Guilty as Sin?: Remus Lupin x Y/N (Book 2)

Rain

"My heart has turned cold since you left my life"

-

A light tap tap tap on the window demanded Y/N's attention away from the charms essay she had been writing during lunch, tucked away in an armchair in the corner of the common room. She was having to rush through the essay, having not done it last night. She put her quill down, feeling the faint relief surge through her body- Umbridge's detentions had had more than a physical consequence on her, and now she found herself cringing whenever it came time to use a quill. She reached over to the window that she was next to, allowing the owl to hop through and hold out its leg for her, the leg that held a rolled piece of parchment. She released it from the bird, unrolling it and a smile unknowingly forming on her face as she read the words.

"Raven,

Last night was foolish of you, you should not have come, and you certainly should not have stayed. But, I am beyond grateful that you did, despite my best efforts to be annoyed at you. 

Would you meet me at our spot?

Yours."

Y/N's fingers traced the words that had been formed in the all too familiar handwriting. Again there was no sign off, but the use of her moniker was something that brought out an unexpectedly fond response in her. The letter held no timings, and she found herself smiling brighter, her feelings beginning to grow and bubble to the surface, until panic set in. She shook the feelings off, throwing the letter into the fire that burned a few steps away from her. She told herself she did it to hide the communication, to try and keep anyone else from knowing. She was sure that Umbridge would launch an investigation fuelled by paranoia. The truth was, she was hoping that by watching the note burn, she would be able to symbolically burn the feelings away. It did not work, and she couldn't even pinpoint or name the feelings. She did not know what it was that she felt. 

-

She made her way down to the bridge before dinner, hoping that he was there, confused about the lack of specified timings. Her confusion was only amplified when she saw Remus stood there, leaning against the railings, looking out over the lake and mountains too where the sun had begun to set, its golden arms illuminating his face beautifully. It was all too familiar to Y/N, though she struggled to think of anything else than her attraction to the man in front of her in their spot, highlighted so spectacularly. It was clear that he ached, and that he was exhausted, his eyes locked in a wince, his body stiff.

"You should be resting." She stated, closing the gap between them and noticing his face soften with the smile as he turned to look at her. The sight threatened to take her breath away, and had she not made a conscious effort to keep steady, she was sure he would have noticed.

"I could say the same to you." His voice was gentle, the smile audible before it dropped slightly, a friendly but interested expression replacing it. "How long have you been an animagus?"

"Since last summer. Dumbledore wanted me to watch Hogwarts, Harry mainly, for his fourth year, as you know. Anyway, the best way for me to hide was if I wasn't me. Dumbledore didn't need me as integrated as I am this year, so he suggested becoming an animagus. I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone, though. It's not strictly... legal? I'm not registered..."

"Ah, I see. Well, as I'm sure you know, I've had my share of secret animagi friends, so rest assured your secret is safe with me."

The pair smiled at each other, Y/N had heard all about their school day adventures from Sirius. He was always hesitant to mention Remus to her, having known about their rocky past, but Y/N wanted him to have a place to talk. The way his whole face lit up whenever he recounted his past made Y/N smile, and she didn't want to take away any shred of joy that Sirius was able to find.