Title: Coming Together
Author: eMu
Summary: Marauders era, a Yule Ball. Please read and review, I promise it's worth it!
Part: 1 of 3
Rating: PG
Disclaimers: All the usual, I am poor and minimally gifted creatively, so I use JK's brilliant characters, and she's the one who profits off of them.
Author's Notes: Like just about everything I put out, this goes along with my own little alternate universe (for I acknowledge JK would never do the things I've done with these characters) so if you're confused by little references here and there, typically it's been explained in my other ficcies.
"Wow…you look amazing." Sirius whispered.
Remus turned away from the mirror and faced Sirius, a faint blush forming on his cheeks, which did nothing to impair his unusual state of attractiveness. He'd been getting ready for the Yule ball. James and Peter were already waiting in the common room, and Sirius, as usual, was running late. Remus on the other hand, was nervous about wearing his new dress robes and had been attempting to get ready without anyone else seeing him.
"Thanks…" He said uncomfortably, avoiding Sirius' eyes.
"No, really. I mean, I never see you wear full robes. The closest is our school robes. This, it suits you really well." Sirius admired, his gaze fixed on the blushing werewolf.
"You look good too." Remus said quickly.
"Yeah, well that's nothing new." Sirius said confidently. He walked behind Remus and stared at their reflections. "You'll definitely have someone asking you to dance this time."
"I feel so awkward. I wish they'd let us wear Muggle clothes. I feel like I'm wearing a dress." Remus said, brushing a few strands of hair out of his eyes. "And I don't think anyone's really going to notice me that much."
"They will this year. Are you gonna dance with anyone?"
"I doubt it. I'll probably just sit at a table and watch everyone else." Remus answered truthfully. Not being one for social gatherings, he tended to sit with Cleo, Lily and Severus during these things, listening to the three of them trash their peers.
There was a brief silence. But not being one to stay silent for long, Sirius spoke up again. "Remus, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"I mean something personal." Sirius' eyes roamed over their reflections. He seemed like he was looking for something. Then he came to a conclusion.
"What?" Remus asked.
"Are you gay?"
"What?" Louder this time. Some disbelief. "Why would you ask that?"
Sirius pulled away, stammering now. "Well, I mean you've never really, like had dates or seemed interested in girls, and I was just wondering cuz like I have some friends who are, and I could set you up with one of them, but since you're not you can just forget I said anything."
"…um…er…ah…" Remus shut his mouth, paused for a minute, then decided to try to speak again. "I am."
"You are?"
"Yeah…I'm just, well I'm not ready to come out, so can you, like keep it a secret? I haven't told anyone outside of Lily and Cleo and Sev."
"You told them before us? Your fellow Marauders? Now I'm just hurt." Sirius pouted, in a rather endearing fashion.
"Come on, Peter's a religious homophobe and…I dunno. It's just not something I'm comfortable with yet." Remus said honestly. Sirius took up his former position behind Remus, looking into the mirror.
"Don't worry about it. Anyone who would give you shit over it doesn't count anyway."
"Yeah, except my mum's boyfriend." Remus answered bitterly. Sirius pretended like he didn't hear that part. "Anyway, who would you have set me up with?"
"Oh I dunno…I don't think you know any of my gay friends." Sirius answered.
"I don't think I'd make a good boyfriend anyway. I mean, a paranoid werewolf with an inferiority complex. Who would you force that onto?"
"Hey, a cute paranoid werewolf with an inferiority complex. And besides, I think you're too good for any of them anyway."
Remus realized how incredibly close Sirius was standing to him. He could feel Sirius' body heat even through their robes. And he also began to question the existence of these supposed gay friends.
He turned around to go, when Sirius grabbed him and kissed him. He closed his eyes and leaned into Sirius' body, making a surprised but happy murmuring sound as warm lips and tongue caressed his own. Sirius released him and offered an innocent smile.
"I think you'd make a good boyfriend."
Remus was about to respond, but the door was opened. Sirius moved back a few paces and began to look fascinated with the state of his hair.
"You guys coming or not? We're going to be late." James asked.
"Yeah, we're coming." Sirius answered. He turned to Remus. "We'll have to continue this conversation later."
"Okay."
AT THE BALL…
Remus immediately moved towards the back corner of the Great Hall where Lily, Cleo and Severus were conducting experiments with their punch and sugar packets.
