Remus was furious. It was one thing for the other boys to avoid him all day, claiming they were all busy when he, who had helped them make their sodding class schedules at the beginning of the year, knew good and well what they needed to be doing and what they were doing was avoiding him on purpose. And on a Saturday? There was not an ounce of Remus that felt up to being the victim of one of their schemes; especially because ones they tried to plan without his mindfulness. So here he sat on a bench at the edge of the quiet little town of Hogsmade, where nearly thirty minutes ago James, Peter and Sirius were suppose to have met him-and yet, deep down, Remus was giving them the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't unlike them to get into trouble and not meet up with him, but usually at least one of them found a way to send word with a younger student, if one of them hadn't escaped, and let Remus know. He decided to give them ten more minutes.
Claire, however, was getting annoyed with her brother, who had Peter and Sirius in tote and was following Claire and her friends around Tomes & Scrolls, bothering her about wasting a Saturday on something as, in their opinions, boring as a new book. Having found one herself, Claire paid and promised her friends that she'd get rid of James and the others, and left the bookshop. Upon exiting, however, she noticed they hadn't followed her when she left, but rather where headed back toward Spintwitches. Claire shrugged and continued on her way, using their interruption as a good excuse to find a good spot to read outside without having anyone come and bother her. She continued to make her way to the outskirts of the village, where few students wandered, mostly due to the Shrieking Shack. There was a bench she knew of, which normally was shaded well by a tree, but in the winter months was just a secluded place with a nice view. It had been one of her favorite places since her mother had shown it to her as a young child, while on a shopping trip to the village. It didn't take her long, however, to realize that she was not the only student who knew this place.
"It's beautiful out here, isn't it?" She said, sitting down beside him before even announcing herself. Remus jumped, but relaxed when he realized who had joined him. "I don't understand why no one comes out here." Remus agreed, it was a nice area made by the village, a park of sorts. There was this bench, a trail which he was sure in spring and summer was covered in flowering plants, and a fountain, which had frozen mid-cascade into shimmering crystals.
"The shops are right there when you first come into town, they're distracting." He replies. Claire nods, although Remus is still looking forward rather than facing her.
"I suppose so." She agrees. "But this has always been my favorite place in the village. My mum showed ti to me once when she brought me shopping. She let me throw knuts into the fountain for wishes." She smiled at the memory, but Remus didn't miss the sadness in her voice.
"She was a wonderful witch, Claire." Remus said, "I'm very sorry. I know how that feels, and it's not easy. Are you okay?" He finally looked over at her.
"I suppose. I mean, with all that is happening I guess if I had to lose my mother, at least she wasn't taken from me. And I miss her, but she was tired. I knew that- as much as she tried to hide it. She can rest now. I just try to not be selfish." Remus' mouth turned up in one corner.
"That's very wise." He said, and Claire couldn't help but smile.
"That is why the hat put me in blue." She replied, and Remus gave a chuckle. "So what brings you out here all alone? The other morons are in town shopping for Quidditch goods."
"Other morons?" Remus ask in mock offense. Claire laughed and laid a hand over on his.
"You know I don't count you in with them, but you and they do." Remus glanced down as quickly as possible without being obvious, but he did not move. Remus raised an eyebrow, but didn't continue with the thought, but rather returned to her original question.
"I was- just looking for some space I suppose." He lied. Claire took her hand away and moved back from where she had scooted closer in.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She stood and gathered her bags. "I'll just leave you to it." She didn't seem angry with him, or upset, just embarrassed, and it made Remus' face burn.
"Don't!" He called after her. "Claire- don't..." He stood up and walked over to where she had stopped and turned to face him. "I didn't mean for you to go."
"You- didn't?" She looked up at him, where he was now very close. He looked down at his feet and shook his head.
"No. I... Er- always want your company." He mumbled. Claire smiled.
"Really?" She ask, and he nodded. "Why couldn't you just say that?" Still looking down, he shrugged. "Remus?" She waited for a moment, but when he didn't respond quick enough she closed the remaining space between them and stood on her tiptoes, planting a kiss on the corner of his mouth. Finally, he looked up.
"Claire..."
"Do you like me, Remus?" She ask sincerely. Remus blinked at her. "Do you or not?"
"I- I do, but-" Remus sputtered.
"If the next things out of your mouth involve 'werewolves' or 'James' I will walk away right now." She said. Remus looked surprised. "I don't care, about either one. Er- well, I care a little about James, but only because I like to annoy him as much as he does me." This statement made Remus smile, but it was short lived.
"It is easy for you to say you don't care now, Claire. You don't know..."
"I do, actually." She replied. "I come and bring you sweets, sit with you sometimes. You never wake up when I'm there, and James says that its normal for you to sleep so much after. But really, I don't care. Its something you can't help anymore than anyone with a disease can. And one should never judge others by what they cannot help. It is the quality of their character that matters. And you're probably one of the sweetest people on the planet. You don't deserve the judgement, or the pain." Before she had time to blink after her statement, Remus had his arm around her waist and had pulled her against him, catching her into a kiss. She was off-guard at first, but soon melted into the sensation of his lips on hers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Bit cold out here, isn't it?" Remus ask when he finally pulled away, noticing how pink Claire's cheeks were. She smiled.
"Hot chocolate?" She suggested, and Remus nodded. As they walked back toward the village, he slipped his arm around her waist.
So yes, this was a short chapter- but it is a bit of sweet before our young ones get thrown out into a wizarding world at war. I hope everyone is enjoying the story! Be sure to review, as I get the notifications at work and they make my whole day! Much love!
