Warmth
You groggily woke up, your consciousness returning to you over a few minutes. As you laid in bed, you tried to sift through your memories of the past few days. That definitely happened, right? Or was it a cruel trick played on you by your tired mind? You threw your sheets off and trudged over to your dresser, pulling out the cabinet that had your meager supply of panties and socks. Yup, the pink cotton panties you were wearing yesterday were gone. Not only that, but the full, large bottles of the experimental medicines were sitting on your desk staring back at you. You glanced down and saw the finger-shaped bruises on the soft flesh of your inner thighs. Okay, so it definitely happened.
You recalled last night’s…activities, and decided you would unpack it later. You already felt yourself getting heated (in multiple ways) thinking about how he had left you on the brink of a release after practically forcing himself on you on his workshop table.
Your eyes met Newt’s package, sitting beside your bed where you placed it yesterday. You walked over to it and sat next to it, casting a quick spell that cut the twine holding it together, the walls of the box springing apart.
Heaps of wrinkled fabric fell out of the box, tangled together and indecipherable from each other. After a bit of wrestling, you realized that Newt had sent you multiple pairs of shirts, sweaters, pants, shorts, underwear, and socks. Your heart swelled as Newt's scent emerged from the pile of clothing, most of them being his hand-me-downs. He had sent you lots of his school shirts and sweaters, Hufflepuff adorning the chest of most of them. You were thankful he included a wide variety of shirts because you now had clothes to choose from as the weather heated up. The pants and shorts Newt sent you were fewer than the tops, but they were brand-new with a handwritten note tucked into the pockets describing a simple tailoring spell. You tucked the note back into the pocket as you continued to investigate the contents of the package.
The underwear and socks he sent you were simple but practical. He knew the kind of panties you liked and just got another package of them, something you were glad he thought to include. After Snape stole one of your panties, you didn’t have enough to make it a full week without doing laundry. As you thinned out the clothing, you saw a colorful knot of fabric you hadn’t seen before. It took you a second to recognize what they were, but when you finally identified the clothing as Newt’s T-Shirts and boxer shorts, you nearly cried from his thoughtfulness.
Newt didn’t discriminate his clothing type between wizard and muggle, he just wore whatever he wanted. This usually meant that he would wear something practical for work, but he had a soft spot for graphic tees for lounging around. He enjoyed finding t-shirts with funny or memorable slogans, like a brown shirt that had the Tootsie-pop owl on it with “How many licks does it take to make it to the center of a tootsie-pop?” brandished on the front, and a faded red shirt with the logo for Yosemite National Park in America on it. Newt had gotten it when you two visited to study the local flora and fauna for magical signs.
After a few years, his wardrobe of shirts and boxers had become shared between you two because of how often you wore them- lounging around the house, as PJs, underneath heavier clothes. When you were packing for Hogwarts, it was one of a few things that completely slipped your mind. However, you hadn’t stopped thinking about them after you actually arrived. You had just been sleeping in a ratty pair of shorts and a stiff tank top that was supposed to go under your dress shirt, and you yearned for the soft, worn fabric of Newt’s shirts.
His boxer shorts fit you oversized, and you loved it like that. They were incredibly comfortable and you felt close to him when you wore one of his intimate pieces of clothing. He had sent you a few pairs of boxer shorts and a few of your favorite t-shirts. You brought a handful of them up to your nose and inhaled deeply, Newt’s scent being caught in between the fibers of the clothing.
Further inside the package, you saw two bottles of ointment cushioned by extra bandages. You were very thankful for that, you hadn’t used the ointment in a few days because you had completely run out. You trusted the medicine given to you by Madam Pomfrey, but you didn’t want to give up on the ointment. Setting aside the ointment and bandages, you finally reached the last object in the box. A small box, thoughtfully wrapped and chosen, with the message “Open in PRIVATE!” scrawled on the side in Newt’s familiar chicken scratch. You readied yourself before ripping the wrapping paper off of the lid and peeking inside.
