Chapter Seven
Year Seven
"Can anybody find me
Somebody to love?" -Queen
NOVEMBER settled upon Hogwarts in a tapestry of fallen leaves, painting the grounds in shades of russet, gold, and auburn. The ancient trees that populate the grounds had generously shed their foliage in the past weeks, blanketing the pathways that led from the castle to the quidditch pitch. The crisp leaves crunched underfoot as students traversed the pathways, creating a melodic rustle that echoed through the air, blending with excited chatter as students walked in groups to the pitch.
Winds blew in occasional gusts, students pulling their coats closer to their bodies to avoid the late fall chill. The air smelled heavy of rain, the skies filled with heavy, dark clouds. Lenora watched the smudges of crimson and blue against the gray skies that hovered above the pitch, both teams attempting to get in their final warmups before the match began. A few Ravenclaws tossed practice quaffles to the keeper, the goalposts standing tall against the darkening sky. She weaved through the stands, pushing past students huddled with their friends, chatting in anticipation for the first match of the season. Above head, Sirius barked out a laugh as he passed the quaffle to Frank Longbottom, both boys descending on their brooms to the locker rooms below their stands. Her brother waved happily to her, Lenora smiling and waving back.
She spotted Remus and Peter at the front of the stands, both boys drinking from thermoses that she was certain weren't full of tea. She called to them, Remus turning to find her. He smiled widely, a thick blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He looked over her in her corduroy flares and Sirius's quidditch sweater from the previous year, weaving through the stands to where they stood. She smiled at Remus, pushing through the stands behind them and holding a hand out to him for balance. He took her hand, Lenora kicking her leg over the bleacher seats, stepping between him and Peter.
"Boys," she greeted, flashing a smile at the Gryffindors. Remus didn't let go of her hand once she stepped over the bleachers, keeping her hand gripped in his. His hand was warm, gripping hers gently, fiddling with the ring she wore on her middle finger. She didn't pull her hand away.
"My, my," Peter laughed, gesturing to her sweater, "Lenora Black in crimson and gold? I never thought I would see the day!"
Lenora thwacked him on the stomach playfully, "It is their last first game, after all. Only makes sense to dress for the occasion. Besides, I have one of Reg's for Slytherin games. My alliance is entirely dependent upon which brother is playing."
"Ah, a fair-weather fan, are we?" Remus teased, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before dropping it. Lenora felt a tinge of disappointment when he tucked his hand back into his pocket.
"Nah," she said, adjusting the gold velvet ribbon she wore as a hairband. It laid in her smooth dark curls like a tiara; his princess, he thought as he looked down at her. "Just a decent sister."
Remus chuckled, sipping from his thermos and holding it out to Lenora. She accepted, sipping from the thermos and coughing when the liquid burned her throat. She held the thermos back out to Remus, Peter laughing as she sputtered. "Fire whiskey? At nine in the morning? You're mad."
Remus chuckled, taking another swig. "It is their last first game, after all," he repeated back to her, tapping his thermos to Peter's in a mock-toast, "Might as well do it big."
She rolled her eyes, snapping her fingers and pointing at the thermos, Remus passing it back to her. She took another long swig, the liquid burning all the way down and warming her belly. Yet, she wasn't quite sure if the warmth in her belly stemmed from the whisky, or from the way Remus watched her with half lidded eyes, a smirk turning up his lips. Lenora handed the thermos back, the stands erupting into applause and cheers as the players took the field. Lenora clapped, whooping as her brother and James soared overhead, Remus whistling sharply beside her. The game started quickly; James took to the skies to watch for the snitch, hovering high above the stands and making eyes at Lily Evans. Sirius and another chaser, a young blonde girl Lenora recognized as a fifth year, whizzed down the field, passing the quaffle quickly and sharply. Sirius chucked the ball through one of the hoops, the Gryffindor stands erupting into cheers. Lenora clapped, jumping up and down as she watched her brother race across the pitch, high fiving his teammates. Heavy droplets of rain began to fall, the cold wet biting against Lenora's cheeks.
Remus whistled again, his eyes falling from the action on the field to Lenora. She let out a happy whoop, the girl leaning over the stands to bang her palms against the wooden structure, Peter leaning beside her. Sirius whizzed past, high fiving his sister's outstretched hand. She smiled widely, the glow that radiated from her warming Remus far beyond the effects of the whiskey. The 'last first' was a phrase she had so commonly used throughout the first few months of their seventh year, Remus feeling the time he had left at Hogwarts creeping away with each passing moment. As he watched her, brilliant and beaming, he wondered how many last firsts he would have with her as the months on the calendar faded past.
