DISCLAIMER: Don't own, don't sue.
Hello readers, sorry this has taken so long, the inspiration just hasn't been there, but my apologies none the less. Enjoyed writing this chapter, don't know if I like it but what the hell. Thanks to all the reviewers for the feedback, which was all lovely. Now read my chapter and review, so I know if you like it or not. Cheers and good night.
Remus Lupin was not naïve. He was optimistic, had a general faith in humankind and an open heart, but he wasn't naïve. So when he found himself instantly drawn to the good-looking boy up the back of the classroom, he thought nothing bad could come of it. What he didn't know was that the beautiful creature he was looking at was plotting his down fall. And there would be no story if he knew. He would have stayed far, far away from the boy and never could have been heartbroken. But it was his general faith in human kind that prevented him from seeing the evil that sat in the boy's soul. All he saw was his beauty. And what beauty it was, too.
The boy was stunningly beautiful, nonchalant and aloof. He radiated, what was it that he radiated? Something. Something good. And all the lesser mortals around him chattered among themselves as he, and his friend, another dark-haired boy, sat like kings watching over a feast. They had an unspoken, unmistakeable, unexplainable power over the all the others. Like that of the alpha-male lions over the rest of the pride. He'd seen that in Africa. The most beautiful, strongest and proudest lion ruled over the others, with an air of grace and danger that warned and amazed all the others. The two raven-haired boys were the proud lions, the alpha-males, and seemed so unaware of it, as the good-looking one leaned back in his chair with an elegance that cannot be learnt and spoke to his friend, a faint smile coming to his face. And the other, the messy-haired one, turned his body so he was facing the other and replied, also returning the smile.
"Mr Lupin?"
Shit. The two boys looked up and at him. Shit. Caught staring. He tore his eyes away from them and looked at Professor McGonnagal.
"Sorry Professor", he said, embarrassed.
She pursed her thin lips and gave him a stern look and then one at the two boys, who were again lost in their own conversation. She looked back at him. "You need to read the first five chapters and be familiar with those, we've already covered them and you will need to know some of it for the exam. I have set some work for you here and I expect that you will have caught up in a fortnight. You seem a bright boy. Now take a seat and you can begin your work". She gave him what looked like the closest thing she could manage to a smile and the then turned back to her desk.
Turning to the class for the first time, he looked for a place to sit. There was one at a table of girls who seemed to be fawning over a piece of paper and several at a table where two boys were setting fire to their quills. Remus couldn't help but pull a face. Stop being so bloody pedantic and just take a bloody seat, he scolded himself.
But he was distracted, again, by a flash of white up the back of the classroom. The good-looking boy was laughing, displaying perfect white teeth and a devastating smile. So beautiful...
"Do you want to sit here?"
A voice snapped him out of his reverie. A blonde boy was smiling at him and offering him a seat at his table, which was filled with boys.
"Thanks", Remus replied, taken aback by his kindness. A quick glance back at the good-looking boy and then at his host, as he took the available seat at the table, which coincidentally, was right in the good-looking boy's line of vision
"You're new, right?" the blonde boy asked, leaning forward on the table.
"Yeah", Remus said, not quite sure what to say.
"Gerald Montgomery", the boy offered Remus his hand and Remus shook it.
"Remus Lupin", he said back, and smiled.
The boy then gestured around the table. "Caius Firth", he said pointing to a boy with light brown hair that was flattened so close to his skull it was like a cap, "Jeremiah Lawson," he gestured at a black boy, with a big grin and dread locked hair, "But call him Jem", Gerald advised. "Leo Myron", he pointed at a boy who was doubled over in raucous laughter, with thick, matted dark hair, and "Angus Roth" a good-looking boy who had the deepest blue eyes and greatest melancholia Remus had ever seen.
They all greeted him in their own ways, and if as one, turned to him. "So", Gerald asked, as he seemed to be the leader of the group. "Where are you from?"
"Um, well, I'm British but I've been travelling around the world since I was four".
"How come?" Jeremiah asked, looking at him with interest.
"My parents are zoologists and I've been travelling around with them".
"What about school?" Caius asked, in an American accent which had hints of British in it, like the American was dying out.
"Uh, my parent kind of taught me themselves".
"So you've never been to school in your life?" Leo asked, eyes wide, in what was either amazement or deep jealousy.
"No", Remus replied.
"Awesome", said Leo, who grinned at him, so wide that it displayed a gold tooth up the back of his mouth.
"Ever been to America?" Caius asked, leaning on the table to get closer to him.
"Yeah, a bit", Remus replied, a little overwhelmed with all the attention.
Caius jabbed his finger into his own chest. "I lived in New Orleans till I was 12", he said proudly. And with that they all started talking at the same time.
"I've never been out of Britain".
"I've been to France, it's really cool over there".
"I can't believe you've never been to school".
Angus, who until now had been silent, spoke. "So you're dumb?"
The whole table went quiet. "Sorry?" Remus asked.
"You've never been to school so you must be dumb", Angus replied, staring at Remus with his cool eyes.
