Chapter Seven: A Wolf's Chance at Love
The week since the broom incident had been a humbling experience for James. Gone was the arrogance in jeering Snape as he was now the point of some ridicule. Everyone heard that for all intents and purposes, he was now sterile. Many purebloods were dying to try and usurp his title and all the girls expect Marlene, Alice and Lily weren't taking any notice to the 'seedless' scion. He didn't really mind it to be honest. He and the lads had managed to pull one over on the entire fucking Ministry of Magic. No prank would ever top that. Not unless the dancing top hat ever planned out. Then, then it would be topped.
"It'll get better James, I promise." Lily gave him a smile and a kiss on the cheek to reassure him. She thought it was a little funny, well not the jeering part but the fact that James was now being humbler and less prone to insult someone. Harry, being the intelligent little cutie, he was, was picking up on James being sad and spent most his time in either James or one of the Marauders arms, giggling or trying to cheer everyone up.
"I'm actually enjoying it Lils." James smirked, kissing Harry's forehead and rocking him gently in his arms, tickling his ribs every few seconds.
"What?" Lily asked, sitting back in the chair and watching them, a huge grin on her face at the sight of her family.
"I was always the arrogant instigator, now I finally see the pain I caused so many others to face." He explained. The feeling was of course terrible, every morning someone would slip two seedless grapes into his goblet and laugh when he picked them up. Lily had stemmed that problem by eating them one morning and saying "Seedless is the best" which shut everyone up.
Peter's attitude changed and his training began, toning his body with Muggle exercises thanks to Lily followed by spell theory training with Remus and then James and Sirius touched up on spells and different ways to keep fit. It turned out to be a confidence issue (like an unborn child who had suffered the same problem in a now gone timeline) and they were helping him through it. By losing some of the baby fat around his face and toning his body he grew several inches.
The new Peter was liked more by the female population; his teeth were now icy white and levelled with magic. He got a muggle hair dye and turned his sandy blonde hair turn brown which added a more respected look. Gone was the timid boy, who had barely any confidence, he was replaced by someone who was more confident in himself and could hold his head up high. His grades had begun to improve thanks to the tutoring.
The next couple of months had quickly passed and saw all sorts of new changes, Sirius and Marlene had cemented into a couple much to the joy of Lily who deemed every Hogsmeade weekend 'couples dates' between James and Lily, Alex and Rebecca, and Sirius and Marlene. Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop had become the Dementor in the guys' lives. Being stuck in that hellhole of a tea shop was worse than anything the three could imagine, even more so than the girls all talking super-fast.
"This is absolute hell." Alex muttered, banging his head on the table, his curly black hair bouncing on his head. "How can blokes come here?" He glanced around at the other tables, noticing some of the more promiscuous females had their hands under the table, while he was listening to Rebecca go at a thousand words a second.
"Usually you come here to snog, not to listen to that!" Sirius moaned, hearing Marlene speaking faster than humanly possible.
"No offence Paddy, but I'm not snogging you." James smirked, sipping on a cup of coffee.
"So, how's it going now James? With all the slagging and all…" Alex asked, smiling sympathetically to him.
"It's strange," James chuckled, watching Lily laugh with her friends. "I mean I've never exactly been on the receiving end of the jeers before, I've always been the jeerer and now I'm on the other side. And to be completely honest…I love it."
Alex and Sirius raised their eyebrows and shrugged, listening to the sound of women speaking a thousand words a second and thinking the same collective thought as James; I'm never coming here again as long as I live…
James and Lily finally managed to finish their History of Magic class, James of course had fallen asleep which meant Lily spent most the class stabbing his hand with a quill to wake him up. They had potions next and neither of them was looking forward to it, Slughorn had gotten very interested in them since Harry arrived. Gritting their teeth, they took their place with Sirius and Peter, while Remus seemed to be chatting with one of the Puffs, and a cute one at that.
Slughorn walked and as usual, James and Sirius instantly made a walrus impression. "Ha-ha, very good boys, six years and still every class, a point from Gryffindor, each. And do try and find some new material. I daresay you're becoming predictable." Slughorn chortled and approached the board. "Now, a big part of the N.E.W.T exams is showing that you have the ability to create one of four 'dangerous if done wrong' potions." He tapped his wand, making four potion names appear.