A chilled wind cut through the stands Lenora shuddered and hugged herself, running her hands up and down her arms in an attempt to warm herself. Remus looked down at her, raising an eyebrow as her teeth began to chatter, the chilled rain coming down harder. "I forgot my coat," she explained, "Didn't make good sense to go all the way back to the castle and miss the first part of the game."
"Come on then," Remus said, opening the blanket he had wrapped around his shoulders, inviting her in. Lenora's heart fluttered as she stepped next to him, her back pressed to his chest. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, closing the blanket around them, his body radiating warmth. She was overwhelmed by his smell; black coffee and cigarettes and chocolate, intoxicating her senses. Her own personal Amortentia.
The rain came down harder, the heavy dark clouds falling in a sheet of thick rain. Lenora brought a hand to her brow, wiping away the wetness that had begun to gather there. The players had lowered their flight goggles, blocking out the heavy rain as they continued the game. Remus muttered out a curse, the rain soaking his hair. He pulled the blanket over their heads to block them from the rain, Lenora giggling as the blanket fell over her eyes. Remus chuckled, the red and yellow blanket draping over her face. He reached down, lifting the blanket from her eyes. She giggled, twinkling eyes meeting his, the two wrapped in a cocoon of their own making.
Her hand found his again under the blanket, chilled fingers curling into his. Remus's heart skipped at the feeling of her hand locked with his. "Your hands are warm," she said softly, looking out at the game.
Remus nodded. He couldn't deny that her hand seemed to fit perfectly in his. He brushed his thumb over her knuckles, the game suddenly losing his interest.
Lenora looked back up at him, meeting his warm gaze, Peter's commentary on the game a buzz in her ears. He looked down at her, a wide smile across his face, rain trickling down his forehead. She analyzed the way he looked at her; the same way he had looked at her for years. She had never been able to quite put her finger on it, the gentle, tender way he looked at her, and the way it made insides feel so soft. However, in this moment, she could finally put a name to the softness; to the gaze they had shared for years, as if they were engaged in a silent conversation that transcended words.
She wasn't sure what came over her when she pushed herself up on her toes, pressing her lips to his. Remus stiffened, eyes widening in shock as her warm, soft lips pressed against his. He froze; she was kissing him. Lenora Black was kissing him.
Remus closed his eyes, leaning into her kiss, his free hand finding her hip. He kissed her back. Lenora's hand pressed against his chest, her lips moving against his. She tasted like fire whiskey and cinnamon gum and it was the sweetest thing he had ever tasted. Friends didn't kiss in the quidditch stands in the rain. No. This was so far beyond that. They were so far beyond that.
Beside them, Pete cleared his throat, commenting on the game. Lenora pulled away, looking up at him from under her lashes at the adorably befuddled look on his face, his lips still parted. She chuckled, chewing on her bottom lip as she smiled.
Remus's head still spun, her taste still on his lips, her hand still grasped in his own. He opened his mouth, searching for the right words to say.
"Thank you," fell from his lips before he could bite it back.
Lenora smiled, chuckling. "You're welcome."
She tucked herself back against him, resting her head on his chest. Remus shifted, the hand holding the blanket shut finding its way to her hip. His fingers fell into the curve of her body, resting there if they were made to fill that space. She returned her eyes to the game, listening to his heartbeat through his sweater.
The Gryffindor common room roared with conversation and music, bottles of alcohol scattered across every immovable surface. The first victory of the season resulted in smuggled bottles and blaring records to fill the common room, a group of students who were exceptionally skilled in charms casting silencing spells on the room. Lenora stood with her back pressed to the wall, nursing a bottle of beer, Lily Evans beside her. The redhead had finally warmed up to James after his umpteenth attempt to ask her out, and Lenora was grateful for another female presence in their group. An Elton John song blared through the common room, mingling with the sounds of laughter and clinking bottles.
"So," Lily asked, leaning towards Lenora to be heard over the music, "Have you talked to him at all since the match?"
Lenora watched Remus across the room, the tall boy chatting with Peter and Sirius animatedly. He pointed at Peter with the neck of his bottle, laughing and swigging a drink. Lenora shook her head, "No."
