Chapter Four

Potions did not go well at all. Professor Abinger asked them to brew a potion that would be able to kill, or at least seriously poison werewolves. The Marauders, along with Michelle, glared at Abinger when she asked Remus if he knew which ingredients in the potion where dangerous to the werewolf. Most of the Slytherins, on the other hand, merely looked surprised that he actually knew the answer. "Alright, class, let's get started on that potion. And do pay attention to what you're doing, I will not put up with anymore exploding cauldrons, you got that Mr. Lupin?" Professor Abinger asked, sneering at Remus, who merely answered politely that he understood completely.

"So, Michelle, it looks as though I was right. You are going to have to get to know me whether you want to or not," Malfoy said as they took there seats and began to work on the potion.

"Malfoy, all I have to do is put up with you long enough to survive this class," Michelle said while copying down the instructions. "That does not mean that I have to hold any sort of conversation with you, and it certainly doesn't mean that I have to 'get to know' you."

"Oh, you'll come around, sooner or later. I haven't met a girl yet that I couldn't get if I wanted to. And believe me, in your case, I definitely want to," Malfoy whispered seductively, while reaching for the scales to measure out an ingredient, and using that as an excuse to scoot his chair closer to hers.

"Yes, well, you know what they say – there's a first time for everything," Michelle said while tipping some aconite into the potion. "And I would greatly appreciate it if you would move – I like my space."

Rather than moving farther away, Lucius instead chose to place his hand on Michelle's knee. She slapped it off, telling him again to back off. Again, Malfoy ignored her, and replaced his hand on her leg, only higher this time.

Meanwhile, Remus sat a few desks behind them, watching the scene unfold, and getting angrier all the time. When he nearly added too much aconite to the potion, he decided that if he didn't want a detention, he'd better pay more attention to his work, and less to Michelle and Lucius. However, when he saw Malfoy touching her, Remus couldn't help but growl at him.

It came as a relief when the class ended. Remus took his potion up to the professor to be marked, and then waited for the others to join him outside the classroom, so they could all go to History of Magic. While he was waiting, Remus felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned around to see Danielle White, a sixth year Ravenclaw. She also happened to be Remus' ex-girlfriend.

"Hello, Remy," the attractive blonde simpered. "How are you?" Danielle began moving closer to him, running her hand up and down his right arm as she spoke.

"I'm fine, Danielle," Remus said as he took a step back. He looked for his friends, but it seemed they were still in class, clearing their things away. "Is there anything I can help you with?" He asked awkwardly. Remus really didn't feel like talking with Danielle right then. He wondered what was keeping the others.

"Oh, I was just wondering if we could have a little talk, later," Danielle said, once again closing the space between them.

"About what?" Remus asked uneasily. Just then, James, Sirius, and the others walked up to join Remus, but hesitated when they saw who he was talking to. James, Sirius, and Peter wore identical expressions of intense dislike as they approached their friend, each of them scowling heavily when they noticed the way Danielle was acting around Remus.

"Oh, nothing really, I just needed to talk to you is all," She said, eying Michelle and the other girls somewhat warily when they came over to stand by him. "So, you'll meet me tomorrow night at the top of the Astronomy Tower, around seven?"

"I don't know, Danielle, I'll get back to you on that. I've got to go," Remus said, as he and the others made their way to Binns' class.

"Who was that, Remus?" Michelle, looking somewhat curious, asked as they walked to class.

"My ex-girlfriend, Danielle White. She's a Ravenclaw in our year." Remus said, wondering what on earth she could want this time.

"She's also a real bitch," Sirius muttered, so that Remus couldn't hear. The others nodded in agreement.

"Well, today was just peachy, wasn't it?" Grace said to no one in particular as the girls dropped their things in the common room. While History of Magic and Divination had been much better than Potions, they had also been incredibly boring.

"Yes. It was absolutely terrible. I now hate Snape more than ever before," Lily grumbled as she joined Grace on the couch. Snape had spent the better part of Potions explaining why 'Mudbloods' like her could not brew potions as complicated as the one theirs.

"Well, at least you didn't have someone trying to feel you up the entire period," Michelle said as she plopped down in one of the chairs. "I mean, what's his problem?"

"Malfoy just isn't used to having girls tell him no and actually mean it," Jennifer said. "But if the way the guys were looking at him is any indication, he won't be around much longer if he keeps on behaving the way he was today." She smirked slightly, taking a seat in another overstuffed armchair.

"Yeah, even James and Sirius looked like they wanted to kill Malfoy. I can't believe he would treat you like that," Grace said, scowling. "Wait, on second thought, I can believe it. After all, he is a stupid, spoiled brat."

"Not to mention a pervert," Jennifer added.

