Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters.

A/N: I find that I am enjoying this story a lot. I wrote two chapters while at work today. I am debating whether or not to out both of them up yet or not. I guess you will find out when you check to see if it has been updated. Regardless I hope everyone enjoys this chapter.

Chapter 4 – Crispin Feoras

I sat in the pub area of The Leaky Cauldron. I had decided that even though I only ever stayed there when I was writing that I would stay even though I had finished. I love the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley and the company was always so diverse. I genuinely enjoy the atmosphere of Diagon Alley. I felt that it would be a shame to leave without staying my usual four months, which is the amount of time I gave myself to finish a novel, and also the amount of time I end up exceeding. I was quite surprised when Crispin contacted me to meet about my latest creation after I had sent it to him a week earlier, most of the time it took Crispin an average of three weeks to finish one of my best sellers.

I sat there waiting for Crispin and sipping a Muggle soft drink that Tom had gone out to get me personally, I believe that still to this day I am one of his favourite patrons. I watched the door intently wanting to get the meeting with Crispin over with. Though Crispin Feoras is my publisher and one of the only people I can stand to be around for more than a few moments, after being around him too long his company makes me weary. He is extremely slick and suave in a sickening way. I find his brand of charm to be almost greasy. Though it does come in handy when I must accompany him to a party, I can stand there and not say a word and Crispin can work his special talent to the bone leaving me free to daydream as he shows me off.

After making me wait an unbearable amount of time Crispin sauntered into the pub. This was another trait of his that I appalled. I hated how he entered a room as if he expected that everyone was staring at him. I do have to admit that a few women in the pub had turned to stare at him. Crispin was, by all classic definitions of the word, very attractive. His hair was jet black and fell around ear length. The loose curls that adorned his hair would have seemed childish on anyone else, but Crispin knew how to make them all the more enduring and he wore his hair so that it would fall into his eyes which were a jade green colour that shined in any light. I could have described him in one of my novels as the dashing hero and the title would fit his look and ego. He walked over to the table that I sat at and gave me a kiss on the cheek as he always did. This was an action I did not like but Crispin did his own thing and even if I had openly objected it wouldn't have mattered.

"Hello love," he said in a voice that was so smooth it was like Belgian chocolate, Belgian chocolate is my favourite. "I finished the book. It was more interesting than your other books. I could really feel your passion in this one."

"And you normally can't?" I felt that Crispin always built my stories up more than it was needed but now he was just being ridiculous.

"Well, don't get me wrong love, you write very well, but normally it seems like you just go through the motions. This story will be a goldmine. It's the best one you have ever done. What was your inspiration?" his eyes narrowed on me slightly as he searched my face for the answer.

"It all came from my own over-imaginative head," I stated, "What else would you expect? Do you think I'm off gallivanting with some strange man acting out what I've been writing? Crispin you are absolutely ridiculous," I said as seriously as I could with his intent gaze on me.

"Look, Iola, I don't need you to tell me. I just wanted to know if you would tell. I certainly don't think you are gallivanting with anyone, you are too intelligent to do that," he said with apologetic eyes. Crispin knew that I always found his eyes hard to resist. I had on more than one occasion almost let him kiss me because of the way he had looked at me.

"I understand," I said automatically. Crispin was one of those people that had a certain control over me, my father being one of them and my brother, Corbett being the other. "Well, how long do you think it will take to get this one out?"

"I'd say we could probably get it out in a matter of months. I really want to rush this one out. It is going to make us a fortune," his eyes sparkled mischievously the way they did every time he spoke of money. If you got around all these little annoyances I had with him he was a normally decent guy. "So now that you are done, when are you going back home? I'm just wondering because there is a gala event at the end of the month and I want to know if I will be able to bring my favourite date," I cringed at the fact that Crispin delighted in showing me off to all the other men in his circle as if I belonged to him.

"I have already paid to stay here for four months and I shall stay for the amount of time I paid to stay. If I left now it would be a waste of money," I said to him plainly. I knew that he would be disappointed but the reasoning of loosing money was enough to convince him.

"Well, that is disappointing," I can read the man like a book, "I will have to settle for not being the envy of every man at the event then. You know they all find you absolutely charming."

I laughed at the fact that I had never said more than two words at one of Crispin's 'events' and all the men found me charming. "You will just have to bring one of those mindless ninnies you date."

"I do not date 'mindless ninnies'. I date nice respectable girls. I wouldn't have to date anyone if you would run away with me," he said with a sly smile. He always tried to bring up the fact that after I brought him to my house one year for Christmas dinner both my mother and father began entertaining the idea that I should marry him. I cursed myself every time the subject was brought up for feeling sorry for him. It would never would have happened if had just traveled abroad with his family.

"Oh do shut up," I said with disgust. The thought of having to live with Crispin and all of the tiny things I can't stand made my skin crawl. There were so many things he did that annoyed me. Everyone seemed like they did something I could never find myself living with. Whenever I noticed the thing that would most likely eat away at me in a guy it was the end of the relationship there in then. I had never had a relationship last more than two weeks.

"I'm just pushing your buttons, love. So who is the guy?" he said leaning back in his chair. For someone who thought of himself as proper he certainly didn't act it. I think the only thing that allows him in the circle he frequents is the fact that his family is one of the wealthiest wizarding families in all of Great Britain.

"Crispin, I thought I made it perfectly clear that my book was not autobiographical. There is no guy," I said through clenched teeth. The smile he had on his face made me livid with anger. His presumptions made me livid.

