Crescent Moon (A HP fanfic and a student/teacher romance)

Chapter fifteen: Greenhouse effects

Chapter fifteen: Greenhouse effects

In the past couple of months my life has changed so much. It is actually quite insane how much. It's gotten so much better but at the same time so much worse, and awfully confusing. In an attempt to clear my mind I went down to the lake and sat down in the moist grass after my last class of the day. The thoughts were having a bloody battle inside my head and to resolve it I started running. I was still wearing my robes so you can imagine how graceful I was but it helped a bit. I didn't want to sweat too much so I slowed down when I reached the greenhouses.

I walked around for a few minutes, examining all the exotic plants in there. There had been a greenhouse at my old school but not nearly as big and beautiful as this one. It had been old and run-down and herbology classes were only for the first through third year students. We could always take advanced classes in year six or seven but only about 10 or 15 students attended it each year.

I went into the main greenhouse and was relieved to see that nobody was in there. The sun was breaking through the clouds and its rays were cast upon the glass walls of the greenhouse so rainbows danced all around me and there was a subtle green glow. A few of the plants tried to stretch towards the sunlight and a beautiful rose spread its petals. I felt like I was in a fairytale. A few butterflies were fluttering around the flowers, even though it was so late in the year.

On a large table full of various plants that stood up against the wall was a mystical flower. I use the word mystical because it seemed so out of this world. Its stem was pitch black sand the petals were snow white. Even its presence seemed out of the ordinary. I tip-toed towards it to take a better look.

“Moly.” Lupin suddenly appeared right behind me and I jumped. I hadn't heard him come in. He smiled and continued. “A very powerful plant that can protect against dark forces if used right. Beautiful, isn't it?”

“Haunting,” I answered. It was beautiful and haunting, but I wouldn't say that its beauty was hunting, if you know what I mean.

“Your hair is back to normal. I like it better that way.”

I still had my back to him so he couldn't see my smile. His words and his voice always soothed me. I felt like my anxiety melted away and everything I was worrying about just vanished for a few moments. Oh my god, I think I'm in love with Remus. I mean professor Lupin. Nice one, Cassy. Great job. I can't be though. I have a lovely boyfriend. He's funny and cute and so very nice

“You didn't dye your hair. And you didn't know that it had changed colour. What is going on Cassy?” His voice seemed genuinely concerned.

“I don't know. But I don't want to talk about it right now. I just want to...be here,” I said. I didn't feel like talking about my own shit. I didn't want the pity party, I had had enough of that.

“Do you want me to leave?” he asked. He wasn't pissed off or anything, it was just a simple question because he didn't want to be intruding on anything. He had no idea how much I wanted him there. Well, maybe he did now seeing how I blurted out a way too loud “NO.”

“I-I mean no, you don't have to. I don't want to be completely alone. I need someone to not leave me for once. I need someone to keep me from drowning in my own dark thoughts, someone to be my moly.” I hadn't averted my gaze from the beautiful flower for the whole of this conversation. I was afraid to because then I had to face the man I loved in such a sensitive state. I wasn't crying and I wasn't particularly sad right now, but there was something hanging in the air around me. I just needed to be held and told everything's going to be alright.

“I won't leave you Cassidy,” he said. I turned around and he was much closer than I thought. I took a step back as an automatic reflex and stood pressed up against the table. To make it look less awkward I sat on the table with my feet dangling in the height of his knees. My heart was racing a million beats per minute and I had an uncontrollable and ferocious need to grab him and kiss him. He grabbed a lock of my hair and held it up.