A/N: Hurray! I managed to update. Was it within the week? I've lost track of the days. Actually I wrote this procrastinating from doing actual work, so I guess this chapter is tainted. Anyway enjoy and thanks as always for your lovely reviews :)

Chapter Thirty-Four: Do the simple thing

I'd never understood Valentine's day. Even when I was going out with Simon Thomas, who was a Sixth year when I was in Fourth (a point of tremendous pride for me back then,) I hated the day. In fact, I broke up with him on February 12th, just because I didn't want to deal with the horrific amount of attention it brought. Me! – girl who loves attention more than anything else – didn't enjoy the sickening gushiness that surrounded the whole blasted day. It's not like any of it has any sense of genuine affection – it's all about who gets the biggest bouquet or who is taking the school Romeo to Hogsmeade. And whenever some stupid group of Cupids got together and decided to start a Flower delivery service, things just got stupid. And mean. Some disgusting Slytherins had all decided to send poor Dilys, Lizzy's friend, a bunch of worm infested roses as a joke. A joke! I mean, I like a laugh at the expense of idiots that can take some ribbing but this was just malicious! Lizzy ended up having to chase after Dilys when they all laughed their heads off at her (which wasn't helped by the Marauders' deeply stupid prank with the water balloons) and Sirius and James almost got into a muggle duel with them. I suppose they didn't find Valentine's day pranks funny once both of them had been hit with the water balloons they'd planned for anyone who received more than five flowers. Even worse, Lily got hit too and James ended up having to run after her to apologize while Sirius scurried after Lizzy and Dilys.

And all of that happened before ten am.

I got one card, which irritatingly made me happy for a split second before I got around to reading the sham of a thing. It read:

"Rose are red,

Violets are blue,

You've got nice boobs,

Fancy a shag?"

The man was no Arson Fring. Thankfully they didn't sign it or I might've been spending Hogsmeade sulking in detention for hexing them into next week. Thankfully, despite the fact that all three had dates, Remus, Peter and Dorcas didn't seem to have caught the virus. After Lily, James and Sirius had stormed off to deal with various crises, we all sat in a line with our chins propped on our hands and stared around the rest of the hall with equal disenchantment.

"Did you lot send anything to anyone?" Dorcas asked.

"Nah," Peter said. "Thought I'd just buy Jenny stuff at Hogsmeade."

"Gemma and I are just friends," Remus shrugged.

"What about you, Dor?" I asked, cracking my neck tiredly and looking at her.

"No, Jack and I agreed that the gift giving was a silly tradition," she said, chewing on her lip and staring over at the Ravenclaw table.

If I had a good sense of reading people, and I thought I did with obvious exceptions, then I was positive that Jack would be giving Dorcas the roses she so desperately wanted and she wouldn't complain. Even so, I held my tongue. Even teasing Dorcas wasn't going to pull me from my mood – especially not when I knew it would embarrass her. I stood up straight and mentally congratulated myself. I was becoming more mature! I actually thought of Dorcas' feelings! Too bad actually saying it out loud would defeat the purpose. Sigh, I still had a long way to go.

"So did you figure out what you're going to be doing today then?" Remus asked, elbowing me.

"Oh yeah," I smiled. "I made about ten t-shirts last night and let the ink dry. I'm going to go by the music shop and try and sell them for three galleons apiece."

"That's very entrepreneurial of you, Kate!" Dorcas said.

Yes, it was. Also, it was a nice distraction from the madness.

"Also, I had a bit of a plan for the cupids at Puddifoots," I said, rubbing my hands together cartoonishly. "None of you planned on going there, right?"

All three of my friends made similar looks of disgust and I chuckled.

"Good, because I don't plan on that prank backfiring like Sirius'." I pointed out my disgruntled boyfriend, who had returned to the Hall as several students left the room. He was soaking wet with a balloon still trailing behind him. It exploded on his head as he sat in front of us and he glared pointedly at Remus.

"Moony, did you make it so these things wouldn't stop coming after me?"