There were two items inside wrapped in bubble wrap, and you chose the smaller one to unwrap first. You carefully peeled off the bubble wrap, taking a few seconds to pop the little bubbles for fun. You pulled the object out of the wrap and flushed deeply as you realized what it was. There was pink rubber shaped like a wonky W, the middle prong longer than the other sides with ridges lining the sides. Another prong stuck out more, a larger, flat surface laying diagonal. Newt had sent you a sex toy. A g-spot/clit stimulator hybrid. Your face was radiating heat, your skin from the neck up a concerning shade of red. You flicked a switch on the bottom of the toy and nearly dropped it as it sprang to life, vibrating more intensely than you expected. A note fell out of the bubble wrap.
’Hope this keeps you busy until we can see each other again ;)’
You didn’t know what to do with yourself. You were so flustered from the little piece of pink rubber that you found yourself unable to think straight. Before you could explode, you stashed the toy out of sight underneath your mattress and added the note to the growing collection of letters from Newt. You had to take a lap around your dorm room to compose yourself before you felt ready to open the other package of bubble wrap.
The other package was large and flat, the bubble wrap coming off easily. You were bracing yourself to see something more naughty than the sex toy, but you weren’t prepared to see a simple mirror with a modest gold trim around it. The mirror sat comfortably in your palm, and you stared into it for a moment, expecting to see something special. When you didn’t, you flipped it around and saw a few words scribbled on the back:
’Evenings at 8, in private.’
What? What the hell did that mean? You sighed and set the mirror on your desk. You would check back in on it tonight at 8, just like the note said. Maybe the mirror would transform into something more interesting.
You spent a while cleaning up your room from the piles of new clothes you got, adding them to your wardrobe. You also redressed your wounds, finally applying the ointment properly. The medicines felt stronger than they did before, their smells and colors more intense than they felt in the trial vials. You checked in on your wounds, and they were healing up nicely. They were still, for the most part, raw and oozing, but new skin and scar tissue had started to grow on the perimeters of the thinner gashes and cuts. It was small, but progress is progress. You cast the tailoring spell on the pants and they instantly conformed to your shape, flattering your figure and becoming extremely comfortable. Because it was Saturday, you didn’t have to wear strictly school clothes. You chose to wear one of Newt’s t-shirts and a pair of shorts, wanting to be comfortable and surrounded by Newt.
~~~
You had slept past breakfast but still had a few hours until lunch. As you headed down the stairs, you were surprised to see other girls also heading out, fully dressed and seeming ready for the day. Most of the time, girls would be dressed similarly to you on the weekends, so it was odd to see everyone dressed like they were going somewhere.
“What’s going on? Where’s everyone going?” you asked Hannah when you saw her in the common room, scared you missed an important memo or something.
“Oh, everyone’s going to Hogsmeade today. We were supposed to go last week, but it got too snowy,” she answered. “Are you coming?”
You hesitated. “I don’t think so…? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“You need parental permission,” Jamie added as she came down the stairs and overheard your conversation. “So if your… guardian didn’t mention it, you probably need to write to them and get their permission,” she said, tiptoeing around your parental situation. Hannah nodded in agreement.
“I needed to beg my parents to let me go. They were nervous to give me permission because there are pubs, but they eventually caved in,” Hannah reminisced, laughing at the memory.
“We should head out. See you later!” Jamie said, glancing at the clock. Her and Hannah left the common room, along with what felt like the rest of the house.
So you would be alone today. Oh well. You had some homework to do, and you enjoyed not having distractions from other students. You decided to start your day in the library and chug through your homework.
You had an essay you had to write for Potions that you made quick work of in the echoey, lonely library. You also started to draft your next letter to Newt, including many thanks for all of the goodies he sent. You blushed thinking about the other “goodie” he sent, and you started to pack up to go to your room and test it out.
