Charming a Phoenix

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Charming a Phoenix
Chapter 6 - Edification

During lunch, Paige noticed Harry was becoming sullen, withdrawing again, even though he tried to keep up appearances. She felt a tightening in her chest. This was exactly the kind of pain she didn’t want to cause him. Why damn it? Why had she kissed him? He had enough to deal with right now. Sighing, she looked up at him again. Harry’s green eyes were searching hers, the hurt still in them. She gave him a half smile, but he looked away.

Leo had come back and given them the news from P3. He had also gone by the newspaper and ‘convinced’ the editor Phoebe was only taking a leave of absence and would be back. Phoebe was pleased she would have a job to go back to.

Paige noticed Remus’ gaze landed on either her or Harry again and again. It was unsettling, but there was no way he could know what happened. Right? She studied him as he talked with the others, but still felt a certain amount of his attention never left her.

“I’m going up to my room,” Harry said, placing him dishes in the sink. He left the room without looking at Paige. She had to try to talk to him, make him understand. ‘Understand what?’, her conscious interjected. ‘That you wanted to kiss him? That you want to help take his pain away, however possible?’ No. No, he’s sixteen years old. It doesn’t matter how he effects me, I can’t, she concluded. She got up to put her plate in the sink, so she could leave while the others were talking.

“Paige?” Remus said. She turned to look at him. “I wonder if I could have a word with you in the front parlor?”

Panic closed her throat and all she could do was nod. Remus smiled and nodded to the others who were watching Wyatt cooing on his father’s lap. Remus lead the way up the stairs to the parlor and closed the door behind them. He then pulled out his wand and cast a couple of spells on the door. He turned back and gestured for her to sit in a chair, seeming not to notice the wide eyed stare Paige was giving him. Sitting down in the chair opposite, Remus crossed his booted ankles and lay his clasped hands on his lap, giving her a level look.

“I was very impressed with your wand work this morning,” Remus said. Paige nearly sighed with relief that this is what he wanted to talk about.

“It was fun,” she said, warming up to the topic, “I didn’t know I could do it.”

“I would like to propose a ‘class’ of sorts for you and your sisters while you are here. Harry and I could teach you spells and wand technique. I could ask the Headmaster to obtain wands for each of you. Your magic is strong, of course, but learning to use a wand may ease your acclimation into life at the castle. It is also the kind of magic to which the students are accustomed. There will likely be some students who know who you three are, but most will believe you to simply be new staff members. It may be best to conform to the normality the students comprehend.”

“I’d like to learn more spells. I think Phoebe and Piper would be interested too.” She smiled at him. He returned the smile warmly and tilted his head to the side slightly, gazing intently, as if trying to size her up.

“There is another matter, I believe we should discuss.”

“Oh?” Paige said warily.

“The matter of you and Harry,” Remus said evenly. Paige felt a blush coming to her cheeks, there was no way he knew.

“What about Harry?” she asked defensively.

“Paige there is no reason to pretend. I …. your sisters have told you what I am, haven’t they?” At her blank look, he shook his head chuckling. “Honestly, do you three never talk to one another?”

“I don’t understand.”

“I am a werewolf, Paige. My senses are heightened, especially hearing and smell. I know Harry kissed you this morning, I heard you. Also, the pheromones flying around whenever you two are in the same room is quite . . . intoxicating.” She looked away embarrassed that he should know of her lecherous feelings.

“I am not judging you, either of you. Indeed, I believe you would be good for him,” Remus said, a smile coming to his lips. Paige was confused, this was not the reaction she had expected. “You and Harry both are quite special people, in special circumstances. Harry obviously responds to you, and he has had so little love in his life, if you have feelings for him, I want to encourage you to act upon them.”

“You do?” Paige asked, not believing what she was hearing.

“This surprises you? You and Harry, being who you are . . . There is no guarantee that Harry will survive another meeting with Voldemort. He has been lucky before, but the future is uncertain” the man’s manner becoming grave. “He may very well not live to see 18. And, if I may be blunt, my dear, there is no guarantee you will come out of this alive either. You both deserve some happiness, if it can be found with each other, then why not. Age is such a relative issue, especially in the wizarding world.”

