Chapter Seven – Lifting

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, you silly gooses.

The office door slammed shut, nearly slamming me in the face.

I cannot believe it. A werewolf? As in turning into a wolf once a month, during the full moon? On second thought, why hadn't I figured this out sooner? I should have noticed that he had been absent once every thirty days, is always lethargic around that time, would be covered in scratches, and his boggart turned into a full moon. I suppose I had just been blinded by love.

But now? Do I still like him? Well, of course I do. He's still the same person. I don't care if he's a werewolf, but will he ever want to talk to me again? I wonder if anyone else knows about this. Obviously Snape knows…of course! Snape is making him wolfsbane potion. That night, one month, he said he took his medicine late…poor Professor Lupin!

I walked up to the common room in a daze, and went straight up to the dormitory. My mind was racing; how can I get him to trust me? I need to see him right away – tomorrow.

o0o0o0o0

Even though it was a Sunday, I woke up at seven o'clock. I dressed in dark blue jeans, and light blue cardigan, and pulled my hair back in a headband – best try to play up my innocent look.

I made my way down to a corridor near the dungeons where a painting of a bowl of fruit hung on the wall. The pear giggled when I brushed my finger tips across it. A doorknob appeared, and I opened the painting to step inside the Hogwarts' kitchen. (It's a little trick I picked up from the Weasley twins last year) Moments later, I emerge with a freshly baked basket of chocolate chip muffins and a thermos of hot cocoa.

Trying not to think too much, I walked to Professor Lupin's office, hoping that he'd be awake or… recovered. I softly knocked on the closed door and I heard him mutter, "Come in."

I opened the door and walked over to his desk, placing the basket in front of him. "I knew it would be you," he muttered. "So, what now? You've come to tell me that you never want to look at me again, and you're going to tell everyone what I am. And," he chuckled, but his eyes were dead, "now you're bringing muffins as consolation."

"You think I would do that?" I choked out, feeling a lump forming in my throat, which usually meant tears were on the way. "I actually came to tell you that I don't care if you are a werewolf, because you are the same person. It doesn't change anything."

He looked up in disbelief. "It doesn't?"

"Nope."

He pounced.

In a single bound, he propelled himself over his desk, nearly knocking off the basket. He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me into a deep and hungry kiss. I was shocked at first, but kissed him back as he pulled me closer. The feeling was indescribable. I didn't see fireworks – I was blinded by brilliant lights and felt electricity pulsing through our intertwined bodies. His fingers twisted in my hair as he lifted me on to his desk. He slowly broke away and lightly kissed my neck. Gasping for breath, I looked at him.

On his face was a look of pure ecstasy – until he opened his eyes, that is. He backed up quickly, with a look of total fear. (Not disgust, I hope!)

"I'm going to see Professor Dumbledore," he said, "and I am going to resign."

"Wait," I urged. I reached out and grabbed his hand. "Don't."

"Blake!" he cried out suddenly. "Did you just realize what I did? I attacked you!"

"It wasn't an attack," I urged, "because I snogged you back."

"No!" he wailed. "I took advantage of you. Who would ever believe that a brilliant, beautiful girl like you would ever want anything to do with her mangy and flea-bitten werewolf of a professor? I don't even believe it, no matter how much I want it."

"Well," I said quietly, "I believe it. I like you, Professor. I really do."

He rushed forward again, not kissing me, but holding me in a tight embrace. "I don't remember the last time someone said that to me," he whispered in my ear. We stood in each other's arms for a minute, basking in the energy flowing between us. Finally, I pulled away.

"I should go," I said slowly. "Can I start helping you again? I really missed those times alone with you."

He smiled and gave a small nod. "You wouldn't believe how lonely I was."

I smirked and said, "I can imagine." I walked out the door, looking at him over my shoulder as I went, not quite believing what had happened.

Some of the students had awakened by now, and were making their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. I was walking with a Gryffindor fifth year, Alicia Spinnet, when a hand reached out and grabbed my arm. I turned to face Cedric, who wore a sad but determined look. Silently, he led me to a corner of the corridor.

"Who is it?" he asked solemnly.

"Who is who?" I said, bewildered.

"Who is the guy, god, I hope it's a guy, who you are in love with? Because it is certainly not me."

"What makes you think I like another guy?" I asked, nervously tugging on the cuffs of my sleeves.

"Because," he sighed, "you barely ever want to spend time with me, you were in a deep depression for the last month, Sam told me that in September and October you barely spent weekends in the common room and you were just walking down the hall with the goofiest grin on your face."

"Oh," I muttered, looking down at my loafers.

"So, please," he said, "Just tell me who it is, and I'll accept it."

"I…I can't. I'm sorry, Cedric."

"Why the hell not, Blake?" he growled, voice growing louder.

I placed a hand on his arm, trying to calm him down. "Because," I said, "he would get in trouble. Besides, you wouldn't believe me."

"You are smart, and kind, and beautiful. I think every guy in this school is in love with you (I snorted at this, because I highly doubt it). Just tell me who it is."

"Thank you for these past couple of months, Cedric," I said definitely. "You were a great boyfriend, and you really deserve someone who loves you and will take care of you."

I walked away from him as he shouted, "I will find out who he is, Blake!"

Finally, finally, I had the strength to break up with him. I felt like a giant weight had been lifted from my chest. It may not be kind, but I felt…relieved. It was only eight o'clock in the morning, but I already had had enough emotions for a week.

As I walked into the Great Hall, I saw Professor Snape sitting at the staff table. He was glaring at me. Oh. He knew I knew. Will he tell Professor Dumbledore that Lupin's secret is out, and he'll get sacked? Try not to think about that. I gave the sallow faced man a cheery smile, and he quickly averted his eyes. I reached the Ravenclaw table and sat next to Sam.

"Well, I did it," I told her. "I broke up with Cedric." I heard a couple of suppressed squeals from the fifth year girls at the table, and they promptly started whispering to each other.

"I'm proud of you," she said, "although it did take you long enough. So, who do you actually like?"

"No one," I quickly hissed under my breath.

"Come on, Blake," she insisted. "If I can't talk to you about this, who can I talk to?"

"How about Cedric?" I shot back. "He told me that you told him that I was never in the common room, so he thought I was seeing someone else. You knew very well that I was with Professor Lupin."

"I'm sorry, okay," she said. "It just seemed to be an awfully great amount of time to be spending with your professor. I would have no problem if you were seeing someone else. That's why I wanted you to break up with Cedric."

"Well, I wasn't with anyone else," I answered. "Lupin needed a lot of help, being a new teacher and all, and the poor guy gets sick at least once a month (…She had no idea).

"I don't doubt you now, Blake. I just couldn't tell before. You always think about others, and I know would rather keep something a secret than to hurt Cedric."

I was about to answer when a hand lightly grasped my shoulder. I looked over my shoulder to see Lupin.

"Bla-Miss Knightly, may I speak to you?"

"Right now, Professor?"

His eyes darted around, and he answered shakily, "Yes, I think so. It's rather…urgent."

A/N: Finally. Finally. I finished writing this chapter. Ha ha. Anyway, please, please, PLEASE review, because this is different from my other chapters, and I need to know if you guys like it. Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews – you guys are awesone. Hope you enjoyed it!