Here it is again. I am really sorry again for the delay last chapter, but here's another one. Definite fluff at the end and the return of Snuffles! Hopefully everyone will like.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my penname.
Ch 14: The Nature of Dating
"I think it's just about time we started studying to prepare for the N.E.W.Ts," Remus stated out of the blue during breakfast at the Gryffindor table. "I devised a study plan that should more then enable us to get passing grades on all the tests."
"Remus, I just know you're going to get the highest scores in our class," Lily remarked in amusement.
"Sounds riveting Remus. When are you going to ask a girl out to see the sodding meteor shower?" Sirius asked accusingly.
"It will require a bit of cooperation on you three's parts, but it is possible," Remus went on as if he hadn't heard his persistent friend.
"It's in two sodding days you git," Sirius said impatiently.
"Give it up Sirius, he's never gonna go through with it no matter what you or I say," James said with a sigh.
"You may have given up hope after a full week, but I'm gritting my teeth and still making a go at it in the name of friendship," Sirius replied in a long suffering voice as he helped himself to more breakfast sausage.
"That's beautiful," Peter remarked in awe.
"Why is it I sit here everyday?" Lily muttered.
"Padfoot, I am not going to do this," Remus said in determination.
"What if a girl asked you?" James said hoping to find some way of settling the battle of will between his two friends that had lasted nearly a whole month.
"I think a snowball has a better chance in hell then I do of being made an offer," Remus sighed in annoyance as he opened his Muggle Studies text.
"Peter got a date," Sirius said not to be deterred. "That's right, Peter Pettigrew, perhaps you know him? He. Has. A. Date!"
"I can't really believe it myself," Peter said happily.
"We're all proud or you Wormtail," James said. "Unlike some people, you didn't let something like no experience with women and a few too many rejections stop you."
"You know your both beginning to sound like fussy parents trying to set up their offspring so they can force procreation. It's not becoming," Remus said frowning at the contents of his book.
"I'm definitely the father," James remarked.
"Whoever you are, I so wear the pants in this relationship," Sirius said smugly.
"Have you asked anyone?" Remus said pointedly to Sirius.
"No. I prefer to go stag for these kinds of things," Sirius said triumphantly.
"So does James," Peter remarked causing James to choke a little on his coffee.
"Good morning everyone," Embre said drowsily taking a seat with the others.
"Hey Em," James said. "In your opinion as a sister, do you think Remus should be forced to start dating?"
"Is that a serious question?" Embre said in confusion.
"Don't encourage them," Remus pleaded wearily.
"You want to see how easy it is?" Sirius inquired impatiently. Before anyone could say anything he'd gotten up and was walking purposefully to the Ravenclaw table.
"What's he gonna do?" Peter inquired.
"Give a demonstration," James replied with a shrug.
"Lily, did I miss something?" Embre said to her friend.
"As far as I can gather, the Marauders are under the opinion that Remus should be set up on a date," Lily said taking a sip of her coffee.
"Well, if anything this means you have friends that just want you to be happy and they think getting you to date will make you happy," Embre offered.
"Yeah did you hear that," Peter said. "She said she thinks dating will make you happy."
"That's not what I said," Embre said with a frown as James slapped his forehead.
Oh gods," Lily said. "Black's asking out my friend Lucy!"
"I'm not sure he's her type," James commented. "I've talked with her at some of the Prefect meetings. I think Padfoot's picked the wrong girl this time."
"Exactly," Remus said with a tone of grim satisfaction. "Maybe it will show him that asking people out isn't as easy as they think."
"I know what you mean," Embre said deliberately not looking over at Sirius. She hadn't noticed the owls fly in and wasn't expecting a letter to drop onto her toast which was coated with a thin layer of marmalade. She gingerly lifted the envelope and wiped of as much of the sticky orange spread as she could and then broke the seal.
"He's coming back, and he looks smug," Peter said anxiously.
Sirius was indeed walking back to the table. There was no missing the smirk on his face, nor the confident posture that would indicate his mission had been a success.
"Looks like Lucy Harbridge has a date beneath the stars in a couple of days," Sirius said casually as he sat back down to his breakfast.
"What?" Lily exclaimed giving her Ravenclaw friend a darting glance. "That's impossible. How did you do it Black? What did you say to her that if she goes out with you it'll help your self-confidence or some rubbish?"
"Really Evans," Sirius said with a patronizing smile. "Can't you just be happy for your friend?"
