Story One: Dinner Disaster for Four

A/N: Please go easy on me. I'm not an usual Harry Potter fanfic author. This is a work because of a promise to a friend. So, Alexagrl, this is for you!! --Mac

            Remus Lupin was scared out of his mind. He had faced many things in his short lifetime: being bitten by a werewolf at a young age, going through those transformations, potions class, sharing a room with James Potter and Sirius Black…many, many horrifying things. Then how come he couldn't handle a simple date with a woman who had been his friend for a long time now?

            His date certainly had picked up on his feelings. She decided to ignore him and concentrated on her menu. Her honey blonde hair was tied up into a bun, and her green eyes were trying to hide her annoyance with Lupin. She was obviously taking their date better than he.

            It was a month since they started dating, so she couldn't understand why Remus was so nervous. She was surprised when he had actually asked her out. She accepted, wondering if two certain wizards had anything to do with the sudden spark of bravery. The wait was starting to torture her since Lily Evans wouldn't let her ask him out. "Do it properly, Harmony," she warned.

            Harmony reached over to steady Remus' shaking hand. "Remus, it's only me. Harmony. Harmony Anderson. I've been your friend since our first year at Hogwarts, and your girlfriend for a month. Stop shaking!" Remus grasped her hand and gave her an uneasily smile. "See, that's somewhat better," Harmony joked.

            A black blur caught Harmony's eye. 'Was that a dog?' she thought. Shaking the thought off, Harmony smiled at the waiter. "Can I take your order?" the waiter asked. Harmony nodded and ordered the chicken francaise, while Remus ordered the steak. "Excellent choices," the waiter said, before walking off.

            The two began talking about their friend Sirius latest prank and how awful it turned out. "Stuck in my chimney, howling at the top of his lungs!" Harmony said, Remus bursting into laughter. "I had to leave him there for another twenty minutes, too."

"Why?"

"I needed Vaseline to use as a lubricant and all the near-by drug stores were closed!"

"He must've been ready to kill you."

"Kill me? I was ready to kill him!"

            The waiter walked up with their orders. "The chicken francaise for the lady and the steak for the gentleman," he said. Suddenly, the same black blur caught Harmony's eye again, but this time the waiter and Remus' as well. "What was that?" the waiter asked. When they were assured that it was nothing, they turned back to their food, but Remus' steak was gone! "Odd, sir, but I'll get you another one." The waiter left.

            "How could've my steak disappear so quickly?" Remus asked, furious. "Remus, calm down. Maybe the waiter thought he had the steak, but he didn't."

"Harmony, didn't you see the steak?"

"Well…"

"I don't know." Remus placed his head on the table. The waiter returned with another steak.

            This time, Harmony's water spilled, knocked off the table. "What the-?" she shouted. She grabbed her napkin and began to wipe herself off. The waiter helped, apologizing profusely. Remus retrieved the fallen glass, so nobody saw the little black dog jump on to the table and steal Remus' steak.

            "I'm still so sorry Ma'am."

"Oh, it's nothing. Just a little water. It's already half way dried anyway."

"I'll get you another one anyway. Sir, where's your steak?" The waiter stared at the plate in amazement. "I know I brought you one. Oh why does all of this have to happen on my evaluation night? Is this some new part to the test?" The waiter left.

            Remus shook his head. "I don't know why it keeps disappearing on me. Its like someone is out to make sure I don't eat steak today. Why? Why? WHY?" he shouted. Harmony grabbed his hand. "Remus, people are staring. Just calm down," she instructed. He took several deep breaths. "Good. Now, I'm going to the ladies room. Try not to destroy anything," she said, remembering the one time Remus finally lost his cool and let his inner wolf take over.

            Harmony entered the bathroom and waited on the impossibly long line that had formed. 'Well, if my dinner isn't cold by now, it certainly will be,' she thought. She finally found a stall and went to wash her hands. At the sink next to her stood a familiar redhead. "Lily!"

"Harmony!" The two embraced and resumed fixing themselves up. "So, what brings you here?" asked Harmony. Lily smiled. "James owes me one."

"Why?"

"I found him in my chimney with no good reason."

"Funny. I found Sirius in mine recently."

"See? No good reason."

"So, you had him take you out for dinner?"

"Absolutely. Though he keeps saying something is stealing his dinner."

"So is Remus. The waiter is bringing him his third steak." The two women laughed.

            Harmony and Lily left the bathroom at the same time, walking together to their tables which happened to be close by the entire time. Harmony sat down. "James and Lily are here. Apparently Sirius wasn't alone in his whole little scheme involving the chimney," she said. "You finally got your steak?" Remus nodded and said, "Bon appetite."

