A/N: Uh oh! We're going to be in trouble soon if I don't think up more to this story and get it written. I finally finished Ch. 12, so I have 2 more ready to post after this. Luckily we have a long holiday weekend coming up. Hopefully I can read and write mucho during that period, especially since it is supposed to be HOT!

Replies to reviewers (and many, many thanks to my faithful few!):

Blue Eyes At Night – Yay! Blue Eyes is here! (Does 'happy dance'.) Sorry, I'm not feeling Snape's pain. He has just been too horrid to too many people for me to have much sympathy for him. I kept trying up until Prisoner when he would have had an innocent man killed just because he held a grudge. That was the last straw and I gave up on him. As for "I have this stupid 'saving people' thing!" – that actually comes from Order of the Phoenix. Hermione tells Harry that when he is wanting to go rescue Sirius at the Ministry. You do realize that if Remus "goes after her" while he's just a "lovable stray wolf" that would sort of put a damper on conversation? Give Snape a kitten? – I think he'd be revolted more than comforted!

Julia – "As for Remus being a werewolf, I am minded of what Willow said when she found out her boyfriend was a werewolf on BTVS "Well, there are 3 days a month when I'm not much fun to be around either!" - I used to watch the show back then, when it was still fun, but then it degenerated into Buffy having sex with anything that moved and Willow turning lesbian and I stopped watching. I loved Oz, though. He was really cool (Giles, too).

"if you are taking requests for Rohan, I'd love to read a sequel immediately following your last story, where everybody goes to Minas Tirith, Elfwine gets Aragorn's permission to marry Dariel, and they get officially betrothed." – that will probably eventually be a story, as soon as I finish HP and have time to dream up enough mayhem! LOTR is so much easier to write than Voldemort/Harry angst!

Tracey – Welcome! Re: "Top Ten Things Men Understand About Women." – I've seen that before but never thought about it in connection with my stories. Remus, more than other men even, would be clueless since he hasn't allowed himself to fall in love, assuming that relationships aren't possible for werewolves. We shall see if he is right… I really like Remus, too, so I want him to be happy. Only trouble is figuring out how to get him there…

Chapter 10

After two days spent in bed, Aurelia couldn't stand it anymore and finally got up. She had been used to spending more time outdoors, and the room was beginning to feel claustrophic. She gazed at her image in the mirror with disagreeable satisfaction, 'Good. I look as bad as I feel!' The mirror agreed, "Oh dear, you do need a bit of cleaning up, don't you, dearie?"

She shook her head ruefully and turned back to the room. Digging some clean clothes out of her bag, she headed for the shower. When she had finished bathing and dressing, half an hour later, she had to admit that she was starting to feel more human. A dull ache tried to rise in her chest, but she firmly pushed it back down. This had gone on long enough. She had spent nearly twenty years longing for something that wasn't meant to be. It was time to get on with her life.

Shoving keys and necessary items in her pockets, she pulled on her cloak and headed downstairs. It was still early enough that they were willing to fix her a breakfast, and she sat in the corner eating in silence but observing the activity in the pub. When she finished, she tossed a few coins on the table and headed for the back alley. After thrice tapping the appropriate stone in the brick wall, she found herself in Diagon Alley.

Her first stop had to be Gringotts, as her supply of money was beginning to run low. That done, she began strolling the streets to see what new shops had turned up. While she had made a brief stop here for some essentials before going to Hogwarts in September, she hadn't really explored the place in many years.

She slowly began to laden herself with parcels from various shops as she purchased long-needed items and supplies. A moment after leaving Flourish & Blotts, she found herself in front of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. This could only belong to the infamous Weasley twins. She knew Harry would enjoy something from their shop and be pleased that she had stopped in, so she stepped through the doors.

The Weasleys were not difficult to spot; the red hair was a dead giveaway. From the looks of it, they were doing a booming business. Suddenly it occurred to her that it was only two days until Christmas – last minute shoppers were finishing up their lists. She browsed around to see what they had, trying to decide what Harry might like most. When the crowd thinned a bit, one of the Weasley twins came over to her. "Can I help you find something?"

