Non Omnis Moriar

7: Blinking

Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter. I know this one took a while but I really wanted to make it as simple as I could. Hopefully it isn't very off tangent.

I particularly enjoyed writing Ro's interactions with Dumbledore!

Also, welcome Mr. Tom Riddle Jr.

***

The doors banged inwards as I marched in, uncombed hair flying in the air with each step. The flat heeled uniform shoes made harsh sounds on the flagstones even as I climbed the steps across the DADA classroom.

"Professor," I called loudly, not bothering to know, knowing there couldn't be anything that he could say that would deter my outrage right now.

Lupin was standing near the desk, bending over a patched cloth bag while he arranged quills in it. He turned at my rude entrance before turning away again.

"You can never quite trust magic with some work, don't you think?"

I stopped short, my mouth open to counter any form of rebuttal yet I was struck dumb.

"Um...what..." I stuttered.

Lupin turned, smiling. "Some things are very delicate, Miss Alton. Magic is helpful, yes, but sometimes we just need to use our hands." He said, swiping his bag of quills and adding it to the tagged luggage that was collecting near the window.

I gaped at him for a second before shaking my head. "Professor, it isn't true, is it? You're not leaving." I said.

There was a sigh. "I'm afraid it is true, Rose. My tenure at Hogwarts is at an end."

I colored red. "I can't believe Snape could do that."

"Maybe he could've found a different way of ousting me, however, I would've been found sometime or the other."

"Of course not; you were protecting Harry! You just made a mistake."

"A mistake that could've ended grievously," He stopped packing, looking at me keenly. "I know who it was I attacked in the Forest."

This time I colored for a very different reason.

"I'm sorry I was –,"

He raised a hand. "Don't apologize for trying to protect your friends. I would've done the same but you did still run into a fully transformed werewolf. I could've killed you had Sirius not interfered. I would've never forgiven myself, nor be able to look Harry, Ron and Hermione or Dumbledore in the eye ever again."

He shook his head. "It is better I leave before parents start raising objections against Dumbledore. Better leave with some dignity instead of on the charge of killing my favorite student."

I pouted. "I can't change your mind at all, can I?"

He smiled – maybe a little bitterly. "I wish I could stay, however this is for the best."

"You're the best Defense against the Dark Arts teacher we've had." I pleaded.

"Dumbledore will find someone else, I'm sure. But for now," He stretched his hand out, encasing mine in a shake. "This is goodbye."

Our eyes moved down to the map of Hogwarts he had had opened on his desk, seeing another familiar name move on it.

"I'll...send you an owl, later then." We let our hands drop.