Chocolate-Frog Girl or Sugar-Quill Girl?

Nagini breathed in deeply. The crisp cold air tasted so good after her convalescent period indoors. It was one of those clear wintry days with almost blinding sunlight. From where she was standing, atop the Astronomy Tower, Nagini felt that she was in a completely different universe, on top of the world and one with the elements: herself and Remus.

She smiled shyly at the honeyed-haired Gryffindor Prefect, who was leaning against the tower's inner wall, gazing at Nagini with a soft curious expression.

Looking away from him, again focusing on the tree-lined hilltops, Nagini leaned on the opposite wall's railing and sighed contentedly. It was just as she had foreseen: she and Remus together here; now that her déjà vu had fulfilled itself, she knew that this particular precognitive vision would cease to occur. It was an encouraging sign. She had never felt so naturally exhilarated, so free, so... happy.

Lightly caressing her ring, Nagini reflected on how her recurring nightmares had lessened since receiving the heirloom gift, and the future visions that had flashed across her mind this past year of herself and Remus now made sense to her. She longed to share this part, her secret, with Remus, but knew how any reference to Divination would be misjudged. True Seeing and other powers associated with Seers were ridiculed and looked upon dubiously amongst the majority of the Wizarding world, this branch of magic being considered to be imprecise at best. Only those who possessed the power and a clandestine chosen few of them, controlled by the Ministry, understood it. What would Remus think? If I were to tell him that I had seen us two here, before now, exactly as we are, what would he do? Laugh in disgust? Walk away in silence? I can just hear that odious berk, Sirius, and his hyena laughter.

Nagini hesitated, unsure to speak about it or not. For she wasn't a pure Seer as her mother, Portentia, had been.

Nagini's dreams and visionary flashes had always been a source of self-doubt and stress. She was unable, every time, to re-direct her focus and concentration as her father had attempted to train her to do; only through Transfiguration and immersion in practical Dark Arts exercises could she overpower and distract the precognitive forces that would randomly flare up inside her, activating her Inner Eye sporadically.

When she was a child, as soon as she had displayed the first signs of future sight, her father, Rolph Lestrange, had attempted to put a stop to it, rigorously training the young six-year-old to redirect her energies to the other selected, more obscure skills and gifts she had been born with, relying on and exploring murky areas in the Dark Arts to dilute Nagini's powers. The severe redirection of her natural inclinations had been, at times, a painful experience, resulting in the stunting of her precognitive powers, as well as adding further fuel to the fire of the volatile relations between her parents. One tempestuous night, her mother had taken Nagini, and they had disappeared together, until her father, Rolph, had hunted them down...

Remus watched Nagini. He noted how she seemed to be struggling with herself, contemplating a matter of serious note; he started to say something, but then he was distracted by how the light fell upon her, how she smiled whenever she looked over at him. He still couldn't believe how she was responding to him, how he had been enjoying the company of a Nagini that no one else knew. She had dropped her guarded defensive airs, and Remus took that as an invitation to explore how far he could go, how many other unknown layers could be revealed.

Remus knew time was running out. For the first time, there was no Sirius or James around to discourage him – the exhilaration of daring to come on to Nagini Lestrange, one of the Marauder's targeted 'enemies', coursed through his veins like fire. Nagini had haunted his thoughts even before the disastrous duelling day, but Remus could never have acted upon any precarious attraction he had for her; his condition, inferiority complex, and peer pressure had always kept him in check; let alone Sirius' and James' utter dominating influence on him. Had he dared to share even the slightest serious interest in Nagini to them, he would've been subjected to unrelenting goading and ridicule. Remus had already had enough of that to last a lifetime.

But since the day he collapsed beside Nagini's hospital bed, even though he was in heavy spasm, Remus could recall her grabbing and holding him, screaming for Madam Pomfrey, how her body pulsated in the exertion of holding him fast, clinging to him, her distinct feminine scent. Even now, watching her, Remus remembered her touch and longed for it again; but on different terms, on his terms.

Nagini looked over at Remus, reflecting on how, with unexpected delight, two days ago at the evening meal she had entered the Great Hall to find an emaciated-looking, but definitely healthier Lupin, leaning on a walking-stick.

She had bounded towards him enthusiastically. "Lupin! You're out!"

"Oh, yes," agreed Remus, grinning at her. "Out and about, as good as new. Well, almost."