Lily rolled her eyes, "You two are impossible. You know he's absolutely mad for you, right?"
Lenora bumped her hip with her own, "I'm going to! I just have had the chance yet. He practically ran from me after the match. Besides," Lenora sipped from her beer, eyes fixed upon Remus, "I'd prefer to wait until he's not drinking."
"Because he'll-?"
"He'll get black out drunk and become a manchild?" Lenora finished for Lily with a tight, amused smile, watching as Remus threw his head back in a howling laugh at something Sirius said. She picked at the label on her bottle of beer, "Yes, precisely."
Lenora knew exactly how Remus became when he drank, Remus able to out drink all of his friends with ease. Remus became loud and boisterous, his accent thickening to the point that he was unable to be understood at times, and the word fuck became his best friend. He also became very fond of muggle conspiracy theories, talking loudly about them to whoever was stuck near him. Lenora had cared after him many times in this state, giggling along with his wild laughter and half listening as he shout-talked about aliens and faked moon landings.
Remus locked eyes with Lenora from across the room, a wide grin spreading across his face as he pointed at her. The Queen song that played came to the chorus, Remus shouting the words to Somebody to Love with the rest of the party goers, Lenora pointing back at him and singing along as well. Lily smirked, finishing her beer before setting off to find James, "I'll leave you two to it, then."
Lenora laughed as he made his way across the room to her, snatching an open bottle of mead from a tabletop and taking a hard swig.
"I've been looking for you all night," he slurred. His arm snaked around her waist, pulling her to him in a quick, hard motion.
Lenora smiled and pressed her hands to his chest, "You found me."
"You and I have unfinished business, princess," he said, looking down at her with a sly smile.
She laughed, taking the bottle from him and taking a swig, "You smell like a pub," she teased.
Someone called to Remus, the boy looking up in the direction of the voice and shouting back, his words barely coherent as he laughed. He leaned against Lenora, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and swaying slightly. He began to shout again, his lips brushing the shell of her ear, Lenora turning her head away as he shouted in her arm and ducking out of his grasp.
"Alright, Mooney," she teased, "I think you've had quite enough,"
"I don't think I've had enough," he retorted, the wild giggle that only left his lips after a few drinks bubbling out of him.
Lenora rolled her eyes, taking his hand and tugging him towards the door, "Come on," she said, eyes sparkling mischievously, "Let's get you some air."
She led Remus to an empty classroom in the Gryffindor tower, Remus slightly startled by the cold night air seeping in through the tower windows, prickling his skin. He took a deep breath, Lenora stopping a few steps above him, wrapping her arms around his neck with a wicked grin. It was more than he could imagine, being there with her like this. His hands went to her waist, tracing his fingers along the curve of her hips. He gazed up at her, her silver eyes aflame as she met his. He wasn't sure if his head spun from the alcohol, or from the hungry way she gazed down at him. She had never looked at him that way before, but he had a newfound determination to ensure she looked at him that way every night moving forward.
"So," she purred, brushing his bangs out of his eyes with a sly smile, "About that unfinished business…"
Remus swiftly brought his lips to hers, their kiss far hungrier than the way she kissed him at the match. He groaned when her tongue dragged over his bottom lip, begging for entry, Remus pressing her tightly against him and granting it to her. His lips moved against hers, sloppy and wet as he twisted her in his arms, pressing her back against the stone wall. She tasted of booze, of cinnamon gum and cigarettes. He had never tasted anything so divine.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this," he murmured against her lips.
Lenora giggled, feeling Remus's hands roam her body. His hands trailed up her back, tracing the curve of her spine under her sweater. She shivered against him. She could imagine that he had wanted this for as long as she had. She had dreamed of a moment like this every time she stared at him from across a classroom, wondering what his lips would feel like on hers. She gasped slightly as his hands went to her arse, pulling her closer to him. Lenora let out a soft groan when his lips returned to hers, his hips pressing against hers, keeping her pinned to the wall.
"This is all I could think of since the match," he breathed, "Of getting you alone. I've wanted you for so long, Nora."
His lips found her neck, kissing up the column of her throat, nipping at her earlobe. She gasped when his tongue glided down her neck, his lips at her collarbone. Lenora's body tingled, her heartbeat roaring in her ears. He was an exceptional kisser, Lenora thought. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe she wasn't thinking straight- this simply a moment of drunken lust. She pushed the thoughts to the side, not wanting this moment to end. His lips crashed back against hers.
