"Lily," Magdalene said very seriously as the two girls cut through the courtyard with their cloaks pulled tightly around them. "Would you be mad at me if I didn't tell you when I started dating someone?"
"No," Lily said. She paused for a moment and looked at Magdalene with raised eyebrows. "Are you dating someone?"
"Yes," Magdalene nodded her head.
"How long?"
"A few weeks now," she whispered in response. "You sure you're not going to be mad?"
"Why would I be mad?"
Magdalene shrugged. "You don't know how it is yet."
Lily stared at Magdalene as they entered the west wing of the castle.
"Remus?" whispered Lily.
Magdalene looked at her best friend with some surprise which caused Lily to laugh.
"Please, Maggie, give me some credit. I'm not blind."
"But if you've noticed…do you think Sirius, James and Peter have?"
"No, because they're boys," Lily giggled. "So you're Remus's Foxy? I thought so but I didn't want to assume, nor did I want to ask and be wrong…that'd be awkward." Lily laughed and hooked her arm with Magdalene. "Imagine Sirius's face when he finds out that he's been calling you Foxy all this time."
"I know," Magdalene giggled like a school girl.
"Why hide the relationship though?"
Magdalene sighed slightly. "Remus was really worried that Sirius would get mad, because like you, he thinks that Sirius still likes me. I told him it didn't matter, but he wanted to keep it this way for now, that way he can tell Sirius himself and it can be handled maturely. I don't mind it because I know it's going to blow Sirius away when he finds out and that gives me some grim satisfaction on the inside."
"You're sick and twisted."
"You thought of it too," said Magdalene quickly in her defense.
Lily laughed. "Yes, I suppose I did. When is Remus going to tell him?"
"Soon," Magdalene answered. "Definitely before we leave for holiday next week…I think he's waiting for Sirius to push him again that way it can just look like he's giving into answering Sirius's questions about Foxy."
Lily laughed again. "It's so funny. I don't know if I'll be able to keep a straight face around them."
"You'd better," Magdalene said pinching Lily's arm to get her attention. "Remus will never forgive you if you let our secret out before he does."
Lily nodded her head. "I won't, I won't. I swear."
"Okay good," Magdalene smiled. "I was going to say…don't make me regret telling you."
"I won't…you could rip my face off!" Lily laughed loudly and Magdalene shook her head.
"Demetrius shouldn't have said that. I didn't actually rip her face off. I just scratched her and slapped her…scratching her more."
"Still…that's pretty violent."
"Fair enough," Magdalene shrugged.
"Speaking of Demetrius…how is he holding your business together?"
"I don't even know what my business is and frankly I could careless if it fell to pieces. But I know Demetrius, so I know that he knows the business like the back of his hand and that he's going to take care of it. He only knows one thing better then that business."
"What's that?"
"Me," said Magdalene sadly.
"Does Demetrius know you're dating Remus?" Lily asked cautiously.
"No," Magdalene shook her head. "He doesn't have the right to know…it will only make him mad."
"I think Demetrius will surprise you."
"What makes you say that? You only met him for a few moments."
"I just think he cares about you more then you give him credit for," Lily said smartly. "And he's accepted that you've moved on but that doesn't mean he's going to stop loving you."
"Hmm. You really think that he loves me?"
"You don't need to be an empath to see that," said Lily with a smirk which caused Magdalene to frown.
"I'm an empath and I can't figure out any of these boys for the life me."
"Well you obviously figured out Remus enough."
"Remus is kind and sweet," said Magdalene with a girlish grin. "He's very tender and smart…and listens to me when I talk…and I listen to him. You're right, I did figure out Remus but that's because he's simple. And I like that."
The girls entered the Great Hall and moved between the House tables heading for where James, Remus and Sirius were already sitting. Peter was coming up on the other side of the table looking out of place. He had no confidence and Magdalene smelled weakness on him. His lack of confidence was going to get him into trouble. She frowned slightly and sat down next to Remus. Lily sat on her other side across from James who took her hand and kissed it.
"Oh please," sighed Sirius rolling his eyes and taking a drink of his apple cider.
"Just because you're not getting any doesn't mean the rest of us have to suffer," said James.
"We're suffering enough as it is because you're grumpier when you're not dating someone," said Remus said with a sigh.
"Speaking of dating," said Sirius jumping on the conversation right away. "When are you going to tell us?"
"When I'm married and have kids."
"With Foxy?" Magdalene said looking at Remus with surprise. He looked at her for a few moments.
"No," he said. "Just in general."
Magdalene smiled and nodded. Sirius was looking between the two of them with awkward eyes.
"Something is going on between you two," said Sirius.
"Yea," Magdalene said. "Something is." She smirked at Sirius who was just staring at her now. He pulled his eyes away from her and looked back at Remus.
"Come on mate," he begged Remus. "I need something…I have to live through you!"
"James is dating someone," Remus motioned to Lily. "You can live through him."
