The Green Flame Torch
By: maraudette_luna
By The Way: Thanks for the reviews everyone! If you ask me questions in your reviews about my story, you'll receive your answers in the next chapter. Sorry for taking so long to update… you know, projects, report card, homework, essays, ex. curricular, etc.
To Mistress Snape (again…lol): Thanks for the J.K.R compliment, and I'm sorry that I can't answer your questions about Violet, since that would give away parts about my story, J but I can tell you that the era's will be constantly changing, not just a few times. So you don't have to worry. P.S. I LOVE LONG REVIEWS…so keep it up!
To carncarbysprincess: Which era are you asking your question for? Marauder Era = 5th (except for Narcissa and Malfoy = 7th) & Harry Potter Era = 6th (except Ginny = 5th). Everyone else is in the same year/ same time…well kinda… yah. Hope that answers your question. J There's going to be a fare amount of poems, so I hope you enjoy them. Hmm… What type of writing tips were you interested in?
WARNING!!! THERE IS FLUFF IN THIS CHAPTER!!! HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!!! J
ANYWAYS………………..
Chapter 3: Sirius? A Gentleman?
~*~ Marauder Era ~*~
Luna woke up early the next Saturday, and still couldn't believe that she was going on a date with Remus Lupin. Siria, Jamie, and Patty had been just as excited about it, and had – without her consent – decided to help her get ready for the day. 'Consider it your birthday present,' Jamie had grinned. Luna was thankful that none of them were awake. Otherwise, she would have been stampeded with more ideas for what she should wear; meaning that she would be dressed up (by her friends) with fancy clothes like some sort of doll for hours and hours and…. hours. She looked down at the outfit that she had laid out the night before: a long-sleeved, deep crimson shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. Luna quickly changed and headed towards the girls lavatories. Extremely thankful that no one was inside, she walked over to a mirror and combed her hair. After putting it up in a high ponytail, she added a bit of make-up, brushed her teeth, and took a long look in the mirror, hoping that she looked all right.
"Not too bad," she muttered to herself, giving a small smile. She was really nervous about the date. What if she laughed too much and acted really stupid? What if she did something really embarrassing so that Remus didn't like her? Luna sighed loudly. She was just being stupid. Nothing bad will happen. Everything will be fine. Everything will turn out great.
With these thoughts on her mind, she glanced up at the clock. 7:48 am. She had been in the bathroom for over an hour! Most people wake up at 7:30! Quickly, she cleaned up the counter and headed downstairs for breakfast, happy that she didn't meet her friends along the way. Luna liked her friends very much, but ever since the whole Remus incident, they hadn't stopped talking to her. Just a few days ago, Siria had woken her up at two in the morning, just to give her lip-gloss ideas. She smiled at the memory.
There was a fairly large amount of students in the Great Hall when Luna entered. She strode over to the Gryffindor table and sat down by herself.
Looking outside, she could see that it was going to be quite a nice day. The sun was shining brightly, making the fall leaves seem more colourful with every ray of light.
"Hi Luna!" She turned her head to see a girl with long red hair and bright green eyes walking towards her.
"Good morning Lily."
Lily's smile vanished when she heard her speak, "Why so glum?"
"I'm nervous, that's all," Lily gave her a puzzled look, so she continued, "I'm scared that I'm going to mess up on my date with Remus today."
"Oh, is that all? Then it was silly of me to think that it was something serious."
"Lily!" Luna laughed and Lily sat down next to her.
"Just be yourself, and everything will be fine. Don't worry about it! Remember, this is supposed to be fun, right?"
"Definitely," Luna grinned, "Thanks Lily."
"No Problem," Lily looked around the room and turned back to face Luna. "So, why are you sitting alone on your birthday?"
"I'm not."
"Excluding me, shouldn't Siria, Jamie and Patty be with you?"
"Um… well, I felt that I would enjoy a nice, boring and uneventful breakfast this morning." They both burst out laughing at this comment.
"Yah right! Let me guess. Your friends found out about your date and are trying non-stop to make you some sort of beauty queen."
"Exactly."
"Well, we all go through that stage." Lily giggled a bit. "Come on, I'll walk you to the front hall. You should be able to go to Hogsmeade by now." The two of them stood up and headed out of the Great Hall. Many students were already lined up as Filch looked down the long list of names, waiting for him to allow them to leave the school for Hogsmeade.