"Uh, I..." Remus had no idea what to say. Luckily the others jumped to his defence.
"Shut up Angus, who cares what you think".
"Yeah Angus, don't be such a bastard".
"Ignore him, he's being a little shit".
"Never been to school!"
Angus didn't seem to care. He just turned his cold eyes to the front where Professor McGonnagal was calling for quiet. "Thank you", she said. "We have a new student today, his name is Remus Lupin. Remus, please stand up". The other boys, minus Angus, gave him supportive smiles as he stood up, feeling very embarrassed.
Was the dark-haired boy up the back looking at him? He must have been. The table of girls were still giggling, making him feel uneasy. Why did he care so much about the boy up the back? What was so special about him? Except that he was fabulously good-looking and radiated cool.
He sat down again and started his work, but the dark-haired boy lingered in his mind. It was like having a stone in his shoe; it wouldn't go away. He couldn't concentrate at all on the mountains of work he had to do, with this boy in his mind. Had he even noticed that Remus existed? The room was silent; the two boys up the back couldn't have been talking. He just wanted to get a good look at the boy, to see if he really was as gorgeous as he had looked in the glances. Just one good look then a solid lesson of work, he decided.
He turned around in his chair and pretended to be cracking his neck as he caught sight of the boy. He was indeed as beautiful as he had always looked, and he had his gaze set on a far corner of the room, deep in thought, quill poised. But as if by some sixth sense, he turned his eyes towards Remus and stared at him.
The gaze between them couldn't have lasted more than a few seconds, but for Remus it felt like hours. He was shocked at being caught, again, but he couldn't tear his eyes away. He sat, wide-eyed and staring at the boy, and the boy stared back, an unexplainable look on his beautiful face.
Finally it all became too much. Remus tore his eyes away and back at his book, head spinning. He quickly glanced around the table to make sure that no one had seen the stare. All of them were engrossed in their work, except Leo who seemed to be reading a dirty book. As he pulled his eyes around to Angus, he saw that the boy was staring straight at him, a strangely threatening look colouring his face. Remus tore his eyes off Angus and picked up his quill, trying to think of Transfiguration rather than the dark-haired boy. And with a deep sigh, he picked up his quill and started to write.
Sirius nudged his best friend in the ribs, who groaned softly then punched him in the arm.
"What do you want?" James asked irritably.
Sirius smiled. "The one they call Remus Lupin", he said, the name washing over his lips as if he were savouring it.
James also smiled at this. "What happened?" he asked.
"He keeps looking at me. If I wasn't so used to it I'd be disturbed".
James laughed softly. "You didn't even need to do anything and he's already falling for you".
"I've already told you James, I'm too good at this".
"I reckon you should make a move today".
"Hmmm. I'll introduce myself, I won't ask him out though. He reminds me somewhat of a frightened wildebeest, and I don't want to frighten him off".
James snorted softly. "And what part do you play in this African adventure? Ah yes, the hungry lion".
Sirius grinned. "Damn straight".
"No love, you're not very straight at all".
"It's much more fun that way", he said softly, in a voice deepened by lust as he stared at his friend.
James noticed and laughed. "Not now, my pretty, after you've stolen the ruby slippers".
"I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog too", Sirius cackled softly.
'I always told you to take up acting as a profession".
Sirius took a mock bow. "Thank you, thank you."
"Speaking of dogs", James said leaning closer. "How is Angus?"
"Angus?" Sirius asked as if he'd never heard the name in his life. "Oh, right..."
"Mr Black". Professor McGonnagal's voice interjected and killed the conversation.
"Yes Professor?" Sirius asked calmly, keeping sarcasm out of his voice.
"How many times have I told you to stop talking in class?"
"Lots of times Professor".
"Say you had to give me a conservative estimate, what number would you give?"
"About a ten thousand Professor".
"Correct, Black. So therefore, if you talk again in my class this week, I will give you a weeks worth of detention. Do you understand me?"
"Yes Professor".
"Good, Black. Now get back on with your work before I make it a month's worth".
Sirius Black leaned over his desk, dipped his quill in his inkpot and began to scribble furiously. He wasn't actually doing work, rather writing a letter to his best friend.
James,
Piss off after class, I'm going to have a little chat with Mr Lupin.
As he blew on the note to dry the ink, he smiled softly. The fun was about to begin.
As the class emptied out of the classroom, Remus stopped by Professor McGonnagals desk. "Now Remus", she said, adjusting her glasses. "As Head of Gryfinndor house, I hope you will come to me if you have any problems. Any at all. If anything worries you, please come and see me."
"Thank you Professor, I will", Remus said, smiled, readjusted the heavy stack of books in his arms and then walked out of the classroom, leaving the Professor to pray that Sirius Black would stay far, far away from the poor boy.
When he got out into the deserted corridor, he uncomfortably checked his watch. Shit. He only had five minutes to reach Charms, and he had no idea where the hell that was. Walking quickly up the corridor with the stack of books in his arms, he didn't see the step down until he had fallen down it and onto the floor. Cursing his uncoordination and stupidity, he started to gather his things when a pair of black shoes appeared next to him. Remus stopped, and followed the shoes, up the legs, up to the torso to...