"I'd be a lot happier if she was going out with someone I thought she was compatible with," Lily replied under her breath.
"I can't believe it," Embre said angrily.
"Just because Sirius asked a girl out doesn't mean you should get upset," Peter remarked in defense.
"It's not that," Embre murmured tiredly as she folded the letter.
"Is it the git?" Remus asked.
"Yeah," Embre said quietly.
Sirius stabbed one of his sausages violently.
"Em?" Lily began to ask.
"It's okay. I'm just a bit frustrated," Embre said with a weak smile. "I'm going over to Hagrid's for a while, so I'll see all of you later."
"If I ever meet that guy alone," James said tensely as Embre walked off.
"The chances of that happening given his past record is highly unlikely," Remus said grimly.
--
Embre walked at a quick pace as she made her way over the grounds.
She could not believe him. She'd been writing to him for weeks and this was all she got? One shoddy letter that chastised her pleas for a visit as if she was acting like an unreasonable toddler?
Huffing in the cold outdoor air Embre unfolded the note once again and read over the words scrawled within:
Mon Embre,
C'est impossible pour un rendezvous. I simply cannot find the time to visit. Why do you persist? You will only succeed in making the distance between us grow. You will have to wait for the summer for a meeting.
Toujours vous,
Jean-Luc DuboisReading the letter made her furious all over again. She couldn't help it; the situation she found herself in was beyond complicated. The bottom line was that she needed to break up with Jean-Luc and she wanted to do it face to face for his benefit. He however, was making that undoable.
Embre scoffed as she strode over the grounds to her destination. How was it he couldn't even find a few minutes in the day to come see her? It was a matter of him apparating in for fifteen minutes and nothing more. She would go to him herself, but unfortunately she was without means to travel.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she was happy to see Hagrid's hut come into view. Spending a day puppy-sitting was exactly what she needed to improve her mood.
--
"Fluffy how much longer are you going to run me around for?" Embre laughed. She knelt low to the ground where the adorable three headed puppy was prodding her to take a red rubber ball. The two of them had been playing outside for hours after Hagrid had gone to gather some herbs in the forest for Professor Slughorn's class. Luckily it was okay for them to be outdoors with the charm Hagrid had learned that concealed the two extra heads Fluffy had. Now any students who saw them out and about would think Fluffy was just a regular dog.
"You have so much energy it's unnatural," Embre remarked. Nonetheless she threw the ball for Fluffy once again and watched him dart after it. It was good to know that if she needed a break, she could put the puppy down for a nap. Thanks to her realization some months ago that singing put the dog to sleep, it had been much easier to be able to get the dog to take a rest sometimes.
She had found information in The Most Exotic Dangers of the Magical Animals, the book she had taken out of the Restricted Section that had confirmed the practice of singing Fluffy to sleep. It had specifically mentioned that only music could tame the heart of a savage beast. She had enjoyed a laugh at that. Fluffy might be full of energy, but he wasn't exactly a terror, though the book had assured her he would be once he grew up.
Embre smiled down at the little imp who was already back for more with the ball held proudly in one of his mouths.
"Good boy," Embre said kneeling down to pet him on the flank and then behind all three heads. The sound of a bark in the distance caused her to look up from the puppy at her feet. "Snuffles!"
A few yards away the large black dog was quickly making it's way to the pair. His tail wagged in excitement as he caught Embre's scent of rosehips and freesia in the chilly breeze.
"I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see you again," Embre said in happiness as the canine reached her and was greeted by Fluffy. "I was hoping you would come back again."
"Missed me- I mean Padfoot have you?" Sirius thought gleefully.
He said hello with a lick on the cheek that she laughed off. Then she touched him with her gloved hands in a way that felt great. When she reached the back of his neck he happily thanked the gods.
He carefully inspected her face and was satisfied to see it looked like she hadn't been thinking on her crap boyfriend. After she had left Lily had urged the three more assertive Marauders to let Embre alone for a while and have time to herself if she was upset before going charging after her. Remus and James had accepted the advice, but well, Sirius had never been one to heed authority figures too carefully.
He looked on the beautiful girl in front of him and smiled. Gods but she was wonderful. As a way of thanking her for her touches, he gave her a few sloppy kisses.
"Oh my," Embre laughed s she halfheartedly attempted to push him off. "I guess that means you like me!"
"More then you know," Sirius thought finally relenting in his puppy kisses.
