UNDER THE MOON, Remus Lupin

xliv.

CLEAR THE AIR

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Alice never considered herself to be someone who was easily annoyed.

Until Zephyr changed her mind. As he ate his breakfast- with his mouth open- Alice stared at him with her jaw clenched. He was reading through The Daily Prophet, not realizing that everyone within a 5-foot radius of him was glaring at him. He began laughing at one of the headlines and looked up with half a sausage hanging out his mouth.

He froze. After Aria explained why everyone was staring at Zeph, he just chewed louder to spite everyone. Alice clamped her hands over her ears and closed her eyes. She thought of things that sounded sweeter than food getting crushed to bits in her best friend's mouth. The fizz of a soda, an Aerosmith song, coffee pouring into a cup, Remus' heartbeat, Remus' voice, Remus' whimper, the crackling of a fire, the sound of a cat purring, Sage Juniper's laugh, a cauldron bubbling- wait what's this about Sage?

Alice winced at her own thinking. Had her mind really just gone there? Great. Now she had that to think about the rest of the day. Then she would see Sage and they would talk. Alice couldn't wait to help the dragons. To be with them all the time, and gain one's trust. Maybe if she met the same breed as Sage's dragon Trixie, she could try purple hair for a while.

As it turns out, Angus is incredibly clingy. Alice tried to bring him to every class, but as soon as Potions rolled around, Snape would not have it. She left him in the care of Remus since Remus was the only other person Angus was used to enough. Remus' 5th years had a great time antagonizing Angus, but not being mean to him. Harry stayed after class like Alice usually would, but definitely not with the same intentions.

"Where'd you get him from?" Harry let Angus chew on the tip of his wand.

Remus rolled his eyes. "He's Alice's. She made him in Transfiguration. Out of a fucking rock, and now he's making my life hell."

Harry rose an eyebrow. "He's just a ferret."

"He is the devil."

"He's literally pink, Professor."

"He's literally bitten a hole in two of my shirts, Harry." Remus mocked him. This was an argument that Harry would in no way win.

Harry laughed. Angus licked his own nose and stopped chewing on Harry's wand. He was easily distracted and easily became disinterested in anything at hand. A lot like his owner. "Where is Alice by the way? Isn't she usually with you? Like all the time?"

Remus could tell a light blush had reached his face. He sat down and looked at Angus. Sighing, he gestured his hands in a useless manner. "She had something to attend to. First quidditch practice, then she's meeting with a friend."

"Know any of Slytherin's quidditch secrets?" Harry asked hopefully.

"No, Harry. Play fair," Remus said with a gentle chuckle. Alice had been teasing him all class and didn't even stick around long enough for him to do anything about it. That girl had him in manacles so tight they were beginning to bruise. He embraced the pain, he liked it even.

Harry spent a little more time with Remus, then went off to find his friends. Remus stayed put, acknowledging that this was a good chance to get some grading done. When Alice was around, it was like trying to read a book in the dark. Impossible.

Alice was slowly walking to Willow's. As excited as she was to see Sage, there was her wiser half that was telling her it probably wasn't a good idea to leave Remus alone with Angus any longer. Unless she wanted him turned back into a rock, Alice was going to have to find something to do with him during the day. Remus' patience was rather thin, especially around the full moon. She didn't want to push her luck.