There are many different ways to fall in love. Some people are hit by it, like a hammer, it just happens. Others find one day that feelings had for a friend have gradually intensified, quite beyond their knowledge, into love. For Remus it was different. The feeling bubbled up inside him from a place deep down he didn't really know existed. Not fierce, not sudden, not gradual either, but gentle and persistent and... beautiful. He knew at once that he loved her, and yet he did not know.
Remus was walking down the corridor with his fellow Marauders. James Potter, running his hands through his already messy hair, Sirius Black, strolling with his easy grace and Peter Pettigrew, jogging slightly to keep pace with the taller boys' long strides. They rounded a corner and were collided with by a flurry of black, yellow and bubblegum pink. The girl then proceeded to fall sprawling on the floor, dropping all the textbooks and parchment she was carrying and spilling ink over all of them.
Remus was shocked at the sudden collision, but, being as he was, knelt to help the young Hufflepuff.
"Come on, Moony." James sighed.
Yeah she bumped into us. Let her deal with her crap." Grumbled Sirius, without actually looking at the girl but checking out a group of Ravenclaws in the corner.
But Remus just shot them a dirty look and continued helping the fallen girl.
When all the books had been picked up and rid of ink with a flick of Remus' wand, he reached out to help her up. As she rose her pink hair fell from her face and Lupin's hazel eyes locked on hers, cornflower blue, then changing to green, then hazel and back to blue.
A warm bubbling feeling arose in Remus looking into those ever changing eyes. They stood for a moment before he caught himself.
"You OK?" Remus asked kindly, shaking his head slightly to try and rid himself of the warm woozy feeling.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." The girl answered blushing a dark red that was mirrored in her hair before scurrying off.
"Who was that?" asked Remus, looking back at the slight shape hurrying down the corridor.
"Oh that's Drommie's daughter, Nymphadora her name is." Sirius replied lazily.
Remus said nothing as he watched Nymphadora Tonks turn the corner and disappear out of his sight.
Suddenly James snorted with laughter, making Peter jump in fright. "You fancy her don't you, Moony?" he accused still laughing.
Sirius span on his heel to look at Lupin. "You do know what age she is don't you?" he asked.
" Well... um... no, but... who says I even like her?" stuttered Moony.
"I could see you drooling over her you know." laughed Prongs.
"Shut up Potter." Sirius snapped, "She's fourth year Lupin, and you're seventh, it's practically illegal! You try anything with her and I'll kick your arse you hear me?"
Remus tried to argue but no words would come, not that anything would help the situation. The dark haired boy clapped him on the shoulder in companionship but Remus was quiet on the way to common room as the others talked and laughed loudly.