Professor Lupin's Apprentice

V: Ephemeral Injuries and Tea

The car screeched to a halt and then promptly died because I hadn't pressed the clutch. I threw open the door and rushed back to find Remus wherever he'd fallen. He lay face down in the grass about sixty metres away and, as far as I could tell, he wasn't moving. I crouched, rolled him over, feeling for a pulse, and sighed. Thank God he wasn't dead! As tears coursed down my face, I cradled his head in my lap.

"You damned fool," I whispered, caressing his cheek. "I would have stopped the car."

His eyes fluttered then, and he said, "Well, I couldn't be sure how stubborn you really are."

I gaped for a fraction of a second before shrieking at him. "What the hell did you do that for?!?"

"Where is that angel of mercy I was just talking to?" He looked to the left and right, a small smirk curving the corners of his mouth. "Did you see her leave?"

"I've a good mind to thump you!"

"Go ahead! Kick me when I'm down! I'm used to it."

From his expression, I could tell he was trying to lighten the mood. I must say, I'd never met anyone more extraordinary in all my life. First, he hurled himself out of a moving vehicle, and then he made light of the situation.

"Don't make me laugh. I'm angry with you. How can you be so irritating and so likeable at the same time?"

"Years of practise." Those striking hazel eyes looked into mine, and my anger disappeared. As I pulled him into my arms, he yelped. "Not so tight!"

I bit my lip. "It looks like you've broken some ribs. We need to get you to a doctor."

"No, I'm all right," he answered, struggling to sit up. "Or I will be after some rest. And a spot of tea. Yes, I think tea would help immensely."

"Can you stand?"

"I think so."

Apart from the sore ribs—which I was convinced were broken although Remus maintained they were merely bruised—he only had a gash on his forehead. I helped him stand and walked him back toward the car. As I eased him down, I pulled the lever to make the seat recline.

"Are you sure you don't need a doctor?" I asked, starting the car again.

"Positive," he replied with a small nod. "I'm not so fragile as I look."

"Well, I know you don't want to move in, but you're are staying with me tonight, whether you like it or not."

He opened his eyes momentarily, took in what must have been my very determined expression, and then nodded again.

"What were you trying to accomplish, anyhow? Would you rather die than accept my help?"

"I knew that leap wouldn't kill me."

I scoffed. "Why? Are you immortal? Super human? Or you just know how to take a fall?"

"None of the above," he said with a shrug, followed shortly by a grunt, a wince, and a grimace. "You weren't going very fast. You started slowing down the instant you asked if I was car sick."

"How—? Did you see me take my foot off the accelerator?"

"No. The pitch of the engine starting dropping."

"Why on earth would you notice that?"

"I have very good ears."

I'd clearly underestimated him. Here I thought he had been just as emotional as I during that conversation, but he was rational enough to notice a small change in the engine noise. After I drove back to the boarding house, I walked him up the back stairs. I didn't particularly care for the whole town knowing I had a man staying the night, as they would within minutes had we been seen.

Remus was more himself by the time we reached the top floor, only leaning against the wall whilst I unlocked the door. I put the kettle on, and then walked him to the bathroom where he sat on the loo whilst I cleaned the cut on his forehead.

"That's going to need stitches," I said.

"No, it won't," he replied, shaking his head ever so slightly.

"How do you know? You haven't looked at it."

"Trust me. It won't need stitches."

"Are you afraid of doctors?"

"Absolutely. Jumping out of a moving car—no problem. Doctors..." He shuddered.

"Positively infuriating," I said, shaking my head, and he smiled. Then I taped a piece of gauze gingerly over the cut. "Would you like something for pain?"

"Do you have any aspirin? I can only take aspirin."

"Why?"

"The others make me ill."

I rummaged through the medicine cabinet, finally pulling out an ancient bottle of aspirin, and sighed. "Well, it looks like these are off. I'll see what I can find in the first aid kits downstairs in a bit."

By this time, the kettle was calling. I helped Remus back to the sitting room, laying him gently on the sofa, and went to make the tea. Something more to eat would do him no harm. As I rifled through the cupboard looking for biscuits, he called to me. Since this was the first time he'd used my name, I stopped what I was doing suddenly and listened.

"Melinda ... This may sound slightly odd, but ... Well, you aren't planning to pull out grandmother's silver tea service or anything, are you?"

I smiled, continuing my biscuit quest. "Why? You don't think you're worthy of grandmother's silver?"

"Frankly, I don't."

I shook my head, wondering why he would have such a low opinion of himself. Then I picked up the already prepared tray and joined him.

"Well then, it's porcelain and stainless steel for you."

Remus sat up, looking relieved.

"I'm so sorry," I continued, setting the tray down on the coffee table and sitting next to him. "I don't seem to have any biscuits. Would you like me to make some scones? I'm sure I do have some clotted cream and jam."