Felix Felicis
Animagi Potion
Amortentia
Polyjuice Potion
"You will break into teams of four and create one of the potions." He explained, sipping some tea on his desk. "Now, I'm going to make the teams. Potter, Black, Evans and Pettigrew you seem fine. Lupin, you and Bones will team with Snape and McKinnon. Longbottom, your fiancée and yourself can work with Andrews and Lovegood. Prewett boys, you can team up with Griffin and Greengrass." Everyone nodded at their teams. "Each team pick your potion. Be warned, your potion will be the one your team will have to make when it comes to the exam."
"Amortentia," Fabian Prewett called out with a grin.
"Animagi Potion." James called out.
"Felix Felicis." Remus called out quickly, since Polyjuice wouldn't work on him.
"We'll do Polyjuice then." Frank nodded, as the team split up and began working on their assignments.
"Amelia, can I talk to you?" Marlene called out, catching up with the Hufflepuff, she knew she shouldn't interfere but Remus was her friend and she wanted him to be happy for once.
"Sure Marlene, walk and talk." Amelia smiled to her, her red hair tied into a ponytail and her glasses hanging off her face slightly. "I'm guessing this is about why I was talking to Remus?"
"Yeah, I'm just looking out for my friend." Marlene clarified, walking with the girl. "Remus is pretty shy around women; I was just wondering how you knew him?"
"We're friends Marlene; we grew up near each other." Amelia told her, being careful not to let her know about the lycanthropy.
"Oh," Marlene smiled a little, maybe she needed to play matchmaker instead of concerned mate. "Ever thought about dating him?"
Amelia chuckled nervously, she tried asking Remus out a few times…she knew he didn't want to because of the lycanthropy and the fact the biased way she'd be treated. "I'd consider it, but Remy's too nice of a guy to actually ask me out. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if he isn't chasing the other team." She smiled weakly, thinking of the best way to say it.
"Come on Amelia, please?" Marlene begged. "Look, Lily, Alice, Rebecca and I take the lads to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop for a group date. Will you come with us? We'll tell Remus we got him a blind date."
Amelia sighed and after a minute, nodded. "Ok, but he had better behave himself." She winked and smiled.
Remus didn't know why, but a chill just ran down his spine in Ancient Runes.
Marlene quickly ran to her next class, Health and Safety, with the best teacher's aide ever, Harry. "Girls, I've found Remus a date!" Alice and Lily stared gobsmacked at her, she had basically done the impossible, beside a day out with Lily that couldn't really be considered a date, Remus had never really dated anyone.
"Oh really, who's it with?" Lily grinned.
"Amelia 'Jugs' Bones." Marlene smiled smugly, opening her book. "What's today's lesson?"
"Nappy changing and proper powdering," Lily smirked at her, looking sweetly. "And you've just volunteered."
"What?" Marlene gulped and looked at a giggling Harry. "You mean I have to...?"
"Yep," Lily laughed, popping the 'p'. "And he's just in need of a change."
Marlene scowled and nodded, going into the middle of the room. "Mawlene," Harry giggled, smiling at the teen. "Yes chicken, it's me." She smiled back and slowly undid the nappy, breathing through her mouth so she wouldn't gag, the smell was terrible. Taking the baby wipes, she gently cleaned Harry's bum and scourgified the nappy, changing it for a fresh one, she powdered him and added some anti-rash cream before fastening the new one. "And, done, that wasn't so hard!"
"Impressive Marlene, take 10 points for Gryffindor." Professor Plank smiled. "Unfortunately, girls, this'll be the last class." She said sadly. All the girls groaned the class was fun for them; they got to learn all the basics about raising babies which they wanted to know. For some of the other girls it was a great opportunity to cuddle Harry if they weren't from Gryffindor. "You've completed your six months." She handed them all a cert. "And let's hear it for our little helper, Harry." All the girls walked over and kissed his cheeks, getting a group picture taken.
"So, we'll owl Rebecca, it's going to be one fun Hogsmeade weekend next month." Marlene grinned, holding Harry in her arms and kissing his cheek. "You're so cute I could just eat you up." She cooed, playfully nibbling on his cheek and hearing him giggle with joy.
