Weeks passed, and soon the Easter holidays came and went. Annie was still
in the infirmary, although getting much better. Remus was still guilty
around Rhia. She was upset by this, but tried to ignore it. All in all,
Fate seemed to be smiling upon the Marauders and Co.
"I can't believe we only have three weeks until exams!" Sirius exclaimed, collapsing onto a couch with James and Rhia in the common room one evening after classes. "You'd think they were tomorrow!"
"With the way you study, Padfoot, they have to get on our cases about them!" Rhia laughed at him, and tossed him a book. "Here, come help me with History of Magic, you're good at crapping your way through answers."
"Hey!" Sirius yelled indignantly as Rhia pulled him over to a corner. Lily walked over to James and sat down next to him. He put his arm around her and she snuggled closer, in front of the fire.
"James...aren't you the least bit nervous?"
"About what, Lil?"
"School ending...us graduating next year...what's going to happen to everyone? Where are we going? And what about Annie, still here in school?"
James chuckled softly. "Lily, I think it'll take a lot more than graduation to split up the infamous Marauders! Besides, we've still got one more year here."
"I suppose so...but still..."
"You aren't still worried about my Auror training, are you?" James asked uncertainly.
"Of course I am! But you will be with Sirius and Remus, so I suppose it won't be so bad..."
"Why are you really worried, Lil? I won't get myself killed, it's just training. I'm made of tougher stuff, Dumbledore tells me that all the time."
"James...I don't want you to die before...well..."
James turned to face Lily. "Before what, love?"
"James...you know I love you."
"Always. What are you getting at?"
Lily shifted so she was sitting cross-legged in front of James on the sofa. "You always say we'll be together forever...but what if you go off to training and don't come back? All I have is memories...I love you James Potter, and I want more of you than just memories."
James raised an eyebrow. "Lily, what are you saying?"
"The teachers are talking about our futures, right? That we should start planning as soon as possible. Well, I can't picture my future without you."
"Yeah..." James urged, desperate to know what she was trying to say.
"James...I think we should get married."
James sat silent for a full five minutes. "Married?" he choked out.
"I mean, I know this is a bit unorthodox... my mother is going to kill me as it is... but think about it. We love each other, we have to start planning for our future, and, well...I want to be with you. I want to be your wife, no matter what happens to us. When I die, I want my tombstone to read Mrs. Lily Potter. I want to marry you, James! What do you say?"
James gaped like a codfish for quite some time, running the thought over in his head. Indeed, he had wanted to marry Lily someday, but this! This was quite sudden!
"What do I say...?" he repeated to himself. "I say...I say that I thought I would be the one to do this, but...yes."
Lily's eyes sparkled with an incredible light and she leaned forward, kissing him hard.
"Did I miss anything?" Peter asked, leaning against the back of the sofa.
"Peter, come away, she's proposing!" Rhia hissed, dragging him back. Lily rolled her eyes. Did everything have to be this complicated with the Marauders?
~*~
"Study, study, study!" Sirius whined, mimicking Rhia's orders.
"She means well." James replied.
"You only say that because your fiancée agrees with her." Peter teased and James blushed.
"If you ask me, we have too many tests." Remus shoved aside a pile of books. "Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic...too much studying."
"You can say that again." James said with a grin.
"How's Annie?" Peter asked Remus. Madam Pomfrey had let her out of the infirmary only two days before, in order to prepare for her finals.
"Alright." Remus answered. "Tired. Quiet."
"Shhh." James hushed them as Annie herself came walking in, clutching a few books. She was pale and gaunt, the sunlight almost streaming through her when she sat by a deserted window.
"She looks awful." Sirius murmured.
"I'm gonna go talk to her." Remus stood, walking to her side. She looked up from a Transfiguration essay she was studying.
"Remus, hi." She smiled wanly and moved aside, giving him some room near the window seat.
"Annie," he took one of her fragile, white in his, "we're all really worried about you."
"Worried?" she repeated. "Why?"
"Well," he sighed, "you've been out of the hospital for two days and you've hardly eaten a thing. You're pale and skinny and you don't talk." He smiled a little. "Sirius is beginning to feel left out."
"Oh, don't get on my case about Sirius." She pulled her hand out of his, unrolling her essay a bit more. "Him and his...Auror things must be very trying. He shouldn't have to worry about me when he has that."
"Annie, don't be a cynic about that."
"A cynic? I'm not being a cynic! This Auror business is completely ridiculous!"
