Author's Note: I've been feeling a bit discouraged lately. I have twelve chapters posted, yet only ten reviews. Six of those are from the same person. (Thanks a lot, Iamnumbernine, for reviewing for most of the chapters. You're amazing!) Also, thanks to the people who reviewed so far: iamnumbernine, anon, jekl, and PureAngelEyes. I really do appreciate all of you. I don't want to seem desperate, but… I like to know what my readers think… or if I even have readers at all. In case you didn't know, here's what a review, which takes less than five minutes to write, means to an author:
They like to know what readers think of the story, good or bad.
Constructive criticism is good for authors and is very much welcomed.
They appreciate every word you write, even if it's just "Please update", "Loved it" or even "Hated it."
It gives them motivation to update faster.
You may make a new fanfiction friend. I started talking to iamnumbernine though pm's when I sent her a thank-you note because she was one of the first people to review my first fanfic (without swearing at me in the process). We now have 128 messages sent to each other between the two of us and are now what I consider to be "penpals".
This must be the world's longest Author's note. :) So, anyways, PLEASE review. It really means a lot to me.
Chapter 12: As He's Walking Away
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get that first kiss out of my mind. Luckily, I didn't need to. Shortly after the kiss, Jason and I decided to risk everything and be in a romantic relationship with each other. We also decided to keep our relationship a secret from the students, at least for the moment. Most of the professors didn't even know. We did, however, tell Minerva because she was, after all, our boss, and we both felt she ought to know what exactly was going on with her staff.
"Well, it's about time you two got together." Minerva said with a smile when we told her the news. "I've been waiting for this to happen ever since I hired both of you. Congratulations!"
Jason and I looked at each other and struggled not to laugh.
Jason and I also decided to tell Nick about our relationship, because I couldn't keep secrets from my son. We both thought he was old enough to understand.
"Really?" was Nick's reaction. "Are you going to get married?"
I smiled. "It's kind of early for to be thinking of that." I replied.
I was glad that Nick had taken the news so well, but since he was so close to Jason, I wasn't surprised. When the 2009 – 2010 school year started, Nick wanted nothing more than to start his classes at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, he was only ten-years-old and had to wait a whole year.
On September 1st, I lead the first years into the Great Hall as usual. That particular year, however, something was different. After "Lessart, Jessica" had been sorted into Ravenclaw, I paused for a moment recognizing the name. Finally, I called, "Lupin, Ted."
I never knew Remus Lupin had a son, and looked up curiously from my list of names to see what he looked like. I was shocked by Ted's appearance simply because of his hair. It was teal colored! I figured he was a metamorphmagus – who else would have teal hair?
Ted – or Teddy, as he later told me he liked to be called - nervously sat on the stool, and I placed the Sorting Hat on his head.
"GRFFINDOR!" The sorting hat shouted after only a few moments' hesitation. Teddy beamed, and went to sit with his fellow Gryffindors.
The rest of the sorting went by quickly. Minerva said a quick speech, as always, and the feast began. Before I could take a single bite, though, Filch came into Great Hall, dragging Nick by the hand.
"I found your son spying on the sorting ceremony." Filch explained to me once he reached the professors' table. "I suggest you give him a proper punishment."
"Thank you, Filch." I replied, and excused myself from the table. I grabbed an extra plate and filled it with food for Nick. Then, I led him back to the dungeons.
"Didn't I tell you to stay in my office and do those math problems I gave you? Even wizards need to learn math." I had put an expanding charm on my office when Nick moved in, which added a bedroom for him, so there plenty of space for him to work.
"I know." Nick sighed. "But I wanted to watch the sorting ceremony."
"Trust me, Nick, by your seventh year, you'll be tired of ceremonies. " I replied. "Now, please, stay here and do your math. I'll bring you dinner from the feast in about a half hour, alright?"
Nick nodded, but still looked disappointed. For the both of us, the year couldn't pass quick enough. Yet somehow, it did. Before we knew it, Christmas had been here and was gone as quick as it came.
Jason and I had been together now for a little over a year, and our relationship was still going strong. On New Year's Eve, we left Nick under the watchful eye of Minerva and other Hogwarts professors while we went to Hogsmeade for the night. It was crowded there, so we only stayed for a few hours, arriving back at Hogwarts at about eleven o'clock.
"My room or your room?" Jason asked.
"Yours." I replied. "Nick's in mine, and I assume we still want some privacy."
"That's true." Jason said. "Besides, there's something I needed to show you."
Jason unlocked the door to the Defense room and turned on the lights. Front and center in the middle of the room was a large, ten-foot tall chest.
"What's in there?" I asked.
"It's a boggart." Jason replied. "I put one in there for my third years to use before break, but I decided to keep it around to show you my boggart."
"I already know your boggart. It's never finding love, and you already found it. With me." I said, and kissed him.
Jason sighed. "I lied. That's not really my boggart. It's much more complicated than that."
"Then, what is it?"
Jason didn't reply. Instead, he opened the chest, and out came… me!
The boggart-me was holding a velvet box. I opened it, and revealed what appeared to be an engagement ring. I grimaced, and throw the ring over my shoulder.
"Ridikulus!" shouted Jason, and the boggart-me attempted to do a muggle dance called the Macarena… and failing miserably. The boggart then retreated back into the chest, and Jason slammed the door on it.
"I… I don't understand…" I stammered.
Jason sighed. "Isn't it obvious, Luci? My boggart has always been you rejecting me in some way, ever since I was a teenager. The first day I met you, I recognized you from my boggart immediately."
"Why didn't you tell me?" I whispered.
"It's my boggart Luci! I was afraid you'd reject me!"
"I wouldn't have rejected you, Jay. You should have told me, right after we confessed our feelings for each other. That was a year ago!" I said angrily.
"I couldn't, Luci, don't you see that! It took me nine years just to admit I loved you! I thought you would understand!" Jason was angry now, too.
"Well, you were wrong. I can't believe you were stupid enough to ever think that I would reject you. You're a coward, Jay!"
Jason froze. "Maybe I was wrong about a lot more than just you not understanding." He whispered, and began walking briskly toward his office.
As Jason was walking away, I began to regret my words. "Jason… wait." I called.
Jason ignored me. When he got to his office he flung open the door and slammed it shut behind him. Tears began to flow down my cheeks, even though I knew Jason had been the one to get hurt, not me. What had I done?