Beginning of Year 5

Of Chocolate and Dancing

Remus sat on his bed, legs stretched out before him as he read the Advanced Charms text. The only people left in the dorms were him and James. Everyone else had already left for the Autumn Dance.

James was currently on try number six of fastening the bow tie of his dress robes properly. Sirius had offered to help with a simple spell but James had insisted that he not wait up. Even Peter had tried, but once again, James denied any aid.

'Honestly, Peter, you've got a date. Don't ruin this. She may change her mind if you make her wait!' James had jested.

So now it was just he and Remus. James let out a frustrated groan as he yanked the messy bow from his neck. He took a deep breath and began to try again.

"You know, James, I know a very simple spell that might do the trick if you-"

"No," James interrupted. "When Lily and I are living together someday she'll have seen all her muggle friends and her father tie a bow tie with their bare hands. Imagine what she'd think, if I-probably her husband by then-can't do something as simple as tie a bow without magic."

"I think she'd understand if a pure blood wizard wasn't well equipped to do anything without the aid of a simple spell, frankly. Arthur is the only pure blood I know able to do trivial tasks not using magic."

"That's because Arthur Weasley is obsessed with the way muggles function. I, however, want to woo Evans-"

"With your ability to tie a bow tie?" snickered Remus.

James half smiled at him from his reflection in the mirror.

"It can't be that hard anyway," Remus yawned flipping the page of his book. "I mean, you tie your school tie without magic every morning."

"Bow ties are much different apparently."

Remus yawned again, nodding.

"You're awfully tired."

"Can't imagine why," snorted Remus.

James winced. So preoccupied with his first official outing with Lily he had nearly forgotten that it was only last night they had been in the Shrieking Shack. Remus was still recovering from that nasty gash above his eyebrow and the rearranging of his skeletal system less than twenty four hours ago.

"I-"

"Don't apologize, please," Remus said casually as he peered at a footnote in his book.

James gave a single nod and resumed muttering the instructions of how to loop the fabric so it created that much desired, immaculate bow. Even so, it managed to come out crooked and uneven. James puffed and rolled his eyes, moaning with aggravation. He plopped down at the foot of Moony's bed with a sigh.

"Want to know a fun fact" Remus asked looking at James.

James turned his head to face his friend with an exhausted expression, brows raised to signal he was indeed keen to know one of Remus' 'fun facts.' These were either indeed an interesting tidbit he had discovered or a sarcastic remark. Seeing as Remus had been reading a text, James assumed the former.

"You're a wizard and can probably use a spell to easily fix your bow tie," Remus said, holding back laughter.

James pursed his lips, fighting off a smile and gave Moony's leg a light punch. Normally it would have been a firm shove, but James quickly recalled how sore Remus was. He stood again and faced the mirror, once more resuming his attempt to fix his tie.

"In too much pain to go to the dance?" James inquired.

Remus set down his book and rubbed the back of his neck, shrugging.

"Among other things."

James' brows furrowed in concern as he sharply faced Remus. Gnawing on his lower lip, Lupin folded his arms and gazed contemplatively at the ceiling.

"Did you seriously not ask Meadowes?" James questioned.

Remus blinked, exhaling. He finally looked at an incredulous James.

"The-the opportunity didn't present itself."

"Didn't present itself?" he gawked. "You study together every other night in a secluded section of the library! Moony, we even planned what you were going say!"

"What we planned was daft," Remus drawled.

"It was clever! Charming!" insisted James. "Or did you just forget? You were going to offer her a chocolate frog and say: I thought you might like-"

"-this seeing as you are just as sweet. Fancy going to the dance with me? Yeah, Casanova, comparing her personality to chocolate then suddenly drawing a parallel to dancing was not exactly smooth."

"I know! You're not 'exactly smooth' either! It was perfect for you. It was going to compliment your awkward, yet endearing and witty nature."

Remus laughed, shaking his head.

"Awkward, yet endearing?"

"Yes," James said earnestly.

"Where in the bloody hell did you summon that description from?"

James tilted his chin upwards and removed the bow tie once more.

"Straight from the thestral's mouth," he replied smugly.

