Caress - A Remus Lupin Fanfiction

Avoidance

The next morning, I go to Breakfast by myself. I feel a lot better after talking to Remus last night, he offered a lot of advice that I know was sincere and best-intended. I feel like I know him a lot better and we could probably become friends.

I walk into the Great Hall and Remus looks up from his book from where he sits at the Gryffindor table, he sees me and I see him. He smiles and waves, I wave back.

Black, who is sitting next to Remus, sees this. He whispers something to Remus which causes Remus to reply quietly, indignantly, it seems.

I sit down at the Ravenclaw table and I begin eating breakfast. My thoughts wander and I think about my homework from the previous night and the Mirror, it all eventually lands on Professor Rockwell.

Professor Rockwell is always so kind, not only to me, but to everyone. He's so intelligent. Perhaps, I could go to his office later to ask about assignments and that could possibly lead to a chat that would help me learn more about his personal life.

The owls come in and a parcel lands in front of me. The owl doesn't stay, so I suppose this doesn't require a reply.

I open my parcel and it's a jumper, a couple books, and a bottle of ink. Inside the book, a note is tucked in between the pages. The note is from mum, she asks how my first few weeks at Hogwarts have been. On a business trip with the Ministry of Magic, they went to Wales. That's where she bought me the jumper, books, and ink that can make the writing invisible.

I go back up to my dorm to get my bag and robes, to drop off the presents as well.

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After I'm finished with my classes, I make my way to Professor Rockwell's office. His office is at the end of the corridor, so his door is in sight but I'm not yet there.

Black, Potter, and Remus exit his office.

I stop and consider turning around to avoid them.

"Oi! Is that you Watson?" Black yells, not mockingly, but almost like a friend that hasn't seen you in a long time.

I'm taken aback by his tone of voice until Potter speaks.

"Do you have detention too?"

"She obviously isn't the type of girl to do something to land her with a night in the Forbidden Forest, she doesn't want to waste her time on anything that isn't an essay or Professor Rockwell." Potter says, but not to offend. However, that doesn't keep me from taking offense.

My face feels warm and I hate that I'm showing a reaction to what he said about Professor Rockwell. "I care about other things..." I reply weakly, too embarrassed to look at them.

"Oh wait, was I right about Rockwell?" Potter asks excitedly.

Remus doesn't say anything.

I don't say anything.

"Oh wow, Watson, you fancy a professor?" An amused Black asks.

"It's okay Watson, everyone but Rockwell himself seems to know."

"In fact, when we were in there just now, Rockwell thought it was Remus here you fancied. Said you always looked at him in a love struck fashion." Black slings an arm around Remus. Remus is quite red in the face, I pity him for putting up with Black and Potter.

At this point, I would've usually went off and told Black and Potter to bugger off. But, I reply, "Goodnight Remus." I walk back to my dorm and decide to avoid Remus.

I don't want anyone to think that I fancy Remus. I don't fancy him.

Besides him and I have only ever had one meaningful conversation. He wouldn't mind if I didn't talk to him anytime soon.