A/N: thank you all who sumitted your opinion about Izzie and a LOVER. I liked seeing what your thoughts were on the matter. At this point I'm not sure myself who Izzie should be with. I'm stuck between two people...but I'm not going to tell you because that will give aways my secerts. Anything can happen.
Encounters
"Oh look. Here comes Neville," Hermione said sarcastically to the people around her including Izzie.
"Hermione shut up. I told you that in confidence," Izzie said referring to last night in Hermione and hers dorm room. She had told Hermione every time Neville is near Izzie he talks to her, he gets real red in the face by the end of the conversation. Also how he is always offering her to be his study buddy.
"What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing Ronald," Izzie and Hermione said at the same time smiling at each other.
"Hay you guys. Did you hear? Out first Hogsmeade weekend is on Halloween. McGonagall is going to post the Hogsmeade schedule after dinner."
"There are still allowing us to go to Hogsmeade after Sirius Black has been sighted," Hermione said.
"Hermione," Harry began to say, "Sirius Black was sighted in Hogsington. That is over 100 miles away from here."
"Harry…last sighted. Hogsington was where he was last sighted. That was almost a month ago. He hasn't been seen since," Hermione said.
"Well, it doesn't matter. Harry won't be able to go to Hogsmeade anyway," Ron said.
"Why not?" Izzie asked.
"Because my Aunt and Uncle didn't sign the permission form," Harry said sadly.
"I can sign if for you," Izzie offered.
"You cant'," Harry began, "The permission slop has an enchantment on it, for you can't forge a signature."
"Smart," Izzie said, "Wait! There is a permission slip. You can't just go."
"No. Third years need a parent or guardian to sign. Lupin didn't tell you." Hermione asked.
"No he didn't. Must have slipped his mind. I'll talk to him after dinner tonight."
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"Dumbledore, if I tell her she can't go for any reason. She is going to think something is wrong. But if she goes," Lupin said.
Dumbledore interrupted, "You chance Sirius Black from getting into contact with her. I understand. From out previous discussion I am sending an owl to Elizabeth after dinner to explain to her since a staff member can not act as a parent or guardian, she will not be permitted. Since you are a staff member, you can't sign the permission slip. I know it doesn't sound fair but…"
"It is for her safety. Yes I know," Lupin interrupted.
"Since Harry can't go either. They can spend the day together and not alone brooding."
"That's good. She is very good at brooding."
"Like someone else I know," Dumbledore said giving Remus a smile.
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"Oh my God, did you see the look on McGonagall's face when the elephant I transfigured started to rampage in the classroom. I thought she was going to have a heart attack," Izzie said explaining to Fred and George.
"An elephant?" George asked.
"Like an African elephant?" Fred asked.
"How big?" they both asked.
"Huge, as big as an elephant can get. She told me to do a baby elephant. To challenge me. I think," Izzie said.
"To challenge. More like to challenge herself from not letting students get trampled," Harry said.
"Best Transfiguration class ever!" Ron said.
"What time is it?" Izzie asked.
"Seven."
"I got to get going. Curfew is in an hour," Izzie said.
An owl flew in and dropped a letter in front of Izzie. One the top of the letter 'Elizabeth Timberlake'.
"Izzie not Elizabeth. Izzie. I- double Z- I-E. How hard is it?"
"Open it. It's from Dumbledore," Hermione said.
Izzie looked toward Dumbledore at the staff table. Who just at that same moment looked away just as Izzie looked up there.
Izzie looked back to the letter and opened it. She read:
Dear Miss Elizabeth Timberlake,
As you well know, a few times a year, the students of Hogwarts from Year Three to Year Seven are allowed to visit the village of Hogsmeade. Students attending Third Year were sent a permission slip over the summer. Since I was not informed until last minute that you would be attending Hogwarts this year. One was not send to you. Since the first Hogsmeade trip is coming up on the 31st of October, as you may already be informed of. I am deeply sorry to tell you, that you will not be attending any Hogsmeade trips this year, due to no permissions slip was signed by parent or guardian. A staff member can not act as parent or guardian. Since Remus Lupin joined the staff this year at Hogwarts, filling in the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, he can not sign the permission slip that would have allowed you to visit the village of Hogsmeade.
