TEN POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR AND HUFFLEPUFF.

DANICA COULDN'T WIPE THE SMILE FROM HER FACE MONDAY MORNING. She was exhausted but didn't care, because all Sunday night, she spent it with Sirius Black in the Shrieking Shack. She brought him as much food as she could carry, which she'd done the night before as well.

And rather than just drop it off and leave like she had on Saturday, she stayed and talked to him. She got to know the man, letting him reminisce and tell stories from his days at Hogwarts. He liked to talk about James Potter and Lily Evans a lot. It was rare he mentioned Peter Pettigrew. And she could infer that they had another friend, but he never said a name. He just called him Moony.

She found out that he was a Beater on his team, and he promised to be at Hufflepuffs first game even though he'd obviously be rooting for Gryffindor and Harry to win the Cup. They discussed music, and she promised to bring by a radio to let him hear the more modern stuff. And he even promised to help her with her Transfiguration homework should she find herself needing it.

Sirius Black was funny and charming, she quickly learned. And he'd taken her complains to heart and taken a bath in the Black Lake, much to her amusement. When he wasn't covered in dirt and grime, he was actually quite nice to look at, not that she'd ever tell him that.

"What's gotten into you?" Claudia asked as they left the breakfast table. "Not Professor Daddy, I'd assume or you'd have told me."

"Nothing like that," she said, scoffing. "I found this stray dog wandering the grounds the other night. It was so much fun to play with him."

"You are such an animal person. I have no clue why you didn't bring a pet to Hogwarts with you," she said, easily believing the lie.

"Because we couldn't afford one growing up," she murmured. "Only reason we kept Ron's rat is because they practically gave him away at the store."

Rage filled her at the mention of Scabbers — of Pettigrew. But she swallowed that rage and told herself that there was nothing she could do. Sirius would handle it when the time was right.

"You know what would be funny?" Claudia asked, snickering a bit at her thought.

"What?"

"What if you make Professor Lupin think the dog is a boy. Make him jealous."

Danica rolled her eyes. "Making him jealous would require him to actually want me."

"But he does want y—"

"Hey!" George said, running up to his older sister. He grabbed her shoulders, and Fred and Lee Jordan were right behind him. "Party tonight on the pitch. You'll be there, yeah? Gryffindors only, but I managed to convince Wood to let you two come along."

"Not that it was hard," Fred said with a smirk. "He's obsessed with you."

Danica grinned brightly while ignoring the comment about Oliver, always one to love a party. "Oh, we're there," she assured him. "Don't let Perce know. He'll ruin it."

"Wilson Martin has been working on this charm that'll surround us all with silence even while outside. We shouldn't be caught," Lee added. "It's gonna be mental."

"Good," Danica said. "With the week I had, I could use mental."

☽︎

Every Gryffindor from fifth to seventh year was out on the pitch. Like Danica and Claudia, there were a few people from other houses that were trusted friends of the bravest house, but most everyone lived in the same tower.

Wilson's spell seemed to work, as you couldn't see or hear the party until you walked right into it, perfectly concealing them from any authority figures.

And it was safe to say that Danica was properly drunk, as that was the only time she ever let Oliver Wood get so close to her. The rival Quidditch Captain had her in his arms, the pair dancing to the upbeat music. Every now and then, he'd lean down, his lips brushing her neck.

No, Danica and Oliver had never dated, but they had been each other's first time two years prior. And at parties, they tended to seek the other out as they were now.

Molly thought that the two would get married.

But Molly didn't know that while Oliver was sucking on Danica's jaw, she was thinking of Remus' lips the whole time. It was the first time someone had touched her since the older man, and it just felt wrong now. She'd had the best, and now Oliver felt like a joke almost.

"Wanna get out of here?" Oliver murmured.

And though she wanted to tell him no, she also wanted to try and forget about Remus, which felt like an impossible task. So, she found herself nodding. He grabbed her hand and began pulling her from the party, them walking to the castle hand in hand.

As they reached the courtyard, Oliver got a bit impatient, pushing Danica up against a stone pillar to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her hands over his hair, wishing it was longer like someone else's so that she could pull on it and hear a low groan leave his lips.

"Ollie," she muttered against his lips. "Do something with your hands for Merlin's sake."

He chuckled and sought out her waist. "Someone's impatient."

More like she wanted to get this over and done with. Was she using Oliver in a way? Yes. But she didn't really care all that much as he began unbuttoning her blue blouse.

Suddenly, the loud clearing of a throat interrupted them, and Oliver tore away from Dan like she was on fire. Both looked up at Professor Lupin with wide eyes, who'd caught them in such a compromising position.

Danica was too stunned to even bother buttoning up her blouse as she looked at the man. He was glaring at Oliver, a murderous look in his eyes.

"Ten points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. And Mr. Wood, I suggest you find your common room. Quickly. I shall escort Miss Weasley back to hers to ensure you do not hinder her."

"S - Sorry, Professor," Oliver stuttered out, surprised by how stern and mean Lupin seemed in the moment. He didn't even cast another glance at Danica before running off, just glad that he didn't have detention.

It was silent in the courtyard for a moment, and Remus' gaze finally landed on her. But even then, he didn't meet her eyes. No, he was looking at her unbuttoned blouse, taking in the lacy material of her black bra that was on full display.

She froze as he stalked closer until he was right in front of her. Remus dragged his eyes up her collarbone and neck, finally looking into her eyes. Then he began doing up the buttons of her shirt, covering her up.

His jaw was tight, a clear sign that he was angry with her. But she didn't think he deserved to be angry with her when he made it very clear that there was nothing between them.