"It is not!"
"It is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too! Did you know that Sirius's dad died because he was an Auror?"
"Is that what you're worried about? Losing one of us? Or...is it just losing him you're afraid of?"
"I am not!" She rolled up her essay. "Besides, what about Rhia? What do you think she's feeling right now?"
The words hit him like a blow to the head...and to the heart.
"Rhia?" he stuttered. "Why would she...what do you mean?"
"Oh, Remus...for a wizard of such terrible learning, you are most bewildered. You two were so...and now, she's just your friend, but it's killing her, and I know its killing you too...you have history, you have a connection, you have something so big and wonderful and powerful..." Annie packed up her books and stood. "I wish you could stop fooling yourself, Remus." She turned and walked away.
"I'm not fooling myself!" he shouted after her, and immediately quieted down when everyone turned to look at him. Blushing, he stared out the window.
What was she on about? What could possibly be killing him? Sure, he still cared about Rhia. She was his best friend, why wouldn't he? They did have a connection, that was obvious. The Wolf. But what did that have to do with fooling himself? And what was he fooling himself into thinking, anyway? Rhia was his friend... and only his friend...
As he thought that, his stomach gave an uncomfortable flip. Remus closed his eyes. That happened every time he thought of her. Before now, he had assumed it was guilt for giving her the bite. But now...
Could Annie possibly see something in their friendship that he couldn't? He certainly thought of Rhia from time to time as he used to think of her. But that was over. She was over him...wasn't she? He glanced over at her, now harassing Sirius again. He remembered a few years back when everyone thought she was in love with Sirius, and vice versa. The two had just laughed in everyone's faces and proceeded to still fall asleep on the couch together, take walks together, and be best friends. Remus had never been jealous. Surely if he loved Rhia now, he did then, so he would have felt jealous, right?
"Remus?"
He jumped and whirled around. Rhia was standing next to him, smiling radiantly. His heart leapt subconsciously.
"Hey Rhia...what can I do for you?"
Rhia sat down, a book under her arm. "I was wondering...you're wonderful with Astronomy, could you help me with some of these constellations?"
Remus leaned over the book with Rhia, a little close for his comfort, breathing deep. She smelled of lilacs, her favorite flower. As she voiced questions, he answered them automatically, but his mind was wandering aimlessly, yet always on Rhia.
"How many moons does Jupiter have?" Rhia asked, looking down her list of questions.
"Lilacs." Remus answered automatically.
"Pardon?" She looked at him, confused.
"Oh, um...five, I think." He covered up.
"You said lilacs." She said with a smile toying at her lips. "What are you thinking of, Remus?"
"Nothing, nothing." He held up his hands.
"You can tell me!" She rested her chin on his shoulder, a sad-puppy look on her face. His insides quivered and he began to sweat. "I know almost everything about you, Remus Lupin, you can tell me if you're thinking of some girl."
"I can't." He shook his head, blushing and turning back to her list of questions. "Neptune's moon is Triton-"
"Tell me!" Rhia cried. "Is she in Gryffindor? Is she in the room right now?"
"Well...yes. And yes." He replied, gathering his courage and heading into the fray.
"Is she tall? Short?"
"Just right."
"Skinny? Fat?"
"Slender."
"Come on, you're not giving me any good hints! Point her out, I promise I won't laugh."
"Promise?"
She nodded, placing her hand over her heart solemnly. The only thought that ran through Remus's mind was how much he wanted to own that heart. He pointed to a mirror on the wall. Rhia gave him a puzzled look and went to gaze in the glass. She stared stupidly for a few moments before-
"Oh, my." She gasped. Remus fumbled with his words, wondering what to say just as the bell rang.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts." Remus slid off the window seat, not meeting Rhia's astounded eyes. "See you there."
Rhia watched in stunned silence as he walked out of the common room.
"Rhia!" Lily called, walking down the staircase with her pack. "Rhia, come on, we're going to be late for class!" Rhia stood up and gathered her books, glancing at the mirror. Could Remus have meant what she thought he meant? "Rhia!" Lily called again.
"Coming, Lil!" Rhia pushed him to the back of her mind and hurried after Lily out of the common room.
