"Everybody back into castle NOW."
Hermione and Minerva shepherded the errant children back towards the castle. Word had spread quickly through the various towers and the majority of Slytherin and Gryffindor had decided to weather the threat of losing house points by tramping outside in their pyjamas at one o clock in the morning. After all, they couldn't take points if everyone did it. Neville and Ginny joined the others in trying to shift the resisting students back inside. Professor Dumbledore came to the rescue.
"Students please! I understand your concern for your fellow student and your interest in the unusual events of this evening. However, this is a dangerous situation and you MUST return to the castle immediately. Madam Potter and Professors McGonagall and Longbottom will see you back inside. Please stay in your common rooms and dorms until you hear that you may leave."
He turned to Professor Granger and asked her to check on the castle's security whilst the rest of them were outside. As he left, Hagrid could be heard booming from somewhere in the depths of the Forbidden Forest.
"I think 'e came this way."
Dumbledore sighed. Hagrid refused to be left out of the proceedings, but he just couldn't manage to remain quiet as asked.
Ron, Harry and Remus came flying out of the forest and turned to fix their wands on a spot not far from where they had emerged. Their shouted curses did little to impede the movements of the juvenile werewolf that came hurtling out of the forest after them.
The beast was a single bound away from Ron when Ren and her hastily reassembled team silently surrounded it. Harry and Remus quickly pulled Ron back out of the way and stumbled back to a position where they could get a better view. Ron sat down on the wet grass gasping for breath, it was as he half turned to place a hand on the ground before sitting that he noticed "Tangoman" cowering behind a wall. He shook his head is amazement. Not only was the man useless, he was also a coward and a voyeur; the fat little man was staring transfixed at the gruesome debacle.
Ren Rubor completed her roll and shoot technique and the werewolf swayed and fell. She glanced behind at the castle a little apprehensively and then shouted towards the gathered Professors.
"He's down. We need to get him to the Hospital Wing immediately. I need to check his vitals and ensure he is properly medicated."
Madame Pomfrey was already on her way down towards them with a floating stretcher.
Most of the Professors went off to check on the students and make sure that they all got to bed. They did have lessons in the morning after all. So when they reached the Hospital Wing only Professors Lupin, Dumbledore and Potter accompanied the former De-Were team.
Ren furiously checked and rechecked the boy as Pomphrey healed his abrasions. After that there was little more that they could do. Ren Rubor turned to Professor Dumbledore as she made to leave.
"I want to check on him tomorrow after he has returned to human form. I shall return after breakfast."
Dumbledore placed a hand on her arm to stop her leaving.
"I would be most gratified if you would agree to stay in the castle tonight. It is very late and I am sure everyone would feel better knowing that you are on hand."
He noticed the anxiety in her face, he didn't want to cause her any consternation but it really would be better if she stayed – for everyone. She hesitated a few moments longer before begrudgingly nodding her assent. Dumbledore just beamed.
"Wonderful. There are guest quarters in the Slytherin dungeons that I believe will be to your liking. Professor Potter will take you there."
"Slytherin?" she questioned, looking slightly afraid, "Why Slytherin?" Silently she cursed herself for making it an issue.
Dumbledore twinkled at her and her unease swelled inside her.
"You have nothing to worry about Miss Rubor. You will be quite comfortable."
With that he swept out and left her to make her way down to the dungeons with Professor Potter.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxHPxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Serenity fumed as she prepared for bed. She emptied her travel bag, slamming down the contents as she went. Her comfy black pyjamas were perfect for pacing in, but the stone floor of the dungeon was far too cold for her to be barefoot. She was too angry to cast a warming spell, the floor would probably catch fire. She knew damn well that she couldn't pace in the thick warm socks she wore to bed, an ill timed stomp and a bruised coccyx had taught her that years ago. Reluctantly she unwrapped the bizarre gift that one of the werewolves from the project had given her one Christmas – Totes Toasties? What a ridiculous name, obviously muggle in origin. The spongy grip on the soles ensured that she could pace slip-free and she vowed that she would have to send the boy a belated token of appreciation, those boys really did know her well. Better than anyone else had ever known her, well almost.
This was a set up. He knew. The old goat knew. Here she was dumped back in Slytherin after all this time. She thought that there was no possible way that he could recognise her. It had been a long time, she had a new name and she had changed beyond all recognition but somehow that maddening old man had twigged who she was, and now she had to stay here.
