Chocolate Covered Strawberries [Remus Lupin]

𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢-𝚘𝚗𝚎

Jasmine then took off her clothes, except her underwear, dropping them on the floor and she subconsciously hugged her arms around her middle part as if there was someone watching her. She then lowered herself into the warm water and walked the short way to the opposite side, facing Remus.

''You can turn around now.'' Jasmine chuckled nervously as Remus was still facing away.

She dipped down so only her shoulders were showing. Remus smiled softly once he was looking at her and he leaned back on the wall behind him. The air was awkward as ever before like they just made a new step. It wasn't just them in the kitchens laughing and baking, it was more intimate, making both of them flushed.

While Jasmine was looking to her left, then to her right and out the windows, Remus couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was simply standing there, in the water, in front of him, looking beautiful as ever with her hair tied up. At least that's what was going through his mind. Then Jasmine finally grabbed the courage and looked back at him.

This time he didn't look away. Both of them smiled at each other, slowly feeling the atmosphere loosening up a bit. Jasmine's eyes flickered across his face as the dim light that was in the room illuminated that side where he always had a scar. It looked like an old scar, running from his forehead to the side of his face and cheek.

''You're wondering about my scar,'' Remus stated quietly as if he was reading her thoughts.

Jasmine parted her lips in surprise. He couldn't see because all of the bubbles on the surface but she was fiddling with her hands under the water.

''It's still only wondering.'' She replied. ''I'm not asking anything. I know that if you felt comfortable you would talk about it. The story behind it shouldn't be the result of my interrogation. You will tell if or when you want to.'' She explained.

Remus smiled at the thought of that. It suddenly explained all the times she has seen him injured and never asked too much about it. Of course, he knew she wanted too but he held it dear to his heart that she respected his privacy and secrets. He gulped down as he thought that now would be as good time as ever to talk about it as they were on the topic already. He wanted to test the area first, see her reaction and then maybe tell her what monster he really is.

''A werewolf attacked me when I was five.'' Remus let out quickly.

Jasmine gasped, her eyes portraying shock. She looked all over him again seeing that the scar really could be the result of a werewolf. ''Oh, gods. I can't even imagine how that must have been like.'' Jasmine said softly. ''Were you alone?'' She asked then with a deep crease in her eyebrows.

Remus couldn't believe that she was worrying about him from when he was five. He shook his head. ''He broke into our house and my parents were right there. I'm lucky I didn't die that night.'' He said and shrugged as if it was nothing.

He didn't mention the bite or the fact that after that night his life changed completely. Jasmine frowned and looked at him with sad eyes. She wasn't asking about it either. Remus heard numerous times if anyone told the story about how they were attacked by a werewolf the first question that popped up was were you bitten. Jasmine didn't ask. He clenched his jaw tightly trying to find the correct words of how to tell her he was a werewolf too. While at the same time he was imagining her further reaction.

Jasmine though decided to add to the subject and lighten up the mood. She couldn't keep looking at him sadly as she couldn't change a thing about it. If it were up to her she would hug him, but the situation and the lack of clothes prevented her from that.

''I've got a scar too.'' She raised her arm out of the water.

Remus' eyebrows jumped up on his forehead as she started speaking before he did. He looked at her arm and surely enough on her left bicep there was a thin scar running down the inner part. He moved his eyes to look at her as she started explaining, afraid that she might have got it from her dad.

''I was baking in the kitchen at home when I was twelve. I wasn't supposed to be there as the kitchen in our house is strictly for elves only, by the orders of my dad. But I liked to sneak in there, so William found me, scared me making the knife slip out of my hands because I jumped and I cut myself right across my arm.'' She explained with a light tone to her voice.

She lowered her arm back down and looked at Remus. He was smiling at her clearly thankful that she shared her story.

''The next thing I know there were wards all around the kitchen preventing me from going in.'' Jasmine shrugged and leaned back on the wall, remembering the angry voice of her father.

That was the first time she was yelled at with such rage. He let her bleed as she was clutching her arm and first screamed at her before her mum rushed in and quickly tended to her injury. Up to that point, Jasmine believed they were a happy family, after that her eyes opened and cracks started to appear.

Remus and Jasmine continued with chatting about lighter topics when they realised that a lot of time has passed and that they should better go back to their dorms. Jasmine pulled herself up from the bath and took in a sharp breath as the cold air hit her.

She stepped quickly to her belongings and wrapped herself in a towel. She turned her head around only to be met with Remus' back as he was pulling a shirt over his head. In the dark light, it was impossible to see all his scars but Jasmine's mind still went back to his story.

Attacked by a werewolf. That explained all the healed scars she saw on him before, but was it really just one attack?

Once she was dry she dressed up and again hugged her arms around her torso now from being rather cold. She walked to the other side of the room and stood in front of Remus who just turned around. He noticed her shivering and quickly extended his arm.

''Here. Have this.'' He said offering her one of his knitted jumpers.

Jasmine looked down at the dark brown fabric, noticing how warm it looked but she declined, shaking her head. Remus looked flatly at her and dangled the jumper in front of her face until she took it from him. He smiled in triumph as he watched her smaller figure get engulfed by his oversized sweater.

Jasmine caught a bit of the smell as she pulled it over her head making her first look down at the long sleeves and then look straight ahead in thought. Her lips were parted again as her mind was replaying what she just smelled over and over again. Remus furrowed his eyebrows as he noticed her freeze completely. He waited for a little but she still didn't move, seemingly lost in her own thoughts.

''Hey, are you alright?'' He asked softly, taking a step closer.

Jasmine looked up, the same faraway expression still present on her features as she looked into his eyes. It was like time stopped completely as Jasmine still couldn't wake from her own thoughts. The sweater smelled exactly the same as did her black sweater spilt with amortentia.

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