div class="chapter preface group" style="border-width: 1px 0px 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.5em 3em; padding: 0.643em 0.643em 0px; float: none; color: #2a2a2a; border-style: solid initial initial initial;"
h3 class="title" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.286em; font-family: Georgia, serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0.5375em 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 1; background: 0px 0px; text-align: center;"a style="color: #111111; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" href=" /works/40361532/chapters/102452685"Chapter 10/a: Layers./h3
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div class="userstuff module" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 1088.64px; float: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: #2a2a2a;" role="article"
h3 id="work" class="landmark heading" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0.25em; border-image: initial; outline: 0px; font-weight: 500; font-style: inherit; font-size: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0.125em; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; height: 0px; clear: both; color: transparent; border-color: initial initial #333333 initial; border-style: initial initial double initial;"Chapter Text/h3
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" align="center"October 30sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1993 (Full moon.)/p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""How are you feeling?" She took a seat beside Tarryn at breakfast, clearly tired, "I wish people would quit asking that question every time the full moon comes around."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I ask because I care." Tarryn nudged her in the ribs lightly, scooping some beans onto her plate, "I feel like hell…and I have an incessent craving for red meat, so nothing out of the ordinary." She placed a ton of sausage onto her plate before grabbing a couple waffles off one of the platters./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Fixing her friend with a sad but understanding look she turned back to her own breakfast./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Since the incident on the sixteenth the Malfoy boy hadn't said another word to her and she was perfectly fine with that, she imagined McGonagall had given the boy a stern enough talking to and reminded him of the dangers of angering dangerous creatures./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""So, what's the deal with you and Professor Lupin?" Seren nearly choked on her food, turning with wild eyes towards her friend, "Wh-What do you mean?" Tarryn clapped her on the back a few times to make sure she didn't choke, "I mean you two seem close, did you know each other before he became a teacher?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"She quickly swallowed her food, washing it down with some orange juice, "You could say that…I thought you said you read the prophet?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I did, but that doesn't answer my question." Seren could feel her muscles twitch as she tried to figure out how to answer the question appropriately, "Well…" she started to say, "You know they raided Rosier manor, right? Dumbledore had organized a secret reconnaissance team when a rumor had gotten back to him I might still be alive, two years after my mother's murder."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""So, Dumbledore organized some special search party, just to find a half witch half werewolf hybrid? Bit odd, don't you think?" Seren frowned at her friend skepticism, "Sorry. Go on."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well, I never learned the names of all the Aurors assigned to that mission, but Lupin was the one who'd found me caged and chained in their cellar. According to him I was emaciated, unable to speak and barely coherent, but I vaguely remember rattling the chains when he'd asked me my name."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""So that wasn't just some spin the prophet put in? they actually chained you?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yeah…among other things." She mumbled, not wanting to get into it. "The reason Professor Lupin and I are so close is because he was taking care of me over the summer while I recovered, and I certainly didn't make it easy at first…I remember bits and pieces of it but apparently I wrecked the trauma ward at St. Mungo's."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You trashed a hospital ward?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Supposedly. I remember the hospital staff holding me down when Lupin showed up for a visit, chased me through the entire ward after he'd managed to sway the healers into letting me go. I remember being frightened and unsure where I was which is why I'd run in the first place."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I see, well I can't say pinning down a terrified werewolf was a smart decision on their part."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I'm not entirely sure why Dumbledore was leading such a mission, but my suspicions lie in the fact the ministry hates half breeds. If they'd had it their way I would have stayed missing."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well, for me personally, Im glad they found you, so are a lot of people it seems. You've really made an impression on those second years."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I know, Astra Dinley asked me for help on an assignment last week. She's such a sweet girl for a Slytherin."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Well, they can't all be bad eggs…wait, did you say Rosier Manor?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yeah, why?" Tarryn shook her head, "Felix Rosier was in the prophet earlier this month, I only skimmed the article, but it seems he made a sizable donation to the minsters re-election campaign." Seren growled at the news, "Of course he did…anything to keep peace for the purebloods." Seren at the rest of her breakfast quietly before leaving the great hall./p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"The familiar sound of rain snapped her out of her reading as she glanced out the window, mesmerized by the rapidly falling droplets as the ricocheted off the glass. A knock on her door drew her attention away./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Come in." she expected to see Remus, but instead was met with Dumbledore, "Hard at work, I see?" green eyes watched the headmaster. "Just like your mother. Knowledge is an admirable goal with wonderful rewards."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Can I ask what bring you by, Headmaster?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""No need for formalities, Seren. Albus is fine."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Albus." The name felt foreign on her tongue, "I imagine Remus told you about my scrap with the young Malfoy boy."