He kissed her with an almost feral passion. She was all he could think of since they kissed at the match, the image of her parted lips and half lidded eyes permanently ingrained into his mind. She was all he could think of since the moment she had stepped into that compartment on the train. His lips slowly moved to her neck again, his mouth and tongue working their way all around her neck, leaving slight marks. He wanted to claim her, to leave marks for everyone to see. He didn't give a shit who saw. She was his, and he was going to make damn sure she knew it.
"Remus," she gasped.
Remus pulled away for a moment, his lips still hovering over her neck, panting slightly. "Yes, princess?" He smirked against her neck as he grazed her neck with his teeth, enjoying the way her body arched against his.
Lenora's thoughts melted away, her body burning, desperately trying to press every inch against him. She couldn't form a thought, nor string together a sentence. All she could think of was him. Of the feral, animalistic way he looked at her- like he was going to devour her. If she had known that kissing him would be like this… she would have done it years ago.
Remus brought his lips to hers again, his tongue slipping into her mouth. She could hardly form a sentence in her clouded mind, her thoughts melting away at Remus's handiwork. Remus let out a low growl as he kissed her, not caring who heard or who was listening. He moved his mouth to her ear, and whispered to her, making her body tremble.
"You're mine, Lenora," he muttered, his voice low and thick. "Say it, princess," he growled, "Say you're mine."
Lenora pressed her thighs together when he growled in her ear, the throbbing between her legs growing with each touch of his lips, letting out a breathy gasp. "I'm yours," she breathed.
She knew the words were true, far beyond the influence of the alcohol and his kisses. She knew it in her bones. She had been his for years; since they had sat before the fireplace while he taught her to play chess. "I'm yours," she repeated.
Remus smirked, his eyes glazed over with lust. "That's a good girl," he muttered, breathing heavily. "You're mine, Lenora Black."
He hooked an arm under her rear, scooping her up, a gasp leaving her lips as he positioned himself between her legs. Lenora's legs wrapped around him, Remus pressing her against the wall. His lips crashed against hers once more, hands gripping her ass.
Lenora was in awe of how aggressive the usually reserved boy had become, taking command of her in the empty classroom. The utterance of 'good girl' made her mad, the words of praise making her knees weak. She wanted to see just how far that aggression went, wanted to earn his praise and hear him utter those words again. She felt him rub against her thigh through his pants, his stiff cock pressed against her thigh. Her mind strayed to dirty thoughts of what she would do to hear him groan those words in her ear again.
Lenora's lips moved against his, a moan escaping her when he dragged his teeth against her bottom lip. The word repeated in her mind, thumping in a thunderous cadence; Mine. Mine. Mine.
He moaned into her lips, his hand sliding into her pants, cutting off her surprised gasp with his lips. He fingers brushed against her swollen bud, dipping into her warm slickness. He chuckled, a deep throaty noise, "You're so wet, princess," he purred, smirking at the sound of her breathy moans and pants as he started to rub circles around her clit, Lenora throwing her head back against the wall.
"I love you," Lenora gasped, her eyes pinched shut, rocking her hips against his hand.
Remus looked down at her, the three words ringing in his ears. He had waited years to hear those words fall from his lips, convinced the day would never come. They were always just friends; and if that was all he would be to her, he was content with being just that. As long as it meant that he could have a seat in the front row of her life. But friends didn't snog in empty classrooms. Friends didn't stick their tongues down one another's throats. Friends didn't slide their fingers into their friend's warm, tight cunt and wonder what sound she would make when she came. He didn't want to be her friend. Never again.
"I love you." He kissed her passionately against the wall, his hand continuing to move inside of her. "I will love you forever, princess."
He dropped Lenora's legs, removing her hand from her pants and falling to his knees before her, eyes never leaving hers and he unzips her jeans.
"What are you doing?" She panted, his long fingers making quick work of her zipper.
She lifted her hips as he yanked down her jeans, an automatic response to him. He smirked, her panties soaked through. He kissed her clit through her panties, a shiver running down her spine as if his touch were a live wire.
