-I don't own HP-

Chapter Fourteen:- The Confrontation (For Pip!)

Jaye tried to decide the best course of action. Should she talk to Remus about it? Did the teachers know? Surely they did. What would he think of her when he found out she listened into his conversation and spied on him? Would he want to know her? Is this why he left her in the first place?

What should I do?

Jaye made her way to the History room, knowing she didn't have to pay attention in Binns' class. She entered the room and sat next to Tara, scribbling a note.

T,

Did you know R is a W?

J

Yep, but I couldn't tell you.

I understand…do you think that's why we broke up?

Who knows? But you don't care, do you?

Do I? Aren't werewolves meant to be dangerous?

Aren't Muggles?

Haha, true. But…obviously he's scared of hurting people. What if he bit me?

Just a bite? You could both live wolfish lives together happily ever after! But if you're worried about it…gosh, I dunno. He's never hurt anyone before, has he?

No. We would've heard about it for sure.

Well, it comes down to trust, doesn't it? Do you trust him?

How can I? I told him everything, and he kept this huge secret from me!!

Fair enough, but before you found out. Before you even broke up, how did you feel about him?

Jaye hesitated before writing an answer.

I loved him. I would've trusted him with my life.

Then it's obvious. Tell him you don't care, because deep down, you still feel that way. I know it.

~*~

Remus stretched out under his favourite tree, hoping to get a few minutes sleep. He listened to some of the Marine Magic class learning about algae before casting a Disheediosious spell on himself, blocking all noise from the outside world. He closed his eyes, dreaming about the best days of his life.

He was 11, scared and nervous, waiting on the platform for the Hogwarts Express. A lanky boy with glasses and unbelievably messy hair came up to him and stuck out his hand.

"Hi! I'm James. Who are you?"

"Remus. Remus Lupin."

His first friend…he'd never been so happy.

Remus smiled in his sleep, recalling how glad he was that Dumbledore had convinced him to go.

Suddenly, he was 14, in his third year of Hogwarts. His friends had found out he was a werewolf and they convinced him they didn't care, and that they wanted to become Anigami so they could be with him. They were true friends…

Now he recalled the wonderful month or so he had spent with Jaye. He remembered curling up with her by the fire in the ROR and feeling her body rise as he kissed her. He smelt the pleasing aroma of vanilla…it was bitter-sweet.

After what only felt like a few minutes, the vanilla scent still engulfing him, he felt someone shaking his arm.

"What?" he asked densely, forgetting his about silencing charm. Jaye mouthed wordlessly at him, obviously passionate about what she was saying. Remus held up a hand to quieten her. He reversed the spell and greeted her awkwardly.

"Jaye…hi. This is…unexpected."

She nodded. "Yeah. Well, I really have to talk to you."

"Jaye…" Remus faltered. What could he say to make her understand, without giving himself away? For her own safety, they had to stay apart. But she cut him off before he had time to think an excuse.

"I'm not here to try and rekindle our relationship." She lied. Of course that's why she was here…but Jaye was proud. She didn't want him to think she was crawling back to him, or that she was desperate. "I just need to know why you left. I don't believe that you're the type of guy to use a girl the way you used me."

Remus sighed. "Jaye, I didn't just go out with you so we could spend the night together…as much as it must feel like that to you. I loved getting to know you; I loved spending time with you. But…I had to end it."

Jaye shook her head. "No, Re. You didn't HAVE to end it. You chose to…just because you're a werewolf?"

Remus' eyes grew wide. His mouth opened and closed continuously. Jaye smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes.

"Come on Moony! I know you better than your best friends. You secretly want to be a teacher, you've no middle name and you wish more than anything to ride in an elevator! I know you're really upset if you hum bars from Magic Meanders. You really thought I wouldn't notice that you disappeared every full moon? You thought I wouldn't find out? Well, I thought we knew each other better than that. I thought we trusted each other. But you didn't tell me about being a werewolf?!"

Jaye was shaking with emotion…her eyes blinked rapidly, but she refused to let the tears fall, she'd cried enough already over Remus. He grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently.

"I'm so sorry, Jaye. I was going to tell you, so many times. But I was worried. More often than not, people run a mile in the opposite direction if you're different."

"Well, then. Maybe its better we broke up. I can't be with someone if they don't trust me. But for the record Re, if you told me, I wouldn't have cared. I loved you. When you accept the fact that being a werewolf isn't a disease…" She bit her lip. "Maybe then we can try again."

And she walked away. Remus sat for a while, wondering why he'd been so stupid. If Sirius, James and Peter hadn't cared, why would Jaye? And now she hated him, distrusted him. Or did she? But did he want to put her in danger again? He was so confused. He needed to talk to Dumbledore.

~*~

"Ah, Remus. What can I do for you?"

Remus shut the door and took in Dumbledore's office. It was filled with shiny, silver contraptions and the walls were lined with portraits of previous Headmasters.

"Well, sir, I'd like some advice."

"Certainly my dear boy. I shall help if I can…what's this about?"

"Um, well…I just, I wanted to know if…when you really love someone…could I…if I thought…my condition…"

Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled at him.

"You want to know if you can love someone, even when you're scared that you may hurt them?"

Remus sighed in relief and nodded his consent.

"Well, Master Lupin, everyone has that fear, to a lesser or greater degree. No-one wants to hurt the people they love. But that's a part of what love is. Giving someone the ability to break your heart and trusting them not to. I realise that's not the kind of hurt you're talking about, but it's just as relevant. Knowing that the other person would do anything to protect you, to keep you happy…that's love. And trust…"

Remus shuffled his feet and looked at the floor, trying to hide his crimson face.

"Trust is a huge requirement in any relationship, between you and your friends, you and your teachers and you and your partners. You may feel now Remus that keeping them out of danger is the most important thing, but no-one should miss out on love. It's the strongest magic out there."

Remus nodded, his heart light. He was going to get Jaye back, by any means possible!

"Thanks sir. I'm grateful for it."

"Do pass my regards onto Jaye, won't you?" Professor Dumbledore said quietly as Remus left the room. Remus grinned.

That man knows everything.

I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to lie
So is this goodbye?

When you wake up every night

Does the scent of regret ever haunt you?

Like it does me?