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""He might have mentioned it, he'd hoped you would come to me yourself." Seren frowned, closing her potions text "I suppose you're going to ask me questions about Lucius then."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""And other's if you've the names." He watched her shake her head, "I really don't think today is the day to do this, Albus…and even if I did have more than Lucius Malfoy's name, they'd only deny any ties to the kidnapping and torture allegations."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Be that as it may, Seren, any names you could provide would be beneficial." She could feel her patience start to wear thin, "I don't understand why this is so important to you, if I were Harry potter, Maybe, but I'm not. I'm Seren Morrigan Price half-breed daughter of Catherin Price and some unknown Werewolf. Just another monster for parents to tell their children about while they shove my nose in the dirt. Why do you care so much about me?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Your father is not an unknown werewolf, he's quite well known, though he doesn't know about your existence, which is why I launched that mission. War is brewing in our world, Seren and those like you would align themselves with Death eaters."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""So, you rescued me in the hope I would join your side when the time came? What possible good could I do for your cause?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""All will become clear, in time." She bristled now, tiring of the old man's cryptic mysticism bullshit. Then he was gone./p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Once again she found herself wandering the familiar corridor to Lupins office, the large oak door seemed considerably larger than it had the last time she'd been by, or perhaps she just felt smaller. Whatever the case she hesitated because she knew Remus had gone to Dumbledore and that left a bit of a sour taste in her mouth./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Are you just going to stand there and glare at my door or…" she jumped, snapping from her thoughts as she turned to face lupin who chuckled, "Still so easily startled." She fixed him with an unimpressed look as he opened the door, his hand resting on the small of her back and guiding her inside./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Dumbledore paid me a visit today." Better to get this done with before it got too late, "I see. Did he have anything interesting to say?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""He asked me About Lucius Malfoy and if I had any other names, then he told me the reason he organized the reconnaissance mission. He said he had a use for me and that everything would become clear in time." Remus merely 'Hmm'd' in response as he set the kettle over the fire again./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Anything else happen I should know about?" Seren took her place in the usual overstuffed armchair, "Not really, unless you count me losing my mind over this terms potions assignments…I need help identifying certain plants but I'm afraid to even approach snape on the issue and Professor Sprout is busy with the fifth years and their O.W.L. exams. Finals are what…seven weeks away?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Something like that, bit soon to be thinking about term finals though, isn't it?" she shrugged, her irritation with the man slowly ebbing away as they slipped into comfortable conversation, "You seem less skittish this moon than you did last, it's a nice change."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh, really?" perhaps it was the fact she felt on edge all day after Tarryn had brought up Felix Rosier./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""How about you, span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Professor/span, read any good books lately?" Remus nearly dropped the scalding hot kettle, quickly setting it on the small table before turning to look at her. He caught the look in her eye and wondered what exactly she was talking about./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""That's not funny." She merely smiled at him and pulled one of her knees to her chest, resting her chin on it. "It's a little funny, you're always teasing me, thought I'd tease you back for once." Clearly she had forgotten what had happened the last time she'd used his title with such a tone. His eyes roamed over her, she seemed relaxed enough, perhaps she was just simply teasing him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Really though, some of the other seventh years said they saw you come out of the restricted section…what were you researching?" his eye twitched, he'd been in the restricted section reading on werewolf bonds./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'Maybe I'll tell you…maybe I won't. Perhaps I'll leave you in suspense.'/span Seren looked at him with surprise, "How did you—?" it was Remus' turn to smirk, "I was doing some cultural research. Nothing too important." But that wasn't entirely the truth, he'd also read up on other things, some things for his lesson plans and something's for personal use./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Somethings he could use tonight if she were willing to experiment a bit. When he looked back at her she seemed lost in thought, her teeth lightly bit at her thumb nail and he had to admit she looked enticing./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'what's on your mind, little bird?'/span she jumped, clearly startled again, green eyes fixed on him obviously not liking him poking about in her head. span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'Back to being skittish again?'/span he chuckled watching for her reaction, smirking as she pouted in annoyance,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Adorable." Almost as if proving his point she tilted her head, pushing him off the proverbial cliff of self-restraint and reveling in the sudden screech she let out as he scooped her out of the armchair and tossed her over his shoulder./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""H-Hey! Remus, put me down!" he smirked, pretending to think on her request,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Hmm…no, I don't think I will." He tapped the familiar rhythm on the wall of the room and watched as the door to his room slowly appeared, quickly opening and closing it before setting Seren back down on her feet./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""That wasn't funny, Remus." There was no hint of humor on his face when she looked at him now, "It wasn't meant to be." She could feel herself shudder at the sudden change of tone in his voice, she didn't feel safe as she usually did with Lupin around, there was something considerably more