p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" align="center"December 31sup 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;"st/sup, 1993. (New year's eve.)/p
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p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"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;"'Champagne for new year's.'/span she stared at the champagne colored dress still sitting in the neatly wrapped gift box, dragging her fingers over the bead work on the bodice. The dress itself was a simple strapless number but the beadwork was what made it seem extraordinary, the beads had been so neatly sewn and woven into the tulle fabric of the skirt to look a bit like rain./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Since leaving Remus yesterday her mind had ceased to settle down and his words were still at the forefront of her mind, 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;"'we could play that game.'/span And she still wondered what he had meant. Shaking the thoughts from her mind she stood. McGonagall had informed her that the New years eve party would begin at 9 p.m. tonight which left her a decent amount of time to get ready as the clock stuck seven./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She wouldn't be using the same beauty charms she had for Christmas, long hair had been a considerable pain to take care of until the spell had faded the following evening and she hadn't liked the heavy feeling of all the make up she'd used so this time she'd keep it simple, Eyeliner, Mascara and lipstick./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Part of her had begun to wonder how she had managed upkeep before her kidnapping, Long hair was a hassle and while they'd sheered her hair off time and again over the last 2 years, she was somewhat grateful, even if it had been meant to be cruel. The whole ordeal had shown her life could change at the drop of a hat and yet change again so quickly if she was willing to let people in./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The reality of it all had set in quite quickly once the pain began, but they'd never let her see their faces, opting for thick blindfolds or just plain blinding her with more sadistic charms if they wanted to be heinously cruel. There had been nights she recalled very little and night where she recalled the entire thing and the fact she had still been a child seemed to be of no importance to those men and women, but to those with money in the world age seemed to hold little merit as long as they got what they wanted from the exchange and damn anyone who told them it was wrong. It was her experience that Money spoke louder than words which was why the Ministry had turned a blind eye. She had no purpose in their world./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She hoped with the start of next term and her internship with the ministry she could start to change some minds about werewolves, but she knew that likely wouldn't be the case. Not whilst Fudge was still in a position of power at the top. If he'd had any say the internship wouldn't be happening at all, but all seventh year internships were compulsory so his hands were tied, but that didn't mean he couldn't send her on the more dangerous assignments with other Aurors…or slap her with menial desk work. Either way she wasn't as excited as she should be./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Grabbing her brush off her desk she tugged it through the short curls before taking a few bobby pins and pinning her hair back so it appeared half up and half down. Another thing that hadn't quite set in yet was the concept that she was pretty. She'd spent her first four years at Hogwarts trying to be unassuming and keep her head down, not wanting anyone to know about her lycanthropy, now that the whole school knew she had a difficult time finding any time to herself, often times the Library and her room were the only places she got peace and quiet where someone wasn't asking her questions for something or another./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Suffice to say, her final year at Hogwarts had been chaotic./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Turning to look at herself in the mirror again she watched her reflection smile back. It was clear her self-confidence had taken a bit of a blow growing up the way she had but having found someone who had cared enough about her and taken every avenue possible to ensure she was comfortable was enough to boost what hadn't really been there in the first place. Thinking back from July until now, they had spent 5 months sharing transformations and not once had he pushed the issue of completing the mating ritual, he had said himself he was content waiting as long as she needed and that all she need do was ask. Seren smiled at the thought as she turned away from the mirror and lifted the dress out of the box, holding it up to her frame./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Slowly she pulled the long sleeved shirt and jeans she was wearing off, laying them on her bed as she slipped into the dress as a light knock came on her door./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Just a moment!" she called back quickly zipping the dress up and slipping on her flats before opening the door with her wand./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, you certainly clean up nice." She gave Remus a sarcastic look, "Ha, ha, funny." She mumbled, rolling her eyes. "What brings you by my humble…room?" Remus gently closed the door behind him, taking in the small bedroom which was now full of whatever odd knickknacks she had found lying around. "A gentleman always walks with his date." Seren merely stared at him, "I thought that I was meeting you there?" she watched as he picked up an old pocket watch off the desk, "What's this?" she had taken out all the clock mechanisms and left it as a plain silver shell, "Oh, that? I was toying with the idea of a portable pensive…it's not going well though. I can't seem to get it to show memories without them cutting out at odd intervals."