In the weeks that followed, it became obvious that Defense Against the Dark Arts was everyone's (excluding Slytherin's of course) favorite class, and Professor Lupin was becoming everyone's favorite Professor. Only the Slytherin's had something nasty to say. One time Grace over heard Malfoy talking to Crabe and Goyle in the hall as she and Neville passed them one day heading to the Library.
"Have you seen the state of his clothes?" Malfoy scoffed in disgust. "He dresses like our old house-elf! Not to mention he looks as if he has one foot in the grave-"
"It's no surprise that Professor Lupin looks tired," Grace started, whirling around and glared at Malfoy. "He has to put up with snot-nosed, greasy, cockroaches like you. Even looking at you is exhausting, I can't imagine how your parents do it. No wonder they look as dreadful as they do," she hissed.
"Gracie," Neville whispered nervously, tugging on her robes. "Let's go, he's not worth it-"
"Oh yes, run away," Malfoy sneered at her. "Not much of a Gryffindor are you, scared of a little confrontation, eh? Can't even face a boggart without someone stepping in. No wonder your mother is disgusted, I would be to-" Malfoy started, but Grace whipped her wand out and pointed it at him.
"Calvorios," She hissed, and a purple light erupted from her wand and at Malfoy, who exclaimed, but wasn't quick enough to draw his wand. The purple light hit Malfoy in the face, and instantly all his hair began falling out. Students nearby started laughing loudly, including Neville, as Malfoy and his friends began freaking out over the falling hair.
"Gracia Black!" Grace winced at the sound of an angry Remus. She slowly turned around and wanted to shrink away at the heated, narrowed look on his face. "Ten points from Gryffindor. You know better than to use magic in the corridors,andagainst another student."
"But-" She tried but he silenced her with a glare.
"No buts," he shook his head, and waved his wand at Malfoy, uttering the counter-spell to reverse the hex she used and in seconds Malfoy's hair was back to normal. "I suggest you three best be off now," he advised the three Slytherin boys, who sneered at him, Grace and Neville before stalking away.
"A thank you would be polite!" Grace shouted down the hall at Mafloy, who sent her a dirty look over his shoulder.
"Five more points from Gryffindor," Remus said, causing her to whip to him in shock. "Don't give me that look. You know better, and youarebetter than this. What has gotten into you?"
"He was insulting you!" She answered angrily. "He always does, and Ihateit! I couldn't just stand here and listen to him anymore!"
"I don't care what the reasons were, Gracia," she winced at the usage of her first name. She hated the name Gracia, it always rubbed her the wrong way and she much preferred Grace. Only her mother called her Gracia, and sometimes Remus when he needed her attention but never out of anger, except for once before. "I don't want to do this, but you've left me no choice."
"You do have a choice," She muttered angrily, and Remus rose a brow at her. "You have a choice to let me go."
Sweet Merlin, help pleaded silently. Teenage feminine hormones, mixed with the obvious sass she inherited from both of her parents was going to send Remus into an early retirement if it kept up.
"Five more points from Gryffindor for cheek, and Detention on Friday night," he told her and her mouth fell open.
"Morepoints!? That isn't fair! I've never gotten detention before-"
"Then perhaps it'll teach you the lesson you need to stay out of trouble."
"You're being unfair! Malfoy insults a teacher, andI'mthe one getting detention!"
"Do you want to make it two detentions?" Remus asked lowly, and she blinked. That wasn't his teacher's voice, that was his parent voice. Remus hardlyeverused his parent voice on her. She shut her mouth and shook her head. "Good. I'll see you Friday after dinner in my office," with that, he had turned around and walked away.
Grace fought the angry tears that were threatening to escape from her eyes as she gripped her bag and continued to the Library with Neville in tow.
The rest of her Gryffindor classmates knew something was wrong as the week continued. She was unusually quiet, she hardly participated in classes, and she had completely withdrawn from everyone. Not even Neville could get her to join him by the Black Lake, which was one of her favorite places to be. Every time he asked if she'd like to go outside she always shook her head and said she had homework to do, then would leave to go up to her dormitory.
"Hey Grace," Harry started quietly, nudging her with his elbow. "I was hoping you might be able to help me with my Divination homework after dinner."
"Sorry, I can't," she replied dully as she pushed her plate away. She had barely eaten a thing.
"Oh er –"
"Maybe tomorrow," she added as she finished her goblet of water.
"Okay, but… why tomorrow?" he asked carefully.
"I've got detention after dinner," she replied.
"What?!" Ron, Harry and Hermione exclaimed in surprise.
"But-but, youneverget detention!" Ron sputtered, blinking in shock. "Who gave you detention?! I'll have words with them! It must've been a misunderstanding! I bet it was Snape!"
"It was Professor Lupin," She corrected and the three looked at her with wide eyes.
