Moon Phases // Professor Lupin

Chapter Fourteen

Paisley awoke to the smell of freshly baked muffins.

"Good morning, beautiful," a hand brushed the hair out of her face.

"Oh no," Paisley groaned, "You're a morning person."

"Here," he brought over a tray that displayed a blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee.

She sat up and he placed the tray on the sheets in front of her.

"I can eat on the bed?"

"I don't see why not," he shrugged and took a sip of his own coffee.

"Oh," she sighed softly, "I guess my dad would always get mad when I ate on my bed."

"Your father doesn't seem like the model citizen," Remus cocked his head, "Go ahead and eat, you and I have a full day ahead of us."

She remembered that she had to help him with his classes. Suddenly it occurred to her that she was still in her pajamas.

"Your friends dropped this off for you," he stood and grabbed a shirt and jeans, "The blonde ones. Hank and Marley, I think."

"Sounds like them," Paisley laughed.

"Hank also gave me this," he revealed a plastic square in between his fingers.

"I don't know where he gets so many," Paisley said in disbelief, "He's got an endless supply, it's amazing."

"Right," Remus chuckled, "How are you feeling, by the way?"

"Amazing," she grinned.

It was true, Paisley had never woken up happier. Everything seemed so much brighter.

"What about you?" Paisley asked, although it wasn't in reference to the events of last night.

"Honestly, relieved," Remus sat next to her on the bed again, "I've been wanting to tell you for so long. I've just been too frightened of how you may perceive me."

"Oh please, I'd never dump you just because you become an angry dog for a day out of the month. I do that for a whole week out of the month."

Remus laughed a bit uncomfortably.

"Don't worry about it," Paisley put her hand in his, "I'm not going anywhere."

She watched as he took a deep breath and his shoulders steadied. It really did break her heart to remember how nervous he was around her before she found out. She knew he wouldn't ever hurt her, but he didn't know that.

Paisley got up to view her clothes. They'd picked out a Blue Oyster Cult t-shirt and a pair of baggy blue jeans. Rested on the fabric was her favorite pair of boots.

She began to take her jumper off and Remus turned around.

"Not even ten hours ago you didn't seem to mind looking at me," Paisley teased.

"Just being respectful," Remus said, still facing the other direction.

She changed quickly, and then tried to walk over to Remus to hug him, but quickly realized that walking was painful. Embarrassed, she leaned on him for support. He stifled a laugh.

"Oh shut up," she giggled back.

Eventually, she was able to straighten her legs and walk. The pair left the room at different times and headed to the DADA classroom. The majority of her time was spent helping students with work and grading papers while Remus taught the class. She also took the time to tidy up his cluttered desk.

She was putting papers into a drawer when she opened one and found the Marauders Map.

"Go ahead and take it," a voice called.