"I need to see if your cunt is half as perfect as your lips," he growled, hooking his fingers in the waistband of her panties. He had dreamed of this for years, since she had arrived on the train their fourth year with the curves of a woman, no longer a girl. He had hoped for this with every touch, every brush of her thigh against his when they sat together, with every stolen glance and near kiss and breathy laugh shared in his quiet common room. He looked up at her, Lenora panting as she looked down at him.
"Do you trust me?" He breathed.
Lenora nodded vigorously. "Yes," she breathed.
He smirked, kissing her thigh and taking a steadying breath before moving to yank her panties down.
She didn't notice the door open until it was too late, suddenly remembering that neither of them had warded the room. Remus heard it too, straightening up, both quickly attempting to untangle themselves from the other. Lenora grasped the waistband on her jeans, yanking them back up her thighs. Remus leaned against the wall, attempting to steady himself, his head spinning from how quickly he had stood up.
"Oi, Mooney!" Sirius called from the doorway, James and Peter laughing behind him.
"James just had the best idea for a prank-," Sirius noticed his friend's compromising position, averting his eyes. "Oh, sorry mate. Didn't realize you were busy," he called, hearing pants zip. "We will wait for you out-,"
Curiosity got the best of Sirius, Pads glancing sidelong to catch a glimpse of whatever girl his friend had brought to the empty classroom. His eyes widened as he caught sight of wild black curls and a familiar panicked face.
"Lenora?"
Remus looked up at Sirius's voice, suddenly feeling much more sober, his face flushed with embarrassment. He stepped in front of Lenora, blocking her from the shocked boys' view. Lenora was completely and utterly still, her brother's stare fixed upon her. Their eyes meet, the look of horror present on his face. She looks down at herself, and back up at Remus, then at their friends huddled in the doorway, their eyes wide and jaws dropped.
Sirius turned red, his jaw clenching as he considered the sight before him; his best friend and sister. Lenora pulled at her sweater, trying to straighten her disheveled clothes. Anger flashed in Sirius's eyes, his fists clenched,
"My sister?" He spat, "You son of a bitch!"
Remus stepped back, placing a defensive hand on her arm. Lenora was still, her fingers wrapping around his arm as she watched Sirius near them, his eyes burning. Remus opened his mouth to speak, but only stammered nonsense. "Sirius…", he managed.
It happened fast, Sirius lunging at Remus. Remus shoved Lenora to the side, Sirius's fist connecting with his cheek. The boys went to the floor, James and Peter shouting as they ran after their friends, Remus and Sirius exchanging blows as they wrestled. Lenora watched in horror, "Stop it! Sirius, stop it!"
"Get your fucking hands off of me!" Remus shouted, and in a quick moment of anger, threw Sirius off of him, punching him right back in the eye.
James and Peter pried the boys off of one another, both still shouting at one another. "My fucking sister!" Sirius roared, "You're supposed to be my friend, you prick!"
James struggled to restrain Sirius, looking up at Lenora. "Go, Lenora," he barked, Sirius struggling against him. Lenora stood, frozen in place, her thoughts racing. She looked at Remus, lip bloody from Sirius's punch, his eyes pleading with her.
"Go, Lenora!" James ordered again, and this time Lenora obeyed. She turned, quickly walking out of the classroom and into the corridor, leaving the brawl behind her.
The door swung shut behind her, the soft hum indicating the boys that she had casted a silencing charm on her way out. Remus looked up at his best friend, his eyes still wide with disbelief. He couldn't believe it, a cold sweat breaking out across his forehead. His eyes looked around at the boys, who were trying to restrain a wildly yelling Sirius.
"Are you fucking mad?" he shouted, touching his bloodied lip.
"I'm mad? You're fucking my sister!" Sirius shouted, "You didn't think to run that by me first?"
"I didn't think I needed your permission, you fucking psychopath!" Remus shouted.
"Shove it, both of you!" James shouted, Sirius attempting to lunge at Remus again, James holding his arms behind his back.
"I'm not fucking her!" Remus roared, Sirius's eyes filled with rage as he stared at his friend, lips twisted in a sneer, "You know damn well how I feel about her!"
"She's my sister, you had no right!"
"I must have forgotten; the women in your family are practically livestock, are they not?" Remus spat.
Sirius, whose anger had seemingly gone on overdrive, tried to escape James's grip again, attempting to get in a punch with Remus. Remus dodged it, landing his own punch right onto Sirius's jaw. There was a struggle as James and Peter grappled with the fighting men again, restraining them.