"Hey guys, you'll never believe-"
"Ssh." Lily silenced him. She was bent over a glass of fruit punch. "Watch this." She emptied a sugar packet into the punch and it fizzed wildly, then spilled over the edge of the glass onto the table.
"You three are easily amused tonight." Remus said with a smile, sitting down across from the girls.
"There's not much else to do at these things. At least not with these two." Cleo answered, motioning to Lily and Severus. "They won't dance with me."
"I detest dancing." Severus answered.
"And if I dance with you, James will ask me to dance. And I have no intention of dancing with James." Lily answered.
"Remus, you're glowing. What happened? Have you finally been deflowered?" Cleo asked.
"N-no, nothing like that." Remus said, blushing again. His three friends leaned in closer. "But I came a step closer to it."
"Whoo! Ooo, what happened?" Lily cheered.
"Remus had his first snog, our little boy is growing up!" Cleo proclaimed.
"Not quite a snog. Just a kiss." Remus said, now regretting having told them anything.
"It's about bloody time. How old are you now?" Sev asked.
"Sixteen. There's nothing wrong with that. I have social inabilities." Remus said.
"Yeah, so do we but we've scored." Cleo said, referring to her and Severus.
"With each other." Lily pointed out.
"It still counts. Now you still haven't told us with who. Oh, oh Remus not Black. Not with Black." Cleo said, shaking her head.
"Y-yeah." There was silence at the table as the three took that in. A look of intense loathing crossed Severus' features.
"You're getting excited over kissing the man whore?" Sev asked.
"Don't call him that." Remus said quietly.
"Well that's what he is. Don't get all hopeful Remus. Black will sleep with anything and I'm guessing that's all he's after, and it's pretty sad he's trying that on one of his supposed friends."
"Sev, ssh." Lily hissed.
Remus paled. "It's not like that. I mean, he…he said-"
"What. What did he say?" Severus asked. Cleo glared at him.
"You don't have to tell us. It's none of our business, and Severus, keep your damn mouth shut. But Remus, he is flirtatious. Just keep that in mind." Lily said gently.
"He wouldn't take advantage of me or anything. You guys don't even know him." Remus said quietly.
"Okay. No one's jumping to conclusions." Cleo said. Severus opened his mouth to speak, but she kicked him in the shin so it came out as a sort of squeak. "C'mon Sev, we're dancing."
"I don't dance."
"Get up, we're dancing." She almost growled. He reluctantly stood and she pulled him out onto the dance floor.
Lily smiled at Remus. "I'm happy for you. I mean, you still like Sirius, right?"
Remus' eyes wandered to where the charismatic sixth year was mingling on the dance floor. Sirius smiled at him. Remus smiled back, turned to Lily and nodded.
"Well that's good then. You should go dance with him." Lily suggested.
"N-no. I can't dance with him."
"Oh go ahead. No one will care. Remus, there are three other gay couples out there as we speak." Lily said.
"No, there are not three other gay couples. There are friends dancing together who happen to be the same gender because they don't have dates. If anything, Lolita Pickett is asexual. She's certainly not a lesbian, and she's certainly not dating Max Smiladon." Remus said quietly.
"Fine, well you shouldn't care what people think and you should dance with him."
"Oh ho ho. That's rich coming from you. I'll dance with Sirius if you dance with James." Remus returned with a sly smile.
"Hey, that's not fair. And that implies I have a crush on James, which I don't." Lily denied flatly.
"You do. You just don't want to admit it." Remus teased.
"I do not. But I'll dance with him, as friends, if it'll make you dance with your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend."
"Yet."
"Lily."
"Hey Lily!" Cleo ran over, fresh from her dance with Severus, who quickly retreated to his chair looking very uncomfortable.
"What?" Lily asked.
"Pull out a chair, I put in a request with the band. They're gonna play it." Cleo said happily.
"Play what?" Remus asked. Lily and Cleo had wicked smiles on. "Play what?"
"You'll see." Lily said mysteriously.
And he did see. A few minutes later the lights dimmed, excepting the ones on the centre of the floor, offering a sort of spotlight on where Lily and Cleo had pulled out two chairs. The other students gathered around the edge of the dance floor, curious about what the two Gryffinwhore freaks were doing.
Lily and Cleo walked over to the chairs as the somewhat suggestive music started. It was seductively slow with a strong brass section. They straddled their chairs and sang in unison: "The minute you walked in the joint…I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big spender." This line was accompanied by a half shimmy.
