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Chapter 7

Remus spent the next week suffering Aurora's cold shoulder. Ironically,Professor Lachlan decided to pair up the students alphabetically in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Leaving Remus paired with Aurora again. She'd refused to speak to him about anything but the assignment and stalked off the moment the bell rang, never giving him the opportunity to apologize to her.

When they met at 10:00 each night to work on their Astronomy assignment she had apparently put some of kind of Silencing charm on him or she was really good at ignoring him. She never would acknowledge him speaking to her. She just went straight to work with the chart while he just stood there. Then at exactly midnight she would leave without a look at him.

He didn't blame her. He had behaved like an ass but man could she hold a grudge. He didn't know how he was ever going to apologize if she wouldn't give him a chance.

When Friday rolled around he felt relief that he wouldn't have to see Aurora for three days. But that also meant he had a lot of free time to think about James' words of advice from the first night back. The words had always been there but he had enough other things going on that was able to push it to the back of his mind.

Now though, he had nothing but time as he leaned against the tree and stared out at the lake on Sunday afternoon. Was James right? Was he too afraid to find out if anyone could love him? He dropped his forgotten book and searched for answers as he watched the giant squid swim lazily back and forth.

He knew right off the bat when he met Aurora for the first time she was something refreshingly different the norm. She was bright, independent and sweet...when she wasn't pissed off at you anyway. And they did have a lot in common.

Remus, if not out loud, could at least admit to himself that he found her to be very attractive. Not just physically but mentally. But the complications always got to him.

No one should be expected to love a beast. And it was just easier for him to not let himself feel for anyone and get emotionally involved, for his own protection.

So James is right, you are just scared. But why put yourself out there to get hurt like that? When it's certain to come back and bite you in the ass.

But what if it doesn't? What if it worked out, he asked himself.

Through his busy thoughts, Remus heard Sirius' laugh carrying across the grounds and turned to find him. When he located him he felt jealousy rip through him and he clenched his fist to calm himself.

Sirius was walking with Avery on one side and Aurora on his other. He had his hand lightly resting on their hips as he guided them across the grass. The worst thing about it was how much Aurora seemed to be enjoying herself. She was laughing with abandon and smiling as she listened to Sirius tell a story.

If I'm not emotionally involved then why am I jealous, he asked himself angrily as he pulled himself up off the ground.

"Sirius?" He called.

Sirius quit walking and turned in his direction with a casual wave but continued to lead the two girls away. Remus couldn't help but notice how drastically Aurora's expression changed when their eyes met. She abruptly went to ignoring him and left him sitting with his jealousy.

Sirius is dating Avery now. What the hell does he need with Aurora too?

The real question should be why do you even care, he taunted.

When Monday rolled around and he was still getting the silent treatment Remus began to get agitated. Professor Sinistra had even taken him aside after class to tell him he had a Dreadful in her class for his lack of cooperation to work with his partner.

"I've watched you for a week and not once have I see you helping her. You need to value teamwork, Mr. Lupin. I must say, I'm very disappointed in you. I expect better from a prefect." She had said, leaving him gaping after her at a complete loss for words.

So now as he and Aurora stood in the darkness, he was formulating a plan. It was almost midnight and she would be due to stalk away any moment. And right on cue she began to gather up her book bag.

He pulled off his cloak, kicked off his shoes and discarded his socks before cannon-balling into the lake.

Aurora heard the huge splash and whipped around to see a head bobbing up in down in the lake.

Doesn't this moron know it's not safe to swim in that lake, she asked as she dropped her book bag and ran back to the edge of the water.

When she got closer she realized that the moron was her study partner.

"Remus? What the hell are you doing in there?" She demanded.

"Getting you to talk to me." He said as he floated gently.

"Get out of there. The giant squid could come." She answered.

"Not till you hear me out."

"No."

"Then I'm staying in here. You don't want the giant squid to eat me do you." He coaxed.

"If I listen to you are you going to get out?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Fine."

"Thank you. I have been trying to tell you for a week how sorry I am that I yelled at you. It was wrong and I shouldn't have done it. I lost control of my temper. That doesn't happen very often to me." He said sincerely.

Aurora felt her anger melt away with his genuine words and said "I appreciate your apology."

"Friends?" He asked as he held a dripping hand out to her.

"Friends." She said as she accepted it, trying not to notice how his white t-shirt was clinging to his leanly muscled chest.

He grasped her hand and stroked his thumb over the inside of her wrist causing her a slight shiver. He looked at her intently as the air began to buzz. Until he yanked her into the lake too.

Aurora went under in surprise and came up sputtering with indignation.

She tried her best to look mad but couldn't hide her smile. She splashed him in the face and said "That was so mean."

"I thought it was funny."

"A little." She admitted.

Remus watched in mute fascination as water droplets slid down her cheeks.

"We better get out before the squid does come." He said as grabbed her hand and tried leading her out of the lake but slid on a muddy patch and went down again, dragging her with him.

They both came up breathlessly laughing until they were just staring at each other hungrily.

Aurora was the first to snap out of it and made her way gingerly around him to lead the way to the grass but he caught her arm and turned her around gently leaving her to stare at him in confusion.

"Aurora?" He whispered.

"Yes?" She asked just as quietly.

She watched as he leaned toward her, watching her eyes and giving her time to reject or accept him. But when her eyes drifted shut and she gave a soft sigh he took that as acceptance.

Remus took her lips tenderly in a small kiss. When he broke away to look at her she gazed back dreamily.

"Again?" She asked.

He tugged her the remaining feet to the grass before wrapping his arms around her kissing her again, more urgently this time. He felt her hands slide up his back and tangle in the hair at the base of his neck as she snuggled closer.

But even the warmth of his body couldn't keep her from shivering and he pulled back.

"You're freezing. I shouldn't have pulled you in." He said as he bent to pick up his dry cloak from the ground and wrap it around her.

She smiled at him gratefully and stared at her mesmerized for a moment.

"Come on. Let me walk you up to the castle." He said as he grabbed her hand and led her to where her book bag lay.

Well Moony. I think you've just a made a break through. But for the better or worse is yet to be seen.