"Thank you," she said wiping her cheek off with the back of her glove. "So are you keeping me and Fluffy company awhile?" she asked softly.
She was answered by a bark.
"I'll have to take that as a yes," she replied scratching him behind the ears.
"Bloody hell you're good," Sirius thought contentedly.
"Okay Fluffy," Embre sighed at the puppy who had begun to whine. She threw the ball again for the dog to go chase. Then she turned back to Snuffles and resumed her ministrations.
"You don't look any thinner," Embre commented eliciting a small growl from Snuffles.
"I am not fat," Sirius thought feeling offended.
"That means you're not starving. You must have somebody who looks after you," Embre continued in relief.
In an act off love for her, Sirius rubbed his wet nose against hers affectionately.
"Cold," she admonished with a laugh. She stood up and reached into her pocket to remove a leash. "You're welcome to join us for a walk."
"Well why not? So long as you never put me on that thing," he said eyeing the leash with distaste.
--
After a long walk and much fur stroking, Embre came in rosy cheeked and refreshed from the cold. She was glad for the warmth that filled the Common room and an empty seat near the fire.
"Alright Em?" James said from the sofa where he and Sirius were beginning a game of wizard's chess.
"Mmmhmm," Embre said taking a seat with them. "You?"
"Alright," James said carefully as he gave her a once over to be sure she looked okay.
"Can I play winner or is Remus bestowed that honor?" Embre inquired.
"Your on," Sirius said. "I think Moony's in the library right now."
He grinned slyly as he wondered whether or not his friend was finding out what he'd really been doing at breakfast.
"Knight to G3."
The two boys went at their game of strategy for a grueling two hours. It was a close match, but Sirius was finally able to spot an opening in his friend's defenses that let him go in for the kill.
"Check mate," Sirius said smugly.
"Lucky move," James remarked.
"Come on now James. You know you're just sore because I'm so smart," Sirius said cheerfully.
"Smart arse maybe," James muttered. "I'm going to go get that essay for Muggle studies finished."
"See ya mate," Sirius said.
"Bye James," Embre called as she took his seat and prepared for her turn at chess.
"I have to warn you, I probably won't be any good," she said as she set her pieces up on the board. "I'm not much of a challenge."
"Yes you are," Sirius said quietly. "Your move."
"Oh right," Embre said. "Knight to B4."
"You're going to see the meteor shower on Tuesday aren't you?" Sirius said. "Pawn to A2."
"Yes," Embre said absently as she planned her next move.
"Wanna see it with me?" Sirius inquired with his eyes on the chessboard.
"What?" Embre said looking up at him in surprise. "But you're going to see it with Lucy."
"Oh no I'm not," Sirius said with a self-satisfied look on his face.
"But this morning-" Embre started.
"This morning I told Lucy that Remus didn't have a date for the big celestial shower and would she be willing to ask him to it because he's too shy to ask a pretty girl."
"You did that for him?" Embre said with a small smile.
"Well somebody had to," Sirius chuckled. "He's gonna want to hex my bollocks off of course, but it's for his own good."
"You're a good friend to him," Embre said feeling touched.
"He's a pretty decent bloke," Sirius said solemnly.
"He is," Embre agreed.
"Are you crying?"
"No I'm not," Embre said looking at the chessboard. "Knight to E3."
"So how about it Em?" Sirius pressed. "You want to sit and watch the stars fall with me? I'll bring the hot chocolate."
"How can I refuse that?" Embre said with a nervous laugh. When she had been a fourth year getting asked to see falling stars with Sirius would have been a dream come true. She knew it would be nice with him, but it would only be two friends sitting together.
She was surprised he hadn't asked some other girl to go with him. This was definitely an event that had plenty of romantic potential. In the past Sirius would have been bragging about taking some beauty to a thing like this.
Come to think of it, Sirius really hadn't been dating as much this year from what she had seen. Usually he would be boasting about his latest conquest over breakfast to the other Marauders in a hushed voice he didn't think she could hear. Maybe he was growing up.
"Can I ask you something?" Sirius said breaking her train of thought.
"Of course you can," Embre told him.
She watched Sirius stare at the chessboard and ask her in a quiet voice, "Why are you with him Em?"
Taken aback, Embre stared at him as he raised his gaze to hers; trapping her in those mesmerizing blue depths.
"I-"
"There you are!" Remus said interrupting the conversation.
