run through these forests after somebody for a long time, since my own school days. James and Sirius would often want to play Hide and Go Seek in these woods."

His mind went through short captions of memories as he spoke and he even managed a chuckle at a few of them. He looked down at his clothes and noticed the hem of his trousers to be thick with mud and his shoes had also gotten extremely dirty, a few holes had appeared in the trouser legs and he just slipped his hands into his pockets without a care. Danae stroked out some creases in the dress that by now looked simply awful, ripped and tattered but she seemed to ignore it.

"I imagine that you three must have created quite a stir considering these forests are meant to be off limits. Which reminds me I must get back to the castle, I think I have stayed away for too long."

As she was about to step forward and away from the tree Remus appeared around its side, with his hands in his pockets, hair covering his eyes and a small smile upon his lips he looked like a schoolboy caught in a schoolboy act.

"Yes we should take you back but… one thing first Miss Felise. Do I have your forgiveness? I know I could not carry on if I think for one moment that I destroyed any chance of a friendship."

Danae looked up at him and stared into his eyes as he spoke, she knew she could never look at him as a Professor, she no longer wanted to. She melted into his eyes as she traced his face with her own.

"I forgive you but friendship isn't such a good idea Professor."

She said truthfully as she brushed passed him to walk towards the Castle. She pushed some loose hair behind her ear and lightly stepped through the roots. Remus stood staring at her back before shaking his head and rushing over to her. Grabbing her arm he spun her to face him and lifted her slightly to kiss him. She didn't move in his grasp nor did she resist instead she pushed into the kiss and deepened it. Eventually he let her go and she dropped to her normal stance, she looked at him speechless as he touched her face.

"I am sorry. I had to do that before I let go of what dream I had in me for a moment. Having to let you go when all I want is…"

He bit back his words as he dropped his hand from her face and straightened out, running a hand through his hair in an attempt to straighten it or at least tidy it up. His face looked that of someone who had just crushed there own fantasy or indeed there own reality. Danae shook her head; she couldn't believe what she was hearing or what she thought she was hearing.

"When all you want is what?"

She stepped forward slightly and looked up at him longingly.

"…When all I want is you."

His voice was shaky and didn't contain its usual confidence, he felt like a fool, he an adult telling a teenager that he is falling in love with her his mind was pounding and he still couldn't think straight. Danae placed a hand on his chest and tilted her head as she glanced up at his face; she stepped even closer and smiled up at him sweetly.

"Then don't let me go yet."

His eyes widened with shock at the feel of her hand on his chest, he hadn't realised he had been staring at for so long. He closed his eyes and bit his lip lightly as he tried to fight against his feelings but he knew he wouldn't win. He took her hand from his chest and held onto it softly. He returned her smile and looked down at her with adoration.

"If it were only that simple. I have made so many mistakes in my time here and I am not denying that this is one of them, but I do not regret it. However I must let it go."

He placed his hand on her cheek and ran and his thumb across her lips gently, her eyes seemed to gleam and he smiled as he stared down at her. He let go of her hand and dropped his from her face as he looked at her sadly. Danae sighed, as she knew he was right and smiled weakly.

"I should probably get back to the ball. After I fix my dress."

She smiled and took her wand from the hem of her dress and pointed it at herself.

"Repairo."

Her dress looked as good as new and she smiled broadly, she went to speak but couldn't find any words, and instead she began walking towards the forest clearing and back towards the castle. She had so many feelings rumbling around inside her head that she felt a headache coming on. Remus watched her walk off with a saddened expression, he had no choice but to let her go but he had no desire to. With a heavy sigh he headed back to where he had left Neville and tried to push his regrets from his mind. Neville was still laid in the exact same position that Remus had left him; he couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. He took out his wand from his inside pocket and pointed it at Neville.

"Wingardium Leviosa"

Neville's body rose from the ground and hovered for a little while before Remus began pushing him towards the way out of the forest. Remus pushed Neville all the way up to the Hospital Wing and placed him on one of the beds nearest the door. Sighing he walked to Madame Pomfrey's office and knocked upon it gently. He soon realised that she wasn't there and assumed that she must have gone down to the Summer Ball. He walked back to Neville after filling a glass full of water and placed it beside his bed.

"I apologise Mr. Longbottom, this was not how I expected the evening to turn out. I hope that for all our sakes you do not remember what happened this night."

He gave Neville on last glance as he headed out the door. As he walked his mind raced with thoughts and worries, if he did what he wanted he would surely lose his job and if he didn't do anything he could regret it. He needed time to think but now was not that time so he decided to head back to the Ball for the remainder of the dance.