I am very sorry again.
Sincerely,
Albus P. W. B. Dumbledore
Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Izzie folded the letter back up and placed the letter back into the envelope.
"Bullshit."
"Izzie, what is it?" Hermione asked.
"What does it say?" Harry asked.
"Bullshit," Izzie said louder. And the whole Great Hall grew silent.
"What?" Ron asked as Izzie got up and walked out of the Great Hall, with the letter in her hand.
Izzie didn't see where she was going around a corner when she bumped into Cedric Diggory.
"Izzie?"
"Cedric? Not now, I have someone I need to kill right now."
"Izzie, what's wrong?"
"You know the Hogsmeade trip coming up," Izzie said waiting for him to shack his head 'yes', "Yeah well, I can't go according to this," holding up the letter.
"Why?"
"Because of this stupid rule that says 'a staff member can not act as a parent or guardian'," she used the quotations with her figures, "Well guess what. My guardian is a staff member. He can't sign the permission slip. And now will you excuse me, I have to go see my staff member/ guardian."
"I hope they change their minds. I want you to go to Hogsmeade," Cedric said with a smile on his face.
"I hope so too," Izzie returned the smile and went back to her conquest.
When she rounded the next corner, she bumped into someone else.
"Phh."
"Do you know the Petrificus Totalus spell? Because you make me stiff," the person said when she bumped in to him. He said this when she was still pushed up against him.
Izzie pulled away and looked up to see Draco Malfoy, "That was so uncalled for," she saw over Draco's shoulder and saw Crabbe and Goyle, "I don't want to know what you three do on your time alone. And clearly I interrupted that 'alone time'. Don't mind me."
"How dare you?!" Draco yelled and slapped Izzie across the check, hard, making the spot go red.
Izzie's head went back to one side. She grabbed her face and looked back at Draco with murderous eyes and a little shock. Draco made a move to grab her, but Izzie was quicker.
"Desizegro!" she yelled pulling out her wand and pointing it at Draco's crouch.
"Aah!" Draco yelled in a squeaky voice, "Don't just stand there," Draco squeaked at Crabbe and Goyle, "Get her!"
Crabbe and Goyle made a grab for her also, but this time Izzie lost control. Her eyes went black for the second time since coming to Hogwarts, throwing them across the hall.
Izzie turned to leave, when Draco grabbed her leg causing her to fall and hit her forehead. Draco crawled on top of Izzie, forcing her to flip over, "You Bitch!" Draco yelled all squeakiness gone.
"Get off of me!" Izzie eyes were no longer back. She was terrified.
They were struggling when a big black dog bounced on Draco's back, clawing at him to get off. The dog was biting for the neck. Draco grabbed onto Izzie to stop the dog from dragging him away. Making Izzie hit the back of her head against the floor.
Izzie was dizzy but she still could hear Draco, Crabbe and Goyle running and screaming for their lives, "Yeah and I'm the Bitch," Izzie said sitting up slowly. Her eyes met with the black dog. He had gray eyes, kind eyes.
"Thank you," she reached over to scratch the dog's ears, "You know I always wanted a dog like you. Protective and everything. Yeah…never got one," she looked for her wand, "Where's my…," the dog had Izzie's wand in his mouth, "Wow," she took the wand and put it in her pocket, she looked around again, "And…," the dog had the letter in his mouth, "Shit. I must have hit my head hard," she took the letter and put it in her pocket as well. She made a move to get up and after several minutes she finally did get back on to her feet.
"Look I bet Draco and the others are right now as we…I speak. Telling Snape about you and 'his' story. You better go before you end up like Buckbeak."
Izzie made the move to turn, but the dog bite onto her sleeve. She looked back down to the dog, "Go!"
The dog did as she said. He rounded the corner and was gone.
"Yep. Defiantly hit my head," she made her way down two more hallways. She always looked back as she went, looking for the dog or Draco. By the time she got to Lupin's classroom, she could barely stand.
She pushed open the door to Lupin's office, "Remus," Izzie said before she collapsed.
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"Pomfrey!" Lupin sounded panicked as he rushed Izzie into the hospital wing, with Izzie dangling in his arms.
