Author's Note: Here's another one! :D
Disclaimer: I don't own HP. Enough said. If I did, I wouldn't be a poor college student, now would I?
"Madam Pomfrey, do you think I could take the day off? I'm not feeling too well," Sara asked popping her head into the Hospital Wing.
"You aren't ill I hope," Madam Pomfrey said scowling, "Your eyes are all red. Do you have allergies?"
"…Yeah." she lied "I'm gonna rest. Thanks." Sara exited the Hospital Wing pausing, to look around. There was only one person she wanted to talk to right now. A year ago it would have been Callie. Now…maybe Snape was right. Heading down to the kitchens she politely asked the house elves for a thermos of chicken soup and headed back upstairs. She was two floors up when she realized she had no idea where Lupin's private quarters were.
"Is there something you're looking for Miss Roberts?" Professor McGonagall's curt question surprised her.
"Professor! Yes, actually, I'm looking for Professor Lupin. I heard he was ill." Sara said, "…I brought him soup," she added somewhat helplessly, holding the soup out in front of her as proof. McGonagall watched her for a long while, internal debate waging.
"Third floor, the portrait of the wolf in the forest." She said at last.
"Thank you ma'am!"
"Don't stay too long. He isn't feeling his greatest, poor man." She told her, her eyes flittering to the window. It would be sunset in about an hour.
"Miss Roberts," Lupin was stunned when he pulled open the door to his quarters. His eyes flew to the widow before they fixed back on her. "How'd you find my quarters?"
"McGonagall," Sara replied. She glanced uncomfortably down the halls around her.
"Please, come in," he invited, disappearing into the room. Sara followed, closing the door behind her.
"I heard you were ill." She said awkwardly. "I brought you some soup. Of course I wasn't sure if you could eat it or if you were like nauseas ill. If you can't, I can just take it back to the kitchens. It's chicken noodle if, you know, you're feeling up to it." She was well aware that she was babbling. "I'm sorry to bother you. I'm gonna leave…" she placed the soup on the closest hard surface. 'What on earth possessed her to come?'
"Sara," Lupin's tired voice interrupted her thoughts, "Thank you," She froze. He had never called her by her first name before. "What's bothering you?"
"Me? You're the one who's sick. How are you feeling, Professor?" She asked.
"Tired, but overall" Lupin paused before "…rather lousy." he admitted. "But in the time I've come to know you, I can tell when you're troubled. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing" Sara scoffed, brushing it off, "Just something Snape said."
"Ohhh?" Lupin asked, eyebrow raising as he took a seat, motioning for her to do the same.
"It's nothing," she insisted, the tears welling up in her eyes against her control, saying otherwise.
"Sara…"Lupin muttered softly, "What did he say?"
"Just stuff about me having no social life and Callie not really being my friend. Just the usual Snape stuff, only a tad crueler." Sara said, trying to shrug casually and struggling against the tears that threatened to fall, her voice breaking.
"Ohh sweetheart," Lupin sighed, " I am sorry. Professor Snape as never been too pleasant. Between you and me, he was a real git in school." Sara let out a choked laugh.
"That doesn't surprise me, sir." She gave him a watery smile. 'Had he really just called her sweetheart?'
"Truth be told, I'm glad you found me. I was feeling rather lonely." He expressed gently.
"No problem Professor," Sara responded. "Everyone missed you today. Couldn't you find a better sub than Snape?"
"Sadly, I don't choose the subs," he replied. "How is your shadowing going with Madam Pomfrey?"
"Pretty good. I can mend bones now," she grinned. Lupin mirrored her smile.
"I'll keep that in mind if ever I'm in need." He said seriously but with a hint of playfulness.
"Madam Pomfrey is so supportive. My parents think that being a healer is below me. They think I should be an auror or get some ministry job. Healers or, as muggles call them, "doctors" are much more respected in the muggle world because it takes a lot more than waving a wand for them." Sara sighed. Lupin looked at her sympathetically.
"Well, for what it's worth, I'm very proud of you and I would be honored to one day have you as my healer." He was serious.
"Lets hope you won't require my services," she laughed.
Christmas arrived faster then expected and Sara felt more and more depressed the nearer it got. Though she tried to hide it, Lupin had caught on.
"Are you alright? He asked one lunchtime as Sara sat glumly on a front row desk, knees hugged against her chest.
"Hmmmm?" she asked, looking up, "Yeah, I'm fine, professor." Lupin raised a skeptical brow but moved on.
"What are your plans for the holidays?" he asked and by the small sigh he heard, he knew he'd hit the mark.
"I'm not exactly sure…" Sara said slowly.
"You're not going home?" he questioned, coming around the side of his desk and perching on the front of it.
"Umm…my folks and I don't exactly…get on." She said, trying to make it sound as nicely as possible, but from Lupin's critical gaze, she sighed and continued. "I was never… the 'good' child. My brother always lived up to their expectations and I never did. He got a ministry job; works pretty much along side the Minister. I, well, I want to be a healer and they don't approve. I found that going home for break only leads to a bunch of yelling and ends up ruining everyone's Christmas. Not worth it." Lupin watched her sadly.
"Well, you can always stay here." He said, trying to lighten the mood.
"With the, what, four other people?" she laughed bitterly, "I don't need to give Snape any more ammunition about my social life. Callie asks me over every year and I did that second through fifth year but…her boyfriends have started coming, in recent years and…lets just say Callie's folks don't have a guest room and the sofa isn't that comfy." Lupin raised an amused eyebrow. "So, I stayed in a room at the Leaky Cauldron for Christmas last year, I'll probably do that this year as well." Her soft sigh broke Lupin's heart. Eventually she looked back up at him. "What about you, sir? What are you doing over the holidays?"
"Well, I'd planned to stay at Hogwarts." He told her thoughtfully.
"Planned?" she asked, mildly curious. Lupin nodded, thinking. He desperately did not want her to be alone for Christmas, but honestly couldn't think of a way to fix that without bordering on an inappropriate student-teacher relationship.
"Perhaps…"he started and she gave him a curious look as the bell rung, signally lunch was over. Students began filtering in, interrupting whatever Lupin was going to say. Sara sighed as she made her way back to her desk in the corner. A small part of her had thought he was going to ask her to spend the holiday with him…of course that was ridicules. 'He's a teacher' she reminded herself as she tried to brush away her disappointment and concentrate on what Lupin was teaching. What it just her imagination, or did Lupin's eyes flicker over to meet hers more than usual this class?
Christmas chapter next! Although I haven't exactly planned out what's gonna happen yet. Any suggestions? Review and add what you think should happen and I will gladly consider them. :D