Now Remus shook his head. "Don't put yourself out."

I sighed quietly. "Well, I wanted our tea to be nice."

He then did something very strange: he closed his eyes and I could have sworn he sniffed. "Actually, I think you do have some biscuits. Maybe they are hidden behind something."

"No, I just looked."

"Mind if I have a look?"

"You're in no condition—"

"I'm feeling much better now," he said, rising quickly and going to the kitchen. He returned directly with a box of biscuits. I stared at the box, dumbfounded.

"Where were they?" I asked.

"Behind the flour canister in the third cupboard to the left over the sink."

He shrugged as he tore away the cellophane covering the box, opened it, and offering the biscuits to me with a smile. My jaw dropped.

"How did you know they were there? Magic?"

"Yes," he replied casually, although his eyes twinkled. "It was a baked-goods divination charm I picked up in Germany."

I only stared at him blankly.

"I'm teasing! What good Englishwoman is ever without a box of biscuits in reserve?" He smiled and bit into one as I handed him a cup of tea.

I nodded, accepting that reason for lack of a better one. "Well," I continued, standing. "I'll just nip downstairs and see if I can find you some aspirin, then."

"Don't fuss," he replied, again shaking his head. "I'm feeling much better now, and I don't want you drinking cold tea on my account."

"Are you sure?" I asked, my forehead knitting into a frown.

"Yes, I'm sure." He patted the sofa cushion next to him, and I sat as he put an arm around me, kissing my temple. "Thank you for being so worried. It's not necessary, but it's touching all the same."

"Why isn't it necessary? I should think any man who'd fallen out of a car would need a doctor."

"I didn't fall. I jumped."

"Whatever. My point is you should be unconscious or have a concussion at the least. Why are you up and about, having tea?"

"I said I'm not as fragile as I look."

"That is not a sufficient explanation."

"Well, it will have to do for now because I won't elaborate, and there is nothing you can say or do to persuade me otherwise."

"I could ask you to leave."

"Might I remind you that you insisted I come here in the first place? Why do you think asking me to leave would sway me?"

I leant forward, setting down my cup, and buried my face in my hands. He was right, of course: I had practically forced him. Asking him to leave would be no hardship at all. But I sincerely did not understand how he could be so cavalier about all of this. A clink of porcelain told me he'd set his cup down as well, and then a warm hand slid down my back. I wanted to melt into his arms and forget what had happened earlier, if only for the sake of my own sanity, but I knew I couldn't. I turned back to face him.

"Remus, I like you. I really do. But I don't think I can do this."

He nodded and rose, immediately starting toward the door.

"Wait!" I jumped from the sofa and flung my arms around him. Then I remember his bruised ribs, and loosened my hold.

"It's all right," he said, as if reading my mind. "Hold me as tightly as you want."

Tears and words poured out of me uncontrollably. "I've never met anyone as wonderful as you, and I thought I'd lost you today, before I even had the chance to know you. It was the most horrible experience of my life. Don't you ever do that to me again! Do you hear me? EVER!!!" I sobbed against his chest as he stroked my hair and comforted me with soft words.

"Shhh. It's all right. I won't break. I'm right as rain. I'm fine, really I am."

I pulled back, looking at him through a mist of tears. He peeled the bandage off his forehead, and the cut was gone. No blood, no mark, no scar—nothing! Nothing to show he'd ever had a cut. Nothing except for the bloody gauze and tape in his hand.

"How...?"

He smiled, placing both hands on my cheeks and wiping my tears with his thumbs. "Never underestimate the incredible healing powers of tea and biscuits."

I shook my head, slack-jawed. "Whatever your secret is, it must be grave, or you wouldn't have tried to kill yourself rather than reveal it."

"I knew I wasn't in any danger. You may not have known that, but I certainly did."

"How did you know?"

"It doesn't matter."

His hands were still on my face, and he tilted my head back. As his lips touched mine, for the moment I didn't care that he'd miraculously healed before my very eyes. I opened my mouth and felt the soft, sensual brush of his tongue. My knees gave way and I clung to his shoulders for support. He shifted oddly, as if he were pulling something from inside his coat. I couldn't imagine why, but I didn't care. His kiss was so soft, so engrossing, I didn't much care to notice anything else.

He pulled me tightly to him, hands delving into my hair, and my mouth wandered down from his mouth to his cheek and then to his neck. As I nibbled his skin, he moaned with pleasure. Remus then whispered something I didn't catch, and everything went black. When I woke, I was lying on the couch with something cold on my forehead. I opened my eyes to see Remus sitting beside me, holding my hand and looking concerned.

"Glad to have you back," he said, pulling an ice pack off my brow and laying it aside. "You gave me quite a fright."

"What happened?" I asked, groggily.

"Well ... I kissed you, and you fainted. I like to think of myself as a good kisser, but I never dreamt I was that good."

