From the corner of my eye, I could just make out Professor Lupin's reaction. For a moment, he stood still, as though he had just been petrified. He then regained his composure, laughed nervously, and said,
"I'm very sure Faylinn would much rather be kissed by any one of those five boys than me, Audrey," he stated, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I don't think so, Professor," Audrey replied earnestly, "Flint and Kreb are 100 out of the question, she can't stand Percy and he has a girlfriend anyway, she doesn't get along well with Ward and his girlfriend is very, very protective and would hex Fay to oblivion if Ward so much as winked at her – as for Oliver, well, he might have been an option but he's not at school, and we can't wait that long for him to return."
I love you Audrey, I thought, my heart racing faster than ever, ten blocks of you chocolate for you!
Professor Lupin looked still looked unconvinced, and turned to Madam Pomfrey for help.
"Poppy, please, you must have some suggestion?"
Madam Pomfrey considered him for a moment, "If what Audrey has said about the students is true – and I believe it is – then I agree with her, you're our best option, Professor."
"And you are single, aren't you, Professor?" Audrey asked.
"Yes, but –" he began.
"Then what's the problem, Professor?" she asked, cutting him off.
"But- but, I –" he stuttered, looking hopelessly between the two very determined faces of the women standing besides him, "She wouldn't want to kiss me though; she has to kiss back doesn't she? I highly doubt she would want this. We should go for someone younger, someone more handsome –"
"Nonsense, Remus," said Madam Pomfrey sternly, "You are more than handsome enough!"
"It's true Professor," Audrey nodded, "I know Fay, and if it was a choice between any of those boys, the other staff members or you, she would rather kiss you than the others. Not that she'd enjoy it," she added hurriedly, lying through her teeth, "But I'm sure she won't object, considering that it can't be fun, you know, being parallelized and all…"
"But isn't it illegal?" he asked desperately, "I'm her teacher, after all."
"This is a special case professor," Madam Pomfrey countered, "I know the law, it will be permitted, and she is seventeen anyway."
"I'm not convinced," he said stubbornly, "I say we call Dumbledore – ask for his opinion."
"Very well," Madam Pomfrey muttered disapprovingly as she walked away from my bed, still holding the ancient book, and disappeared out of sight. A few moments later, the white walls of the hospital wing were flickering under the influence of a green light, and Madam Pomfrey's voice could be heard saying,
"Dumbledore's office!"
A minutes silence passed, filled only with the sound of Professor Lupin's foot steps as he paced aimlessly across the room, and the sounds of Audrey anxiously drumming her fingers against the wall.
Then, with more flashes of green light, two sets of foot steps grew louder as Madam Pomfrey, joined by the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, approached my bed. Professor Lupin stopped pacing at once.
Professor Dumbledore stood by my bed, examined me with his piercing blue eyes for a few moments, then turned to Professor Lupin and said,
"Poppy has explained the circumstances to me, Remus," he said, with the faintest hint of amusement in his voice, "and I do agree that Miss Audrey Parker is correct in saying that you are the best man for the, ah, task."
I held my breath, waiting, for his response, hoping…
Lupin sighed loudly, "I have no choice, do I?" he said.
"You'll do it?" Audrey asked excitedly.
"If I must," he muttered, recognising defeat.
Yes! I thought, finally drawing breath. Professor Lupin, Professor R. J. Lupin is going to kiss me! Me! And I have to kiss back as passionately as I want, all in the name of being cured! Is this a dream come true, or what?
Professor Dumbledore excused himself and returned to his office, while Madam Pomfrey stood besides me and brushed my fringe out of my eyes.
"Faylinn dear, I know you can hear me. We need you to kiss Professor Lupin back, and hold the kiss for thirty seconds; it is the only way we know that can cure the poison from the apple. Wait for me to say you can stop, otherwise, if you pull away before that, you will remain paralysed."
She patted my hand, and called for Lupin to come forward. He approached, and from the corner of my eye I could see that he looked nervous.
"Audrey, look away please, and you too Poppy, after you've started your stop watch, look away."
