Submitted for The Houses Competition Forum - Round 7

House: Gryffindor

Subject: Transfiguration

Category: Drabble

Prompt: 5. [Emotion] Embarrassment

Word count: 897

Remus' Little Problem

He never thought that he could feel this way, but the embarrassment that he was feeling wasn't something created by his imagination. Remus could only hide his face in his hands and just hope that the rest of the Marauders had some self-respect — or at least something to make them stop their feeble attempts.

"Can you believe that our precious Remus still needs a date for the Yule Ball?" James was yelling loudly at the Gryffindor table that morning. "How has he not found a bird yet?"

"I don't know! Our Remus is growing up to be a fine lad," Sirius said, matching James' volume as he sipped his tea. "Clearly the ladies are making lines to get him, but since he always has his face buried in a book, he can't see it."

"Hey, Remus, what's happening?" Lily asked with a questioning look on her face. "I know that those two can be pretty rambunctious , but what's gotten into them today?"

Remus only groaned behind his hands. "Do me a favor and just kill me, Lily. A simple and clean Avada would be perfect right about now."

Lily giggled at Remus' response and looked at James and Sirius, who were still talking at the top of their lungs about Remus' divine qualities: 'He's the best student in our class! You'll never have to worry about studies anymore!'. Remus couldn't help but smile when he heard Lily's giggles — it was one of the many things that he liked about her — even though he had to listen to his friends still yelling, her giggles were worth the humiliation.

"Why don't you tell them to back off and try to get dates for themselves?" Lily asked, seeing Remus trying to slide further under the table. He raised his head and looked at her like she was the sun and he'd just come out of the darkest of prisons. "You didn't think about this before, did you?"

"No, and I could kiss you right now, Lily, for giving me this idea!" Remus said, missing the way that Lily blushed. Turning to his friends, he simply said, "Hey, dunderheads! Instead of trying to find someone for me, why don't you get dates for yourself?"

James and Sirius stopped what they were doing and looked at Remus like they were seeing him for the first time; Remus was sporting a smug grin until he saw the glints in both of his friends' eyes.

"Hey, McKinnon, you, me, the Ball, what do you say?" Sirius shouted towards Marlene, who raised an eyebrow at him. "I promise to make it the most romantic night of your life."

"I'll make sure you keep your promise, Black. My dress is amazing, so make sure to at least press your vest," Marlene said with a wicked smile to which Sirius wiggled his eyebrows. "You have a date."

Remus groaned, knowing well that James wasn't going to let Sirius take all the attention. He wasn't mistaken: James didn't waste any time in jumping on the table and pouring his heart out.

"Regulus Arcturus Black, you're one of the most brilliant people that I know, just like the star you're named after. Please, put me out of my misery and go to the ball with me?" James smiled like a loon, and even from that distance, Remus could see the way that Regulus was blushing from the embarrassment that he probably felt.

"Mr. Potter, what do you think you're doing? Get down now or you'll have a detention to serve!" McGonagall practically screamed at James, but he just smiled and held a finger up.

"Just a sec, Minnie! I'm still waiting on an answer," James said cheekily, winking towards Minerva. "What do you say, Reggie?"

Remus felt bad for Regulus having to answer on the spot; he thought that he could never answer something in that same situation. Regulus was becoming redder than before, but Remus could see his smile even from afar.

"Fine, I'll go to the ball with you!" Regulus shouted, his face as red as the Gryffindor crest. James whooped in delight and finally clambered off the table. He winked again at Minerva, who only huffed, but Remus could see that she had a small smile on her face.

"Seeing all you lot get dates, I'm starting to feel left out!" Lily said lightly, though Remus could see the longing in her eyes. Remus took a breath, swallowed his embarrassment and turned to her.

"Hey, Lily," Remus said, getting her attention. Taking a deep breath in, he finally picked up his courage. "Would you like to go to the ball with me?"

Lily blushed under his stare, and Remus worried that he was going to get rejected right away, but he was wrong.

"I would love to go with you." Lily smiled shyly, making Remus blush. He felt as though all eyes were on them.

"Finally! I thought that we would have to keep going until you two understood what Sirius and I wanted to say," James said with a smile that could be seen from the moon.

Remus rolled his eyes at his friend, his face still warm from the whole ordeal. He still would go to the ball with the girl he fancied — meaning that all the embarrassment that his friends had made him endure mah have just been worth it in the end.