"What for?! I'll go have words, Gracie! I will! You never get detentions, and you never get into trouble! I'm sure Professor Lupin will let you off –"
"It'sfineRon!" She snapped. "I hexed Malfoy, and Professor Lupin saw it and gave me detention." Ron's eyes bulged as his mouth open and closed, unable to process words.
"YouhexedMalfoy!" He whispered in awe. "Who are you and what have you done to my cousin?! Where is she?" Grace rolled her eyes as she stood from the table.
"I'll see you all later," she muttered and made her way out of the Great Hall.
She knocked on the classroom door, and opened it after she heard a faint 'come in' fro the other side. Closing the door behind her, she saw Remus at his desk reading something, she figured it was students assignments. "You're early," he said in greeting and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"Earlier I'm here, the sooner I can get it over with," she muttered.
"You'll be cleaning out the Kappa tanks," he started, nodding to the three, large, empty glass tanks. "And once you're finished you can start on cleaning the rest of the classroom," she nodded numbly as she grabbed the cleaning supplies and got to work.
It took Grace nearly an hour to get all three Kappa tanks cleaned to the point that they sparkled under the light. She didn't bother to ask Remus how he wanted the classroom cleaned, she simply took a duster and started dusting. The classroom wasn't dusty at all, she knew it was cleaned nightly by the house-elves that worked at Hogwarts. After dusting she took the broom and swept. After sweeping she mopped. The classroom took longer than she wanted, and by the time she was two-thirds of the way done, her hands ached and she felt blisters starting to form on her index finger and thumb.
"You can stop," Remus called out when she got close to the door. Her body relaxed and she turned to him. "I've kept you too long, it's past curfew."
"Oh," she whispered, looking down at the bucket. She didn't realize it was that late.
"Come, I'll walk you up to the common room," he told her as he stood up from his desk. "Wouldn't want you getting a second detention for being out past curfew," he added, opening the classroom door, then motioned for her to go first.
"Are you going to talk to me about what's been bothering you?" he asked softly as they started up the staircase.
"Nothing's bothering me." At this, Remus snorted, and she glared at him.
"I'm insulted that you think that's going to work onme, little niffler," he teased lightly, but his smile fell when he saw the look on her face. "Stop a moment, please," he asked, taking her arm. "Grace…pleasetell me what's wrong."
"I hate the way they talk about you," she muttered begrudgingly, referring to the Slytherins. "I hate that they think just because your clothes are a little worn, and that you look tired a lot means that you're inadequate. It isn't fair because you're such a great teacher, and we're learning loads and everyone else loves you and you don't deserve that!"
"Grace, you don't need to defend me," he sighed, and she looked down at her feet. "I don't need the approval of every student to do my job. Nor do I care if every student likes me, I'm here to teach and if my students happen to like me, it's an added bonus. Now the next time Mr. Malfoy and his friends open their mouths, I want you to turn the other way andignorethem, understand?" He ordered sternly, and she nodded. "Good. Now what else is bothering you?" She went to protest but he gave her a look. It was his authoritative figure look.
"You don't call on me during class," she confessed.
"You don't raise your hand-"
"I never get thechanceto with Hermione. She raises her hand and spits out the answer before I even get the chance to raise my hand most of the time. She does this ineveryclass, and at this point everyone just kind of gives up because she'salwayscalled on, and even if she isn't she just says the answers."
"I thought you and Hermione were friends," Remus frowned in confusion.
"We are…" she shrugged. "Still doesn't mean she's isn't insufferable sometimes and a complete know-it-all," she added. "I just get so upset for no reason every time you call on her, or praise her when I know I can be just as smart as she is!" She continued, feeling tears of frustration sting her eyes. "I'm right here too! And I'm tired of always coming second to Hermione ineverything,I don't want to come second to her with you too!" She sniffled, and wiped her tears away. "I thought that since you're going to be teaching here that…that I'll get to see you all the time but I only get to see you in classes and-and-and I have to share you with everyone else! I miss you," she cried.
Remus sighed sadly as he pulled her into a tight hug. He never thought that Grace would end up feeling jealous and inferior over lack of attention. However, he understood that for her entire life that she knows of, she had been the only child in his life. He also knew that he was her only positive parental figure. He knew Molly and Arthur had seven other children, which he also knew that Grace loved like real siblings, but her aunt and uncles attention was often divided. Helena was more strict and harder on her, often paying more attention to seven other Weasley children. Where as when Grace was with him, she always had his undivided attention and he always encouraged her, and praised her for doing well, and would help her if she needed it.
"How about," he started as he pulled away and smiled at her. "On Saturday's you and I have afternoon tea," he suggested and she sniffled. "We'll sit, and talk, or if you need help with your school work I can help you. Anything you want, for a couple of hours, just for you and me? How does that sound?" He asked, whipping her cheeks dry from tears. Grace nodded as a smile started to spread on her face.