Danae strolled back into the Great Hall as though she had never left. A few more people had congregated there than before and she was thankful to see somebody she knew. Pansy was stood next to the drinks table with Taylor and her boyfriend Blaise. Taylor and Blaise were stood holding hands and they seemed to be fawning over each other, which was giving Pansy a sickened expression.

"Some of us would like to sleep without anything nasty affecting it tonight… Think you can take your lovey doveyness over there?"

"It's a free country Park," Blaise retorted nastily. "And besides jealousy doesn't suit you"

Pansy rolled her eyes and looked around the room. They rested upon Danae who hadn't moved from the entrance she smiled and placed her drink upon the table behind her to make her way to Danae. Danae was stood at the entrance with a semi happy face but it felt so fake that it faded quickly. She smiled as Pansy approached but it wasn't her usual greeting smile.

"Hey Pansy, what's up?" She asked weakly.

"Oh nothing… Lover girl and boy over there have been over each other all night! It's enough to make the sane go crazy. What about you?"

Danae opened her mouth to answer just as the Hall doors swung open to reveal Remus walking through them. She looked at him and smiled, Remus turned slowly as he saw her and returned the smile. They stared at each other for a few lingering seconds before he walked towards Professor Sprout and Professor McGonagall who seemed to be deep in conversation. Danae watched him for a little while then turned back to Pansy with a renewed smile.

"Not much. Pretty uneventful night really."

Remus kept sneaking glances over at Danae every now and then but he realised he had to stop before he drove himself insane. He smiled as McGonagall and Sprout started up yet another conversation about the Pyrograecus plant.

"…Don't you think Remus?"

Professor McGonagall was staring at him as his eyes had wandered back to Danae. She smiled warmly and tapped his arm gently.

"Remus is something troubling you?"

He turned suddenly and shook his head. He smiled charmingly and ran a hand through his hair pushing it back out of his eyes.

"No Minerva. I just… I need to sit down, excuse me."

He bowed his head slightly and moved over to a table and chairs and sat down. Danae and Pansy had moved to the dance floor and were now dancing together, they both seemed to be having a good time and Danae had managed to push Remus from her mind. Jared Philips, a 7th year Slytherin, had walked up behind Danae as she danced and placed his arms around her waist. She jumped slightly and craned her neck round to see who it was. Danae and Jared had dated for a few months last year and she had dumped him because she caught him kissing Jessica Longmont in the common room.

"Are you going to dance with me or do I have to beg?"

"That depends on the begging."

Danae laughed and turned around as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted her off the ground and carried her over to another side of the dance floor. Pansy laughed and carried on dancing with a guy that was stood behind her.

"Jared put me down."

"As you wish Princess."

Jared placed Danae back down on the floor and smiled at her with a slightly sickening and overly charming smile. He placed his hands upon her hips and pulled her close to him swaying to the music that was being played. Danae didn't hate the boy but she didn't exactly call him a friend either, she smiled up at him and removed his hands from her hips deciding that dancing together was a bad idea.

"What's wrong Princess?" He asked as a grin spread across his lips. "You seem to be slightly reluctant to dance with the infamous Jared Philips, you were all over me the other week, what's changed?"

Jared stepped forward and brought her closer to him, Danae grimaced and pulled out of his arms. She couldn't believe he thought she was all over him, was he mentally deranged? She was usually all over everybody, that was how she was, and he was definitely not at the top of her list.

"Oh please… you couldn't get enough of it, you kept coming over to me and grabbing me. Who was all over who?"

Jared sucked on his teeth and rolled his eyes, he sighed and his smile faded,

"All I came to ask was are you going to dance with me? If not then I am wasting my time here aren't I?"

Danae shrugged and smiled weakly, she wasn't sure she wanted to do anymore dancing but he hadn't been too rude to her and she did class him as a semi friend.

"Alright…"

Jared smiled and took her hand as he led her to the dance floor. They stopped not far in front of where Remus was sat but Danae took no notice that he was sat there. Smiling she put her arms around Jared's neck and he replied by putting his on her waist. Remus looked up and noticed the pair together, his stomach twanged and he felt it rise to his throat. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, or maybe he didn't want to see what he was seeing, either way he couldn't take his eyes off the pair. Jared looked at Danae adoringly as they danced and smiled, this time he wasn't being his usual cocky self instead he was being the Jared she remembered.