Luna glanced around the room, nervously biting her lip. "I don't see him."
"Who?" The two girls spun around. James Potter was giving them a lopsided grin; his eyebrows raised in question.
Lily rolled her eyes as he ruffled his hair. "Remus, if you really want to know. Luna's going to Hogsmeade with him."
"Hmm… well, that explains Sirius' temper tantrum this morning; and I just thought it was because he wanted his beauty sleep." He chuckled.
"Why would he be so upset about one date?" Luna gave him a suspicious look.
"He's a marauder. He has a reputation to uphold; and you dating his friend is…is…uh…hmmm…" James looked up at the ceiling as if he was in deep thought, though the girls knew better.
"… Is not wrong or disgraceful! Just because Sirius has a goal to date and dump every pretty girl in this school doesn't mean he's going to achieve it. I'd never go on a date with him. He hates me and I really hate him." Luna felt her temper boil beneath her skin.
"Woah! Settle down girl! It's your birthday!" Lily eyed James as if this outburst was his entire fault. Well, it kind of was.
"I sometimes don't understand you at all, Moonglade. You'll talk to me, but not Sirius, and yet he and I share the same goal." James ignored Lily's looked of disgust.
"Some goal! Don't you have anything better to do than snog every girl you see in the corridors, or the broom closet, or the dormi-"
Seeing Lily's eyes narrow, James decided to cut Luna off, "Yah. I have Quidditch."
"You mean playing some barbaric game on a bunch of stupid twigs."
"You just hurt my feelings, Evans."
"You're as bad as Sirius."
"Thanks for the compliment." He grinned at Lily and gave her a wink.
Replying with a roll of her eyes and an annoyed sounding sigh, she told Luna that she had to go and wished her luck.
James just smiled and placed his arm on Luna's shoulders, watching Lily run up the stairs and out of sight. "You know that wasn't so bad. I think she's growing on me."
Luna pushed his arm off her, "The only way she'd ever grow on you, was if she could turn into a deadly fungus that would kill you instantly."
"You know, you could qualify as a marauder with comebacks like that."
She crossed her arms and gave him a disgusted look, "I'd never be in a group with Sirius."
"How about Remus?"
Luna could feel herself turning red and looked down at the floor, but still managed to reply, "Sirius is still in it."
James laughed, "You're hopeless, but that reminds me; Moony wanted me to tell you that- "
"Sorry if I'm a bit late. I needed to get something." Luna smiled as Remus ran over to them.
"That's what he wanted to tell you. Well, I better leave you two lovebirds alone, eh?" He winked at Remus, who blushed in return. Smiling at this reaction, James walked away.
"I-I guess we should get going," Luna smiled weakly at him. It surprised her how much harder it was to speak to Remus than to James.
"Yah." At this, they walk over to Filch, who scanned the list and quickly let them leave the school. When they stepped outside, Luna was blown away with how beautiful the day was. It was surprisingly warm, and not a single cloud was in sight.
"So, uh… where would you like to go first?" Remus flushed, which made her smile again.
"Hmm… I'm not sure. Where would you like to go?"
"How about The Three Broomsticks?"
"Why not," she paused in thought for a moment, " Uh…may I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"How did you ever become a marauder?" Luna thought this sounded a bit rude and quickly added, "I mean, not that it's bad, it's just… you're not like the other three."
He laughed, "Well, hopefully not! They're my friends, but we're all still individuals," Remus grinned, "Except maybe Peter. I don't know what happened to his own personality." Luna laughed. She never knew that Remus had a sense of humor like this, but she enjoyed it. He seemed a bit more comfortable too, and started talking about pranks that the marauders had pulled on the Slytherins, which she found quite hilarious. She had never seen this side of him, and she loved it. The conversation carried them all the way to The Three Broomsticks, where they sat down in a small booth and ordered two Butterbeers.
Luna took a sip from her drink, examining Remus. When he noticed her watching him, he asked, "Is there anything wrong?"
"Hmm? No. I was just wondering…why is Sirius so…Sirius?"
