Chapter thirty-two; Doubts about the next steps
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Remus kept looking at Jasmine, worry settling in him as she didn't respond. Then she shook her head curtly and blinked a couple of times.
''W-what?'' She asked still dazed a bit. ''Uh-yes. Yeah, I'm alright.'' She chuckled and looked away from his face in embarrassment.
It took quite some will power for her to start noticing her surroundings again as she was moments ago completely lost. She looked up and locked eyes with Remus who was smiling down at her. She felt so tiny under his stare and only then noticed that they were standing rather close.
Remus nodded, accepting her answer though he wasn't convinced by it. He motioned with his head to the door and moved away to exit the room. Jasmine followed him as they stepped out to the cold hallway. It was way past curfew but neither of them cared as they took off in the same direction stepping painfully slowly, not wanting to part ways. Their interactions were rare as it was, so every opportunity had to be spent as best as it can.
Jasmine's thoughts ran wild as the two of them walked in comfortable silence. In any case, it was better to be quiet at night, not risking being found by Filch or Mrs Norris. She was thinking about the smell and it was like her eyes opened to the situation. She never thought that there would once be a case where she had to secretly meet up with someone just to talk. The wish to spend more time with Remus was greater than the fear of her father if he found out. Then she thought about it in another perspective.
Remus was willing to hide in order to talk to her. She has never met anyone who would do that, just because they enjoyed her company so much. All her thoughts circled back to the stupid smell and she started wondering what the point of this was. Was Remus really doing it just to be her friend or something more?
They arrived at the main ground where their paths separated, Remus' to the Gryffindor tower, and Jasmine's lower to her Hufflepuff house. They faced each other but still remained silent. Jasmine let out a long sigh through her nose as she hugged herself, getting cold again.
''I should probably head to bed.'' She showed a small smile, even though she really didn't want to leave.
Remus nodded. ''I can walk you to the barrels if you want.'' He offered kindly and was already beginning to turn around.
In Jasmine's head, she was screaming 'yes' but her instincts were different as she again spoke without thinking at all. ''It's okay, I think I can manage by myself.'' She cursed herself as Remus stopped and frowned slightly.
She hated that look on him, she felt like she was disappointing him again and again. She knew he wanted to be nice and offer help but she rudely turned him down. Her eyebrows creased with regret as his smile didn't return.
''If you hear a bloody scream from somewhere on your way, then I'll probably need your help, yeah.'' She chuckled and greatly hoped she fixed the situation at least a little bit.
She smiled as a chuckle escaped Remus. He shook his head not believing she always found a way to bring the conversation back to a funny, positive side. Jasmine was really feeling she was postponing everything and her cue to leave was right there. She looked up from the ground.
''Well, good night. I'll hopefully see you tomorrow.'' She smiled and took a step closer.
Before Remus could answer Jasmine leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. Even her mind didn't register what she just did. She leaned back and shared a surprised look with Remus. She smiled sheepishly before she quickly passed by him and walked in a fast pace down the rest of the hall and around the corner.
Remus watched her leave with a dazed expression, not able to do anything. Once the moment was over he clenched his fist tightly hating himself that he didn't stop her from leaving. He couldn't even say good night to her. There was still a lingering feeling of her lips on his warm cheek and he smiled just thinking about it. Maybe that was a sign, he thought. Before his thoughts could delve too deep he started ascending the stairs up to the Gryffindor tower.
On the other side of the school, Jasmine was still speed walking, not allowing her mind to think about what just happened. Once she entered their house past the barrels, she let out a long sigh and leaned on the wall right next to the entrance. The common room was empty, apart from a second-year student who was sleeping on the large couch, snoring lightly. Jasmine's heart was beating faster than normal and it was not because of her walking. She leaned her head back and looked at the ceiling.
''Merlin, why did I do that?'' She whispered to herself as her mind replayed the moment.
Her heartbeat rate didn't cease for a long time after too as she kept seeing the surprise on Remus' face. She left before she could see any other reaction of his, so now she didn't know what to make out of it. Was it good? Was it bad? Jasmine cursed herself as she finally pushed off the wall and stepped to the right hallway to the girls' dormitories. She was overreacting about it as if she would kiss him on the lips. People kiss on the cheeks all the time. Right?
In any case, she won't know how to act around him the next time she'll see him. She quietly pushed the door to her dormitory open and then closed it just as quietly behind her. It was completely dark and utterly quiet so Jasmine could hear her own rapid heartbeat. She brought her wand and cast lumos. Their dorm was a great obstacle course, especially during the night. She had to step over many piles of clothes that needed washing and books on the floor in order to successfully make it to her bed.
