Larger Than Life {Remus Lupin}

6: The Best Thing on the Face of the Earth

"Did I ever tell you that my sister tried to give me a short sex education course before I came to school this year?" Daphne said to Ella as they walked up the snowy road to Hogsmeade. Knit caps and striped Hufflepuff scarves were worn by both girls to keep the cold from seeping into their bones, but their arms were crossed anyway for extra measure.

"No, you didn't. I'm surprised you passed up an opportunity to tell me all about Heather's antics." Ella laughed as the village grew closer and she couldn't wait to get inside the Three Broomsticks and have a nice big mug of hot chocolate with a mountain of whipped cream on top.

"As it happens, it started because my cat got pregnant from her cat. I asked her how it happened because I had thought Dad took them to the vet to get fixed. She thought I didn't know where babies came from." Daph threw Ella a suggestive look, wiggling her eyebrows up and down. "Is the innocent Ella ready for 'The Talk?'"

"Shut up. My own brother told me when I started third year in a letter. I had already known by then, but I burned it anyway." She giggled when Daphne snorted loudly.

"Anyway, I try to tell her I already know, but she's not hearing it. So I have to sit through lesson after lesson about sex organs and STDs until she's convinced I know every method to not get pregnant." They finally reached the door to the Three Broomsticks and entered, and sighed at the warmth of the place. "But that's not even the worst part. She starts telling me all of her experiences."

"No." Ella covered her mouth with her mitten as they walked to a table out if the way in the back.

"Yes. But it gets worse." She said as she tried to wave down a server in the busy place. Students surrounded them, and the room was filled with warm conversation and laughter. "She then tells me about how she got a hole in one with her current boyfriend."

"That's Muggle slang, isn't it? With a sexual connotation." Ella asked, dread apparent on her face.

"It means shagging on the green of a golf course." Daphne said matter of factly, leaving Ella gaping at her ridiculously.

"Are you kidding?" She started laughing, her face hot with embarrassment as she covered her mouth again. "That can't be."

"It is. And then it gets even worse." Daphne leaned in for dramatic effect, only making Ella laugh harder.

"No, Daphne, no." She covered her entire face with her hands. "No more."

"My mum comes in." She continued, and Ella put her head down with a nooo. "And I tell her 'Mum, Heather just told me she got a hole in one with Tucker.'"

"His name is Tucker?" Ella leaned forward on her elbows, laughing silently now. "What did your mum say?"

"She looks at us, and Heather is just sitting there mortified, and Mum tells her 'Wow, Heather, I didn't know you were so good at golf.'" They sat there, laughing together. Ella had tears in her eyes, shaking her head with a hand on her mouth to muffle her near-hysterical giggles.

And that's when she saw him. The Slytherin that had followed her about for months entered just as Daphne decided to chase someone down herself. She was gone before Ella could say anything.

"Ella!" A tall and lanky frame intercepted her fuzzy vision, but she knew the voice before his face came into focus. Remus waved at her from a few feet away, and she put on a brave face and smiled as he approached. "Are you here by yourself?"

"Nah, Daphne is off getting drinks. What about you? Where are your mates at?" She clenched her hands anxiously under the table, peering behind him. The Slytherin was gone. That didn't make her feel any more at ease.