            They finished their (cold) dinners, not caring how long it took them to get it. They continued to chat about different things: their days together at Hogwarts ("Hey, Remus. Blue hair"), Sirius' last birthday ("Why isn't anyone saying 'surprise?'" "Today's your birthday? CRAP!"), and why Remus steak kept disappearing ("I swear it was a DOG!"). That and the pool they and their friends had going on how long it would take James to propose to Lily. "I still say a month more."

"I know James. Two months."

"I know Lily. Next month."

"And I know Sirius," Remus said. Together they replied, "Two weeks."

            "It wasn't my idea!" came James' squeal. "Uh oh," Harmony muttered under her breath. "Well, I'm sure Sirius twisted your arm to perform," Lily screeched. Harmony and Remus watched as one of the waiters walked over and took all sharp objects off their table. "Hey, Lil," Harmony called out. "Been here before?"

"Why yes. It's our favorite restaurant. How did you know?" Lily responded. "Just a lucky guess," Harmony replied. The other two resumed their arguing.

            A black dog trotted up to the table and jumped up. He barked once at Harmony, then at Remus. "Remus, love, does this cur look familiar?" Another bark. "Yes, it does, Harmony. Maybe we saw it in the gutter somewhere." Two barks. "Bring it on, DOG!" With that, the dog grabbed Remus' wallet, jumped off the table and ran away. "Told you it was a dog! Come back here!"

            Harmony watched as Remus chased the dog, whom was already identified as Sirius, soon joined by James. The one thing they didn't notice was the shaking candelabra Sirius had caused. The table cloth soon caught fire, flames dancing up in front of Harmony. She merely pushed herself away from the table and watched them dance. "Of course this is how my date would turn out. I'm friends with the notorious troublemaker Sirius Black," she mused to herself.

            "Care to take James' seat. I have a feeling he and Remus are going to be a while. Besides, why sit at a table flambé?" Lily asked her friend, as waiters ran over to douse the table. Harmony smiled and moved to the table. "Well, it looks like our dates have turned out well," Lily mused, taking a sip of her wine. She turned around. "JAMES POTTER, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" The waiter walked by and took away the candelabra from Lily's table. Harmony asked for hers and Remus' check.

            Harmony paid for the dinner using her own muggle money, earned from the sale of her new book. It had been a little passion of hers since she was at Hogwarts and Professor McGonagall as well as Professor Dumbledore encouraged her to continue. She finally submitted a story, one drawn from English history and combining her knowledge of the magical world, and it was a best seller.

            She caught her boyfriend by the door and dragged him outside. Harmony opened her car door and unlocked Remus'. They drove partially in silence until Remus spoke. "I'm sorry this date turned into one from hell."

"Don't be. It's a certain dog's fault."

"I guess. But first, we needed your car because mine suddenly vanished."

"Probably 'borrowed' by Sirius to use."

"Then you had to pay for dinner."

"Because Sirius stole your wallet. Listen, Remus, don't beat yourself up over this."

            They pulled up to Remus' house, only a few blocks away from Harmony's, Sirius and James', as well as Lily's. Sitting in the driveway was Remus' car. And sitting on the porch was a black dog. "Snuffles returns," Remus said. "I hope he was wearing his collar while out."

Harmony giggled at the remembrance of the first Christmas after she, their friend Kiki and Lily found out the boys' alternate animal egos. They had bought Sirius a dog collar as a joke and named him Snuffles. Later, they formally registered him at James' address.

Harmony stooped down to pet him. "You look so innocent, yes you do," she cooed to him. Snuffles came to lick her. "Hey, mutt, she's my girlfriend. Paws off," Remus told the dog. Snuffles growled at the wizard. "Look Remus, Snuffles found your missing wallet," Harmony said sweetly, picking up the drool covered wallet. "Wonderful," Remus said, holding his wallet away from him.

Harmony stood up and glanced at the sky. "It looks like it is going to rain," she said. Remus nodded before going inside. Snuffles looked at Harmony, expecting a reward for "finding" Remus' wallet. "Oh, you want a reward do you? Well, you will certainly get something," Harmony said.

A half hour later, it was pouring outside. Harmony and Remus sat inside, snuggled up on the couch watching a movie on television. Every so often, scratching came from the back door. "Think Sirius is enjoying his reward?'" Harmony asked. "I don't know, but I know I am," Remus replied, kissing her. The two remained like that for the rest of the movie.