A/N: I don't own Harry Potter, that belongs to J.K. Rowling!

The Dementor's Kiss

Ella should have realized that she would need to be cautious around the Hospital Wing. She was too tired to truly understand what was happening in the Ward though. Of all the things she should've expected but didn't was Snape's furious yells reverberating from the area. It made her stop dead.

"YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER! HE DID IT, I KNOW HE DID IT!" Snape was screaming behind the doors. Ella could only imagine this meant Sirius had escaped with the help of the Time Turner. She wanted to leap for joy, but instead she was paralyzed with fear as Professor Snape huffed passed her. Ella let out a sigh but then held her breath once more as Dumbledore and the Minister also came along. She waited a moment longer to make sure the group of people had gone a bit further before she moved into the slowly lighting corridor. A hiss released down the hall.

"Not now!" Ella groaned as Mrs. Norris stared at her from down the pathway. She was stalking towards her, but Ella was determined to not be caught now or ever by that pesky creature. She began to race in the direction Dumbledore and Fudge disappeared down. Ella hoped she was in the clear until she ran into something…or someone.

Fudge's voice was slightly strained as anyone's would be after getting collided into, "My dear, watch out where you're going."

Ella froze slightly before remembering her manners, "Sorry, sir." She noted that Professor Dumbledore was nowhere in sight. He must have gone back to his office.

"It's quite alright, but where might you he racing to at this hour?"

She glanced behind her, but Mrs. Norris was gone, "I was on a nice early morning walk when the Caretaker's cat spotted me. Where she is, he normally isn't far behind. I don't think a morning stroll is something to get detention over, but he and I wouldn't see eye to eye in that regard."

Fudge nodded at her with a conflicted expression on his face, "Well, you shouldn't be out at this hour, not when Sirius Black is on the loose. Though I dare say he won't be trying to go back here any time soon after tonight. I shudder to think what would have happened if he had killed any of the students tonight. Be careful my dear."

"Why?"

The Minister looked at her stunned as though he didn't believe what she had just said to him. Her gaze held his with the same intensity they possessed years ago when she had warned Sirius to not go after Pettigrew. It was a look that could make grown men be taken aback. Brimming behind her eyes was that power she sought to conceal, but moments like these made her composure crack and begin to reveal her bravery.

"Good God, isn't it obvious? A convicted murderer was just on the grounds of this school, and from what I've heard, he managed to break into the school on more than one occasion this year. I don't mean to offend, but I believe any rational person would find something to fear in that," Cornelius Fudge choked out at her.

"Sirius Black is not a murderer." A heavy silence hung in the air for a moment.

"Excuse me?"

Ella stood up to her full height which was only an inch off of the minister's, "With all due respect Minister, I believe you heard me very clearly. Sirius Black is not a murderer, he has not been, nor will he ever be. How could so many people be making up the same story?"

"How do you…" Fudge trailed off seeming to believe that her knowledge on the subject wasn't as pressing of a matter. "A powerful charm can inflict such sufficient damage to a young person's mind."

She frowned, "But that isn't true. They're not confused and they haven't been cursed. I think it'd be in the best interest of the public if you listened to Harry Potter and his friends."

Cornelius Fudge looked at the girl in front of him, "What's your name, my dear?" Ella took note of how strained his voice was at the phrase "my dear."

"I don't think you need to know that." Mrs. Norris finally made an appearance at the end of the corridor where Ella had been moments before. She slowly stalked towards the two people. "Well, that's the cat I was telling you about so as much as I'd love to stay and chat…I think it'd be in my best interest to be leaving. Nice to meet you!"

Before the minister could say another word Ella had dashed away. She only wished to reach the Common Room so she could collapse in a chair and pretend that was where she spent the night. Ella was acutely aware of her cheek throbbing again and remembered that she would need to come up with some excuse about the small bruise that was there.

"Excuse me…Excuse me!" Ella hissed.

The Fat Lady jolted awake, "What do you want?"