"Oh dear God! Put her over here, Remus," Pomfrey pointed toward a bed and rushed over to him to help him lay Izzie down on the bed, "What happened?"
"I don't know. She came into my office and just collapsed in front of me."
"Did you check to see if she was breathing?"
"Yes. She has been breathing this whole time. I can hear her heart beat.'
"It looks like she was attacked," it wasn't a question. She started to clean the blood off her forehead.
"I know," Remus responded, looking even more panicked.
"Go to my office and contact Dumbledore. He must be told at once."
Remus did as he was told, and walked blindly into Pomfrey's office to floo Dumbledore. 'Sirius if you did this. I will kill you myself. Damn you Sirius. Damn you. Your own daughter,' Remus grabbed a hand full of red floo powder, "Albus Dumbledore."
'If it was you Sirius. How did you get into the castle?'
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"I wasn't informed that she…and um…him was back in London. Let alone a student and a teacher at Hogwarts."
"I didn't tell you Minister?"
"No Dumbledore you didn't tell me of this."
"I must tell you Cornelius, it was not intentional. Old age is a weakness on the mind. If I were younger, you would have been the first person I would have informed," Dumbledore said innocently.
"Yes. I am sure."
"Dumbledore, Miss Timberlake has force trauma to the forehead and to the back of the head. She also has a red welt on her left check. She may have a mild concussion when she wakes," Madame Pomfrey informed the headmaster and the Minister of Izzie's condition.
"Do you still think she was attacked?" the Minister asked.
"Yes," she said, "Not sexually. Just physically."
"Madame Pomfrey. What of Draco Malfoy? How is he doing?" Dumbledore pressed on, the twinkle gone from his eyes.
"He obtained several scratched, like claw marks, on his back. Like he was attacked by a wild animal."
"Could Miss Timberlake and Mister Malfoy's attacked be connected?" Dumbledore asked.
"Maybe. Miss Timberlake doesn't have any claw marks on her. But from what Snape told me after bringing in Mister Malfoy...yes."
"What did Draco say attacked him?" the Minister asked.
"A big black dog."
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"…Ah the Legendary Marauders are in the same room once again in so many years…"
Izzie woke up and found she lying on the floor in the hallway where Draco Malfoy attacked her. Her head was spinning. She rolled her head to one side when a dog started to lick her face.
"Ah! Stop! Gross!" the dog stopped.
Izzie slowly sat up in the sitting position, "God…Déjà vu much," she looked at the same black dog that saved her from Draco, "You. I thought I told you to beat it. I did tell you to beat it. And you did. And now you are back. Do you have a death wish or something? Hay! Why doesn't my head hurt?"
Izzie looked down at her hands, as if her hands had all the answers in the world. She lifted one of her hands to her head. 'It's not score,' she thought.
On the other side of her, she thought she saw something small and furry run by her. She looked, "Rat!" she screamed.
"…the Legendary Marauders…"
"Where is that voice coming from? Did you hear that…," Izzie said before turning back around to the dog, "…voice?"
Where the dog should be sitting was a man.
Izzie looked up slowly to look at the man's face. The man had such nice grey eyes. His black hair was everywhere, "You look like death," Izzie blurted out.
In return the man offered his hand to help her up. She took the man's hand cautiously, "Thank you," Izzie said when she was on her feet.
He bowed his head.
Izzie looked at him more closely now that she was at eye level with him, "You're Sirius Black," it wasn't a question. Izzie was getting real nervous now when he didn't answer.
The man walked closer to Izzie until her back was against the wall, "Oh God…oh God…oh God," Her voice getting squeaky, "I think when Trelawney said to Harry that death was upon him. I think she meant for me also because we are star crossed lovers, you know," the man put a finger to her lips to shut her up.
"Shh," the man whispered, "I am…," he voice cracked.
"Sirius Black," she finished for him, "Yeah I got that part."
The man lowered his finger from Izzie's lips and pointed at her locket, "Yes," Sirius Black answered.
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"Dad," Izzie whispered when she woke up in her bed in the hospital wing.
'Dad?' Remus thought when he heard her wake, "I'm right here Elizabeth." 'Does she know?' he thought.
"Lupin?"
"Yeah, I'm right here," Remus leaned over to kiss Izzie's forehead, "I was so worried. I knew something was wrong the moment you called me by my first name. You only call me 'Remus' if something is really wrong or you are mad at me."
