In the Present
A HariPo fanfic
by mew-tsubaki
Note: I haven't finished To the Future and already I'm starting its second companion story. AGH! However, J.K. Rowling's characters are in good hands by now, so I hope everyone enjoys this Rena story. But to reach the present, one must glance at the past, where our story begins… READ & REVIEW!!!
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The Eighth Wax
Neville, luckily, was dense enough that Remus's few words stopped the young teacher from fretting. If they hadn't, well… I think we all know that that could've led to an explosion.
Speaking of explosions, the werewolf thought during one of his classes. He looked over his students as they took one final test before departing for the holidays, but his mind was elsewhere. Tonks will be waiting at home, there'll be a get-together with her parents, we'll have to put a visit in at the Weasleys' –this won't be as easy as past Christmases. His watch beeped and he stopped mid-step. "Time's up. Quills down. Don't touch your papers until I've collected them."
There were shuffles as they did as he said. Remus flicked his wand and the papers lifted off the desks; another swish and they floated into his open hands. Right as the last one touched down, the bell rang, and the classroom was filled with utter chaos as the second years ran to get ahead of their classmates.
"Happy Christmas!!" Remus hollered over the tumult. "And remember: no underage magic while away from school!!" The teacher stood near his desk as the last of them disappeared through the doors, and he finally sat down. He was glad that it was finally the last night before leaving, though what awaited him at home wasn't any better than what was there for him at Hogwarts.
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The next day was one of packing and carting students away. Without classes, the atmosphere had lightened considerably, both for the kids and teachers. Remus was surprised that he only bumped into Sirius once; he hadn't seen much of his best mate in a long while, despite working in the same place. Well, I'll at least see him at the Weasleys'. The teacher returned his office after a quick bite in the Great Hall that night.
Another holiday rolls in like a fog, Remus thought glumly as he packed the books and papers he'd need over the break. He paused to glance out the window. Outside, a shining crescent hung in the velvety, navy sky; however, the wintery chill crept in through the stone walls, and he hoped it wouldn't start snowing until he got home.
He left his quarters and started down the corridor. The halls were fairly lively, as many students moved to or fro, leaving for Christmas. The werewolf dodged a pair of skeedadling first years and stepped to the side. Maybe I should wait until things calm down?
"Remus?"
Automatically, he straightened a bit. Then, of course, he gave himself a mental headslap. You idiot! he scolded himself. Just because you realized you have feelings for her doesn't mean it's a good idea to overreact to her voice! He turned around and locked eyes with her. Don't overreact to those big, ice blue…eyes…either. "Hello, Luna," Remus finally managed.
She smiled and flung her plait over her shoulder. "Neville's taking so long; I thought I might deliver a holiday's greetings."
"Yes. I'm sure everyone will enjoy that," he stated with a smile.
A peculiar expression flitted across her features. "'Everyone'… Yes, I suppose." Whatever the odd expression, it disappeared beneath her smile. "May I see you out?"
"Be my guest," he replied, and she walked alongside him to the end of the corridor. She stepped in front of him in the hall of the moving stairs.
"Do you know the truth behind Santa Claus?" she asked as they waited for the staircase to realign. "He's actually a charitable wizard who would give presents to children throughout the world."
Remus quelled the chuckle in his throat. "'Would'? When did he stop?"
Luna faced him. "When it was discovered that Mrs. Claus was a young mistress and that he had robbed many house elves' of proper treatment."
"Ah. I see." He thought for a moment, while wishing the stairs would hurry up at the same time. "But some muggle children still miraculously receive gifts on Christmas." Remus teasingly raised his eyebrows. "Care to answer that?"
She put one hand on her hip, the other on the railing. "That's not a challenge. Wizards and witches who heard of their muggle neighbors' and friends' plight merely fill Santa's shoes and poof up the presents themselves." Luna's eyes softened just a tad, and her smile hinted at a tinge of sadness. "So some magic really does exist in this one day."
"Luna… Watch out!!" Remus dropped his things as the old staircase gave an unwarranted jerk and Luna lost her grip. Time sped up in Remus' imagination, and all he could see was her braid fluttering in front of her, her back hitting the bottom step, her head cracking on the corner before she dropped down and then the stairs would be all matched up. In reality, his actions were played out in slow motion, and he almost felt as though he were out of his body, watching someone else save her. Remus grabbed one of her wrists and yanked her to him. He hugged her tightly as they made their odd tumble down. The wizard squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head over Luna's, waiting to feel the pain and crack of his own head on the stone surface.
Luckily, only a little bit of pain came. His back did hit the bottom step, and his head did contact the floor, but neither of them were caught on an edge or thrown over. All the same, Remus kept his head over Luna's. Agh, the pain is excruciating…
Her voice was quiet –scared, even. "Remus…are you all right?"
"I've suffered much worse, Luna. The question is, are you all right?"
"I'm safe." Again, without warning, the unexpected happened. She tilted her head up so quickly that they hit each other's forehead, but he didn't even feel that. When she moved so fast, he didn't have time to move his face, and their lips brushed. Well, 'brushed' is much too brief; 'touched' is a better choice, for in that three-second moment, Remus could taste her breath on his tongue, and his lips were moistened by her wet ones. Of course, then she ducked her head and buried her face in his chest.
Remus was shell-shocked. Wha…What just happened? His heart raced as it registered in his brain that she kissed him. His thoughts didn't cloud, though. A nervous chuckle escaped him. "W-Well…," he began. "We should, erm, get going…now…" He managed to prop himself up on his elbows, but when he tried to help Luna up, she only clung tighter. Again, Remus was surprised. Then he heard the swoosh of a cloak behind him, and his blood turned to ice.
