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

A/N: I am glad to see that people are liking this story because I am too. I find it is easier to write than you would think. Oh to those of you who feel sorry for Crispin, things will end up working out for him. No worries. Now on with the story.

Chapter 6 – 'I don't believe you will like my choice'

I finally got around to writing a reply to my brother's letter. It had been a few days but after what had happened I couldn't seem to keep my mind on anything practical. It really was a wonderful kiss. My knees felt weak and if I had not been against the door I surely would have fallen back, weakened by the contact with him. I tried to tell myself that it was nothing, that people kiss everyday. I tried to tell myself that it was nothing special, but if everyone kissed like that there would never be heartbreak. It was only one kiss; one long, slow, wonderful kiss. It seemed to last forever but when he broke away from me I would have given anything to rewind my life and have him still pressing into me against that door.

I broke away from my quite reflections and reread the letter that I had just finished.

My Dearest Brother,

Corbett, I will never have my friendship with Crispin falter because of what he told me. I can not control his actions though, and rest assured I will do my best to salvage our relationship.

Not that I think it is any of your immediate business but I have met someone. I do fancy them a great deal. I do however not want to tell you too much because as of yet I do not know exactly what my relationship with him is as of yet. I will tell you as soon as I do know though.

I am very pleased to hear that you have decided to ask Brenna to marry you. I am sure she will accept. Even though I have never met Brenna she sounds like a very lovely girl and is very lucky to have stolen my beloved brother's heart away.

I will be staying in Diagon Alley for another month or two. It may do me good to have a visit from you. You so rarely visit me anymore. I miss and adore you Corbett. I hope you will decide to visit and I look forward to seeing you.

With Great Affection,

Your Sister Iola

I blew softly on the still drying ink. I folded the letter and stuffed it in an envelope. I was about to head down to the post office when a knock came from the door. My eyes widened as I thought of who might be on the other side of the door. I threw my cloak on the bed and rushed to the door. I had been anticipating Remus' next visit since he had left me after stopping my tears with that amazing kiss. He had left promising he would see me again in a few days, and I now waited anxiously for him to again. I wrenched the door open and my heart fell as it did so many times in the recent days.

"Hello, Crispin," I said as I stepped back allowing him entrance. "How have you been?" I was suddenly overcome with a feeling of odd discomfort.

"Honestly, miserable," he had bags under his eyes and looked as if he had not slept in days. The red in his bloodshot eyes clashed against the brilliant jade colour of his irises. "I don't want things to be different between us."

"Crispin, they aren't going to be different unless you let them be that way. I have already pushed the event out of my mind. I love you Crispin, but as a friend and like a brother, no matter what you say to me that won't change," I walked toward him and gave him what I hoped he would interpret as a comforting hug.

Crispin's arms wrapped around me in what felt like subdued desperation, and I rested my head on his chest. "I am sorry for what I did. It must be horrible for you to know those things. I put you in a difficult situation and I apologize," I smiled as he spoke and his chest vibrated slightly to the softness of his voice.

"Crispin, don't worry about it. Now you would not have come all the way down here if it was not very important. You could have said all that in a letter, so out with it."

He smiled mischievously and made his way over to the table I would write at. He took a package from the inside of his cloak and placed it in the middle of the table, while ushering me to sit in the chair. I sat and with a silent flick of Crispin's wand the package had opened to reveal several layouts for various versions of possible covers to my new book. "I wanted to deliver these myself. As soon as you pick which one you want we are going to rush the book into production. I want this on the shelves as soon as possible."

"But, it usually takes months. Why are you rushing this?" my eyes scanned over the different covers. Some of them were your average romance novel covers with a muscled man and a busty woman with a revealingly torn gown in a provocative pose together, but then others were classy and less provocative. "Crispin, I don't believe you will like my choice."

"This is your book, love. Whatever you choose the cover to be I will make sure that it will be what is placed in those bookstores," he leaned down awaiting my decision.

"I want it to be this one," I said pointing to a cover with a beautiful raven-haired woman and a light haired man staring into each others eyes.

"I think that one is perfect," he looked at me very intently. I felt slightly uncomfortable by the nearness of him. I didn't dare do anything to put him off though. He stared at me, his jade eyes bore through me. I wanted to run away from him and scream out of discomfort but instead I just sat there and breathed a sigh of relief as a knock came at the door. I slid out of the chair and made my way to the door not caring who was on the other side.

I threw the door open and gasped at the sight of Remus. My elation caused by seeing him quickly morphed into panic as I realized that Crispin was still in the room. "Is this not a good time?" Remus asked as he eyed Crispin, who was still standing near the table.

"No, Remus it's fine. Come in," I stepped back letting him room to enter. I hoped that Crispin would not get jealous and that Remus would not take this the wrong way. I should have told him to come back later so he wouldn't upset Crispin, but I didn't want him to leave. I had waited so long for him to come to see me I didn't want to have to wait any longer "Remus this is my publisher Crispin Feoras. Crispin this is Remus Lupin."

Remus held out his hand waiting for Crispin to shake it which he almost reluctantly did. "I'm pleased to meet you Mr. Feoras," he smiled and his age lifted.

