UNDER THE MOON, Remus Lupin

xxxii.

RULES AND EXPECTATIONS

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Zephyr was enjoying his lunch when Alice burst through the doors to the Great Hall, a huge grin on her face. She ran directly at him and he had a strong feeling he'd be tackled onto the floor. Wincing, he braced for impact as Alice banged into him and wrapped her arms around him. "I can play again! I can play for next week's game!"

"Really!? That's fucking spectacular!" Zephyr replied, grabbing her body and shaking her back and forth.

"Ohh! I know!" She exclaimed though it was muffled into his shirt.

Clint, nosy and jealous, jogged over to the Slytherin table. "What's up with you guys?" He asked with a grin. Hide the jealousy.

Zeph could see right through it. He rolled his eyes. "Ali can play quidditch again."

"That's great! I hope you'll be rusty so Hufflepuff can finally beat you," Clint said, grabbing her face and kissing her cheek.

Again, the guilty feeling reappeared to stress her out. Alice looked toward the teachers. Remus wasn't even looking at her. He always looked at her when she came in with her friends. A nauseous feeling rose in her stomach, and she thought she may as well hurl because of it. If Remus was mad at her, she wouldn't want to have the conversation about why. But she'd have to.

After that, Alice just left. She showed up early to Potions, awkwardly sitting in Professor Snape's presence. She put her chin down on the desk and closed her eyes. Remus. Was he mad? The sick feeling hadn't yet eluded her. She wanted it to. Professor Snape glanced up through his eyelids at Alice. From his desk, he could see that she was upset. He didn't really care about that.

The only thing he cared about that involved Alice was whether or not she and Remus were involved. Because there were many ways he would like to rid of him for many reasons. If Snape really desired to, he could look into her mind. But that possibility hadn't yet crossed his mind.

Alice felt like she was dying, with her distressed concerns flipping through her mind like a full photo album.

"Why'd you run out?" Clint asked as he took a seat next to her, rocking back on purpose. Other students came in gradually before class started.

"Lots on my mind," she sighed sadly.

"Is it... your um... boyfriend?"

Alice's eyes flickered to him, then away. "Somewhat."

Clint leaned close to her. "Tell me, you can trust me," he whispered in her ear.

Alice shivered and then shook her head. She didn't like how Clint was being today. She also didn't like that she was allowing it to happen. "Clint, stop it. I know you don't mean anything by this, but I have a boyfriend and it's freaking me out!"

"Okay, okay!" Clint put his hands up defensively and backed away. "I understand, Ali," he chuckled, though it hurt horribly, an arrow through the heart.

Zephyr awkwardly watched this interaction from a few feet away at his table with Adrian. Adrian had been trying to move on from Alice. It wasn't so difficult to be around her anymore. He just had to let go and pretend he didn't care. When deep down, he cared more than he thought anyone else could possibly care.

"Where are you going?" Clint screeched in the hallway as Alice speed-walked away from him. It wasn't directly because of him, but just because Alice was looking for a way through the halls where she wouldn't have to pass Remus. As much as she loved the man, he'd want to talk. She saw it on his face earlier, regardless of whether or not he even looked at her.