Author's Notes: Firstly, I wanted to say sorry to anyone still reading for the long delay in updating this fic. I recently found out I'm pregnant again (thirteen weeks, with my first ultrasound scan tomorrow), and between moring sickness and tiredness, I haven't felt like doing much.

I hope you all can forgive me. ^_~

Thanks to Disco Inferno1 and moonlit severus for the awesome feedback for the last chapter. I really appreciate the support, and I'm glad you're all still enjoying the story.

Additional thanks go to Peggy (Medieval Mystic: USER ID: 796384) for doing such a wonderful job beta'ing.

Chapter Nine: Confusion

At last, Remus was now less then a meter away from me, his gaze travelling over the dress robes I was wearing, then to my face.

"Hey, Jenn," he said pleasantly enough, though his eyes shifted nervously to the floor and for an instant he looked almost surprised. "You look different... erm...I mean...you look nice. The robes... They're new, aren't they? Well, whatever the case, they look... they look good on you."

For an instant, I wondered if he'd actually meant what he'd said, or if I'd made a mistake by taking Stephanie up on her offer to borrow some of her robes. However, I knew Remus wasn't the type to say something just for the sake of being polite, and hoped he'd be honest enough to tell me if I looked like an idiot.

Therefore, I smiled at what I hoped was a compliment, still unable to say anything while inside thinking how sweet Remus was when he became all shy and bashful.

A few moments silence passed between us, then finally Remus extended his hand and said, "Shall we?"

I nodded my head vigorously, managing to squeak out a, 'Yes', before taking his outstretched hand and following him as he led us both across the Entrance Hall.

Slowly, we made our way down to the dungeons - where Professor Slughorn's office was situated - next to the main potions classroom.

When we arrived outside, I was unsurprised to hear music and happy chatter issuing from his office, and noticed that once again, the room had been transfigured to hold more people than it would normally. Additionally, just like when Professor Slughorn had held parties the previous year, the dreary dungeon walls had now been covered with emerald, crimson and gold hangings, so that it looked as though we were about to step into a large tent. The room – which was bathed in a red light cast by an ornate golden lamp hanging from the center of the ceiling – had already become crowded with the guests Professor Slughorn had invited.

Silver platters of food and drinks were being carried around by the Hogwarts House-elves - obscured by all the refreshments they were bearing - so that they looked like little roving tables.

As soon as we entered the office, Professor Slughorn spotted Remus and I, then let out a booming laugh, "Remus Lupin and Jennifer Knightly – two of my star pupils. And coming to my party together. Am I correct to assume you're now dating?"

Remus' face contorted to something between a grimace and a smile, then he looked sheepishly at the floor.

"Oh no, Professor, we're just here as friends," I said quickly, as the color rose in my cheeks. While I did want something more to happen between Remus and I, until I had some indication of his feelings towards me, I wasn't about to publicly declare that we were a couple.

"Oh well, I still think you'd make a handsome couple," Professor Slughorn said jovially.

"Erm...thanks, Professor," Remus replied sheepishly, as I blushed to the roots of my hair. Then he took my hand and led me over to where a table of refreshments stood. "Would you like some punch?"

"Yes please," I returned, as he handed me a goblet. "Thank you. So, do you want to have a little look around and see who else is here? Or do you want to find a table to sit at?"

Remus scanned the room, as if looking for anyone else he knew, then shrugged his shoulders and said, "Let's go and sit down. If we spot someone we know, we can always invite them over to us."

"Okay," I readily agreed, as we snaked our way through the crowds of people, to sit at a little candle lit table. "It looks really nice in here, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, if I didn't know better, I wouldn't believe we're actually in the dungeons."

"I know what you mean," I agreed. "So, are you looking forwards to the Qudditch tryouts tomorrow?"

"Not as much as James and Sirius are. In all honestly, I'd prefer to stay in the castle reading a book, but I said I'd go and support my friends, so I will."

"I understand how you feel. I wouldn't be going either if Michelle wasn't trying out for the team, and Stephanie didn't want to go to get an eyeful of Sirius in his Quidditch robes."

Though my statement was true, and I really was only going for my friends, it still stung a little that mine and Remus' agreement to go together wasn't enough to make him feel differently about the Quidditch tryouts. I had hoped one of the reasons he was going was to spend time with me.

However, my moment of uncertainty soon lifted when I saw Remus' eyes twinkle playfully.

He chuckled, then said, "You haven't told her about Sirius planning to ask her to go to Hogsmeade, have you?"

"No, of course not. If I make a promise, I keep it."

"I know, Jenn. I just thought I'd double check."

We continued chatting for another hour, discussing everything from what we'd done over the summer break, to how we intended to spend Christmas. It was a fun time. Both Remus and I were utterly relaxed in each other's company, and there were hardly any awkward silences. In fact, it was much like when we were in a class together, only there was less talk about whatever project had been assigned to us, and more chatter about our friends, what we were going to do on our free weekends, and what we'd been doing with our families over the summer.

However, the light-hearted mood didn't last long, as Remus became unusually quiet. I didn't know if it was tiredness from a long day in lessons or something else. What I did know, though, was that Remus seemed distracted and not his usual self.

