BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE - REMUS LUPIN

99 - "HERBOLOGY BLUSHES"

Remus laughed as well as he reached his hand in to a bag of soil to gather more for their pot. Almost every student had their white sleeves rolled up to their elbows to prevent another uniform shirt getting soiled throughout the course of the day. Hollis could see a few shallow, barely visible scars crossing over Remus's toned forearms as he plucked a few petals off a Sneezewort to replant them yet again.

The Rosier wished that she could do the same as well. Even in late November, the greenhouses were sweltering besides the occasional relief of breeze from the cracked windows and walls. Looking down at her sleeves with dirt all over the cuffs, Hollis frowned. Drawing her gaze down and across the table, she looked to where Lucius and Theodore were repotting the petals as well.

Both of their Dark Marks were fully visible. Hollis saw several students look in two Slytherin's direction, their left forearms to be exact, and scooted a few inches away with vague fear flitting across their faces. Remus saw her looking at their Dark Marks and frowned slightly. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he changed his frown to a small yet reassuring smile.

"They can't do much to anyone at Hogwarts," he told her as she turned back to him. "Especially after Halloween, Dumbledore has been keeping a pretty close eye on them. Well, all those Death Eater scum, really."

Her stomach flipped, and not in the usual pleasant way when his arm was around her waist.

Death Eater scum.

Hollis smiled back the best she could and leaned her head slightly into Remus's chest.

"And besides, I've seen what you can do compared to them," he said with a smirk. "They might be good at curses and charms, but at a point strength triumphs memorization."

These words were still lost on Hollis as she just thought of his expression while talking about the Dark Mark, but she snapped back to reality as she heard him sigh deeply. Taking one of his hands and looking up at the tall boy, she jumped up slightly to plant a soft kiss on his lips.

"These petals won't replant themselves, wolfboy."

For the next half hour, they talked and worked with relaxation. They both found each other's presence calming, adding to the generally peaceful nature of the greenhouse. Well, besides the few times Hollis had vigorously beat a Venemous Tentacula vine trying to slither around Peter's shoulder off the blonde boy with her Herbology textbook in hand.

Several heads turned as the fogged greenhouse door slowly opened and Dumbledore walked in. The headmaster looked to Professor Sprout and smiled tranquilly at the frumpy witch.

"Would you mind if I borrow two of your students briefly, Pomona?" he asked, his pale blue eyes glistening.

Sprout replied without looking up from where she was plucking some Snargleuff pods.

"Just don't keep them for too long, Albus."

The old man turned to Hollis and Remus with an outstretched arm.

"Miss Rosier, Mr. Lupin, would you wind stepping outside with me for a few moments?" he asked kindly. "I won't be prying you from your work for very long, no need to worry."

Hollis and Remus simultaneously looked at each other with slightly nervous glances and they wiped the dirt off their hands on their aprons. Remus nodded first and cut through the long row of students on their side of the table, and Hollis followed.

James, Sirius, Marlene, Peter, and Lily watched them leave with either amused or worried expressions.

"Reckon they got caught snogging in some prohitbitted area?" Sirius asked with a chuckle that made Lily whack him over the head with a loose dragonhide gloove that was resting on the table between them.

Just outside of the mossy glass, Hollis and Remus stood in front of the headmaster with confusion.

"Are we in trouble?" Hollis asked skeptically, scooting a little closer to Remus.

Dumbledore smiled at this default reaction.

"Quite on the contrary, unless you should be," the headmaster smiled at them with that glint in his blue eyes.

Remus and Hollis vigorously shook their heads.

"No, based on you two's remarkable performances and aptitude for learning in your N.E.W.T. classes this year, a few professors have requested your help with their more struggling students."

Hollis raised a dark eyebrow.

"Tutoring, you mean?"

Remus grinned as Dumbledore nodded.

"I mean, yeah, sure," Hollis replied, looking up at Remus as she gave a shrug of her shoulders. "What subject?"

"I was hoping Mr. Lupin would help with Care of Magical Creatures, and you with Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Dumbledore suggested, and his two sixth years nodded. "Excellent. I really do appreciate your kindness and willingness to volunteer your time."

Turning away, Hollis and Remus were about to go back into the greenhouse before Dumbledore turned his head back around and cleared his throat.

"Oh, one more thing," he said with a bit of mischief. "You two will be working together in a spare classroom to help these students, but if any shortcuts are taken there or back, then I will just ask other older years to tutor instead."

Hollis and Remus's necks both heated.

"Yes, professor," Lupin nodded with that crooked grin of his that made the Rosier's stomach flip pleasantly this time.

But that promise hadn't been made for just then, and Hollis and Remus walked back in to Greenhouse No. 4 a few minutes even after Dumbledore had left them with slightly messy hair and looser ties than they had left with.

jesus yall i love happy chapters with my whole heart (or as happy as this book is gonna get rrs yall know lets be real)

1.5k words