Safest Place in the Wizarding World

Chapter 2

All the students Alexandra had were also students of Remus's, so it was easy for those who had him before or after class to help put away the alchemy equipment. Three of the girls, Mary, Tina, and Bella, had DADA before alchemy. They chose to sit in a small enclave in the front of the class and discuss many of Professor Lupin's strange mannerisms and the color of his eyes. They, too, had a fascination with him. Alexandra couldn't help but laugh at their gasps and giggles as he hung in the doorway and watched Alexandra finish writing equations on the chalkboard.

' Look at him, he's so precious!' They whispered to each other. ' Do you see that? Is he looking at her?' The group of girls began to get quieter as Alexandra turned around to see the commotion. As her eyes met with his, for a brief moment, she felt like one of those girls giggling at their professor. He did have a certain serene quality about his blue eyes. Remus, as softly as the students' whispers, smiled at Alexandra and snuck across the back wall of the classroom and sat at a desk in the far back.

She was staring at him, this whole time in front of all her students. Alexandra's face grew red hot with embarrassment when she heard the stifled laughter of the clique and groans of the other students. As bad as it was for her students to catch her staring at Professor Lupin, it would be much worse if he had noticed as well.

"Remember, your first bit of homework is to learn and be able to list the three main goals of alchemy. Next class, we will start on metals and metalloids, so please do not forget to wear your hair up and out of your face, ladies especially. You're dismissed."

With a final bell ring, the small class of seven rushed up to gather their things and passed Professor Lupin on their way out the door. Alexandra straightened herself up and sighed a sigh of relief as she took a seat on top of the front desk.

"How did it go?" Remus asked.

"Not bad actually, I was quite pleased with the turnout. They said to expect seven so I planned for four." Alexandra laughed.

"Your students seem to be enjoying themselves." He said with a slight smirk, making reference to the giggling gaggle of girls at the front of the class.

Alexandra rolled her eyes playfully. "I think they're still thinking about their other classes."

Remus's eyes grew large as he let out a hefty laugh and buried his head in his hands. "I hope I'm not already causing problems!" The coupled embarrassment and awkwardness between them dissolved in their laughter.

"No, not for me, but I'd watch your back, Remus. I think you might have a small fan club forming in my alchemy class."

The next hour or so, Alexandra and Remus spent together re-organizing their shared office space. Remus added a small table from his personal quarters that doubled as a spare desk for when they both needed a workspace. Alexandra brought her enchanted victrola record player (which under the Ministry's rules, she was not allowed to have) along with extra stationery, office supplies, and a small bird perch she hung outside the casement window. As the two of them got comfortable and settled into the late afternoon, grading papers and listening to the effortless intervals of Ella Fitzgerald's voice, Alexandra set on the percolator to brew coffee.

"Care for a cup?" Alexandra spoke softly, not daring to interrupt the tranquil mood.

"Yes, please," Remus said just as soft as he looked up at her with tired eyes.

"Are you alright?" She asked. "Long day I take it?"

Remus sighed as he pressed his palms to his temples. "Yes, that too. I just don't sleep as well as I used to."

"Well, I've got just the thing." Alexandra laid a small teacup of coffee with just enough cream to give it a caramel color.

"Thank you kindly," Remus said as he took the first sip and fell into the refreshing warmth of the caffeine.