~*~
"The Clausit Curse is one of a number of Silencing Charms. The Clausit Curse is special, though, because its purpose is to control the victim, really. The curse makes it possible for the user to control what the victim says and what they don't say. It's used mostly to keep secrets, and many find it useful to practice on house-elves. It is a component in the Fidelius Charm, which conceals the location of a person or persons in hiding within a single, living soul. Alone, it is now illegal, considered a Dark curse, and-"
"Miss Evans, that is quite enough! You've more than answered the question by now! Ten points to Gryffindor." laughed their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Handoll. Rhia smiled absentmindedly at Lily, but her mind was elsewhere. Remus and Peter sat in front of her and Lily, and Rhia was forced to stare at the back of Remus' head all class. She couldn't get their last conversation out of her head.
"What are you thinking of, Remus?"
"Nothing, nothing."
"You can tell me! I know almost everything about you, Remus Lupin, you can tell me if you're thinking of some girl."
"I can't."
It.it couldn't be. Rhia stared at her textbook. She wanted nothing more than to be with Remus again, but since they had broken up, she had slowly started to realize that wouldn't happen. Now he went and pulled.this, and she was left wondering what he possibly could be thinking now.
"Miss O'Leary!" Rhia's head snapped up.
"I'm - I'm sorry?" she squeaked. Remus, Peter, and Sirius had turned to look at her, and Rhia had to look straight at her professor to keep from blushing. She had never been caught daydreaming in class before.
"I asked if you could tell us why the Clausit Curse is considered a Dark art," Professor Handoll repeated, smiling a little.
"Oh! The Clausit Curse is a Dark curse because the Dark wizard Grindelwald used it massively amongst his enemies, and his followers so no one would repeat his secrets. Albus Dumbledore, after he defeated Grindelwald, declared the curse illegal in-"
"Enough, enough! Merlin, you and Miss Evans must have memorized the entire library by now! But Miss O'Leary, your attention was wandering. How about you come up hear and help me with a class demonstration of the Clausit Curse?"
Rhia's eyes widened. A demonstration of an illegal curse?
"But sir, isn't it...well...illegal?" Rhia raised her eyebrows, ignoring Sirius and James's convulsive silent laughter.
"Yes, and that's precisely why we're going to try this." Professor Handoll smiled. "Now, Mr. Lupin, because you are controlling your laughter, please come up here."
Remus, trying hard to keep his composure, walked to the front of the class.
"Mr. Lupin, I believe you are going to attend Auror training this summer?" Professor Handoll asked.
"I'm, er, trying, sir." Remus replied.
"Good, good." He nodded. "Now, Miss O'Leary, the incantation for the Clausit Curse is Est Clausis Incantatem!"
Rhia nodded obediently.
"It doesn't take an incantation to block the Curse, Mr. Lupin." Professor Handoll turned to Remus. "Just an immense amount of concentration."
"Yes, sir." Remus answered.
"Wand ready, Miss O'Leary..."
Rhia held her wand aloft.
"And...go!"
"Est Clausis Incantatem!" Rhia aimed her wand at Remus. His face, set in concentration, contorted as if he were trying very hard not to succumb to something.
"I..." Remus fought not to shout.
"Fight it, Mr. Lupin!" Professor Handoll cried.
"Come...with me..." Remus said through gritted teeth, his body moving jerkily as he tried not to speak.
"Fight it, Moony!" Sirius shouted with a laugh.
"Hogsmede...next..." Remus clenched his face and hands and Rhia felt the energy coursing through her wand to his body give out. He relaxed and so did she.
"Perfect, both of you!" Professor Handoll exclaimed excitedly. "Thirty points to Gryffindor."
James let out a hurrah.
"That will be enough, Mr. Potter." He smiled and James grinned back. "Please write five paragraphs on the ways the Clausit Curse is immoral and can be used severely. Class dismissed."
Most students gathered their things and hurried out, leaving Rhia staring at Remus as he put books slowly into his satchel. He glanced at her quickly, blushed a bit, and walked out of the room. Rhia slung her bag over her shoulder and ran out after him.
"Remus!" She cried. He stopped and turned around. She ran to his side. "About what happened...in the common room...in class..."
"Spit it out, Rhia, you're going to be late to Potions." He said, glancing at his pocket watch with a smile tugging at his lips.
"I mean to say...are you...I mean...we..." Rhia cursed herself for sounding like such an idiot.
"I asked you out, Rhia." He said, closing the pocket watch with a snap. "Hogsmede, next time."
Rhia stood stone-still, unable to say anything.
"You can make up your mind and tell me when you're ready." He smiled a bit.
"Oh, no.I mean, yes. Yes, I-I'd like to go." She nodded eagerly. Too eagerly, she slapped herself mentally.