"Hiya Moony," Sirius said cringing internally for what he was sure was about to become a full blown Remus chastisement.
"I just had a talk with Lucy," Remus said. "It seems she was under the impression I was going to be escorting her on Tuesday evening."
"Just tell me you said yes to her, and anything you say or do to me will be completely worth it," Sirius prayed.
"You are going to aren't you?" Embre said hopefully.
"Yes I will be, but that's not the point," Remus said patiently.
"Remus don't beret Sirius, he was looking out for you," Embre said pleadingly.
"Embre, could I have some time alone with Sirius?" Remus said. "I promise there will be no yelling."
"Okay. See you both later," Embre said getting up. Once she'd retreated to the girl's dormitories, Sirius looked up at Remus expectantly.
"You mad?"
"No I'm not mad. I just wish I'd had some say in this is all," Remus sighed plopping onto the couch.
"But you weren't even cooperating," Sirius whined.
"But that was my choice," Remus said. "I don't feel comfortable starting out a relationship with someone by going on a date that's as intimate as this sort of thing. Then there'll be expectations for more romance, and I don't know if I'm cut out for that."
"Moony, that's pretty much dating in a nut shell," Sirius said with a sigh.
"Dating is immobilizingly scary."
"Yes. Yes it is," Sirius said nodding his head vigorously.
"How have you been able to do it for so long?"
"It's all trial and error mate," Sirius said. "That and I am a brill snogger."
"How did I know that was coming?" Remus said shaking his head hopelessly.
--
At quarter to eight on Tuesday, Embre nervously waited in the designated place beside the lake she had told Sirius to meet her at. The sky was growing dark fast and in no time the it would be lit up with beautiful falling stars.
She tucked some stray hair that was falling out of her clip behind her ear and spread a thick blanket over spot on the ground. The blanket was charmed to keep warm even against the cold frozen ground and would make the experience of being outdoors much more enjoyable. She adjusted the hem a few too many times in an attempt to take her mind off her anxiety. She was just going to sit with Sirius for a bit and have a nice time, so why was she suddenly nervous? It wasn't exactly a date. For lack of knowledge he thought she was taken, so he had probably just asked to sit with her because their other friends all had someone to watch the stars with. That was okay with her.
"Oh who am I kidding," Embre sighed laying back on the blanket. She was head over heals in love and nothing was going to change that anytime soon. Maybe, after she finally saw Jean-Luc, maybe she would just ask him out. Then he would either tell her no or accept. If he declined it might allow her to finally get over her feelings. On the other hand, but no, she couldn't think about that. She had no chance of asking him out while Jean-Luc remained adamant about not visiting.
"Comfy?" Sirius inquired appearing upside down to Embre as she lay back on the ground.
"Yeah," Embre said smiling.
"Aww, you have an upside down smile," Sirius said joining her Indian style on the blanket. "Cute."
He reached into his pocket and handed her a silver flask.
"Hot chocolate. As promised," Sirius remarked as she sat up.
"Thank you," Embre said removing the stopper. She took a drink and felt like she was in heaven as the warm creamy liquid slid down her throat. "Mmm."
She handed off the flask to him and resumed her position on her back.
"Let's see," Sirius said joining Embre. "Right about now the Potters are most likely pawing each other, Remus is so nervous he's pointing out all the constellations, and my guess is Peter's going for the old yawn and hand on the shoulder bit."
"I wonder who taught him that," Embre said giggling.
"Hey, I'll have you know I've never had to use that," Sirius joked.
"Right," Embre laughed.
"Although come to think about it there was that one time James dared me to use it on Alice, but that doesn't really count cause we were just trying to get Frank to admit he had a thing for her."
"It's not going to be the same without all of you next year," Embre said. She looked at him sadly. "I'm going to really miss you."
"I know," Sirius said quietly. "It won't be like that forever though."
"You're right," Embre conceded.
They turned their eyes up as the first white burning light flew across the sky. Then it was like the sky was raining stars as the streaming lights colored the night sky. It was stunning to watch.
Sirius and Embre were fixed on the magical sight. They lay together in contentment during the lovely spectacle.
--
Love it? Hate it? I hope the plot was somewhat valid. Next chapter I promise there will be a surprise. Just stay with me, things will get better I promise. Then things are going to start changing fast for our star crossed couple(Total pun intended!;p) As always reviews and comments are appreciated. Thank you to everyone that let's me know what they think. Byeeeeeee!