"Danae, why did I ever let you go?" He asked with a short and hoarse voice.

"I don't know ask Jessica. You two seemed to have a good understanding of each other that night."

Danae looked at him with a raised eyebrow, she still hated that girl with an extreme passion and nothing was going to change that. She knew that if she were ever left alone in a room with her then she would still probably try and kill her.

"You know full well I only did that because you went behind my back with Adrian!"

"I what?" She laughed as she spoke. "I did no such thing, Adrian made that up because he wanted you to get angry with him so he had an excuse to fight you, and like a prat you actually fought him."

Jared's cheeks flushed a brilliant pink and his grin smile turned into a sheepish grin.

"Do you think you could ever… well …would you ever go out with me again?"

Danae looked at him, she had expected something like this but she realised how unprepared for it she really was. She had spent the hours before with her professor and here stood her former boyfriend asking her out again. She nodded slightly and smiled, she figured this way she could get over Lupin and pretend that nothing had happened at all.

"I could, but if you ever touch another girl whilst you are with me I won't be held responsible for what size box you end up in. Understand?"

Jared smiled broadly and leant down to her kissing her gently on her lips. Danae felt shocked as he kissed her and almost pulled away but she knew she couldn't. Remus watched them with wide eyes; he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Danae was stood no more than fifteen feet in front of him and she was in another mans arms kissing him. He knew he shouldn't feel this way but something inside him was kicking him deeply and he knew that he had made a mistake by ever getting himself involved. The problem now lay that he had gotten involved and he couldn't shake the feeling away no matter how hard he had tried. He dropped his head into his hands and closed his eyes, he wanted to leave the hall and forget but he had an obligation to fulfil and he had no choice but to stay and watch.

Naoni Lakota, a fellow teacher who had newly arrived to be the new NEWT level Transfiguration teacher, looked over at Remus and furrowed her brow as she saw him drop his head to his hands. The poor man looked so depressed that it was obvious he needed cheering up. She was an attractive 26-year-old woman with beautiful blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was a Metamorphmagus, a shape shifter, and frequently changed her hairstyle to suit her mood. Tonight however it was long and flowing, shaping her face and even brought out her eyes slightly more than usual. She walked over to him with a bright smile and took the seat next to him, since she had started at Hogwarts a few weeks back she had always found an attraction towards him but never showed it.

"Are you ok Remus? You seem a little less than your cheery self today."

Remus looked up at her and managed a very weak smile, he was in no mood for conversation but he was a genuine gentleman and to tell a lady to go away was not something he did.

"Is it that obvious? I must work upon that in that case." He said as he sat back in his chair placing a stronger smile upon his face.

"Only obvious to those who pay attention" She said softly.

"I take it in that case that you must be one who pays attention to people?" He said with a small laugh.

"Only to those who are worth my attention Remus."

Remus looked at her with tired eyes, he wasn't totally sure but it felt as though she was flirting with him. He had never been the one who was good with these things; in fact it was always James and Sirius in the group that got the girls attention. He smiled at her and felt his cheeks flush a tiny bit.

"And am I worthy of your attention?" He asked as he looked at her.

"More than worthy, would you care to go for a walk? I find these rooms so stuffy."

She stood up from her chair before Remus could answer and smiled at him sweetly. He too rose from his chair and she linked her arm through his. Unsure of whether or not he was doing the right thing he began walking with her out of the Great Hall.

Danae looked over at where Remus and Naoni were walking and felt a huge vat of jealousy fill up inside her stomach. She stopped dancing and smiled at Jared sweetly but it had an edge of fake ness to it.

"Sorry… I…Erm…I just need to go to the bathroom."

Danae began walking hastily towards the Great Hall doors leaving Jared stood in the centre of the dance floor alone. She left the Hall and began walking in the direction she believed Remus and Naoni might have taken; she looked around hastily for them. No matter how hard she tried to find a reason in her head for following him she couldn't come up with a valid point, despite this though she carried on searching. Eventually she found them stood next to a window along the Gryffindor corridor, they were deep in conversation and both of them seemed to be enjoying the others company. Danae looked on in envy as Naoni was obviously flirting, she had decided that she really didn't like that teacher. Unbeknown to Danae, Jared had followed her out of the Great Hall and down the corridor. He snook up behind her and grabbed her around the waist, she let out a small shocked scream that caused Remus and Naoni to rush to the source. Danae spun around quickly and looked at Jared slightly embarrassed, Remus rounded the corner with Naoni in tow and looked at both Jared and Danae in surprise.

