A/N: Sorry for the delay, I think either I'm getting lazy or I'm overloaded with work these days, it's very hard and things...

Well, here's the chapter.

She sat there, perfectly still, as if to taunt me, to tease me easily. As much as I tried to pay attention to Slughorn, I kept on noticing the way she had edited her ensemble for the day: The slightly ruffled knee length skirt's the girls wore as usual on Jennifer was cut, as if they were window blinds, up to her thigh.

The shirt she wore, well, up the sides and the arms, she must've cut them into two, then made tiny slits on both ends onto to tie them back up again. As ridiculous as this sounds, it actually looked remotely attractive.

"Uh, Lupin.." A soft voice roamed in my thoughts and I looked up. Jennifer was staring at me expectantly. My hand went quickly to my tie in habit.

"Yes?"

"He told us to get the cauldrons lit."

"Oh, well.." I finally realized the small wood stoves and cauldrons that resided in the corner of our table. I pointed to the wood, cleared my throat and said, "Incendio!" It took to flames suddenly.

"Wow.." I raised an eyebrow at Jennifer's expression, as if she'd never seen magic, or more common, fire. "I never knew that spell for sure. Thanks, Lupin." She flashed me a wide smile. "You're pretty smart."

I bit my lip, swearing to myself, 'Dont blush, don't blush...' I expected I wouldn't succeed, only feeling a faint blush. She got to her feet and seemingly walked to Slughorn's desk, but honestly, it was more of a bounce-skip.

"Now, today, students!" Slughorn began, "We will be making Veritaserum. A simple enough potion for most of you to get you up to speed and if not, well.." He trailed off and said, "The instructions will be written on the board and I'd like a bottle of it on my desk by the end of class. Good luck!"

Bounce-skip-bounce-skip-bounce-skip. She leaned close to my face, causing my eyes to widen when she asked, "What do we need, Lupin?"

I flushed and stammered. A gorgeous girl depended on me. The pressure was almost unbearable, but my voice came to life and I murmured, "Scarab beetles, ginger roots, armadillo bile." She nodded with this adorably concentrated expression, as if she were thinking hard. I watched her leave to the table. Bounce-skip-bounce-skip-bounce-skip.

I was surprised that Jen came back,a small metal tin full of our ingredients in hand. She instantly opened the scarab beetles and dumped it into the boiling water.

"Wait, wait, wait!" I exclaimed, my hands flying to hers. As soon as I realized what I was doing, I blushed and lowered my hands, trying pointedly not to cross hers. "Uh, not that many."

I could see from my corner of my eye she was staring at me wide-eyed. I pointed my wand into the cauldron, mumbling, "Evanesco."

All of the water had vanished, then I mumbled, "Aguamenti." It began to fill with water and I propped my elbow up on the table, and stared forward. I was only distracted when, in the same amazed voice, Jennifer mumbled, "Wow.."

I shrugged, actually being sheepish and looked at the board. I showed Jennifer which to put in first and which way to stir it.

"Counterclockwise..?" She mumbled, looking at me, confused. I gave a light chuckle and smiled at her, hunching over a bit over the cauldron.

"Uh, not in the direction of a clock. The other way, see?" I took the small ladel we were given and stirred the potion tenderly in the opposite direction. She nodded and put her small hands over mine, her touch so light I hardly noticed.

"Let me try.." Jennifer said softly. My eyes flickered up towards her and widened in surprise; she had been close to my face, a lot closer. I felt my face pinken as I let go of the ladel, letting her stir the contents. I could nearly feel her breath on my face-was she actually leaning in closer? I-

"Oooh! Look!" She exclaimed suddenly. I whipped my head up in surprise.

"What?! Huh?!" I exclaimed back. This attracted attention and I glanced away from my classmates' stares. She pointed down at the potion-it was turn a perfect transparent color, clear as water, the color it was supposed to be.

We both stared down proudly, our reflections shown in what we had made. I looked over at her and felt a surge of pride. I knew she wasn't as much as an inconvenience intelligent-wise like everyone had said! "Good job, Jen."

I wondered if it was okay to make her a nickname. The next thing I knew, she was beaming and flung her arms around me.

"I couldn't have done it without you, oh, I knew I wasn't dumb!" I heard her say, and my smile widened. From her flirtatious and devious attitude to now, I knew Lily was wrong. I knew Jennifer was never a bad girl, she was good, and maybe Lily simply couldn't see that.

I let go of her, trying to avoid her eyes, yet I felt more confident. I hadn't stammered or done anything of the sort, I simply spoke to her. I even came in contact with her! So I took a vial and begin to pour a bit of the potion inside, and she poured the second.