Having been released to go back to her dormitory three days before, Nagini had found herself feeling overwhelmingly lonely. It would be several days before the other students would be returning, but more profoundly, Nagini had realized that she actually missed the hospital ward. Not being incapacitated, of course, but she achingly missed Remus. She often caught herself restlessly staring out of her window, unable to study or relax, consumed with thoughts of a certain shaggy-haired Gryffindor.

They had both awkwardly held each other's gaze. Remus broke the silence. "Perhaps we could share our meal together? I've missed it." Remus' voice lowered softly as he pointed out, "I've missed you."

Nagini gulped, speechless. She looked around; only Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey and the groundskeeper, Hagrid, were there, and they had seemingly not noticed the two youths other than the initial greeting they had given them.

"Well, of course," responded Nagini, nervous and excited, ignoring his last comment. "I'd like that." Her mouth went dry and she couldn't form the words: I've missed you too...

But now the predicament – where to sit? Nagini and Remus both gave fleeting glances to their own respective tables before suggesting simultaneously another possibility.

"Ravenclaw?"

"Hufflepuff?"

Spontaneously, they both started laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

Grinning uncontrollably, Nagini gave in. "Well, seeing as you're still a cripple, even though it goes against my principles, let's sit at Hufflepuff – it's a few inches closer, less distance to travel..."

Remus smiled broadly and, slightly hobbling, crossed over to the table with Nagini beside him.

Full meals and drink appeared instantaneously as they both sat down.

Neither spoke much. Partially because Remus seemed utterly famished and was making a visible effort to control and pace himself while eating; but also because they were enjoying simply being together: an odd, comfortable companionship had formed from their convalescent time together. They chatted lightly about general school-related topics, avoiding their obvious differences, opting instead to explore their similarities as well as general likes and dislikes. Sometimes they just fell silent and found themselves gazing into each other's eyes. Remus would always break the silence; he had an uncanny ability to cause Nagini to smile spontaneously just by a mere look, a silly comment, or gentle gesture. It was an indescribable feeling for Remus, knowing he had caused her to light up in such a way.

Gazing out from the tower's scenic viewpoint, thinking upon their other recently shared meals and walks together these past few days, Nagini beamed and then sighed as the whispering wind whipped around them.

"Knut for your thoughts," initiated Remus.

"The landscape is so breathtaking," explained Nagini, attempting to keep her focus anywhere other than on Remus. For whenever she held his gaze longer than a second, she felt an uncontrollable excitement, followed by a wishful yearning for something unknown, something which she had only whimsically mused upon in the faint shadows of her dreams.

"Especially when the wind blows, caressing through your lovely hair," remarked Remus in a soft low voice, taking in her unusual beauty.

Nagini turned to Remus, unable to ignore his comment.

"'Blow, blow, thou winter wind... thou art not so unkind as man's ingratitude'," quoted Remus wistfully.

"You're quite a poet, Remus," teased Nagini uncomfortably, for Remus' tone and expression were suddenly so sad. Something about it made her turn away and stare back over the wild, frozen landscape again.

"Not I... A great Muggle poet wrote that... 'Ingratitude' is a universal theme... not an exclusive Muggle weakness for Muggles alone..." As he gazed at the unattainable Pureblood witch, Remus felt as if he was about to have a spasm of sorts. "I'm grateful... so very grateful for your helping me in the hospital ward, so grateful for the time you've shared with me since." There was an intimacy in the timbre of his low, smooth voice that gave her tingles and caused her breathing to speed up.

Abashed by what he said, Nagini couldn't look at Remus. "Grateful?" Why does he talk like that? It is I who feel... Overwhelming need washed over her. He's the first to ever seem to be happy just being with me...

"I've never thanked you properly..." continued Lupin, walking slowly over to stand beside her. "And now, time is running out. The others will be returning soon, and all this... all this will vanish. Like a dream. Like the snow glistening on the treetops will soon vanish with springtime's awakening. Natural magic..."

Torn between the formerly unwanted, but now uncontrollable impetus, she turned to him. Nagini shuddered, partly from the cold and partly from an excitement beyond her control. Remus wasn't looking at the landscape but at her; there was an intensity and longing in his gaze, a yearning which took her breath away. Though his body stance seemed relaxed, she could feel he was poised and tense, ready to spring into action.

She looked away from him, her thoughts turning cloudy and confused.

In the silence, the sound of the wind continued to gently whip around them. Remus spoke, "Yes, there's nothing I'd rather do at this very moment than take you in my arms and kiss you. Unless I'm very much mistaken which, of course, is a possibility," he carefully pointed out, "it's what you want too."