There were hoots and whistles from the sides. The girls were signing throatily and moving erotically in a form of very suggestive dance. There were angry glares from the teachers, who had just noticed what was going on, but it would be impossible to stop it at this point. Professor McGonagall looked livid.
"Good looking, so refined, say wouldn't ya like ta know what's goin' on in mah mind…so lemme get right to the point (ba dump) I don't pop my cork for every guy I see (da-da-da-da-da-da) hey big spender! (Doot doot doot doot) Sp-e-e-e-end…a little time with me…" The two shimmied at this point and the music picked up.
"Do ya wanna have fun? How about a few laughs? I could show you a (heavy breathing) good time…" There was a repeat.
"They don't call 'em Gryffin-whores for nothing!" Someone shouted.
"Shake it girls!" Pam Patil cheered.
Cleo winked in Pam's direction, before shaking her arse at the lot. Lily pulled a small billfold of Muggle money out of her cleavage and tossed it at the now jubilant audience.
"Hey big spender…hey big spender! The minute you walked in tha joint (ba dump) I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big spender…Good looking, so refined, say wouldn't you like ta know what's going on in my mind so lemme get right to the point (ba dump) I don't pop my cork for every guy I see…(da-da-da-da-da-da) Hey big spender! (Doot doot doot doot) Hey big spender! Hey big spender (doot doot doot doot) Spe-e-e-e-e-end a little ti-ime with…me-e-e-e-e-e-e-e…"
The lights picked up and the music ended. Lily and Cleo threw their heads back and kicked. The assembled students erupted with cheers. Lily and Cleo took a few bows. "I hope you all liked our dance, we choreographed that ourselves and you can see more of our work on your favourite scrambled porn channel." Cleo announced, before they were pulled aside by some angry teachers.
Meanwhile at the corner table, Severus and Remus were cracking up. "That has just topped whatever you guys or Tony and Edward have planned for tonight. Did you see the shade of purple Toquemada's face turned?" Sev asked, referring to their Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, a conservative God-clod.
"She probably hates us Gryffindors more than ever now." Remus said with a faint smile. "I can't believe they did that. That does beat what we Marauders planned."
"Which was?" Severus asked.
"Eh, we only spiked the punch. I think Sirius and James are waiting for inspiration to strike. What about Paglia and Lecinq?"
"I have no idea, they didn't tell me." Severus answered.
A few minutes later, Cleo rejoined them. "That was fun. We lost seventy points from Gryffindor. Jamie had better make them up next Quidditch match or we'll be lynched." Cleo said pleasantly.
"Seventy? Wow. Just for that little dance." Remus said.
"Eh. I think they're finally cracking down. You know, sick of all the disobedience that's gone along with the prank war. I hear next year they're giving us school uniforms. It's McGonagall's thing. She thinks it'll help." Cleo said with a smirk.
"Right…because we're cursing each other over our clothes." Severus said. "Where's Lily?"
"She's talking to Black." Cleo said casually.
"What? No, get her away from there!" Remus said in a panicked voice. He looked around until he saw Lily chatting amiably with Sirius. His back was to them, but Lily was facing them. Remus motioned to Lily to shut up and come sit down, but she only waved.
********************************
"Who are you waving at?"
"Nothing. Anyway, what are your intentions as far as Remus is concerned?" Lily asked.
"So he really does tell you guys everything." Sirius said, letting out a low whistle.
"Yes. He does. Now spill." Lily instructed. Sirius hesitated, studying his shoe. "Look, he's really excited, and cute as it is, it's my duty to make sure you're not going to hurt him. Because if you hurt him then I get to take out your spleen. And Cleo knows how to skin someone alive with her bare hands."
"Yeesh. You guys are awfully protective." Sirius yelped. "Well I don't want to hurt him. And my intentions are…well I love him."
"You do?!" She squeaked, all excited. "That's great! Tell him that!"
"Is he ready for that kind of commitment? I mean, he's all…virginal. And I'm all…man-whorish."
"Yeah, well it's what he wants to hear. Still, I guess you should wait. Hmm. Tell him you wanna be exclusive and go over there and ask him to dance." Lily instructed.
"I'll ask him to dance if you dance with Prongs."
"Why does everyone want me to dance with James?" She demanded angrily.
"Because you two are the perfect couple, even if he's the only one who's realized it. Besides, I have to look out for my friend." Sirius answered with an annoyingly cheerful smile. Lily scowled.