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""A portable pensieve, have you asked Dumbledore about them? I think he could give you the insight you're missing." The idea was certainly there and if successful could even make her sought profession easier. "No, I haven't, but I might. I thought it might be a useful tool during my internship."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""It certainly could. I had no idea you were even tinkering around in here. Perhaps I should visit more often."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hmm…I think if you visited more often I'd get very little done." She teased, earning a playful looked from Remus. "We both know you don't always play fair and love to see me flustered."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Oh, is that so?" there was a devilish smile on his face and she couldn't help reciprocating with a serene smile of her own, "Well perhaps…" he reached out, catching her wrist and pulling her towards him, "I like seeing you flustered."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Remus!" he silenced her with a quick kiss, pulling back and dropping his hands to her waist, securing her in place. "I think flustered is a good look on you." The blush on her cheeks always made her freckles stand out and now was no exception. "See, I told you." her blush darkened as he leaned down for another quick kiss before pulling away. Seren watched him cautiously as his hands dropped back to his side./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I told you," his lips twitched up into a smirk, "We could play that game, didn't I?" she tilted her head as he moved to open the door, "I still don't understand what you mean, what game?" he gave her a somewhat sultry look, "It's no fun if I tell you." she felt a shiver run down her spine at his tone. Slowly, Remus moved to the side to allow her out of the room first./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px; background-color: #ffffff;" /
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The Staff room had been completely redecorated since the Christmas party, there were gold and silver streamers lining one end of the high ceiling to the next, A mirror ball hung in the center and she had a feeling is had been bewitched to do something at midnight./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Ah, Remus, Miss Price. Lovely to see you this evening." Dumbledore was still an enigma to her and she would readily admit he was a man she would never understand or trust entirely, but in the wizarding world allies you could trust entirely were few and far between, especially with groups like the Death eaters still rallying in the shadows./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"As Remus wandered off to chat with McGonagall Seren found herself looking around the room at the familiar faces, waving at the young Gryffindor trio as they chatted about the upcoming term. Ron briefly looked up as they had entered, nodding towards her before Harry broke off from the group./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Happy new year, Seren." She gave the younger boy a small nod, "Happy new year, Harry. Excited for start of term next week?"/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I suppose, not really looking forward to double potions with Snape. He's made it very clear he hates me."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm sure he doesn't hate you. I think he's hard on those with potential." Harry managed a smile, "You're a good kid, Harry. You've just got a head for mischief. But going from muggle society to the wizarding world is not without its perks." She grinned playfully, "If you need any help, send Hedwig with a letter, I'll help when I'm not at my internship. And that's for all classes."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You're doing an internship? What field are you hoping to go into?"/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm interning with the Ministry; I'm hoping to be an Auror."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""They're not going to take you on." She and harry turned to see another seventh year boy, "The ministry is not in the business of hiring monsters."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Take it back." Harry scowled, the boy only sneered at him, "And you, you shouldn't consort with beasts." Seren only smiled, something she had been working on with Remus and other staff members was decorum. "That's only your take on it. I think I have a lot to offer the ministry…like being able to get other werewolves to register with the department of magical creatures, after all it doesn't hurt to have contacts on the inside, does it?" the boy's sneer only deepened./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I don't believe I was speaking to you." Seren quickly shifted her attitude, raising her head and staring the boy down. Several faculty members watched the exchange with interest./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""And I don't believe you were invited to our conversation, and yet here you are." She smiled politely, "Now, if you don't mind." She draped a gentle arm around Harry's shoulder guiding him away, "We'll be leaving. Have a wonderful new year." The Slytherin seventh year gave her a disgusted look as they walked away./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""That was brilliant!" she steered them back towards Ron and Hermione, "I believe this belongs to you two?" Hermione only smiled as Ron downed some of the pumpkin juice from the beverage table. "You're interning with the ministry?" Hermione questioned, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Someone told me once that in order to get anywhere in your life you have to be willing to takes risks or you'll constantly be stuck wondering about the what if's. I'm think it's time I stop trying to pretend I'm something I'm not. There's a whole world out there to see and if I spend it constantly looking over my shoulder or hiding myself away I'm not going to be successful in my chosen career. Sure, the Ministry and its departments have their biases, but even one person can help change the world."