ON OCTOBER 18TH, also known as the day after Pandora's 17th birthday, a very tired Claudia walked inside the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom with a grumpy look on her face.

She hated that goddamn class so much, which was due to one reason and one reason only.

It was because of Fayola Ingannamorte, also known as the lovely DADA professor that everyone but Claudia adored.

It was the strangest thing, because the woman was an incredible teacher and an admirable person who treated all the students with kindness and respect - with the exception of Claudia.

The girl still didn't know why, and it was starting to get on her nerves more than she could even explain. She had always been the type of student to receive house points and academic validations, and then suddenly she didn't even receive a single glance.

Claudia and her friends had decided that if this went on for two more weeks, Claudia would go straight to Dumbledore and tell him to tell her to suck up whatever hatred she had for Claudia so that she could get treated like everyone else.

"Today we'll be talking a bit about Inferi," Professor Ingannamorte spoke. "I reckon you've heard of them before, ghastly little things."

The class shared frowns as they looked at the sketch of an Inferius in their textbook, Claudia giving Betty a weary look as they did so.

"Well, if you do not know, Inferi are basically dead bodies," the professor said as she paced back and forth at the front of the classroom. "They're dead bodies who have been reanimated by a Dark Wizard's curse. Does anyone know which type of magical branch they're created through?"

Several hands shot up in the air, Claudia's doing so as well - although she reached up hers far less enthusiastically since she knew that she wasn't going to get to answer anyways. She still did it though, because she needed to prove herself somehow.

"Ms. Maple!"

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

"Uh, it's called Necromancy, Professor," Claudia managed to get out despite her state of shock.

"Good job, Ms. Maple," said Ingannamorte. "Five points to Ravenclaw!"

Claudia smiled proudly as she turned to Betty with an almost relived look on her face, until Betty tapped her on the arm and nodded towards the Professor.

"Ms. Maple, I would like it if you'd listen!" Ingannamorte said, but strangely enough it didn't sound as mean as it normally would. "Can you stay behind after class? I would like to have a word with you."

Claudia nodded, her eyes immediately darting back to Betty who looked just as surprised as her. The two girls then shared a look with Inez and Pandora, who were both mouthing things that Claudia couldn't understand.

When the class had finally been dismissed, Claudia took her time on gathering her things and standing up since she didn't wish to stand awkwardly as she waited for everyone to leave.

The girl neared the professor, who was talking to Remus about some homework, as she heard her friends yell at her from the door on the side of the classroom.

The three girls pointed dramatically towards their clocks as they all told her that they had to go and separate their ways to get to their different classes so that they wouldn't be late.

Claudia smiled amusedly at their apologetic faces as she mouthed a "go", and then she suddenly felt two hands on her shoulders.

"Sorry, Claudia," Remus said as he brushed by behind her, holding onto her shoulders since the space for him to pass was so small, causing her breath to hitch in her throat in the process. "Just passing by."

Claudia didn't look him in the eyes as she nodded and gulped nervously, amusing their Professor who was watching them intently.

"You may leave now, Mr. Lupin, before you distract Ms. Maple far too much," Ingannamorte said with a wink at the girl who was dying inside.

"Of course, professor," said Remus curtly, taking a final glance at Claudia and then leaving.

"Teenage boys can be quite silly when they're in love," Ingannamorte said as the door closed. "I remember when my husband and I first fell in love all those years ago. He was the biggest flirt...Merlin, it was such a long time ago."

"Uh, I'm sorry professor, but what do you mean exactly?" Claudia asked as she tried to block Remus out of her mind.

"You've got that boy wrapped around your finger, Ms. Maple," Ingannamorte chuckled. "It's to no surprise though, you've probably got it in your genes."

"Why is it you always talk about where I come from?" Claudia asked curiously. "Do you know my father?"

"Something like that," the professor said with a shrug. "But we must not dwell on the past, Ms. Maple. Tell me, has Mr. Lupin informed you about the extra work that he and Ms. Evans have been doing?"

"No," said Claudia. "We don't really talk."

"You don't?"

"No."

"That's a bummer."

"I don't know about that."

"Well, it is," she said. "Anyhow, I have been forming a little group of students that I give some extra work and challenges. I have been teaching them some more complicated magic, to put it lightly."

"Oh, okay."

