Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, events and/or places that are recognized as being written and created by J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places from the Harry Potter books including the ones used in this story.
"You didn't come visit me at breakfast!" Lily shouted at Clea, as she sat down next to her in their History of Magic class. Lily was a tall, slender girl with bright auburn hair and shining emerald green eyes. Clea was the complete opposite of her; Clea only stood 5 feet 3 inches from the ground and was a thin but curvy figure of dark eyes, dark hair and olive skin.
"I can't visit you anymore Lily. I'm sorry." Clea responded, hoping that Lily wouldn't notice her state of utter depression.
But Lily did notice and a look of first concern and than annoyance swam across her face. "Cleopatra Black!" Lily began. "You are sixteen years old; grow up! It's just a stupid Ball....for Graduates. We are not even graduating yet why should you care?"
Clea turned towards Lily and sighed. She would have betted her entire inheritance on Lily understanding her, and knowing why she was really upset. She would have lost everything.
"I'm not upset about the Ball, Lily! I'm..." but before she could continue the Professor floated in and demanded complete silence from his students.
Clea shook her head at Lily, and rested it in the palm of her hands. She couldn't concentrate on anything. It seemed like her mind was only capable of replaying the second week of school over and over, not collecting knowledge. She tried to stop it. It was December 1st; she shouldn't be dwelling on what happened in September. But after a few moments, she just gave in.
It was only the second week of her 6th year. Clea bounded out of the Slytherin dormitories, which were located in the dungeons underneath the school. And like she did everyday, she abandoned the rest of her housemates, who were on their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. As they climbed up one flight of stairs, Clea sprinted down a corridor and ran up a different staircase. She came to a door, and flung it open. She was standing right next to the stairs that led down from the Gryffindor Tower.
Clea stood there, her fingers crossed; hoping she finally timed it right. Last week, she got there too early every time and ended up bumping into Lily or Sirius or James. She didn't mind bumping into them, but that wasn't the point of doing this. She wanted to bump into Remus. She wanted to walk into the Great Hall with him. She wanted his sweet smile to be the first smile she saw the entire day, every day.
Remus Lupin; his name even sent goose pimples up and down her spine. He wasn't like any boy she had ever met. He was reserved and nice, but still playful and funny. He was also completely brilliant, which Clea admired most of all. Yet he was very mysterious, which drew her in even deeper.
Remus was poor, and had no family. Clea even suspected that he stayed at Hogwarts over the summer, when he wasn't visiting her and Sirius. Clea longed to take care of him, to make sure he had everything he needed. Whenever he appeared at their door during the summer months, she wished that he was there to stay, forever; of course that was never the case.
Ever since she first met him five years ago, she could never get him off her mind. As she got older, and boys started paying more attention to her, she tried her hardest to subtly let them know that her heart belonged to someone else; though she never told this other person, and wasn't even positive he liked her back. She didn't have confirmation but she knew in her heart that Remus felt the same; the way he spoke to her, and cared for her, the way they carried on a conversation about nothing for hours that always ended in him admitting something he admired about her.
After about thirty seconds Clea finally heard footsteps coming from the stairs. She took a deep breath and stepped in front of the bottom step.
"Cleopatra! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you coming."
Clea looked up from her new position on the floor, but she recognized that raspy, deep voice immediately and her heart fluttered.
"Oh, that's ok Remus. I should have been looking where I was going." Remus stretched his hand out and bent down to help Clea back to a standing position; which was hard giving that her legs were now made of jelly.
"There you are." Remus said and smiled, his cheeks turning a bright pink. They stood there, holding each other's hand, smiling and staring into each other's eyes.
Clea tried to imagine what Remus was thinking as she watched his eyes dart around her face. Remus stood almost a foot taller than Clea; she was barely able to see the top of his head, which was covered in short, but shaggy, brown hair. Remus was handsome, but not when you first looked at him. He had large saggy bags under his eyes that made him seem like he hadn't slept for days. He always seemed tired and sad, but when Clea gazed into his beautiful blue eyes, which shone brightly even when they were immersed in shadow, she saw a lively spark that brought him to life.
"You have pretty eyes, Clea." Remus whispered, which made his voice sound harsh and deeper than usual.
Clea thought she couldn't get any redder than she all ready was, but she once again felt the familiar rise of heat in her cheeks. "I bet you say that to all the girls you knock down, Remus." Clea said with a giggle, hoping her cleverness would make up for her obvious nerves. Remus's eyebrows shot up and he let out a loud laugh, which almost sounded like a howl.
Their moment was brought to a halt as Peter, who was short and stoutly, with messy blonde hair, stormed down the stairs. "Hey, break it up now. Break it up." Peter said, while a mischievous smile crept across his face. "Sirius is coming."
Clea rolled her eyes and smiled at Remus, who dropped her hand immediately. She looked up the stairs as Sirius and James made their way down.
Sirius resembled his sister slightly, except his look was wilder. He had the same olive skin, the same short stature, and the same silky dark hair which he wore long and slicked back. His eyes, however, were so dark they were almost black, giving him a permanent look of mystery. Every female in the school, except Clea and Lily, were absolutely in love with the gorgeous Sirius Black.
James, on the other hand, was tall, athletic, and handsome. He played on the Gryffindor Quiddich team. James had brown eyes hidden behind eyeglasses, and jet-black hair that never laid flat on his head.
"Hullo, sis," Sirius said. Clea smiled brightly, even though she wanted to hurl a book at Sirius' face.
"Hey Clea," James said. "Remus, we were looking for you. Have you seen the new bulletin?" Remus shook his head, but before he could say anything Clea jumped with curiosity, "What bulletin?"
James laughed at her and than grabbed her shoulders and pulled her real close to him. Over James' shoulder, Clea saw a flash of announce in Remus' eyes, but at the moment she was too curious to leap for joy.
"You better warn your friend," James began. "There is going to be a Graduate Ball. And I need a date."
James and Sirius walked away laughing, trailed by Peter. Remus stood there and looked at Clea.
A Ball?, Clea thought excitedly. But for Graduates. Her eyes floated over and met Remus,' who instantly spun around and walked towards the smell of waffles slipping out of the Great Hall.
"Earth to Clea! What's the matter with you?" Lily's voice pulled Clea back to the present.
"Class is over?" Clea asked, even though as her eyes swept the room, she realized that the answer was obvious.
"Yes," Lily said standing up and pulling Clea with her. "Class is over. You've learned nothing. There is still a month till the Graduate Ball. And Remus is still not going."
