"-erious about sending you back! If you can't learn to behave, oh! Remus!"

Honey watched him as he gingerly sat down next to her at her table hidden away in the library. He had found it to be one of her regular spots, and assumed he would be able to find her there. Seems he had been right.

"Having troubles?" He asked.

She sighed. "It's this bloody bowtruckle. He won't leave me alone." She narrowed her eyes at him. "I didn't appreciate you laughing the other day. He was misbehaving."

He couldn't help but give a weak smile. "Sorry. I think I was just surprised. Why bring him to school if he's such an annoyance?"

She scowled pointedly, reaching up to poke the offending bowtruckle. "I didn't. Fergus snuck into my trunk. Usually I pack it very carefully and check it before I leave, but I was a little distracted and running behind this time."

Remus cleared his throat and checked to make sure no one else was around. "Because of the potion?"

Her eyes suddenly became excited as she leaned closer. "How was it? Did it work? Do you have your notes?"

His brows rose at her intensity, but he reached into his bag and pulled out a new leather bound journal and passed it over. Honey snatched it and quickly flipped it open, skimming his notes. She hummed occasionally when he assumed she read something she approved of, and her brows pinched when she read something she didn't.

"No, you cannot add sugar to it. It will mess with the wolfsbane."

Remus choked. "Wolfsbane? Honey, not only can that kill you, it's super expensive! Why-"

"First of all, I'm practically God's potioneer gift to wizardkind, I'm not going to mess up and give you something that will kill you. Secondly, my grandparents are loaded. It wasn't a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" Remus gritted out. "You didn't need to do this. A simple apology would have worked. And in case you haven't noticed, I'm neither a gifted potioneer nor loaded. What, did you just expect me to rely on you to make this for the rest of my life?"

Honey bit her lip and didn't meet his eyes. "Something tells me 'a simple apology' wouldn't have sufficed. And... I didn't really think of the long term, but it worked! The ingredients I used are probably the only ones that can procure these kinds of results, so yes, rely on me if you have to. I don't care."

Remus rubbed his hand down his face. "You might not care now, but what about years down the road? When we don't live in the same castle and you have a husband who starts to ask questions?"

Honey looked uncomfortable as she flipped back through his notes. "I guess the distance could be a problem, but I wouldn't worry about anyone asking questions. I kind of expect to live the rest of my life happily single with my family."

Remus frowned, a stab of disappointment shooting through him. Which was ridiculous, just because she had invented a potion to help him when she had previously hated what he was, didn't mean she wanted to marry him. He hadn't even wanted her to, anyways. He didn't just have a curse, he was a curse. It was bad enough his friends were dragged into this mess, he wouldn't have his-

"Why?" He couldn't help but ask. He had just wanted to cut off that line of thinking, and that was the first thing that came out of his mouth.

She picked at one of her nails and shrugged. "If you haven't noticed, I'm not the best with people. My love is potions. I can barely think of myself when I'm on a task, how can I think of someone else?" She straightened. "Anyways, I'm going to tweak this next batch, and hope it helps more. And I will continue to make this for you until you don't want me to anymore."

He sighed but nodded in acceptance. "I'll find a way to repay you."

She smiled wanly. "Don't bother. Papa is ecstatic that I'm 'coming around' and using my gifts to help you. Merlin, you should have seen him- practically prancing around and singing that I've 'seen the light.'" Her smile became softer as she closed the journal. "His pride and happiness is enough for me."

Remus swallowed awkwardly. "So, erm, you told him?"

She looked at him in confusion before understanding dawned in her eyes. "I didn't tell him who you were. And I won't tell anybody about this. I promise."

He slumped in relief, feeling the left over tension finally dissipate after a month. "I owe you, really."

She shook her head. "I'm just being a decent person, probably for the first time in my life."

He snorted. "I don't believe that."

She quirked a brow in challenge. "You don't know any of the stuff I got up to as a child. When Newt said I was coming around, he meant it."

Remus smiled and said, "Well, then I'm glad."

Honey's eyes grew distant as her smile returned. "Me, too."

"You're staring."

Honey startled back to the moment and looked at Ashlanne who sat next to her in the dining hall. "What?"

Ashlanne giggled. "At Lupin. You like him!"

Honey blushed and scowled, turning back to her food and stabbing a vegetable. "I do not."

"Oh my God, you do!" Ashlanne squealed. "Since when?"

Honey shrugged offhandedly and took a bite of her diner. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"This is amazing," her friend said as if she hadn't denied it. "You're finally noticing a boy. I'm really not surprised it's Lupin, he's so smart and quiet. Oh, you two would be so cute together!"

Honey flushed again as her mind agreed. "We will not be anything together," she said firmly.

"Oh, why not? He'd be good for you," Ashlanne whined.

Honey pondered that as she looked back at her growth these past few months. Mostly just this last month. Maybe Remus was good for her. But that didn't mean she should pursue a relationship with him- she meant what she had said. She could barely focus on herself as it was, Remus deserved someone who would give him more than that. And just because she might have budding feelings for him, didn't mean he felt anything but friendship and gratitude towards her.

"I know that look," her friend scolded. "You think potions is your life. But you don't want to grow old alone. What will you do when you can't do potions anymore? Who will you come home to after a long day of work spent bent over a cauldron? Who will remind you to eat and take care of yourself when you move out?"

Honey set her fork down with a clatter. "I can take care of myself, thank you. Besides, I feel like you're forgetting something. A relationship is a two way street, and Remus has expressed no interest in me."

She knew she messed up when Ashlanne's brows rose in glee. "Remus? Since when are you on a first name basis?"

Shit. "We're transfiguration partners."

Ashlanne's grin spread wider. "Oh, yeah?"

"Yes."

"Well, guess what?"

Honey sighed and snapped, "What?"

"He's staring at you, too."