He studied her for a minute without showing any expression, but then he smiled. "I have no clue. He's just who he is, with no explanation at all. Why do you ask?"
"He really annoys me and…and is it true that he was angry this morning?"
"He's been angry all week."
"But why? There must be a reason other than I chose you over him."
Remus turned slightly red, "No, there isn't." Luna sighed and took another sip from her Butterbeer. Sirius is hopeless, she thought. At that precise moment, the door of The Three Broomsticks opened and Siria walked inside. Oh no. Spotting the two of them she ran over to their table, where she tripped over something and fell on the floor.
"OW! WHO THE HELL PUT THAT THERE?" She frantically searched for the source of the problem. "Huh? There's nothing here, but…but…" she waved her hands around and seemed to grab hold of something that Luna could not see. Siria pulled on whatever it was and Sirius' head appeared. Siria jolted back at the sight of him, "Ack! Oh, it's just you Sirius."
"Typical." Luna leaned over to Remus and muttered, "Just proves how trustworthy our friends are." He laughed, while Sirius responded to Siria's words about him.
"Just me? Am I that repulsive?"
Luna narrowed her eyes, "Yes. Yes you are." Siria glared at her, in which she raised her eyebrows, "What did you expect? A happy invitation? I'm not going to apologize, by the way."
Siria got up and dusted herself off, "You don't have to be rude to him all the time, you know."
"Uh, hello? I'm right here. You do know I can hear you, right?" Sirius looked at the two girls, slightly amused, "Meow. I've always loved watching cat-fights."
"Shut up, Black."
"Sorry. I won't get in the way." He grinned mischievously.
"See? He can be a gentleman." Siria looked pleased with herself, and did not notice when Luna had a sudden coughing fit, and Remus sprayed half of his Butterbeer across the table.
"Sirius? A gentleman? Please kill me now!" Luna made an action as if praying to god, while tears of laughter prickled her eyes.
"Hah! Someone thinks I'm a gentleman!" Sirius turned to Siria and bowed, "So sorry I tripped you earlier, madam."
Luna rolled her eyes, "Madam? More like a mad man. Stop being a drama queen, Sirius."
This time Siria gave her the mischievous smile, "He's not a drama queen, I am. If you look very carefully-"
"I'd rather not."
"-you'll see that he's a guy. Therefore must be a drama king."
"Well, then it's settled. You may both live happily ever after and reign over the Kingdom of the Crazy."
"Very funny."
"I sometimes think so too."
Sirius seemed to have decided to bring himself into the joke, "Ahem. May I then buy my fair lady a drink? Butterbeer perhaps?"
Siria sighed, "O.k. We'll be right back you two."
When they left, Remus leaned towards Luna and whispered, "Butterbeers to go?"
"Please do." They quickly left and headed down the street. The road was full of other students and bustling shoppers, racing in and out of the stores. Luna stopped only once to look in one of the store windows, where a beautiful silver dress was being displayed.
Remus watched her examine the dress for a moment and then asked her "Do you like it?"
"Yes. It's… It's gorgeous," She stared at the shimmering fabric, in aw of its beauty; wondering whom the genius was, who ever created such a masterpiece, "It looks really expensive though."
"It probably is, though it would look really nice on you," Luna knew she was blushing. There was no doubt about that. Remus had so many different sides to him, in which she decided to try and discover them all.
"Do you really think so?"
He smiled and nodded, "Yes."
Smiling in return, Luna took his hand and winked at him, "I'll trust your judgment." With this, they continued to stroll down the street. Spotting an apple tree in a field just off the main road, Luna realized that she had not had breakfast yet, and became suddenly over-whelmed with hunger, "Uh…would you care for an apple?"
"Sure."
Luna walked over to the tree and looked up at the surprising amount of leaves still hanging on its branches. What branches? I can't even see them. She turned to Remus and grinned, "I haven't climbed a tree in ages, so don't laugh if I fall off."
"I'll try not to," he said to her, casually.
"Try?" She smiled.
"That's the best I can do."
"Oh, all right." She climbed the tree with much ease, and scanned around for the best apples she could find. That one's ok, no, not that one, don't even want to know what that is…
"Do you see any good apples?"
"Yes, but I want to get the best."