intimidating about him tonight./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I-if I made you mad, I'm sorry…I said I was only teasing." For every step he took towards her she took another back until her back hit the wall, "I don't like being teased, Seren." His hand shot out, catching her face, the other came to rest just above her head, "Remember what I told you about disrespect?" his thumb lightly traced along her bottom lip, drawing it down a little before he leaned in, "I thought we could try something span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"new /spantonight." The gravelly purr had returned to his voice and she shuddered again, trying to keep herself calm as the hand above her quickly dropped, snatching both of her wrists and dragging them above her head./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I don't—Mmph!?" before she'd been able to finish he'd leaned in and kissed her with an intensity unfamiliar to her, catching her bottom lip with his teeth and lightly tugging it as he pulled back. Hazy green eyes watched him with confusion. She understood some adults dabbled in darker, more intense forms of intimacy but she didn't understand why./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I wasn't aware—" his lips had found where he'd bitten her the previous moon and she let out a startled cry, her eyes flashed to the window as the color of the room alternated to a soft orange glow, "You weren't aware?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""That you were into su-UCH things." Remus chuckled at the raise in pitch as he softly nipped at her skin, trailing his lips painfully slow down to her collar bone, the light stubble on his face leaving a tickling sensation as he moved./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You're not very good at listening, span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Miss Price/span."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""That's not Tr-UE!" he softly bit her skin again, licking a light strip from her collar bone back up to her pulse, chuckling as she shrieked again. It hadn't gone unnoticed that he'd referred to her as he would in class./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Then repeat to me what I said earlier." He pulled back, watching her expectantly. Her pupils were slightly blown and he could see the flecks of gold shining through./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You said…you wanted to try something new…span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Professor/span." Carefully he lowered her wrists, pulling her behind him towards the bed, setting her down softly. "Very good, it seems you were listening." She flashed back for a moment as he knelt in front of her, his expression had once again changed. The Remus she knew seemed to be back, even if only momentarily as his hand cupped her cheek. She leaned into the softer touch. The sun was now dipping below the horizon and she could make out soft shades of pink, blue and purple./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You're really confusing." She could feel his grip on her wrists loosen and she softly took his hands in hers, "only to you it seems. Most say I'm a bit of an open book." He took a seat beside her on the bed looking over as she leaned her head against his shoulder, "Sor…er…"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"'stop apologizing.'/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""for what it's worth, I like the kind Remus Lupin better, even if he is a bit of a tosser sometimes." Lupin looked down at her, "A tosser am I?" that mischievous glint was back in his eyes as his hands caught her around the waist lifting her off the bed as easy as if she were a doll, setting her down on his lap and circling his arms around her waist./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Mhm, A dodgy tosser is what you are." She smiled, tilting her head up to look at him, "If I'm a dodgy tosser, what does that make you?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""The damsel in distress." She grinned as he leaned down placing another soft kiss to the mark on her neck. "I see no damsel here, just a strange young witch." She couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped her. One of Remus' hands retracted form her waist pulling the familiar crystal potions vials from his pocket./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""A toast to another full moon?" she asked cheekily, Remus merely shook his head, "I think you've been around the other students too long. Their sarcasm is wearing off on you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Oh, do you not like sarcastic girls?" her own eyes glistened with mischief as she managed to turn herself around, straddling his hips, his one armed grip on her tightened, making sure she was steady, his breath catching as he looked into now wide and innocent eyes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You know…you marked me last month, but I never returned your bite." That was true, and in regard to mating rituals the mark had to be reciprocated in order to seal a mate pact. Remus quirked an eyebrow at her, "I can't take such a serious statement from such an innocent face." Her lips turned into a smile, "But you said you liked the timid me." hearing such words when she was behaving in a not so innocent way was certainly doing something to him, "So which is it?" her eyes flickered gold, "Sweet and innocent, or sarcastic and playful?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"She was testing his self-restraint again, never mind the fact her wolf seemed to be taking over, that was really the only time she got this cocky. It was like she was two different people on days of the full moon. This morning at breakfast she had sat with Tarryn as usual but not much had been said from his perspective and then she'd just up and disappeared back to her room. He didn't see her again until he'd found her outside of his office looking somewhat spaced out./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"He quickly turned the tables on her, moving quickly enough so she dropped to the bed with him hovering over her, catching her off guard. Seren began to laugh, "Maybe you're right, I think Tarryn is rubbing off on me." Remus looked stunned; the whole thing had just been an act then?