❝ puppy love ❞

The corridors are devoid of life, with the exception of Hufflepuff's ghost, the Fat Friar, conversing with one of the many talking paintings. He pays no mind to the two Gryffindors currently skipping class, too caught up in his conversation about treacle tarts.

Carina and George hurry from their hiding spot behind a statue of a knight with the coast as clear as it's ever going to get, taking their spots at the opposite ends of the long corridor. George stares up a long staircase with his wand pointed to the top while Carina faces a moving one leading to the corridor below.

She holds up her hand to signal to the count of three and they cast a spell in synchronized movements, jumping back as water starts to spray from the top of each staircase. It's meant to only stay on the staircases as a way of causing harmless chaos and deterring students from being able to attend their next class. However, this does not stop the painted caricatures from crying out and attracting attention to the feat all too soon as they grow unnecessarily worried about their paint being ruined.

Carina shares a look with George as classroom doors on several floors are thrown open and Professor Filius Flitwick is the first authoritative figure to step into the corridor. George runs and Carina grabs ahold of his hand as they sprint around the corner, desperate to escape.

They nearly run directly into Remus and Laura, but don't pause long enough to realize that the two adults would be more than happy to offer an alibi for the troublemakers, instead continuing to round another corner.

"Which Weasley do you suppose that was?" Remus wonders aloud, not breaking his stride despite the near crash.

"George," Laura answers confidently.

"How can you be so sure?

"A mother always knows who her daughter is in love with," she says simply. "Those two are head over heels for each other, even if they haven't admitted it to themselves yet."

It's no surprise to anyone who knows about Remus's condition that the last remaining adult Potter is on campus the day a full moon is to occur. Even with their latest argument still hanging in the air, Laura would never leave Remus alone on the worst night of the month, not even with the additional reprieve his wolfsbane gives him. In fact, Dumbledore was so sure her visits would become a monthly regular whether he condoned it or not that he included her visitation rights in his interview to persuade Remus into taking the job.

Filius comes to a halt just as he reaches the duo, pausing to catch his breath before looking up at them expectantly.

"Which way did they go?"

Instinctively, Remus points to the left and Laura points to the right, confusing the poor man even further as one claims they went up a floor while the other says they're heading towards the first floor.

"That's on me," he concedes, barely containing his amusement. "I should've known better than to think you two would grow out of your bad habits from when you were students."

Carina stumbles as George comes to a sudden halt to open a wooden door she swears wasn't there a moment ago, falling directly against his chest as he goes inside and tugs her along with him.

"If you fancied a snog, all you had to do was ask," she teases, struggling to glance around the cramped and dimly lit broom cupboard they find themselves in.

She looks up just as George looks down to reply with something witty, the breath getting caught in her throat as their noses touch. Her heartbeat quickens alongside her pulse and all she can think about it how small of a movement it would take to close the distance between their lips.

"Would you say yes if I did ask?"

The intense moment is shattered by Fred's familiar laugh from somewhere in the near vicinity. Carina clears her throat and George leans away, reaching for the doorknob without waiting to hear from their lookouts if the coast is clear. He immediately regrets this decision as Professor Flitwick clears his throat, tapping his foot impatiently as the two stumble back into the corridor.

"I hope you have a good explanation for this."

"We have three, actually."

"Pick your favorite."

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆

Carina groans dramatically, falling backwards onto the harsh ground and covering her face as she struggles to block out the memory of the broom cupboard that's been playing constantly in her head. Snuffles whines, concerned for the distressed girl as he nudges her arm with one of his paws.

When leaving the castle earlier, Carina had spotted the dog sitting near the Whomping Willow and hurried back inside, urging her friends to go on without her so that Oliver wouldn't throw a fit about them being late. She went directly to the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, where many students are still finishing dinner, and stuffed as much food as she could into the pockets of her robes.

It didn't take long for Snuffles to run to the girl once she was clear of the dementors guarding the main entrance, eagerly following her to a spot where she could still watch the Quidditch practice as it went on. Unfortunately, with no one but the dog to keep her company - who has been far too occupied with the food - it left her mind to wander as she watches one red head in particular fly through the air.

Snuffles tilts his head as she sits back up as if asking her what's wrong and rests his head in her lap to offer comfort.

"I think I've caught feelings for one of my best friends," Carina admits, running a hand through his matted fur.

The dog clearly doesn't like this information, a low growl rumbling in the back of his throat.

"I haven't even told you about him yet!" Carina defends herself.

He barks, not wanting to hear any more.

"Oh, hush. You have to listen, it's rule number one in pet etiquette."

If she's being completely honest with herself, the only person Carina wants to talk to about this is her mother, but Laura hasn't been herself since the fight with Uncle Moony and she doesn't wish to distract her from her work, so Snuffles will have to do. She knows Alicia and Angelina would be more than willing to listen as well, but they would also tease her relentlessly about it and want to take matters into their own hands.

What she doesn't know is that Laura is on strict rules from Alastor Moody not to be within one hundred feet of any ongoing case - all of which currently involve Sirius Black - until further notice, so she has plenty of time to overanalyze any of her daughter's problems.

It's too late for that though, as Carina rambles on to Snuffles about the predicament she finds herself in. He's a good listener, despite the fact that he would literally rather be facing a dementor than the girl's boy problems. Carina finds that ranting to someone who can't laugh about her embarrassment or argue logistics is quite therapeutic and she could carry on for hours more if the boy in question and his brother weren't nearing the duo after Oliver brings practice to an end earlier than usual.

Snuffles sits up, prepared to bolt until he sees the way Carina sits up straighter and subconsciously fixes her hair as they approach. He remains in his spot, allowing his curiosity to get the best of him.

"You ready?" George asks, glancing warily at the stray watching him closely.

"Yeah, but the castle is so far away," she complains.

In one fluid motion, George pulls Carina to her feet and tosses her over his shoulder.

Snuffles jumps into a defensive stance, barking wildly and attracting the unwanted attention of everyone passing by. This doesn't deter him, and he only grows louder until Carina is placed back on her feet.

"Looks like you've got yourself a bodyguard," Fred jokes, lifting her off her feet briefly to see what reaction it will get.

Oddly enough, nothing happens. Fred and George share confused looks, but Carina thinks she has an idea of what the dog is trying to do. She places her hand on George's shoulder and Snuffles once again barks wildly, not stopping until she drops her hand. When she touches Fred's shoulder, he hardly bats an eye.

"You little-"

"It's nearly dark," Remus speaks up, startling the trio as he journeys closer. "Don't you think you should be inside the castle?"

"Sorry, professor," the three chorus and hurry away.

He waits a moment before turning his attention to the animal, who cowers his head and refuses to look the man in the eye. Laura is having tea with Mcgonagall, which gives Remus just enough time to take care of the issue at hand.

"I'm not going to turn you in this time but I will if this happens again," he threatens. "You need to stay away. She's better off not knowing who you are."

Snuffles doesn't like the idea in the slightest and finally looks up, growling at his old friend.

"Her boggart is her father not loving her," Remus says, though it pains him to even think of the despair his niece's boggart caused her, and he can almost hear the animagus's heart break in two. "Imagine what it would be if she found out what you've done."