When I was done, I was tense and nervous.

Had I gotten the acromantula legs in on time? Oh, no! Did I stir the potion after I added the third ingredient, or the fourth?

The stag came up and stood next to me… it was odd, but rather relaxing, to know that James was somewhere in that animal.

Mr. Orson was walking in circles around the table that my potion sat on. He kept making odd hand gestures and muttering things like “hmm, peculiar,” and, “yes, that’s right, but is the circle still apparent?”

I couldn’t help wondering if, maybe, Alihotsy leaves attacked Mr. Orson, too.

He wheeled around and faced James, who had transformed back into his original self. “I do believe that she shall be satisfactory with some work. The color’s not the specified shade but with a bit more practice I believe that she could make Remus’s potion easily.”

I blushed, proud of myself. James smiled and looked at me. “Come on, let’s go sit down. I have a lot to tell you.”

“Yeah, just a little,” I said weakly, and followed him into the dining room.

He had me sit down the he sat next to me. “You ask questions first… and then I’ll ask you some.”

“Okay,” I said, and began. “Why did you leave without telling me? Since when have you been an Animagus? Is Remus okay? Are the teachers okay with you guys just leaving the school like that? Does Mr. Orson mind that I’m here? Am I really supposed to make the potion for Remus?”

“Whoa, whoa, slow down,” James instructed. “First, I couldn’t tell you. I knew you’d act… well… just like this. I’ve been an Animagus since my fifth year. Sirius and Peter are ones, too. We did this, though illegally, to keep Remus in line. It was the teacher’s idea for us to come here. We’ve had Mr. Orson shipping the potion to Hogwarts for years but since this is the last one, we needed to ensure that we’d have a steady supply for him in the years to come. And don’t worry about Mr. Orson; he’s really nice and hospitable and I think he plans on teaching you to make the potion so when he passes on, you can continue his work."

“Whoa,” I said softly.

“Any more questions?” James asked.

“No, I think I’m good for now…” I replied, trying to process everything he’d just said through my mind.

“Okay, how did you find us?”

“I had… a hint.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Okay, well, I’ll ask later. How’d you find out that Remus was a werewolf?”

“Well, if you think about it, it was rather obvious.”

“Yeah, it was,” he smiled. “Are you mad at me for not telling you?”

“No. I suppose that if I had a friend that was a werewolf I would’ve done the same thing.”

“You do have a friend that’s a werewolf,” he pointed out.

“Oh, yeah.” I replied meekly.

“Are you going to make the potion for him?”

“Yes.”

“Will you stay here with us?”

“Yes.”

He moved ever so closer towards me, and looked me in the eyes.

“Do you still like me?”

“Yes,” I whispered, and broke eye contact to stare at the table.

He cupped my chin in his hand and forced me to look at him. I couldn't help but to have the feeling that he was about to kiss me…