"Remus, you called me Elizabeth," Izzie said.
Lupin laughed, "Yeah, I guess I did."
"What happened?" Izzie tried to push herself up.
"Don't try. You need your strength," Lupin said trying to hold her down.
"Miss Timberlake, Professor Lupin is right. After the potions I gave you. You need to rebuild your strength," Madame Pomfrey said, "Speaking of potions; you need to take this one Miss Timberlake to help you rebuild your strength."
"I think I will pass on this one Pomfrey," Izzie said eyeing the vial in the nurse's hand.
"I'm afraid not," she handed Izzie the vial and stayed until she drunk the potion, "Better?"
"Agh! No."
"You will. Professor Dumbledore wants to have a word with you after you rest," Pomfrey informed Izzie and Lupin before she walked away.
"Why?"
"Izzie," Lupin said with a look of concern, "Do you not remember what happened before you collapsed in my office a few hours ago?"
"Hours? How long have I been out? Why am I here?" she asked while she lifted her hand to her welted check.
"A few hours. I lost track of time myself," Lupin took Izzie's hand, "Sweetheart, what do you remember?" he asked.
"Dinner," Izzie said closing her eyes, "I remember dinner, when I got a letter from a post owl. It was from Dumbledore. Which," Izzie opened her eyes to give Lupin a pointed stare, "Remus, we will talk about," she closed her eyes again.
"Tell him the part where you attacked me."
Izzie turned her head to the other side of the hospital wing and saw Draco Malfoy in the far bed.
Izzie shot up straight in bed not minding Lupin's complaints, "Me? You attacked me," the attack came back to her as if it just happened.
"Bullshit!"
"Mister Malfoy!" Dumbledore said with his booming voice, "I will not have that kind of language said in my school," he and Cornelius Fudge came out of Madame Pomfrey's office.
"But sir…,"
"But nothing Mister Malfoy," Fudge interrupted, "Dumbledore is right. We have all ready heard your side of the story. Miss Timberlake is inclined to tell her side of what happened. If you will, Miss Timberlake, please continue."
Izzie told them what happened. Leaving out the part about the mysterious dog.
"There wasn't a dog that attacked you or Mister Malfoy?" Fudge asked.
"Yes."
"Liar!" Draco screamed from the other side.
"Calm down Draco."
"Make her take viertasium. It will make her tell the truth," Draco said.
"Now Draco, that won't be necessary."
"Then ask her again."
"Miss Timberlake, are you sure that there wasn't a dog?"
"Yes."
"Are you positive?"
"Yes!" Izzie yelled, "I'm sorry I can't remember what happened afterwards. Next time when I get attacked. I'll take notes."
"Minister, I will have to ask you to leave now. My patients need their rest," Madame Pomfrey interrupted.
"Yes of course. Dumbledore I will see you in the morning."
"Well now, Mister Malfoy, you are free to go. You have a full bill of health."
"But I'm hurt. I'm…," Draco protested.
"Nonsense, you have a few catches now, the other already heeled. What you need is a goodnights rest for class tomorrow. Take these two potions before you go to sleep," Madame Pomfrey walked Draco out.
"Oh and Mister Malfoy," Dumbledore called, "I will see you in my office tomorrow morning after breakfast," Draco left, "Goodnight Elizabeth, I hope you feel better in the morning. When you are up to it, I will come visit you. Goodnight Remus."
"Goodnight Albus."
"Ah, professor. It's Izzie."
"Ah yes of course," Dumbledore said and left. The tinkle now in its right place again.
Silence grew between Lupin and Izzie. Lupin held on to Izzie's hand throughout the convertation with Draco. Izzie couldn't even look at him, she was so ashamed.
"You know the saddest thing about all of this is," she finally broking the silence, "Draco won't be punished for…this because of who is father is."
Lupin knew she was right, 'Lucius Malfoy. It probably runs in the family.' "Dumbledore will make sure Draco Malfoy will get some sort of punishment."
"Even if expulsion or Azkaban is not an option."
"Yes," Lupin said weakly.
"You know the whole school probably knows about this already. Truth and lies version," Izzie pointed out.