I started to laugh and Remus joined in and soon our side of the table was in hysterics as Sirius scowled at us.

"Sorry," Remus said, gulping back another snicker. "I thought you would've figured it out by now."

Sirius grunted and shook out his wet hair like a dog. "I did. Tossed the wretched Valentines, but that last balloon still caught up to me. Nice of you to mention the snag in the plan."

"My pleasure," Remus replied and even Sirius let out a faint chuckle.

"That was a pretty stupid idea, even by my standards."

"How's Dilys?" Dorcas asked, frowning.

"All right," Sirius shrugged. "Liz went to comfort her."

"And Lily?"

"She and James are having a yelling match outside the Hall," he said. "Good thing Doxy and MacDonald aren't around. It's the usual lover's quarrel."

I shook my head, but said nothing. I didn't want to bring up the inevitability of James and Lily because it would draw attention to the Sirius/me/Remus thing and I couldn't stand Sirius' rolling eyes. Especially not when he was about to go off with Lizzy.

Remus stretched and yawned largely before he stood up and dusted off the crumbs on his lap. "Well, I should get going. I'm supposed to meet Gemma out front. Sure you don't want to come along, Kate?"

Sirius' rolling eyes were really irritating.

"Nah," I said. "But if you're all headed out, I'll walk down with you."

"Yeah," Sirius said as we all stood and joined Remus walking to the doors. "I gotta find Liz. I have a feeling I'm going to be entertaining two girls today."

"Sure you can handle it?" I said, waggling my eyebrows unable to resist.

Thankfully he laughed. "I've never tried, but I'm sure I'm man enough."

I clicked my tongue. "You wish!"

"Want to make it a foursome?"

I laughed properly then and shoved him. "Yeah, because that's the best idea you've ever had."

His smile faltered a little before he shrugged. "Better than you moping all alone."

"Yeah," Remus cut in. "We could still do the group thing."

"I think Jenny and I want to be alone," Peter said, fussing over his collar. "But we could meet up later."

"Er, yeah, Jack and I too…" Dorcas said unsurely.

"Yuck!" I said, shaking my head. "Stop being so selfless, you monsters. I have plenty of company when I'm by myself."

They stared at me blankly and I smiled. It had been a while since a bunch of us could joke around like this and even if it was at my expense, it made me feel less depressed about the day and my life in general.

"You know, I've got Katie to keep me company," I said making them laugh.

James and Lily weren't at the Entranceway and as Mary and Charlus were nowhere to be seen, we assumed (and hoped) that they were both already off to the village. Gemma was there waiting with Claire and a few other Hufflepuff girls and Jack stood under the largest tree with a bouquet of pink roses. I smiled as I felt Dorcas' fingernails dig lightly into my arm.

"Go on, don't pretend you hate them for my sake," I whispered and she gave me a quick thanks before rushing over to hug him and accept the flowers. They stood staring at each other awkwardly for a minute before he nodded to the path and she smiled and they headed away. Meanwhile, Peter had caught up with Jenny and they were leading the procession to the village. Which, of course, left me standing between Sirius and Remus with both of them hanging back from their respective dates.

"No group date!" I insisted, shoving Remus forward a little and then elbowing Sirius as Lizzy approached. Dilys was standing about a foot behind her still with red eyes. I shot her what I hoped was a supportive smile, but she didn't seem to notice.

"Hey," Lizzy said, slipping her hand into Sirius'. "Don't hate me."

He raised his eyebrows. "You cancelling?"

"What? Um, no! I just…well, is it okay if Dilys comes with us?"

Sirius shrugged. "Sure."

Her eyes darted to me and suddenly I saw an expression on her face that I could wholly relate to. It was pure panic.

"Oh, er hey Kate."

I refrained from imitating her stuttering and just gave her a wry smile.

"Are you er coming too?"

"Yeah Kate," Sirius said turning to me with one of his easy grins. "Do you er want to?"

I shot him a withering look and plastered a smile on for Lizzy. He was such a spectacular arse.

"Oh no thanks. I'm solo today. And I'm actually going to walk down with Remus and Gemma. Enjoy your day!"