Nagini remained silent. Gazing across the forest's treetops, she was unable to speak. Of course she wanted to be kissed by Remus. And more: to kiss him back, touch him, feel him... taste him. Observing him from afar had always been safe. He was an acceptable impossibility and therefore a safe fantasy; guaranteed to be out of reach.

But now, here he was beside her. She could feel his body heat and smell his scent of musk and cinnamon chocolate lingering around his nearing body.

What harm could come from one little kiss?

She bit her bottom lip, conflicted, mulling things over.

A Gryffindor. A Half-blood. A blood-traitor's son... All of the distasteful diatribe and derogatory remarks about Remus flooded her thoughts. Muddled, she remembered something even more cruel and tragic... Rumour had it that Remus had had to pay the price for his father's offences to Fenrir Greyback, the notorious, paedophilic werewolf. There were only two ways in which Greyback took revenge: he would either take the chosen victim's life, or else he would calculatedly allow the victim to live, only then to force them into being another member of his pack and serve him accordingly...

Nagini refused to believe any of this. Ignorant of what the horror of the curse truly was, never having encountered Greyback or any other werewolf face-to-face, she resolvedly believed the best of Lupin. Remus is perfectly normal; more than anyone I've been around in my life. They're just vicious prats... jealous of his abilities... Slytherins were well known for their vindictive, cruel edges – physically as well as verbally.

Bitterly, remembering similar name-calling and hex attacks from Gryffindors, she thought of Remus, surrounded constantly by his peers: that strutting swine Sirius Black and that arrogant toe rag Potter in particular. They had always helped make sure that Remus would remain at a safe distance. The secure fantasy: there had been nothing to lose. But now?

Remembering her own murky background and past, nothing seemed to matter at this moment to Nagini except for Remus' nearness to her, his very real accessibility. Now, not only was he in reach, but she could feel Remus' virile, patient presence encompassing her as he stood so close, but not touching, waiting. Waiting for her to respond to him.

She flashed around; her eyes darted back and forth across Remus' face, searching his, trying to read what he wanted her to do.

"You can read my mind," she whispered.

"One doesn't need to be a Legilimens to know what you're feeling about me right now and what you want." She's waiting for me to make the first move, he thought. Remus very slowly reached a hand up and with his fingertips, ever so lightly, he caressed her cheek gently.

Nagini was breathing softly, shallowly.

Remus cupped her chin, tilting her head back, lowering his lips to hers, and firmly making first contact.

Nagini received his kiss, reciprocating the pressure and waiting for him to go further; wanting him to, willing him to... Remus had raised his head back up to gaze over her flushed face, gauging her tense body, her lips full and ready for more.

Placing his hands attentively in the small of her back, Remus firmly pulled her into him, and slowly manoeuvred them into the inner wall's alcove. Her lips were parted invitingly. Cushioning her back with his left arm, he ever so slowly lowered his mouth on hers, parting her lips, seeking to taste as much of her as he could. She tensed at first, but then relaxed into it, giving over to the moment, giving over to him. Aroused further by her initial timid touching, he felt his muscles tightening throughout his body; her hands had delicately stroked his chest upwards, reaching his shoulders, but then she clasped him to her tightly.

As their lips and tongues continued to delve in each other's hungry mouths, their hands explored the contours of each other's body. Until Nagini's fingertips, discovering and lightly grazing over his straining erection, caused Remus to pull away, gasping deeply.

He looked steadily into her eyes; her pupils were dilated, the dark centres eclipsing the golden outer-linings, anticipating an unknown culmination of their actions. Remus responded by kissing and tasting the soft flesh of her neck. Sporadically gasping, they both continued their frantic mutual explorations of each other's bodies until the welling tension caused Remus to halt, whispering, "Nagini."

They looked into each other's eyes, both of them panting heavily.

With effort, Remus struggled to form words coherently. "Nagini, I think... I think it's time to find out... if you're a ... Chocolate-Frog girl or a Sugar-Quill one?"

"A what?" Nagini was completely lost, only aware of their laboured breathing and body heat.

"A Chocolate-Frog girl or a Sugar-Quill girl," he repeated matter-of-factly. "A trip to Hogsmeade is in order... Honeydukes more precisely..."

Nagini couldn't comprehend what Remus was saying; her heart was beating fast and hard in her chest, and she felt slightly dizzy. All she could hear were bits of nonsensical babbling, and all she wanted was for him to continue and make love to her.