"Luna…?"
Slowly, the werewolf turned his head and saw Neville standing in the doorway. The Herbology teacher looked devastated and naïve, as if he had just had his favorite toy stolen from him. Just as slowly, Neville came closer and helped his love up, but Luna did not look at Remus once more.
Neville brushed Luna's sleeves off while Remus knelt and collected his things. "Luna, are you okay?" Neville asked her. "You…You're trembling," he muttered, taking her hands in his.
Remus stood and his ears pricked up. "Remus saved me from a bad fall is all," she told Neville.
Relief washed over the younger wizard, and he even smiled at Remus. "Happy Christmas!" he told him, and he mouthed a 'thank you' as he and Luna left.
Once again, Remus was on his own. He trudged down another level, his thoughts an unpleasant, jumbled mess. While he could still taste her warm breath, it hurt to have her not look at him again. And had she trembled because of him…? The cold seeped into his bones on the way out, and he hoped it would start snowing before he got home.
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(we finally enter Luna's point-of-view. sorry it took so long to break away from Remus, peoples. –mt)
In Neville's office, Luna was quiet. The Herbology teacher zipped up a duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder. He picked up a plant and then looked at the toad on his desk. "Um, Luna?"
"Hmm?"
"Could you take something for me?" he asked, and he motioned to Trevor.
"Of course." She let go of her messenger bag's strap and picked up the large toad. The witch looked at her boyfriend. "Are you ready?"
"Pretty much." They left his office and he locked up, and they headed towards the entryway. "Are you sure you want to spend Christmas with me at my Gran's?"
"Why not?" Luna said. "My father's gone on a last-minute trip anyway. Besides, we haven't seen much of each other anyway."
"Yeah… I was talking with Remus, actually, about that this past weekend. He said you let him preview your kappa article when you bumped into him."
Luna paused before answering. So, Remus said something, she thought. She pursed her lips. But I don't think he's quite caught onto me yet… The witch came back to the present. "Yes, and he liked it. I have it with me, and some other reports, as well. With dad away, I'm in charge of putting together this week's issue."
Neville's eyes lit up, displaying his pride in her. "That's fantastic! Oh, Luna, you're really moving along here!" He shifted his plant to the hand the held the duffle bag's strap, and he hugged her with his free arm, kissing her temple. "Happy Christmas, love," he breathed into her ear, and he gave her another gentle squeeze.
She smiled, but didn't say anything. It was flattering, the attention he showered her in, but it was also suffocating sometimes. She wished –maybe it was her one Christmas wish –that Neville would realize he didn't have to pat her on the head or always hug her or gave her little pecks on the cheek or temple as he had just done. Maybe I need to do something about this… Her eyes briefly darted to the Herbology professor, and she knitted her brows together in concern at the thought, for Neville had always been good to her.
He kissed her cheek as they approached the boundaries of Hogwarts' No-Apparation line. Once past it, they poofed to his grandmother's house and Neville knocked. Augusta let them in and Luna went down the hall to the guest room. The Quibbler reporter placed her bag on the floor and put Trevor down on the nightstand. She sat on top of the comforter. And sighed.
Another kiss, she noted. Though he wasn't a bad kisser and the pecks he left on her cheek were never sloppy or slimy, she did rub her cheek where he last got her. Why is there on emphasis on kissing to show one's affection? she silently asked herself as she looked into the vanity mirror. She ran her fingers through her hair to loosen her braid, and she stopped. Her mind went back to what had transpired twenty minutes ago. She gingerly touched her fingertips to her lips. Only this past weekend had she been staring at Remus's well-formed mouth. Those lips seemed to curl up at the ends only when he was with her, and she felt she preferred it that way. And, at last, tonight… She had tasted those lips, felt his breath.
And then I ducked my head into his chest, she begrudgingly recalled as her the apples of her cheeks flushed and she tugged a brush through her hair. That was brave of me.
The witch stopped fiddling with her hair. I wonder how soon I'll see him again…? Her heart sped up, and she blinked. I wonder how long ago it was that I fell for him…?
There was a knock on the door jamb, and she turned to see Neville leaning against it. "Gran says supper's ready. You all right?"
"Yes," she said with a partially forced smile. She walked to him and they headed for the dining room.
"Oh, by the way," Neville said, "I got a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Molly and Arthur invited us to their Christmas Eve party. I hope you don't mind; I said we'd both go."
Luna blinked. "Oh, no, that's quite all right. It's been a while since we've seen everyone."
"Yeah… Harry and Hermione will be there, of course, as will Fred and George with their fiancés, Angelina and Verity. Lessee, there'll also be Molly and Arthur, of course, and Charlie said he come by with his girlfriend. Oh, and Remus will be there with Tonks."
The witch smiled for real this time. "It'll be nice to see old faces," she stated, despite the feeling welling up in her stomach. Of course Remus would go with Tonks. She's his wife…
Augusta interrupted their conversation. "Come on, come on!! Dinner's ready!!"
Neville rolled his eyes so only Luna saw. "We're coming, Gran!!!"
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Ah, this heart of the Christmas arc in the next chappie… Here's to hoping nothing explodes. No, really. Tonks is hormonal, after all.
Well, read and REVIEW, people! Rena and I lurve you for it!!!
-mew-tsubaki
P.S. –I saw the 6th movie. I won't spoil it, but I have but four things to say:
-Where did half the book go?
-I nearly cried about the Great Hall.
-TonksxRemus (you'll understand once you've seen it)
-& last but not least, the Burrow.
I don't think I've spoiled anything here, but my warning to you is this: You'll laugh, you'll be confused, but…you'll also have your heart ripped out. … See you in chapter nine, guys.