Sirius frowned, but Lizzy let out a quiet sigh of relief.

I didn't want to see Remus with Gemma any more than I wanted to see Sirius with Lizzy, but at least I liked Gemma.

"Hey guys, is it okay if I walk down with you?" I asked when I'd reached Gemma and Remus. Claire and the rest of their friends had already left and the two of them were already in some serious conversation about the last book they'd both read.

"Hey Kate! Of course!" Gemma said as we all fell into step a few yards behind a sour Sirius and Lizzy and Dilys.

"I don't mean to crash."

Remus clicked his tongue and Gemma shook her head.

"Are you sure you don't want to spend the day with us?" she asked. "We're only going to a book reading and then Broomsticks for Lunch."

I glanced at Remus who was watching me expectantly and I had half a mind to agree. But they were just being accommodating. Gemma was a nice person like that and I didn't want to take advantage of her kindness.

"No, really I have plans," I said. "But thanks."

"We were just talking about Skrifter af Knos – have you read it?" she asked.

I felt very stupid by the time we got to the village. Every book they discussed, every magical theory – all of it went right over my head. This wasn't schoolwork the two of them talked about; this was additional reading for fun. It was interesting to see and hear their opinions, but it was hard for me to follow along having read none of the material they were debating. While Remus and I had music, he and Gemma had literature and I could see his face light up with thirst as they talked. They were nice about including me and explaining stuff when I looked lost, but it only served to make me feel even worse about having feelings for Remus in the first place. They were peas in a pod.

When we got to the High street, I turned to face them putting on my most positive voice.

"You'll have to lend me that muggle book you were talking about 1994 was it?"

"84," Remus corrected quickly.

"Right. It sounds really cool," I said, shoving my hands in my pockets even though the gloves kept them warm enough. "But I think it's best we part ways now. I'm not sure I'll be able to follow once you get to the bookstore for that reading."

Gemma pouted. "Don't sell yourself short."

"They don't expect you to talk if you don't want to – you can just listen," Remus suggested with that ever-so-compelling smile.

I shook it off and cringed. "Nah, it all sounds a little more school-worky than I'm interested in."

"Come meet us for Lunch then," he said, before glancing at Gemma. She was nodding.

Merlin, she was very secure, wasn't she?

Or maybe they really were just friends.

"Yeah maybe," I said. "See you later. Enjoy the day!"

"Give those Cupids hell, Kate!" Remus called as we parted ways. I noticed with a stab in my chest that his hand slid to her waist as they navigated their way through the crowd. I realized I wasn't moving when a grumpy old man yelled 'Oi!' and then I hurried off to Puddifoot's.

But when I saw that Doxy had taken Lily there, I didn't have the heart to make the cupids vomit as planned. Instead, I just strolled down the road and tried not to be jealous of the happy couples. Eventually, I got to the music store and I was unsurprised to see it was completely empty. It was more popular when they threw live events, but since there was a recording studio in the back, the owner kept it low key at other times. People usually dropped in to buy a record and left, and Valentine's wasn't exactly a day for Hogwarts couples to go browsing the music selection on offer. When the bell tinkled, the owner, Mickey, raised a finger to his lips and sent a spell at the Studio door.

"Sorry love," he said as I approached. "I didn't have the silencing charms up. I've got someone back there."

"No problem," I nodded, trying to sneak a peek through the tiny window. "Anyone I know?"

He chuckled and shook his head, stepping in front of me. "So, what're you looking for today? The new Roaring Horntails doesn't come out until next month and I'm sure I already sent a dozen copies of the Ghouls album up to the school."

"Not buying Mick, selling!" I said, producing a shirt from my bag with a flourish. It was my favorite, with a lyric from Remus and my favorite new song. It read, 'Obliviate, Obliviate, Oblivvvv…." in fading letters.

Mickey raised an eyebrow at me as I spread it out over the counter.

"Sweet pea, you realize you can't sell Ghouls merchandise without consent from the artist, don't you?"