"You see, I have a secret; a terrible, dark secret."

Oh gods, she thought, giving him her full attention.

"I'm a ... chocolate addict." Remus seized her mouth with his, kissing her deeply. Then, breaking away from her, he emphasised, "Dark chocolate, preferably; but I'll take it any way I can get it..." He touched her moist full lips, tracing their shapes with his fingertips. "Honeydukes is part of my speedy recovery plan, and I can't wait until next week; I need a fix now."

Gently kissing his fingertips, Nagini whispered, "I can't go with you; I'm not allowed outside of Hogwarts grounds... Rodolphus never gave his permission..." She squirmed, aching for his touch.

"You're of age, aren't you?"

"Yes, but..."

"Then bugger Rodolphus Lestrange!"

She couldn't help giggling. "No, it's not so simple; it's all too complicated; you wouldn't understand."

"Then explain, help me to understand." Looking very somberly at her, Remus insisted, "I want to understand, Nagini."

"Kiss me," she whispered instead, delirious with desire.

He obliged her.

After a lengthy endeavour, Remus pulled back again, intent on pushing his point, he said, "We'll have the entire evening and all of Hogsmeade to ourselves..." Nuzzling her just below the ear, he whispered, "Anywhere, everywhere... to enjoy ourselves more comfortably."

Remus, don't you want to enjoy ourselves, now? thought Nagini. Meekly, flushing red, she said, "I want you – this – as I've never wanted anything before." Nagini wrapped her arms around his lean, muscular torso, pulling him back to her.

He fiercely whispered, "Yes, I want you too." His lips crushed hers again. Breaking away for air, Remus huskily whispered, "But not here; not like this." But even as he hushed her protests, his hands had found and wrapped themselves around her again, seeking to record every inch of her in his memory.

Aroused beyond measure, letting herself enjoy the feel of his every stroke and kneaded touch, she gently teased, "You are very dangerous, Mr Lupin."

"How so?" Stroking her back with one hand and allowing his remaining fingers to slowly trace around, and ever-so-gently, brush the sides of her breasts, his touch wandered until he decisively began to explore her pointed, hardening nipples. Then slowly his fingertips traced downward along her sloping side to the curved firmness of her rounded hip.

"So controlled. Don't you ever lose control?" asked Nagini in a heated whisper, trying not to writhe from his caresses, but to maintain as much composure as she could. "You must." She challenged him. "It's such a paradox against your true nature, isn't it?"

"What is my true nature, Miss Lestrange?" He started nibbling on an earlobe, flicking his tongue in the soft, sensitive lining of her ear, slowly sliding his hands gently downward, one hand slowly gathering, then lifting her skirt. Silently, Nagini dug her fingers into his back, grasping and clinging, encouraging him, speechless.

Finding the top of her woollen stockings, Remus slowly peeled the elastic band downward, meeting and then gently rolling her knickers lower until he felt the soft, fuzzy doe skin of her nethermost mound. He paused as she tilted and pressed her pelvis forward, pressing against his hand, burning with longing for him to continue. As Remus saw her desire, their lips met again, while his apt fingers pushed slowly one, then a second one, into her burning core, seeking the source of her innermost heat.

"Impulsive, instinctive – seizing what you want, devouring it," she was gasping out, demanding he relieve the tension within her.

Stopping her mouth with a deep passionate kiss, a groan exploded inside her; Remus slowly pulled his fingers out of her, only to repeat entering her immediately, but now with a decisive rhythm, gently rocking and swaying her body's response to his guidance.

"Instinctive? Oh yes," he rasped out. Gods, she's so wet, burning with... "Yes, I can be impulsive, as well. Seize what I desire; I do so much want to devour you, right at this moment in more ways than one..." With a low, soft growl, his searing mouth trailed its way down her throat, sucking and licking, lower and lower until it rested upon a hardened nipple through which the layered material he nibbled and suckled at expertly.

Feeling she was going to explode, immune to the elements, Nagini pulled clumsily at her layers until the clothing was pulled up high enough to reveal bare flesh, letting her breasts be more easily accessible. Remus' eyes flashed appreciatively before setting his mouth upon them, he sucked and swirled his tongue around the delicate skin until the nipple had hardened to a piercing point.