"Where are we?"

"You're home, and you're safe. Don't worry. Everything is fine."

"How did we get here?"

He looked confused all of a sudden. "Don't you remember?"

"No," I replied, sitting up and rubbing my temples.

"What do you remember?"

"I remember lunch, the jeweller's, you speaking German exceptionally well, leaving the jeweller's car park ... and then ... waking up on the sofa."

Remus nodded with an almost satisfied air. "You must have hit your head harder than I thought."

"I hit my head?"

"After you fainted. I tried to catch you, but I wasn't fast enough. You fell backwards, and I only got hold of your blouse." With his face screwed up apologetically, he scratched his neck idly and added, "Ripped it a bit. Sorry about that."

I looked down and saw a six-inch rip in the left side seam of my blouse. "Oh, that's nothing. I can sew that right up. How did we end up here?"

His eyes widened. "Oh ... well ... We left the jeweller's and came back here for tea. Your idea, since I took a rain check the other night. You decided to sneak me up the back stairs, although I daresay I thought I deserved better than that. I wasn't sure you didn't have a mind to ravish me, you naughty girl." He touched a finger to my nose, and I smiled.

"Anyhow, we talked for a while. I don't know what came over me, but we were having such a warm conversation, I took the liberty of kissing you. Then ... splat. You were out cold. I guess that serves me right. It'll be a while before I try that again."

"Don't be so hasty," I said, smiling and taking his hand. "You probably just caught me off guard."

"I suppose so." He reached inside his coat and pulled out a bar of chocolate. After removing the wrapper, he broke off a large chunk. "Here. Lie back and have some of this. It'll help."

"Help what?" I asked, although I was already on my way to reclining.

"Well, I wasn't completely sure if it was my kiss that sent you reeling or low blood sugar. We did drink quite a bit at lunch. Have you ever had fainting spells before?"

"Not that I know of." I took and ate the piece of chocolate. "I guess we'll have to try kissing again, after we make sure my blood sugar isn't the problem."

"We should wait a few minutes, to be sure." He brushed his fingertips lightly over my forehead and down my cheek, then grasped my chin. "But I suppose it wouldn't do any harm, since you're already lying down and all." He rubbed his thumb back and forth across my chin and gazed into my eyes dreamily.

"What were we discussing?"

"Hmmm?"

"Before you kissed me. You said we were having a warm conversation. What were we discussing?"

"Oh! You were telling me all the reasons why I should move in here—very persuasively, I might add—and I was beginning to think it wasn't such a bad idea after all."

"It's a shame I don't remember that."

Suddenly Remus began to stare off into space. "I was moved. I didn't realise how much you cared before today. Indeed, I didn't think it possible that anyone could care so much about me."

"Remus, why ever would you say a thing like that?" I asked, sitting up and putting my hand to his cheek.

He turned away from my touch, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands. "Because, Melinda, that has been my experience. I am not accustomed to people caring."

I wrapped my arms about his waist, resting my cheek against his back. "If I have anything to say about it, you'll get used to at least one person's caring quickly."

He smiled at me over his shoulder.

"Well, it's been a few minutes," I said. "Do you want to try again?"

"You say that as though we're about to perform a science experiment or something," he said, crinkling his nose with obvious distaste.

"We are, in a way. Sorry ... I know sometimes I sound rather coldly scientific."

Remus chuckled and turned to face me. "Before we begin, do you have any smelling salts?"

"In the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. Didn't you smell them when you went looking for the ice pack?"

"Oh, that's what that smell was."

He laid me gingerly back on the sofa, and bent to kiss me. Luckily, I did not faint this time, nor did I forget the kiss. In fact, I don't think I will ever forget that kiss until my dying day. His lips were soft and sensual, his mouth warm and inviting. I found myself thinking, If all gentlemen kiss this way, how on earth do they remain gentlemen? I couldn't imagine any woman confronted with such strong temptation who could resist for long. My hands stole about his neck, whilst his gravitated toward my waist, and I entwined my fingers in his hair. I was just seriously considering ripping his clothes off and ravishing him as he'd suggested earlier when he pulled away suddenly, gasping for breath.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said quickly. Then he smiled. "Nothing."

I made my tone more sultry, wriggling my eyebrows, as I asked, "Afraid of turning into a wolf?"

Remus' face registered shock then offence.

"I'm sorry," I quickly explained. "I was only teasing. I know you're a gentleman."

His expression relaxed into a grin. "It probably won't sound like it, with what I'm about to say. I hope no one is listening at the door."

"No one comes up to this floor without my permission," I assured him. "Not even the cleaning staff."

He stood and began to pace slowly. "Well, we need to discuss my moving in. You know I have some reservations, and they are well founded, I assure you, even though I cannot explain. There are some conditions which must be met, or my answer will have to be no."

"I'm listening," I said.