This blasted school. How on earth did a child manage to get a werewolf bite halfway through the school year without anyone noticing? Where were there werewolves around Hogwarts that were still afflicted without treatment?
She sighed deeply and desperately. If she was going to answer these questions, which she knew she would be expected to do, she would have to stay here for more than just one night. That would mean that at some point she was going to have to talk to Dumbledore; she couldn't see any way to escape it.
What on earth would happen after that she had absolutely no idea.
She threw herself down on the bed and pummelled the covers with her fists as she bit the blankets to muffle her angry growls. It was a juvenile reaction but it was the best she could do to deal with her frustration.
When she awoke it was daylight and she still had a blanket scrunched up in one fist. A quick glance at the clock showed her that she had better hurry if she was going to make breakfast. She hastily discarded the pyjamas and corseted herself into a simple black dress. Her idea of simple might be slightly more eighteenth century than most, but she felt more comfortable this way than she would in a modern daygown. The corsetry kept her in check and gave her the illusion that everything was under her control.
Swinging a cape over her shoulders she headed to the Great Hall.
She tried to show as little apprehension as possible as she waltzed into the huge room. Dumbledore attempted to meet her eyes, but she stubbornly refused him. She was not ready for this; she would never be ready for this. When she reached the table, she realised that the only place left for her to sit was between Dumbledore and Lupin. She didn't want to talk to either of them. One would plague her till she admitted her past and the other caused disturbing sensations in her body, ones which she was ill equipped to deal with. Resignedly she took her place and tried to concentrate on her breakfast instead of the people around her. She felt a hand settle on top of her own. The reassuring squeeze almost brought tears to her eyes despite the gentle nature of it. She finally looked Dumbledore in the eyes. She felt that she could drown in the tender understanding that she found there. When he spoke he made sure that it was too soft for anyone but her to hear.
"I know you need to check on young Mr Caruthers, we all want him to have the best help that he can get. Perhaps afterwards you would be so good as come and have tea with me. I think there is a lot that we need to discuss my dear."
The old man's eyes remained tender but also held a command. Ren nodded slowly but found herself unable to speak for the moment. This was like stepping back in time, she felt so helpless.
She finished her breakfast under the bizarre gaze of a rotund little man in orange. He kept smirking at her in a most disconcerting way and then shuffling himself in nervousness. The two reactions didn't seem to match and made him appear all the more odd. When Serenity realised that he was going to try and talk to her, she quickly made her escape to the hospital wing before he could get a word out.
She moved so quickly that she didn't notice another Professor rise and follow her.
"Ren. Wait up."
Remus was jogging through the castle to catch the woman. He grabbed her arm and she turned as if to hit him, stopping herself just in time.
"Hey. It's just me."
"Do you make a habit of stalking people through the corridors or is it just me that you intend to plague?"
"Whoa. Is this because I asked you to dinner or have you rediscovered Dr. Jeckyl's old potion?"
"What?"
"Muggle reference. Are you mad at me?"
Serenity sighed, "No Remus, I am just busy. Who was that fat little man in those disgusting orange robes?"
Remus chuckled. The initial sting of Ren's sharp tongue faded as she slipped back into less aggressive speech patterns. He had forgotten how Snapish she could be at times.
"That would be Parvus Secutus. Potions Professor."
One eyebrow climbed her forehead in surprise. They resumed their walk to the Hospital Wing at a more normal pace.
"What's he like?"
"Completely useless. He relies entirely on the lesson plans of the last long term Potions Professor we had and still can't manage to teach the students anything. We no longer offer NEWT level Potions because he isn't good enough to teach it."
He paused to consider the scandalised look on the woman's face. They were used to it, he supposed; it probably did sound terrible to outsiders. She looked appalled.
"We haven't had a potions Professor last more than a year since Professor Snape's death though, so I don't imagine we will suffer him much longer. Merlin knows who we will get next though, I'm not sure there is anyone left. There is a story going around that Professor Snape placed a curse on the job before he died."
Serenity laughed out loud at that. She had to stop walking until she could get her breath back. Remus moved closer to her and brushed a stray strand of hair back from her face. It was an odd reaction. Anyone who had known Snape would have thought it a distinct possibility, and then there was the whole DADA curse thing. The school gossip still allotted that alleged curse to Snape especially since Remus had been back in the position ever since the surly man's death.
