Chapter 21

*Becky thrid year at Beauxbatons*

"Get to class, get to class, get to class," Becky chanted to herself as she raced down the hall at top speed. She had overslept and now she was going to be late for class if she didn't hurry. If any of her classmates could see her running down the hall, they would be ashamed to admit this dishevelled girl had ever attended the proper and always put together school of Beauxbatons Academy.

Normally Becky wouldn't be up so late, but there were some disturbing sounds outside of her window. The haunting, sorrowful voices of a pack of wolves in the distance, disturbed her. Ever sense she was a little girl the sound of the wolf cry had scared her because she didn't know what the cries meant.

Becky thought the not knowing of the language was why she hardly made any friends here at Beauxbatons. She was scared at first about learning French because it was something unknown, like the unknown voices of the wolves she heard every so often.

Becky slipped into her seat in her transfiguration class right as the bells on the clock tower chimed its iridescent tune.

Before the shimmering sounds had concluded, Becky could hear the snickering of the other girls in her class. Like she had predicted, the girls were talking about her not being of proper French breeding.

What did proper French breeding mean anyway? Did that mean in order for Becky to fit in she had to have some Veela blood in her? She hoped not.

The class seemed to drone on. Becky tried her best to immerse herself in her note taking instead of listening to the snide comments of the other girls. Becky desparatly wished her friend Alexis, was in class with her, but seeing as Alexis was a year ahead they only had the school wide etiquette class and meals together.

As soon as the chimes of the clock could be heard, Becky was out of her seat and out the door before anyone could stop her. She moved as fast as she could to her fencing class where she would be able to hide behind a mask and not have to worry about the other girls talk about her dishevelled morning appearance.

Before Becky entered the fencing studio, she spotted a large grey owl sitting in one of the open windows. Becky was more than relieved to see Becus, with his heart shaped face and wise, yet affectionate, amber eyes.

It wasn't unusual for owls to deliver mail throughout the day instead of during a designated time. So it was nothing new to see Becus holding out his leg for Becky to take the letter before she entered a classroom.

Becky,

So I found out today that I was only asked out by a girl because of some game she and her friends made up. I thought this girl actually liked me because Sirius was saying a bunch of Hufflepuff girls kept staring at me at meals.

So when this Hufflepuff, who is a year below me, asked if I wanted to study, I nonchalantly agreed. You know, you have to play it cool with girls. You don't want them to think they are in charge. Haha. (Don't tell my mum I said that. I don't want another lecture on the proper ways to treat a girl. I mean, all I did was wink at the girl in the bakery. It's not like I asked her out on a date and then didn't show up).

I thought things were going well. She asked if I could help her with her charms homework and I told her of course I could help her because of my charming personality. And don't say I don't have a charming personality. You of all people know how charming I can be when I want to (no laughing. I know you well enough to know you want to laugh).

The girl was just staring at me the entire time (all 15 minutes of the 'date'). She didn't even open up a book. I can't tell you how relieved I was when Sirius came in and told me he needed my help with the newest prank. I tried to look as upset about leaving as I could.

Maybe you should transfer to Hogwarts then I could use you as girl repellent.

I hope your week wasn't as terrible as mine. I'll write you a proper letter next time. I just had to get this off my chest.

Always,

Remus

Becky burst out laughing. Remus' letter had lightened her mood exponentially. It always amazed Becky how her mood could change just by reading a letter from Remus.

As Becky walked into her fencing class, she laughed at a thought that flashed through her mind, 'remind me not to date as full of himself as Remus.'

*Hogwarts: Current Time*

"Severus Snape! No way!"

"Fine...two. There you go, Alex Monroe."

"Hmm, leave him."

"What! What's wrong with Alex Monroe? He's fit, a prefect, and a seventh year. You can't go wrong with that combination."

"Two words, Libby Night."

"No," came an exclamation of disbelief from across the table.

"What are you girls doing," Becky asked finally looking up from the essay she was working on for their transfiguration class.

"Just playing 'take him or leave him'," Sasah replied with a cheeky grin. It was obvious she loved playing this game, but no one could figure out exactly why it brought her so much amusement other than the fact Sasha was a little boy crazy.

" It's a game Sasha made up during our second year," Mellissa began to explain as she twisted a small portion of her hair with her finger. "You start with the first guy who walks past the library. You can decide to 'take him' or 'leave him'. If you decide to leave him then you have to take your chances that there is someone better."

"What happens if a girl walks by," Becky asked wondering why this game sounded so familiar.

