Chapter Three
I woke up the next day a little after my usual time. Reluctantly, I got out of bed. I felt awful, and I couldn't remember why. I sighed and made my way to the showers.
When I finished dressing, I left the common room and walked down to the Great Hall. Halfway there, I ran into the Marauders and all of a sudden I recalled what had happened the day before.
I had met with Sirius instead of Remus. Sirius asked me out. And I said...I said...
"Hello, Willow," Remus greeted me, smiling.
I felt sick. "Hello, Remus." I couldn't bring myself to look at him.
"Something wrong?" he asked, sounding concern.
"Nah, she's just tired from partying last night," Sirius said, sarcastically.
I looked up and Remus and gave him a wobbly smile. "No, I'm okay."
He stared at me for a long time before looking away. When we arrived at the Great Hall, the Marauders went over to the Gryffindor table, while I strayed over to Ravenclaw.
"You look terrible," Mara Lynn Honeywinkle told me when I had sat down.
"Thanks, Mara," I murmured as I poured some coffee into my goblet.
"What's wrong?" she asked. I looked up at her. Her chestnut hair fell over her shoulders and her blue eyes looked sympathetic. I sighed; Mara always looked pretty in the morning.
"Oh, um, stayed up, doing homework last night," I lied.
"Oh," she breathed. "You shouldn't be too ambitious, Willow. It'd be the death of you."
"I know." I looked over her shoulder, at the Gryffindor table and caught Remus's eye. He was sitting beside Sirius. I bit my lip as I stared at the two. They both began to smile at me. I waved; they both waved back.
"Just whom are you waving at?" Mara asked and turned around. When she turned back, she was grinning at me. "Oh...Sirius Black. He's cute." I stared at her. "All right... all right...he's dead sexy!" she admitted. I laughed. Mara thought every guy at Hogwarts was cute, but rare was ever "dead sexy."
I sighed again and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Mara asked, startled.
"Gotta finish an essay for Professor Binns," I mumbled.
~*~
I was sitting under the Tree's shade when Sirius came to join me.
"Hey, Will." He was grinning, holding something behind his back.
"What do you have there?" I asked suspiciously.
"Something," he replied, tantalizing.
"What is it?" I said in the same time.
"Guess." He was obviously enjoying himself.
"Umm...a Dungbomb?"
"Nope."
"Blood Pop?"
"Not even close."
"I give up."
"Ah, c'mon, Will. Just guess."
"Sirius-"
"Fine, spoil the fun. I wanted to surprise you anyway."
And from behind his back he pulled out the most beautiful rose I had ever seen. It was a deep, deep red and in full bloom. I took it cautiously...It was so beautiful.
"Oh, Sirius, I love it," I murmured, gazing at it. His grinned widened and he kissed my cheek. "I have to go help James get back at Snape for planting us in detention. See you later," he said and turned away. I sunk to the ground, in disbelief.
Sirius had just given me a rose. I touched my cheek. And he had just kissed me. Perhaps he wasn't as black hearted as I thought. Maybe he was really sweet. A moment later, I felt someone sit down beside me. I looked up and my heart leapt. It was Remus. Hastily, I put the rose inside my robes, but I knew he had already seen it.
"Hello, Remus," I said.
"Hello."
He was frowning, and he looked troubled. He was paler than usual; he looked very ill.
"Are you all right?" He nodded, still frowning, still not looking at me. I sighed. I didn't like this silence. It was too tense.
"Wanna play twenty questions?" I asked, hopefully.
"All right, but on one condition."
"What?"
"We have to be completely honest with our answers."
"Err, okay," I said, slowly. "You can go first."
"Ladies first," he said shortly. I took a deep breath.
"All right. Why do your friends call you 'Moony'?"
"Because my eyes remind them of the moon. What's your favorite season?"
"Autumn. What's your favorite subject?"
"Defense against the Dark Arts." He inhaled deeply. "Is there something going on between you and Sirius."
I tried not to look guilty, but I was sure he heard my heart beating against my chest. I stared into his gray eyes defiantly, as I spoke. "We're-"
"Remus! Remus!" Little Peter was scurrying over toward us. Remus threw me a final glance before standing up to meet Peter.
"Remus," Peter gasped when he reached us. "S-Sirius and J-James need your h-help." Remus nodded and took a couple of steps forward. "See you around, Willow."
I blinked hard as I saw the two of them walked away. He didn't even look at me as he said goodbye. I took the rose out from my robes. I knew Remus was hurt and I felt terrible, but I couldn't help but think 'God bless Peter.'
(A/N: Well, what do you think of it so far? I know it's not that good, but hey, I did my best!)