My heart sunk. No, I hadn't realized.

He chuckled and pinched my cheek before sneaking a glance over his shoulder.

"Maybe you can leave them with me though. I'll see what I can do and get back to you."

"Like you have a Ghouls connection, Mick!" I sighed. "What's stopping you from selling them anyway?"

He looked offended. "Um, a little thing I like to refer to as good faith?"

Suddenly the studio door opened and as I got on my tiptoes to look over Mickey's shoulder, a husky voice asked, "Hey Mick, you couldn't do us a brew could you?"

Arson Fring. Arson bloody Fring was standing there. He, Mickey and I all froze sort of looking between each other in slow motion for a second before Arson's perfect mouth curved into a surprised smile.

"You," he said.

"You!" I replied, clapping a hand over my mouth.

Well, at least I could now remember this Valentine's day favourably!

"Is it a Hogsmeade trip?" he asked frowning in that dreamy way at the door.

I just made some unintelligible noises for a moment.

He smiled again rakishly. "You're a bit less loquacious than I remember. Mick, d'you know who this is?"

Mickey surveyed me for a moment and his lip curled. "Kid from Hogwarts."

"I mean, I've got a name too," I said and he rolled his eyes.

"You all look the same to me, Sweet pea."

"I knew there was a reason you called me that!"

Had I forgotten that Arson Fring was standing in my midst? For some reason it didn't seem as dream-inducing as it once had. Maybe I was still in shock.

"This is Kay from Charming Witch," Arson laughed.

Mickey still looked blank. "Is that a magazine?"

Me and Arson both laughed together. In unison. Ack.

"I knew you didn't listen to my tunes," he said softly before his coal black eyes fixed upon me once more. "Wow, this is surreal. I didn't think I'd see you again. Maybe at a gig or something, but like this…"

"Well, if it's surreal for you, then it's a fantasy for me," I said with a nod.

I wasn't dreaming, was I? He wasn't about to turn into Remus again was he?

He wet his lips, still staring at me in that uncomfortably hot way before he smiled again. "I've got an idea. Come in here a minute."

"Oi!" Mickey said. "No funny business. I think she's still a minor!"

I huffed and glared at the owner, but he just folded his arms over his chest and glared back.

Arson scoffed lightly. "None of that. I just want to show her something."

Even I had to raise my eyebrows at that one.

"Er, I turn seventeen in June."

He laughed and shook his head. "Musically. I want you to listen to something."

Maybe I'd died from panic before Essay Week and the last month had all been make believe while I was dead. He wanted me to listen to something? Something new?

"Fine. I'll make you a cuppa and you watch your hands, Fring. I know musicians. I used to be one!" Mickey said. "While you're at it, let her show you some t-shirts she made."

Arson's lip pushed out a little in confusion and I tried not to sigh at the adorableness before I followed him inside the studio. It wasn't much – some kind of recording device I didn't understand, a guitar, a large black box and a plush sofa. He sat down on the box and picked up the guitar and I awkwardly floated over to the sofa. Because I still wasn't sure if this was really happening.

"So remind me, is it Kay?" he asked, strumming the guitar quietly.

"Kate actually. But you can call me whatever you want," I said, relaxing against the sofa and pulling off my scarf.

He laughed again and played another chord. "So, t-shirts?"

I showed him the shirts and he smiled inconsequentially.

"They're good. You'll have to get Mickey to talk to my Agent though. It's money stuff."

I nodded, and pushed the shirts back into my bag wordlessly. I was still waiting to listen to whatever he wanted to play me. Maybe it would help me forget Remus. Maybe it would help me get Remus.

Arson was still strumming at his guitar, but kept repeating the same part over and over again before he spoke again.
"So, what's new?"

I laughed. "With you or me?"

"You, obviously. You seem different from last time."

"Not a little drunk, you mean?"

He laughed and tapped his fingers on the base of his guitar.

"You just seem a little less…I don't know. There's something different about your eyes."

"Well maybe your memory's going," I shrugged, crossing my arms uncomfortably. "They're still the same old black."