"To get in…what else?" The Fat Lady groaned and put up a bit of a fuss, but after Ella gave the password she had no choice but to open the door. Ella was surprised that the guard trolls were already gone. As soon as she reached the Common Room she completely fell into her favorite corner and let her mind drift for the first time that evening.

Sirius was free –that was the most important thing to her at the moment. He was free and would remain that way as long as he remained levelheaded. While it was Sirius and he could be completely rash and unbelievably stupid, Ella was positive he'd be smarter as long as he had reason to. Ella knew Harry was the perfect reason for him to keep his head down. The only thing that would make Sirius forget about Harry would be Pettigrew. She still couldn't believe she allowed him to escape. Sure, she saved Harry and Hermione which inevitably saved Sirius as well, but in the long run she let the person who had the ability to sign all their death warrants runaway.

Despite this she couldn't help but chuckle as well at some of the absurdity of the evening. It wasn't exactly funny, but the shear insanity of some of the things she experienced and survived were enough to make her feel like she'd aged several years in one night. Ella couldn't even fathom how everything had happened in only a few hours. She'd warned the Minister of Magic about changing his opinion of Sirius for the sake of the Wizarding World. It seemed slightly ridiculous that she allowed herself to do as much, but she couldn't possibly help it. By not believing Sirius was innocent and searching for Pettigrew, he could be sealing the fate of a lot of people. Especially if Voldemort would return, which Ella would never want in a million years.

Her arm began to throb under its dressing that the House Elves had put on it. She knew better than to itch it or so much as touch the scratches. The Elves assured her it wouldn't be noticeable for anyone to see but for that to work she couldn't let anyone know it was hurt now when the wounds were fresh. Part of her wondered how many bruises she actually had littering her body at this point. She was aware that she got battered around a lot the past few hours. It was very possible that she was going to be tender for the next few days, and Ella figured it would be okay as long as she remained strong and didn't let on to how injured she was.

"Ella!"

She jumped up tense once more. Her friends were surrounding her in the Common Room. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts and realize that she had dozed off for who knows how long. They were looking at her with slight worry in their features. Ella couldn't bear to look towards Fred at all. After the way she scared all of her friends the afternoon before, she could only imagine what they were thinking.

"Hello…" she mumbled moving her gaze to the floor.

"Did you sleep down here all night?" Katie asked her.

"Yes…I was feeling restless after my vision and after talking with Dumbledore I walked around for a bit before I came back and just slept here," the lie slid between Ella's teeth easily. She felt bad, but what was she supposed to say? She was fighting the forces of evil in her Animagus form? That would definitely go over well…

Fred's voice drew her back to the conversation, "What did you see?"

Ella bit her tongue. She didn't want to lie so she said the next best thing to the truth, "I saw Sirius Black escaping. I tried to tell Dumbledore but I think what I saw came to pass." Ella let the sadness she felt from not catching Pettigrew funnel into what she was portraying as Sirius eluding capture. A hand set itself on her shoulder.

"Don't let it get to you, you did your best," Fred's voice was kind and the words themselves felt like a gentle hug, but Ella couldn't let herself believe what he said. She probably could've done more by saying something sooner or just nabbing Pettigrew earlier as a fox.

"Thanks," she whispered to him granting a small smile. Her eyes moved up to meet his.

Worry filled his features and Ella was afraid he'd seen through her lie, "What happened to your cheek?" Everyone else looked at the small bruise she was sporting.

Ella slowly brought a hand to the spot and shrugged, "I must have hit myself in the face at some point of the night. I was very restless."

The boy sighed, "Only you, Ella." Everyone laughed, even Ella which made her feel much better. Who knew she was holding that in so much?

"C'mon, let's go eat. I'm starving," Lee complained. Ella followed her friends and found herself easily sliding back into the pattern of conversation. The night's events began dissipating in her head and even her injuries hurt less with the distraction her friends gave.

