He blinked and looked at me, astonished. I saw Potter look at me and frowning, his face full with disapproval. I was pretty sure Lupin hadn't told him about us. I was also pretty sure Potter did not like me being here. However, I wasn't known for letting that stop me. I smirked and folded my arms, challenging Potter to say something about it. He didn't. He turned back to Evans, but not without giving sideway glances every now and than.

'You too.' My attention flickered back to Lupin. He looked tense and I did not feel at all welcome. I was used to that, but it made me have to reconsider my strategy. Not that I had one. I leaned my weight on my other foot and automatically put my hand through my black hair.

'Are you going to the party?' I asked. Lupin looked at Potter as if that would give him the answer, but Potter seemed to have forgotten all about him. He was now drooling over Evans once more. Eventually, Lupin turned back to me. He looked uncomfortable. His green eyes were big and his brows were furrowed into a frown.

'I think so, yes,' he said after a fairly long silence. A smile lit up my face. Not the smirk I usually carried, but a genuine and contagious smile. Lupin flushed. 'Are you going?' he asked, but it seemed he was rather asking it to break the tension than really out of interest. I studied him and wondered what was going on inside him. I was pretty sure he was remembering the night after the last party, since his cheeks grew an even darker shade of red.

'Yes, I am going to,' I said. I paused. 'I was wondering if you..-' 'Come on Moony, lets go. We need to get ready for the party,' Potter interrupted. He put his arm around Lupin and started to steer him away. Mid-turn he stopped and looked at me.

'If you lack attention, Black, go snog Snivellus… you faggot,' he spat. I pulled up an eyebrow and automatically, my hand flew to my wand. I wasn't going to let anyone call me a "faggot" — even though it was true — and especially not Potter.

'Excuse me, but I-.' Again, I was interrupted. This time it was by Lupin.

'Come on Prongs, lets just go,' he muttered. It was obvious he had meant Potter with "Prongs", but for a moment I wondered what was up with the weird nicknames. Potter gave me a nasty look and turned around. The group of Gryffindors started to walk away from me, but Lupin looked over his shoulders one last time. The look he gave me seemed almost pitying. I didn't return it. Angrily I turned around and stormed off, back to my own friends. Severus was waiting for me, looking suspicious.

'What were you doing with Potter?' he asked, accusing.

'Telling him what an arrogant git he is,' I said, forcing myself to smirk. Severus grinned back, looking like he had as much difficulty as me with putting on a good face. I looked away in the direction of Lupin and Potter. The two of them were having a heated discussion and based on the looks directed my way, I was able to guess who they were talking about.

My mood had dropped completely. I had looked forward to the party for quite a while, but now I was here, I just wanted to go home. I had just bought a small apartment in London. My uncle Alphard had left me quite a bit of money. Even though my parents didn't really approve of me moving out, I was now old enough to do so. I was going to move everything after the graduation party and from then I was planning on joining His forces. I had been looking at jobs that would suit me, but except for becoming an "auror", nothing really seemed to interest me. The problem with being an auror, however, was that it meant catching dark wizards. I would have to lock myself up in Azkaban as soon as I started, which was rather inconvenient.

I sighed and leaned with my head against the wall. I had avoided my friends, because for one night I didn't want to discus evil plans and bully other students with dark magic. It wasn't like I had ever enjoyed doing that, it was just that tonight I absolutely loathed it, but I guess that had more to do with my mood than with anything else. I closed my eyes and stifled a yawn. I wanted to rub my eyes, but remembered I was wearing mascara and a bit of eyeliner. I didn't want to smudge that and look like a panda. When I opened my eyes, I slowly got up and walked over to the bar. I ordered two fire whiskeys and thanked the bartender with a sly smile. One of my glasses was already empty before I reached my seat again, but when I wanted to finish the second one, I was disturbed. In front of me stood no other than Remus Lupin, in his suit, complete with tie and a small flower in his front pocket. My eyes darted to the flower there and I pulled up one eyebrow. I did not speak to him and turned my gaze back to my glass, which I then shotted.

'Excuse me,' I said when I got up. 'I need to get a drink.' When I wanted to pass the other boy, he stopped me. I frowned at him. 'What do you want? Do you want to tell me I should go snog "Snivellus", just like that arrogant friend of you told me? Or are you here to call me a faggot, because that would be a bit hypocritical.' I wanted to walk away from him again, but staggered. Maybe I had had a bit too many drinks. As I lost my balance, I could see the floor coming closer, but before my pretty face could collide with the floor of the Great Hall, someone grabbed me. Lupin pulled me up, carrying a worried expression on his face. I managed to regain my balance and shook his hands off me. I glowered at him.

'Sirius…,' he muttered. 'I am sorry for James, he did not mean that and…' 'Don't call me "Sirius", you can call me Black, that's how all my non-friends call me and you are not my friend.' Remus looked taken aback, but he got himself together rather quickly.

'I'm sorry, alright? I… well… I am sorry I…kissed,' the last word he whispered so softly, I barely heard it…, '—you and… ignored you after that.' A bark of laughter left my throat and I looked at him in mock surprise. When I saw he was looking serious, my face fell.

'Go away Lupin, I am not interested in guys who pretend they are something else than they really are, just because they think they will be accepted better that way.' Lupin looked lost for words momentarily. It was like he had expected me to accept his apology and take him away on my white horse into the sunset.

'You're one to talk,' he muttered eventually and he looked me into the eyes. Realization dawned on me and a rush of anger and sadness swelled up in me, increased by the large amount of alcohol in my body. The feelings weren't particularly directed towards him, more to myself, but that didn't stop me from taking it out on him.