Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters, this is merely a work of fanfiction.
Renata walked in the tall doors that were opened wide, shucking her outer robes. It was close to Halloween already, and the temperature was dropping quickly.
Heavy steps echoed across the empty entrance hall. Renata spun around to see James Potter marching towards her in a fury.
"Where is he?!" James bellowed, turning an even brighter shade of red as he continued towards her with his wand drawn. He kept flicking his gaze from side to side, clearly searching for someone.
"Who and what are you talking about?" she asked calmly.
She was long used to James' fits of anger by now, and it didn't phase her in the least. He and Sirius' had the worst tempers she had ever seen, besides Walburga of course.
He did, however, look particularly enraged this time.
His sleeves were rolled up, his tie missing, and his dark curls were in an even wilder state of disarray than usual. The glasses he usually wore as an "ironic fashion statement" were nowhere to be seen.
"Don't play games with me Renata Arctura Black! Remus told me that you went to Hogsmeade with Barty!"
He leaned in close to her now and spoke in a furious whisper, "I will crucio that snake if he so much as laid a hand on you!"
Renata smiled softly, and James fumed even more, turning in circles and waving his hands wildly as he mumbled to himself.
"He should have at least asked your brother, he is the head of your house! Just wait till Sirius gets out of detention! He is going to kill him, and I don't doubt that you will be in trouble too!"
Renata fought to hold back the giggles that wanted to burst forth. Barty Crouch Jr. had asked her out to Hogsmeade, but she had politely declined. Remus must be playing a prank on his fellow Marauder.
As much as she had tried to get over her crush on James Potter, it was impossible. He was the white knight she had always dreamed of as a little girl.
She was completely smitten.
She had even chosen to spend the last summer with him, Sirius, and Remus in Italy instead of at Grimmauld Place. The decision was providential, as Walburga and Orion had been murdered by the Dark Lord while they were in Italy.
"Why would Sirius punish me for going to Hogsmeade?" she asked innocently, enjoying seeing James in such a state of jealous disarray.
"Oh Ren... you know very well you are not supposed to go on any courtship dates without the permission of your paterfamilias! Let alone with future Death Eaters! Besides you and I are supposed to…"
James seemed to come back to himself. He trailed off, and stuffed his hands into his pockets, looking around nonchalantly as if he hadn't almost just confessed his feelings to her.
"You and I are supposed to….what exactly?" Renata asked, nudging him gently with her shoulder.
Renata had harbored feelings for James since her first year, but only over the summer had James finally begun to realize that Ren was a young woman and not just Sirius' kid sister. They had been dancing around their feelings for each other ever since, much to the frustration of all around them.
"Well…" he murmured, running his hands through his hair, "we're supposed to court, and get married, and live happily ever after of course! I've been trying to work up the courage to ask Sirius for his permission for months, but you know how he is!"
Renata laughed joyously, this was a moment that she had been dreaming of for years.
It wasn't nearly as romantic as she had imagined it, but it was even better because it was real.