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"As the hours ticked by Seren had found herself in a conversation with Flitwick and the ball hung from the ceiling had slowly begun to drop, it was roughly an hour before midnight according to the magical timer above the door./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I expect your grades will continue even with your internship?" she gave a slight nod, "I know I'll be missing classes but I'm hopeful my studies won't suffer too greatly. Whatever I miss hopefully I can make up with some extra tutoring."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Excuse me, Filius. Would you mind if I borrowed Miss price?"/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Not at all, Minerva." Seren turned to face the Transfigurations professor, "Happy new year, Professor."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""To you as well, Seren." She followed McGonagall to a separate corner, "I trust you're enjoying the festivities?"/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Of course, the room looks beautiful. Was there something you needed?" McGonagall nodded, getting to the point. "Albus wishes to speak to you before you depart for the first day with the Ministry."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Why didn't he come speak to me himself?" she looked around the room to find the Headmaster engaged in conversation with the Gryffindor trio, "He wants you to keep an eye on a few people while you're there."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""he wants me to spy?" her eye flickered to the countdown above the door,/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"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;"'meet me at the astronomy tower at 11:30.'/span She had twenty minutes./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""He wants an informant on the inside."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""So why not one of the aurors from the reconnaissance?" she wasn't sure she wanted the added stress, "Professor Dumbledore has eyes and ears everywhere, but he thinks you can handle it seeing as you'll be between here and there."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""And if I say no?" McGonagall fixed her with a stern look, "I'd ask you to reconsider. He chose you because you have experience with these men and women firsthand." Her blood ran cold, "Experience…You want me to spy on the people who destroyed my life?" she whispered sharply, "With all due respect Professor, I want nothing more to do with them and it is cruel to ask me to do so, even for Dumbledore! While I have the deepest respect for our Headmaster I will not put myself in harm's way. What those people did to me…the nightmares and struggles I have faced because of it and he would ask me to relive them?!"/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""He would ask you to watch them."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""My answer is no."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Miss Price, please just think about it."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I said my answer is no!" All eyes in the room were on the teacher and student pair, "If you'll excuse me, Professor, I have to go. I made a promise to meet someone." Minerva watched the young woman leave the room with a worried expression./p
hr style="margin: 0.875em auto 1.2525em; border-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: 359.25px; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.12px; background-color: #ffffff;" /
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I can't believe he had the audacity to ask me to spy for him…if he'd asked literally anything else I may have considered it…but I won't…I can't!" she shouted at no one as she climbed the stairs, heading for the astronomy tower./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What has you so upset?" she turned the corner into the astronomy tower and came face to face with Remus, "Dumbledore asked Professor McGonagall to convince me to spy for him during my internship. He wanted me to keep an eye on…them." She spat with disgust./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What did you tell her?"/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I told her no. I won't entertain the notion of putting myself in harms way again…not after everything they did to me." Remus nodded, wondering himself what Dumbledore was up to, "I'm proud of you for standing your ground. But Dumbledore is not one to give up easily."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, he can ask someone else…I just got my life back, Remus…I can't." the feeling of being held below water was back and it was suddenly quite difficult to breathe, "I can't…" assessing the situation Remus led her further into the observatory before motioning for her to sit down, "Deep breaths." As she started to calm down he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer, "no need to let it get to you." he soothed, "I'm proud of you. You stood your ground and then extracted yourself from the situation."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But now I'm…he thinks they'll be there while I'm interning."