"Ok." Luna continued to search the tree. Let's see…Ok apple, bad apple, unripe apple, bumpy apple, bruised apple, munching Patty, excellent apple…
"What?" Luna turned around again to see her friend Patty, munching on the most perfect apple she'd ever seen.
"Hey Luna!" Patty said this so loudly, that it caught Luna by surprise. Losing her balance, she fell right out of the tree and into Remus' arms; not that she minded. Wow… so strong.
"Are you all right?" He wore a worried expression, as he looked up into the tree. An impossible task, to find whatever caused her to topple over.
Luna sighed. She would worship this memory forever. Lying here in Remus' arms. Perfect. "Hmm? Yes. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" He laid her on the ground, kneeled next to her and smiled, "Let me check." He squeezed her hand. "Did that hurt?"
"No." He moved his own hand up her arm and onto her neck, where he tickled her softly. She laughed, "Hey! No tickling."
He smiled again at this and stared into her eyes. His fingers drifted slowly along her cheek, and tucked a few loose hairs behind her ear. "You're very beautiful," he said rather quietly.
Luna gradually sat upwards, and let her gaze settle onto his face. Tilting her head slightly, she whispered, "You're so sweet… and…and you're mine. Even if it's only for a day." She gently touched his cheek, but pulled her hand away when he closed his eyes.
Noticing the withdrawal, he opened them again and said, "Yes," he leaned towards her and let his lips brush hers, "and you're mine." Luna placed her arms onto his shoulders and deepened the kiss. She couldn't resist. It just felt like the right thing to do. Almost as instantly, Remus pulled her in against him and she slid easily into his lap.
"Uh… can one of you guys help me? I can't get down," It was Patty. Luna had completely forgotten that she was still in the tree. She quickly pulled away from Remus, who, like her, had suddenly turned a bright scarlet, "Unless of course, you're both too busy," she giggled.
Luna felt her face burn ever so hotter, but closing her eyes for a moment, she sighed, "No… but how are we supposed to get you down, anyway?"
"I don't know. You figure it out."
"Patty?" Luna looked up into the tree, very annoyed at seeing two peering eyes through a bunch of leaves, staring at her.
"Yah?"
"You're so very helpful."
"Really?" her face brightened with a smile.
"No." Remus chuckled at this, still holding Luna in closely.
"Humph!" Patty crossed her arms and glared at Luna, "Well, help me down anyways!"
"I'm still thinking as to how! You're not that light, you know!"
Patty strengthened her glare, "Hurry up and think! I don't want to be stuck here all day."
Luna thought for a second and grinned, "You could always fall. It's quite easy and very quick, though there may be some minor side effects. Nothing to worry about; just a few bumps and bruises."
"But I don't want to fall," Patty whined, not catching the sarcasm. She looked around the tree and spotting an apple on a branch said to herself, "Hey… this apple looks really good. Yummy."
"You are really stupid at times, Patty," Luna rolled her eyes.
"I'm your stupid cupid then, since it was because of me that you fell out of this tree and into your little snog-fest partner's arms," she said and her eyes suddenly lit up with glee, "Stupid cupid! That rhymes! You know, I think I'm catching on to all of this poetry stuff you do constantly."
"Tell me a poem then, and I'll test you to see if it's good," Luna smirked.
"R-right now?" Patty stuttered, "But I don't have any prepared."
"The best poets can come up with poems on the spot. They hardly have to even think about it. So let's hear one."
"Fine," Patty paused, "uh… Bippity Boppity Boo, I'll turn you into a shoe… uh… I'll put my foot in you, and … um… I'll spray paint you all blue."
Luna eyed her as if she was crazy before she stated, "That has to be one of the worst poems I've ever heard. The only type of poetry that I'd excuse stupidity, are limericks, since that's usually the only point of them."
"Limerick… limerick… oh I know what those are! I could have some fun with this," Patty rolled up her sleeves and smile mischievously, "Ooh, ooh! I got one!"
"Let's hear it then."
"O.k.… there once was a poetic freak named Luna,
She'd eat any fish except tuna,
One day she drank cider,
Ate the tuna behind her,
Hives appeared and she went a BOOMA!"
Remus coughed, trying to hide his laughter and said, "That wasn't too bad, actually."
