maple syrup | remus lupin [1]

89. coming clean

"MS. MAPLE!" Claudia heard a familiar voice call after her on her way back to her dorm after dinner one a Thursday night. "Wait up!"

Claudia knew that the strange mixture of formal and informal words could only belong to one person, and that person was her Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Fayola Ingannamorte - who was in the middle of some kind of jog as she approached the girl, wearing a flaming red pantsuit.

Claudia wondered what the parents of pretty much half the school would think if they found out that the professor wore Muggle clothes.

"Professor," Claudia greeted with a nod, trying her hardest not to sigh as the woman stood next to her with a bright smile on her face.

"I take it you haven't made a decision regarding my club yet?" Ingannamorte asked.

"Not yet, no. I'm sorry-"

"There's absolutely no need to apologise," the professor replied. "I just want you to know that you are very welcome, and I would be delighted to have you."

"Do you really feel that way?" Claudia asked unsurely.

Because, let's face it, the only reason Claudia wasn't apart of the club was because of the way Ingannamorte had treated her at first. It was cruel and uncalled for - and Claudia couldn't understand how she had switched her opinions about her so easily just by a single conversation with Remus.

"I do," she smiled. "And I understand that my previous behaviours are a contributing factor to you wondering if that is the case. And once again, I sincerely apologise for my behaviour and I hope that you will consider joining."

"I'll think about it," Claudia said with a small smile. "But do you mind telling me why you behaved like that? I'm sorry if it's a bit blunt to ask, but-"

"It's a perfectly reasonable question," the professor said. "And I will try to tell you one day. Just...think about it alright? Have a nice evening!"

"You too, Professor," Claudia said, causing the woman to stop for a second with a dreamy look on her face.

"I do wish one day you all could just call me Fayola," she said. "I'm not very fond of my last name."

"I think it's pretty," said Claudia.

"Thank you," Ingannamorte smiled. "Yours is also very pretty. I've always liked it...the word Maple, I mean."

"Well, I'm not so sure I agree with that," Claudia said with a rather solemn look on her face.

"Well, I mustn't hog you any longer," the professor chuckled. "Your boyfriend is waiting for you."

And with those words, the professor left Claudia alone with Remus, who was approaching her - looking like a complete daydream according to Claudia.

"Have you eaten yet?" Claudia asked, receiving a chuckle in response.

"Aren't you going to say hi?" Remus asked. "What happened to common courtesy?"