"Fine. I'll dance with James."
"Yes!" Sirius bounded across the dance floor to Remus' table. Lily turned and gracefully walked over to where James was standing.
********************************
"Black's coming over here." Cleo reported. Remus' head was buried in his hands.
"What's Lily doing?" He asked.
"She's walking over to Jeremy." Cleo answered.
"Oh no…"
"Hey Moony." Sirius greeted.
"Hi." Remus answered, still with his face buried.
"Um…d'ya wanna dance?"
"Yes he does." Cleo answered, kicking Remus' shin. Remus jumped up and Severus pulled the chair away. Remus glared at his until very recently friends.
Sirius looked uncomfortable. "Please?" He asked pitifully. Remus smiled.
"Sure."
"Yay!"
**********************************
"Uh…having fun?" Lily asked.
"Sure. That was some dance you and Cleo did." James answered with a smirk. "You guys have good voices."
"Thanks." Lily stared at her shoe. "Danced with many people yet?" She asked stupidly.
"I suppose. Although Jezzebel's been tripping all the girls I dance with, so I think it's only safe for group dances with Pete and Padfoot."
"Okay, so you wouldn't want to dance with me then." She said quickly, about to run off.
"Wait, repeat that? You would dance with me?" James asked hopefully. She smiled awkwardly.
"Are you asking?"
"Do you want to dance with me?" James asked politely.
"Sure." 'I can do this for Remus…it's a fast song. That won't be too awkward. Damn Sirius and Remus with their conditions, can't just be happy and…stuff' Lily thought angrily.
Although right as James lead her onto the dance floor a slow song started. Inwardly she groaned, then put an arm around his shoulder. He tentatively wrapped his arm around her waist, and she noted approvingly that he did not let the hand roam lower. Overall he was a very considerate dancer and she was having a hard time to find anything to complain about.
'His hand's not even sweaty…is he human? Wow…he looks really good up close…gah! Stop those thoughts! You do not have a crush on the arrogant jock! No! Bad Lily!' Her voice caught in her throat and she found herself staring into his eyes.
MEANWHILE…
Sirius steered Remus outside and into the surrounding garden area. They could still hear the music, but anyone out there wouldn't be paying attention to them anyway.
"I figured if you wanted to dance, this would be a better place to do it since you don't wanna come out yet." Sirius explained. Remus smiled happily.
"Thank you."
They hesitated for a minute, not sure which should take the 'male' position and which should take the 'female' position, but eventually they came to an unspoken decision to just hold each other and sway. Remus rested his head on Sirius' shoulder and closed his eyes. He could feel Sirius' breath on his ear. He decided this was the closest thing to a perfect moment he'd ever had.
Especially when he thought about Lily inside dancing with James.
*******************************
"This has got to be one of the sappiest love songs I've ever heard." Severus said disapprovingly.
"I know. Come on. The lyrics are so sugar coated. And it was so obviously written just to make money with little to no emotional attachment on the part of the lyricist." Cleo agreed.
The two sat in a cynical, embittered silence for a minute.
"Wanna dance?" Severus asked.
"Yes." Cleo answered.
**********************************
"That was pretty fucking good for a Yule ball." Cleo said, stumbling up the stairs to her dorm room. They'd had a bit much of the spiked punch.
"Tell me abou' it. Didn't those thingsh used to shuck?" Lily asked, before falling into bed with her dress robes still on.
"Did you have fun dancing with Kwu, Quidditch kid Jeremy?" Cleo asked.
"Well did you have fun dancing with Sheverus? I saw you guysh during the slow song…admit it. You're dating him." Lily accused.
"I am not. We're just friends with benefits. We don't believe in love 'r dating."
"Yeah right."
"I'll happily say I'm dating Sev if you ever say you love Jeremy." Cleo said cleverly, or cleverly for someone who was totally pissed.
"I am not in love with James. He's just my friend…and he's a good dancer. And he's got pretty eyes…and warm arms." Lily trailed off, tracing patterns on her quilt with her fingers. "I bet he's got warm lips too…" She muttered.
*******************************
Remus peered through his bed curtains and through the window to the sky outside. The atmosphere in the dorm room was very peaceful. Everyone was asleep save him. The sky outside was clear and starry. The Sirius star shone brightly in the sky, but the new moon was invisible, even to Remus' eyes, trained at finding that familiar shadow against the sky. Everything seemed absolutely perfect.
