Chapter 17:::Remus Watching

Lupin.

Remus Lupin.

Remus John Lupin.

Emily narrowed her eyes as she stared at her target over the top of her book. She was sitting in the library, three tables away from her target, watching him closely as he studied.

It had been a week since Snape had threatened her with the picture he had of her and Sirius. At first she had tried to find a way to get the picture back, or to find something equally embarrassing to threaten Snape with. However, both were unsuccessful. Snape was smarter than she hoped he wasn't, and the only time something embarrassing happened to him was when the marauders pulled something, but the prank was always for all to see. Meaning she couldn't bribe him with a picture or rumor or anything else.

And her searching brought her to a conclusion about herself.

Emily's Potter's life was always dependent on a picture of some sort.

The picture of her in the situation she was now facing, however, could not be used to help her status, but run it.

If Snape chose to show Regulus the photo her life would return to the way it was, because no matter how much Regulus liked her he wouldn't keep a girlfriend how cheated on him, even if it was involuntary, with his blood traitor older brother. She also hated to admit it, but she knew that wasn't going to miss her acquired status only.

She had come to care for Regulus after all the time they spent together. He was the perfect boyfriend. He cared for her, listened to her, and made her feel special, like she was the only girl for him, like she was perfect.

Emily's heart clenched a tiny bit as she pictured Regulus's face if he saw the picture, and realization dawned on her.

I'm doing this for him. I don't want him to think less of me. I want him to lo…care for me.

Emily shook her head and tried to rid herself of her thoughts.

I can't become close to him. If I get to close to anyone it'll just lead to disaster.

She sighed and let her eyes shift back over to Remus to continue her Remus watching, but they widened and she set her book down when she realized he was gone.

Emily inwardly cursed and bit her lip, looking around. When she noticed a flicker of light brown hair leaving the library she stood and tried to follow, but her way was suddenly blocked and she ran straight into someone.

The person grabbed her upper arms at steady her and chuckled. "Watch where you're goin' love."

She looked up sharply and pulled out of Sirius's grasp, looking at him with disgust. "Don't touch me Black."

Something flashed through Sirius's eyes, but he covered it with a smile. "Now, now, don't be mean. If it wasn't for me you would have fallen."

"Well if you hadn't gotten in my way the chance of my falling would be zero."

"Well if you were paying attention you wouldn't have run into me."

"Well if you…" Emily spotted herself from continuing and lifted her hands up in surrender. "I do not have time to deal with this, I have something important to do."

She walked past him and headed towards the door.

"He's going back to the common room."

Emily stopped in surprise and turned. "What?"

Sirius gestured to the door. "Remus, he's going back to the common room. You did want to know where he was going."

"Why would I care where one of your friends went?"

"Well you have been following him for the last week." Sirius said with an unreadable expression. "Now if I didn't know you, I would think you have a crush on him, but since you are who you are…" Sirius took a step closer. "Why are you following him?"

Emily took a step back, Sirius's black and serious expression surprising her. "I'm not following Lupin."

Sirius took Emily by surprise again and grabbed her wrist, pulling her behind the farthest bookshelf so they could have a private conversation.

Emily soon found her back against the wall, two bookshelves on either side of her and Sirius blocking her only exit. The area they were in was shaded and dark; the windows had stopped three bookshelves down, and the shadows made it hard for Emily to see Sirius's face.

Sirius took a step closer and placed his hands on either side of her head. "Tell me why you're following him."

"I have my reasons." She said coolly.

"Anything you want to share?"

"No."

Sirius sighed and shook his head. "If you're trying to get back at me-"

Emily laughed sharply. "Don't flatter yourself Black."

"Then what is it? Why are you-"

"Where does Lupin go every month?" Emily cut him off.

Sirius stepped back. "What?"

Emily leaned against the wall casually. "Where does Lupin go? That's what I want to know."

"His mother-"

"Don't feed me that excuse, I know that's not true. I've met his mother, she's been to our house for dinner, and she does not have some illness that is so serious that her son has to go home to check on her. So what's the real reason?"

"I can't tell you." Sirius said evenly.

Emily raised an eyebrow and thought of a plan quickly.

The direct approach didn't work, soooo…

Emily moved forward till she stood in front of Sirius and wrapped her arms around his neck, one hand running through his hair while the other ran over the side of his face.

She could see his face better now that she was closer, and she could see the surprise, but a hint pleasure underneath. His hands immediately went to her waist.

