Chapter Six - Learning

I was able to pull myself together by the time I reached the Three Broomsticks. I found Sam and Eddie at a small table in back and joined them.

"So," Sam said lightly, "how was your date?"

I smiled constrainedly and said, "Fine."

"Right," she said. "Did you finally break up with him?"

I coughed on some butterbeer. "No! Why would you think I would break up with him?"

"Oh, I don't know," Eddie piped in. "Maybe because you started talking about imaginary plans when you two were discussing your date?"

I looked at my lap sheepishly. How many other people knew I didn't like him? Was the perfect couple crumbling before everyone's eyes?

"Well, you see…" I started uncertainly, "It's like…cake! If you have too much of it, it makes you sick! You know, too much of a good thing…"

The pair of them laughed and thankfully dropped the subject. We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about our classes and visiting Zonko's. (I didn't buy anything though…I'm a prefect!) We headed back to Hogwarts around three o'clock, me constantly looking over my shoulder to avoid Cedric.

When we got back to the castle, Sam and I were trying to decide what to wear to the feast tonight. It was Halloween, so we were going to go in costume. Many purebloods hate this tradition, but because so many of us are half-bloods and muggle-borns, most love to dress up. Girls my age usually use Halloween to dress, er, promiscuously, but I'd like to keep some of my class.

I decided to go as a flapper. I wore a short black sequenced dress with fringe, black stockings, and a sparkly head band with a feather. Sam was dressing up as an angel – Eddie was a devil.

Looking around the Great Hall was quite fun, although there was certainly a lack of enthusiasm from the Slytherin table. The teachers did not look festive either, even if Snape looked the part in his ever billowing black cloak. Dumbledore, however, was decked out in splendid black robes with glittering orange stars sprinkled over it.

The feast was as magnificent as ever, but I felt a pang of guilt every time Cedric, dressed as a prince, looked my way. I had not spoken to him since that morning, and I planned to evade him as long as possible.

When all of the puddings vanished from the sparkle-dusted tables, it was nearly nine o'clock, so I decided that I should go straight to Lupin's office. When I arrived, the only thing present in the room was an ugly creature in a tank, which I took to be a kappa. It stared at me with its bulbous eyes, snarling, and I snarled back. After a minute, I sat down in Lupin's chair and began to spin around. I entertained myself this way for a little bit until on one rotation I saw Lupin chuckling at me from the doorway. I immediately jumped up and steadied myself, for I was a little dizzy.

"Having fun?" he asked, walking over and sitting on his desk.

I sat down next to him and said, blushing, "I don't think I should do that after a feast. Thank you for the chocolate, by the way. It was delicious."

Lupin looked like he could use a bit of it himself. Just as I thought this, he leaned over and whipped a chocolate frog out of his drawer. He saw my worried look and said, "I wasn't feeling my best last night…I…took my medicine a little late… I've got some essays on red caps for you, if you're up to it."

"Grading essays?" I asked skeptically. "Am I…qualified enough for that?"

"Why yes," he smiled. "I think you can handle it. You are probably the brightest witch in your class. I like your costume, by the way."

"Thank you," I smiled shyly. "Why didn't you dress up?"

"Oh, but I did," he protested, "I am a shabby, tired professor." At this, he took off his cloak. Just above the collar of his shirt were deep scratches. As I looked closer, I saw similar cuts creeping out from under the cuffs of his sleeves and even one that went through his ear and slightly on to his cheek.

"What happened, Professor?"

His smile faltered. "I, er, had some trouble with one of my animals…nothing to worry about."

I nodded and picked up the first piece of parchment that was sitting in a stack beside me. I circled mistakes and tried to give fair grades for a while, until I noticed the lack of scratching from Lupin's quill and felt his eyes on me. I sat up (as I was still sitting on the desk, but hunched over the paper). "What?" I asked.

He turned his body toward me. "Nothing," he smiled. "You look so focused."

"Well," I said, chuckling, "I have to make this grading seem believable." I expected him to go back to his work, but his eyes stayed locked on mine. He stared at me. I stared back. He leaned in.

He leaned in.

He was centimeters away from my face when he said softly, "You're a student."

"I know," I whispered.

"I'm your professor," he went on.

"I know."

"You are sixteen."

"I know."

He jumped up so quickly that I nearly toppled over backwards. He paced back and forth, digging his fingernails into his palms.

Suddenly, he stopped short and said in an almost inaudible voice, "Bla-Miss Knightly, I think it would be best if…if I do my work on my own…from now on."

"What?" I breathed. Was he…firing me? I got off of his desk and headed to the door. He collapsed in his chair as I stood watching him from just inside the door.

"Please," he choked out. "Please, just leave." His begging eyes met mine. "Please."

Without a word, I turned on my heel and strode out of the room. For a moment, my mind was blank, but then it filled up with thoughts. Why would he do this? Did I upset him somehow? I thought over his words…it was as if he was talking to himself, reminding himself, that I was his student. Did he just admit that he had feelings for me? And now I have to stay away from him?

I didn't cry. I went up to the common room. When I saw Sam, I said cheerily, "Well, I have my Friday nights back! Lupin said I don't have to help him anymore." She cheered, and I joined in the game of exploding snap.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

I heard them talking. They said that I had become distant in the past month. I didn't change, really. I was still going out with Cedric, was best friends with Sam, kept up with my prefect duties, and got perfect marks. But they said my smile seemed forced, my laugh was strained.

I supposed I did miss those times alone in his office. Times when I didn't have to be perfect. And maybe he missed those times, too.

He didn't talk to me. Sure, he called on me in class, but we were nothing more than a student and a teacher. But I caught him staring at me in a way no teacher should ever stare at a student. He would always look away quickly if I caught him, but would never say a word.

I think Professor Snape noticed, too. Every time he would catch Lupin looking at me from the staff table, he would lean over and hiss something at him. Lupin would quickly look down, and avoid both his and my eyes for the rest of the meal. After this, Snape's ink black eyes would catch mine and squint, as if challenging me.

At the end of November, I couldn't take it anymore. I would go to his office after dinner. He head looked a bit peaky in class, and I would ask how he was doing,

As I walked along the corridor, I passed a window. The sun was just about to set, and I could see a full moon peeking above the horizon. When I arrived at his office and opened his door without thinking, I saw something quite strange.

Lupin was draining a smoking goblet that Professor Snape had just handed him. When he saw me, his eyes grew wide and he spluttered a bit. Snape flung around to face me.

"Miss Knightly," he growled, "I suggest you leave imm-"

Lupin cut him short with a small yelp. Then, he began to change. His face morphed into one with a pointed snout and a thick mat of fur spread over his body. Where Professor Lupin had been sitting a minute before was now a large and shaggy wolf, amber eyes gleaming at me. He was a wolf. He is a werewolf.

He is a werewolf.

Author's note: Please don't eat me… I know it's been forever. It's a lame excuse, but I'm really busy with school and all of that good stuff, but I definitely will continue the story, and I hope all of you wonderful people will keep on reading and reviewing!

xoxo

PS: The werewolf in the PoA movie...yeah, not a real werewolf. Mine looks like a wolf.