"It depends on your preference, I suppose. However, we tried to play it that way just once. It ended bad when Mellissa asked Dorcus Meadows to Hogsmead," Sasha said jabbing her thumb in Mellissa's direction. "Dorcus was nice about the whole thing, but ended up slapping Mellissa for getting 'too handsy'."

Becky shot a surprised look at Mellissa. "You were slapped because you go too handsy with her?"

"I merely grabbed her shoulder so I could talk to her," Mellissa defended. The twisting of her hair became more rapid as she got nervous.

Becky continued to look at her friends with a confused stare. "Why would she have to ask Dorcas out if..."

"You are forced to take the third one," Allie said with a shrug while trying to stop Mellissa from her incessant hair twisting.

"And by take you mean..."

"Ask them out to Hogsmead or to study or 'to study', if you know what I mean?"

"So Allie, you're still up," Sasha said turning to her friend and staring her straight in the eyes. Then she turned to Becky to explain what she was missing while Becky was actually doing something productive on their Friday night in the library. "So far Allie has passed up Snape and Alex Monroe."

"Both, yuk," all the girls at the table giggled except for Becky. She didn't understand what was so gross about the two males, except for their matching stringy hair. Then again, Becky hadn't been going to Hogwarts as long as her fellow Hufflepuffs had been.

"Spoken like a bunch of true 16 year-olds," Becky murmured in jest.

"Shut up, Fourneir," Allie laughed. "It'll be your turn soon enough. Just you wait."

"Anyway," Mellissa said bringing the attention back onto herself. "Allie's lucky guy number three is...Frank Longbottom,"

"What! But he is dating Alice and she is right there with him," Allie whined.

"You know the rules," Sasha said with an evil smile.

"I hate you guys," Allie whimpered, pushing herself out of her seat.

The girls watched as Allie ran out of the library. Mellissa, Sasha, and Becky followed. They hid just behind the corner spying on their friend. Once Allie caught up to Frank she tapped him on the shoulder and began talking. At first Frank look really confused. Alice whispered something to him. Then he broke into laughter, shook his head with a gallant smile. Without another word Allie retreated back to her friends.

"Have I mentioned how much I hate you," Allie said. Her face was bright red and she refused to look any of her friends in the eye. "At least Alice knew why I had a sudden interest in boyfriend."

"Well, let's move on, shall we? Who's next? Becky!"

All three girls turned to Becky. Their eyes were sparkling with excitement and mischief.

"What? No. I'm good."

"None sense. We will make sure you get someone good."

"How can you be sure of that? This game is a game of chance. Besides, I have little to no experience with guys. In case you have forgotten I just came from a school that segregates boys and girls into different classes."

"If anything you can play that to your advantage. It adds to your mystic as the exotic new girl."

Becky's cries of complain were drowned out by her friends excitement.

"And one is Sirius Black," Sasha exclaimed as Sirius walked up to the library doors and leaned against the frame as if he was waiting for someone.

You are so lucky, Becky!"

"Um, leave him."

"What do you mean 'leave him'?"

"Yeah, he is the best choice in school."

"It's not that he isn't nice to look at, I just don't think I have a chance. He swore off girls at the end of last year."

"How do you know that?"

Becky realized her mistake. Why did she keep saying things in front of these girls she knew she shouldn't reveal? "Er, it was just something I overheard some of the Ravenclaw girls talking about in the bathroom the other day."

"We know you didn't overhear that in the bathroom. Remus Lupin told you didn't he. Fine don't tell us. If you won't take fit, attractive, athletic, gorgeous, Sirius Black then your second choice is...well, the fates must have heard us talking because look who is talking to Sirius Black. None other than your very own Remus Lupin."

The girls except Becky broke into giggles. This happened any time Remus was mentioned in Becky's presence. The girls still didn't know the extent of Becky and Remus' friendship, but they knew enough to continuously tease her.

"Poor guy," Mellissa said with a dramatic sigh.

"Why? What's wrong with Remus," Becky questioned. She knew she was baiting herself for more ridicule from the girls, but she couldn't help but feel a little protective of her best friend. "I thought you were always excited about the prospect of me talking to him."

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with him and we do want to see how he interacts with you. It's just, he comes to the library so often that he has been asked out by each of us at least twice by each of us," Allie explained. Her face was finally back to normal.

"Has he ever said yes to any of you," Becky asked. She could feel her jaw hardening with a slight feeling of jealousy.

"He did once, when I asked him, back in third year," Mellissa said. "It was a study date. But within the first 15 minutes Sirius and James came in and kidnapped him. I like to think he was a little perturbed by the whole being kidnapped."