Crispin shook his head which made me inhale sharply in anger. "Love, don't lie it's not attractive. I can tell that you met someone you fancy. Stop trying to hide it. It shows in your face. You have a ...glow about you that wasn't there before. So tell me who it is," I was furious about the fact that he was right. I had tried to tell myself that the only reason I didn't leave as soon as I was finished with my book was just because I had paid for my room and I loved Diagon Alley, but they were my excuses to stay and hopefully run in to Remus again or to at least wait for him to return and tell me if he liked my book.

"Like I would tell you even if I had met someone. Don't flatter yourself Crispin, it isn't attractive," I said throwing his words back at him.

"Oh, come on. I am like the closest thing you have to a friend," I knew he had to regret those words as soon as they escaped his lips. His eyes went wide and he bit his lower lip. I know he was hoping I wouldn't lash out at him for being so damned stupid.

"You try my patience entirely too much. I think we are finished with our meeting now," I said and I stood up and ran to the stairs fighting back the tears that had begun welling up in my eyes. I went to go up the first step forgetting that the robes I was wearing that day were to long for me and I stepped on my hem as well as the stairs. The soft fabric allowed me no footing and I slipped. My feet flew behind me and I landed face forward hitting my chin on the stairs.

When I awoke I was in my room and Crispin was watching over me. "What are you still doing here?" I asked not forgetting how angry I was with him. I winced as I spoke when pain shot through my jaw. I felt as if I was going to cry.

"I was not about to leave you lying on the stairs bleeding. I may be a bad person but I'm not heartless," he said apologetically.

"Was it really that bad of a fall?" I fought back the tears. The pain was almost unbearable.

"Here drink this," he handed me a vial of potion when he saw me rub my jaw in pain. The potion was unmistakably painkilling potion. I knew its look smell and texture all too well. "I am sorry. I was a bit of an ass. I went a little too far this time and I know it was wrong."

I threw back the potion. Most people found the taste of potions to be bad but I was so used to the taste of this one. "You should be sorry. What you said to me was very mean. I don't know if I should forgive you just yet," I shot daggers at him with the look in my eyes.

"Oh come off it Iola. You are going to have to forgive me sooner or latter, it's better to do it sooner than later. Just forgive me and we can move on. You know I can't stand to have my most talented writer angry with me," he said sitting next to me in the bed. He was right and I hated it. I would have to forgive him then and there if I didn't want it to build up in me and eat away at my patience. If I let that happen then I would never have a civil relationship with Crispin again.

"Fine but if you ever say anything like that again I will not forgive you and I reserve the right to kill you."

"Fair enough," he said with a grin that made him even more attractive then he already was. With our trust reestablished he moved a little closer to me making him self more comfortable. "Have you talked to your mother lately?"

"Don't bring her up. She will not let alone till I am married with a baby on the way and even then she would probably still hound after me. I haven't returned one of her letters in months," I said a little angry that he had brought her up.

"Well that is he job isn't it? She is supposed to make sure you grow up right," he said playfully.

"I am grown up though. You would think after twenty-nine years she would give it a rest."

"That's what mothers do. I'm thirty-two and I still 'need to find a nice girl and settle down'. The woman is insane. Firstly no one would ever be good enough for me in her eyes and secondly I am in the middle of my life I don't want to give up on it yet."

"Crispin sharing your life with someone you love is not giving up on it. That is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. You are just scared because you don't want to grow up."

"Neither do you. You are as bad as I am," he said accusingly.

"Well then I guess we are the same breed then. We will both remain loveless and unhappy. We will constantly disappoint our parents and never be able to live a normal adult life because we are afraid to do so," I said as seriously as I could before bursting into fits of laughter.

"Yes I do believe you are right," Crispin had begun to laugh also but seemed to not really commit to his laughter. I was still laughing and had not noticed that he stopped his half hearted laughter when I felt hands grip my shoulders. I opened my eyes to find Crispin looking at me with a very solemn look adorning his handsome face. He stared at me for what seemed like an eternity. I had no idea what to do I was growing uncomfortable and a bit scared.

"Crispin, what are you doing?" I managed to squeak out.

"I am very afraid that I will be alone for the rest of my life. The thing is I am afraid because I will have to choose to be alone," his tone was so serious.

"Crispin what are you talking about? Why would you choose to be alone?"

I watched him take a deep breath before he spoke. My heart was beating so loudly I thought the patrons of the pub down stairs would hear it. "I would choose to be alone because I can't have you." Crispin's words froze in my mind and I didn't react as his lips crashed into mine in what I could only interpret as a desperate kiss.

When he pulled away from me I was still frozen in shock. "Crispin, what do you mean?" I said forcing myself out of my catatonic state.

"I am in love with you Iola. I always have loved you. Do you mean to tell me that you never noticed how much I cared for you?" his eyes pierced my soul as his words hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Crispin, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but we are friends. I never saw us as anything more than friends. I do care for you and always have, but as a friend," I could have cried at the look in his eyes.

"I know," he said in a simple sort of way. "I am going to go. I think I've created enough awkward situations for today. I will see you another time," he said standing and gathering his cloak. I could not find words as he left. And I sat on my bed trying to replay what had just happened and not believing that it had really happened.

A/N: I am sorry that this chapter doesn't have any Remus in it but Crispin is going to be an important character later on and I thought he needed a good introduction. You also get the first mention of Corbett, Iola's brother. He will become a bigger character later on. Hope you liked this chapter. Reviews anyone? I know you want to.