Chapter Twelve

"My chances weren't good, she was way out of my reach

How could she ever fall for some ol' boy like me

But here she lies asleep tonight in these arms of mine

And that goes to show angels fall sometimes"

- Josh Turner

Austin left Remus after breakfast so she could run to the hospital wing. Remus was now waiting in double potions with an open seat next to him reserved for Austin. He was hoping that she would be coming in, but as the clock grew nearer to the start of class, she never came. Remus turned in his chair to look at James and Lily who were sitting at the same table while Sirius and Peter sat at the table behind them.

"How was Austin when you saw her this morning in Ancient Runes, Lily?" Remus questioned quietly.

"She seemed fine. She did leave early because a message came to her from Dumbledore. She's probably just with him talking about her internship with Madam Pomfrey." Lily smiled encouragingly, but Remus saw the concern in her green eyes.

"Austin's a fighter, Moony. You don't need to worry too much and she's been taking her medicine. She'll be fine." James nodded his head before leaning back in his chair.

Remus turned back around to his desk and settled back down. He continued to think of Austin and if she really was okay. He knew that she had been upset with him over his answer this morning. However, Remus didn't know what to tell her in response to her question. Austin wanted to know if they really were in a relationship or if they were just going to play with each other's emotions for the rest of their time at Hogwarts. How could Remus answer that if he feared he could actually hurt her one day?

The young werewolf closed his eyes and watched as the potions professor, Slughorn, walked into the room and began to lecture. Remus ignored the qualities of wolfsbane. He already knew all about this particular herb and was not very interested in it any longer.

"Miss Cross, how nice of you to join us!" Slughorn announced loudly to the entire room.

Remus jumped in his seat and turned to look at the classroom door. Austin was standing there with Ashlee Stanton at her back. They both looked upset and each tried to keep the other in their line of sight. Remus narrowed his eyes in confusion before Austin began to walk towards his table.

"Sorry, Professor. I got caught up in Professor Dumbledore's office. He said he'd send you an owl if you didn't believe me." Austin commented simply before sitting down in her chair.

Unlike the other students that did well in potions or any other class or had an interesting past or were the least bit exotic, Slughorn didn't like Austin. Remus couldn't put his finger on it since Slughorn even liked him. Something about Austin just caused Slughorn to dislike her, but he always remembered her name which was impressive.

"I will do just that, Miss Cross. Remus, would you please fill her in on what we were talking about today?" Slughorn stated curtly before turning back to his chalk board to continue to put potions instructions on the board.

"Wolfsbane." Remus said simply and Austin rolled her eyes.

"Of course, he always talks for a long time about stupid ingredients. Why is he allowed to teach again?" Austin whispered under her breath.

"He is your teacher, Tinny. Please show some respect." Ashlee grumbled as she sat down near the end of the table.

Austin ignored the other American witch and began to pull ingredients towards her as Remus started to prepare their cauldron. Ashlee continued to sit at the end of the table without saying a word as the other two worked. Remus glanced up continuously to catch Sirius looking back at the assorted group.

Remus knew that Sirius had some form of a crush on the werewolf hunter, but he was being careful about it. Sirius probably received the same look from Ashlee that was given to all the boys in the school. Ashlee Stanton was not here for a relationship, she was here on business.

"Who would your friend be, Remus?" Slughorn's loud voice came from the aisle next to Remus.

"This is Miss Ashlee Stanton, from America. She is here to visit Austin." Remus responded quickly before looking to the hunter, "Miss Stanton, this is Professor Slughorn."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, professor." Ashlee smiled demurely before holding out her hand.

"Yes, yes. If you are not a student, I ask that you leave my classroom." Slughorn stated before he turned and left the table.

"I really wish I could hit him right now." Austin glowered as she ground unicorn horn in her bowl.

Ashlee stood briskly from her chair and placed a hand on Austin's shoulder. Remus felt Austin shift away from her friend before she glanced up and nodded her head. "I will see you later in the day, then." Ashlee smiled before walking from the room.

The room was silent except for the mild whispers and the simmering of cauldrons. Remus continued to glance at Austin until she put the last ingredient into the cauldron. Austin put all of her things down before turning to Remus.

"Did Ashlee threaten you?"

Remus jumped slightly and turned his eyes towards the blond witch, "What do you mean?"

"Don't try to hide it, Rem. The Fat Lady went to Dumbledore. That's where I've been for most of the mornin. I just want to know because Ashlee won't tell me if she did. All we have right now is the Fat Lady sayin that a threat was there and she got worried about you." Austin explained in a quiet whisper.

"We were just talking that night, Austin. It's nothing to be alarmed about." Remus smiled as he placed a hand on hers. "Trust me, she can't do anything with Dumbledore here."

Austin pulled her hand away and glared, "Did she threaten you?"

Remus was shocked as he looked at the blond woman before him. Her eyes were glaring at him, her mouth set in a straight line. Remus couldn't remember if Austin had ever looked at him like this before. He sighed and looked at their potion, "Can this wait for a more private setting?"

"Okay, I'll allow that. And, Rem, I'm sorry that I got angry. It's just-"

"You don't need to explain, I know what day it is." Remus smiled and winked at the double meaning to his words.

Austin's face grew red and she turned away from him to glance at the table behind her. She ignored Remus for the rest of the class period.

