Chapter Twelve
The following Saturday there was to be another Hogsmeade trip. An unfortunate side effect to the fact that it was December was the foot deep snow that accompanied the season. Despite that, students and teachers alike bundled up in cloaks, coats, hats, gloves, mittens, boots, and the like and trudged through the snow to the village.
Among these people was a rather comical-looking pair: Professor Remus Lupin and newly appointed Assistant Professor Liriana Sarvial. One wore his old, ratty coat and cloak and a Gryffindor scarf that was probably from his school days to protect from the cold. The other wore a black, wool peacoat, an expensive cloak, a beret with her hair gathered inside it, a scarf around her neck, and designer gloves. Of course, they both had normal clothes underneath, but they had to bundle up to ward off the cold.
Both of them agreed to hold off on buying butterbeer until they had been around to some of the shops. Because of that, they walked first to Honeydukes.
Inside the store, Remus pulled Lin over to the chocolates. He bought what he always bought there: milk chocolate bars. Not only was it classic and tasty, it was cheap. Lin only smiled at this before going over to the shelves upon shelves of more exotic candies. Here, she found sugar cubes, her favourite Remus soon found.
Once they had purchased their respective sweets, they hurried out of the store, away from the students scrambling for candy. Once they were in the open, if snowy, air again, Lin said, "Let's get our shopping done before the students move on to the stores that don't have sugary confections."
Remus chuckled and said, "Sounds like a plan." Hand in hand, the two went to Gladrags Wizardwear and Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. The whole time, they chatted, getting to know all sorts of likes and dislikes that had never come up before.
Finally, one fact surprised Remus. "I've never danced before."
"What?" he asked in surprise.
"I've never danced before. I never really had the chance, living at Hogwarts," Lin said, shrugging.
After a second of gaping silence, Remus said firmly, "Come with me." He took her hand to guide her toward the village square. On one side of the square, a group of carol singers stood. Around the square, several couples danced to the singers' song.
"You don't mean to...But we're in public...What?" she said, quite obviously surprised.
"Shhh. Just follow my lead," he said softly, taking one of her hands in his own. He placed her hand on his shoulder and his other hand on her waist.
With a single preparatory breath, they were spinning around in time with the other couples. Of course, Lin had no problem following his steps. In fact, she handled that task so well that Remus could hardly believe that she hadn't danced before. Perhaps, she was in his mind again? But no, she would have told him. She was just a natural.
As they continued to dance, her eyes slowly moved up from staring at his shoulder in concentration. As the movements got easier for her, she looked at his face. A second later, she met his eyes. She could not look away.
Minutes later, the song ended. Hesitantly, the pair broke apart, still staring into each other's eyes. As they laboured to catch their breath, they each stepped back from each other. New emotions showed on their faces: confusion, fear, surprise, and realization. A tense silence ensued, culminating in Remus suggesting, "Why don't stop in the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer."
After a second, Lin nodded, and they both headed in that direction, always walking at least a foot apart.
A surprise waited for them at the door. Literally the second the door was open, a line of shrunken heads insisted that she not come in because she was underage. With that, the proverbial ice was broken. The pair burst out into fits of laughter. Lin said through her merriment, "I am definitely not underage."
"Oh, very well. Go in, then," one of the heads said.
The two walked in to an empty table, still laughing. "I can't believe that actually thought I was that young!" Lin said jovially.
"You don't even look that young," Remus put in.
"The usual?" a voice asked. They both turned to see Madam Rosmerta.
"Yes," the pair responded in unison.
After that, they calmed down and chatted as though the dance had never happened.
oooooooooooo
Over an hour later, the door to the Three Broomsticks opened, but seemingly no one entered. The door was caught by two students whom Remus recognized immediately: Ron and Hermione. They were told to go away, though rudely, by the shrunken heads.
As the door closed, Lin listened more intently and heard quite easily footsteps crossing the room and going into the back room. Instantly, her thoughts went to James Potter. She knew that he had inherited an invisibility cloak. Apparently, that same cloak had gone to Harry. Thinking nothing of it, Lin turned her attention back to Remus.
Minutes later, the footsteps returned through the main room. They were hurried and uneven breathing went with that sound. "Excuse me, Remus. I'll be back in a minute. I need to do something," she said hurriedly as she got up and followed Harry out.
Looking around, Lin saw Ron and Hermione sitting outside the Three Broomsticks, most likely waiting for Harry. She hurried over to the two of them and said, "Harry just left. He's heading toward the Shrieking Shack, and seems most upset about something."
Ron began to run after Harry. Hermione was close behind, only staying long enough to say a quick, "Thank you," to Lin.
As soon as that whole business was done, Lin returned to Remus.
"Where were you?" he asked, obviously puzzled.
"It's complicated," she said, shaking her head. That was a clear sign to Remus not to delve further into the matter. Surprisingly, it did not even sit and fester in the back of his mind.
The rest of the day passed much like the beginning of it: in amiable companionship. They walked back to the castle together and kept talking well into the night as they sat in Remus's office.