"Good then." His hand brushed hers gently and he walked off to Arithmancy, leaving Rhia to her Potions class.
"I can't believe we only have three weeks until exams!" Sirius exclaimed, collapsing onto a couch with James and Rhia in the common room one evening after classes. "You'd think they were tomorrow!"
"With the way you study, Padfoot, they have to get on our cases about them!" Rhia laughed at him, and tossed him a book. "Here, come help me with History of Magic, you're good at crapping your way through answers."
"Hey!" Sirius yelled indignantly as Rhia pulled him over to a corner. Lily walked over to James and sat down next to him. He put his arm around her and she snuggled closer, in front of the fire.
"James...aren't you the least bit nervous?"
"About what, Lil?"
"School ending...us graduating next year...what's going to happen to everyone? Where are we going? And what about Annie, still here in school?"
James chuckled softly. "Lily, I think it'll take a lot more than graduation to split up the infamous Marauders! Besides, we've still got one more year here."
"I suppose so...but still..."
"You aren't still worried about my Auror training, are you?" James asked uncertainly.
"Of course I am! But you will be with Sirius and Remus, so I suppose it won't be so bad..."
"Why are you really worried, Lil? I won't get myself killed, it's just training. I'm made of tougher stuff, Dumbledore tells me that all the time."
"James...I don't want you to die before...well..."
James turned to face Lily. "Before what, love?"
"James...you know I love you."
"Always. What are you getting at?"
Lily shifted so she was sitting cross-legged in front of James on the sofa. "You always say we'll be together forever...but what if you go off to training and don't come back? All I have is memories...I love you James Potter, and I want more of you than just memories."
James raised an eyebrow. "Lily, what are you saying?"
"The teachers are talking about our futures, right? That we should start planning as soon as possible. Well, I can't picture my future without you."
"Yeah..." James urged, desperate to know what she was trying to say.
"James...I think we should get married."
James sat silent for a full five minutes. "Married?" he choked out.
"I mean, I know this is a bit unorthodox... my mother is going to kill me as it is... but think about it. We love each other, we have to start planning for our future, and, well...I want to be with you. I want to be your wife, no matter what happens to us. When I die, I want my tombstone to read Mrs. Lily Potter. I want to marry you, James! What do you say?"
James gaped like a codfish for quite some time, running the thought over in his head. Indeed, he had wanted to marry Lily someday, but this! This was quite sudden!
"What do I say...?" he repeated to himself. "I say...I say that I thought I would be the one to do this, but...yes."
Lily's eyes sparkled with an incredible light and she leaned forward, kissing him hard.
"Did I miss anything?" Peter asked, leaning against the back of the sofa.
"Peter, come away, she's proposing!" Rhia hissed, dragging him back. Lily rolled her eyes. Did everything have to be this complicated with the Marauders?
~*~
"Study, study, study!" Sirius whined, mimicking Rhia's orders.
"She means well." James replied.
"You only say that because your fiancée agrees with her." Peter teased and James blushed.
"If you ask me, we have too many tests." Remus shoved aside a pile of books. "Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic...too much studying."
"You can say that again." James said with a grin.
"How's Annie?" Peter asked Remus. Madam Pomfrey had let her out of the infirmary only two days before, in order to prepare for her finals.
"Alright." Remus answered. "Tired. Quiet."
"Shhh." James hushed them as Annie herself came walking in, clutching a few books. She was pale and gaunt, the sunlight almost streaming through her when she sat by a deserted window.
"She looks awful." Sirius murmured.
"I'm gonna go talk to her." Remus stood, walking to her side. She looked up from a Transfiguration essay she was studying.
"Remus, hi." She smiled wanly and moved aside, giving him some room near the window seat.
"Annie," he took one of her fragile, white in his, "we're all really worried about you."
"Worried?" she repeated. "Why?"
"Well," he sighed, "you've been out of the hospital for two days and you've hardly eaten a thing. You're pale and skinny and you don't talk." He smiled a little. "Sirius is beginning to feel left out."
"Oh, don't get on my case about Sirius." She pulled her hand out of his, unrolling her essay a bit more. "Him and his...Auror things must be very trying. He shouldn't have to worry about me when he has that."
"Annie, don't be a cynic about that."
"A cynic? I'm not being a cynic! This Auror business is completely ridiculous!"
"It is not!"
"It is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too! Did you know that Sirius's dad died because he was an Auror?"