Remus followed a fuming Austin out of the dungeons and towards the Great Hall. Perhaps he shouldn't have teased her with only a few more minutes of class left. Remus mused over how Austin would tussle her hair each time she would groan her frustration. He also found it slightly amusing that everyone who was in her way to the Great Hall would hurry to get inside once they looked at her face. Remus knew he would be severely beaten if he didn't control his enjoyment when she finally turned on him. This thought just made him smile wider.

"She's going to kill you." Lily sing-songed before walking towards the Gryffindor table.

Remus sat next to Austin and passed her the cranberry juice as was their normal routine. She took it and passed him three pieces of roast beef using her own fork and knife to hold them. He looked up to see Sirius and Peter watching him intently while James tried unsuccessfully to get Lily's attention away from a fourth year girl sitting near them.

"Lily, if you don't say hello to him or somethin, I'm gonna have to hit him." Austin stated in a very sweet voice that sent chills down Remus' spine.

Remus knew this tone. Austin was annoyed now, very annoyed. He also knew that if he didn't tell her something soon about what happened with Ashlee, she would probably never speak with him again. Remus tried to eat his food, but it all tasted dry.

"Potter, I'm busy at the moment. If you keep pestering me, I'll have to take away your dessert." Lily stated simply before going back to her conversation.

Conversation was quiet after this and didn't pick back up until Austin glanced at Remus ten minutes later. "Will you walk to the lake with me?"

Remus glanced at her. She seemed calmer now. Perhaps she wouldn't be drowning him in that lake after all. He smiled and nodded his head, "Of course, Austin."

Austin knew that Remus was trying to be brave about the threat, but she was scared. Ashlee Stanton was known to follow through with her threats and Austin knew that it wouldn't be long before Ashlee did follow through. Austin was silent on the walk to the lake. She wanted to be sure that they were away from the castle and any prying ears before anything else was said.

Remus took her hand in his larger one and began to lead her over to a tree that over looked the lake. It was the same tree that Severus had been tortured by in their fifth year. It was a bad memory because it was when Lily and Severus stopped being friends. However, Austin was beginning to think that Lily had the right idea.

Severus didn't want to be around her as often now. She didn't understand what his problem was. She couldn't even get him to sit still long enough so she could ask him what was wrong. Austin frowned slightly before she found herself on the ground with Remus sitting in front of her.

"I'm sorry if I upset you, Austin." Remus said with a gentle smile in his eyes while his scarred face remained expressionless.

"It's not your fault, Rem. I shouldn'ta gotten as upset as I did. I'm just annoyed lately and with all the work I have to get done before the next full moon is just drivin me up a wall." Austin sighed before she reached to clutch at his hands, "But you need to tell me if Ashlee threatened you."

It was Remus' turn to sigh. He turned his face away from her and out towards the lake. The Giant Squid was doing some sort of dance in the water that caused his tentacles to come up out of the water. Austin couldn't help but smile at the aquatic animals' game. It was a strange but normal thing, because in Austin's life she wasn't given much normalcy.

"She told me that she would kill me if I didn't stop getting in her way of protecting you." Remus finally whispered to the noon sky.

Austin jumped and looked back at him, "She threatened to kill ya?"

"Yes, she said that I was not helping her with protecting you. She said that I could kill you because I would forget one day to leave when it was a full moon. She said that I was a threat to you and if I was going to be a threat, she would have to kill me to keep you safe." Remus explained in a rush before squeezing Austin's hands, "I don't want you to get mad over this, Austin. She makes a very valid point."

"She doesn't, though. That's what neither of ya understand. You aren't the only one who remembers when the full moon is. I feel its approach every single month and wonder if that will be the day that I end up turnin myself. I know it will happen one day, but I don't know what day it will be, what full moon will cause it." Austin shook her head with a small smile, "I think ya both worry too much."

"And you're okay with her threatening me now? After everything you put me through today?" Remus teased lightly before leaning closer to the American witch.

"No, I'm not okay with her threatening you. She'll have to deal with the fact that I got other friends besides her and that all of them will protect me in their own ways. Right now, you are protecting me emotionally, and that's just fine." Austin grinned in return before Remus placed a gentle kiss on her mouth.

She was always amazed at how innocent Remus was with her. He never asked if she wanted a more physical relationship, but she knew how hard it had to be for him. Austin had noticed that both female and male werewolves have a higher sexual desire than regular humans, but Remus always kept his in check. She admired him for it and couldn't understand how she had gotten so lucky.

The bell rang to signify the end of the lunch period. Remus had a meeting with Madam Pince about possibly working in the library for the summer after the school year ended. Austin on the other hand knew that Severus Snape had a free period at this time and she was planning on cornering him in the library.

"Meet you in the common room tonight?" Austin questioned as they reached the library.

"I have patrol duty tonight. Are you not going to dinner?" Remus responded as they stepped to the side to finish their conversation in hushed whispers.

"I'm havin dinner with Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing. We're going to talk about my future and all that stuff." Austin shrugged her shoulders and smiled slightly, "Come by if you're goin that way tonight?"

"Of course and I'll even bring you both a mug of hot chocolate." Remus smiled softly before placing a kiss on her forehead.

Austin watched as the werewolf walked away and towards the desk where Madam Pince always sat to observe the library's patrons. Once they were gone, however, Austin immediately headed to the back section of the large room and towards the table that Severus always sat at. However, she was in for a shock when she found the last book case in the row separating her from a group of boys.