She looked spectacular when she laughed though. He wasn't sure if he knew what he was doing but instinct was taking over. Something had been fired between them and had been burning solo for too long to be ignored anymore.
He cupped her chin, tilting it up till he could look in her eyes. She was a tall woman, nearly as tall as him but not so tall that she didn't have to look up a little. He heard her suck in her breath a little. As he slid his other hand around her corseted waist, her eyes flew wide. He wasn't sure if she was surprised or startled but he had to see if she would respond. Her cold note had left him wondering if he had imagined that kiss in the cellar, he had to know. He pulled her towards him, gently but firmly pressing against her and sliding his hand round the back of her head as he leaned in and kissed her. It was all in a moment but time seemed to slow down for Remus. His fingers tangled in her roughly pinned locks, dislodging the few pins that held it up. She didn't respond to the kiss immediately but as he gently slid his tongue between her lips he felt her resistance snap away and he took her mouth more passionately. When he felt her tongue slide over his own, exploring his mouth as he explored hers, his reserve fled him. He manoeuvred his dark mysterious beautiful ... he didn't have an appropriate way to describe her in his mind ...into a disused classroom and pinned her against the wall. Her hands moved over his body like silk, pulling him closer. Her skin was so soft, completely unblemished, like a child's skin. He moaned into the kiss and moved his fingers over her corsetry. Did she know how hot that looked? How completely sexual? He stroked his palms across the softness of her back where the bodice ended, just below her shoulder blades and deepened the impossibly deep kiss.
She groaned as his hands slid over her breasts. Breathlessly, she tried to extricate herself from the situation, quashing the part of her that was on fire at the same time.
"Remus"
"Huh"
"I can't... I need to check on the boy."
"Mmm. Have a drink with me, tonight."
"Remus, I don't think that this is a good idea."
Remus pulled her closer and trapped her eyes with his own, not allowing her to look away.
"Why not? We are single adults with no attachments. We obviously like each other. I'm not going to hurt you."
She had to stop this, it was wrong in so many ways.
"You don't know me. There are things about me. Things you don't know. You wouldn't want me if you knew..." she trailed off, not sure how much she could say without telling him everything.
"I don't care. You are a beautiful and fascinating woman. I don't care what there is your past to make you think that I wouldn't want you. I won't even ask about it, you can tell me when you are ready. For now, know that I want you desperately," he kissed her, "passionately" he pulled her hips tight against his own, "and not just sexually". He growled and sniffed around her, taking in the scent of her perfume, her shampoo, her natural pheromones. "The past doesn't matter, all that matters is you and me, here, now. I want to find out what makes you laugh like you did a moment ago. I want to find out what food will make you moan. I want find out what touch will make you moan. I want to find out how to keep you."
Ren panicked and pushed him away as fast as she could. Remus was mortified, he hadn't meant to say quite that much, but still, it was gutting. She looked petrified.
"Remus, I can't. I like you, I do, but I can't get involved with you. It just wouldn't be right."
Remus frowned. What the hell kind of boggart was tormenting her soul that she thought that she couldn't have a relationship?
"Because of this past that you mentioned?"
"Yes." She looked sheepish. Remus decided that it wouldn't be a good idea to press for details; he just had to keep assuring her that it didn't matter. He truly hoped that it wouldn't; the more she resisted on the point though, the more he wondered what the hell it was that she had been involved in.
"It doesn't matter to me, whatever it is. We all have our demons. Not many women would accept mine, but you have. Whatever it is, it doesn't matter."
"It would if you knew. Look, I have to get to the hospital wing and the Headmaster is expecting me," she groaned silently at the thought of that confrontation, especially considering the one that had just happened with Remus.
"Can we talk later?" He was calm, he knew he could win her round. She was obviously a lot more reserved than he thought.
"I'm not sure if I will be here."
"But if you are?"
"We'll see."
Remus sighed and released the wards so that they could leave. Just as Ren reached the door, he moved in for one last kiss, desperately hoping that he would be able to talk her into more, and then she was gone. He leaned against the wall for minute to catch his breath, a broad grin spread across his face and he looked vaguely drunk as he swung out the door and skipped to his lesson. Luckily he reached the classroom and the safety of his desk before the bell rang.