A/N: None of these characters are mine except the obvious. The Harry potter characters belong to the amazing J.K Rowling. Please R&R.

Chapter 9: Feelings

Laura stepped out of the fireplace and was met by the twinkling blue eyes of the headmaster.

"Ah, Laura, you're back. I started to think that you had gotten out at the wrong grate," he chuckled. "I'll have the Ministry connect your fireplace to the Floo Network tomorrow."

"Thank you, Headmaster," Laura replied. "Well, goodnight, sir," she said as she stepped out of the office, down the spiral staircase, past the golden statue, and down the hall. Turning the corner, she collided with a massive wall of black that knocked her to the floor below.

"Watch where you are going, Professor Jones," a silky voice hissed.

Laura looked up to see Professor Snape towering over her. She picked herself up and stood in front of him. "I was, you just happened to be in the way Professor," she hissed back. Laura turned her back on him and continued down the corridor.

Snape stalked after her and in one swift movement he grasped her shoulders and slammed her into the corridor wall, his menacing black eyes burning a hole into her own. She let out a yelp of pain, but Snape just tightened his grip on her. Laura had never been one to make someone so angry, but this man was furious and it frightened her to the very core.

"I'm warning you, Professor,"he spat, "get in my way again, and I'll make your life such a living hell that you'll beg me to end it." With that, he released his death-grip from her shoulders, turned, and sweep away down the hall, vanishing in the shadows.

Laura slid down the wall and gripped at her knees. She pulled them as close to her as she could as she buried her face in them. She was breathing in deeply to try to calm her nerves but was failing miserably. Tears were welling up in her eyes, but she wouldn't give Snape the pleasure of hearing her sob. Laura stood and supported her weight on the wall. She was in pain, no doubt about that, but she nonetheless walked slowly back to her room.

After what seemed like a lifetime, Laura approached the portrait that guarded her rooms. Muttering the password, she entered and ran straight to the bedroom, collapsed on the bed, and cried in agony and fear until sleep kindly took over her.

She woke to the early morning sun shining on her face through the windows. While lying on her bed, Laura thought of what happened last night; his black eyes full of furry and hate, his vice grip on her shoulders, the force behind his shove. ' How could someone have that much hate for one person?' she thought sadly.

Laura decided that a nice, long, hot bath would help to calm her nerves clear her mind. Filling the tub, she added her favorite oils – eucalyptus and spearmint. Shrouding off her robe, she stepped into the tub and sat down to let the steamy aroma engulf her. Taking a nearby washcloth, she lathered her body with a moisturizing, fragrance-free soap. When she reached her shoulders, she grimaced at the sight; Large, black and blue bruises marked a pair of blotches on each side. Rinsing off, Laura got out of the tub and reached for her wand. She did a cosmetic charm on the bruises and got dressed. Not wanting to go down to breakfast, she called for a house elf.

"Professor Jones called for Dobby?" he chirped upon appearing in her room.

"Yes, Dobby. I was wondering if I could get some coffee and toast? If it's not to much trouble?" she asked with a faint smile.

"Oh no, no trouble at all," he squeaked. "Dobby be right back."

"Thank you, Dobby." With a 'pop' he was gone. He soon returned with a tray of toast, butter, blackberry jam and a pitcher of freshly brewed coffee. He set them on the coffee table, bowed, and then was gone.

A knock came at the door while Laura was finishing her second piece of toast. She walked over and opened the door to be met by broad smiling Remus. "Oh, hello, Remus. Please come in," Laura greeted with a smile in return. "So, what brings you her? Do you need help with something?" she asked curiously.

"Well, no, uh..actually, since you weren't at breakfast, I thought I would come up and see if you were alright."

"Yes, I'm fine. I was just feeling a bit..under the weather, that's all."

"Oh..Well, I could ask Severus to.."

"No! Uh.. That's alright, I'm fine now," she eagerly interrupted.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, positive," she said, giving Remus a reassuring smile.

"Alright..We have a..er..staff meeting pretty soon..May I escort you?" Remus asked, extending his arm.

"Alright, let me get my cloak." Laura walked into her bedroom and opened the closet to get a robe. She sled a moss green robe over her shoulders and shuddered at the pain it caused. The pain had increased since that morning and was near unbearable. When the pain ceased after a few moments, she walked back into her living room to see Remus waiting at the door for her. Reaching him, he offered his arm again and she gratefully took it and together they set off for the staff room.

Severus sat in his office with a bottle of Ogden's Fire Whiskey in hand. "That bloody chit! Who the bloody hell does she think she is?" he pondered aloud as he downed a shot.

"She has no idea what she's gotten into." Pouring another shot of whiskey, he downed the contents and slammed the glass down on his desk. Sliding back his chair, he grabbed his cloak and started for the staff room.

"Damn staff meeting! Every bloody damn year, same talk, everyone happy," he muttered on his way.

Entering the staff room, he went to take his usual seat, which was normally by Professor Vector, but it was occupied now by none other than Professor Jones – with Remus at her side.

"Hello, Severus! Nice of you to join us," Remus chirped.

"Let me remind you, Lupin, that you are no longer a staff member thus are not required to be at these meetings, and that I will gladly remove you," Snape snarled, glaring at him with his blood shot eyes.

"Been drinking again, have we, Severus?" Remus asked sarcastically.

"As a matter of fact, I have." he hissed so softly that Remus had to read his lips to understand.

Severus continued to glare at Remus but soon turned his attention to Dumbledore as he came in, followed by the rest of the staff. Out of the corner of is eye, he saw a movement that surprised him. Remus moved his hand to rest affectionately atop of Laura's to give her hand a reassuring squeeze, but she looked somewhat uncomfortable. Severus raised an eyebrow at this.

"Good, she deserves to be uncomfortable," he thought. Dumbledore interrupted his train of thought by clearing his throat.

"Well, now that everyone is here, let's begin." Snape knew this speech backwards and forwards and felt no need to know it from side to side as he began to think of other things.

Once the meeting was over, the staff separated and went off to prepare for the students and to finish their class schedules. Remus insisted he escort Laura back to her chambers. They enjoyed light conversation down the halls until they reached her chambers. She whispered the password and said goodbye. As she turned to enter, Remus gently took hold of her arm and pulled her to him. His mouth meet hers in a one-sided, passionate kiss.

Laura wasn't expecting anything like this to happen. She was confused and dazed until her wits came back to her. She struggled against him and eventually pulled herself free. She raised her hand and, with a swift motion, slapped him square across the face.

"What's gotten in to you lately?" she asked in anger and confusion. "First, you're escorting me around the castle, then you're holding my hand, and now this. Have I been sending you the wrong messages or something? If I have, then I'm terribly sorry." Laura paused to think of the right words to say. "Remus, ever since I met you, you've been nothing but kind to me, and I like you, I really do..just not like that – not the way you want me to, and I'm truly sorry that I can't return the feelings you so clearly have for me."

"No," Remus said, shacking his head. "I should be the one apologizing to you. I pushed this on you. There's probably someone else and I…"

"Remus, no, it's not that. It's just that I can't return the feeling that you want me to," Laura said gravely.

"I better leave then..I think I've worn out my welcome."

"Remus," she called, but he wasn't listening as he briskly walked away.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

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Thank yous go to my beta, Kim, and all those who have reviewed