Save Me: Professor Lupin x Student!OC

Chapter Three

The minute I stepped into the dungeons I remembered just how cold they were.
I shivered, running a hand through my hair and pulling my robes tight around me. I opened the door to the potions classroom, seeing that there were only a few Slytherins waiting in the corner. I sat on the other side of the room, trying to keep warm, while praying the three snake-like students would keep their distance. It wasn't that I hated Slytherins, I just knew that those particular few were not to be messed with.
I began to relax as more students filed in, no one sitting too close to me unless they had to. It was weird how everyone acted around me now, as if I were a bomb about to go off, or something.
This is why I felt for Harry, because I knew how terrible being famous could be, most especially when it was because of something horrible.
I heard the things people whispered behind my back, even though the school year's only just begun, because it wasn't just at Hogwarts, it was everywhere else I went. The whispering followed me everywhere.
People on the street, holding newspapers with the headlines, 'MINISTRY OFFICIALS GO MISSING', because my parents were important people...that, and it was just the sort of twisted story 'The Daily Prophet', longed for...it made the front page.
Even worse was my guilty conscience, that constantly blamed me, for my parents' absence...but I find myself not caring, tuning out that stupid voice in my head that keeps saying, it's your fault, it's your fault, like a chant, echoing from a excited crowd at a quidditch game.
Sometimes though, it was impossible to shut the voice up. So impossible that I found myself agreeing with it, maybe even adding on some more evidence, just to prove that my parents' sudden departure was because of me.
All this whispering reminded me of last year, when Harry told me about that mysterious voice that only he could hear.
I fumed in my cold chair, wishing Snape would hurry up and get his arse to his class, before I really did become a bomb ready to explode.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and for a moment I would have thought it was me, actually blowing up, but it wasn't. Instead it was the over dramatic, greasy, slime ball, known as Professor Snape, and for the first time in seven years I found myself thinking, 'Thank god', because I couldn't wait for this class to be over with.
To my surprise, he only took away 20 points from Gryffindor throughout the entirety of two periods...it could've been a record. He spent the time talking about N.E.W.T's and tests and homework and how rather important they all were this year, as if we were too stupid to know. Not only that, but he had us hunched over cauldrons, sweat causing the hair to stick to our foreheads as we worked on some potion I forgot the name of.
His drawling voice could've made me fall asleep, head first into my cauldron, if it weren't from the irritation that grew within me each time he uttered a word out of his thin, putrid lips.
By time the two periods were over, I could've filled a whole cup with the sweat that came dripping down my face. I wiped my sweaty forehead, and despite the surprisingly high mark I received on my potion, I felt far from happy.

I couldn't count the number of times a person asked me about my parents today.
By lunch I was already exhausted, my jaw twinging in pain at all the 'I don't know's' I've had to say in answer. I sat down in a huff at the Gryffindor table, feeling almost glad the twins had a class this period, simply so that I could relax.
I had Transfiguration next, which was unfortunate because I knew McGonagall would ask me that bloody question again, 'Have you heard anything about your parents?'
I scowled at the mere thought of it, and strained to keep myself from banging my head against the table. Even worse, I had Defense Against the Dark Arts this evening, not that I wasn't looking forward to it. The problem was that there was a bit of an issue, when it came to that class, or rather, who taught the class.
Ever since I had met Professor Lupin on the train, I had taken an instant liking to him. I could tell he was very kind, (and rather charming I might add), which is a trait I admire, not just in him, but in anyone.
Yes, I know, this is all very good, but one little problem arose in the span of just a few hours....

I had a crush on my professor.

It was completely ridiculous, having a crush on somebody I'd only just met, but I couldn't fucking help myself. It was hard not to notice his tussled hair, and boyish smile, or the scars that I found fascinating upon his gorgeous face. He was simply dashing.
'Listen to me,' I thought, once again scowling, this time at my inappropriate behavior, 'Thinking about my professor like some innocent school girl. Next thing you know I'll be sending him love letters and boxed chocolates.'
I'm far from innocent. Anyone who knows me well could tell you that much.
'He'd probably like a box of chocolates though, considering the several bars I've seen him eating just today.'
I had passed him in the hallway at least twice in between classes. On both occasions he had given me a small wave with his hand, while his other held onto a large, half eaten chocolate bar.
I sighed at both myself, for being childish, and at the thought of my professor.
'When will this day end.' I thought finally.
Again, I released a heavy breath, standing up and slinging my bag over my shoulder. I walked out of the Great Hall slowly, not really in a rush to get to Transfiguration.
As I walked the long hallways, I acted as if I couldn't see the little fingers pointing at me, or the hushed voices that got quieter the closer I got. All it did was annoy me further, and it got worse when I turned around a corner to see—
Peeves.
"Oh looky, it's that girl I saw in the paper...even I had to read that story, and I hate to read." He laughed almost maniacally, doing at least a dozen spins in the air before returning his attention to me.
I glared at him, and as he continued with a bombardment of rude comments, I slowly pulled out a piece of bubble gum from my pocket, unwrapping it and chewing it quickly. I blew a large bubble, allowing it to pop before chewing it up again then spitting it out into my hand.
Before Peeves realized what I was about to do, I pulled out my wand, pointing it at the wad of gum in my hand and saying, "Waddiwasi!", causing it to fly from my palm, and down Peeves' right nostril.
He wailed loudly and floated away quickly down the hallway I'd just turned from. I smiled to myself in a proud sort of way, forgetting, for a moment, that I wasn't happy. I continued my venture to the Transfiguration classroom, this time with a little more enthusiasm.
                                          ~

                               [1309 Words]

[A/N] Thanks again to all who are reading this, I appreciate it greatly. I swear there'll be more Lupin in the next chapter, just wanted to dive more into Quinn's personal life in this one. Please comment and/or vote, it lets me know you're enjoying the story, plus I love to hear from my readers! Have a nice day loves!

~Ren /*