A few times, I caught him looking at the doorway, as though expecting – or even hoping – someone he knew would arrive soon. Additionally, he seemed very reluctant to make eye contact with me.

I was starting to think he was regretting coming to Professor Slughorn's party with me altogether or that I'd done something to offend him somehow. However, I couldn't think of anything I'd done that could be even remotely offensive. All we'd done was talk about school, our friends and our plans for the holidays – nothing we hadn't already discussed in class a million times before. Unless, I'd accidentally said something I shouldn't have about his family, and that was why he was acting so strangely. Though, in all honesty, he hadn't mentioned them that much, and I'd talked more about my own parents and sister – Remus seeming happy to listen and make occasional comments.

The only thing I could put it down to, was that I'd been wrong to think he saw me the same way I saw him – as something more than a friend – and that he was feeling awkward now that we weren't in class together, but in a social situation instead.

When Remus looked across the room and to the doorway for the fourth time in less than an hour, I had the sinking feeling my theory might be true. Then, remembering his reaction when Professor Slughorn had assumed we were a couple and the look of almost horror on his face, my heart sank.

Everything made sense now. He'd only invited me to Professor Slughorn's party and Quidditch tryouts out of politeness, because we'd been working on our Arithmancy project together. I assumed he probably wouldn't have done so if I had been studying with Lily or Michelle, and now that we were alone together, he realized that outside of school projects, we had very little in common.

Joining the dots in my head, I realized that Remus never had seen me as more than someone he was forced to work with in class. I felt like such a fool for ever assuming something different. After all, he was one of the notorious Marauders – guys who practically had girls falling at their feet – and I was just plain old Jenn.

True, Sirius was apparently attracted to Stephanie, but I couldn't compare to someone like her.

Stephanie and I were as different as we were the same. Even though we both shared a love of books and learning, Stephanie was confident, attractive and outgoing, where I was shy, ordinary and introverted. Even though Remus wasn't as much of an extrovert as Sirius – or even James – he was still popular and well-known amongst his fellow Gryffindors.

With a sigh, I resigned myself to the fact that Remus and I were never going to be more than classmates, and just tried to think of a way to make the evening a little less awkward for both of us.

As if answering my pleas, I looked up and noticed Lily making her way towards us. With a sense of relief, I turned to her and grinned.

"Hey, Lily," I called. "Why don't you come and join us?"

Lily looked curiously between myself and Remus, then said, "Are you sure you don't mind?"

I nodded my head, insisting it wasn't a problem. Though, I caught Remus throwing Lily a strained glance, and assumed he was trying to silently convey to her his need for some company that wasn't just mine.

With a final hesitant gaze between Remus and I, Lily smiled and the joined us at the table.

As soon as Lily began speaking, Remus feel silent and faded a little into the background, leaving me and his fellow Gryffindor to discuss our summers.

I was enthralled to hear the differences between Lily's holiday and my own. Coming from a pure-blood family, I had no idea about some of the Muggle things Lily had gotten up to; like going to the movie theater (the premise of which sounded a little like Wizarding moving photographs, but they apparently told a complete story and had sounds too) or going roller-blading (shoes that had little wheels on them, allowing the wearer to 'skate' around the streets) or playing with something called an 'Atari Pong' games console (the idea of which baffled me completely. You used a television – which was apparently a smaller version of the movie theater – to view a black screen, with two white paddles and a white ball on. The basic object of the game was for two people to use the 'console' to control a paddle each, and hit the white ball backwards and forwards across the screen. You earnt a point, if your opponent failed to hit the ball, and it landed in the boundaries around the screen.)

Likewise, Lily seemed fascinated when I told her all the things I'd done while helping out in my parents' bookstore over the summer break. She was awed as I described something that I found completely normal and 'everyday'; like accompanying my father to Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

I told Lily how we were escorted by a goblin across the grand marble main hall, through passageways (that were made from stone and dimly lit with flaming torches), which lead to the vaults. The passageways sloped down to a track, upon which ran little carts controlled by the goblins. The cart then took my father and I deep beneath the surface of the earth, through a "maze of twisting passages," to our vault. I detailed how the cart only went at one speed - fast - which prevented my father or I from getting a good look at our surroundings, and seem to run on a vast, complex, interconnected series of tracks that allow the carts to move to and between any of the vaults.

I explained in detail to Lily how the vaults themselves varied in size and security. The largest, most well protected vaults belong to the oldest wizarding families and are situated deepest beneath the surface. Those vaults closer to the surface being smaller and having fewer security precautions surrounding them - they used keys, for example, rather than requiring the touch of a goblin to gain access.

Then, I told Lily about vault 709, which belonged to my parents and needed a goblin's touch to open. It was in there that my father deposited all the gold from their shop - Magical Monographs – as well as collecting a small money bag that would be used to purchase my Hogwarts equipment and uniform for the coming year.

I then went onto explain to Lily the rules pertaining to who is allowed to access vaults. I mentioned that goblins often ask wizards for identification or a key to be allowed access, and went on to tell her that there is a charm that forces a wizard to give the gold to its rightful owner, should it be withdrawn by someone else.