Coming soon, Part 2: Coming Apart
Author: eMu
Summary: Marauders era, a Yule Ball. Please read and review, I promise it's worth it!
Part: 1 of 3
Rating: PG
Disclaimers: All the usual, I am poor and minimally gifted creatively, so I use JK's brilliant characters, and she's the one who profits off of them.
Author's Notes: Like just about everything I put out, this goes along with my own little alternate universe (for I acknowledge JK would never do the things I've done with these characters) so if you're confused by little references here and there, typically it's been explained in my other ficcies.
"Wow…you look amazing." Sirius whispered.
Remus turned away from the mirror and faced Sirius, a faint blush forming on his cheeks, which did nothing to impair his unusual state of attractiveness. He'd been getting ready for the Yule ball. James and Peter were already waiting in the common room, and Sirius, as usual, was running late. Remus on the other hand, was nervous about wearing his new dress robes and had been attempting to get ready without anyone else seeing him.
"Thanks…" He said uncomfortably, avoiding Sirius' eyes.
"No, really. I mean, I never see you wear full robes. The closest is our school robes. This, it suits you really well." Sirius admired, his gaze fixed on the blushing werewolf.
"You look good too." Remus said quickly.
"Yeah, well that's nothing new." Sirius said confidently. He walked behind Remus and stared at their reflections. "You'll definitely have someone asking you to dance this time."
"I feel so awkward. I wish they'd let us wear Muggle clothes. I feel like I'm wearing a dress." Remus said, brushing a few strands of hair out of his eyes. "And I don't think anyone's really going to notice me that much."
"They will this year. Are you gonna dance with anyone?"
"I doubt it. I'll probably just sit at a table and watch everyone else." Remus answered truthfully. Not being one for social gatherings, he tended to sit with Cleo, Lily and Severus during these things, listening to the three of them trash their peers.
There was a brief silence. But not being one to stay silent for long, Sirius spoke up again. "Remus, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"I mean something personal." Sirius' eyes roamed over their reflections. He seemed like he was looking for something. Then he came to a conclusion.
"What?" Remus asked.
"Are you gay?"
"What?" Louder this time. Some disbelief. "Why would you ask that?"
Sirius pulled away, stammering now. "Well, I mean you've never really, like had dates or seemed interested in girls, and I was just wondering cuz like I have some friends who are, and I could set you up with one of them, but since you're not you can just forget I said anything."
"…um…er…ah…" Remus shut his mouth, paused for a minute, then decided to try to speak again. "I am."
"You are?"
"Yeah…I'm just, well I'm not ready to come out, so can you, like keep it a secret? I haven't told anyone outside of Lily and Cleo and Sev."
"You told them before us? Your fellow Marauders? Now I'm just hurt." Sirius pouted, in a rather endearing fashion.
"Come on, Peter's a religious homophobe and…I dunno. It's just not something I'm comfortable with yet." Remus said honestly. Sirius took up his former position behind Remus, looking into the mirror.
"Don't worry about it. Anyone who would give you shit over it doesn't count anyway."
"Yeah, except my mum's boyfriend." Remus answered bitterly. Sirius pretended like he didn't hear that part. "Anyway, who would you have set me up with?"
"Oh I dunno…I don't think you know any of my gay friends." Sirius answered.
"I don't think I'd make a good boyfriend anyway. I mean, a paranoid werewolf with an inferiority complex. Who would you force that onto?"
"Hey, a cute paranoid werewolf with an inferiority complex. And besides, I think you're too good for any of them anyway."
Remus realized how incredibly close Sirius was standing to him. He could feel Sirius' body heat even through their robes. And he also began to question the existence of these supposed gay friends.
He turned around to go, when Sirius grabbed him and kissed him. He closed his eyes and leaned into Sirius' body, making a surprised but happy murmuring sound as warm lips and tongue caressed his own. Sirius released him and offered an innocent smile.
"I think you'd make a good boyfriend."
Remus was about to respond, but the door was opened. Sirius moved back a few paces and began to look fascinated with the state of his hair.
"You guys coming or not? We're going to be late." James asked.
"Yeah, we're coming." Sirius answered. He turned to Remus. "We'll have to continue this conversation later."
"Okay."
AT THE BALL…
Remus immediately moved towards the back corner of the Great Hall where Lily, Cleo and Severus were conducting experiments with their punch and sugar packets.