"Enough!" James roared, his glasses knocked off of one ear in the struggle. "Peter, take Remus back to our dormitory. Sirius and I will come back once I'm sure he won't do anything fucking stupid."
Peter helped Remus to his feet, Remus wiping his lip, the back of his hand stained red. He glared at Sirius, following Peter from the classroom. Peter put a hand on Remus's back, steering him out of the classroom, Remus still glaring at Sirius. Once outside the doorway, Remus looked down at his bruised hand and lip, the sight of her terrified face burned into his mind. This is not how the night was to end, not like this, he thought. Remus followed Peter into the hallway, his mind still racing. "I need to find Lenora," he muttered, shaking off Peter's hand.
Peter grabbed his shoulder again, "Give it a rest tonight, mate," his friend said gently, "Everyone needs a chance to cool down… sober up."
"Right," Remus grunted, his eyes scanning the corridor for Lenora, his heart racing and pumping hard in his chest. Remus's blood boiled with anger and lust, thoughts clouded from the alcohol. He was shocked that their skirmish hadn't attracted a teacher, much less the ruckus he and Lenora had made. He didn't want to embarrass her any further, doubting she would want a drunken Gryffindor banging on the door to her common room.
"Fine." He sighed, "Let's just go back to the common room." Remus began walking back with Peter in complete silence, his head hung low in shame and embarrassment.
Sirius and James had returned to the dormitory some time before the sun rose, Sirius and Remus exchanging nasty looks across the room before James told them both to shove it and go to bed. Remus had quickly slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep, still feeling the ghosts of Lenora's lips on his.
Lenora sat at her usual seat in Transfiguration that Monday morning, McGonagall at her desk scratching notes on exams before class started. Lenora touched her hair, ensuring that the hickeys that decorated her neck in deep purple bruises were covered before taking out her supplies to prepare for class. She heard someone slip into the seat next to her, Remus dropping his bag onto the floor next to him. Lenora's heart fluttered when he looked over at her, offering her a small half smile. His lip was split, but healing, and face covered in bruises from the fight. Lenora straightened, unsure of what to say. "Hey," she breathed.
"Hey," He replied.
"How are you feeling?" She asked, eyes rolling over an especially large bruise under his right eye.
He touched the bruise under his eye, noticing how her eyes lingered on it. "I've felt better." Remus responded, eyes falling to the hickey marks on her neck. Her breathy moans echoed through his mind; Mine. Mine. He looked away after noticing them, his eyes flitting back to his hands.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better today," she replied, eyes following McGonagall as the witch stood up to take roll. Lenora dropped her voice to a whisper, "I think we all had far too much to drink the other night. Things got a bit out of control."
A bit was a gross understatement. Lenora wasn't quite sure what she was referring to entirely; the kiss or the fight that had ensued after it. His words still played over in her head, the three words she had whispered to him having left her to lay awake after she returned to her dormitory, and the fact that he had said the same to her leaving her head spinning.
"Yeah," he scoffed, "I guess you're right." Remus replied, his voice low and quiet. "Everyone… got a bit out of control."
She glanced over at him, both falling silent as McGonnagall passed. She swallowed, searching for the right words. "We were both pretty tossed," she said with a nervous giggle. "I would understand if you said that you didn't… mean any of what we did or… said."
Remus looked back at Lenora, meeting her gaze with a determined look. He knew he should say something, but all he could think of was her and that kiss; her voice, her eyes, her breathy moans- all of it. There was no way in the world that he hadn't meant what he said. "No," he responded quietly, keeping his voice low. "I meant what I said."
Lenora's eyes went wide, Remus smirking at her surprised expression. A few more moments passed as he gathered the courage to look at her again, his heart racing. "I meant it." He whispered again.
Remus brushed her hair behind her shoulder, exposing the purpling bruises on her neck. Lenora quickly went to brush her hair over her shoulder, but Remus's fingers brushed against her bruised skin, "You look beautiful like this," he said softly, his voice barely a whisper. He looked up at her, eyes burning as they met her nervous stare, "With my mark on you. You're mine, Lenora Black."
McGonnagall passed their table again, eyebrows held high in curiosity at the whispered conversation. She tapped their table with her wand, pulling the two from their shared stare, "Quiet," the professor stated, continuing on. Lenora quickly brushed her hair back over her shoulder, both her and Remus looking down at their books. Neither said a word for the rest of class.