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"The sun had vanished completely below the horizon now and all that was left was the red and purple hues of the sunset. He liked the sound of her laughing, two months ago it was a sound he imagined he'd never hear. He uncorked the small potions vial with his teeth, watching her do the same./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Now who's not playing fair?" he smirked, holding the uncorked vial in one hand, "Hmm…considering you're the one on top of me…I'd still say you." she scrunched her face a bit, sticking out her tongue, Remus growled and she merely smiled softly up at him as her face relaxed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Much as he had last month he tipped the potion back into his mouth, tossing the glass vial to the side before he bent down, capturing her lips again and passing the potion from his mouth to hers. The flushed look on her face when he pulled back was something he knew he would never tire of, nor the gentle pink blush that made her freckles stand out like stars./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Mine." She looked up at him endearingly as she tipped the potion in her hands into her mouth, watching him as he climbed off and laid on his back before straddling his hips again, leaning down and closing the gap between them once more, mimicking his gesture and passing the wolfsbane potion from her mouth to his./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yours." She confirmed leaning down again to nip softly at his neck before lightly biting at his pulse point./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Mine?" he smiled up at her, bringing a hand to rest against her cheek again, brushing a thumb lightly across the patch of freckles dotting her cheeks./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yours."/p
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p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;" align="center"November 12sup style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13.23px; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0;"th/sup, 1993./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px;" /
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"The first quidditch match of the year would be played today, Gryffindor Vs. Hufflepuff and the school was abuzz with bets on who would win./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""My money's on Hufflepuff, Diggory's got his weight on Potter's small size." Her ears only briefly tuned into the conversation, Tarryn was off with some of the other seventh year Ravenclaws so she'd been left to her own devices over Breakfast, the match was set for after lunch but she knew she would not be in attendance, not with the vicious storm raging outside./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Seren hated thunderstorms, ever since she was a little girl, the loud claps of thunder hurt her ears. Yes, she hated thunder but she adored the rain which is exactly what led her to the astronomy tower after breakfast, watching as the rain pelted the walls of the castle as well as her bare feet, which dangled off the edge of the towers platform. Her ears were covered with some old herbology earmuffs as the roll of thunder drummed across the sky. She was blissfully unaware of the approaching figure behind her until she felt the earmuffs lift from her head,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You'll catch cold if you stay here too long." She only briefly glanced up at Lupin, "You're not going to watch the match?" he must have been out of his mind, "in this weather? I'll pass. There will be other quidditch matches."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Yes, that is true. I don't much fancy the idea of being out in this rain either. What say you and I head back to my office for a nice mug of Hot chocolate?" A peaceful smile found its way to her face, "Hmm, dubious things happen to young girls who accept nice things from strange men." She teased drawing a laugh from Remus./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""And I'm to be the dubious stranger in this scenario?" he watched as she used the tower banister to pull herself up, "Hmm, Perhaps. Lucky for you I'm trusting and Naïve." Lupin laughed again as she came to stand in front of him, "Lead the way my dubious stranger." He simply shook his head at her antics and lead them back to his office, holding the door open for her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Why don't you warm up by the fire? I can't imagine sitting there did you any favors." She watched the fireplace roar to life as she pushed the two armchairs closer as Remus set the kettle over the fire for the water to boil./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""It never occurred to me to ask but…how come you do some things the muggle way?" she quickly curled up in one of the chairs as he took a seat beside her, "My mother was a muggle, she insisted Magic be limited in the house while I was growing up, so I had to learn how to do things the muggle way until I started school at Hogwarts."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"He seemed sad, like talking about his mother was painful. There was a sudden heavy weight on her chest. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." The ache only got worse when he smiled, "It's alright, you didn't know." Her eyes fell back to watching the fire as the storm continued to rage on outside./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I think…" there was a brief flash of a woman's face in her mind as she recalled that they now shared a deeper connection./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Hmm?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""I think it's nice to hold onto those memories, it keeps them close even when they've been gone a long time. Death can do horrible things to people, and I know I'd much rather have nothing but fond and happy memories of my mother than sad ones."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"A loud clap of thunder echoed near the castle and she jumped a bit, but Lupin didn't laugh./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""That's very sweet. But you're right, death does do horrible things to people. Whether you're the one dying or you're watching someone die it tears at the soul and shatters the mind." The kettle over the fire began to whistle and Lupin stood./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""You know, you never cease to amaze me, Seren. Just when I think I'm figuring you out there's a new layer." He poured the water over the chocolate mix in the cups before setting the kettle aside./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Humans are our world's greatest mystery." She carefully took the cup from him, blowing on the drink, "Now you're just starting to sound like Professor Binns." She looked down at her muddled reflection in the brown liquid,/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""Sorry…Rain makes me a bit sentimental."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;""And there you go apologizing again." He merely smiled as he reclaimed his spot in the chair beside her and letting silence fall over the room./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"When he next looked over at her she was asleep. Carefully he took the cup from her and picked her up, walking towards the hidden bedroom where he gently tucked her into bed, placing a soft kiss to her temple before disappearing to do some much needed grading./p
/div