Remus' eyes widened and he sat up straighter. Had James… No. He wouldn't.

Yes, he absolutely would.

"You didn't ask her…"

"I did."

Remus let out a moan of humiliation and slumped back, covering his eyes with his forearm.

Dorcas had said that? As sweet as that was, now she definitely knew Remus had feelings for her. How long had she known though?

"When did you ask her?"
"About a week ago," James said promptly.

"Bloody hell…"

James scoffed, turning his head to look at Remus. A knowing expression on his face.

"I wasn't completely obvious that you liked her, Moony. I'm not an idiot. I asked her for three words to describe each of us."

Remus removed his arm from his face and sat up with a grunt. This was humiliating, no doubt. However, Dorcas hadn't treated him any differently in the past week. Perhaps James' plan had worked. Perhaps she had suspected nothing at all. After all, James blatantly asking for a girl's impression of him wasn't that out of the ordinary. As much as he had matured over the years he was still quite vain and loved to have his ego stroked.

"What'd she describe you as?"

"Handsome and charming, but arrogant. Sirius got charming and handsome but arrogant."
"And Peter?" inquired Remus.

James smirked.

"Her exact words were 'um...nice I s'pose.'"

Remus couldn't help but smile. That was Peter. Just nice. There wasn't much more to him really. Loyal, perhaps?
"I suggested clingy."

"Hungry, maybe? He ate most of my stash of chocolate," Remus murmured.

James' eyes flickered with realization and he crossed to the trunk at the end of his four poster bed.

"I almost forgot," James grinned.

He removed a rectangular box labeled 'Finest Truffles' and walked back over to Remus.

"Happy birthday, Moony," he smiled, extending it to him.

"Not my birthday till-"

"March. I know. Still."

Remus smiled and gave a grateful nod. James resumed the venture of tying his bow tie once more. He really was determined to impress Lily. Right down to the smallest detail. Opening the box, Remus shook his head. When would James learn that it wasn't these trivial things that would impress her. She cared much more about him being kind and caring than his ability to win the Quidditch Cup or score the highest in Transfiguration or tie a measly bow tie without the assistance of magic?

Remus set the box of chocolates beside him and hoisted himself off the bed, a small grunt of pain emitting from him in the process.

"C'mere," Remus said.

James turned around, a perplexed expression on his face. Remus straightened the fabric under his friend's collar and began the slow task of his fixing his tie.

"You know how to do this?" James asked.

"Yeah. Mum taught me."

"Oh, I always forget your mum's a muggle," James remarked softly. "You're just so good at...well, anything to do with spells really."

"If you recall, my father didn't think I would ever attend Hogwarts so he got me a lot of books on everything to do with magic. I read eleven of them when I was six. Just that summer."

James laughed quietly as Remus squinted while his long fingers tied a careful loop.

"Typical Moony. Would rather spend his summers reading than playing with friends."

"Well," Remus sighed. "Didn't have any really. Homeschooled. Primary school with other children wasn't really an option. My scars would raise questions and frequent absences would've probably gotten me into trouble."

James frowned. As long as he could remember, he had always had friends. Even without the assistance of muggle primary school he'd had neighbor friends and such.

"What about neighbors?"

The corner of Remus' mouth quirked up.

"The moment I was bitten we moved to the countryside. No neighbors in sight. Not exactly wise, you know?"

"That sounds… lonely," James replied solemnly.

"I s'pose. I had my parents. Books. A few nurses I liked whenever I had to visit Mungos to get professionally patched up," Remus shrugged, fastening the bow tie. "There. I'll teach you how it's done later so you can impress Evan's with your 'muggle know-how,' alright?"

James nodded as his friend smiled warmly and clambered back onto his bed with a soft groan. How was it this boy had never had friends before they met? He was kind and considerate. Clever and funny. James knew rude and stupid boys who had had multiple friends since they could talk. Then there was Remus, who at five years old lost everything because one night a month-just twelve times a year-he was an animal. It didn't seem fair.