She threw a sidelong grin at him. "Perhaps. But first, I must say, my compliments to you and your brother. I knew some world-class mischief makers in my time, and they would have been perpetually broke if you were doing business then!"

"Well, not to brag," Fred Weasley told her, "but my brother and I do have quite a reputation, particularly at Hogwarts!"

"Yes, so I've heard," she answered.

He looked curiously at her. "How's that?"

"I teach there, as of this year, and apparently the 'forbidden' list, that my friends caused to be created in the first place, you and your brother managed to lengthen considerably!"

Fred goggled at her a moment, then asked, "Are you talking about the Marauders, by any chance?"

She nodded and he sighed dramatically. "Ah, Moony, Padfoot, Wormtail and Prongs – we owe them so much! They left us quite a legacy. We can only hope we did well in following in their renowned footsteps!"

She burst out laughing at this poetical homage to her old friends. "I think I can safely say they would have considered you worthy successors! I've heard some of the tales about you two, particularly surrounding your rather stunning departure from school last year!"

"Oy, George! Come here! You've got to meet someone!" Fred called to his twin.

When George joined them, Fred suddenly realized he didn't know the name of his new acquaintance. "I'm sorry, you are? I'm Fred and this is George."

"Aurelia Watson, the latest in an ignominious stream of Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers at Hogwarts."

George started at her words. "Really? I've heard about you from my brother and sister! They love your class!"

She dipped her head in acknowledgement of the compliment. "And I enjoy them as students."

The store was starting to get busy again, and George glanced nervously to the counter where Lee Jordan was frantically trying to keep up with customers. "Umm, sorry to dash off, but..."

Fred told her, "Anything you want, we'll give you half off! Let us know if you need help deciding." With that, both twins scurried back to work and she turned away laughing. She was glad she had stopped in – it had certainly lifted her spirits. Finally settling on a few things she thought Harry might like, she took them to the counter and paid, then waved a farewell to the twins as she exited.

In much better humor than when she left, she returned to the Leaky Cauldron with her packages as the afternoon drew to a close. As she moved toward the stairs, she heard someone call her name from behind her, just as she saw Remus Lupin step from an alcove off to the right. She blinked at him in surprise, and then turned to see who had called her, and found Severus Snape approaching. His eyes became cold and slitted when he spotted Lupin, but he said, "I wonder if I might have a word, Aurelia?"

She stared at Snape and then looked again at Remus, who stood silently, saying nothing. Her head was spinning; what did Remus' presence here mean? And why was Snape here? Reaching a decision, she turned to Remus with a smile and said, "Remus, would you be so kind as to take my packages to my room while I talk to Severus? Room 13."

He eyed her questioningly, but nodded, "Of course. I'd be happy to." She handed him her key and the bundles she had acquired, before turning to Snape with reluctance.

"What were you wanting to talk with me about, Severus?" she asked, wondering how to best get rid of him as quickly as possible.

His eyes were still on the staircase Remus had disappeared up, as he told her, "I was under the impression you were spending Christmas alone."

"No, actually, I have been spending time with friends. It's been ages since I've seen Remus; we have a lot of catching up to do."

His eyes narrowed. "I see. Well then, I won't keep you. I just wanted to wish you Happy Christmas and make sure you weren't going to be alone."

He slowly stepped back from her, and she knew from his behavior that he wanted her to stay him; to suggest he join her for Christmas – but she would not do it. With an impassive expression, she told him, "Why, thank you, Severus. Happy Christmas to you, as well. I'll see you back at Hogwarts."

Then there was nothing he could do but turn and leave, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She leaned against a nearby column and her eyes raised toward the ceiling. After a few moments of idle contemplation, she stood upright; might as well go find out what Remus wanted. Slowly she climbed the stairs, hesitant to hear what might be more heartbreaking news.

Outside her room, she stood staring at the door, then took a deep breath and entered, peeling off her cloak. Remus had dropped her packages on the bed and was sitting quietly on the chair by the desk. She watched him from the corner of her eye as she hung up her cloak, and he rose when she turned to face him.