Remus couldn't take Nagini now; he wouldn't... however, a feral sensation had been unleashed; he was fully aroused... I have to taste her, I have to... he started lowering his head, swiftly kneeling, nibbling strategically on her soft abdomen, licking her navel, sliding his tongue, pressed into her doe-soft skin, firmly downward until, in one swift movement, Remus placed his head under her skirt and burrowed, nuzzling into her mound's succulent, wet lips, drinking her in. Nagini was gasping and making soft mewling sounds in exquisite, abandoned pleasure.

Remus burrowed further into her, raising his head only to brace her lower back and guide her to raise a leg and rest it on his shoulder. Then, with full determination, he spread her lips, while his tongue searched and teased and found her aroused clit. Finding the delectable centre, he flicked and flickered until Nagini writhed and screamed out his name, "Remus! Remus!" She came in hard, wavering undulations, her fingernails digging deep in his shoulders. He maintained his stalwart position, feeling both awed and empowered on such a deep primeval level at causing her climax, only relaxing his suckling minutely to enjoy more fully Nagini's writhing in ecstasy. As she started to come down from her climax, he pressed his mouth and tongue once more to give a parting lick and kiss.

Suddenly, Nagini clutched at him. "Remus! It's too intense," she whispered fiercely.

Remus slowly uncovered his head, coming out from under her skirt, and slowly rose, not letting their bodies lose contact. Looking deep into his eyes, Nagini pulled his head down to her, kissing him deeply, tasting her essence on his lips. Remus' fingers had now found her clit, and Remus drank in her luscious groans and gasps of pleasure as he began to rub it. Gods, she's exquisite. Remus was transfixed watching her breathtaking ecstasy. He slowly, rhythmically caressed her, feeling another swelling climax approaching. She ground into his fingers, keeping his gaze, clutching on to him for life. Crying out in unrestrained rapture, she climaxed for yet a second time.

Holding her in his tight embrace, Remus rocked her gently, savouring every second of her complete and utter abandonment and vulnerability. They stayed that way, lost in time, just clutching each other, Remus slowly massaging and enjoying her heat and wetness. Nagini, catching her breath, ever so slowly and awkwardly sought and found his throbbing, hardened member through his robes. She gasped and proceeded to slowly rub his shaft up and down.

But Remus gently caught her hand and whispered, "Not now. I won't be able to control myself, if you continue... and I must control myself... must be safe...you must be safe ..." Seeing Nagini's puzzled expression, he kissed her reassuringly.

"Remus, I want to do something for you..." she whispered, breaking the kiss, embarrassed, but determined. "Don't you want me to?"

"I want... to savour every second – every look and exquisite inch of you... but there's a time and place for everything, and here on top of the Astronomy Tower is not the place. I want this to be a special day for you – for both of us. I want to treat you to new experiences, and not just what my John Thomas is guiding me to indulge in at this very moment. Indulgence leads to decay. Control leads to power."

"Power? You sound like a Slytherin."

"The power to please... to please you further physically, empowers me... the power of control."

"I knew it. I knew there was a control-freak hidden somewhere underneath all of your gracious and selfless airs."

"You have no idea, Miss Lestrange."

"Don't I, Mr Lupin? Try me," she teased him.

He kissed her passionately again. Her hand found his cock again still painfully straining underneath his robes.

"I can't let you go around in this condition."

"Won't be the first time," he half-joked, moving to stand up straight. "Yes, I don't know if I can walk." He winced slightly. "I'm so hard."

Swiftly, his hands reached under her skirt, but he then very slowly pulled Nagini's knickers and stockings upward, fitting them back in place. He stepped back, and leaned against the wall, with a conflicted, pained look upon his face.

"Madam Pomfrey ..." he huffed, pausing.

"What about her?"

"I have to go to her... I still must take some potions... for my condition." He grimaced.

"Your condition?" She stepped in to him, and he instinctively gathered her in his arms, his cloak encompassing, draping over hers, forming a cocoon. Bracing himself sturdily against the wall, he held Nagini as she leaned into him. Kissing her hair and breathing in her fragrance, he distractedly mumbled, "Tonight, at nine o'clock ... the third-floor corridor, meet me at the statue of the one-eyed old crone... meet me there... Hogsmeade..."

Snuggling against him, Nagini traced an invisible joy trail down his chest, lower and lower her fingers went. "I'm not allowed outside Hogwarts. I told you; I can't come with you."

"Oh, you'll come with me, if it's the last thing you do." He gave her a naughty look.

"Remus, Remus, don't tease me now." She whispered, "I'm completely yours... we don't need to go anywhere else." Her hand stroked firmly over his bulge. "Maybe I can help 'your condition'?"