"There. A clear Veritaserum coming right up." I corked it with concentration, but as I looked back up, Jennifer stared at me happily, those seemingly crystalline blue eyes sparkling at me.

"Well, let's, like, go!" She hooked her arm underneath mine and ran to the front of the room. I was sort of being dragged, but I didn't mind. Who knew this girl had such a thirst for knowledge?

"Professor Slughooorn!" Jennifer squealed, holding out the vial in her hand. "We're done, we're done, we're done!"

He glanced up from his The Daily Prophet. I arched an eyebrow; I'd no idea he read that. He nodded silently and took it from her.

"Good job, you two. Ms. Strewing, this shall greatly improve your grade, being with Mr. Lupin!" Slughorn winked at me and I glanced away for a moment, a surge of pride and embarrassment.

He got to his feet and shuffled to the head of the class. "Now, now, students, here comes the fun! Ms. Strewing and Mr. Lupin were the first to finish, therefor, they are the first to test their potion."

My eyes widened. I saw Slughorn beaming, the class chatter excitedly, Jennifer and her loose blonde curls bouncing as she went around her girlfriends, giggling words of luck.

"Now, come to the center, you two," He said, patting me and Jennifer on the back, centering us. My eyes wandered around for help, but no other Marauders did I see. I could only stare at Jennifer's excited face. He held out the vials and I murmured, "Ladies first."

She squealed. She obviously hadn't been used to such politness. I watched as she uncorked it, placing her dainty lips onto it. Her face seemed impartial as she swallowed, then took the second vial and held it out to me. I smiled back but my heart was racing at the thought of revealing intimate thoughts.

So I simply raised it to my mouth. It tasted like pure water, so pure I could nearly dehydrate then and there. I coughed a little and felt a strange, cool tingling as it slid down my throat. I flexed my wand wrist and sighed, feeling rather rejuvenated..except for my throat. It felt rather dry and I cleared it promptly.

"Let's start with something simple. Lupin, m'boy.." Slughorn watched carefully. "What's your name?"

I was about to reply "Remus." but instead, my dry throat speak an answer of "Remus John Lupin." Glancing down at myself, I stared at Slughorn in open mouthed shock.

"That is the power of your elixir? That's excellent, Remus. Now, Ms. Strewing. What's your name?"

She replied as coolly as she could, "Jennifer Isabelle Strewing." She raised her eyebrows and looked at me, surprised. I smiled at her, also slightly surprised. She had a gorgeous name.

"All right. So, to get a bit..mischievous.." My heart lept into my throat at Slughorn's words. Anytime he said that, it was going to either be awkward or simply scary. "What d'you think of this boy?"

She blushed and giggled. Jennifer replied, "I think he's smart, and quiet, but just adorable!" My eyebrows raised and I looked down and to the right, my face heated beyond belief. Her girlfriends laughed along with her and she stared at me kindly.

"Well, would you look at that?" Slughorn beamed at me with all of his large, some crooked teeth and I never wanted to strangle, then decapitate a teacher so much in my life. The large professor asked me, "Tell me, Remus...what d'you think of this girl?"

My eyes widened and blushed deeply. I could feel the first syllables forming in the back of my throat as in my mind, in a strangled voice, I was screaming, "DEUS EX MACHINA, DEUS EX MACHINA!" Anything to get me out of here...

"Oh, would you look at that, we're out of time!' Slughorn boomed and I rushed out of the classroom before everyone else without a sound. I clapped my hand over my mouth and murmured, "I think she's gorgeous and graceful and smart and beautiful and amazing!"

I sighed, slumping against the wall next to the classroom as I saw students filing out. Some looked at me strangely but I stared away until I smelled a familiar scent. Jennifer was standing over me. She bent down and smiled. "Need a hand?"

She held out a hand and smiled again. I shrugged and helped myself up, then stood up straight, not sure what to say.

"You know, Lupin..." I watched her walk away as she calls back. "I'm very good at faking." She turned her head towards me and winked when I realized in her hand, she was holding her bottle of Veritaserum. I stared after her, open mouthed.

"Uh, Remus?" I heard a male voice called, but I kept staring after her strutting, retreating figure.

"He's staring again.." I heard a girl say in a sing-song voice.

"Of course he is," another male voice chuckled, and I saw James, Lily and Sirius staring at me, smirking.

I quirked an eyebrow. "What?" Lily simply rolled her eyes and grabbed my arm, and I laughed in response.

"Wha'?" Sirius asked, watching me carefully. I shook my head, smiling. I couldn't help from laughing at the wonder that Jennifer Strewing really was.

A/N: So lots of shit have been happening. School is hard and homework is flying up my ass, almost literally.

Dues Ex Machina- a plot device often used to get a main character out of a seemingly impossible deceivable situation.