"Hey guys, you'll never believe-"
"Ssh." Lily silenced him. She was bent over a glass of fruit punch. "Watch this." She emptied a sugar packet into the punch and it fizzed wildly, then spilled over the edge of the glass onto the table.
"You three are easily amused tonight." Remus said with a smile, sitting down across from the girls.
"There's not much else to do at these things. At least not with these two." Cleo answered, motioning to Lily and Severus. "They won't dance with me."
"I detest dancing." Severus answered.
"And if I dance with you, James will ask me to dance. And I have no intention of dancing with James." Lily answered.
"Remus, you're glowing. What happened? Have you finally been deflowered?" Cleo asked.
"N-no, nothing like that." Remus said, blushing again. His three friends leaned in closer. "But I came a step closer to it."
"Whoo! Ooo, what happened?" Lily cheered.
"Remus had his first snog, our little boy is growing up!" Cleo proclaimed.
"Not quite a snog. Just a kiss." Remus said, now regretting having told them anything.
"It's about bloody time. How old are you now?" Sev asked.
"Sixteen. There's nothing wrong with that. I have social inabilities." Remus said.
"Yeah, so do we but we've scored." Cleo said, referring to her and Severus.
"With each other." Lily pointed out.
"It still counts. Now you still haven't told us with who. Oh, oh Remus not Black. Not with Black." Cleo said, shaking her head.
"Y-yeah." There was silence at the table as the three took that in. A look of intense loathing crossed Severus' features.
"You're getting excited over kissing the man whore?" Sev asked.
"Don't call him that." Remus said quietly.
"Well that's what he is. Don't get all hopeful Remus. Black will sleep with anything and I'm guessing that's all he's after, and it's pretty sad he's trying that on one of his supposed friends."
"Sev, ssh." Lily hissed.
Remus paled. "It's not like that. I mean, he…he said-"
"What. What did he say?" Severus asked. Cleo glared at him.
"You don't have to tell us. It's none of our business, and Severus, keep your damn mouth shut. But Remus, he is flirtatious. Just keep that in mind." Lily said gently.
"He wouldn't take advantage of me or anything. You guys don't even know him." Remus said quietly.
"Okay. No one's jumping to conclusions." Cleo said. Severus opened his mouth to speak, but she kicked him in the shin so it came out as a sort of squeak. "C'mon Sev, we're dancing."
"I don't dance."
"Get up, we're dancing." She almost growled. He reluctantly stood and she pulled him out onto the dance floor.
Lily smiled at Remus. "I'm happy for you. I mean, you still like Sirius, right?"
Remus' eyes wandered to where the charismatic sixth year was mingling on the dance floor. Sirius smiled at him. Remus smiled back, turned to Lily and nodded.
"Well that's good then. You should go dance with him." Lily suggested.
"N-no. I can't dance with him."
"Oh go ahead. No one will care. Remus, there are three other gay couples out there as we speak." Lily said.
"No, there are not three other gay couples. There are friends dancing together who happen to be the same gender because they don't have dates. If anything, Lolita Pickett is asexual. She's certainly not a lesbian, and she's certainly not dating Max Smiladon." Remus said quietly.
"Fine, well you shouldn't care what people think and you should dance with him."
"Oh ho ho. That's rich coming from you. I'll dance with Sirius if you dance with James." Remus returned with a sly smile.
"Hey, that's not fair. And that implies I have a crush on James, which I don't." Lily denied flatly.
"You do. You just don't want to admit it." Remus teased.
"I do not. But I'll dance with him, as friends, if it'll make you dance with your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend."
"Yet."
"Lily."
"Hey Lily!" Cleo ran over, fresh from her dance with Severus, who quickly retreated to his chair looking very uncomfortable.
"What?" Lily asked.
"Pull out a chair, I put in a request with the band. They're gonna play it." Cleo said happily.
"Play what?" Remus asked. Lily and Cleo had wicked smiles on. "Play what?"
"You'll see." Lily said mysteriously.
And he did see. A few minutes later the lights dimmed, excepting the ones on the centre of the floor, offering a sort of spotlight on where Lily and Cleo had pulled out two chairs. The other students gathered around the edge of the dance floor, curious about what the two Gryffinwhore freaks were doing.
Lily and Cleo walked over to the chairs as the somewhat suggestive music started. It was seductively slow with a strong brass section. They straddled their chairs and sang in unison: "The minute you walked in the joint…I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big spender." This line was accompanied by a half shimmy.