"Same here Mr. Lupin. Iola, love, I must be going if I am going to get this cover into production as soon as possible," he said turning and gathering the different covers. I noticed that he had put an odd emphasis on calling me 'love'. "I will see you some other time," he turned to me and gave me a small kiss on the cheek before leaving my room and loudly closing the door.

"He is just your publisher right?" Remus narrowed his amber eyes on me and my stomach did back flips.

"Yes, he is just my publisher. He is also my brother's best friends but he is my publisher before everything else. I have known him for years, and I assure you he is perfectly harmless," I smiled hoping that Remus would engage in the activity that we had done the last time we had seen each other.

"I just wanted to be sure. So how have you been?" he had the audacity to try and start small talk. I stood there with a slightly elevated heart rate and labored breathing and he was just going to chitchat.

"I have been fine," I almost panted as I spoke.

"Were you going to go somewhere?" he asked as he went to my cloak that had fallen off of the bed when I had answered the door when Crispin arrived.

"I was going to go to the post office to send a letter to Corbett, but Crispin arrived," I said as I made my way over to him and reached out to take the cloak from him.

His hand gripped onto mine and I lifted my head to look into his eyes. He loomed over me and normally I felt uncomfortable with anyone so much taller than me. He was at least a foot taller than my five foot two inch stature. His gaze moved over my face and rested on the hand that he clutched. "You have such delicate looking hands," he said returning his gaze to my eyes.

"Yeah and they are always stained with ink," he said with a sideways smile suddenly forgetting that he was touching me and returning to a normal tone.

He smiled at me and brought my hand up to his lips. "I think they are beautiful even with the ink stains." I felt his breath against my hand and I began to melt as he gently kissed the palm of my hand. I let out a deep breath and began to shake almost loosing my balance. He must have felt me waver because he wrapped his arm around my waist to support me. "What is wrong? Are you alright?"

I let him bring me over to the bed and sat down catching my breath. "I'm fine. I-I don't know what is wrong with me," I was still breathing heavily as he still held my hand.

"Well, something must be wrong. No one just collapses like that," he placed his hand on the side of my face and I felt as if I was about to faint.

"They do if they have you touching them," I said in a breathy voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said mistaking my lust for what I could only assume was disgust by the way he stole his hands away from me, and scooted away from me on the bed.

"What are you doing," I breathed. "You are the only man to have this affect on me and I like it. I feel I would surely die if you didn't continue to make me feel this way."

"Do you understand we hardly know each other, and there are certain things about me that would make me assume that you meant something else by saying I made you the way you are when I touch you. If you find out those things one day you might not like them," he looked into my eyes very seriously and I could see the sadness in the resurface.

"That's alright. I think there are things I about me you wont like. We can get to those when the time comes though," I moved closer to him and placed my hand in his. He looked up at me and smiled before he leaned into me and kissed me. This one was better than the first kiss. I could feel that he didn't want to hold back but still did, and that made it all the more enjoyable. I felt as if he wanted to protect me with his kiss and I wanted to let him.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and began to fall back on the bed taking him with me. I didn't want to do anything more than kiss him but I wanted him to lose his inhibitions. I wanted to be comfortable kissing me. I wanted him to be comfortable because I wanted him to kiss me many times after this.

"Iola," he said as he broke from my grip and pushed himself back up on the bed, "I don't know if you are ready for this step. I don't want you to do anything you would regret."

"Remus, I won't regret kissing you. I already have done that and I don't regret it. Did you think I wanted to...? Oh Remus. I'm sorry but you are right that is not a step I am ready to take at this moment. I haven't been read to take that step with anyone as of yet, and I just wanted you to kiss me and be comfortable."

"Iola, are you saying that you are... I am so sorry. I didn't know."

"Of coarse you didn't know. I would be quite amazed if you did know. I've just never felt like I wanted to do anything that serious with anyone. I have never had a relationship last more than two weeks and that is certainly not enough time for me to comfortable with anyone," I smiled at him halfheartedly as could feel that the moment had passed.

"You seem to have warmed up to me pretty quickly," he said with a hint of skepticism in his voice.

"You are the only person who has ever made me feel this way. I like it. I like you a lot and I never have feelings like this for anyone. I'm fine with taking things slow, I would actually prefer taking things slow. For now though, can we still kiss?" I smiled at him and saw his eyes glint as he returned my smile.

"I think that would be fine," his voice was soft and he pulled me close to him and kissed me a little more relaxed. It was as thought he had lost some of his inhibition as I pulled him back down on the bed. We stayed like that for the rest of his visit. I never did make it to the post office that day. By the time Remus had wrenched himself away from my grip the post office was closed. I had only let him leave when he leaned close to me and whispered softly in my ear, "I want to take you out. I want to really get to know you. You are far too good for this. You deserve to have me take you out on a proper date." I melted into my bed as I watched leave my room. I was going to go out on a date with Remus Lupin.

A/N: Awww. Isn't that cute everyone. That has to be cute, right? Well anyway, I know things seem bad for Crispin right now but his part in this story get better soon. Oh and a little bit of a treat for you all: In the next few chapters you might meet Corbett. I think you will all like him. His story is a sad one though.