You returned your books to the shelves where they belonged, and you were gathering your essay and letter when a large hand thumped onto your shoulder, nearly giving you a heart attack. You inhaled sharply and spun around, coming face-to-face with your potions teacher. Frozen in shock and embarrassment, you couldn’t move or pry yourself out of his grasp. Despite your efforts, the memories of the filthy acts he had performed on you last night came flooding back to you, making your face burn red. He stared at you with those cold, dark eyes that betrayed nothing.
You tried to hide your face in the paper you were holding, letting out a humiliating squeak when he squeezed your shoulder tighter. “No Hogsmeade?” he hissed, venom lacing his words. You shook your head no and continued to be silent. You tried to keep your mind clear, but it strayed away and started to think about the sex toy Newt sent you. You tried to reel it back, but Snape had already seen it. His eyebrow cocked and he regarded you with a newfound curiosity. You hid yourself deeper into your papers, cheeks burning brightly. A beat passed, and he finally let you go.
“My office, after lunch,” he murmured, getting close to your face and grabbing your chin. He forced your face upwards to direct eye contact. “Bring the toy,” he added, then stalked past you and vanished down the hallway. You stood where he had left you, motionless as you tried to catch your breath. God damn it.
~~~
After your latest encounter with Snape, you needed some fresh air, so you walked out onto the bridge connecting Hogwarts to the surrounding mountains. The walls were open and you leaned out of one, taking a deep breath of the crisp winter air and relished in the weather as it stung your lungs. You noticed a small smattering of buildings a short walk away from the building, a trail of students heading towards it. Must be Hogsmeade. You sighed and rested your hand on your cheek, wishing you were down there.
“No Hogsmeade for you?” a familiar voice said behind you, and you startled again. Why were people always sneaking up on you? You turned your head to see Professor Lupin approaching you from the castle, hands in his pockets, a smile on his face.
You looked away again. “No. I didn’t know about it. Neither did Newt, apparently.” You wished you did, a wave of FOMO hitting you.
Lupin joined you at the window, arm grazing yours as he examined the landscape with a glimmer in his eyes. You stood there for a bit in silence, enjoying each others’ company. A sudden burst of wind chilled you, reminding you that you weren’t wearing any jacket or hat that would keep you warm. You shivered, rubbing your arms to try and heat yourself up. Lupin noticed and took notice of your outfit.
“My goodness, you must be cold. Here, take this and warm up,” he said, quickly pulling off his cloak and draping it over your shoulders. It was large on you and smelled of musk, but it heated you up quickly.
“T-thanks, sir,” you said, still shivering slightly. You pulled the cloak closer around you. You felt safe when you were around Lupin, and you always felt like he knew more than he let on. His kind eyes met your red cheeks and he cupped your face, brows furrowing at the coldness he felt on your skin.
“I should get you inside. Come, we can warm up in my classroom,” he said, gently pulling you along. The DADA classroom had a huge fireplace that had been constantly burning since you got here, battling the winter air that seeped in through the exterior walls.
Thankfully, the classroom was only a short walk away. Lupin gently guided you past the fireplace you thought you were headed to and through a door on the side of the classroom. You were confused before you realized that the classroom was the cozy, messy office that Lupin called his own. There was another, albeit smaller, roaring fireplace with cozy armchairs around it. He took off the jacket you were wearing and let you sit down in the chair closest to the fireplace, warming your skin in the glowing heat.
Lupin situated himself in the overstuffed armchair across from you after preparing some tea on the small table behind you. You were watching the fire dance in the hearth, but assumed the tea was Chamomile based on the smell and taste.
“So, how’s Hogwarts treating you so far?” Lupin asked, a friendly smile on his face as he held his teacup.
You took a second to sip at your tea, the flowery liquid warming you from the inside. “It’s… good. I mean, it’s a big adjustment, but it’s good,” you responded. You enjoyed Lupin’s class but had never been on your own with him other than the first day. You fidgeted, slightly awkward in the presence of your professor.
