Auction: Hermione/Remus
Back to School - 51: Prom Night
Assignment 4 - RE - Task 6: Write about someone who keeps to themselves
Something beautiful remains
Remus wishes he asked Hermione to Prom. But it's not too late...
Implied time-travel.
Remus is a little embarrassed next to his friends. His dress robes aren't new. They're second or third hand and though they are in okay condition, he feels like people are judging him.
Sirius is wearing shimmery silver dress-robes, next to James' expensive black ones, and they're walking into the place, hand in hand. Peter even has new robes too, which leaves Remus out of place in his old ones.
"I still don't get why you didn't ask anyone," Sirius murmurs, throwing his other arm around Remus. "Is it because you're pining after me and James? There's space for a third person in our bed if you ever want to… canoodle..."
Remus laughs. He's used to this teasing now. "You're good," he murmurs. "I didn't asn anyone because no one would want to go with me. I mean…"
"Nope," Sirius says, pulling Remus tightly against his side. "Look, Moony, all these beautiful ladies… and some hot… I mean average guys. Any of them would be lucky to have you in their arms." He flutters his eyelashes at Remus.
"Oi, stop seducing Remus," James grumbles. "He's already said no. If he says yes, however…" he gives Remus a wink.
"It'd be a disgrace if he decided he wanted men and didn't come to us first," Sirius argues. "I just want to make it clear that he's very welcome to—"
"Remus, I think I see… something interesting over here." Peter grabs his arm and pulls him away with a laugh. "Saved you. You're welcome."
Remus laughs. He glances back at his friends, and Sirius is staring into James' eyes, captivated. Ever since Sirius ran away from home and moved into James' home, their friendship has become something more. Remus is glad for the pair, they both deserve to be happy.
His gaze moves around the room, seeking someone. A new girl started in the school back in September. A girl who wears the strangest of clothes, who knows all the secret tunnels, and whilst she gets good grades, the girl has an amazing sense of humour and a bit of a wild streak. She's a mystery, and Remus has been trying to get the nerve to have a conversation with her that doesn't involve studying together.
Last he heard, Frank Longbottom asked her to the Prom and she turned him down. If she won't go with Frank, Remus certainly has no chance. He tries to tell himself that it's just a little crush, but she's gotten his attention like no-one else before.
"Peter, hi." Remus turns and notices Mary approaching, her cheeks red as she does. "Do you… like dancing? I mean, I really like this song. Do you… do you like it?"
"I'm going to go and get a drink," Remus quickly says. He can see what this is, and he's not about to be a third wheel. Or worse, the reason Peter turns down Mary - because he doesn't want to leave Remus standing alone.
Remus moves across the room, head down, not wanting to draw attention. He goes to the drink table near the corner and takes one of the glasses of juice that the house-elf offers, and picks up one of the small chocolate cupcakes.. The music is lively, and when he looks back towards the dance-floor, James and Sirius are already dancing with each other, and Mary is leading Peter onto the dance-floor. Remus smiles, humming along to the song, his eyes searching the crowd. He bites into the cake, enjoying the chocolate, and it's gone in two bites. The lights in the room start to lower, and fairy lights float around the dance-floor, giving it a soft glow and a romantic vibe, and for a moment, Remus feels so very alone.
"So… you're hiding out here too?" comes a familiar voice. Remus spins around, surprised to find Hermione there. He quickly wipes at his mouth with his hand, hoping there are no lingering crumbs.
"Not hiding out. Mary wanted Peter to dance. I excused myself so he wouldn't feel like he needed to say no," Remus explains weakly. He's always found Hermione beautiful, but she's even more so today. Her curls are up in a bun with a few stray curls falling around her face. She's wearing a yellow dress that looks like it's shimmering, and makes her look even more the Hufflepuff that she is. There's a simple necklace hanging around her neck, and Remus is at a loss for what to say next.
"I… I was hoping to catch you actually. I… Well, I asked Sirius if you were coming tonight. He said he wasn't sure, but that he'd convince you to…" she trails off and Remus smiles. Sirius insisted he come but didn't explain why. He'll have to have words later. "We've got about three days left, though I get the impression that our futures are going to follow the same path." She lowers her voice a little at this.
"Same path?" Remus asks. It feels a little safer to ask that question rather than asking about the 'our future' bit because he's certain she doesn't mean what he hopes she means.
She nods. "The Order," she whispers.
Remus' smile fades and he gives another nod. He can't fathom how Hermione is joining the Order. She's so young. He reminds himself that she's the same age as him, but something twists in his gut when he thinks about her fighting a war that's brewing.
"These are our last few days before we face that and I want to make the most of them. We don't get much time, because everyone will have to grow up very fast. But… if you're not over here to hide, maybe you'd be up for a dance?"
Remus doesn't answer immediately. He's shocked that she's asked him. Shocked that she wants to dance with him.
"I mean… maybe later, if you change your mind, just…" she trails off, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I… I thought… I mean, I hoped—"
"No. I… I'd love to dance with you." He tries to be brave. He tries to be a Gryffindor. "I was actually thinking of asking you to the prom."
He expects her to laugh, or act like it's a joke. It's how girls usually react to him. But Hermione does neither. She simply regards him with a hopeful curiosity.
"Why didn't you?" she asks.
"Because you turned Frank down," Remus explains. "I thought that if you didn't want to go with him, that you… you wouldn't…"
"Perhaps the reason I said no to him was because I was hoping someone else would take the plunge and ask me," Hermione admits, her cheeks red. "Also, I wanted him to ask Alice. But since the person I hoped would ask me to prom didn't, I thought maybe I should ask him to dance."
Remus stares at her. "Oh," he murmurs, clearing his throat. "Is it too late to ask?"
"A little." She laughs softly. "But it's not too late to dance and have some fun. I've only ever been to one ball before, so I'm not overly great at dancing."
Remus grins. "Neither am I. But I'm not going to pass up a dance with you, even if I look a bit stupid doing it." He offers his arm to Hermione, and she grins back at him before they make their way onto the dance-floor. They find themselves next to James and Sirius, and Sirius gives Remus a wink as they start to dance.
"You're willing to look stupid for me?" Hermione asks, with a shy smile. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Remus wills himself to be charming like Sirius. He's listened to Sirius chat up almost everyone in the school, though it's just flirting.
"Well, just wait until I tell you how beautiful you look today. I mean… every day, but… also today."
She laughs again, softly. "You're sweet," she says. "I'm glad I came here tonight."
"I'm glad I came too."
1331 words
Cat Herding - 21: Hermione / Myrtle's Bathroom - "I'll take that as a compliment."
Writing Club
Gotta Catch Them All - 13. Whismur: (plot point) listening to music
Written in the Stars - 1. (character) Hermione Granger
Showtime - 10. Cum On Feel the Noize - (word) Disgrace
Film Festival - 9. (food) Cake
Lizzy's Loft - 24. Digital - We are, we are the face of the future
Elizabeth's Empire - 23. Grinning
Sophie's Smut Bucket - 5 (word) plunge
Throwback - 26 (word) light
Hobby Hole - 11. Trope: Mutual Pining
Artist Appreciation - Something Beautiful Remains: - Prompt - (emotion) hope - BONUS
Buttons: Word (3) Canoodle / Characters (4) Hermione
TV Spree - 8. (word) Crush