Lily seemed utterly intrigued by the details of Gringotts I shared with her, hanging on my every world with bated breath. In fact, we spent so long chatting that we didn't notice the party coming to an end and guests leaving, until Remus tapped me on the shoulder.

"Sorry to interrupt, Jenn," he said. "But it's almost half-eleven, and everyone is making their way back to their common rooms now."

"Oh, Merlin. I'm sorry, Remus. Lily and I have chattered away most of the night and kind of forgot about you," I said apologetically, offering him a sheepish smile. "I bet it was really boring having to listen to me prattle on about Gringotts, when you've no doubt been there a million times before with your own family."

Remus smiled, and blushed for a second, before replying, "No, not at all. Even though I've been to Gringotts often enough myself, it was still interesting to hear it described in such vivid detail, and I just loved hearing about all the Muggle things Lily did over the summer."

"Yeah, me too," I agreed with a grin. "Thanks for sharing it with us, Lily. It almost makes me wish I'd taken Muggle Studies now."

Lily grinned back at Remus and I, then informed us, "Actually, Muggle Studies is quite boring compared to the things I do at home. All we do in class is silly things like writing an essay to 'Explain Why Muggles Need Electricity'."

Remus and I glanced at each other in utter confusion, having absolutely no idea what 'electricity' was or what a Muggle would need it for. Lily, seeing our puzzled expressions simply giggled and said, "Well, I guess that essay wouldn't seem so silly to you two, but come on, it's late, and we should get back. I'll explain electricity to you both some other time."

Remus nodded and rose from his chair, offering me his hand to help me from my own seat.

"Do you want me to walk you back to the common room?" He inquired.

Inside, I wanted to say yes, but I was still a little worried about the awkwardness that had been there between Remus and I earlier, and I was also concerned about Lily walking back to Gryffindor tower alone.

"No, it's alright. You can't let Lily walk all the way from the dungeons on her own. And besides, Ravenclaw tower is on the opposite side of the castle to your common room. At least you two are going to the same place," I insisted.

Lily looked questioningly at Remus, to which he inclined his head slightly, and then she said, "Don't worry about it, Jenn. I promised my friend Amy that I'd walk back to the common room with her. You go with Remus and I'll see both of you tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" I asked hesitantly, being secretly scared that once Lily left, Remus and I would return to the uncomfortable silence that had fallen between us before she arrived.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure," Lily said airily. "Go on, and I'll see you both at the Quidditch try-outs tomorrow."

"Okay then," Remus agreed, not giving me another chance to protest. "I'll see you in the morning, Lily."

"Yeah, see you in the morning, Lily," I added. "And thanks for telling us about all the fun Muggle things you did over the summer."

"It was my pleasure," Lily returned with a grin, as she began making her way across the now emptying dungeon to find Amy. Then, raising hand in a wave, she called, "Good night, guys."

"Night," I shouted back, before turning to Remus. "Really, if you don't want to walk me back to Ravenclaw tower, I won't mind."

"Nonsense, I wouldn't have offered if it was a problem. Besides, who knows where Snape might be lurking about."

"You heard about that, then?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, as we made our way up the stairs from the dungeons and across the Entrance Hall.

"Yeah, Stephanie mentioned it to me in Potions the other day," he replied casually.

"What? When? I didn't see her talking to you."

"Oh, it was when you were asking Professor Slughorn about the color of your Everlasting Elixir. Sirius had been throwing enchanted paper airplanes at her, and she came over to tell him to stop. Then, she mentioned what had happened with Snape. I swear to you on Merlin's beard, Sirius and James were ready to go and hex Snape into oblivion when they heard. Actually, I wanted to too, but then I knew it wouldn't really be fitting of a prefect to go around hexing other students, even if said students are horrible, slimy gits who pick on girls I like."

I had been listening with my head bowed to what Remus was telling me, both out of embarrassment that Snape had caught me in such a situation, and also out of fear of what else Stephanie might have said to Remus when I hadn't been listening. However, as the last sentence tumbled from his mouth, my head snapped up and I gazed directly at Remus.

A tense silence filled the corridor we were in, and the soundless void was worse than any awkwardness between us all evening. For a long, agonizing moment, I waited for Remus to say something else, but when he didn't, I opened my mouth to speak.

"I... thanks... I, erm...." I stuttered, trying to find a way to express to him how I felt, while all the time wondering if now was really the best time to do so, given how strange things had been between the two of us at Professor Slughorn's party.

However, before I had much chance to do anything more than stutter incoherently, Remus cut me off.

"Listen, Jenn, I'm really sorry but I just remembered I promised to show James and Sirius a spell that would help them to keep the wind from blowing their hair in their faces tomorrow at the Quidditch try-outs," he said hastily, looking up and down the corridor and blushing deeply. "I'll... erm... see you tomorrow, alright?"

Then, without another word, Remus hurried away, leaving me standing in a random hallway on the fourth floor, rooted to the spot and utterly confused by every thing that had happened tonight between Remus and I since I'd met him in the Entrance Hall to go to Professor Slughorn's gathering.

To Be Continued ...