Lupin nodded, his face inviting and calming. “Adjustment can take time. I imagine things feel quite… overwhelming, with everything that’s happened,” he paused thoughtfully. You shed the coat he gave you, draping it over the armrest of your chair. The fire and the tea had worked wonders, and you were even starting to sweat a bit. “Are you comfortable? You seem a bit tired,” he said, his keen gaze never leaving your face
You shook your head, trying to refocus the edges of your vision that had suddenly blurred a few seconds previously. “I mean - I’m fine, yes, everything is fine…” you trail off. You felt…off. You suppose you had been tightly wound all morning, and the effects of the cozy fireplace and the warm, comforting tea must have just been amplified because of it. Well, that’s what you told yourself as you slumped back into your chair.
Lupin’s voice was soft as he leaned forwards, his elbows resting on his knee, teacup abandoned on the side table. “It’s understandable. You’ve been through so much recently. It’s only natural for your body and mind to need some time to recover.”
You nodded slowly, feeling as if your head had turned to stone and was crushing your neck every second you kept it upright. “Yeah, maybe,” you mumbled half-heartedly. The warmth of the fire was no longer just comforting. It was growing more intense on your skin, wrapping around you like a thick blanket you couldn’t remove. You felt flushed, a thin layer of sweat covering your whole body now. You lifted your hand to wipe away beads of liquid that had accumulated on your brow, but found the movement sluggish, your arm heavy and uncooperative.
“How’s the tea?” Lupin asked gently. He was watching you and saw your pathetic attempt to raise your arm. He didn’t seem concerned, only observant, as if he was cataloging every subtle change. “It’s made with my special recipe - reserved for my favorite students,” he added, the corners of his mouth twisting upwards as he winked.
You shook your head faintly, your muscles no longer responding as they usually did. “Ishh… weird..” you mumbled, the words tumbling out unevenly, as if your tongue had forgotten how to form the sounds.
Lupin laughed gently, quickly changing the subject. “You and Newt must be very close after such a long apprenticeship,” he asked, casual but deliberate. “A brilliant mind, a good friend. He must mean a great deal to you.”
You found yourself nodding, tears pricking at the corners of your eye as waves of emotion crashed into you at the mention of Newt. “So brilliant… kind… hees so cleverr,” you manage to say, though your voice was faint. The words kept streaming out of your mouth before your mind had time to filter them. “He’s juss so wonderful and… I miss him so mush an’ he’s so far away…” you kept mumbling, trying to stop but feeling disconnected from the words you were saying. You noticed vaguely that Lupin had stood up and was gently taking your teacup from your already weak grasp. He placed your cup and saucer on the side table and strolled around behind the chair you were melted into.
“The distance must feel unbearable at times. It’s alright to miss him, to feel like this. You’ve been through so much, and being apart only makes it harder,” his voice was low and soothing, coming from a few feet above and behind you. His large, warm hands crept around the chair and came to rest on your shoulders, gently massaging your relaxed traps. You hummed at the contact, your eyelids feeling like lead. “Just breathe,” he said softly. “Let go for now… you’ve done enough for now.”
You weren’t tired, not really, but you couldn’t muster up the strength to fight the pull anymore. Every muscle in your body felt like it had been untethered, leaving you completely limp in the chair. You could still feel, still see, still hear—but you were utterly at the mercy of the weight dragging you down. Lupin chuckled gently. “Good,” he murmured approvingly. “Just like that. You’re safe here.”
You wanted to believe him, but the fog creeping into your thoughts made it hard to focus, to think. You could do nothing but watch, your mouth slightly open, pupils darting around, as Lupin walked back around and crouched down in front of you. His hand reached out, fingers brushing against your cheek before cupping your jaw firmly. He tilted your head slightly, his thumb brushing over your cheekbone as he studied your face with a satisfied smile. His sharp eyes glinted as he met your half-lidded gaze. You tried to pull away–or thought you did–but your body remained unresponsive, your muscles slack and unwilling to obey.
“Look at me,” he ordered softly. His thumb pressed slightly, guiding your head to angle toward him fully. “I’ll help you forget about how much you miss Newt,” he said, keeping your head still as he licked his lips.