For several minutes, they just stood staring at each other. Finally, Remus cleared his throat and hoarsely said, "I suppose I should explain why I'm here." He stopped, shaking with nervousness.

Taking pity on him, she tried to lighten the mood. "Well, if you are here for no other reason than to help me elude Snape, then your visit is unspeakably welcome!" She smiled slightly at him, and he couldn't help but respond in kind.

"Always happy to be of service," he murmured, before the awkward silence overtook him again.

"Why don't you take off your cloak, and have a seat?" she suggested.

He looked down and seemed surprised to find he was still wearing his cloak. He did as she bid and removed it, laying it over the back of the chair before re-seating himself. As there were no other chairs in the room, she climbed up on the end of the bed and cocked her head questioningly at him, "So, what brings you to visit me, Remus?"

"Ginny said..." he began uncertainly.

"Ginny Weasley?" she interrupted.

"Yes, Ginny Weasley. She said...She heard about what happened and that you left. She wanted to make sure I knew how things would be seen from a 'woman's perspective'." He gave a rueful grin, and Aurelia chuckled appreciatively.

Finally he continued, "She said that...that the way I left things with you, you'd assume I wasn't interested. And that if there was any chance at all that I was interested, I needed to let you know sooner rather than later." His voice faltered, but finally he continued, "The truth is, I don't know what I feel. I never expected any of this, but I certainly never intended to hurt you. I thought all these years my having kept you at a distance had prevented it."

He stopped talking and seemed to be considering what to say next. "Is there any possibility at all we could just be friends, for now? I can't promise it would ever be anything more than that, but I would really hate to lose your friendship. You're really the only one I have left from my school days." He drew a deep, ragged breath and added, "I know I'm asking a lot, and I hate the thought of hurting you any more than I already have, but I have to ask – just in case there is any chance..."

Suddenly she noticed how pale and drawn he was. Softly she asked, "When is the full moon, Remus?"

He blinked at the question but replied, "In three days – on the twenty-sixth."

She stared down at her feet in contemplation. At last she raised her gaze to his worried eyes, "I don't know, Remus. I'll have to think about it. I haven't exactly spent my adult life doing a good job of coping with my problems, and I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge of doing this. I wish I could give you a better answer, but I can't."

He nodded in acceptance, "Of course. I understand." Slowly he rose and reached for his cloak, but she hopped off the bed and crossed to him.

"You can at least stay for dinner, can't you? Surely you're tired of your own cooking, and Harry can fend for himself this once. Come on, my treat – your Christmas present from me."

He hesitated, then slowly nodded and forced a smile. "Thank you. That would be lovely."

She stepped nearer and slipped her arm through his. "Well, I'm famished, so let's go down now!"

xxxxx

Dinner was fairly quiet, and still awkward, but Aurelia was determined not to spend the time in silence. Her jaunt through Diagon Alley had lifted her spirits, and she wasn't willing to go back to feeling miserable just yet. Now that she knew Remus' darkest secret, it was easier to press him for details of his life the past few years, and once he got to talking, he seemed to relax a bit. Eventually he turned the tables and drew her out, asking about her travels and unusual lifestyle for the past fifteen years.

They talked long after their dinner was finished, and were startled to discover the Leaky Cauldron was virtually empty of other customers and it was nearly midnight. She eyed him speculatively. "I shouldn't have kept you so long. You should get home and get some rest."

"Yes, I suppose you are right," he replied. "Perhaps I'll see you again before you return to Hogwarts," he hesitantly suggested, keeping his eyes averted from hers.

"I'd like that. I can get around more easily than you. Maybe I'll drop by on Christmas day." He nodded, not wanting to push the issue any further.

"I should be going," he said as he rose and reached for his cloak.

When he turned back in her direction, she stepped in close and kissed his cheek. "Thanks for coming, Remus. I really do hope we can still be friends – no matter what else happens."

He swallowed hard and nodded again, unable to find words. Reluctantly he moved to the alley behind the inn and Disapparated away.