And here he sat on the night of the Autumn Dance, reading with a box of chocolates in an empty dorm. No date or party for him. Yet he didn't show the slightest hint of resentment. Years of practice, probably. A bit of anger boiled in James as he admired the perfect presentation of his tie now. He turned on his heel and looked down at Remus who was reading his book, chewing on a piece of chocolate slowly.

"Moony?"

"Hm?"

"You ever think you'll ask Dorcas out? Or even tell her that you fancy her?" probed James.

The hint of a smile played on Remus' lips as he turned the page of his book. He swallowed and looked up at James.

"As of now, I'm perfectly happy studying with her and admiring from a distance."

"Have you ever kissed a member of the opposite sex?"

"Yes."

"That wasn't your mum."
Remus released a quiet laugh.

"Nope."

James shook his head.

"Moony, what is life without romance?"

"You sound like a second year," Remus sniggered. "Besides, it's best for me not to get... Comfortable with the idea of a love life, James."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that relationships are pretty much out of the question for me, James," he said simply. "Maybe with another...well… another person like me."

"Why not with… someone else?"

"Because that's not how it works for people like me."

"Quit saying that, Moony. You're no different than everyone else," James added pointedly.

"Okay," scoffed Remus.

"I mean it! If anything you're better! Smarter! Nicer! I-"

"But none of that matters, James," Remus said in a firm but calm tone. "None of that matters. Not when you're a werewolf."

James shook his head in defiance and exhaled. Remus could practically feel the anger emitting from him. He continued reading his book. Best to let James recover. Let his temper subside. Finally he sat at the foot of Remus' bed, shaking his head slowly. Remus grimaced and turned the page of his book. He'd let James have the first word. After five years he knew the strategy of an argument with James. He was an angry and proud individual in times of confrontation. Especially when it involved his friends.

"Sorry… it's just… it's not fair to you, Moony."

Remus closed his book and gave James a grim smile. James knew it all too well. The humility and sadness behind it. Say what you wanted about Remus Lupin, he was the most likeable martyr you'd ever meet. Probably because he wasn't even trying to be. Never. Remus honestly thought what he got was fair. That people had good reason to be frightened of him. He understood their prejudice where it made others spit on them. Made other werewolves resent humanity.

"People are scared. They always will be. I'm perfectly happy though. I've got some really, really brilliant friends."

"And you always will," James said firmly.

"I know. Even if I wanted to get rid of you all, I couldn't."

"That's right."

They both chuckled quietly. Remus leaned forward slightly.

"And I owe you the world for what you've all done. Last night was… it was nice. I have cautious optimism about the full moons to come," he said quietly.

"Not bad for our first try."

"Not at all. Better than I'd had expected."

"What'd you expect?" James laughed.

"That I'd maim at least one of you," snickered Remus. "Sirius might get a scratch on his beautiful face and hate me forever."

The two shared a moment of quiet laughter. Remus gently nudged James' shoulder.

"Go to the dance. Don't keep Lily waiting. She'll want to see that bow tie."

James stood and straightened his robes, grinning.

"G'night, Moony. Enjoy the chocolate."

"Oh, I will," Remus smiled.

As James reached the the exit of the dorms, but couldn't help looking back at Remus. He sat on the bed. Quiet. Meek. Reading his book and snacking on the chocolate James had given him. Finally, he turned his head and took a deep breath, preparing himself for his first date with Lily Evans.

"James?"

With no hesitation James turned around, brows raised. Was Remus going to come after all?
"Have you changed your mind?" asked James hopefully.

"Erm...no. I'm not really up for dancing, mate," Remus smirked. "I just wanted to ask if you'd tell Dorcas to have a good time tonight and please vividly be able to describe her dress and her dancing."

Color filled Remus' cheeks and James bit back a snicker.

"Absolutely, Messer Moony."

"Thanks, Prongs."
James set off down the stairs and went down into the Common Room. Remus remained in the dorms, reading, but in the back of his mind imagining what Dorcas was wearing and how she was dancing. If she was enjoying himself. The grin on James face as he set off to meet Lily with his perfect bow tie. It was more than enough to satisfy Remus.

I know, I know. I was gone forever. My laptop got a virus and I've been super, duper busy. Like insanely. Don't forget to comment and follow!

-OERH