Over the Edge [ Lupin x Evans ]

Chapter 10: Jane Eyre

They had arranged to meet one afternoon in August. Lupin had gone out of his way to acquire a beautiful copy of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre and had planned to give it to her as a gift. He felt embarrassed, though, because his own copy of the book was old, torn, and in some places even stained by the mould they had been battling back at his family home in Yorkshire. How could he possibly give her that one?

"Hello!" called Evans, her fiery red hair flowing perfectly as she ran towards him. Remus watched her approach. Her face was lit up with a bright smile, and her cheeks were charmingly flushed. Just moments before, she'd been playing tag with a group of young children.

"Why are you hiding?" she frowned.

"These are muggles, aren't they?" he asked hesitantly.

"Do you have a problem with that?" she raised her chin defiantly.

"Absolutely not!" he insisted. "I just don't want them to see me flying on a broom. We'd all be in trouble."

Lily nodded thoughtfully and, with a smile, grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, pulling him along. At her touch, Remus stiffened instantly.

"Have you ever played tag?" she asked, completely unaware of how his body had tensed at the contact. She made her way over to the children, and Remus swallowed nervously.

"N–no," he stammered.

"You have no idea how much fun it is!" she exclaimed happily, and once again started chasing the laughing children.

Remus stood on the sidelines, watching every movement of hers, the creases on her cheeks as she laughed, and her sharp gaze as she tried to catch one of the children. Although she was sixteen, she seemed no different from the five-year-olds running around her. She appeared so delicate, innocent, carefree. Remus stared at her in amazement, but also with admiration. He realised it was this very lightness about her that captivated him.

"Lily, I've got what you asked for," he said as darkness fell, and all the other children had headed home. Only the two Gryffindors remained sitting on one of the benches, inhaling the fresh summer air.

Remus took out the book, wrapped in plain grey paper, and handed it to her with a faint smile. Lily eagerly unwrapped it, her eyes lighting up almost magically. She was holding a beautiful edition of Jane Eyre, with an ornate black cover and silver letters gleaming on the front.

"But... Lupin. Your copy looked different," she said, looking at him in surprise.

"I assure you, the content inside is exactly the same," he laughed. "I couldn't give you my old, ugly book," he explained with a shrug.

"That must've cost a fortune!"

"Just under twenty pounds. It's a muggle edition," he reminded her.

"Right. I'll pay you back for the trouble!" she said, reaching into her small handbag.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Remus automatically placed his hand on hers, but quickly pulled it back. "Consider it a gift, a little token of apology for what I said in the woods... for being rude." Lily studied him with a cautious look. There was hope shining in his eyes, and she saw something warm there, something that held her attention for a moment. After a brief pause, she agreed to the arrangement.

"Thank you so much. It's wonderful," she said, pressing the book to her chest as though it were the most precious thing. "Listen, I should apologise as well..."

"Apologise for what?" he asked, confused.

"Because I made you ill!" she exclaimed. "I gave you that cursed chocolate and that's why you ended up in St. Mungo's! Honestly, the book was just an excuse... I had to meet you and explain. You have no idea how awful I've felt for the past month, knowing I nearly killed you!" she said desperately.