"Miss Felise? Mr Philips? What are you both doing here? I believed you to both be in the Great Hall still." Remus asked politely as he looked at them both but lingered his gaze upon Danae.

"I was just looking for the… bathroom." Danae said weakly.

"The girls bathroom is back there Miss Felise. Surely you haven't forgotten that already?" Naoni commented as she stood next to Remus.

Danae looked up at Remus forgetting the other two were there for a second and then looked over at Naoni with a look of disgust upon her face. Jared had put an arm around Danae's waist again and just smiled at the two Professors without uttering a word.

"I am aware of that Professor Lakota. I merely took a wrong turn and somehow ended up here. You know how this castle can be, everything changes." Danae said with a hint of sarcasm to her voice.

Remus looked down at the two students and swallowed hard as he saw Jared's arm extend around Danae's waist. He didn't believe a word that Danae had said, the corridors rarely changed in this castle anymore, at least there hasn't been a record of a corridor changing since before he came to this school as a student.

"Miss Felise may I have a word?" He asked lightly trying to put a cool edge to his voice.

"Sure."

Remus smiled to Naoni and directed Danae into another corridor. Jared made to follow but Naoni began talking to him so he stayed back. As they rounded into another corridor Remus pulled open a door that led into an unused and empty classroom and closed the door behind them softly.

"What was the real reason that you were stood around that corridor Miss Felise?" His voice wavered slightly.

Danae stood with her back to him and looked around the old classroom as she tried hard to think of what it was she was going to say.

"I told you, I was looking for the toilet but the corridors decided to play a trick and I ended up in the wrong place." She didn't sound amazingly convincing but it was the best she could do.

"Strange that somebody who knows this school and its passageways almost better than myself could get lost along the way to the toilet. You know of a secret passage to the Office corridor, which I did not even know of, and yet you cannot find a toilet? I find this all a little hard to believe."

The strength had returned to his voice and he felt a little less shy about being around her again. His words were harsher than he had intended but even he did not appreciate being followed.

"What am I supposed to say?" She asked as she ran a finger across a table.

"How about the truth?"

"I saw you leave the hall with her and I was curious… as to what was going on."

Remus sighed and placed his hand over his eyes lightly as he realised what she meant. She had obviously gotten it all wrong and he knew that but she didn't.

"So you saw it fit to follow me? I did not think that it would bother you so that I left the Hall with Professor Lakota. After all you seemed quite at home with Mister Philips, your display of that was quite clear."

His voice had changed from strong to filled full of jealousy. Danae finally turned around, her eyes had narrowed and her fists had clenched slightly.

"What is that supposed to mean? And yes it did bother me, I see you leave with another woman moments after being with me."

"It means precisely what I said Miss Felise. As for leaving with another woman it is barely anything in comparison to what I had to watch, fawning over Mister Philips in front of my eyes. The kiss you shared must have been worth it all." Remus had allowed his voice to become filled with anger and this was not his usual approach to resolving matters.

"I was not fawning over him and for your information he kissed me. Besides it doesn't matter does it? I mean there is nothing to be jealous of if there is nothing between us right?"

Remus looked at her and dropped his head slightly. He turned around and grasped his hand around the doorknob tightly; he turned it but did not yet open the door.

"You are correct Miss Felise, there is nothing between us."

He pulled open the door and left the room pulling it shut behind him. Closing his eyes tightly he leant against the door in exasperation, he had been harsher than he had ever been before and even let his jealous side show through. Deep down he knew there would never be anything between them and there never could be but he still wished that there were. Jared appeared around the corridor and advanced upon Remus with a bright smile.

"Where's D?"

Remus pushed open the door behind him and began walking off as Jared stood in its frame, Naoni appeared around the corridor too and Remus stopped just in front of her with a smile on his lips. Danae emerged from the classroom and put her arms around Jared as they exchanged a short kiss, as they began walking she put her arm around his waist and he did the same. They passed the two Professors and Danae looked up at Remus with a soft expression, Remus returned her look and tried to smile but couldn't.

"Is something wrong D?" Jared asked curiously as he saw their exchange.

Danae looked back at Remus as they walked and smiled.

"Not anymore…" She sighed and turned back to face Jared. "Take me back I could use a drink."

Remus heard her words and frowned, he looked at Naoni and held out his arm trying hard to bring the smile back to his lips. Naoni linked her arms through his and smiled up at him brightly. He returned her smile and began the walk back to the Ball.