Library Talks and Stallings

The whole day went by indolently. Melissa almost fell asleep in most of her classes and during free period she took a nap. When the day was finally over Melissa ran up to the common room and collapsed on the couch. She closed her eyes and wanted to go to sleep but moments later Lily and Ariel walked in.

"Hi, you want to go to the library with us?" Lily asked, smiling. Melissa lifted her head to look at them. They seemed like they really wanted her to go…

"Alright," Melissa said, rolling off the couch and hitting the floor. "Ow."

On the walk to the library they talked about girl things, and about boys. When they finally reached the library their pleasant conversation had to turn to whispers as they retrieved their books and got a table.

"So, does any boy catch your eye yet?" Ariel asked, smiling clandestinely. Melissa felt her cheeks burning and quickly looked down and started flipping pages of her book. Lily seemed to be interested too because she stopped reading and looked up.

"Well, there is one," Melissa said, raising her head and smiling.

"Who?" Lily and Ariel said, soon after getting reprimanded for being loud.

"What does he look like?" Ariel asked. Melissa felt her cheeks burning, but thought it was time to tell somebody.

"He has sandy blonde hair and amber eyes, he's really sweet and you both know him," she said mysteriously. Lily and Ariel looked at each other. Then Ariel's eyes widened and a big smile was on her face.

"It's Remus!" she said, jumping up and down in her seat. Melissa smiled shyly and looked down at the book again to cover her face.

"Aww, Remus is so good," Lily said, putting her hand on Melissa's. "I think he likes you too."

"Really?" Melissa asked, keeping her attention on the book on the table.

"Yeah, we could ask…" Ariel said, but was cut off.

"No," Melissa said, abruptly raising her head again. "No, don't ask him."

"Ok," Ariel said. "But I think you guys would look really cute together."

"Who do you like?" Melissa asked. Ariel turned a light shade of pink and smiled.

"I think I like Sirius," she said. Lily looked at her casually.

"I know you do," Lily said. "It's obvious Ariel."

"Well, whatever, but that's who I like," she said.

"I think he likes you," Melissa said, smiling.

"Believe me, I've heard people tell me, but I've also heard people saying he likes you," Ariel said, seeming somewhat sad. Melissa felt guilty although she knew she didn't have feelings for Sirius like that.

"I don't think so," Melissa said reassuringly.

"Eh it's ok," she said, shrugging. "Now everyone has told who like they except you, Lily Evans."

Lily went bright red like the color of her hair. Melissa paid extra attention to see if James had any hope.

"I think she likes James," Ariel said.

"I do not," she said, turning redder.

"I think you do," Ariel said in a sing-song voice. "All he's done is like you and you've always turned him down, give the guy a chance."

"I think she's right Lily," Melissa said.

"Fine, I don't hate him," Lily said, breathing a sigh of relief of her shoulders.

"I knew you didn't, now you have to admit you like him," Ariel said.

"I don't know if I like him, I mean he is still an insufferable prat," she said. "He's also supercilious and pompous."

"No he's not," Melissa said, deciding it was time to say something. "Lily, he loves you, he told me himself. He asked me to give him lessons on how to act around you because he wants to be with you. I think it's more than an infatuation, I think he's truly and deeply in love. You just don't see it, because you're not letting yourself see it. Give him a chance; I think he would make you happy. He's really sweet and kind and you only saw one side of him."

Lily and Ariel sat there staring at her with their mouths open agape.

"Wow, that was really touching," Ariel said. "And I think it's the truth."

Melissa sat there looking at Lily feeling sorry for James; she wished he would just find another person to love that much who loved him back. She felt tears running down her face. She looked up and she saw Lily crying too. Melissa stood up and walked over to her chair and gave her a hug. They were both crying now and Ariel was just watching them saying nothing.

"Alright," Lily mumbled in Melissa's shoulder. "I'll give him a chance."

"Good," Melissa said, sniffing.

"But that means you have to give Remus a chance too," Lily said. Melissa stood back and wiped a tear.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Try to get closer to him," Lily said.

"I am," Melissa said.

"Not close enough," Lily said, smiling. Melissa sighed.

"If me and Lily have to try this so do you," Melissa said, looking at Ariel.

"With Sirius, are you joking?" Ariel asked. Lily and Melissa shook their heads and Ariel nodded in defeat.

"Fine, but if it doesn't work it's your fault," she said. Melissa smiled.
The library was forgotten and the girls all walked back up to the common room. Ironically Remus, James, and Sirius were all sitting in there too.

"Hey ladies," Sirius said, smiling. Melissa smiled at him and walked over.

"She'll have an easier time because she's already friends with them," Ariel muttered to Lily. Lily nodded and sat in an arm chair by the fire. Everyone started to talk and Melissa watched to make sure she wasn't the only one flirting. Well, she wasn't really but it was enough. Lily was talking to James though; she could see her blushing every so often and say nice things. James looked surprised at the fact they were having a civil conversation let alone talking. Ariel and Sirius were talking too, she could see Ariel blushing while Sirius complimented her every five seconds. Melissa managed to blush sometimes too while in the process of trying to make Remus blush, which he did.

