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Chapter 5

"Headmaster? I need to speak with you later." Remus told Albus Dumbledore.

"Certainly, professor." Dumbledore said kindly. "You look worried. Is anything the matter?" He added after he noted the concern in Lupin's eyes.

"I'm not sure." Remus answered truthfully.

"Come to my office after classes today then." Albus said as the bell rang.

It was long day for Remus. He hadn't slept last night because he was up wondering if he should say anything to Dumbledore about the woman hiding in the Shrieking Shack.

Even now he was torn. Truth be told, when he wasn't worried about telling Albus, he was dreaming about kissing Ariana. She seemed harmless. They had really clicked yesterday and he felt as if he had known her for years. They had talked about everything from personality traits to quidditch to spells to gardening and she had hung onto every word as if committing it to memory.

But as he well knew, looks are very deceiving. So he had decided to tell Dumbledore. Better safe than sorry, he kept telling himself. He still had guilt clawing at him though. I don't owe her anything, he repeated in his mind to ease his conscience. She's a stranger you don't even know.

But you'd like to, he admitted to himself as he made his way to the Headmasters office. And this definitely won't put you in the I'm-hot-for-you category.

He rapped softly on Dumbledore's office door before letting himself in.

"Ahh. Remus. Do come in and have a seat."Said Albus, proffering a chair. "Lemondrop?"

"No thanks." Remus replied when he had made himself comfortable. Well as comfortable as I can be feeling this inexplicably nervous, he thought.

"Well then, how can I help you Professor. I must say you look very troubled indeed." Dumbledore asked quietly.

"Albus I went to the Shrieking Shack as usual during the full moon and when I returned to my own body I found a woman in the Shack." Remus spat out quickly.

"Interesting." Dumbledore pondered as he pressed his fingertips together. "Did you speak to this woman?"

"Yes sir." Remus replied.

"Why was she there?" Albus asked.

"She was living there."

"Living? In the Shrieking Shack?"

"More interestingly than that Albus, she had been staying in the forest....without a wand." Remus said.

"Fascinating. She was staying in the forest unarmed? Where was her wand?" The headmaster inquired.

"Wouldn't tell me. Just said that she didn't own one." Remus said.

"Is she a witch?" Dumbledore asked.

"Claims to be."

"Where was she from?"

"Couldn't get that out of her either sir. She's highly guarded with information. Almost abnormally so." Remus shared.

"Is she there now? Did you leave her at the Shack?"

"No. She wanted to buy a wand, so we went to Ollivander's. Then I took her to The Leaky Cauldron and got her set up with a room.

"Excellent Remus."

"Albus, there is something else. She had a very large amount of muggle money. I took her to Gringotts to get it switched to wizard money. She probably has more money than the Minister of Magic."

"Provocative. What is this woman's name Professor?" Albus asked curiously.

"Ariana Grant." Remus provided.

Dumbledore repeated the name thoughtfully. "It sounds familiar. I can't quite put my finger on it at the moment."

"I wasn't sure if I should burden you with it or not, Headmaster. Maybe she's another one of those muggle reporters who are always finding their way into the village." Remus said guiltily.

"Possible. Definitely possible and don't be ridiculous, it's not a burden at all. And the circumstances are a quite odd at best. I don't blame you for being wary. I'm going to do some research on Ariana Grant and see what I come up with. In the mean time, why don't you keep her company. Make sure she doesn't wander off." Dumbledore suggested.

Ariana heard the knock on the door and reluctantly pried herself from her pouting spot on the couch to answer it. She had been feeling sorry for herself all day because of last nights rejection with Remus. She looked down at her red nightshirt and pink fuzzy slippers a moment before deciding she didn't care. It's probably the damn inn keeper again, she thought with irritation and sarcasm. You know eight times just simply isn't enough to be checked on. It's an inn not a restaurant honey.

But when she flung the door open she didn't meet Tom's gaze. No, she met Remus Lupin's. The man who had taunted her thoughts all day and now was standing at her door.

She felt very self conscious about her clothing now and ran a hand nervously through her tangled hair. Fabulous, she fumed to herself.

"Remus. Hi." She said awkwardly.

"Hey Ariana." He replied just as awkwardly and looking anywhere but at her body.

"Can I help you with something?" She prompted.

"I was just making sure.......you were ok." He sputtered with embarrassment. He had made the mistake of glancing down at her scarcely covered frame. She had on a short red t-shirt that came a little above mid-thigh and made her tanned legs appear to be a mile long.

Ariana watched for a moment as he forced his eyes up to hers and raised his eyebrows at her.

"Just swell." She finally replied.

"Good. Glad to hear that." He answered stiffly.

"Ok." She said pointedly as he began shifting his weight back and forth anxiously.

"Umm. Ok. I also wanted to see if you wanted to go to dinner with me." He asked bashfully.

"I don't think so Remus. I'm really in no condition to go anywhere at this time of night. I was just planning on staying in. As you can see." She said smoothing out the invisible wrinkles in her short night shirt and being met with a loud swallow from Remus as he followed her hand.

"Oh. Another time perhaps then." He said, his unease very apparent now.

"Perhaps." Ariana answered.

He turned and started to go but then whirled around again when he was about half way down the stairs.

"I'm sorry." He said when he stopped, mere inches away from her.

He heard her surprised intake of breath at his nearness before she asked "Sorry?"

"If I was rude to you last night, I'm sorry." He said with small smile.

"Oh." Was all she said.

Remus found himself catching a small whiff of her sweet scent and feeling a strange, almost enchanting, aura surround him. He swallowed hard again.

"The truth is, I don't have time for breakfast...I'm a teacher. But I would love to have dinner with you. Sometime." Remus said as he moved even closer...or was that her that moved?

"Dinner," She breathed as she leaned forward even more " would be lover... love me...I mean lovely."

"Great." He whispered as he leaned down, blowing his hot breath on her cheek.

Just another half inch and Remus would have what he'd thought about all day. Her soft lips in a pliant kiss. His eyes moved to her face which looked thankfully ready and her eyes closed in anticipation and acceptance.

"Ms. Grant?" Came the inn keepers voice through her hazy mind and she inwardly screamed in frustration before stepping away from Remus' overwhelming proximity.

"Yes Tom?" She asked as she watched Remus blink slowly. Almost angrily. I know how you feel, she thought ruefully.

"I just was seeing if I could get you anything." Tom offered.

Ariana closed her eyes for a moment as she wished for patience. "No. But if I need anything I'll let you know." She said as nice as she could.

"Ok. I'll say good night then." He said.

"Good night Tom." She answered back and gave a small sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't bother her anymore tonight.

"He's driving me crazy!" She said quietly to Remus when Tom had gone. "That's the ninth time he's checked on me. I mean there's a difference between good customer service and harassment."

"Yeah." He chuckled. " Well I better be going then. It's late." He replied. "Dinner tomorrow?"

"That would be fine." She said as her eyes sought his.

She found him leaning toward her again and instead of leaning up to meet him she thrust her hand out quickly. Remus looked at her with surprise in his eyes but grasped her hand gently. Always keep them wanting more, she told herself.

"Good night Remus." Ariana said softly.

"Good night Ariana." Remus answered and then disappeared down the stairs.

Ariana closed the door and sagged against it with a huge smile on her face. She had a date. With a wizard no less. She couldn't help grinning just a little viciously as she pictured the faces of 'the relatives' if she were to tell them that information.

Oh yes. This new life is going to be much better, she thought as she climbed into bed and drifted off.

Hmmm ;/