They all nibbled on some food and chatted about how glad they were that tests were over. The fifth years all discussed how lucky they'd feel if they managed to scrape by a few O.W.L.s each, and both Katie and Ella were terrified for the next year when they had to handle the test themselves.

"May I have everyone's attention?"

The Great Hall, which was relatively full by this time, all looked up at Professor Snape who seemed just as furious as he was earlier in the morning. There was a glint in his eyes that Ella certainly didn't like. She couldn't imagine that anything good would come out of this announcement Snape appeared to be making.

"Is that git informing us no one passed this year?"

"Why else would he look like that?" George finished for Fred.

Snape cleared his throat before sneering, "I thought it was only appropriate to warn you that your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for this year is a werewolf."

An outburst of shock came from the entire student body. Many of the teachers looked at Snape with obvious disdain as did Ella. She couldn't fathom how he could stoop so low as to reveal Lupin's secret to a bunch of students who viewed him as a role model. All around the Great Hall students were voicing complaints about the arrangement and many thought Dumbledore had gone nuts for allowing a monster into the school. These same students loved him minutes before the announcement, but Ella knew firsthand just how deep prejudice could run.

Raising his voice only to be heard over the crowd, Snape continued, "There he is now."

Ella and the rest of the school turned towards the entrance where Snape's gaze was set and sure enough, Remus Lupin stood looking ragged and pale. Ella could see many of the students turn judgmental gazes onto the once respected man. Her heart could have broken looking at Lupin as he faced, probably for the hundredth time, a room of people who disliked him for a reason he couldn't control.

He placed a brave look on his face before calmly stating to all the students and faculty, "I am resigning from my post." With that, Lupin turned around remaining just as composed as before and walked out of the room.

The students babbled anew at the development. His resignation was all they needed to confirm Snape's words. Ella, on the other hand, was horrified by the action. He was following the same pattern of the position's curse. Ella stood up suddenly, she couldn't let him leave.

"What are you doing?" Fred asked her.

She glanced down at her friends, "What d'you mean? I'm going after him. He can't possibly leave, he's the best teacher we've ever had. Not only that, but he doesn't deserve this."

Alicia shifted nervously in her seat, "But Ella, he is a werewolf and those are very dangerous. If he were to bite one of the students then they would be a werewolf too."

"You're joking, aren't you?" Ella stated shocked. "He's our professor! He was one of our favorites. You can't possibly believe that he's a monster like others. We know him better than that!"

"Ella, calm down," Fred said soothingly trying to touch her arm.

"No! Don't tell me to calm down. I can't believe you all. He was so kind to you and you're willing to write him off as dangerous because of something he can't control. No one was even hurt throughout the year. I'm not going to deny he's dangerous, but he actually taught us. He was competent and we need a competent teacher…"

She didn't realize she had started to cry out of frustration until Fred's arms wrapped around her in a hug, "We aren't afraid of him. We aren't angry or writing him off as dangerous. We're taught to fear people like him, but not Lupin. He's different from the others, you don't completely understand that because you didn't grow up with it. Werewolves used to purposely attack people especially children when we were growing up. We aren't scared of Professor Lupin, you're right in saying he's our favorite teacher, but the shock made us act irrationally."

Ella looked up at him and nodded slowly, "I know, I'm sorry for snapping. I need to go talk to him."

Fred nodded slowly, "You knew didn't you? You knew before Snape's announcement."

"Of course I did. When don't I know things like that? I accepted it though because he never had a choice in the matter. Some people don't choose what happens to them or what they're able to do. It's like me in a way. I never chose to see the future, I didn't want this ability or power or whatever people want to call it, but nevertheless, I have it. Like Professor Lupin I can't say I don't want to do this. I can't stop dreaming and he can't stop transforming. No, it's not the same thing, but I understand at least a little more than others do about not having a say in something."

