arms around her. But not only would that look incredibly awkward, it was highly
inappropriate given that—not only was she his time-travelling ex-girlfriend—she was now
his thirteen-year-old student.
"Don't let that thing out!" Ronald yelled.
Briefly, while the children were distracted, Remus opened his eyes and came face-
to-face with a giant ball of ugly orange fluff.
Of course she has a fucking cat.
At one o'clock, the plump witch with the food trolley arrived at the compartment
door. Remus could smell the treats, and a part of him wanted to sit up and beg her for one
of everything off of the trolley. Unfortunately, he still had no money on his person, so he
remained still and quiet as before, listening to Harry, Hermione, and the boy he now knew
to be Ron Weasley, as they conversed.
"D'you think we should wake him up?" Ron asked awkwardly. "He looks like he
could do with some food."
Remus could feel the girl stepping close to him, and he purposely began breathing
out of his mouth to avoid a direct blast of her scent, which was already overwhelming him
with nostalgia. Eyes closed, he could almost see the look on her face. He had not been
taking care of himself properly over the years, and she would be annoyed with him for it.
Except she did not know him, not yet. She did not know who he was or that he was a
werewolf and was sick because of the approaching full moon. Remus was thanking Godric
and Circe and fucking Damocles Belby for the Wolfsbane Potion. Merlin knew how he
would be acting if Moony was on the loose.
"Er... Professor?" she said. "Excuse me... Professor?"
Oh fuck, Remus silently groaned. I'm her professor.
"Don't worry, dear," said the witch running the food trolley. "If he's hungry when
he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver."
"I suppose he is asleep?" Ron said quietly. "I mean... he hasn't died, has he?"
"No, no, he's breathing," whispered Hermione.