Lenora didn't speak to him the rest of the day. Her head spun at their conversation, thoughts racing. She knew that Remus had classes into the afternoon on Mondays. She had finished classes for the day, barely able to focus on her studies, thoughts flooded with him. She found herself at the door of his last class, waiting for students to be dismissed. She took a deep breath as the professor and class filtered out, stepping into the empty classroom. Remus stood at his desk, stuffing his books into it. She took a steadying breath, straightening herself, "Did you really mean it?"
Remus's head snapped up, slightly surprised to see her standing there, almost dropping the books he had been packing into his bag.
"Mean what?" He asked, pretending to be confused, but in reality he was very aware of what she was talking about.
"That you love me." She stated, Remus straightening up and looking at her.
Remus nodded slowly, a soft smile on his lips. He took a deep breath, and turned to her. "Yes. I meant it." He confessed, taking a small step towards her. His eyes dropped to take in her features; every inch of her, every beautiful inch.
"Then we will have to do this properly," she said, watching Remus step towards her, "We will have to be careful- Regulus will tell our mother if he finds out; and if you thought Sirius reacted poorly-," she stopped, not able to bear the thought of Walburga Black's fury if she found out her only daughter was involved with a half-blood.
Remus chuckled as the words spilled from her, Lenora speaking quickly and nervously. "What are you getting at, Black?"
He took another step towards her, the distance between them becoming smaller and smaller. His eyes took in her features, taking in the details. In public, or in private, her lips would be his, her body his, her heart his and his alone. She was his.
She wrinkled her eyebrows, sighing at her frazzled state. She tried to regain her thoughts, but the words tumbled out of her when he stepped in front of her, his warm scent filling her nose.
"I love you," she breathed, "And I want to be with you."
Remus let out a soft, surprised breath. Lenora looked up at him, sharing his gaze, "Okay," he breathed.
"And I think you should kiss me."
"I think you're right." Remus said in a low, breathy voice.
He closed the short distance between them, his hands going to her face. He cupped her cheeks, slowly tilting her head back. His fingertips skimmed over her lips, his thumb caressing the hickey that covered her neck. She could feel the passion in his touch, and her hands went to his wrists, grasping his hands softly. Their eyes met, and Remus moved his face close to hers, lips crashing against hers once more.
Their kiss was more passionate, his lips more gentle and tender. Remus's heart pounded in his chest, the world seeming to slow down around him. His whole world was just Lenora. He wanted to take in every inch of her, from her perfect lips to her soft voice and her scent. He breathed in the moment, breathing in deep, hoping that time could slow even more so he could live in this moment with her. His eyes stayed closed until he broke their kiss, their lips and cheeks flushed.
"You're mine, Remus Lupin."
He chuckled, pressing his lips to her forehead. "Yours and yours alone, Lenora Black. I love you."
Remus lifted her hand from his wrist, his eyes taking all of her. He kissed her hand softly, his lips gliding across her skin slowly. Remus's body was filled with heat, tingles shooting throughout him from touching her. He wanted to take her to his common room right now, find a way to sneak her up into his room, but he only kissed her again.
Professor Flitwick cleared his throat in the doorway, startling the two. Remus dropped their hands, a sly smirk turning up his lips at Lenora's deep blush.
"Mr. Lupin, Miss Black," the small man said, hiding his amusement at the scene he had interrupted , "I do believe you should be getting to the Great Hall for dinner?"
Remus looked over at Professor Flitwick quickly, his heart racing with embarrassment. He turned back to Lenora, his eyes meeting her flushed, red face. "Yes," he says quickly, still blushing, "We should get to the Great Hall. Sorry, professor."
Remus looked around the empty classroom before turning to Lenora. "Dinner?" he asked her softly, holding his hand out to her. Lenora's eyes flitted between his face to his outstretched hand. She took his hand, warm and calloused, Remus intertwining his fingers with hers. She had never felt more at home. He led her out of the room, Lenora still gripping his hand.
"That will be five points from Gryffindor, and five points from Slytherin as well!" Flitwick called after them, the small man shaking his head.
"Sorry, professor!" Lenora called, giggling as Remus pulled her from the classroom. They walked hand and hand to the Great Hall, Lenora wrapping her arm around his as they walked and smiling up at him.