Lena's P.O.V
The days since Severus's return passed slowly. Ron, Hermione and Ginny had been shocked by his presence and awkwardness had taken rise in the house the first day of his arrival, although this quickly died down when they realised he was here to cause no harm. I'd moved down into Harry and Ron's room so that Severus could take my bed but I had quickly learnt that Ron slept heavily and Harry wouldn't comment so I'd taken to slipping out of bed and joining Severus in my own. Severus didn't feel as much pain and was finding it much easier to move around and so when Ginny found herself stuck on the potions work he'd set her, he'd sat down and helped her with it. Hermione wasn't so eager to take any help and so had struggled through a potions essay that she had yet to finish, Harry however, shocked me the most.
Only three days after Severus had arrived, Harry had come downstairs carrying his potions book and had asked Severus to sit with him and run him through sleeping draughts. Severus obliged and they were still working three hours later when Molly and I called everyone to lunch. Dad spent most of the meal throwing questioning glances towards Harry, obviously disturbed by Harry's eagerness to spend time with Severus. After lunch we all continued to help Molly rid the house of the foul creatures that had taken over what appeared to be every room of the house. Harry and Severus had packed up and started working down in the parlour, as we took on the colossal task of riding the library from pixies that had nested behind every bookcase, laying their tiny eggs in many of the ancient books. As we removed each one by hand, cautious not to burst any of them and release the poison inside that Remus promised would burn away our fingerprints, we discovered ancient books that contained images British witch persecution through the ages, various disturbing illustrations describing how women had been burnt alive, calling for their children and husbands. I was flicking through one of these books, removing the tiny eggs cautiously when Remus let out a shrill scream and all turned to face him. I placed my book carefully down and rushed to Remus's side, an egg being dropped on him from a great height by a pixie angered by the disturbance of her nest. Small blisters were appearing where the egg had caught him on the arm and Molly quickly applied the salve she'd had to hand when we'd begun. "Thanks Molly." Remus flinched as she rubbed the salve in gently but other than that showed no emotion and being targeted by an angry pixie. "Well you should take some time out, the poison will hit your system quick enough and you won't be able to stand." She turned to take Remus out of the room, instructed Hermione and I to take care and watch the others. Fred and George however had other ideas and one twin would throw an egg at the other, the other quickly flashing up a shield charm so that the egg would rebound off of it and hit one a piece of furniture. "BOYS BEHAVE! STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!" Molly stormed off towards them bellowing what I could only work out to be an order for me to take Remus downstairs and make him tea. She was quickly turning me into a mini Molly and I wondered whether I'd have the kind of patience and love she had for her children, even though they did everything in their power to disturb the peace she worked so hard to create for them.
Happily I left the library, having seen enough disturbing images for one day and on reaching the kitchen boiled the copper kettle that stood above the open fire. Remus took a chair at the table and placing tea in-front of him, I took the chair beside him.
Since my arrival I'd spent many evenings discussing the Order with Remus and Dad so I was comfortable to spend time alone with him, although his first topic of conversation would not have been my own choice. "Which house Lena?" I sighed heavily. This seemed to have fluctuated everyone's conversations for weeks, everyone of course hoping I'd end up in Gryffindor, although both Remus and Severus had shown know preference, even though Dad tried to corral Remus into forcing me into Gryffindor. "Not sure." I really wasn't. I'd love to be in Gryffindor to be with everyone, but it would make it so much harder for me to see Severus, yet being a Slytherin would be no better as our affair could quickly become obvious to other house members. The whole school topic made me cringe as it quickly made me question whether it would be possible for Severus and me to carry on our affair at all. Everybody here was quick to throw a blind eye in Severus's direction and I was thankful it was only Harry who had yet to notice our relationship, but Hogwarts was a different story, and from what the others had said, rumours were quick to spread at the school. And it was all very well sneaking upstairs every night to share my bed with him, but it would be much more difficult at Hogwarts where he'd have his own rooms, and I my dormitory, possibly in different parts of the castle. Then there was always the question of whether Severus would want to continue our relationship. The threat of being treated as a student still hung heavily in the air anytime we discussed the future, and although I would want to be shown no favour in the classroom, I'd hoped that we may have been able to continue what we had there, I was quickly learning that Severus had a kind heart and was able to make me laugh and cry without second thought.
"Gryffindor would be easier; Dad'll kill me if it's Slytherin." Remus laughed and drank some of the hot tea, my own quickly going cold in my hands. "He'll get over it. There's nothing to say you won't get Ravenclaw, you're clever Lena, you could do it." Remus shared a kind smile with me and I greatly regretted this man was my father's best friend. I feared if Severus hadn't caught me in a feverish grasp, I'd have quickly fallen for Remus. He was kind and loving and had a way of making everything else go away. When you were around Remus there was no anger or boredom as there was with Dad, no worry or stress as there was with Molly, and no fear of the future that hung heavily in the air when I was with Severus.
It would be so easy to tell Remus all my worry and stress. It was true that he showed dislike to Severus but did not show the pure hatred that my father did towards him. "I wouldn't mind Slytherin." At this Remus put his mug on the table and turned to me, a sudden curiosity marking his face. "Everyone acts like it would be the worst thing that could happen but I'm not so sure. I've always been able to make friends so there isn't that problem there and I'm not too sure what would qualify as brave. Severus isn't as bad as they make out either. I think he's quite brilliant actually." I hoped he wouldn't notice the slight excitement in my voice. "Ah yes, Severus. Quite the charmer when he wants to be, not a feature we share." "Ha, I'm not so sure about that Remus, you're quite the charmer yourself," I laughed quietly, and he joined in, a little shocked. "Oh Lena, you are definitely your fathers daughter. If only you weren't." He looked shocked at his own comment and I couldn't lie and say I wasn't also. Sat so close, I could feel the warmth radiating from him, and knew that lying in his arms would be laying the summer sunshine. He leaned in a little towards me and I couldn't help but react. His hand rested on my upper arm and I couldn't help but want to reach out and trace the scars that marred his face. As if remembering himself he released my arm and pushed away a little from me. I sat straight and only one thought crossed my mind. I was Severus's. "I'm sorry Lena. I shouldn't have. You'd think I'd know better but there's something about you that I can't get out my head." I sighed helplessly. "It's fine Remus." We sat in silence and were soon joined by the others for dinner, and although I found myself remaining sat next to Remus, I had my back turned to him as I discussed hair potions with Hermione and Ginny. Yet I couldn't help but notice Remus's back faced mine as he engaged Severus in a conversation about the role the werewolf Greyback would play in Voldemort's plans.