All of a sudden a silence went over the room, Melissa looked towards Sirius and Ariel and they were…kissing?

"Oh I knew they would be first," Lily said, climbing into bed. Melissa smiled and climbed into bed also.

"It was obvious though, between her and Sirius they were perfect," Melissa said. Actually they were both in the common room at the moment together.

"He even asked her to the Christmas Ball!" Lily said, huffing.

"Isn't it early?" Melissa asked, raising her head.

"Well yeah, but I guess he wanted to make sure she was going with him," Lily said. "I bet you'll be next."

"Oh stop," Melissa said. "I know you will because James likes you and you like him, stop trying to deny it."

"I'm not denying it," Lily said stubbornly.

"Even Professor Trelawney said you two had a special Aura," Melissa said, chuckling.

"All Professor Trelawney says is nonsense, you think this one time it's true?" Lily asked.

"I know you like James, just admit it," Melissa said. "You wouldn't be giving him a chance if you didn't like him."

"Fine, maybe I do but it doesn't mean anything," Lily said.

"Sure it doesn't, goodnight Lils," Melissa said.

"Good night," Lily said.

Next morning was a Saturday, how Melissa was waiting for this day. She slept straight through breakfast. She lay sleeping peacefully in bed when she felt people shaking her.

"Ugh, what?" she asked groggily, opening her eyes. She saw Lily and Ariel sitting in front of her.

"James, Sirius, and Remus are looking for you, but seeing as they can't come up here we had to get you," Ariel said. Melissa sat up and ran a hand through her hair.

"Oh don't do that! You've picked up that bad habit from James!" Ariel said, chuckling. Melissa smiled and stumbled out of bed and put her slippers on. She walked down and saw them all sitting in the common room.

"Hey Sleeping Beauty," James said, smirking. Melissa smiled and walked over to the couch and curled up next to Sirius.

"What time is it?" she asked, yawning.

"It's almost lunch," Remus said, smiling. Melissa collapsed on her side and stayed in a fetal position.

"So, when did you decide to go out with Ariel?" Melissa asked. Sirius felt red going to his cheeks. He decided when he was talking to her that he liked her, he still liked Melissa but Remus liked her more and he wouldn't do that to his friend.

"Yesterday," he said, flipping back the hair out of his eyes. James and Remus smiled and Melissa nodded her head.

"You better not break her heart or I'll kill you," Melissa said, looking up to meet his gaze. Sirius looked confused. Remus laughed.

"You're suppose to say that to her about me!" he pouted.

"Girls are sensitive Sirius, and Ariel isn't like most girls," Melissa said. "She's special; I think she's a keeper."

Sirius eyes went soft and he was looking at her.

"And yes just to let you know I will get mad at her if she breaks your heart, you're both my best friends and I want to see you happy," she said. Sirius looked satisfied. "Well I have to go get dressed and I'll come back down and we can go to lunch then do whatever you guys want."

Once she walked upstairs James and Sirius looked at Remus.

"Why are you stalling?" James asked.

"Stalling what?" Remus asked, looking from Sirius to James.

"Stalling asking her out, everyone knows you like her, and we think she likes you too," Sirius said.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Remus said, blushing. James and Sirius folded their arms and tilted their heads looking at him.

"Yeah right," Sirius said sternly. "You know she likes you. Why not do anything about it?"

"Because she…" Remus said, looking down ashamed.

"She what?" James asked.

"She deserves better, I'm a werewolf and she is a beautiful young girl with so much ahead of her. If I go with her I'll ruin everything," he said, raising his head defiantly. A few tears were prickling the corners of his eyes.

"Remus she doesn't…" James started but wasn't able to finish because Remus cut him off.

"I can never give her romantic walks in the moonlight I'm sure every girl wants, she would have to live knowing her boyfriend is a monster, and I don't want to hurt her!" Remus said, clenching his fist, every word stinging with distaste.

"She doesn't care about romantic walks! I'm sure she still loves you anyway!" Sirius yelled, jumping up from his seat. James looked up and tried to get him to calm down but nothing was working. Sirius was glaring at Remus. "Don't let your one fault prevent you from being happy. She knows you're a werewolf already there is nothing to hide! You saw yourself! Did she run? No!"

Remus looked at Sirius with shock.

"You know what? Maybe she doesn't deserve you. I don't think she wants a guy who doesn't believe in himself," Sirius said, before storming up the boy's dormitory. James and Remus watched him leave and when he slammed the door behind him Remus slumped his back and covered his face with his hands. James looked at Remus and than the spot his other best friend occupied just seconds before. He sighed and stood up.

"I think he's right Remus," James said, shrugging his shoulders. When Melissa came back downstairs it was silent between James and Remus, Sirius had cooled down and came back down to wait for everyone to come go to lunch together.

"What's wrong?" she asked once she stepped off the last step. They all looked up; Sirius looked at Remus then crossed his arms and stared into the empty grate.

"Nothing," Remus mumbled. Melissa sighed and sat down next to Sirius. She could tell there was tension between him and someone else in this room, she just couldn't figure out who.

A/N- Sorry this one was kind of short, the next one will be longer. Read and Review!