There were hoots and whistles from the sides. The girls were signing throatily and moving erotically in a form of very suggestive dance. There were angry glares from the teachers, who had just noticed what was going on, but it would be impossible to stop it at this point. Professor McGonagall looked livid.
"Good looking, so refined, say wouldn't ya like ta know what's goin' on in mah mind…so lemme get right to the point (ba dump) I don't pop my cork for every guy I see (da-da-da-da-da-da) hey big spender! (Doot doot doot doot) Sp-e-e-e-end…a little time with me…" The two shimmied at this point and the music picked up.
"Do ya wanna have fun? How about a few laughs? I could show you a (heavy breathing) good time…" There was a repeat.
"They don't call 'em Gryffin-whores for nothing!" Someone shouted.
"Shake it girls!" Pam Patil cheered.
Cleo winked in Pam's direction, before shaking her arse at the lot. Lily pulled a small billfold of Muggle money out of her cleavage and tossed it at the now jubilant audience.
"Hey big spender…hey big spender! The minute you walked in tha joint (ba dump) I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big spender…Good looking, so refined, say wouldn't you like ta know what's going on in my mind so lemme get right to the point (ba dump) I don't pop my cork for every guy I see…(da-da-da-da-da-da) Hey big spender! (Doot doot doot doot) Hey big spender! Hey big spender (doot doot doot doot) Spe-e-e-e-e-end a little ti-ime with…me-e-e-e-e-e-e-e…"
The lights picked up and the music ended. Lily and Cleo threw their heads back and kicked. The assembled students erupted with cheers. Lily and Cleo took a few bows. "I hope you all liked our dance, we choreographed that ourselves and you can see more of our work on your favourite scrambled porn channel." Cleo announced, before they were pulled aside by some angry teachers.
Meanwhile at the corner table, Severus and Remus were cracking up. "That has just topped whatever you guys or Tony and Edward have planned for tonight. Did you see the shade of purple Toquemada's face turned?" Sev asked, referring to their Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, a conservative God-clod.
"She probably hates us Gryffindors more than ever now." Remus said with a faint smile. "I can't believe they did that. That does beat what we Marauders planned."
"Which was?" Severus asked.
"Eh, we only spiked the punch. I think Sirius and James are waiting for inspiration to strike. What about Paglia and Lecinq?"
"I have no idea, they didn't tell me." Severus answered.
A few minutes later, Cleo rejoined them. "That was fun. We lost seventy points from Gryffindor. Jamie had better make them up next Quidditch match or we'll be lynched." Cleo said pleasantly.
"Seventy? Wow. Just for that little dance." Remus said.
"Eh. I think they're finally cracking down. You know, sick of all the disobedience that's gone along with the prank war. I hear next year they're giving us school uniforms. It's McGonagall's thing. She thinks it'll help." Cleo said with a smirk.
"Right…because we're cursing each other over our clothes." Severus said. "Where's Lily?"
"She's talking to Black." Cleo said casually.
"What? No, get her away from there!" Remus said in a panicked voice. He looked around until he saw Lily chatting amiably with Sirius. His back was to them, but Lily was facing them. Remus motioned to Lily to shut up and come sit down, but she only waved.
********************************
"Who are you waving at?"
"Nothing. Anyway, what are your intentions as far as Remus is concerned?" Lily asked.
"So he really does tell you guys everything." Sirius said, letting out a low whistle.
"Yes. He does. Now spill." Lily instructed. Sirius hesitated, studying his shoe. "Look, he's really excited, and cute as it is, it's my duty to make sure you're not going to hurt him. Because if you hurt him then I get to take out your spleen. And Cleo knows how to skin someone alive with her bare hands."
"Yeesh. You guys are awfully protective." Sirius yelped. "Well I don't want to hurt him. And my intentions are…well I love him."
"You do?!" She squeaked, all excited. "That's great! Tell him that!"
"Is he ready for that kind of commitment? I mean, he's all…virginal. And I'm all…man-whorish."
"Yeah, well it's what he wants to hear. Still, I guess you should wait. Hmm. Tell him you wanna be exclusive and go over there and ask him to dance." Lily instructed.
"I'll ask him to dance if you dance with Prongs."
"Why does everyone want me to dance with James?" She demanded angrily.
"Because you two are the perfect couple, even if he's the only one who's realized it. Besides, I have to look out for my friend." Sirius answered with an annoyingly cheerful smile. Lily scowled.
"Fine. I'll dance with James."