Lily laughed loudly and shook her head as Sirius looked at Remus like he just suggested he kiss Dumbledore himself. Magdalene laughed and served herself some casserole. She could feel Sirius's annoyance with her span across the table and she looked up at him. Along with annoyance, Sirius was incredibly curious about her today. She frowned and began to eat. She didn't want to think about his feelings.
"How much am I going to have to beg?" asked Sirius.
"You should just tell him, Remus," Magdalene said. "He's going to be really annoying over holiday if you don't."
Remus looked at Magdalene with raised eyebrows because he knew that she had enjoyed seeing Sirius beg and sweat about who Remus was dating. He raised his eyebrows at her and she nodded, encouraging him. Remus sighed and looked across the table at Sirius who was waiting with raised eyebrows.
"Well?"
"The precious creature you've been calling Foxy," Remus hesitated for a moment, which was too long for Sirius.
"She doesn't exist!" Sirius shouted with a large grin. He laughed loudly and clapped the table. "Remus, you're such a bastard!"
"No, Sirius," Remus shook his head with aggravation. Magdalene frowned and leaned over, kissing Remus full on the mouth. She kissed him slowly, letting her tongue slip into his mouth and lips linger on his. He kissed her slowly in return, sliding his hand up her neck to her cheek with delicate fingers, which sent shivers through her body. She pulled away with a small smile and smacked her lips as she sat up straight.
Everyone at the table, with the exception of Lily, was looking flabbergasted. Sirius's mouth was on the floor in shock and Magdalene couldn't help but smile.
"What?" Sirius finally said.
"Maggie and I are dating," Remus said. He packed up his things and finished his glass of milk. "I'll see you all later."
He stood up and leaned over Magdalene, kissing her forehead for a brief moment then walked away. Magdalene followed him with glassy eyes and turned her smiling face to Sirius, James and Peter across the table.
"You knew?" James said to Lily with surprise.
"Just found out before lunch," said Lily with a shrug.
"You're really dating?" Sirius asked. "This isn't some joke?"
"Why would we joke about this?" Magdalene snapped. "You're just mad that he's dating me."
"No," Sirius shook his head. "I'm very proud that Remus finally got a girlfriend…I just don't see you and him…"
"Together," said Peter softly. Magdalene flashed a glare at him and he frowned, looking at his plate.
"Well it's a good thing we didn't ask your opinion," said Magdalene with a shrug.
"When did this happen?" Sirius questioned. "How did this happen?" He still seemed to be in a state of disbelief.
"I know it's hard for you to understand how something like 'Remus and I' happened," Magdalene said with a small smirk. "Because its impossible for you to feel true human emotions like love, Sirius, but if you really want to know it was just a spark of friendship that grew into something more."
"A spark of friendship?" Sirius questioned. "A spark of friendship is what gets you going at night…makes you all hot and bothered and gives you a desire for more of someone?"
"I was talking about love, not sex," Magdalene said sharply.
"You need to have sexual attractions to have a relationship."
"Remus and I aren't just going to jump in the sack, Sirius."
"Maybe you should," Sirius shrugged. "I've been saying for ages that Remus just needs a good shag and then he'll be set straight about all this lovey-dovey-mushy crap."
"You are a disgusting pig," Magdalene said standing up. "I'll see you in class, Lily."
"I'll come with you," Lily said jumping up and grabbing her bag. She followed Magdalene out of the Great Hall quickly. "Don't let him get to you, Maggie."
"I wasn't planning on it," Magdalene said sorely as she marched away. She was angry that Sirius would say such insensitive things about her and Remus's relationship; although perhaps she should have expected such a reaction. Sure, it was new and innocent, nothing like she had ever experienced before, but Magdalene liked it. And truly, Magdalene had never had a boyfriend before…she didn't really consider Demetrius a boyfriend, just a lover who she never got to have completely because of her Father. She wasn't going to let Sirius take away from this relationship like her Father had taken away from her and Demetrius's.
Later that evening, Magdalene had planned to meet Remus in the library to study. She was running a little late after dinner—which Remus hadn't been at—and entered the library hastily. As she headed for the back corner of the library, where she and Remus liked to study, she heard quick slightly raised voices. She recognized both of them, and was surprised to hear them. Sirius and Remus were arguing in low voices. Magdalene frowned as she approached and stopped at the end of the bookshelf to ease drop on their conversation, which she felt only a little guilty about.
"Why would you go after her, when you knew I was set on her?" Sirius questioned furiously.
"Why would you go after Miranda when Maggie was set on you?" Remus retorted.
"You sound like her best mate, not her boyfriend," Sirius's voice was very bitter and when Magdalene leaned forward a little to look around the corner she saw that he was sitting on the opposite side of the table as Remus, who's back was to her. Magdalene didn't need to see Remus to know that he was frustrated and angry with Sirius. She could feel his rage reverberating off the bookshelves. It was a good thing that Remus was a werewolf and not a vampire capable of telekinetic powers otherwise he would have destroyed the bookshelves with his angry tension by now.
"I'm happy that you finally got someone, Remus, I am, but why did it have to be her?"
