*sorry for the delay guys, my grandfather passed and I had to head down to my hometown for the funeral. I expect lots of pity reviews (; *

CHAPTER TEN

AN ABYSMAL ANNOUNCEMENT

"What is this all about anyway? I need to study!" Remus hissed.

"Dunno," shrugged Sirius.

The boys filed into the Great Hal where all the students sat awaiting the 'big announcement.' A big surprise apparently.

"This had better be good. I was just making progress with Lily," grumbled James taking a seat at the Gryffindor table with Remus and Sirius.

"Of course you were mate," grinned Sirius, patting James on the back.

After all the students had taken a seat at their house tables, Professor Sutton steped out onto the platform where Dumbledore would make his beginning and end of term speeches.

"Good afternoon, students. For those of you who don't know me, I am Professor Sutton. I teach Arithmecy here. I am also the Chairman of School Activities and Events. That is what brings us here today actually! A school wide event I have planned. It is called The Ivory Formal."

Soft murmurs filled the Great Hall as all the students tried to figure out what this meant.

"Winter is upon us, with ivory snowflakes abounding. This makes me figure, that we should have a ball in honor of winter," smiled Professor Sutton.

All the boys groaned exhaustedly and the girls passed on whispers of excitement.

"It will be a dance and it is called The Ivory FORMAL because FORMAL attire is required. Girls, that means pretty gowns," smiled Professor Sutton.

Every girl giggled happily.

"Boys, that means dress robes," she added firmly.

"Noooo…." Sirius muttered through gritted teeth.

Peter sat a few people ahead of them and looked their way with panic in his beady eyes. Remus gave him a reassuring smile and nod.

By the time all of the information about The Ivory Formal had been explained, every young man felt weary and every young girl waited in eager anticipation to be invited.

"Well, lads, I'm rather excited. I can ask Lily."

"I am NOT going," Sirius spat.

"You could ask Penelope Steel. You've had your eye on her for a while now," Remus shrugged.

"I may ask Dolores…" Peter mumbled.

The boys all looked at him with wide eyes.

"You're joking. She's two years older and a total pain in the arse!" Sirius cried.

"You can't ask Dolores UnderCARRIAGE. You can do better," James said with slight irritation.

Normally, Remus would support Peter and stand up for him, but the boys were right here. Dolores was a poisonous snake in the grass, and that wasn't just because she had a father who protested equal rights for werewolves which she frequently expressed her support of. It was because she was a gossip and she spread rumors and did nothing but tattle and judge all those around her.

"Peter, they're right. You're too good for that girl. You should ask Grace Mulliniks. She's a nice girl," offered Remus.

Peter's eyes snapped in Remus's direction.

"You're just agreeing because you don't like what her father thinks of your kind," he spat.

Remus's eyes remained trained on Peter. He showed no signs of anger or embarrassment.

"Peter, I am only suggesting that you take someone as gentle and kind as you," Remus replied calmly.

"Or what? You'll bite me in the jugular?" Peter spat.

James and Sirius gawked. Peter sometimes snapped but never this insensitively. Remus maintained his tranquil gaze.

"Peter, I must insist that you lower your voice," Remus said firmly.

"What if I don't? You gonna turn me into a monster like you? Give me some scars on my face too-"

"Peter!" Sirius growled.

"Enough, Pe-"

"James, it's alright," Remus said giving them a polite smile.

Remus's hand raised and grasped Peter by the shoulder steadfastly. Peter winced slightly as he steered him into an empty corridor. James and Sirius followed, eagerly leaning against the pillar so that they could listen in.

"Peter, maybe I will give you a scar or two. There perhaps?" Remus said, tapping Peter's chubby cheeks. "Or better yet, bite you. Contaminate you…"

Peter swallowed, staring up at Remus with wet eyes.

"If I am truly this monster that can kill you so easily, why would you insult me? Provoke me to attack. Hm? That's rather foolish, Peter," smirked Remus.

"I'm s-s-s-sorry," whimpered Peter.

Remus gave Peter a stern, lingering look before standing upright.

"Alright, I forgive you. It's over. Let's go to class," Remus said, patting Peter on the back.

Peter scurried back to the hallway, making his way to Charms on his owns. Remus rounded the corner to find James and Sirius applauding.

"That was wicked," Sirius grinned.

"You put the fear of Merlin in him, Moony!" laughed James.

Remus half smiled amusedly and shrugged.

"Alright, that's enough. I know, I know, I'm quite brilliant. Let's go to class," Remus insisted.

"Sometimes the wolf in you comes out and I'm bloody amazed . He's a bad ass," Sirius chuckled.

"Thank you and keep your voice down," Remus said with a small smile.

"Well, we all know who Remus should ask," James smirked.

"I dunno. Wendy may not even wanna go. Much less, go with me," Remus mumbled.

"Well, it all depends on how you ask her, mate. Let's hear how you'd ask. Go on," Sirius prompted as the staircase they were on shifted.

Remus suddenly felt a wave of anxiety pass over him.

"W-well, I…I…I'm…I dunno…"

"You are of to a very BAD start, Moony," snickered Sirius.

"You gotta be confident!"
"Okay, Here…Erm…Hello, I think you're pretty and funny. Would you like to go…dance with me?" Remus stammered.

Sirius and James exchanged concerned looks as they walked into class.

"Well, at least he said full sentence this time…" James whispered.

"Yeah, he didn't sound AS thick," mused Sirius.

"I'm right here," Remus grumbled.

"Ya know what? We'll work on it, mate. Later," nodded Sirius.

