Uncontrolled (Remus Lupin x oc)

6. Burning Animosity

"I can't stand those things," Willow said as she and Remus got in a carriage together. "Those dementors." She shuttered. "It was bad enough learning about them."

"When did you learn about them?" Remus asked.

"I had to," she replied with a shutter. At his questioning look, she clarified, "I got my Magical Creatures Specialist licence. I've learned about every magical creature known to wizardkind."

"All of them?" he clarified. "Even the dark ones?"

"Well, there are few I think are actually dark creatures, but yes, according to clarification," she replied. "But I'm mainly brewing potions for the hospital wing and helping out Severus."

"You know Severus?" Remus said.

"Oh yes," Willow said. "He was my mentor when I was becoming a potioneer. Do you know him?"

With a pained expression on his face, he replied, "That is a complicated story for another day."

"All right," she replied, moving to look out the window. "There it is." He also looked out, spotting the school.

As they got out of the carriages, a harsh, sneering voice said, "Did you faint as well, Weasley? Did the scary old dementor frighten you?"

"Is there a problem?" Willow asked coldly, glaring at the boy.

The boy, who was pale with blond hair, turned with a cocky smirk before his eyes focused on her and he asked, "Are you Willow Ollivander?"

Raising an eyebrow at him, she asked, "And how would you know that name?"

"Professor Snape," he explained.

"Ah, you must be Malfoy," she concluded in the same cold tone. "Yes, Severus has told me about you. Now, because Severus is my friend, I shalt punish you for antagonization and bullying. I will, however, leave you with a warning that next time it will mean house points, Malfoy." He nodded and she hurried off with Remus into the school.

"Remus, Willow, I need to speak with you both before the feast," Dumbledore said. "Meet me in the staff room."

Once he had gone in, Willow chuckled, "In trouble already, are we?" Remus smiled but didn't comment as they did as they were told, first handing off their luggage to two waiting house-elves. Once in the staffroom, they faced Albus and waited to hear what he had to say.

"Remus, Ms. Ollivander will be helping you this year," Dumbledore explained.

"With..." Remus trailed off. Dumbledore nodded.

"I'll leave you to explain everything to her," he said, leaving the room.

Facing him with furrowed brows, Willow asked, "What is he talking about, Remus?"

"I, uh..." Remus trailed off, not wanting to explain anything, but knowing he had to. "I have an affliction that...makes me dangerous."

Her mind moving quickly, Willow asked, "Is this why Severus asked me if I could make a Wolfsbane Potion?" Remus nodded. "Oh, okay," she replied with a smile. With a small laugh, she said, "You had me worried, Remus. By the way you were talking, I thought you were dying or something."

Remus was dumbfounded. "You're not- You're-"

Willow's expression changed to a more sombre one as she said, "Remus, I would never judge you for this."

"Why not, everyone else would," he said bitterly.

"Remus," Willow sighed. Glancing at her watch, she said, "We need to head in." He nodded and rushed past her into the Great Hall. She waited a moment before following him and taking her seat by Severus. The sorting had just ended and Dumbledore was getting up to speak as she sat down.

"Welcome," he called, looking around at all the students. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast. As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to come of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."

As he continued to speak, Severus said in a low voice, "I heard you were bothered by the dementor. Are you all right?"

"Of course I was bothered," she snapped back in a whisper.

Rolling his eyes, he replied, "You know what I mean."

"I'm fine," she huffed. "That new professor, Remus, he helped me." It was Severus' turn to huff.

Before Willow could ask the questions burning on her tongue, Dumbledore said, "We would also like to welcome Madam Willow Ollivander, who is joining us as assistant potioneer to help deal with the overload of medical potions required to stock the Hospital Wing." Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at her with interest as Severus muttered to her that she was supposed to stand. She stared at him in confusion as she did so, still wondering what the deal between him and Remus was.

She shook this, off, however, and faced everyone with a smile before sitting back down. "Well, I think that's everything of importance," Dumbledore remarked. "Let the feast begin!"