"Now Sirius, you care for me, right?"

Sirius nodded. "Of course."

"So prove it." Emily smiled lightly and trailed her thumb over his bottom lip. "Tell me where Lupin goes."

Sirius placed his hands on Emily's shoulders and pushed her back gently. "I…I do care for you, but I care for my friends too. It's not my secret to tell."

Emily rolled her eyes. "How very Hufflepuff of you. Loyal to the end." She pushed past him to head back to the main lobby of the library. "If that's all I'll just be going now."

"Emily!" Sirius called.

Emily paused, but didn't turn to face him.

She heard his heavy footfalls, seeming to echo around the abandoned part of the library, until he was directly behind her. He was silent for a while and Emily had the urge to turn and face him, but resisted. When he finally did speak, it was a hushed whisper.

"Forget about trying to find out Remus's secret, for your own safety."

"Is that a threat?"

"No…a warning."

Emily stood there for only a moment longer, before walking to the main lobby again, leaving Sirius alone in the shadows.

Emily did not heed Sirius's warning, if anything it made her more intrigued. How bad was Remus's secret that she had to be warned about it?

So she had continued to follow Remus, but was more discrete about it. She made sure Sirius did not see her. It either worked or it didn't, either way Sirius didn't confront her again, which she was glad about.

Her continuous Remus watching just let her find out something she already knew about the older boy.

Remus Lupin was one of the most boring and reserved Gryffindors she had ever seen.

All he did was study, read, or do his homework. There were some days where she assumed he was being contentious and studied with others besides the Marauders, but most days he was either by himself or whispering with one or all of his three closest friends.

The only other times he had to interact with others was during Prefect meeting, where she could watch more closely than usual.

She was currently attending the weekly Saturday afternoon Prefect meeting in the joint Head Girl/Boy common room, being run by the current Head Boy and Girl, Jeremiah Jacobs and Loretta Williams.

Jeremiah was sitting in a dark blue armchair, matching his House colors, and Loretta sat in a red armchair that matched her own House, a shape between them revealing a fireplace behind then.

The rest of the Prefects sat with their housemates on four different couches positioned around the Heads' chair in a semi circle; a coffee table positioned in the middle.

The Ravenclaw couch was next to Jeremiah's chair and next to the tilted Slytherin couch, which was next to the tilted Hufflepuff couch, which was next to the Gryffindor couch, which was situated next to Lorretta's chair.

The couches were black velvet and very cushiony, and the color matching the blue and red décor that decorated the Head common room perfectly.

Emily's attention was brought back to Jeremiah when he cleared his throat.

"We will end this weeks meeting with the assigning of rounds for February. Loretta, if you'd please read off the list."

Loretta held up a list of names and dates assigned to each pairs of prefects.

"Fifth year prefects will patrol on Mondays and Thursdays, sixth year prefects, Tuesdays and Fridays, and seventh year prefects, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Jeremiah and I will be taking Sunday patrols ourselves. Now, Gryffindors will be taking the ground floors and- Yes Remus?"

Emily, as well as everyone else, turned their gazes to Remus.

He glanced around and slowly let him hand drop back to his side, clearing his throat uncomfortably. "I will have to switch with someone for the fourth."

Jeremiah raised an eyebrow. "And the reason for this…?"

"My mother is sick, and I have to go visit her on the fourth."

Loretta leaned towards Jeremiah and whispered something.

Jeremiah nodded. "Right, that was already discussed with Professor Dumbledore and was cleared. You'll just have to switch swifts with someone, any volunteers?"

Emily inwardly smirked, a plan forming in her mind, and raised her hand. "I'll switch with him."

Remus looked surprised, as well as the red head Gryffindor, Lily Evans, sitting next to him. Emily just smiled sweetly in their direction.

Loretta nodded and picked up her quill from the table, writing something down on her sheet of paper.

"Right, Emily will patrol the dungeon, ground floor, and first floor corridors with Lily on the fourth, and Remus will patrol the sixth and seventh floor corridors with Andrew on the seventh. Now if that is the only switching to be done, let us continue. As I was saying, Gryffindors will take the ground and first floors, Hufflepuffs…"

Emily listened to Loretta's assigning of corridors, but watched Remus out of the corner of her eye.

He glanced at her also and their eyes locked.

Remus frowned at her, raising a perplexed eyebrow.

Emily just smirked.

I will find out your secret.