"Naturally."
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When Madame Pomfrey came to check on her patient one more time before going to bed herself. She found Izzie sleeping in Lupin's arms.
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Izzie woke up the next morning in the hospital wing alone. Lupin had already gone before she woke. She sighed and turned over.
"Ah!"
"Bloody Hell woman, are you trying to give me a heart attack."
"I'm sorry George. You are the one who scared me," Izzie said. She could tell the twins apart now. Few could.
"We heard what happened," George said.
"I bet everyone has," she said angrily, "Which version did you hear?"
"Draco's," Fred answered.
"Oh."
"But we know he is the one who attacked you. Not the other way around. Anything that comes out of his mouth is a load of bullocks. So we knew he was laughing lying out of his ass," George said.
"Do you want us to do something about this," Fred started to say, "A sort of lesson or something. Weasley style."
"You would do that for me Fred."
"And me."
"Yes, you too George."
"Anybody would. That's no right, what he did to you," Fred went on.
"Who's anybody?" Izzie asked.
"Well everyone. Cedric for one," George answered.
"Cedric? He knows. Oh God he knows!"
"Yes. He is furious about it. How he was the last one to see you before…," Fred trailed.
"It's not his fault. I opened my big mouth. Tell Cedric that is it not his fault for what happened. Tell him 'rules for the real world'…just tell him Fred please…he'll know what it means. And tell him Draco Malfoy will get what is coming to him. One day…I'd rather it come from me."
"How are you feeling this morning?" Madame Pomfrey asked bring Izzie breakfast.
"Oh just dandy. Right as rain…maybe a bit murderous," she answered.
"I didn't hear that. Fred and George off you go. Let my patient eat in peace."
"Bye," George said.
"Oh. Harry said he, Ron and Hermione will come see you after breakfast," Fred said, "Bye."
"Bye," Izzie said to the twins, "Where is Lupin?" Izzie asked Madame Pomfrey.
"He left about fifteen minutes before you woke, to get ready for class this morning. He said he will come see you at lunch."
"So that means I'm not getting released for awhile?"
"Not until after dinner."
"Under Lupin's or Dumbledore's orders?"
"Lupin's," she answered, "Both actually."
"Both?"
"Yes. Eat your breakfast," she said and walked away before she could say anymore.
Izzie was half way done eating her breakfast when Harry, Ron and Hermione came in.
"Hay guys," Izzie said and gave a peace sign.
"How are you doing?" Harry asked.
"You ask as if someone died," Izzie said.
"Can I give you a hug?" Hermione asked walking up to the bed cautiously.
"Yeah I guess," Izzie said confused.
"Are you doing okay since…," Ron started, "Are you going to eat that?"
"You guys," Izzie interrupted, "I'm fine. Yes you can hug me. And attacked…how hard is that. Yeah you can have my eggs Ron. You guys act as if I was raped…which I wasn't. So guys relax. It's me. Izzie."
"But he could have," Hermione pointed out.
"Yes I know. But I never would have let that happened. I lost control of the situation just for a second…besides next time I will go for cursing his penis off."
Silence filled the room.
"All righty then. It's time to go to class," Ron said checking the watch he doesn't have and feeding his face with the rest of Izzie's eggs.
"See you later," Hermione said leaning into get a hug.
"WHEN EVER MY CAPTURES WILL LET ME GO!" Izzie shouted loudly for Madame Pomfrey could hear.
"If you ever need something or someone to talk to," Harry offered.
"Thanks Harry. Oh and if you see Draco, tell him that his penis days are numbered."
"Sure will," Harry said laughing.
"What a strange friend we have," Ron said to Hermione on the way out.
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It was afternoon and Izzie was bored out of her mind. Professor McGonagall brought her Transfiguration homework. Izzie got it done with in an hour. So she did nothing but sleep all day.
While she was sleeping she had two visitors. One was none other than Remus Lupin and the other was Cedric Diggory. First was Cedric who came hoping to talk to Izzie, but when he got there he found that she was asleep. He came baring one yellow rose. Yellow roses mean friendship. He brought her a yellow rose, because that is what she needs from Cedric right now.
Cedric lad the rose on the nightstand next to the bed, then he sat in the chair next to the bed, and watched her sleep. The one summer they spent together, the one thing he missed the most about her; watching her sleep.
