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Remus watched as his class dismissed once again, eyes trained on one particular student whom he couldn’t figure out entirely yet. Every other student was an easy read and he got to know them and who they were as people. However, Y/N L/N was a different story.
She was extremely quiet but showed extreme interest in certain subjects, especially Potions and DADA. But then there were days like today where her eyes seemed droopy and disinterested in every word that came out of his mouth during his lecture.
It confused him to the point where he began to question his own teaching skills; could he be lacking in getting to know his students personally?
A figure stepped in front of Remus’s line of vision of the student, looking up to meet the eyes of Harry Potter himself, along with Ron and Hermione.
Lupin smiled, “Harry, Ron, Hermione! My favorite trio. What can I do for you?”
Harry chuckled and looked down before meeting Lupin’s eyes, “actually, sir, it is more so how I can help you.”
Remus’s eyebrows raised, “oh? How so?”
The boy turned his head quickly before meeting his professor’s eyes, “I notice your struggle to…connect with Y/N, sir.”
The professor raised his chin, “am I boring? Is that why there are certain days she likes my class and others… not so much?”
“No, no, not at all, sir,” Hermione started when Ron shrugged his shoulders, “she’s an interesting person to get to know. She’s seen many things that nobody should and her trust is very limited, that is all. Y/N can be reserved, too, as her bubble is very small.
Remus nodded and looked at the trio, more eso Harry, “is there any way I can get to know her better? Anything she likes?”
Potter laughed, “trying to flatter her, sir? I have Tonks on speed dial!”
Lupin’s eyes widened at the thought, “Harry, don’t be ridiculous. You know how much I love getting to know my students and she has stumped me, absolutely stumped me!”
“Yeah, she does that to a lot of people,” Ron started, “but she’s an absolute blast to be around and is extremely funny. She’s one worth knowing.”
Remus gave a crooked smile, “so, anything she likes?”
Hermione nodded, her curls bouncing, “she loves tea - specifically green tea. Oh, and she’s a master at gobstones, loves all kinds of music, and you can ask her anything about Quidditch.”
Ron agreed, “and she plays mean Wizard Chess!” The trio laughed and nodded, knowing she’d kick their asses any day.
The DADA professor chuckled, “well thank you very much, all of you.” He stopped to write a pass for all three of them, “here’s a pass. If anyone gives you trouble, tell them to take it up with me.”
With that, the trio nodded and left, leaving Remus with his thoughts and how he’d find out Y/N’s schedule for tomorrow. Looking through his file in his desk, he easily found her name and looked through her classes. Lupin sighed happily - she had him last tomorrow. He’d easily ask her to stay after and finally get to know her.
The next day seemed like a drag but the DADA professor had something to look forward to. He had packets of green tea along with marbles to play Gobstones. He hadn’t played in a while, so he was a bit nervous to get beat by a student.
With a shake of his head, Remus noticed his last period class staggering into his classroom, eager to get their last class done and over with. The professor looked around and met eyes with the student he had been having much interest in. He smiled, earning a soft smile back from Y/N.
From your point of view, you felt relaxed and ready to get DADA over with, hearing the weekend calling your name. Professor Lupin seemed extra enthusiastic, making eye contact more than usual and taking questions from anyone with more inclusivity.
As the class got closer to ending, Lupin stopped and sighed, “wizards and witches, I can feel the need to leave radiating off of all of you.”
The class laughed as he continued, “any of you make a sound or mention this to another professor, I will turn you into slugs. Joking, of course.”
Everyone got out of their seats and gathered their books, hurriedly trying to leave. Lupin walked over to Y/N’s desk and tapped it, “would you mind staying for a sec?”
Y/N hesitated before nodding, “o-of course, sir.” Lupin smiled at the response and walked toward his desk, hearing the students rush out the room until it was silent.
Remus pulled up a chair next to his desk and reached into a large drawer, pulling out two small cups, “come, sit!”
Y/N felt her eyebrows slightly raise until she walked over to the chair, setting her books down on the floor and taking a seat. Remus placed a cup lateral to the chair as he used a spell to make hot water fall from the tip of his wand, filling both their cups.
The professor looked at his student, “tea?”
Y/N looked up at him from picking at her nails, “oh, um, do you have green tea?”
Remus smiled, “who doesn’t?” He pulled out a green tea box from his drawer, placing it beside her cup as he watched his student open the box and placing the tea bag in her cup.
He was honest with her, “Y/N, I feel as if I know who you are, but I know nothing about you, so I figured I’d get to know you over tea. Is that alright?”
Y/N began to loosen up, a smile forming on her face, “that sounds wonderful, professor. What would you like to know?”
Remus leaned back in his own chair, “anything, my dear. I am in no rush.”
His student nodded, “well, I’m a half-blood - my father is a muggle while my mother is a pureblood. I have a dog/cat, a (dog/cat breed) to be specific, and his name is (dog/cat name). I love potions and of course, Defense Against the Dark Arts.”
Remus laughed at her dog’s name, “(dog/cat name)? Very intriguing, I like it. Continue, please.”
Y/N laughed, “oh, I love playing Gobstones! I’ve played against Bill Weasley before and he has lost so it’s basically a talent.”
Remus sipped his tea, “so you have the weight of the Gobstone champion on your shoulders?”
His student chuckled, “exactly, sir.”
Lupin smiled, “Remus, please.”
The two continued talking for another hour, sharing laughs and many stories that had Remus close to tears. He absolutely loved when Y/N would get up and act out one of her stories, adding more character to the events in her life that made her audience - in this case, Remus - burst into laughter.
They also shared many jokes, most about the wizarding world that stumped the student’s father. One made the professor snort so loud he thought someone would’ve thought a pig was loose in Hogwarts - he only kids, of course, and tells you not to be shy.
Y/N chuckled once more as she thought of another, “Remus, sir… how do the Malfoy’s get into bed?”
Remus sipped his tea, “how, my dear?”
She smiled and before she finished her tea, Y/N answered him, “they Slytherin.”
The professor snorted once more as he doubled over his knees, his laughter shaking his shoulders. “Y/N,” he started, looking up at her, “this has been the hardest I’ve ever laughed in a long, long time. Thank you.”
Y/N smiled at her professor, “well thank you for making time and getting to know me, sir. It means a lot to know that you personally wanted to get to know who I am.”
Over the hour, they both had also shared stories that nobody else knew, stories about death or deep sadness in their lives. Y/N realized how vulnerable she had been, but trusted in her professor and vise versa. He had told her things Tonks doesn’t even know - it amazed Remus how easily he got along with his student.
Remus stood, gathering Y/N’s books for her as she picked up her bag from the floor. “Thank you, sir,” she said, smiling up at him.
He smiled back, “of course.” Then, he wrapped his arms around her as she placed her hands on his back, “come visit me any time, dear. My door is always open.”
She leaned back, “the same goes to you, professor.” The rest of the year for the two was full of laughter and afternoon tea sessions, and of course, the student beating her teacher in Gobstones.
It was a shame, really. He had so many more things to tell her before he met his demise by a death eater.