Before she prepared herself to sleep she cast one last glance around the room. Her eyes laid on Isla who was strangely awake and slowly advancing up Robyn's back. Jasmine left the wand on her bed and quickly travelled to Robyn's bed before picking Isla up. She halted in her step as she saw a letter opened with the right page upon Robyn's bedside table. She looked at it with a weird expression, thinking she didn't want to snoop. But it was laying there out in the open. Jasmine didn't read the contents she only noticed it said Dear Robyn and at the bottom right Sirius.
She quickly looked away before she stared at the sleeping figure of Robyn. She asked herself what the hell was going on. First Caspar being completely stressed, then Robyn sneaking around with Black and now this letter. Jasmine looked to the ground and picked up the envelope that was addressed to Robyn. She recognised it as the one that Robyn's little sister Viv stole when Jasmine was visiting them for Christmas. She frowned as she laid it gently beside the letter before she turned around.
Then she carried Isla back to her own bed before she climbed under the covers. She closed the curtains and turned the light warm yellow colour. Isla immediately climbed on Jasmine's lap. Then she began weirdly sniffing at Jasmine's sweater. Jasmine looked at her with confusion, wondering what she was doing when she realised she still had Remus' sweater on. She opened her mouth in shock as she completely forgot to return it, she didn't even realise she was wearing it until now. At the moment she didn't even protest because it was the comfiest and the most heavenly smelling thing in the world. Jasmine didn't feel quite that sleepy yet, but she had no idea what to do.
She simply petted Isla as the cat was now purring on her lap when she felt something in the pocket of her pants. She furrowed her eyebrows and dug her hand in the pocket only to feel a piece of parchment. She smiled as she pulled it out and unfolded it seeing Remus' handwriting.
I didn't get to say good night. I hope you sleep well. x
Jasmine stared at the x on the end. She thought hard if she should reply, but had no idea what she would say. She wanted to look back at his message again but it already disappeared leaving space for her to write back. Jasmine bit down on her bottom lip in thought. Then she reached behind the curtains and picked up a quill from her nightstand. She also picked up a book to have a hard surface to write on. Once she shooed Isla off her lap she wrote a reply.
I forgot to give you your sweater back. I'm sorry. I'll bring it to you first thing in the morning.
She folded the message and hid it in her pocket thinking of Remus until it disappeared. Her leg started to shake as she anxiously awaited his answer. Then she thought that he must have gone to sleep and he wouldn't reply at all, which was only worse for Jasmine. She started to regret sending anything at all as now she won't be able to fall asleep without overthinking everything. Again. Then she felt the parchment back in her pocket.
It's okay. You can keep it, I have plenty. Thank you for tonight, I had a great time talking to you.
Jasmine smiled and felt her cheeks getting warmer than before. She brought the sleeve up to her nose and took in the smell of Remus. She would never tire of that. He was thanking her for the talk, she wouldn't believe that he could become even nicer. Jasmine quickly scribbled a reply wishing him good night before she turned off the light and cuddled into her bed. She fell asleep before she could feel that Remus sent her a message back.
The next morning Jasmine woke up to an empty dorm. It took her a while longer to get up completely as she nearly fell asleep twice. Once she did she started contemplating what she should do with Remus' sweater. She thought of writing to him to meet her somewhere so she could return it but it was risky on a Saturday morning. Then she thought of sending it back to his dorm. That idea quickly failed as she was unaware of any spells that would do that and she had absolutely no idea where his dorm was.
Then she decided to do as he suggested. Just keep it, but with a constant note in mind that one day she will actually give it back to him. Jasmine opened up the box at the foot of her bed and put the folded sweater at the very bottom and then covering it with her own clothes.
After that, she headed down to Great Hall for breakfast. Robyn was nowhere to be seen, neither was her other dorm mate Sophie. So she opted to sit with Lily who was still having breakfast with her own dorm mates. She smiled kindly at all of the girls and they greeted her happily before continued chatting. Jasmine's glance travelled down the Gryffindor table first noticing everyone was wearing something red, and then she spotted the group dressed in Quidditch attire.
Today was the day of Hufflepuff v Gryffindor match. She spotted Potter encouraging his teammates, giving them hope for the game. Then her eyes locked with familiar green ones. She smiled and looked away quickly not knowing how to feel that Remus was definitely watching her. Then Lily asked her a question.
''Do you think I should go on a date with him?''
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