"Yes!" Sirius bounded across the dance floor to Remus' table. Lily turned and gracefully walked over to where James was standing.
********************************
"Black's coming over here." Cleo reported. Remus' head was buried in his hands.
"What's Lily doing?" He asked.
"She's walking over to Jeremy." Cleo answered.
"Oh no…"
"Hey Moony." Sirius greeted.
"Hi." Remus answered, still with his face buried.
"Um…d'ya wanna dance?"
"Yes he does." Cleo answered, kicking Remus' shin. Remus jumped up and Severus pulled the chair away. Remus glared at his until very recently friends.
Sirius looked uncomfortable. "Please?" He asked pitifully. Remus smiled.
"Sure."
"Yay!"
**********************************
"Uh…having fun?" Lily asked.
"Sure. That was some dance you and Cleo did." James answered with a smirk. "You guys have good voices."
"Thanks." Lily stared at her shoe. "Danced with many people yet?" She asked stupidly.
"I suppose. Although Jezzebel's been tripping all the girls I dance with, so I think it's only safe for group dances with Pete and Padfoot."
"Okay, so you wouldn't want to dance with me then." She said quickly, about to run off.
"Wait, repeat that? You would dance with me?" James asked hopefully. She smiled awkwardly.
"Are you asking?"
"Do you want to dance with me?" James asked politely.
"Sure." 'I can do this for Remus…it's a fast song. That won't be too awkward. Damn Sirius and Remus with their conditions, can't just be happy and…stuff' Lily thought angrily.
Although right as James lead her onto the dance floor a slow song started. Inwardly she groaned, then put an arm around his shoulder. He tentatively wrapped his arm around her waist, and she noted approvingly that he did not let the hand roam lower. Overall he was a very considerate dancer and she was having a hard time to find anything to complain about.
'His hand's not even sweaty…is he human? Wow…he looks really good up close…gah! Stop those thoughts! You do not have a crush on the arrogant jock! No! Bad Lily!' Her voice caught in her throat and she found herself staring into his eyes.
MEANWHILE…
Sirius steered Remus outside and into the surrounding garden area. They could still hear the music, but anyone out there wouldn't be paying attention to them anyway.
"I figured if you wanted to dance, this would be a better place to do it since you don't wanna come out yet." Sirius explained. Remus smiled happily.
"Thank you."
They hesitated for a minute, not sure which should take the 'male' position and which should take the 'female' position, but eventually they came to an unspoken decision to just hold each other and sway. Remus rested his head on Sirius' shoulder and closed his eyes. He could feel Sirius' breath on his ear. He decided this was the closest thing to a perfect moment he'd ever had.
Especially when he thought about Lily inside dancing with James.
*******************************
"This has got to be one of the sappiest love songs I've ever heard." Severus said disapprovingly.
"I know. Come on. The lyrics are so sugar coated. And it was so obviously written just to make money with little to no emotional attachment on the part of the lyricist." Cleo agreed.
The two sat in a cynical, embittered silence for a minute.
"Wanna dance?" Severus asked.
"Yes." Cleo answered.
**********************************
"That was pretty fucking good for a Yule ball." Cleo said, stumbling up the stairs to her dorm room. They'd had a bit much of the spiked punch.
"Tell me abou' it. Didn't those thingsh used to shuck?" Lily asked, before falling into bed with her dress robes still on.
"Did you have fun dancing with Kwu, Quidditch kid Jeremy?" Cleo asked.
"Well did you have fun dancing with Sheverus? I saw you guysh during the slow song…admit it. You're dating him." Lily accused.
"I am not. We're just friends with benefits. We don't believe in love 'r dating."
"Yeah right."
"I'll happily say I'm dating Sev if you ever say you love Jeremy." Cleo said cleverly, or cleverly for someone who was totally pissed.
"I am not in love with James. He's just my friend…and he's a good dancer. And he's got pretty eyes…and warm arms." Lily trailed off, tracing patterns on her quilt with her fingers. "I bet he's got warm lips too…" She muttered.
*******************************
Remus peered through his bed curtains and through the window to the sky outside. The atmosphere in the dorm room was very peaceful. Everyone was asleep save him. The sky outside was clear and starry. The Sirius star shone brightly in the sky, but the new moon was invisible, even to Remus' eyes, trained at finding that familiar shadow against the sky. Everything seemed absolutely perfect.
Coming soon, Part 2: Coming Apart