"Yes. For a limerick, it wasn't that bad. Luckily for her, she can get away without having to make sense and can say things that aren't true," Luna looked at him and muttered, "I'm not allergic to tuna." He laughed at this, but was interrupted by Patty.
"Ahem," Patty cleared her throat and said happily, "I have another one!
'There once was a crazy girl named Luna,
Who lived in a butterfly's caccoona,
She hopped 'round on springs,
Had tea leaves for wings,
And I've seen her worship the Buddha."
Luna stared at her and mouthed, "the Buddha? Why would you ever think of the Buddha?"
Patty grinned, "It rhymes, so it works."
Luna just groaned at this response, "You can stop rhyming anytime you wish, Patty, but just as a warning, don't say anything negative about a person, if you don't want to be hexed really badly."
"Who would want to hex me?" Patty asked in a sickeningly sweet voice.
Luna rolled her eyes, "Let me put it this way: my wand is in my pocket, just waiting to cast some complicated spells."
This made Patty look a bit uneasy, "Oh… well, I won't say anything negative about you then. Actually… wait. Maybe just one more silly lymric…"
"Just one more silly one?"
"Well, yah," she giggled. "You know…
'There once was this odd girl named Luna,
Who I now think is the strangest baffoona,
She has kissed her prince,
Which now makes me wince,
Oh, how I wish she'd go back to her tuna."
Luna just groaned again and felt Remus stiffen a bit at this last poem, "I think that's enough now Patty," she said, standing up and walking towards the trunk of the tree.
"Oh come on, just one more? Please?"
Luna sighed, "I doubt that I could stop you from saying it anyway. Go ahead, but just one more."
"Ok. Goody. Um… Ah! How about this; it rhymes perfectly!
'There once again was a weird girl named Luna,
Who'd go out when there was a full moona,
She stopped all a suddin',
And wasn't a bud an',
She hasn't been our same little Luna."
Luna watched as Remus glanced at her with a look of confusion on his face and then paled slightly. This worried her a little. He couldn't possibly think… no. He wouldn't. Would he? This could ruin everything…
Still staring at her, he seemed to have found his voice, " Uh… have you ever gone out on a full moon?" Silence. She knew this didn't look good on her part, but her mouth was dry, and she could feel a headache forming. She didn't want to think about it. That night; that terrible night.
"Yes, but not for awhile," she looked at his questioning face and began, "I'm not a…"
"Uh, hello people! Did you like that poem or not?" Patty huffed, "If you didn't, then I'd like to see you try one."
Luna shot Patty an angry look, but said anyways,
"I have a dear friend who's named Patty,
Though at the moment I think she's quite maddy,
She's stuck in a tree,
Where she doesn't wish to be,
Should I help you down is the question, my dear Patty."
If Remus had been wondering anything strange before, it was well hidden behind his surprised face, "How did you do that? It was very well said."
"She's been doing it for ages," Patty grumbled with a glare, "She writes them all the time in her poetry book."
"Really? Would you show me some one day?" he seemed quite interested. A boy who likes poetry. That's new.
"Fat chance! She never shows anyone. I haven't even seen them."
Luna couldn't resist rolling her eyes again and crossing her arms at how idiotic Patty was being, "That's because, the only one's you want to see are in my diary, Patty! You were never interested in my unlocked book, that you can read anytime you wish."
"You have two books? Oh yah…"
"Ugh, Patty. Like I said before, you can be extremely stupid," Luna turned to Remus, "So, are you really interested in poetry?"
"Yes, I enjoy reading it."
"Hmm… Well, remind me when we get back to the Gryffindor Common room to show you some of the ones that I've written, but right now I can't think of any that you would like to hear," she said, and then a thought struck her, "Wait! There is one that I did enjoyed, but only because it was a riddle. Come with me and I'll show you." She beckoned for him to follow her back to the main road, but before they left she turned to her friend again, "Oh, and Patty?"
"Yah?"
"Toss me two apples."
~------------------------------------------*-----------------------------------------~
Hope you enjoyed this chapter and again I'm sorry for taking so long. If you have any suggestions on how to improve it please tell me in your reviews, because in some areas it seems rushed (to me that is). I'll try to update sooner and like always, R&R. Bye for now. Luna Moonglade.
