Finally. The Christmas market finally opened so me and my friends took the first opportunity to get off the school grounds and head for diagon alley. And to be honest we really were in keed of the Christmas spirit. Our last class has been potions with Snape and even though everyone was in high spirits at the start of the period he managed to make my classmates and I fear the next week. With not only a seven pages long essay about some shitty potions but also a test on said topic we practically fled from the dungeons. But now with only sweets and mulled wine in our minds the atmosphere changed again. When we arrived at the market it was already getting darker, the cold telling us its time to get something warm into our hands. While passing through the streets we saw some familiar faces of Hogwarts students and made our way towards them. This period of the year was perhaps one of the few where all four Hogwarts houses spend time together without thinking about the competitions and stereotypes. Don't ask me how that actually works but its like a common agreement that when Christmas is around the corner the people just start acting nicer towards each other. With that being said everyone got something to drink and we clinked glasses to celebrate the winter. We laughed and made jokes when someone mentioned that they've seen no other than Professor Lupin and Professor Flitwick heading towards the Leaky Cauldron. By now we all had at least our second drink of the evening and the idea of getting somewhere warm, like the Leaky Cauldron, sounded as good as heaven. Because of how late it was getting, it was at least 07:30pm, some people of our group retreated towards Hogwarts. With three of my friends and I fired up by the idea of our teachers being at the pub we approached it with smiles on our faces.
The way wasn't that long so we were soon welcomed by the warmth and the smell of cinnamon and alcohol. As soon as we entered i heard one of my friends say "Oh Jesus, the teachers are ACTUALLY here." I looked into the direction the group moved and yes, at a big table in the corner of the pub sat Prof. Lupin, Flitwick, Hooch and Mcgonagall. Now nervousness started to rise in me. Would they actually want us to sit with them? Even our teachers deserved some time off from work and some older students disturbing their night out probably weren't on their to do list. But before i could tell the others about my concerns the first person of my group had already reached the teachers table. Due to the loud voices around me i couldn't quite understand the whole conversation but it was something about there being no other free table in the pub (which could have actually been true). There where still two free places at the teachers table and we could easily get two other chairs from the tables next to us. Mcgonagall didn't seem really pleased and in all honesty i totally understood her concerns but the other three professors assured us that we could stay. At the end of the day we were already old enough to drink and since it was a Friday evening we could stay out as long as we wanted to. Not fancying the idea of having to search for a chair I jumped at the empty one next to Professor Lupin. That might have looked a bit awkward if another friend of mine wouldn't have done the same thing and was now placed next to Madam Hooch. While getting rid of my coat i heard a chuckle coming from my left side. I turned my head and looked at a smiling Prof Lupin. It was at that moment I realised that of course our teachers were drinking alcohol as well and by the look on Prof Flitwicks face, who sat next to Lupin, they had been here for a bit longer then I had originally thought. Now everyone from my little group started conversations and together we all ordered some Fire Whiskey to lighten the mood. Since we didn't get to eat at the Christmas market I thought about ordering a little snack. With the chattering around me a assumed that no one was actually paying attention to me going through the menu. That was until i felt a shifting on my left side. Professor Lupin had come closer to look at the menu as well. "Ah, thinking about ordering some food, are we?" He asked, without taking his eyes of the paper in my hands. "Since the mulled wine was everything i had until now i figured it would be a good idea to get something to eat between now and the next round of fire whiskeys. But I am actually not quite sure what to get." I explained. A second later it was Lupin holding the card and scanning the contents. For the first time I realised how close we were sitting. Not only that but I could smell the scent of chocolate, books and mulled whine coming from him. Blushing I looked at the other end of the table where one of my friends was eyeing me and smirked when she saw me looking in her direction. She motioned towards Lupin with her head an wiggled her eyebrows at me. If I hadn't been blushing before then hell I was doing it now. To my misfortune she was the only friend who knew that i had a crush on the Professor next to me. But I mean who didn't? He was kind and always willing to help his students out, there was this air of comfort around him that had mesmerised me at the first day and still does now. Plus he was indeed good looking, the scars on his face adding to the masculinity and having this mysterious touch. A sudden tap on my shoulder took me out of my thoughts. Professor Lupin was looking at me and questioning if I still wanted something small to eat. I could barely nod at him because my brain was an absolute mess. He motioned for a waitress asking if they still had a piece of the special pie he earlier had and ordering said food after the waitress confirmed it. "Believe me you never had a better pie than their special Christmas one!" My teacher enthusiastically informed me.
Unsure what to answer I said "I have to trust you on that one professor. I am not quite the pie-person.". Lupin put his right hand on his heart like he had been shot and playfully gasped, retreating from my side. With that move he bumped into Prof Flitwick who was in a conversation with Mcgonagall. Both of them eyeing Lupin and I to figure out what had happened. Before I could explain anything the teacher to my left started talking "Oh dear Miss y/n, if that's the truth I'd have to take 5 Points of your house. No one who doesn't like pie shall ever win the house cup!"