Becky smiled. Now that it was mentioned, she did remember a letter she received from Remus, back in her second year, which mentioned a 'study date' with some girl. It amused Becky to find out it was one of her dorm mates. It calmed her even more to know that the date did not work out,

"Well," Allie began, tearing Becky out of her thoughts. "What will it be? Will you 'take him' or will you 'leave him'?"

"We all know you're chummy with him," Mellissa giggled waving her hands in a dismissing fashion. "So let's see it."

"If that's the case, who am I to break tradition," Becky said with an eye roll. Regardless, she stood from her seat with a small smile. She walked over to the table where Remus recently sat.

"Hey, Rem," Becky said in a low voice. "Just you tonight? I thought I saw Sirius not long ago."

"The other marauder's aren't much for Friday night studying in the library," Remus replied with a tired smile.

Becky studied her friend for a second or two and noticed the darkening circles under his eyes. His face was pale with a slight green ting to his skin. "Are you okay? You look a bit more pallid than normal."

"I'm fine," Remus replied quickly. The full moon was tomorrow and the fact was Remus wasn't fine. He felt sick, but he knew he had to get ahead on his studying before he was incapacitated for a couple of days. "I woke up this morning with a touch of a cold, I think. I'll go to the hospital wing if things get worse. Anyway, I see you are getting along with your roommates. What brings you over here? Need some charms help?"

Becky laughed at their private joke as she sat down next to Remus. "I need no help with charms especially from you. I believe I can manage to be charming on my own. Thank you very much." She managed a quick glance to her friends, who were all staring intently at her, before turning completely to her best friend. "Listen, have you ever heard of the game 'take him, or leave him'?"

Remus thought for a moment before replying with one of his eye brows raised, "Is that the insipid game where you have to ask out one of three guys?"

"Possibly," Becky smiled. She could feel the laugh bubbling up, but she had to keep her cool.

"Oh, Merlin, Becky. Not you too," Remus groaned, rubbing his tired blue eyes.

"Yeah, the girls may have mentioned asking you out a few times."

"A few times! I have probably been asked out one each one of them every year for the past three years! This is insane."

"Well, at least I chose you over Sirius."

"Well, that's a relief." Remus rolled his eyes.

"Hey, don't take that tone with me. I could still ask Sirius. I'm sure I can convince him to take me on a date even though he is on a dating sabbatical."

Becky pretended to be offended and stood from her chair. However, it didn't last long because the giggle that threatened to escape from her lips was freed.

"No, wait," Remus said standing up himself in order to keep his best friend from tipping over during her laughing fit. Without a thought he placed both his hands on either side of Becky's hips to keep her upright. "How about during the next Hogsmead trip I buy you lunch. Just lunch. I think that's all I can manage of your charming personality."

"No date," Becky asked; her laughter stopping. She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead in a dramatic fashion as she leaned into Remus. "Is that what I mean to you? You buy me a sandwich before you send me packing, is that it? I allow you to kiss my charming self and this is all I get in return?"

"You allow me to kiss you," Remus questioned. He laughed as if Becky had uttered the most hilarious joke. What he said next was only loud enough for Becky to hear. "I believe you are the one who pulled me into a deserted classroom last night when I was patrolling the halls and began snogging me."

Becky merely shrugged in answer. She couldn't argue with something that may have been true.

"Listen, I'll buy you lunch at Hogsmead and I'll even let you stick around after you eat your sandwich," Remus said.

"You'll let me stick around. If that's all you think of me..." Becky stood to leave the teasing smile never leaving her face.

"Bloodly hell, woman," Remus groaned. He knew she was just trying to get a rise out of him, but he couldn't help but get a little frustrated because she knew which buttons to push. Again, it didn't help that one didn't need to press his buttons very hard around the full moon to get a rise out of him.

"Language, Mr. Lupin. Anyway, you have yourself a deal. See you later." Becky said reaching up to pat Remus on the head before twisting out of Remus' grasp and walking away.

"So how did it go," Sasha asked drilled Becky for information as soon as the new girl rejoined them at the table.

"He said no," Becky replied. "Better luck next time, girls."

"No he didn't," Mellissa squealed. "We saw the way he was holding you. There is definitely something going on between the two of you. He had to have said yes!"

"How do you know," Becky inquired attempting to lift one eyebrow in a curious fashion.

"Because he is totally trying not to smile at you," Mellissa pointed a manicured finger towards the table where Becky's best friend sat. "And you can't stop smiling either."

Becky looked over at Remus. Seeing him try to hid behind a stoic look she couldn't help but smile. Remus of course couldn't help himself and he genuinely smiled back.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed even the visiting readers. Please know that even though I cannot send you a PM I still appreciate the reviews!

I'll try to have the next chapter up next week.

Always,
orangezauber