A/N: Chappie number four :) By the way, for the first two chapters I had Amity as Alicia- but I decided I liked Amity better, so Alicia is Amity. Same person, different name. Got it? Cool.
* * *
James was laughing hysterically at something Sirius had said, but Remus was surprisingly unperturbed. Sirius looked at him sternly: he knew something was wrong.
"Moony, why aren't you laughing?" he asked.
"Just because you say a joke doesn't mean it will be funny," he snapped, his eyes not straying from his book.
"There's something up with you," said James.
"No. There isn't. Leave me alone, will you?" he growled.
"There most certainly is something wrong with our Moony," said Sirius.
"Indeed," agreed James, "He's getting feisty."
"Very," teased Sirius.
"I think we need a man-to-man talk, don't you think Padfoot?"
"Why I certainly do, Prongs."
"Moony. Up," commanded Sirius.
"I'm not a dog, Sirius," cracked Remus.
Sirius's eyes narrowed, "Moony, Moony, Moony- there is something amiss with you and we're going to find out what it is. So you comply or there will be dire consequences."
Remus rolled his eyes and got up, curious to see what the two would do to try to get him to talk. They got upstairs and Remus sat on his bed while James and Sirius paced in front of him.
"It's definitely girl problems," said Sirius.
"Is it?" asked James.
Remus hesitated, but nodded slowly. Sirius and James high-fived each other happily.
"Now we just have to find out who."
"Right-o, Padfoot."
"Is it that hot blonde chick in Ravenclaw?" asked Sirius, "She's a brilliant snogger, let me tell you- I think it'd be a good choice for you Remmy-boy."
"No," Remus said simply.
"How about that brainy Hufflepuff? The one that sits in front of us in Ancient Runes?"
He sighed, "No."
"Well, Moony, we're going to be here all day- just bloody tell us, mate!" cried Sirius.
Remus faltered; was he really just going to spill out his feelings to his friends, right here and now? Of course, he thought; he was just being stupid- they were his friends, and he hoped that he could trust them with keeping something as secret as this.
"Macey," he croaked.
James landed with a thump on the ground, but he quickly got up.
"Macey?!" they cried.
"Yes- yes, why? Is that bad?" he asked.
"No- I just didn't think you'd go for her, is all," said James, "Kind of unexpected. We're all just so good friends- except for me and Evans," he spat.
"Well, I do- I have this urge to go over and just hold her. She's so beautiful, Prongs, have you seen her? One look at her honey glazed hazel eyes and I melt. I, an almost full-grown werewolf, melt. But I haven't even gotten the chance to say anything to her about it. I looked up today and her eyes met mine and it was like everything around me went black; I only saw her."
Sirius whistled, "Mate, you're in pretty deep here."
"I know," said Remus, "But I like it," he added as an afterthought.
James raised an eyebrow, "You like liking someone when you don't know if they like you back?"
Remus nodded, "It feels like I don't need to be with her to be happy- just knowing that I get to see her every day is enough; to hear her laugh and talk about random things that I don't even understand. I love that."
"Padfoot," said James in mock-pride, "I think our little Moony is in love."
Remus suddenly stood up, "Prongs, I think I am. I really think I am in love with her. I can't get her out of my head. Even when I'm taking a test- she's there! Every day I wait for her to pop into my mind, and I love thinking about her; I love Macey…"
"Well, go do something about it!" cried James.
"W-what do you mean?" said Remus, overcome by the sudden rush of emotion.
"Ask her to the ball- ask her to be your date!" said Sirius.
"I think I will," said Remus, surprising himself, "I think I will."
* * *
Macey was sitting silently by herself in the library reading up for her upcoming Transfiguration exam. She jumped as a yellow rose slowly floated down from the ceiling and onto her lap.
"Macey."
She turned around to find Remus's face very close to her own.
"Hello, Remus," she whispered.
"Macey, will you go to the masquerade ball with me?"
Macey was caught by surprise but nonetheless filled with a sense of euphoria she had never felt before. Laughing, she answered quickly, "I'd love to."
Remus swept down and kissed her on the cheek and couldn't stop himself from talking, "I know this might sound really rushed and really strange but ever since the first day I saw you on the train I knew there was something special about you, Macey. I don't know what it was but I just couldn't stop myself from staring at you. You're beautiful."
Macey blushed, "Thank you."
"I'm serious, Macey, I think- I think I love you."
Everything was quiet except for Remus's heavy breathing. He loved her? Was he saying the truth? Could Remus, the boy she'd been crushing on since first year, really really love her?
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to, if you don't want to, or if you don't feel the same way. Its okay, I just wanted to let you know because I couldn't contain myself anymore."