"Is that what you're worried about? Losing one of us? Or...is it just losing him you're afraid of?"
"I am not!" She rolled up her essay. "Besides, what about Rhia? What do you think she's feeling right now?"
The words hit him like a blow to the head...and to the heart.
"Rhia?" he stuttered. "Why would she...what do you mean?"
"Oh, Remus...for a wizard of such terrible learning, you are most bewildered. You two were so...and now, she's just your friend, but it's killing her, and I know its killing you too...you have history, you have a connection, you have something so big and wonderful and powerful..." Annie packed up her books and stood. "I wish you could stop fooling yourself, Remus." She turned and walked away.
"I'm not fooling myself!" he shouted after her, and immediately quieted down when everyone turned to look at him. Blushing, he stared out the window.
What was she on about? What could possibly be killing him? Sure, he still cared about Rhia. She was his best friend, why wouldn't he? They did have a connection, that was obvious. The Wolf. But what did that have to do with fooling himself? And what was he fooling himself into thinking, anyway? Rhia was his friend... and only his friend...
As he thought that, his stomach gave an uncomfortable flip. Remus closed his eyes. That happened every time he thought of her. Before now, he had assumed it was guilt for giving her the bite. But now...
Could Annie possibly see something in their friendship that he couldn't? He certainly thought of Rhia from time to time as he used to think of her. But that was over. She was over him...wasn't she? He glanced over at her, now harassing Sirius again. He remembered a few years back when everyone thought she was in love with Sirius, and vice versa. The two had just laughed in everyone's faces and proceeded to still fall asleep on the couch together, take walks together, and be best friends. Remus had never been jealous. Surely if he loved Rhia now, he did then, so he would have felt jealous, right?
"Remus?"
He jumped and whirled around. Rhia was standing next to him, smiling radiantly. His heart leapt subconsciously.
"Hey Rhia...what can I do for you?"
Rhia sat down, a book under her arm. "I was wondering...you're wonderful with Astronomy, could you help me with some of these constellations?"
Remus leaned over the book with Rhia, a little close for his comfort, breathing deep. She smelled of lilacs, her favorite flower. As she voiced questions, he answered them automatically, but his mind was wandering aimlessly, yet always on Rhia.
"How many moons does Jupiter have?" Rhia asked, looking down her list of questions.
"Lilacs." Remus answered automatically.
"Pardon?" She looked at him, confused.
"Oh, um...five, I think." He covered up.
"You said lilacs." She said with a smile toying at her lips. "What are you thinking of, Remus?"
"Nothing, nothing." He held up his hands.
"You can tell me!" She rested her chin on his shoulder, a sad-puppy look on her face. His insides quivered and he began to sweat. "I know almost everything about you, Remus Lupin, you can tell me if you're thinking of some girl."
"I can't." He shook his head, blushing and turning back to her list of questions. "Neptune's moon is Triton-"
"Tell me!" Rhia cried. "Is she in Gryffindor? Is she in the room right now?"
"Well...yes. And yes." He replied, gathering his courage and heading into the fray.
"Is she tall? Short?"
"Just right."
"Skinny? Fat?"
"Slender."
"Come on, you're not giving me any good hints! Point her out, I promise I won't laugh."
"Promise?"
She nodded, placing her hand over her heart solemnly. The only thought that ran through Remus's mind was how much he wanted to own that heart. He pointed to a mirror on the wall. Rhia gave him a puzzled look and went to gaze in the glass. She stared stupidly for a few moments before-
"Oh, my." She gasped. Remus fumbled with his words, wondering what to say just as the bell rang.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts." Remus slid off the window seat, not meeting Rhia's astounded eyes. "See you there."
Rhia watched in stunned silence as he walked out of the common room.
"Rhia!" Lily called, walking down the staircase with her pack. "Rhia, come on, we're going to be late for class!" Rhia stood up and gathered her books, glancing at the mirror. Could Remus have meant what she thought he meant? "Rhia!" Lily called again.
"Coming, Lil!" Rhia pushed him to the back of her mind and hurried after Lily out of the common room.
~*~
"The Clausit Curse is one of a number of Silencing Charms. The Clausit Curse is special, though, because its purpose is to control the victim, really. The curse makes it possible for the user to control what the victim says and what they don't say. It's used mostly to keep secrets, and many find it useful to practice on house-elves. It is a component in the Fidelius Charm, which conceals the location of a person or persons in hiding within a single, living soul. Alone, it is now illegal, considered a Dark curse, and-"
"Miss Evans, that is quite enough! You've more than answered the question by now! Ten points to Gryffindor." laughed their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Handoll. Rhia smiled absentmindedly at Lily, but her mind was elsewhere. Remus and Peter sat in front of her and Lily, and Rhia was forced to stare at the back of Remus' head all class. She couldn't get their last conversation out of her head.