Paige sat in stunned silence as Remus’ arguments rolled around in her head. But he was right, life as a Charmed One was an uncertain one. Harry must feel the same way. She looked back into Remus’ golden eyes.

“Thank you,” she said, getting up to leave. Remus stood also and removed the charms from the door. Paige headed to her room to think, still not sure what she would say to Harry.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Piper laid her son down in his crib, his thumb going immediately to his mouth in his sleep. Leo sat on the bed watching them. Now or never, thought Piper. She sat down on the bed next to her husband and kissed him lightly.

“What should we do now that Wyatt’s asleep?” Leo asked, as he kissed his wife’s neck.

“I wanted to ask you how you knew that man this morning? Snape, I think his name was,” Piper asked. Leo froze and pulled back abruptly.

“I can’t discuss that.”

“I know, but honey …”

“Piper, I can’t talk about it, now drop it,” Leo said, severely. She was so surprised by the anger that had suddenly risen in him, she just stared at him for a long moment.

“Alright,” Piper said, carefully. “Can you just tell me if he was one of your charges?”

Leo let out a derisive laugh. “No, Severus was not one of my charges.”

Piper nodded.

“Is there any reason why Phoebe shouldn’t see him? She seems very interested and you know how she is.” Piper said. Leo was silent for a moment or two, thinking over his answer.

“Severus ….. is an honorable man and does work for the Order. But even if he were interested in Phoebe, he might not want to see her. That is all I can say about him,” Leo said, as he was standing. “I’m going to check in with Professor Dumbledore,” he said, just before he orbed out.

“What the hell happened between them?” she asked out loud, shaking her head. It took a lot to get Leo’s ire up and somehow this dark man had done it immediately. Well, at least this Professor shouldn’t be dangerous to Phoebe, Piper thought, that was good to know.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Paige wrung her hands nervously, as she stood in front of Harry’s bedroom door. Knocking lightly, she waited for the door to open.

“Come in, Remus,” Harry’s muffled voice called through the closed door. Opening the door, she walked in to see Harry’s bare back as he sat doing sit ups on the floor. He was facing away from her, so didn’t see who had come in.

Paige closed the door and cleared her throat. Harry sat up and turned his head to see who his visitor was. A surprised look came to his eyes, then he stood up and dried the light sheen of sweat from his skin with a towel from the bed. She couldn’t help, but follow his movements, as he ran the towel over his very well formed chest, stomach and arms. Swallowing thickly, she looked back into his eyes, feeling herself blush under his gaze. Thankfully, Harry put on his tee shirt, so Paige could think again.

“Look Paige, I’m sorry,” Harry said gruffly, not really looking at her.

“Sorry for what?” she asked, momentarily confused.

“For what? . . . For this morning, for kissing you” he said, tersely. “That is what you meant by ‘we need to talk’, wasn’t it?”

“I meant we need to talk. Please, can we sit down?” she said, going to the bed and perching on the edge. Harry looked her over carefully, but then came over and sat next to her. She could feel how defensive he was and knew she had to tread carefully.

“Harry . . . I admit I was a bit upset, when we kissed this morning.” He turned his head, but she put her hand on his jaw and gently turned his face back to look at her. “I was upset with myself for wanting it, not with you.”

Harry searched her eyes, trying to find the truth. “You wanted me to kiss you?”

“Yes.”

“But then . . . why were you upset?” he asked in a softer voice, the tone of which caused a knot to form in Page’s stomach.

“Part of my concern is the difference in our ages.” Harry nodded his understanding. “But mostly because . . . I didn’t want to be someone else using you or possibly hurt you.” They looked at each other for a few moments.

“I had a talk with Remus after lunch . . .,” she got out, just before Harry sprung from the bed, his face contorted in anger.

“And he told you to stay away from me, didn’t he? Why do they keep treating me like a child? I can make my own decisions,” Harry yelled. Paige stood and went behind him, placing a hand tentatively on his back, rubbing him gently.

