Moon Phases // Professor Lupin

Chapter Nine

One of his hands moved up and down the back of her black knit sweater. The other was placed softly on the back of her head, rubbing her hair.

"Remus, I don't want to leave here,"

"Neither do I," he said softly into her ear, "But class is starting soon. And I think I could use my assistant back."

She looked up at him, "Really?"

He nodded and smiled, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. She dropped her arms from his waist and came to the realization that she would be spending the day with him after that. As excited as she was, she couldn't help but be concerned about tension.

Third years began to fill the class as Paisley made her way to the office to grade the stack of papers on his desk. There were still butterflies in her stomach.

They kissed. They really kissed. She couldn't believe it. The attraction she felt to him only grew stronger.

After the first class was over he entered the office and greeted her with a kiss on the top of her head, sending the resting butterflies in her stomach back into flight.

"Hi," she said, looking up at him with a smile.

"Hello," he whispered, "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about earlier. If you don't want anything to do with me it's completely fine, I'll understand."

"What? Where's this coming from?" Paisley was taken aback by his sudden apology. "No of course, I want to be with you, Remus."

"Oh," he said as if he wasn't expecting that answer, "Oh good, because I do too. I should tell you, I'm going to be out sick again for the next few days."

"You're planning to be sick?"

"No, I just have something to do."

Paisley didn't think she should ask any questions. If he wanted to tell her, he would.

She nodded and continued to grade papers.

"Remus," she called.

He looked toward her.

"You know you can talk to me, right?"

He only responded with a slight smile before walking back down into the class to set up for the second years.

Something about their exchange still troubled her.

Paisley took a peak at the class from the office. She noticed Will speaking with the little blonde girl. She couldn't help but smile.

After class, Paisley gave Remus a quick hug and peck on the cheek before she left. Her lips touched his scar, causing him to flinch.

"Don't worry," she whispered, "I think they're beautiful."

"You're beautiful," he whispered back.

Paisley's cheeks burned red. She couldn't suppress the smile that spread widely along her cheeks. She gave him another quick kiss, this time on the lips and then set off to her room.

She opened the door.

"Fuck, act natural," Hank whispered.

She entered to find them all in extremely awkward positions as if they had been trying to act casual. Hank was leaning with one knee on his bed pretending to be stretching, Marley was lying horizontally on her side with her hand propping her head up, Syd was standing straight up twirling a coil of hair around her finger. Winston was the only one who actually seemed casual, sitting on his bed with his nose in a book.

"You're all gits," she groaned.

"You kissed Lupin!" Hank shouted suddenly.

"You shithead, we were meant to act natural!" Sydney slapped the back of his head.