The good-looking boy was staring down at him and before Remus could get over his shock and say something, the boy was helping to pick up the books which were strewn all over the floor. "How fascinating", he said as he paused on a book titled Animagi though the Ages; A comprehensive history and course guide to becoming an animagi. "Do you mind if I borrow it?"
Remus was still recovering from the shock of seeing this creature up close. He was even better looking then than he'd ever seemed; the hair more glossy, the skin more smooth, the teeth more white. "Sure", he said, managing a smile.
"Sirius Black", the boy said, staring at him with his deep, dark eyes. Remus had never seen a colour so dark, so exquisitely beautiful.
"Remus Lupin", he said softly, still staring at Sirius, who broke the gaze.
"I know", he said. "You're new".
Remus wasn't sure what to say, even if he should say anything at all. It was a statement. He got uneasily to his feet, and faced Sirius, who was holding the books. As he passed them to Remus, Sirius' hand touched his arm, which sent reverberating shocks into him. The touch was so light and delicate and yet it had such an amazing response within him. "Thanks", Remus managed to say.
"My pleasure", Sirius said, a slight smile lighting his face. "Anything else I can help with?"
"Actually", Remus said, enormously thankful he asked. "I have no idea where my Charms classroom is."
Sirius smiled at him. "You in advanced Charms?"
"Yeah".
"You almost found it yourself, it's just down here. Actually I'm going that way myself, I could show you if you like".
Remus resisted the urge to say that there would be nothing in the world that he could like more than to be with him and smiled. "Thanks".
Sirius' led him up a corridor towards the classroom. Remus became quite enthralled by the way he walked, so gracefully, yet so spasmodically at the same time.
Sirius stopped outside a classroom and smiled at Remus, who also stopped. 'Here it is", he said, gesturing his head towards the door.
"Thanks heaps", Remus said, wishing that Sirius Black was in his Charms class.
"Well, I'll see you round". A quick grin and with that he was gone, taking his spasmodic elegance down the corridor and out of sight.
Remus turned to the door and walked into the classroom, where he was greeted with a strange silence. People were looking at him, and a strange whispering seemed to follow. He walked over to where Gerald, Leo and the rest were sitting, all of who stared at him.
"What, have I grown an extra head?" Remus joked nervously.
Leo broke the silence. "You were talking to Sirius Black".
"So?" Remus said, trying to sound nonchalant and not to let the worry seep into his voice.
"Sirius Black", Caius repeated, as if this explained it.
"I don't get it", Remus said, confused.
"Sirius Black is the most popular guy in school", Jem explained. "He doesn't talk to any of us".
"Once he asked me to pick up his quill", Leo said, as if he was talking about a Quidditch hero or something.
"Apart from that sort of thing, he'd never even know we existed. Actually he'd never even know that 95% of the student body existed. He's really popular, I don't think he's even all that close with the most popular 7th years", Gerald said.
"What did he say to you?" Caius asked, eyes wide and all the rest of the boys crowded around.
"I dropped my books and he picked them up for me, and he even borrowed one, and he introduced himself and helped me find this classroom. That's it", Remus replied, shrugging his shoulders.
The rest of them looked back, gobsmacked. "He must like you", Gerald said, nodding his head.
The rest agreed, minus Angus, who was looking coldly out the window.
"He must", Jem agreed. "Tell me is he that good-looking up close".
"Better", Remus replied, to which he saw Angus flinch considerably and wring his hands on the chair.
"Quiet class", Professor Flitwick said, and they all turned themselves to the front, the other boys still sneaking glances at Remus, who suddenly was feeling pretty good about himself. Sirius Black liked him, and that had to mean something.
"Sit down, Mr Black, you're late", Professor Gray called to the teenage boy who was taking a seat at the back of the Defence Against Dark Arts classroom.
"What took you so long?" James asked him as he pulled the books out of his bag.
"He dropped all his books, then I helped him find his Charms classroom", Sirius replied, pulling a face.
"You know that that is one of the downsides to seducing people don't you?"
"Of course I do, that doesn't mean it doesn't still piss me off though".
"How did it go with him?'
"Great. He's in love with me already".
"You're so arrogant, you know that?"
"Yes, and so are you".
James snorted. "Whatever Black".
"At least I can come to terms with it".
Shaking his head, James ducked his head down a little further.
"Are you going to fuck him?" he asked.
"Mmmmm", Sirius replied, a grin coming to his gorgeous face.
"Trying to make me jealous?"
"You don't want me", Sirius said sarcastically.
"Oh I do, I do, more than you'll ever know", James said lustfully.
"Then why don't we skip lunch?" Sirius asked, grin spreading further.
"Because I, unlike you, have self control, and you will be rewarded when you win the game".
Sirius arched an eyebrow. "I'll just have to move quickly then, won't I?"
"Yes love, yes you will".
What do you guys think? Not sure meself. Let me know. Tell me about whether you like my OC's, if you like my portrayals of the characters, my plot, my writing whatever. REVIEW!!!!!!