He puffed, frustrated, helplessly aroused. "You don't give up, do you?" he whispered. His face was flushed and needy. She watched him as he struggled with himself, whether to stop her stroking him, but, any words of protests were stuck, and she felt his arms hold her to him encouragingly. Keeping Remus' gaze, and in between wet kisses, Nagini's hands clumsily fumbled and found the opening of his trousers, slowly unbuttoning them, allowing her full access to his pulsating member. As her hand inexpertly touched his burning flesh, their bodies locked into each other's, his leg placed between her thighs, propping and supporting her, aiding to give her the perfect angle to explore rubbing his lengthy erect shaft. They both remained in a locked, tight rhythm, her initially awkward pumping slowly smoothed out, then steadily increased in speed and friction until Remus grabbed hold of her, squeezing her so tight that she winced in pain; both of them gasped as he convulsed in orgasm.

They remained in an intertwined embrace, panting heavily; gently massaging and stroking one another.

Nagini had rested her head on his shoulder; she slowly started to ineptly rebutton his trousers, mumbling, "I'm sorry... you're all messy now...but..."

"Nagini, Nagini..." whispered Remus, stopping her hands. She looked up at him to see him gazing intently at her. He gently kissed her forehead and folded her into his arms again, holding her, interchangeably kissing her face and hair lovingly. Pausing, he asked, "Do you trust me?"

"More than anyone..." she whispered, feeling like a knot was in her throat, tightening her arms around him.

"Trust me and come with me. The one-eyed witch statue. Meet me there. Nine o'clock sharp." He gave her a soft peck on the lips, pulled his wand out, cleaning and redressing himself. "Shall I?" He offered to Scourgify her.

"No. No, I'll clean myself later," she declined, suddenly self-conscious. First, Nagini wanted to lie down and savour as long as she could what had happened between them; then, a long hot bath...

As Remus slowly guided her to the stairwell, she asked shyly, "Can I walk with you to the hospital ward?" Suddenly she wished to be with him as long as possible, wanting to continue the languid feeling of his touch and presence.

"Absolutely." He offered his hand to her, and they proceeded slowly down the stairwell heading towards the infirmary. They walked hand-in-hand in silence, both reflecting on each other.

I have to be careful, so very careful, pondered Remus. She is so proud. Fierce and wild, impulsive... Then, he frowned; a dark thought crossed his mind. But, she's somehow so unsure, inexperienced... How wrong Sirius was about her... everything... why did he lie about Nagini? She's nothing like he said she was...

As they reached the entrance of the hospital wing, they both stopped, lingering, neither wanting to be the first to depart from the other.

Remus stepped in and kissed Nagini. Looking into her eyes, he caressed her cheek and moved a loose lock of her hair from her face, slowly stroking his hand through her hair.

"Nine o'clock, then?"

She nodded her head, unable to speak. For an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty had washed over her, clashing with her desire. But Nagini wouldn't back down now, regardless of an ominous feeling ebbing through her. Pushing this presentiment aside, accrediting it to the whirlwind of sensual excitement, she forced herself to confirm, "Nine o'clock sharp!"

They embraced only to be interrupted by a familiar, disapproving voice.

"Mr Lupin! You're late – very late! Now, that won't do," chastised Madam Pomfrey. Giving the young couple a portentous look, the Matron warned, "You two had best keep yourselves to yourselves – apart from one another. Mr Lupin, I'll have a word with you privately!"

As Remus started to enter the ward, he grinned back at Nagini and reminded, "Tomorrow after lunch, Madam Pince returns; meet you in the library – maybe she'll let us into the Restricted Section."

"Right," agreed Nagini, turning and walking away as nonchalantly as she could, hoping the Matron hadn't seen her face flush red in pleasure and amusement at Remus' obvious lame decoy.

Madam Pomfrey had not only seen Nagini's reaction, but well knew the cause of it – the same cause of the young woman's dilated pupils and overall changed essence: Remus Lupin. Frowning, the Matron entered the ward to retrieve Remus' potion, prepared to give the randy young wizard an 'uncomfortable truth' lecture, before things got out of hand.

Pomfrey sighed. Perhaps, it already is too late...

The Matron's instincts were spot on; Nagini and Remus had already crossed a threshold of no return – they were both about to risk more than either could imagine.

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AN: Greatest appreciation to betas: blue artemis, star_girl and agnus castus for each one's special expertise, help and support!