"You know, Ms. Maple, as I meant before, Mr. Lupin is completely smitten with you."

"Uh, how do you know that?"

"No boy comes and scolds his professor for just any girl," she chuckled. "He put me on my spot."

"What do you mean?"

"He came up to me after class one day and told me to start behaving professionally and to start treating you like everyone else. With kindness and respect."

"Did he really? Claudia asked in a surprised tone. "What else did he say?"

"He said that you are the best witch that he knows and that you deserve his spot in my little group."

"He did what?"

"He wanted to give you his spot," she smiled. "But there's no need for that, Ms. Maple."

"Why not?"

"Because I am offering one to you without giving his spot up," she said. "I must admit that I have been acting quite rudely. And I apologise."

Ingannamorte had known deep inside that she had been rude, so why a teenage boy could finally convince her to get over herself was something she couldn't even explain to herself.

Maybe it was just the realisation that just because she was the daughter of Charles Maple, it didn't mean that she was just like him. Or, it was just the love in the boy's eyes when he told her how great Claudia Maple was that changed things.

Nonetheless, something had changed.

"Oh, I don't know what to say..."

"There's no need to say anything," the professor countered. "You can come to me later about the group. And, I can't forget to say that I have been a complete and utter, as the muggles call it, bitch."

Claudia chuckled a little, "Sorry," she mumbled, but Ingannamorte merely brushed it off. "May I ask why you've been...you know?"

"No," the professor said as she turned towards her desk, avoiding Claudia's eyes.

"Oh, okay," Claudia said with a grimace due to possibly pushing boundaries. "I'll just be on my way then-"

"Actually, Claud- I mean Ms. Maple!"

"Yes?"

Ingannamorte paused for a few moments as she stared straight ahead, a million things rushing through her mind as she did so.

Memories.

"Did you need something, Professor?" Claudia asked, snapping her out of her trance.

"No, that will be all," the woman said as she turned around with a fake smile, her eyes not really following that expression. "Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Try to keep Mr. Lupin around," she said. "One never regrets falling in love, despite how much pain that comes with it."

Claudia nodded, and then she headed off as she repeated the professors words in her mind.

"One never regrets falling in love, despite how much pain that comes with it."

The girl entered her dorm, due to the fact that her next period was free, and lay down on her bed as she decided to take a small nap since her next class wasn't until in a few hours.

But, as she lay her head on the pillow, she felt it lay on something that was not the pillow.

A letter.

I should've given you this sooner.
- Nicolas

Claudia frowned as she opened the letter, wondering what possibly could be in its contents.

Dear Claudia,

I am so sorry.

I know you may never forgive me, and I completely understand that. I shouldn't have kept things from you, and I most certainly shouldn't have invaded your privacy the way I did.

This was no letter from Nicolas, Claudia realised.

This was a letter from Remus.

I will forever regret doing those things. And for jumping to that conclusion that you hate me because of my lycanthropy.

Because I know now that you don't. I should've realised it sooner, and I'm so sorry for not doing so.

I'm sorry for not trusting you too. Especially not after everything. But, you see, I panicked.

I used to think that my biggest fear was the full moon. That my biggest fear was to transform to that monster that lives inside of me. That monster that is me.

But I realise now that my biggest fear is not that. It's not that, and it's not the fear of how people will react when they find out.

No, my biggest fear is losing you. As cheesy as it may sound, it's the truth. You're my best friend, Claudia. You make me laugh, and you make me feel like I belong. You just make me feel better. Everything is just better when you're around.

I don't want to lose that, Claudia. I don't want to lose you.

Because, to put it lightly, you're not just my best friend. I don't mean to fret it, and I think you understand what I mean, but here goes nothing anyways.

I love you.

I have for a long time. And I know that I'm a git and that you should at least despise me for a few more months, but I just needed you to know this anyways.

I love you, and I am so sorry for everything that I have done to you. I never meant to hurt you, I hope you know that. I only ever wanted to protect you from me, and protect myself from falling any harder for you. Because I'm scared of it hurting more than it already does.

But I think it's impossible for me to stop. Falling for you, I mean.

If you need me, I'll be around. I always will.

Yours,

Remus Lupin.

After reading that letter, Claudia had come to one conclusion and one conclusion only:

There was no way that she was going to be able to take a nap now.

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