TEACHER'S PET ━ 𝓡. Lupin

1. First Impressions

—THE FRANTIC TICKING of Natalia's shoes echoed within the high walls of the school building, especially at that time of the morning.
Lessons had started since ten minutes already, not a single student could be seen in the hallways.

Well, except for her.

Seventh year, ravenclaw, Natalia Zabini briskly walked through the hallways, out of breath, as if her life depended on it.

With one hand she was firmly holding her books against her right hip, with the other she was fixing her uniform, which she had quickly throw on before rushing out of the dormitories.

Being late was probably one of the things Natalia despised the most. She wasn't really a perfectionist, nor she particularly cared about being punctual. Besides, her being late was something extremely rare, no one would have ever punished that model student for a one time slip.

The one thing that really bugged her about showing up late was the feeling of entering alone a particularly crowded place, like a classroom. Feeling all the eyes on her, interrupting a lesson, it made her hands itch and her cheeks burn.

Without even realizing it, she was now standing in front of the big dark wooden door, outside of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

One last deep breath and, with her free hand, Natalia opened the doorway. She initially peeped through the wooden door with her head only, she then proceeded to silently crawl into the classroom, reaching the seat her friend was holding for her.

"Showing up late to your first lesson of your last school year, huh? Nice move, Miss...?"

The girl squinted as she aggressively swallowed, while the embarrassment made her body tremble.

Oh, of course. The new DADA teacher. I showed up late to my first lesson with the new DADA teacher. Yeah, nice move Natalia, first impressions are everything.

The student mentally cursed herself, she then turned towards the man, who was still waiting for an answer from her.

"Zabini."

He nodded, looking at her absentmindedly, while his facial expression relaxed.

He doesn't look angry.

"I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again." She quickly mumbled without allowing herself to look at the man again, letting her gaze fall everywhere apart from his face.

"All right, take a seat and try to catch up with the lesson, Miss Zabini."

The man gave her a warm smile before returning to teach his lesson.

"Ouch! Natalia! What was that for?"

Hissed Kenneth, sitting beside her, as the girl had just kicked him from under the desk.

On her part, Natalia didn't lift her eyes from the parchment she was scribbling on.

"You didn't even think about waking me up, that's shitty friend behavior, if you ask me, Kenny."

"Oh, come on! I didn't think you were going to sleep in."

Natalia had finally turned towards him, tightening her eyes.

"Besides, you didn't miss much, really. Professor Lupin had only introduced himself."

Her expression relaxed, "Mhmh" she mumbled before slightly smiling to the blond haired boy next to her.

So, Professor Lupin, huh?

Natalia sighed at the thought of how many DADA teachers had relentlessly followed one another over those years.
And, might I add, they all sort of sucked.