"I understand…he's probably in his office," Fred said. Ella looked up to him in confusion. Fred just laughed, "You should go talk to him. Maybe he won't leave if you do." Ella held Fred's eyes a moment longer before leaving the Great Hall and making her way to Lupin's office.

"Who is it?" Lupin's voice sounded strained from behind the door. Ella only knocked once before the professor called out. He must have figured someone would come to find him after that outburst.

Ella swallowed, "Ella Worthington, Professor."

The door slowly swung open and Ella entered. Lupin had turned to have his back to her. His wand was lying on the desk as though he just discarded it after using it to open the door. Ella remained in the doorway for a moment wondering if the man would turn around to face her. Lupin moved items from around the room to place in the bags.

"I'm sorry…"

Lupin paused, "I don't know why you would be. It wasn't your fault that Severus decided to tell the rest of the students. Their reaction wasn't within your control either." He still wouldn't face her.

"I can still be sorry for what happen though. I can still be upset with the lack of humanity they originally displayed." Remus Lupin refused to address her still. Ella huffed in frustration, "Professor, don't leave."

"I have to, Ella. I could have hurt someone last night," Lupin retorted being his logical self.

She shook her head even though he couldn't see that, "But you didn't, and now that Pettigrew has escaped we need a more competent teacher in this class than ever before. You were the best Professor we had and we'll need your guidance now more than ever. If you leave who's to say we'd be able to survive an attack from Voldemort when he returns?"

"If, Ella. If Voldemort returns."

"No," Ella stated firmly. "This isn't an "if" anymore. I saw that much last night when I kept having my visions. Tonight before midnight the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master –The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant's aid, greater and more terrible than he ever was. These are the words I heard. These are the words that fueled everything that happened last night and I couldn't stop them. I couldn't prevent his escape without Harry and Hermione getting hurt so I let Pettigrew escape, it was my only foreseeable option at the time. Now, I'm just trying to make sure we're ready for when that prediction comes to pass because if it's even a fraction true, we 'll need all the help we can get."

This confession made the man pause for a long while. He still remained facing the back wall, but Ella could visibly see that his posture had gone rigid. Her words had pierced him deeply. Lupin was struggling between two different options –it was clear as day. He gently lowered what he had in his hands back to the desk.

"Ella, I can't stay. Not because I don't want to but because the parents will be furious if I stay. They don't want a werewolf to be near their kids. I'm dangerous in that state no matter what, and if I forget to take that potion I could truly harm someone."

"But you won't!"

"And what if I did? Would you still want me to stay then?" Lupin questioned her. Ella could feel the bruises throb and cuts sting as the question suck in.

She took a steadying breath, "Yes."

He turned around for the first time the whole encounter and his eyes immediately feel on her bruised cheek. A flurry of emotions contorted his features.

"What happened?"

Ella shrugged, "I fell out of bed…on…my face…" She bit her lip and cursed at herself for being an idiot. How can she criticize Fred and George for having lame excuses when that's what she comes up with herself?

Lupin shook his head, "That's not the truth." He began moving towards her and Ella realized her robes had got caught on the bandage at her elbow. From her earlier inspection she knew her other bruises would be visible on her wrist. She tried pulling it down inconspicuously but the sleeve pulled on the bandage making her wince. Lupin noticed right away. "What's wrong with your arm?"

"Nothing! Absoluely nothing is wrong, I swear," Ella quickly replied trying to back away.

Her professor's face darkened, "I don't believe that for a second. Ella what's wrong with your arm? Show me or I'm calling Madam Pomfrey down here."

"Don't!" Ella yelled as he turned towards the fireplace. She was panicking by this point. But what else could she do? Ella slowly rolled up the sleeve of her robe to show the gauze bandage the House Elves had wrapped there earlier. She refused to look at Lupin and pressed her lips together tightly to hold back any words that might screw things up for her.

"What happened?"

"I told you nothing…"

Professor Lupin shook his head, "That's not nothing. In fact that looks like it needs to be cleaned and changed again."