Remus was nervous; James had been the one to tell him about the date, he didn't want to bother trying for love, he was cursed and he didn't want some poor girl being cursed for knowing him, it was only his curse after all. Why were these damn girls so insistent on him dating? They left Peter alone! Why was he the one they singled out every time they wanted to play matchmaker. He'd have to plan a prank on them. Itching powder in Lily's underwear. Hair removal potion in Marlene's shampoo. Switch Alice's birth control with laxatives. He smirked to himself as he planned it all out.
Shaking the thoughts from his head as James had warned him "If Lily thinks you're not trying…she'll hex you!" he was sure that was a viable threat. Reluctantly, he made his way down to Hogsmeade with the boys, the agreement being that it was a blind date and Remus wouldn't be allowed to know anything until then. Reaching the tea shop that instantly put a chill on all the men's spines, they entered and were told to go to the Three Broomsticks, and they were gone in a second.
Arriving all the guys, including Remus, grinned, the tables were all singles. Bidding each other a happy date they all split into groups. Remus was surprised when his lady was none other than Amelia Bones. "I see you've finally gotten yourself a date with me." He chuckled, sitting across from her.
"I have indeed, my little wolfie." She chuckled with him and handed him a Butterbeer.
"Cheers." He smiled and toasted with her. "Millie, I thought we agreed…"
"Remy…" She sighed and held his hand. "We've been friends since we were five…I agreed to keep our friendship." She smiled and stroked his cheek softly. "Please, just give us a chance?"
"Fine…" He nodded, smiling at her. "You'll be a pariah if anyone finds out though."
"And I don't care, you thick mutt." She laughed, pulling him in for a long overdue kiss.
James and Lily watched what was happening and smiled, their friend found love. Now if they could only find someone for Pettigrew. Lily's mind was already going through names of girls who were openly ogling the new and improved Peter Pettigrew. She'd have him with someone before the year was out.
Finally letting Amelia in had created a new personality in Remus, although he was still worried, he was also smiling and laughing twice as much which was evident since he spent all his available time playing little games with Harry. As for little Harry, his speech had improved over the last month, he could finally pronounce his 'R's'. "Remy, let me down!" He whined his speech seemed to be good enough to say small sentences, much to the pleasure of James and Lily.
"Ok, cub." Remus laughed and kissed the boy's forehead, placing him down to run around.
"You look happier, Remus." James smiled and watched Harry chase around Lily's cat.
"Millie is a friend of mine; I pushed her away years ago when I was turned…" Remus explained, smiling softly at Harry. "When I turned, a lot of my neighbours told my parents the nice thing to do was abandon me with my own kind…the Bones fought tooth and nail to make sure I was kept with my family. I became a lone wolf no pun intended," He chuckled at the term of phrase. "Amelia would come over and talk to me…I never usually talked back but it was enough for me to feel happy. When we came here the house barrier gave me a reason, now…now I want to be happy, James."
James grinned widely. "I told you that when you were twelve, you dumb ol' mutt." He joked, playfully punching his arm. "Look Remus, Sirius has Marlene, Frank has Alice, I have Lils and even Alex has Rebecca. You deserve someone too. Look at how much has changed man…we don't know what it was like in Harry's time, but I bet you that your dumbass never asked out that beautiful girl."
"I know…I wonder what was going to happen to him in his time." Remus wondered out loud.
"Well…if my parents were still around, they'd take him, or the Evans', maybe Frank and Alice, Sirius, you, P-Peter," They agreed that their Peter was better than Harry's timelines one. "I'm guessing worse case, he'd be sent to Lily's sister."
"Who hates magic?"
"Yep, magical law would allow her to raise him…although I would hope that wouldn't have happened…"
"Neither would I." Lily said, walking in and smiling. "I love Tuni, but that woman hates magic with a passion…I wouldn't curse Harry by making him live with her."
"Well, let's get the little tyke into the bath." James smiled, quickly walking out with Remus so they could avoid the job.
"JAMES POTTER!" Lily shouted.
James was going to pay for that one. But at the present moment, it was survival of the fittest, and he was ensuring his survival. Harry did not like taking baths. And he didn't like dealing with a splashing baby before bed.
