RAR #12: Happy Birthday to me! Well, it was like a week ago (May 29), but my computer was being retarded and then I went away to be a councilor at a camp for a week. So I am finally able to post this for you all nearly a week late (June 3). Here's your present for being patient.
PS: Yes, I know the title is an oxymoron. So, no flames about it please.
Chevious stepped from the warmth of the Leaky Cauldron onto the frosty streets of London. Snow was falling all around her, catching the colored lights that flashed in long stands in shop windows. The streets were fairly empty, probably due to the fact that it was Christmas Eve, leaving Chevious to wander semi-aimlessly down the white avenue.
She turned down a narrow dark street that lead toward the poorer artistic district. Pulling a small piece of parchment from her pocket, Chevious once again examined the directions McGonagall had given her. For the first time, she noticed a small note written on the edge of it.
If no one answers the door, just let yourself in.
He won't mind.
There is a key in his mailbox.
Good Luck!
Chevious was slightly perplexed by the last line. She pondered what in the world she would need luck for as she approached the apartment complex in which McGonagall's friend resided. It was an older, fairly dilapidated two-story building. All of the apartment doors faced the street, the open air landing lined with an ebony railing. She took note of the chipped stone stairs and missing chunks of iron banister as she climbed to the upper floor. Loud Christmas music could be heard from the apartment at the end of the landing, the door to which was standing wide open as some party goers mingled over their cigarettes outside.
She stopped a quarter of the way down the landing at the door to Apartment 24. Drawing a deep breath, Chevious' knuckles fell upon the aged wood. She stood there for a few moments, but no one answered. She knocked again. Still no answer.
"He must be at the party," she concluded, reaching into the mailbox adorning the wall beside the door. Sure enough there was a key at the bottom of the flaking gold box. She removed it, opened the door, replaced the key, and let herself into the small apartment.
She stood at one end of a sparsely furnished living room, a mixture of spicy cologne and laundry soap filled her nose with its intoxicating aroma. A shabby sofa sat peacefully against the wall, a polished coffee table positioned in front of it. A small television rested atop a short filing cabinet across from the sofa. A small, half-decorated tree stood in the corner beside the couch, presents absent from beneath its frail looking branches.
Chevious moved farther into the tiny living room, exploring the little apartment. A small kitchenette adjoined it, occupied by only countertops, a stove, a refrigerator, and a sink. A short hallway ran the width of the apartment, opening into the living room. A single bedroom and bathroom branched off of the hallway, each merely furnished by the necessities. The hall closet contained a washer and dryer as opposed to hangers and coats. Chevious was sure that she would be imposing on this man, whom had obviously fallen on hard times. She decided as she moved back toward the living room that it would be best to leave him alone and spend Christmas back at the castle.
As she entered the living room again, she was astonished to find the doorknob turning. She froze in the doorway. Chevious had not expected to actually meet the man who lived there; she was hoping to be gone before he returned.
The door crept forward as Chevious held her breath, trying to find the words to explain her presence in a stranger's apartment. She averted her eyes to the floor, unable to look the resident in the eye. Footsteps approached only for a few strides before stopping abruptly.
"I'm sorry for intruding like this. I'm a friend of Minerva McGonagall's and she assured me that you wouldn't mind having a visitor for the holidays. She also told me that you wouldn't mind if I let myself in, so I did. Please pardon me for taking it upon myself to become at home. Silly me, I haven't even introduced myself..."
"Chevious?" the deep, familiar voice of resident exclaimed, not bothering to hide his surprise.
She peered up curiously, her breath catching in her chest. Remus Lupin stood before her, his head cocked slightly in disbelief. His expressive eyes stared into her own, seemingly baffled by her presence. He had been removing his chocolate trench coat when he had caught sight of the woman, it now laid forgotten on the floor beside him with his keys. He seemed thinner and more frail than he had only a week before, and with good reason: the full moon had occurred only two days prior to this night.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen between them.
Chevious remained silent. Tears began to well up, threatening to spill onto her rosy, wind burned cheeks, as she tried to find the words to express what she wanted to say. Her voice cracked as she whispered a weak, "I don't know."
Remus stared at her for a few moments as she began to inspect the creme colored shag carpet under her feet. He strode forward, positioning himself inches from her. Cupping her face in his large hands, he raised her head until she met his gaze. Small trails formed by teardrops ran over her cheek bones.
Wiping away her tears with his thumbs, he spoke again, voice little more than a whisper. "You don't know, huh? Well, that's an odd sort of answer." She was silent, her emotions beginning to boil to the surface. "Were you looking for something? Something you believed to be lost maybe?"
Without thinking, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him to her. Their lips met in a deep, passionate kiss. At first, he didn't seem to return it, perhaps from shock, but he soon found himself falling into it.
She pulled away, pressing her face into his chest. Hot tears burned her eyes and soaked his emerald tee shirt. His comforting arms encircled her in a warm embrace as she cried ceaselessly.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I didn't mean any of it, but I can understand if you never want to be with me again. Just know that I never stopped loving you, not for one moment. It was what kept me alive for all those years. I do love you, Remus. More than I can even voice."
He merely smiled. "I love you too. I said something stupid, but I'm only human. I was hoping you'd come back to me, I just didn't believe it for a long time. Just don't leave me again, I don't know if I'll be able to handle it."
"I promise," Chevious sighed, a broad smile crossing her lips now.
He pulled away, taking her petite hand in his own. He lead her toward the doorway, stopping suddenly only feet from the door itself. She looked at him questioningly and he gazed up at the ceiling. Upon following his gaze, her eyes met with a green sprig of mistletoe that dangled from the overhead light.
"It appears that we've been caught under the mistletoe," Remus teased, leaning down.
"It seems so, doesn't it?" Chevious joked, rising up onto the balls of her toes to meet his lips in another kiss.
"Happy Christmas, Chev," he whispered against her cheek.
"Happy Christmas, Remus," she replied, holding him closer.
RAR #13: Hooray for happy endings! Well, maybe not an ending, but close enough. I've been listening to love songs on my mp3 player for the last week and a half and was really excited about this chapter. I finally found a bit of time after the family left on my birthday to get away and write it out. I hope you liked it because I personally love sappy chapters such as this. They make me feel all fuzzy inside. Anyway, as usual, please review. Reviews make me happy and brighten my mood greatly. Thank you and the final chapter(s) shall be posted soon