Macey shook her head, smiling, "It's not that I don't feel for you, Remus," she said, causing Remus's heart to flip, "It's just that I don't know how to put it into words. And I don't know if I love you- but I must be very close to doing so."
Remus just smiled, and Macey just couldn't stop herself from kissing him.
* * *
"Great, now I'm going to be the only one without a date!"
"Lily," said Macey, "Please don't make me feel bad. Just because I'm going with Remus doesn't mean that I won't pay attention to you."
"Oh, Macey no," breathed Lily, "I know that you're so happy right now. And I'm just kidding; I'll be fine, I promise." Although inside she felt that the ball was going to make her feel lonely. Especially since today they were going to go buy their dress robes.
"We're going to Hogsmeade right?" asked Amity.
"Yes, we were going to leave but we're waiting for your sister."
Amity groaned, "I don't understand why she just doesn't go with her friends."
"They're fighting, remember."
"That whole story is beginning to feel a bit suspicious, personally."
Lily rolled her eyes, "Oh, Amity, why would she lie? I'm sure she enjoys hanging out with her friends more than hanging out with us."
"I wouldn't be so sure."
At that very moment Janelle busted into the room, her hair messy and her lipstick slightly smudged, "I'm so sorry! I forgot the time- the staircases started moving- didn't know where to go-
"Relax, Janelle, just fix your lipstick though," said Amity.
Janelle gasped and quickly ran to the bathroom, fixed her appearance, and made her way out so that they could finally go to the village. When they arrived, they automatically went to the most glamorous looking shop. They were all willing to spend many months' allowances on looking stunning for the ball.
"Macey, oh look at this one- it would go beautifully with your eyes," said Janelle, holding up a robe that most certainly would compliment the dark honey tone of her eyes. It was a dark chocolate chiffon robe that had a closed neck and no sleeves. In the back it had a thin opening that started at the button by the neck and ended at the very tip of the end of her back. When she came out of the dressing room everyone 'ooohed' and 'aaaahed.' It was safe to say that she looked absolutely amazing.
"Do you really like it?" she asked shyly, admiring herself in the mirror.
"It looks gorgeous," said Lily.
"Do you think…Remus would like it?" she asked even more quietly.
"Well he'd be blind not to!" cried Amity in mock outrage.
Macey grinned and went to go pay for her dress robe. Meanwhile, Janelle had pulled out a stunning emerald robe with a plunging v-neck and long triangular sleeves.
"Lily Evans," she called, "This robe is calling your name."
Lily looked at the v-neck cautiously, but tried it on anyways. Before coming out, she checked to see that everything was in place, and when she did step out everyone cheered. Lily blushed.
"Lily you look extremely attractive," complimented Amity.
"It's absolutely striking," said Macey, who had just come from the cash register.
"The boy that asks you to the ball will be the luckiest man alive," said Janelle, "And I'm sure you will be asked, Lily, if not, I'll give you one hundred million galleons!"
"We don't have that much money, Janelle," teased Amity, "But I must admit you are fantastic at picking out these robes- get me one!"
Janelle laughed and picked out another robe surprisingly fast. This one was made of white silk and had a halter top with a bare back.
Amity nearly swayed on the spot, "It's perfect! Janelle, I love that you are my sister."
Janelle smiled, "Glad to be of service."
Amity nearly tore down the dressing room door; she changed speedily and came out striking a pose. Everyone laughed and clapped.
"It really does look beautiful, Amity," said Lily.
"Alright, that's good enough for me," she said, "I'm going to buy it."
"Which robe are you getting?" Macey asked Janelle.
"That's a surprise," she said slyly, "You'll see in the ball." And to everyone's wonder, she already had a bag in it with the concealed dress robe inside.
* * *
Sirius had been gone for about an hour and James was not at all wondering where he was. Obviously, he was in some dark corner snogging some girl…Ah, the mysteries of Sirius.
"Hello, Prongs." Sirius strutted in the room, for some reason quite pleased with himself.
"Padfoot, what's gotten in to you?"
"One of the best snogs in my life, that's what," he said, grinning impishly.
"Who was it this time?" said James, not really curious.
"My date to the ball," he said, "You know? I think it's going to be great fun."
James laughed, "I doubt I'll be seeing you much during the ball, then."
Sirius nodded, "When I kiss her it's like nothing I've ever felt before."
James raised an eyebrow, could Sirius, the well known player, finally be slightly serious about a girl?
* * *
A/N: I know the Remus/Macey thing seemed kind of rushed but this is why: they both have never had a boyfriend or girlfriend in their whole lives; they've only liked each other, which is why when they find out that the other likes them back their feelings are so strong and powerful. They've never had someone even remotely close to how they are to one another now. It's something brand new, and they're taking the bull by the horns, basically. Review, please!!