"Shy, are you?" said Madam Pomfrey sceptically, raising an eyebrow, "You never used to mind who saw you kissing that Rose girl back when you were a student here. Why, the number of times she snuck in to be with you –"
"Poppy, please, is this really the time?" he said exasperatedly, "Just look away, please?"
"Okay, okay,"
Professor Lupin leaned forward slightly; his face was about thirty centimetres from mine.
"Faylinn, I'm very sorry about this – I feel like I'm abusing you somehow. But I have no choice, I hope you understand."
My heart was racing, beating loudly, uncomfortably against my chest. A nervous sensation spread through my body, as I waited…
Professor Lupin leaned forward slowly, hesitantly. The wait was agonising; until finally, his soft, warm lips touched mine. Instantly, I regained control of my body, and pressed my lips against his, kissing him softly. He kissed back gently, resting one of his hands on my shoulder. Daringly, I raised my own right hand to his neck, allowing his hair to fall around my fingers, taking pleasure in the softness of his skin. I deepened the kiss and he obliged. Bloody hell, the man is a great kisser, I thought. I let my tongue trace his lips lightly; wondering if I was going too far, and assuring myself I could pass if off in the pretence of being passionate, as Madam Pomfrey had said we needed to be.
And then, finally, all too soon, Madam Pomfrey's voice shattered the silence, calling for us to stop, and Professor Lupin pulled away immediately, his cheek tinged pink as he regained his breath, not looking anyone in the eye.
Audrey rushed to my side immediately, her eyes dancing mischievously.
"Are you alright, Fay?" she asked.
"Fine," I said, breathing heavily, "Fine."
Checking to see that the adults weren't looking, I quickly flashed Audrey a huge grin and mouthed the words thank you.
Audrey nodded understandingly, trying to suppress a giggle.
Madam Pomfrey came forward and asked a few questions, checking to make sure I was okay. I assured her that I felt as good as ever, and she reluctantly said that I could leave the hospital wing.
As I got out of bed my eyes darted straight to Professor Lupin. He stood a few meters away, staring unseeingly at the floor, looking worried.
I approached him shyly, vainly trying to fight back the blush that was all but engulfing my cheeks, while resisting the urge to kiss him again.
"Umm, P-Professor Lupin?"
He looked up quickly at being addressed and frowned slightly.
"Faylinn, I'm very, very sorry I had to put you through that –" he began.
"It's okay, Professor," I said, cutting him off, "Someone had to do it. It isn't your fault that other candidates were so, er, horrible. I – I can, ah, survive," I added in what I hoped was a casual voice.
He nodded awkwardly, and said, "I'm still sorry. I mean, you didn't even get a chance to voice your own opinion. I can imagine it would be horrible to have had this forced upon you."
"Well," I said shrugging casually, "It's better than being paralysed."
"I suppose," he said, though doubtfully, "I would appreciate if you didn't tell anyone about – about what just happened, Faylinn."
"Of course, Professor," I agreed quickly, privately thinking that the only person I would have wanted to spill my guts too already saw the whole thing.
"Right, well, I best be off," he said, with the air of a man wanting desperately to flee, "And I apologise again. I'll see you both at our next class."
He nodded briskly, turned swiftly and made his way out of the hospital wing, closing the door behind him.
Checking quickly to see that Madam Pomfrey was out of sight, I turned to Audrey and let out an excited yell, hugging her tightly.
"I love you, Audrey! You're the best!"
She shrugged, grinning broadly, "You know it's still gross, don't you? You kissed a teacher."
"He's gorgeous! Oh, Audrey, he's the most amazing kisser, seriously, it was just –" I raved, but Audrey held up her hand against my mouth.
"Please, I don't need to hear it!" she insisted.
"Okay, but I mentally promised you ten slabs of honeydukes best chocolate while you were convincing Lupin," I said, still grinning serenely as we made our out of the hospital wing, "And tomorrow is Halloween – Hogsmeade day. I'm sure you want to hear about that, don't you?"
"Mmm," she said, smiling cheekily, "You've got my attention…"