Author's Note
This update will be the last three installments of Just a Kiss. I hope that you all enjoy. Thank you for sticking with me!
Chapter Thirteen
"Today I made the worst mistake
I put my trust into someone I don't know
And now I know because you've done everything possible to me
Made me so upset"
- Adema
Austin couldn't believe it. She had already related the story to Lily countless times as they sat in their room after classes. Of course Lily was taking the news far easier, but Austin was having problems. The American witch shook her head as she fell backwards onto Lily's bed and played with the locket at her neck.
"I don't understand, Lils. He told me last summer that he wasn't gonna join them! What the hell happened to that promise?" Austin grumbled as she stared at the dusty red hangings tied to the posts of the bed.
"Did he actually promise, though?" Lily asked as she put away her cleaned uniforms and clothes.
"Not really, he didn't say it, but I thought it was implied!" Austin sat up quickly to jump off the bed. "Remind me not to move so fast, please."
Austin wobbled on her feet as the blood rushed away from her head. Once the world stopped spinning, she went to find her shoes. "Austin, don't tell me that you are going to go find him and yell at him tonight." Lily sighed and put emphasis on her words by closing the lid of her trunk.
"Not tonight, I have to meet with Pomfrey. I just thought I'd get all my stuff ready while we complain about this." Austin smiled and began to pack her bag.
Lily shook her head and took her turn of sitting on her bed, "You're the one complaining here. I was the one to tell you to be careful with him."
"He still betrayed both of us, Lils. You never thought he'd go and do this either." Austin dropped her voice to a dramatic undertone.
"Austin, speak right when you're upset. The only time you get this dramatic is when you are about to have an emotional breakdown and do something stupid because of it." Lily whispered softly with a smile, "He betrayed us, yes, but there isn't anything we can do about it. He's been friends with those boys the entire time we've been at Hogwarts. Of course he's going to join up with them."
"You don't understand!" Austin threw her bag down as she turned towards the window near her bed, "He's too good to be a damn Death Eater!"
"Who's a Death Eater?" a new voice came from the doorway.
Austin turned quickly to find the other American witch standing at the door. She tried not to glare at Ashlee, but it was almost impossible. Ashlee didn't seem to show any signs of the altercation that occurred just that morning. The blond headed witch turned back towards the window and shook her head.
"Austin's just being over dramatic since she saw one of her friends with a lot of Death Eater's children. She's jumping to conclusions again." Lily sighed and the turning of a page could be heard through the quiet room.
Austin wasn't upset that her fears and accusations were being played down and thrown to the side at the moment. Ashlee Stanton did not need to know the affairs of Severus Snape. Austin frowned as she picked up her bag again. "Am I really being over dramatic?" Austin chuckled lightly before throwing the bag over her shoulder, "I'm sorry, Lils. You were readin and I just came in here ragin because of stupid assumptions."
"Tinny, your assumptions usually aren't wrong. What is going on?" Ashlee questioned as she came farther into the room.
"Nothing, I'm bein stupid." Austin returned easily before heading towards the door, "I'll be back late tonight. Pomfrey and I have a meetin and we're going to have dinner together."
"Have fun, don't wake up Alice when you come in. Her parents are coming by tomorrow to take her and Frank to Hogsmeade." Lily perked up at that.
Before Lily could try to capture Ashlee's attention with that subject, however, the werewolf hunter grabbed Austin's wrist. "I'm going to walk you." It wasn't a suggestion or an offer…Ashlee was demanding this.
Austin tried not to narrow her eyes as she moved away, "If you have to."
The two Americans left the room in silence and walked out into the Fat Lady's corridor. After a few turns and a couple hidden passages, Austin stopped and turned towards Ashlee. They were in the passage with the trick stair. Ashlee hadn't had to walk down this particular stair well before so Austin knew there was an escape option for her.
"Austin, what's the matter with you?"
"You really have to ask that? I thought you were the one making threats." Austin glowered now as she turned to lean against one of the walls, "Why did you do it?"
Ashlee went to lean on the wall right in front of Austin before shaking her head in disgust, "You don't understand. I am here to protect you from werewolves, Austin. I am doing my duty."
"Remus is my friend just like James, Lily, Sirius, and Peter and anyone else I was to befriend in my lifetime. You aren't my only friend anymore, Ashlee. I know you want to protect me, but you have to remember that the rest of my friends want the same thing." Austin stated simply, trying not to yell.
"They can't protect you the same way that I can. I know how to fight your enemies off."
"Werewolves aren't my only enemy!" Austin snapped before deciding this was a bad place to stop for this conversation, "I'll deal with this later. I'm already late for my meetin."