He was like that for about ten minutes when Izzie's second visitor arrived, Remus Lupin. He saw the Diggory boy and tried not to get angry. After when Cedric left at the end of the summer, he left Izzie devastated. Remus was the one who had to listen to her cry herself to sleep every night for a week.
"Mister Diggory."
"Professor Lupin," Cedric said getting to his feet and grabbing his bag to leave.
"No please stay. Don't leave on my account," Lupin insisted, "You brought her that?" he asked pointing at the rose.
"Yes sir," Cedric said, "Yellow roses mean…,"
"Friendship. Yes I know," Lupin interrupted, "I used to be a young man myself."
"Yes Professor. I just…," Cedric started.
"It's alright. I understand. She'll love it. Even the thought of the gift."
"Thank you sir."
Lupin walked over to the other side of the bed opposite Cedric looking down at Izzie. They were silent for a few moments.
"Am I to understand…that you were the one who…gave Draco Malfoy a black eye this morning," Lupin asked the non-question.
"Yes sir. I was the one who did it," Cedric looked up to meet Remus's eyes. There was a measure of understanding between them. Remus nodded his head to Cedric.
"I won't say anything. If I would have done it myself…well, I would be out of a job. The last thirty seconds is forgotten," Lupin said smiling to Cedric.
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"Izzie time to wake up. Izzie. Elizabeth."
"Lupin?" Izzie said sleepy.
"Yes, it's me."
"What time is it?"
"It's 6:00. And time to check out."
"I can go," Izzie said snapping her eyes open.
"Yes. Madame Pomfrey gave the all clear."
"Finally," Izzie said breathing with relief, "It's about time. I was bored out of my…," she was saying while getting out of bed when she saw the rose, "…mind."
"It's from Cedric," Lupin said.
"Cedric? He was here?" Izzie asked looking back at Lupin.
"Yes a few hours ago. You were sleeping," he said watching her pick the rose up off the nightstand.
"You didn't kill him or anything and hid the body…"
"No. Would I do that?" Lupin asked innocently.
"Yes," Izzie smelled the rose, "Friendship. It's a good start. For now, right?"
"For now…yes," Lupin saying his answer carefully...
"I think so too."
"Hurry up and get dressed. We are having dinner in my office."
"Is this going to be an every meal thing now?" Izzie asked carefully.
"No. Just for tonight. We don't spend a lot of time together anymore," Lupin said.
"I see you three times a week for class and every other weekend," Izzie pointed out.
"Every other weekend yes, but I'm your teacher three times during the week. It's not enough."
"Okay fine. I'll have dinner with you."
"Good now go get dressed."
Izzie grabbed the fresh clean clothes on the nightstand and the flower; and went behind the closed curtain. Lupin waited.
When Izzie was done changing, she came out to find Lupin waiting with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Hay guys…what are you doing here? If you came to break me out…too late. They finally got tired of me and released me."
"Yeah that wouldn't surprise me," Harry said.
"Professor Lupin invited us to join dinner with the two of you. He didn't tell you," Hermione asked when she saw a confused look.
"No he didn't. He left that part out actually. But I'm cool with that. The more the merry," Izzie said smiling. She walked over to Lupin, on her tipee-toes she gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Thanks," she whispered.
"No problem," he said giving her a kiss on the forehead, "You three ready?"
"Yep."
They were walking to Lupin's office when Hermione said to Izzie in a low voice, "That from Cedric?" she said playfully.
"Shh…yes."
"I knew it. The way you have been looking at that since we left the hospital wing."
"Yes well…it's a first step," Izzie said she couldn't help but smile.
"Which will lead to another step…no I'm serous…another step in which he will be sending you red roses to confess his undying love for you."
"Hermione keep your voice down. They'll hear you."
"Too late," Ron said from behind them.
"What's too late?" Izzie asked spinning around to face Ron who whimpered, "Yeah that's what I thought," she gave Lupin a look, which in return laughed.
Izzie turned back around. When a portrait beside them said, "Me Lady, what he meant was…," a warrior looking man began to say.
"No that's alright. I don't need it repeated," Izzie said trying to surpress a laugh.