"Yeah, but your smile's a little less murderous," he said, still smiling knowingly.

"Well I split up with my boyfriend," I shrugged. "And I think my hair grew a bit."

He squinted a little. "You don't seem upset about your boyfriend."

"Yeah, there was an expiration date, you know?"

"Is this the bloke I saw you with at the Hogwarts gig?"

"No!" I said, sitting up. "No, not him."

Arson chuckled and bit his lip sexily. "So, that's who you're upset over."

"So you're some kind of Mind Healer disguised as a musician?" I replied, falling back against the sofa again and pouting.

He didn't say anything and started playing his guitar again and after he'd repeated the same part three times, he started to sing.

"Fade into you,

And your tortured eyes,

And just as I slip,

I've got to fight… fight…."

He sighed and shook his head and sung the part again, apparently forgetting I was there. He paused on fight again.

"Um," I said quietly. "Doesn't sound right."

"Yeah,' he said, tilting his head back and cracking his neck. "I keep hitting a wall."

"How about…" I paused, because this was quite presumptuous of me to offer lyrics up to a lyrical genius. But even though I was trying, I still had a pretty thin filter. "You pull me upright."

He stared at me for a moment and started the song up again,

"Fade into you,

And your tortured eyes,

And just as I slip,

You pull me upright. Ahh! Yes!"

I grinned, feeling warmth rush to my ears and he scribbled it down on the page.

"Thanks, that was killing me. You write?"

I laughed. "Purely recreationally. Me and Remus– er, my mate, we started this song about procrastination as a laugh but never finished."

"Ha!" Arson said, "That's divine intervention. Record it. Sell it."

We chuckled together before he spoke again.

"So this Remus. What's the story?"

I don't know why I told him everything. I don't know HOW I told him everything. It was truly ridiculous. The weirdest dream I'd ever had. But he sat there and listened to me pour out all my absurd problems from the last year – the missteps with Sirius, the discovery of my feelings for Remus. The everything.

And he laughed.

"The kid is completely in love with you. How can you not see that?"

"You don't know him! You haven't seen how…"

"Kate, he's mad for you. He's a roundabout bugger, but there is no way you can deny that he likes you. He's just got a case of the down-on-himselfs and apparently so do you," Arson said, collapsing on to the sofa beside me.

It was weird. It was like I hadn't felt attracted to him at all for the last few minutes. My attraction for Arson Fring was completely eclipsed by the way I felt about Remus. If only he knew.

"Tell him. He's probably just terrified you don't like him cause you went out with that Sirius character for so long. Trust me, I know complicated. I've made a living writing about complicated relationships, but this is so not complicated. This is simple. Tell him."

"I don't know how," I said, raking my hands through my hair and sighing.

"Write about it."

"I can't carry a tune to save my life," I groaned. "It would be the opposite of romantic. He'd be like, 'Er Kate, are you quite ill?' Ugh."

"You can still write it. Our drummer is the shittiest singer I've ever heard and he wrote half of Obliviate."

"That's our favourite," I sighed. "Can you write it for me? I do keep mentioning asking you to write 'This boy with bunny flu'."

Arson laughed and ruffled my hair. "You write it and send it to me. And maybe I'll sing it at the gig in April."

"We couldn't get tickets," I said glumly.

He shoved my shoulder. "Do you know who you're sitting next to right now?"

"Really? You'd do that for me?" I asked, frowning. "I mean…it's a bit excessive."

"Well, in a way you made me a shit ton of money," he shrugged. "But make sure the song's good. I'm not singing any crap."

"This probably won't happen you know," I said standing up and putting my scarf back on.

"Then do the simple thing and just tell him," Arson smiled from the sofa.

I stared at him for a long moment and shook my head vigorously. "This was the weirdest day I've ever had."

He nodded. "Back at you."

"Thanks Arson."

"Go get him Kay," he said with a wink as he picked his guitar up again.