"Its not like I choose to like her, Sirius," said Remus with a loud sigh. He threw his pen down and crossed his arms over his chest. "I didn't think, oh Sirius is dating Miranda now, I'll go after Maggie while she's free…I've liked her since we met. She and I have something in common."
"I just don't see you handling her," said Sirius standing up. "I can't believe you're choosing her over our friendship. You've known her for what…three or four months…you've known me for six years!"
"Sirius," Remus rubbed his face. "You're being over dramatic, but if that's how you want to think, that I'm choosing her over you, you're making the choice pretty damn easy."
Magdalene frowned and backed away from the bookshelf. She bit her bottom lip and turned around, walking away quickly and exiting the library.
There was a strange, horrid feeling rising in her stomach as she walked out of the library and down the corridor. She was so caught up in her thoughts and over whelmed feelings that she didn't even realize she had walked all the way outside onto the grounds. She found herself standing in front of the frozen over lake, staring at the glassy ice.
Magdalene felt that she was causing all the problems her friends were facing—she was the stake that was dividing their friendship. Remus and Sirius weren't going to talk to each other anymore because of her, James and Sirius didn't agree on most things and were growing apart because of how Magdalene revealed Sirius's emotions and behaviors. Magdalene wiped quick tears off her cheeks and sighed. Despite being away from Palazzo del Te, where she was constantly told that she wasn't good at anything, and she was the reason for every bad thing that had happened in the house, she still felt that she was responsible for the messiness that was life.
"Magdalene?" questioned someone behind her.
Magdalene gasped with some surprise that someone else was outside in the darkness with her and wiped her tears quickly as she turned to look at Remus. Seeing him outside surprised her even more.
"Aren't you cold?" he asked pulling off his cloak and putting it on her shoulders. Magdalene smiled slightly.
"No," she shook her head. "I don't feel the cold."
"Oh," Remus nodded with a small smile. "Do you mind if I take this back then? 'Cause I do feel the cold."
Magdalene laughed. "Yes, you can have it back." She handed Remus his cloak back and he pulled it on, letting out a shiver as his breath swirled out of his mouth in a white cloud. "What are you doing out here?"
"Had to escape Sirius," Remus shrugged. "What about you? Why didn't you come to the library?"
"I did," whispered Magdalene.
"When?" Remus asked with raised eyebrows. Magdalene could tell that he thought she was outside alone because she had come to the library when he wasn't there…he was worried that she thought he had stood her up. Really, it was Magdalene who had stood him up, and she wasn't worried about that at all.
"Before," Magdalene whispered motioning back to the castle. "I heard you and Sirius arguing."
Remus's nodded his head slowly.
"What's on your mind then?" he asked.
"I feel like I'm separating you two," Magdalene said. "I'm responsible for you two not being friends anymore…and I don't care what anyone says, you shouldn't lose a friend like Sirius over any girl, Remus."
"Well I want to date you," Remus said. "And as long as you want to date me I think that's all that matters."
Magdalene nodded her head slowly. "Sirius probably doesn't even actually like me, he'll be on to another girl next week anyways."
"Would it matter if he liked you?" Remus asked. He was walking on thin ice asking Magdalene that question…she didn't even know it until he asked the question. She wanted to say no it wouldn't matter, but the truth was she didn't know. Suddenly she felt like a bitch and shook her head.
"It wouldn't matter," Magdalene said. "He and I are too much alike and we have different views…we'd murder each other."
"You'd probably kill him first," said Remus with a small smile.
"That makes me sound scary."
"I'm just as scary," Remus took Magdalene's hand and they stood side by side looking at the frozen lake. "Do you like to ice skate?"
"I've never done it before," Magdalene shook her head. Remus smiled and waved his wand at her feet, making ice skates appear on them.
"It's time you learned," he said conjuring ice skates on his own feet. "Come on."
"Remus, what if the ice is too thin?"
"I'll catch you," Remus said confidently. He pulled her to the edge of the lake, making her leave her backpack in the snow. "Come on, don't be scared."
Magdalene looked at Remus and then the lake very nervously. She took a breath and he moved out onto the ice and led her. She lost her balance immediately and Remus grabbed her waist, holding her up.
"Squeeze your stomach and butt," Remus said. "Control your center and keep your balance."
"I have a feeling this is going to end the way that learning to fly a broomstick did," Magdalene said with a nervous laugh.
"No, it will be fine," Remus smiled at her. "Come on."
He began to move away from her slowly, holding her hand still to guide her on the ice. Magdalene moved slowly, barely moving her feet on the ice. She was so afraid of falling through because she didn't know how to swim…and yet…she trusted Remus to know what to do if anything bad happened. She smiled at him as he moved away from her, letting her hand go. She moved across the ice with more confidence and enjoyed the way the wind moved through her hair as she moved across the ice.
"See you've got it," said Remus skate in a circle around her and stopping next to her. He took her hand and led her down towards the center of the lake, they circled back and skated near the shoreline. Magdalene had never had such fun in her life—it was a completely different experience and she loved it. Remus made her feel something different then she ever had before…maybe that's why she liked him so much. He made her feel different.