Austin left her first real friend behind in the stairwell as she hurried down the stairs. The blond woman didn't understand what was really happening to everyone around her. Ashlee started threatening Remus, she may have ruined her relationship with Remus when she asked where they were going, and now Severus was joining the ranks of the Death Eaters. What the hell did Austin Cross do to deserve a day like this?
Remus wasn't able to come up with an answer to Austin's question that night as he walked towards the Hospital Wing with two mugs of hot chocolate. He was hoping that Austin would have forgotten about the question. When he pushed the doors open with his back, however, he almost dropped the hot drinks.
Austin Cross was wearing Healer's robes of a light blue color to signify she was an intern and even had on a little cap that went with it. Her face was alight with awe and glee as she rushed around the wing, putting things in proper position and bringing potions to a few of the patients. Remus wouldn't get this vision out of his head without a very cold shower later.
"Austin?" Remus's voice cracked slightly on the familiar name and felt heat rising to his cheeks.
Austin turned away from a second year girl to look at the door, "Hey, Rem. Ooh! You did bring the hot coco! I thought you were just jokin! Madam Pomfrey's in her office. Mine's next door to hers, if you wanna wait in there. I'm almost done here."
Remus didn't bother to speak again, he was afraid of what he'd say or the fact that he'd growl. Instead, he gave a curt nod and walked towards the back of the wing to deposit one hot chocolate with Madam Pomfrey and take the other to Austin's new office.
The young werewolf glanced around at the small room. It looked like it had once been a private bedroom for people who had to stay weeks at a time. There was a bed in the corner with curtains that could be drawn for privacy. A small desk sat next to a window and three cauldrons sitting on shelves. A cabinet, Remus assumed, held a variety of potions ingredients and possibly already brewed potions. A fire was going in the hearth with a cauldron bubbling happily atop the flames. Remus had just settled himself down in the only chair behind the desk when Austin came sweeping in with three rolls of parchment.
"St. Mungo's apparently really likes my work. Madam Pomfrey has been giving them reports on me and everything I've been doin here. They decided that I was doin so well that I deserved to actually have real intern robes! Remus, I'm a damn intern for real now!" Austin's smile broke across her face and her chocolate eyes lit up to turn them more of a wheat color as she twirled around the room.
"That's brilliant, Austin!" Remus shared in her glory before she finally put the parchment on her desk and sat on the edge of it. "I'm guessing that your evening has been very good then?"
"Very much so, yeah. I'm going to be workin in here a lot more than normal though. Dumbledore thinks it's great. With our friends, though, you're the only one that knows." Austin took her hot chocolate and swirled it around in her cup, "I should be gettin off in just a couple more minutes if Pomfrey don't need me for anything."
Remus looked up at her as she took a sip of her drink. He always loved how she would close her eyes and hum in pleasure at the first sip of chocolate. She would swallow it slowly with her head tilted slightly back so he could always see the workings of her throat. Remus felt a primal growl almost rip through his chest before he swallowed it back down roughly. He stood from his seat and wrapped his hands around Austin's hips in one simple movement.
Her eyes opened quickly as she sat her chocolate down next to her. Austin said nothing as Remus moved between her legs and brought his mouth to hers. This kiss was nothing like the others. Their bodies were closer and Remus was not as gentle as before. Austin let out a gentle moan as Remus nipped at her bottom lip. This just made him move her to the edge of the desk.
A knock at the door had them pull apart. Remus didn't remember when Austin had secured her legs around his waist, but she scurried to remove herself from him and fix her hair. Both Gryffindors tried to smooth out their appearances, but their lips were swollen and Remus knew that if he didn't sit down and let the desk hide him, there would be explaining to do.
Austin opened the door casually and Remus was envious at how well she could act like nothing happened. Pomfrey was standing at the door, "You're free to go, Austin. I am expecting you back tomorrow night after dinner to help me."
"Thanks, Ma'am. I'll be here." Austin nodded her head quickly as she began to unhook the front of her blue robes. Her Hogwarts uniform, minus the robes that went with those, was on underneath and this just made Remus inwardly groan. He had forgotten how shapely her legs were from not seeing them without cloth over them. He tried not to let on how tight his pants were getting as Austin turned to gather her chocolate and him.
Once Pomfrey left, Remus tried to reach out for Austin again. However, she danced away from his grasp with a light giggle. "Austin, where are you going?" Remus growled as she headed for the door.
"If you want to know, you'll need to catch me." Austin gave a wicked grin before dumping her chocolate down in the trashcan, mug and all, before rushing from her office.