“Remus loves you, Harry, very much.” She ignored the snort that came from him. Feeling the tension and anger radiating from him, she could only think of one way to dispel it at the moment. Turning him around, Paige placed a hand behind his head and tilted it down to her, kissing him firmly on the lips. He didn’t react at first, but quickly warmed up to the idea, his arms encircling her and pulling her to him. Before they got too carried away, she pulled back, keeping her arms around his neck.

“Can we please just sit down and talk?” she asked. Harry gave her a crooked grin and lead them back to the bed to sit down again. He held one of her hands in his own larger one.

“Remus made me see that…” She was unsure of how to phrase the conversation, she didn’t want to scare him. But then again Harry was mature far beyond his years, never having the luxury of childhood and he was no fool, he knew the dangers they faced. His hand squeezed hers gently.

“He’s afraid for me, isn’t he?” Harry asked. Paige nodded. “I thought as much. That isn’t why you . . .?” he asked, suddenly looking appalled.

“No” she said, smiling and shaking her head slightly. “Remus just made me see that both of our lives are . . . uncertain. If we can find comfort with each other, I shouldn’t let age stand in the way. I don’t know where this thing between us will go, but I’m willing to give it a try, if you are?”

Paige looked into his vivid green eyes. Harry brought a hand to her cheek, his thumb rubbing her lightly as he lowered his lips to hers. His kiss was more confident and demanding, causing her to melt into him, letting him take the lead. The tip of his tongue grazed her lips, begging for entrance. She parted her lips, accepting his invading tongue and caressing it with her own.

They continued the delicate dance of learning each other for some time. Harry had laid Paige back on the bed and was letting out groans of pleasure as she caressed him, running her hands over his shoulders, chest and back. As the kiss progressed, Harry became more frenzied and less sure of himself. He finally pulled back panting, looking into Paige’s eyes with a worried expression.

“Paige . . . I . . . I don’t know what to do,” he said, as his eyes danced over her face. Trying to calm herself, Paige was struck for the first time by Harry’s true innocence. He truly had no idea what to do and that seemed to make it all the more important that she not get carried away.

“Nothing. You don’t have to do anything, Harry. We’re just getting to know each other. We shouldn’t . . . We shouldn’t go farther than what we’re ready for. Relax,” she said. He let out a nervous laugh. As he looked at her, his eyes traveled down her body, resting on the sight of her hard nipples clearly visible under her shirt. She brought his hand up to her clothed breast and laid it overtop.

“You can touch me, if you want,” Paige said. She could almost hear his heart racing in his chest. His breathing was uneven as he glanced from his hand over her breast, to her face and back again. Tentatively, he moved his hand across her breast, cupping it gently. She moaned softly and he shot her a worried look.

“There’s no right or wrong, just relax,” she said, trying to reassure him. Watching him take in all these new sensations was having a marked effect on her. Consciously, she tried again to calm herself down, knowing that they could go no further, not yet. Harry needed time and experience. Though, she thought with a grin, he did appear to have natural talent.

An hour later, Harry and Paige finally emerged from his room. Harry was much happier now, relaxed and good company again. Paige was happy too, if a little tense. She made a mental note to herself to keep their time alone short, until she felt Harry was ready for a little more. As they passed the parlor on the way to the kitchen for a snack, they heard Phoebe and Piper’s voices calling them.

“Where have you been?” Piper asked, with Phoebe watching them closely. A little too closely for Paige.

“I had a talk with Remus after lunch. He’s offered to teach us how to use wands, with Harry’s help, of course.” Paige said, casting him a smile.

“Yes, Remus talked to us about that. I meant where have you been since then,” Piper said.

“Looking up charms,” Paige said, holding up the book she had been reading earlier.

“Paige has picked up the use of a wand amazingly quickly. I’m sure you two will, too,” Harry said. “Let’s go get a snack.”

Paige agreed and waved bye to her sisters. Failing to see the exchange of arched eyebrowed expressions between the women as they left.

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