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""And they may very well be, Seren. It's a sad truth, but it's still the truth. All you can do is be civil, like you were with that Slytherin boy at the party. Show them they're not going to get to you and you've already won half the battle." Leaning her head on his shoulder she rubbed her hands up and down her arms to warm up./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You're always coming to my rescue…maybe I am a damsel in distress." Remus chuckled, "What do you think I should do?"/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I think…" he paused, "that you should follow through with the internship and put all of this spying business to the back of your mind. Alright?" he looked at the pocket watch he kept on his person, "ten minutes to midnight. Come on, I have a surprise." He helped her back to her feet./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Close your eyes." She gave him a skeptical look as he guided her slowly down a small flight of stairs and she could faintly smell burning candle wax./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What did you do?" she couldn't see him but she had a feeling he was smiling, "Open your eyes." She could see a small picnic set up with little floating tea lights. "I told you we'd do something special…and even if it is two months late." Seren was enchanted by the small little picnic set up./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You didn't have to do this, Remus." She looked at him stunned as he guided her to the blanket, motioning for her to sit down, "I know I didn't have to. But I wanted to. And if it really bothers you, think of it as a congratulations for getting into the auror training program." She could feel tears prick at her eyes and he was quick to wipe them away./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""No crying." She sniffed, trying to will the tears away as he passed her a flute of champagne, "Oh, thank you." she sniffed at it curiously, noting the sweet smell, "Chardonnay?"/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Its something my father sent back with me Christmas eve." He rose his flute "To a new year."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""To a new year." She parroted, taking a small sip of the champagne and watching as Remus opened the small basket of food./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""The house elves made a literal feast for the party but Teeky was kind enough to pack a small basket when I told her who it was for. She has really taken a liking to you. She even packed this." He pulled out two ridiculously large cupcakes./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Told me to wish you a very happy belated birthday." He passed her a cupcake, flicking open the pocket watch again, "Five minutes to midnight." He rummaged around in the basket for a single candle, quickly sticking it into her cupcake with a playful wink, "New years is a time for resolutions, but this year I want you to make a wish." With a wave of his wand the candle lit up./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""How did you—"/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""The same way you cast a silent Patronus charm. Wordless magic." four minutes to midnight. Seren watched the small flame flicker in the cool winter air of the astronomy tower. What did she wish for when there was nothing she wanted? She had her life back, an almost completed education…several well loved friends…she had Remus despite the need to tiptoe during term incase another student saw their affection as anything other than platonic./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I wish for exactly this." Remus looked at her curiously, "I don't feel like I need anything else, I have everything I need." Three minutes…/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I have my life, I have wonderful friends, a great work opportunity…and I have you." Remus was stunned to silence, "I could wish for any number of stupid things, like seeing my mum again, but that won't bring her back or I could wish that none of what happened had ever transpired, but that doesn't change the fact that they did. I can wish all I want that bad things had never happened to me but the outcome would be that we never would have met when we did and we'd never have gotten close…we wouldn't be sitting here now..."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"one minute to midnight./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""So, I wish for exactly this, that's what I want more than anything." Setting down the champagne flute, she brought the cupcake up to her face and blew out the candle./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Thirty seconds…/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Don't move." She was halfway to setting the cupcake down when she paused, looking at him with wide, wonder filled eyes. The way the candlelight danced over her skin and the dim orange glow on her hair made his breath catch./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ten seconds…nine…eight…/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Her green eyes fixed on his face as he moved closer, knowing what he was going to do as he finally closed the gap as the clock struck midnight, the loud gong from the clock tower echoing through the grounds as he gently pushed her back onto the ground./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"As soon as the gongs stopped Remus pulled back, taking in her swollen lips and flushed face./p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Happy new year."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm starting to think you like taking my breath away." Her eyes were half-lidded as she stared up at him,/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""And what if I do?" she gently threaded her fingers into his messy hair, giving it a light tug as he so often did with hers. "Then…kiss me again."/p
p 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: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"He happily obliged./p