I left the music shop shaking my head and slapping my cheek wondering if I was dreaming despite all evidence suggesting that I actually had just gotten love advice from Arson Fring himself. Just as my eyes began watering from the hard pinch I was giving myself I bumped into Lily and James strolling down the High Street together.

Now really, this wasn't funny anymore.

"Wake up Kate," I muttered to myself.

"Huh?" James said, scratching his head. "You all right Kate?"

Go away dream James.

"So, where've you been?" Lily asked, tapping my arm and forcing me to believe that she really was there and not a figment of my imagination.

"Um," I looked back at the music shop and shook my head. "Honestly, you wouldn't believe me if I told you."

She raised her eyebrows and glanced at James and they both chuckled together.

"Hang on, why are the two of you together?" I asked with a frown.

Again, they shared a glance.

"Oh Mary got bored and decided to join her friends. Apparently she doesn't think Hippogriff racing is as riveting as I do," James said. "And then–"

"Charlus got headbutted by one of the hippogriffs and went up to the Hospital Wing," Lily finished.

James laughed. "He didn't take kindly to Lily laughing her head off at him."

"Hey!" Lily giggled. "I couldn't help it! He went up all proud and started mocking the slowest one. What did he think was going to happen?"

"I think he thought it would impress you," James smiled. "Knob."

"And so the pact continues to fail miserably," I laughed. "Any sign of the others?"

James made a face. "Gemma and Remus were making googly eyes at some author in the bookshop and told us off for laughing."

"You were laughing?" I asked Lily in surprise and she blushed.

"Well I was already having an episode after Doxy and then this author kept mispronouncing septra as sextra and he started laughing and that started me up again and I couldn't stop," she said, shoving James playfully.

"So he was having a good time though?" I couldn't help but ask.

They both stared at me with similar expressions and James' mouth twisted a little.

"Are you and Remus fighting again?"

"What? Of course not," I said immediately, trying to arrange my face so it didn't look depressed. It was a massive effort.

"You've been weird around each other lately. Extra polite and stuff," he insisted.

"Come on James, don't let's pretend you're good at reading other people's emotions," Lily teased.

"What?!" he grinned. "That's my specialty! Like right now you're wondering if you want to kiss me or smack me for being nosy about Kate."

She smacked him and they both laughed. Honestly what was going on with the world today?

I wondered if I ought to leave them alone to flirt, but when we turned the corner we caught sight of Sirius standing behind Lizzy and Dilys looking into Gladrags. He looked bored to tears and that seemed to kick James into best friend gear.

"Well, I'm going to go help Sirius handle that little situation. Avoid any more bodily harm from you," he said poking Lily's shoulder.

She rolled her eyes but we both waved to him as he cantered down the street to join Sirius, who immediately brightened.

"Don't say a word," Lily said.

"I don't have any idea of what words I could possibly say after that," I chuckled as we continued to watch him. Without any prompt, she sighed and fiddled with her hair.

"Agh, I don't know what's wrong with me. One minute, I'm wondering how I could have ever hated him. And others, I know exactly why," she groaned. "I'm such a sad case."

"Join the club," I muttered.

She turned away from him and gave me a small smile. "Are you about to let me in on the big secret you've been keeping?"

"How could you tell?"

She clicked her tongue. "Dorcas and I have been wondering when you would explode. What's going on?"

I sighed loudly and ran my hands through my hair to massage my pounding skull. "Remus."

"Mmm."

"I fancy him."

"I knew it!" she laughed. "So what's the problem?"

I gave her a look. "Starts with a G and rhymes with Emma."

She looked sympathetic and rubbed my back. "They really seem more mate-like than anything else, Kate. Have you spoken to him about it?"

I scoffed. "Yeah, me who does the simple thing."

"It's got to be different with him, right?" she said. "I think you should tell him."

"I don't know. Ugh. That's what Mafalda said. And Arson."

"Arson? As in Fring?" she said, stepping back.

I sighed and put my arm around her shoulders. "Sit down Lily, I've got a lot to tell you."

A/N: This chapter borders on a little ridiculous I think, but I enjoyed writing it, hope you enjoyed reading it! See you next time :)