Remus headed into Charms feeling much less than charming.

LATER THAT NIGHT….

"She said yes," Sirius sighed, flopping onto his bed.

Remus looked up from his book to a very pleased Sirius and exchanged looks of confusion with James and Peter. Finally Remus caught on.

"You asked Penelope?" Remus gaped.

"Yup. She said yes without a moment's hesitation," he smiled proudly.

"Did Lily say no?"

"I haven't asked her…" James grumbled.

"Why not?" Sirius questioned.

"I think he's a little nervous, Sirius."

"What's that s'posed to mean, Moony?"

"James, I just mean that you don't know if she'll say yes and you would prefer not to be rejected. It's not cowardly. It's only natural," Remus shrugged.

James blew air out through his lips harshly and hung his head.

"And what about you, Moony? Talk to Wendy yet?" Sirius asked quietly.

Remus smirked at Sirius and raised his brows. Sirius chuckled.

"I guess I'm ahead."

Peter came storming into the dorms, collapsed onto his bed, rolled on his side facing away from the boys and sighed. James and Sirius exchanged looks of confusion, but Remus knew exactly what was happening.

"Did she say no?"

The boys saw Peter nod.

"Well, I bet you Grace would say yes," offered Remus.

"G'night," grumbled Peter.

The boys snorted back laughter. Remus shook his head and went to studying.

"No!" Remus gasped, his eyes snapping open from his slumber.

The dream again.

"Mate?"

Remus looked over at a drowsy Sirius and James.

"I'm fine. I'm going to the common room," Remus murmured.

Sirius and James nodded then quickly fell back asleep.

Remus crept down the staircase into the common room. His heart stopped in his chest as he saw Wendy Withers…lying on the floor by the fire. She was facing away from the fire, a book open before her. This was either her simply falling asleep inconveniently or she had passed out due to some sort of illness.

Swiftly, Remus padded over to the fireplace and knelt beside her, gently shaking her shoulder.

"Wendy! Wendy!" he whispered.

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open.

"Mmm…" she groaned weakly as she propped herself up on her elbows.

"Are you alright?" Remus asked hurriedly.

She nodded and slammed her book shut limply.

"Just feel asleep. The Ancient Runes text-book managed to lull me into a very deep slumber," murmured Wendy.

Remus released a sigh of relief and heard Wendy laugh softly.

"What? Did you think I'd passed out?"

He shrugged with a half-smile and watched Wendy pull herself up onto all fours then wobbly, begin to stand. Remus quickly stood with her, grabbing her elbow to steady her.

"Thanks," she yawned.

They held each other's gaze for a moment. Remus with his jaw half open and Wendy with an expectant twinkle in her tired eyes.

Something dried up Remus's mouth and clogged his throat so he couldn't swallow.

He knew what he was supposed to do. Ask Wendy to the Ivory Formal. She was giving him more than enough time to ask. Why would he NOT ask? Wendy's sleepy eyes widened slightly as she raised her brows at him. Prompting him to invite her.

"Are you gonna ask-"

"So you're taking Ancient Runes?" Remus interrupted.

Slight disappointment crept into Wendy's eyes.

"Yes…"

"It's a very fascinating subject… I-I find. D-d-don't you?" stammered Remus.

Remus awaited her answer but instead she just stared at him with a scrutinizing gaze that seem almost amused.

"I mean… yes. The book isn't nearly as fascinating though…"

"That's that. G'night," Remus said quickly.

He turned on his heel to go back to the dorm.

"Remus Lupin…"

Something about her enchanting airy voice made him stop in his tracks. He looked over his shoulder at her with wary stare. She stood, big eyes gazing at him curiously.

"What?" he mumbled.

"Why are you so nervous around me?"

He felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him. He was shocked that Wendy would blatantly ask him. Didn't she know why? It had to be obvious. The way his eloquence vanished in her presence. The way he would eye her in the corridors. The way that when her warm eyes met his he found it hard to move. Then Remus realized that maybe she HAD noticed and it was HE who hadn't. He genuinely liked Wendy. More than he should.

"Wendy, I think you know why…" muttered Remus.

She nodded weakly, rocking back on her heels.

"Yes, I know…but…but I wanna hear you say it…"

Remus took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak as he faced Wendy. The look of hope and longing on her face made a jolt of guilt shoot through his chest. Instead, he hung his head, shaking it as he looked up at her disappointedly.

"I know that you fancy me, Remus. It's plain as day. You won't admit it for some reason. Even now, after I admit to you that I fancy you right back I bet you won't admit it. I just don't understand."

"I'm scared! I am frightened to death of you, Wendy Withers! You're this beautiful, smart, funny, girl who has for some strange reason, started to fancy me! I'm nobody! I'm not daring like James! I'm not funny like Sirius! I'm…I'm boring!" he hissed.

She nodded and began to gather her book.

"Goodnight, Remus. I hope your nightmare subsides," Wendy said softly.

Wendy retreated to the stairs which led to the girl's dorms. Before she could enter, something swelled up inside of Remus. An unknown courage that he'd never possessed before.

"Wendy," he said, just loud enough for her to here.

Wendy stopped on the stairs and turned back to Remus with tired eyes.

"Go to the Ivory Formal with me?" he asked, brows raised.

The corner of Wendy's mouth hitched up just slightly, in a small smile.

"Alright," she replied.

They held each other's gaze for a moment longer before Wendy vanished up the staircase.

Remus smiled to himself…and forgot all about the nightmares.