Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and a few characters.

Author's Note: Thanks again to all reviewers, and I always encourage more. I know I sound like a broken record, but whatever. So, here's Chapter 4 of Not the Last. Enjoy!

Not the Last

Chapter 4-Trying for the Innocent

Holly came over to see Remus everyday for tea. These were always pleasant visits with laughter and fun. Holly didn't even knock anymore because she knew Remus would be expecting her.

One day, it was about half an hour before Holly usually came when Remus heard an urgent knock on his door.

Remus figured that Holly had decided to come early that day and was knocking to make sure her earliness was alright with him.

He opened the door and was just about to say, "Good afternoon, Holly," when he realized it wasn't his neighbor at his door. Apparently this was a month of unexpected visitors.

For standing in front of him was a man he hadn't seen or heard from in years. It was his old mate, Bennett Potter.

"Hey, Moony," his old friend said uncomfortably, using his old nickname from Hogwarts.

"It's nice to see you, Hoot," replied Remus, also using Bennett's nickname and being his usual polite self.

Remus looked up and down the street before inviting Bennett in.

"We need to talk," Bennett said the instant they sat down in the living room.

"Talk about what?" Remus replied tiredly. He hated when Bennett got worked up. It made him very stubborn. Or at least, more than usual.

"What do you mean, about what! We need to talk about Sirius being sent to Azkaban!"

"There's nothing we can do, Bennett," Remus stated calmly.

"Yes, there is," Bennett replied, "I can go to his trial, I saw him only days before it happened. He wasn't going to kill anyone. Come on, Remus. We knew him for years. We have to go to his trial."

"Haven't you been reading the paper? There isn't gong to be a trial. As soon as the ministry caught him, Barty Crouch sent him straight to Azkaban. He won't negotiate," Remus explained.

"No," Bennett said quietly to himself. The defeated look on his face was almost unbearable to look at.

Remus suddenly heard the door open and close. He glanced at the lock on the mantle and realized that it must be Holly. His suspicions were quickly confirmed as Holly walked into the living room.

"Hello, Remus," she said cheerfully. Her smile quickly disappeared as she saw the serious looks on both Remus on Bennett's faces.

"Don't you know how to knock?" Bennett said, the annoyance clear in his voice.

"I'm-I'm sorry," Holly apologized hurriedly. "I just came over to return you books, Remus. I didn't know you had company."

"Well, maybe next time you'll remember to be considerate enough to call first. Or at least knock," Bennett said bitterly.

"That's quite enough from you, Bennett," Remus said firmly. He then turned to Holly and said, "There's no need to apologize. I didn't know I was going to have company. By the way, this is my old friend, Bennett. Please excuse his rudeness, he's not feeling well."

Bennett glared at Remus.

"I'm sorry to hear you are ill, Bennett. There are terrible things making the rounds these days," Holly said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Yeah, well I-," Bennett started to retort before Remus cut him off.

"Why don't you come back at the usual time tomorrow, Holly? By then Bennett will be feeling better and we can all have some tea together."

"That sounds wonderful," said Holly before walking haughtily out the door.

There was a long pause before either of them said anything. Finally, Bennett spoke.

"So who was that, Moony? Your girlfriend?"

"Holly is just my friend and neighbor. Nothing more," Remus stated evenly.

"Whatever you say, Moony," Bennett replied. He clearly didn't believe him.

"Why are you asking, Hoot? You sweet on her already? It's a little sudden, but if it's true love…," Remus teased.

Bennett snorted at this accusation. "Seems like too much of a hot-head if you ask me."

"Look who's talking," Remus muttered under his breathe before saying out loud, "Whatever you say, Hoot."

Personally, Remus thought that Bennett's last comment wasn't entirely truthful.