"And an ugly one at that," agreed Lily.

"Can we not talk about Malfoy? What was with that girl, Danielle? Why did Sirius say she was a bitch?" Michelle asked, looking around at the others. Their expressions turned distinctly sour.

"Oh her," Lily said scathingly. "She really is terrible. Remus went out with her for a while in fourth year, until she broke up with him just before summer started. He found out later that she'd only asked him out because he's a Marauder, and James and Sirius were already taken."

"That's horrible," Michelle said, looking somewhat shocked – and angry on Remus' behalf.

"That's not the worst of it," Grace said. "She's always had him practically eating out of the palm of her hand since they started dating. Since then, she's dated a number of guys, but she always breaks up with them after a few weeks, a month or two at the most."

"Yeah," Lily put in with a disgusted sigh, "and every time she's in-between boyfriends, it's 'Remy, can we talk?' or 'I love you, Remy can we try again?'"

"And every time she starts up with all that crap, he falls for it all over again," Jennifer added. "I don't think the poor guy's ever been able to turn dear Danielle down. Last time she did it, James and Sirius actually tried to break them up."

"Well," Michelle began, looking somewhat thoughtful, "We'll just have to help Remus help himself, won't we?"

"I don't understand," Grace said. "How can we 'help Remus help himself'?"

Lily seemed to know what Michelle was thinking. "It's simple, really," she began with a mischievous smile on her face, "We've got to replace Danielle with someone else. I mean if Remus has a girlfriend that he really likes, there's no way he'd say yes to her."

"Exactly," Michelle said. "So do you know anyone Remus might fancy? Preferably someone we can all stand?"

At that, the other girls all looked at each other before turning as one to smile at Michelle. "Yes, I think so," Jennifer said. "Considering how protective he is of you, I'd say Remus fancies you quite a bit, Michelle. What do you think? Willing to give it a try?"

"I don't know, do you really think he likes me? As anything other than a friend, I mean?" She asked uncertainly, as she looked at the floor and blushed a little.

"I'm not sure," Lily admitted. "I think he does, but we'll have to find out for sure. Assuming that Remus does like you, though, would you want to go out with him?"

Michelle looked up from the spot she'd been examining on the carpet and smiled at the other girls. "Yes," she said, and they all grinned.

"Great! Now, all we need is a plan," Jennifer said, while Grace clapped her hands excitedly. "Oh, you two will be so cute together!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.

"So, Peter, here's what we want you to do," Grace said. "When Remus comes back from the Prefect's meeting, ask him if he would mind helping you with the History of Magic essay. You'll probably need to make up some reason for why he has to be the one to help you. Just say James and Sirius have detention or something, it doesn't really matter."

Michelle, Jennifer, Grace, and Peter were sitting together in the common room, working on homework. Lily had suggested enlisting the help of one of the Marauders in order to keep him from being able to meet with Danielle, so the girls were now in the process of explaining their plan to Peter. "Right," Peter said, nodding. "So, I've got to keep him from going to the Astronomy Tower long enough for Lily to get a game of Truth or Dare together."

"Yes, then it should be a simple matter of getting Remus to confess that he really is madly in love with Michelle," Jennifer added, smiling.

"Are you really sure Remus will fall for this?" Peter asked.

"Peter, this isn't some trick! This is Remus' heart we're talking about here!" Grace exclaimed. "Come on, now. You know how that girl is; do you really want to have to put up with her idiocy? Besides, you know perfectly well that all she'll do is hurt him all over again."

"Hey, I never said I wouldn't help – I can't stand the girl, either. I was just asking a simple question!" Peter protested.

"Good," Grace and Jennifer said, just as Lily and Remus returned from the Prefect's meeting.

"Danielle, are you sure this is such a good idea?" asked Danielle's fellow Ravenclaw and best friend, Rachel DeAngelo. Danielle, having noticed right along with everyone else in Hogwarts the was Remus and that new girl were acting around each other, spent the past few days coming up with a way to keep them apart. She was determined to do anything get Remus for herself, and she absolutely refused to allow some new slut to stand in her way.

"It's a great idea! Come on, Rach, you saw what happened with Malfoy and that new girl in the entrance hall the other day. It's obvious he wants her," Danielle told her friend as they walked down to the dungeons. "I'm willing to bet he'll do anything to have her. Therefore, I intend to strike a bargain with him. He'll get Michelle, and I'll get my Remy. I really don't see what could go wrong."

"Well, for starters, Danielle, you don't have a plan for splitting them up, do you?" Rachel asked, skeptically.

"Actually, I've got the perfect plan, thank you very much," Danielle said as they reached the dungeons and began their search for any Slytherin who could direct them to Lucius Malfoy. "And I'll tell you all about it as soon as we find Lucius."