Ella turned to look at her arm and sure enough one of the cuts must have reopened when it got hooked on her sleeve. She sighed and cursed under her breath.

"This needs tending to now," she explained to the professor.

He nodded, "I'll call Madam Pomfrey. She'll fix it back up again."

"No! Don't you understand that she didn't bandage it the first time? I can go fix it," Ella told him trying to move out of the room. She'd already failed in keeping him at the school so what was the point of staying there?

"Wait," he said. Ella stopped, "Do you really think I'm letting you leave that easily without giving me an explanation? Not a chance. Pip!" Ella didn't even have time to shoot him a confused look before the House Elf who helped her earlier appeared.

Pip looked around before seeing Ella, "Young Miss! Do you need more help? I see you need help again…I can do that, yes I can!"

Before Ella could say anything the Elf disappeared then reappeared with all the supplies they had before. Pip started to undress the cuts and clean them once more. The room was very quiet and Ella found herself unable to look towards Professor Lupin. Without a doubt he would know what kind of scratches those were. She should never have come down here. It was already a useless effort and now she was going to have to struggle to explain this as well.

The Elf finished in what seemed like no time at all then disappeared after a quick bow. The silence in the room seemed to roar. Ella looked at the floor instead of at her ex-professor who was silent. She couldn't tell what kind of silence this was. Stunned? Angered? Disappointed? She hated it nonetheless.

"I can't figure out…you weren't there. I would remember that, but those are the same markings that a werewolf leaves. I didn't hurt anything…well, other than… No that's impossible," he mused.

Ella looked up at him, "You didn't hurt anything other than a fox?"

Lupin locked eyes with her. His expression was more serious than Ella had ever seen it before, "You didn't…"

"Last year –at the end of the year even though I could've managed it around Christmas time. I was Petrified which made it difficult," Ella explained.

"Why would you do something like this? Don't you know how incredibly dangerous and stupid it is? I know that Sirius, James, and Pettigrew did it, but that doesn't mean they weren't idiots as well. They could have been hurt just as badly as you could have been."

While his anger rose, Ella's dissipated, "I didn't do it for the same reason you did. Something in my dreams kept calling out to me so I took a leap of faith and got lucky. I know that, and I don't regret this. No matter what you think –I don't. If I hadn't been able to transform like this Sirius would've never gotten help and Harry and Hermione could be dead or werewolves. I stopped you from hurting them, and that's worth whatever puny injury I've got now. You can't convince me otherwise and my word still stands and has more merit if anything. You hurt me and I still want you to stay. I want you to teach here and help us."

"Ella, I can't stay…now more than ever. I actually hurt one of my students. I could have killed you–"

"But you didn't! You stopped yourself, doesn't that count for anything?" Ella argued.

"No. It can't count. Ella, I appreciate your effort, but I can't stay. I've made up my mind and I'm leaving, now can you accept that?" Lupin asked and Ella finally sighed in defeat.

She looked up at her professor sadly, "I suppose I have to, but you can't tell anyone about the fact I'm an Animagus. It's like my dream ability….not everyone needs to know."

Lupin let out a breathy laugh, "Now I don't need to be a professor to figure that out. So what else happened last night?"

"Harry produced a full patronus and fought off all the dementors. He and Hermione used a Time Turner to save Sirius Black. That's about as much as I've been able to gather from the course of the evening," Ella told him with a slight laugh.

The used-to-be professor smiled knowingy at her, "Why don't you run along, I hear there's one final trip of the year to Hogsmeade."

Ella got up and moved towards the door before pausing, "Professor?...I mean, Lupin? Or would you prefer Remus–"

"Yes, Ella?"

"Will I ever see you again?"

Remus Lupin smiled at one of the kindest and most brilliant people he'd ever met.

"I certainly hope so."

A/N: So, how did it look? What did you think of Lupin finding out about Ella's Animagus form? College is a busy time so I apologize for not updating quickly. Make sure you review, it give me more motivation! :)