"What are you thinking of, Remus?"
"Nothing, nothing."
"You can tell me! I know almost everything about you, Remus Lupin, you can tell me if you're thinking of some girl."
"I can't."
It.it couldn't be. Rhia stared at her textbook. She wanted nothing more than to be with Remus again, but since they had broken up, she had slowly started to realize that wouldn't happen. Now he went and pulled.this, and she was left wondering what he possibly could be thinking now.
"Miss O'Leary!" Rhia's head snapped up.
"I'm - I'm sorry?" she squeaked. Remus, Peter, and Sirius had turned to look at her, and Rhia had to look straight at her professor to keep from blushing. She had never been caught daydreaming in class before.
"I asked if you could tell us why the Clausit Curse is considered a Dark art," Professor Handoll repeated, smiling a little.
"Oh! The Clausit Curse is a Dark curse because the Dark wizard Grindelwald used it massively amongst his enemies, and his followers so no one would repeat his secrets. Albus Dumbledore, after he defeated Grindelwald, declared the curse illegal in-"
"Enough, enough! Merlin, you and Miss Evans must have memorized the entire library by now! But Miss O'Leary, your attention was wandering. How about you come up hear and help me with a class demonstration of the Clausit Curse?"
Rhia's eyes widened. A demonstration of an illegal curse?
"But sir, isn't it...well...illegal?" Rhia raised her eyebrows, ignoring Sirius and James's convulsive silent laughter.
"Yes, and that's precisely why we're going to try this." Professor Handoll smiled. "Now, Mr. Lupin, because you are controlling your laughter, please come up here."
Remus, trying hard to keep his composure, walked to the front of the class.
"Mr. Lupin, I believe you are going to attend Auror training this summer?" Professor Handoll asked.
"I'm, er, trying, sir." Remus replied.
"Good, good." He nodded. "Now, Miss O'Leary, the incantation for the Clausit Curse is Est Clausis Incantatem!"
Rhia nodded obediently.
"It doesn't take an incantation to block the Curse, Mr. Lupin." Professor Handoll turned to Remus. "Just an immense amount of concentration."
"Yes, sir." Remus answered.
"Wand ready, Miss O'Leary..."
Rhia held her wand aloft.
"And...go!"
"Est Clausis Incantatem!" Rhia aimed her wand at Remus. His face, set in concentration, contorted as if he were trying very hard not to succumb to something.
"I..." Remus fought not to shout.
"Fight it, Mr. Lupin!" Professor Handoll cried.
"Come...with me..." Remus said through gritted teeth, his body moving jerkily as he tried not to speak.
"Fight it, Moony!" Sirius shouted with a laugh.
"Hogsmede...next..." Remus clenched his face and hands and Rhia felt the energy coursing through her wand to his body give out. He relaxed and so did she.
"Perfect, both of you!" Professor Handoll exclaimed excitedly. "Thirty points to Gryffindor."
James let out a hurrah.
"That will be enough, Mr. Potter." He smiled and James grinned back. "Please write five paragraphs on the ways the Clausit Curse is immoral and can be used severely. Class dismissed."
Most students gathered their things and hurried out, leaving Rhia staring at Remus as he put books slowly into his satchel. He glanced at her quickly, blushed a bit, and walked out of the room. Rhia slung her bag over her shoulder and ran out after him.
"Remus!" She cried. He stopped and turned around. She ran to his side. "About what happened...in the common room...in class..."
"Spit it out, Rhia, you're going to be late to Potions." He said, glancing at his pocket watch with a smile tugging at his lips.
"I mean to say...are you...I mean...we..." Rhia cursed herself for sounding like such an idiot.
"I asked you out, Rhia." He said, closing the pocket watch with a snap. "Hogsmede, next time."
Rhia stood stone-still, unable to say anything.
"You can make up your mind and tell me when you're ready." He smiled a bit.
"Oh, no.I mean, yes. Yes, I-I'd like to go." She nodded eagerly. Too eagerly, she slapped herself mentally.
"Good then." His hand brushed hers gently and he walked off to Arithmancy, leaving Rhia to her Potions class.