Meretricious | Professor Lupin

11. Busy

"Why?" he asked.

She moved her books to her side and Fred saw her sweater.

"How did you-" he stopped talking and smiled.

She smiled back and giggled, "It's practically tradition that I steal it from you."

"I should start wearing yours" he laughed.

She shook her head. "I'll see you later?"

"Yeah" he said as he reached to hug her. He then kissed her cheek.

As he put his lips on her cheek someone opened the door.

They cleared their throat.

"Excuse me Mr. Weasley but I believe that Ms. Venus has a detention to attend" Snape said as he moved out of the doorway and let Remus by.

Fred nodded and smiled at Lupin, then walked away.

Remus walked past her and left, as if he didn't know her.

She wasn't avoiding him.

She wasn't skipping dinner.

She wasn't skipping class.

She was there and wanted to be seen by him.

He hated that she was doing that.

He was scared that Dumbledore had coincidentally been there that night.

If he was honest, it spooked him.

They both knew that he was pulling away, even though he said himself he didn't want to act like nothing happened.

It was complicated.

"Well... are you coming in or not?" Snape asked.

"Well I can't say no can I?" she said, rolling her eyes and walking into his classroom. "I ended up walking back to the table, I shouldn't be here" she sat down on a chair, waiting for instruction.

"You won't be here long. I just wanted to talk" he said as he closed the door.

"About what?" she asked while shifting in her chair.

"Quidditch" he answered and walked toward his desk.

"Quidditch" she repeated "What about quidditch?" Spencer asked.

"You fell... what happened?" he asked.

"I didn't eat... well I did and I don't think it sat well with me you know?" she said, hoping he couldn't see through her.

He usually could.

He nodded and turned around to look out of the window.

"I don't know why you lie to me" he said. "It's fine. Just... you're distracted and it's unlike you" he admitted.

"I know... I'm trying to be me again" she replied while playing with her ring. "Why do you care... about me I mean?" she said to his back. "You don't seem fond of other students as you are with me" she added to her statement.

"You're not as much a bother as other students I guess" he said.

She giggled at his answer, "you care."

"Do not" he shook his head.

"Do too" she smiled to herself. "I may not remember much about that summer, but you care."

She got up from her seat and walked toward where he was.

She wrapped her arms around his stomach and hugged him.