"Sorry Me Lady."
"No. It's alright."
Izzie, Lupin, Harry, Ron and Hermione walked away and rounded a corner and they all burst into laughter.
Sometime later when they finished eating the meal and they were now eating desert. All have been talking and laughing throughout the entire meal.
"Wait! Wait! You actually saw Cedric take a swing at him," Izzie said trying to surpress laughter.
"Yep. Cedric hit him right in the eye. And Draco went running with his tail between his legs," Ron said now looking at Lupin, "Or so I heard from someone who heard it from a friend's friend."
"It's alright Ron. Cedric told me himself earlier. But as you might say 'Or so I heard'," Lupin said.
"But you're a teacher," Hermione projected.
"Yes I am Hermione, but I am also a father," Lupin said while putting his hand on Izzie's.
Izzie smiled at Lupin with tears in her eyes, "Can someone change the subject please," she said.
Harry spoke up, "Izzie you never told us who sent you that letter yesterday."
"Oh yeah. I almost forgot. But since I don't have the letter with me anymore. I am guessing you already read the letter from Dumbledore," Izzie was talking to Lupin.
"Yes I have. And I'm sorry. I know it's unfair."
"What did the letter say?" Ron asked.
"It said that since Remus Lupin is my legal guardian and my teacher he cannot sign the permission slip because he is my teacher. And the staff members of Hogwarts cannot act as a parent or guardian. Some loop whole, huh? But now I'm okay with it, twenty four hours ago not so much. But now I know I'm not the only loser who can't go. Right Harry? You know this could be the beginning of fulfilling Trelawney's prophecy of us being 'star crossed lover'," Izzie rattled on.
"Oh joy! Because I don't know how else to spend Hogsmeade weekends," Harry said sarcastitly.
"What about Cedric?" Hermione pressed Izzie more.
"Cedric will have some competition," Izzie said before she knew what Hermione really said, "Wait! There is no Cedric and me. We are just friends."
"Too late. You already said it."
"Wait Hermione. Come on."
"No Izzie, you are the one who said it. Besides Trelawney wouldn't know what a prophecy looked like, if it hit her in the ass…oops," Hermione put her hand over her mouth when she realized what she had said.
"Hermione!" Ron spit out what he was drinking.
"Hermione! I never knew you could be capable of such language," Harry almost died of laughter.
"Miss Granger, you have been spending far too much time with my Elizabeth," Lupin couldn't keep a straight face.
"Lupin give me time and I will be having her drop the "F" bomb."
"Elizabeth, no you will not! I hear that enough from you. Now it's getting late. Everyone has class tomorrow…yes even you," Lupin said to Izzie facial expression.
"I'm sorry Professor for….," she couldn't bring herself to say it, "Thanks for inviting us for dinner," by now Hermione was red in the face.
"Don't worry about it Hermione. I will walk you three out. Izzie if you will start the clean up. I will be back in a moment," Lupin said over his shoulder, "Harry a word?" he said when Izzie was out of hearing distance.
"Yes sir."
"Since you cannot go to Hogsmeade next weekend either. I was wondering if you could keep an eye on her, also in other classes as well…I know she looks like she can take care of herself…she can don't get me wrong. I just would feel better if another person was looking after her," Lupin said.
"Sure Professor. Izzie is my friend. I would do anything for her…but she doesn't know about this conservation, does she?"
"No she doesn't. I would like to keep it that way, Harry."
"Yes sir."
"Goodnight Harry."
"Goodnight Professor."
Lupin walked back to his office, where he found that Izzie had finished all the cleaning.
"I called a house elf from the kitchen to get the dirty dishes," Izzie said when he came in.
"You know where the kitchen is?" he asked.
"Yes. I am friends with Fred and George."
"Of course," he said smiling, "Izzie…"
"I know be careful with Draco now. Watch what I say now. And don't piss Draco Malfoy off again. Yeah I know," Izzie said with tears in her eyes.
Lupin took her into a hug, "I just don't want you to get hurt again. Draco is very lucky that I need this job right now."
"I know. That is what I keep telling myself for I don't retaliate."
"And no retaliation either," Lupin said.
"Yes sir," Izzie said seriously.
"Leave the retaliation up to that Diggory boy."