"What do you think you were doing with that boy?" he asked, practically spitting the word out.

Danica looked up at him through her thick lashes almost seductively as she covered his hands with hers on her chest. "Jealous, Professor?"

As she leaned closer, he leaned back, smelling the alcohol on her breath. "You're drunk."

"Of course, I am," she said, growing cold on him. "How else could I stomach someone that wasn't you touching me?"

Remus shut his eyes in frustration. "I've told you this. Nothing can happen between us. It's the last thing I want."

"And what I want doesn't matter?" she asked, getting a bit upset. "Because I want you. You've ruined my life, Professor. You know that, right? You ruined me that night in more ways than one."

His breaths came quicker, his chest rising and falling heavily as his hands slid down her waist. He let his eyes close for a moment, feeling her warmth through the fabric of her shirt.

"I still dream about you," she admitted, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"So do I," he admitted, pressing his forehead to hers. "How you tasted, how that cunt is wrapped around my cock."

As he spoke, he slid his hands underneath her skirt. "This perfect, tight, wet cunt," he whispered, his fingers pressing against her through the fabric of her underwear.

Danica took in a sharp breath, her eyes falling shut. "Professor," she breathed out.

"Merlin, don't call me that," he begged, beginning to rub agonizingly slow circles against her clit.

"Remus," she moaned while shifting her hips forward against his fingers, which was music to his ears.

Remus groaned like he was in physical pain, suddenly remembering where they were and who they were. He ripped himself off of her, trying to block it the addicting whimper that left her lips as he stopped touching her.

"No," he said, trying to control himself. But it was so hard when he could practically smell her arousal with his enhanced senses. "This is wrong."

"It doesn't feel wrong," she said, stepping after him. Only to flinch when he kept backing away from her.

"I'm your teacher," he stated. "You are my student. Nothing more. You cannot be more."

"But do you want more?" she asked softly.

She could see the pain in his eyes. "I beg you to not ask me that."

"Well, I am," she said in a hard tone. "Look me in the eye and tell me that you don't feel something for me."

He hesitated a moment too long and didn't meet her gaze as she replied stiffly. "I don't. It was a one time fling. It was meaningless. We both knew that going in. Or else I'd have bothered to ask your name. Even my interest now is because you were half dressed."

Tears welled in Danica's eyes, believing what was so clearly a lie in Remus' mind. "Oh," she mumbled, stepping back. "I see."

Regret coursed through Remus as he noticed her watery eyes, but he knew it was for the best.

"Goodnight, Lupin," Danica said, swallowing thickly as she rushed away, not wanting him to see her cry.

He noticed she ran not toward her Common Room but away from the castle. Were he in a better state of mind — or a better teacher — he'd have chased after her and made sure she made it back to her room safely. But he knew if he took another look at her pouty lips, he'd cave and admit his lie. That she was far more than a one night stand.

In fact, she was the first person he'd had feelings for since his tryst with Sirius Black so long ago.

And that was just who came across Danica as she ran to the Black Lake, tears streaming down her face. She collapsed on the pier, hiding her face in her hands as she cried, her body trembling. And five minutes later, a dog was nudging her side.

She sniffed and looked at Sirius in his Animagus form. As soon as he saw her tears, he transformed into his human self, an upset expression on his face.

"Darling, what's happened?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her. Instantly, she melted into his touch, crying against his firm chest. Already, he was gaining some of his weight back with her feeding him, so it was rather comfortable. "Who caused this?"

When Danica didn't reply, he brushed her hair back and spotted the marks on her neck left behind by Oliver. Sirius didn't know why, but his stomach twisted at the sight of them, believing that whoever caused the marks also caused her current state.

"If it's just some boy," he said, spitting the word, "you can do better than someone that leaves you feeling this way."

"No," she cried, shaking her head. She could only think of how perfect Remus was in her eyes. "No, I can't. And I don't want to."

☽︎

Danica wasn't expecting for Professor Snape to pull her back after their lesson. Sure, she was the best potioneer in the entire school, but because she was Hufflepuff and a Weasley, Snape rarely praised her verbally.

"Yes, Professor?" she asked, looking at the man expectantly.

"I've spoken with the Headmaster," he said in his usually dull tone. "We've arranged a way for you to gain some extra credit points in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Though Professor Lupin has not been consulted."

"How is that?" Danica asked with a frown. "And why not let Professor—"

"Silence," he said, holding back from rolling his eyes. "There is a... first year with a case of lycanthropy."

Instantly, her heart went out to the child who no doubt had a ruined life because of that. It was nearly impossible for werewolves to hold down things like housing and steady jobs. The prejudice in their world against their kind had always disgusted her.

"I've not the time to brew it on top of my other duties. But I should like to entrust you to brew wolfsbane potion for this... student once a month. I don't believe there is any other in your year capable of doing it correctly without risking poisoning the... child."

From the way Snape spoke about the student, Danica figured it must have been a Gryffindor or part of a family that he hated, as he spoke with so much disdain. How you could hate an innocent first year, she'd never know.

"I'd be glad to help, Professor. And I'm honored that you and the Headmaster entrust me with this," she said. "And I could certainly use the help."

"It's to remain a secret. Lupin is being told you're helping Dumbledore with an assignment of his own. No one must know a student is brewing this."

"I understand, Professor Snape. It would ruin this student's life if word were to get out," she frowned.

"That is all," Snape told her. "And I trust you'll have a good time at Hogsmeade this weekend."

"I always do," she said with a smile, thinking of how many sugar quills she could buy at Honeydukes already. "Have a nice weekend, Professor."