Disbelief was written on Mcgonagalls and Flitwicks faces. "You don't like pie Miss y/n?" Professor Flitwick asked. "I have to remind you that there are other backed goods that taste delicious." Mcgonagall stated, "Like biscuits!"
One thing led to another and in a matter of seconds the whole table argued about the best pastry. "But I actually like pie... I just don't usually order it..." I whispered more to myself than to anyone particularly. It seems like Lupin had heard me because he lightly patted my shoulder with an apologetic look on his face. Right on time my pie arrived. As I took in the sweet scent of apple mixed with cinnamon and something i couldn't quite describe (probably magic) the Professor leaned over to me and said "Smells delicious, doesn't it?" I eagerly nodded and reached for the fork to finally taste it but it was snatched away under my fingers. That didn't stop me tho. Trying to get my fork back I grabbed Lupins hand "Professor you're playing a dangerous game right now." He looked right into my eyes challengingly while tightening his grip. "Practically it was I who ordered the pie, so you should be grateful to even get to smell it my dear." Smirking like he had already won, we both heard a grumbling sound coming from my stomach. Even though I felt heat rising to my face I looked at him hurt, loosening my grip on his Hand. "And here I thought you were a teacher who cares about his students. Never could I have imagined that you'd let them starve just to get some pie for yourself." I slowly turned away from him, trying not to burst out laughing because of how puzzled he looked. He seemed to be at a loss of words and didn't know if I was still acting or not. Soon enough he carefully pushed the plate in front of me and laid the fork besides it. When I looked at the piece of pie a small part was already missing. "Seriously? You actually took a Bite?" I looked at him in disbelief. Now it was Professor Lupin barely holding in his laughter. While still munching his left hand found its place at the back of his head "I panicked.", he said. With that both of us started laughing, again shifting the attention of the table towards us. When I finally calmed down I craved my pastry just to find the place where it had previously been empty. Apparently a friend of mine just finished eating it. Lupin gave him a disapproving look. "What? The pie was getting cold!" Again laughter erupted as our teachers ordered a piece for everyone.
An other hour had past and I started to feel tired. It was only 9pm so my friends didn't want to leave the pub yet. The atmosphere was great and they seemed to get along with our teacher quite well. But I just couldn't get around this sleepy feeling so I said my goodbyes, paid my drinks an was heading for the door when someone held me in place. A bit frustrated I turned around. By now there were plenty drunk people in the Leaky Cauldron and I sincerely didn't want to deal with one of them. To my surprise it was Professor Lupin who held me back. "Are you leaving alone? Shouldn't one of your friends walk back with you?" He asked and for a brief moment concern washed over his face. "That's what we originally planned but neither do they want to go back yet, nor do I want to disturb the good time they're having just because I don't want to go alone." He didn't respond so I started to turn for the door again, when he claimed for me to wait a minute. The Professor went to our table again only to come back with his jacket and belongings. I looked at him while he paid but let my gaze go back to my friends at the table. My eyes locking with the ones of my friend who knew about my crush. There was something in her glance, like she wanted to tell me I was the luckiest girl of the school. I sighed. She'll definitely ask me about the walk the next morning.
When Lupin arrived at my side I told him that he doesn't have to go back with me. He just opened the door and insisted that it was his job as my teacher to get me back to hogwarts safely. I'd be lying if I'd say it didn't sting a bit but moved into the cold night air nevertheless. After going the first few meters I realised that I actually felt tipsy. I tried my hardest to walk in a straight line however the more I tried to focus the more I seemed to misplace my feet. In the next second I stumbled over a cable which belonged to a booth that had already closed its front. I felt two hands steadying me from behind before I could actually fall on my face. One hand was gripping my right shoulder while the other one rested at my left upper arm. Professor Lupin chuckled not letting go of me. Like in the pub I smelled his scent and now also felt the warmth coming from him. "I was already impressed how well you could hold your drink. Given that you had at least three fire whiskeys and mulled wine." He let go but immediately stretched his right arm out for me to take it. At this point I just assumed that he also felt the effects of the alcohol. My assumption turned out to be true cause when I intertwined my arm with his I felt him leaning at me for support just as much as I did. For the third time this evening I felt myself blushing. Going back to hogwarts with my favourite teacher nevertheless with linked arms and under the Influence of alcohol sounded like a wattpad story.
On our way back we started to talk about God and the world. He asked how school was going and ranted about the downsides of being a teacher as well as some first years who tried to prank him last week. The walk was really wholesome and I felt at ease although I knew this would probably be the only time I'd get this close with him. Right before we entered Hogwarts I turned around to him and said with an awkward chuckle "Thank you for walking with me. To be honest I was kind of scared to go back alone so it felt like a miracle send from heaven when you decided to take along." He smiled kindly and put a hand on my head ruffling through my hair a little. A faint blush was covering his cheeks and nose, tho I didn't know if it was from the situation or the coldness.
"And I'd always do it again my dear."