A/N: This orginally was a roleplay I did in my health class. For those who read the orginal roleplay there have been some "modifications" and for those of you just reading it, it's told sort of like a Remus's and Mina's POV story but instead of first person it's the omipresent third person.
Chapter One: The Lakeside Encounter
Remus
Remus looked around him. The snow fell gently on his robes and his cloak. His clothes were slightly worn and faded. He sighed and pulled the thinning cloak tighter around him. He shivered as a gust of wind passed, and wiped a snowflake off his eyelashes. His pale cheeks were rosy from the cold, but yet he didn't feel like going inside.
He enjoyed the cold, crisp weather and his daily walks around the grounds, as it permitted him precious little time to think away from his overzealous friends. As he took another look around he saw something, or rather someone. He couldn't make out her features, except the billowing blonde hair and blue-trimmed robes. After a long debate with himself, during which she never moved, he finally decided to approach her.
Mina
She stood very still, gazing out at the lake as she did so. There was so much on her mind as of late, that she frequently came here to think. What with her Muggle mother in the hospital for the past two weeks, and her father's very vague owls, Mina didn't know what to think and was on the verge of hysteria. She desperately needed to talk to someone, and since all her friends had boarded the Hogwarts Express not more than a couple of days ago, she found herself coming here more and more often, and for longer and longer durations of time.
Hearing something, she tore her gaze away from the lake, and looked about her. As she had already guessed, she was not alone. A few meters away was a boy apparently from Gryffindor. She took a few tentative steps towards him, not sure if he happened to be Sirius Black, James Potter, or someone as equally terrifying. He too, was slowly, tentatively approaching her, and as they got closer, recognition slowly etched itself into their features amist the swirling snow.
"Remus?" she asked, puzzled by his appearance near the lakeside. She usually made it a point to avoid the Marauder's, as they were known, but as seeing that Remus was the only one in the vacancy she deemed it relatively safe to converse with him.
Remus
He arched a dark eyebrow. She only spoke to him whenever the rest of the Marauder's had cleared the surrounding vacancy, which always remained a sore point for him. She was probably the only girl he had ever truly cared for, and here she was avoiding him because of the people he chose to associate with. He sighed, knowing her's was a valid reason. He closed the remaining distance between them.
"Mina? I thought you weren't speaking to me. You've been rather...um...distant as of late." he bashfully exclaimed, knowing full well it was due to Sirius' less than appropriate whistling and James' banter.
Mina
She dropped her eyes to the bright white ground, feeling herself flush.
"I...um...well...I've been busy?" she coughed lightly and asserted herself, "I've been busy...You look like you could use some company?" she asked rather than said, and at the same time voicing her own desires. "But...if you want me to leave..." she concluded lamely, letting the unfinished sentence hang in the air.
Remus
"NO!" he yelled, a bit too enthusiasticly, earning a curious glance from Mina. "I was just wondering...you know..." he bit his lip. He was so fed up with his friends chasing everyone away from him, that it was all he could do to keep from hexing them. That was why he constantly found himself outside, walking around aimlessly for hours. As if it weren't bad enough he was a werewolf...
Mina
"Wondering what?" she probed gently. This was as good a distraction as any to get her mind off her mother.
Remus
"Oh, so sorry, what was that?" he asked, trying to remember his last sentence while at the same time racking his brain for any one cognitive thought, and failing miserably, began to stare at his shoe thoughtfully, as if curious as to how it got there. He loathed feeling shy, because it was at those points, he felt the stutter he had defeated as a child returning.
Suddenly a conversation topic presented itself to Remus. He took a deep, calming draught of air and bravely ventured, "So, how has your vacation been?" After noting the pained expression that briefly flew across her features, he was about to change his topic when suddenly she managed a feeble, "It's been...great...And how have you been? I trust that you are...enjoying yourself?"
Remus was shocked. No female (family members excluded) had ever been genuinely concerned with how he had felt about anything, or how anything in life went for him. He knew Mina wasn't simply returning a polite question, she honestly wanted to know...Naturally it took a while for him to recuperate from the shock of this reciprocating question. "Well, I...um...there hasn't been much to do...it's been uneventful, but...fun." It was only partially true but Remus didn't wish to place his burdens upon Mina during one of their rare conversations, so he wisely refrained from complaining. He watched her closely to see if anything she wanted to add was forthcoming, instead she returned to gazing at the lake and nodding respectfully. He too, followed her gaze, and stood like that for several minutes waiting patiently for her to say something.
Mina
She resumed standing there, staring morosely out at the lake, acutely aware of Remus standing by her side, but her thoughts had turned elsewhere. To a hospital in the northern most part of England called St. Rose or something else as equally promising. She thought of her usually vibrant, energetic, witty mother being bound to a bed, and no doubt being subjected to horribly painful tests. Mina carefully placed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, gently tucking it back into place, while recalling her father's first frantic owl concerning her mother.
Flashback
She was giggling, a sound similar to bells tinkling on a soft, moonlit summer's night. Several young men turned their heads to see what sort of a creature could emit such a delightful chorus, and as they did so they were greeted with a breath taking sight. One of the most gorgeous young women in the school, Mina, a Ravenclaw chaser with immense intellectual capacity, tasteful wit, and a singularly pleasing demeanor, was walking gracefully down the corridor with several of her bosom friends surrounding her.
"'Twas most amusing!" Mina breathlessly exclaimed through giggles. "So Nicki, whatever did you say next?" Though the words might strike some as a tad bit prattish, just a glance into those cerulean eyes, and you'd know she was in earnest. Unfortunately time, and a great deal of teasing by other fifth year girls, had eliminated the once intriguing Old English speech. The young men watched with intense stares each, and every fluent movement coming from the exquisite fifth year chaser until she disappeared into the Great Hall for breakfast.
She sat down at her table, ignoring the pointed stares in her direction from members of the opposite gender as she did so. In front of her was a grand breakfast, as always, made by the house elves. Helping herself to the bountful provisions she began to indulge in the idle chit- chat that most girls are famous for. After a few minutes of cajoling, the owls came. Mina, ever eager to receive her mail, rose a few inches off her seat and caught the mail as her owl, Aliante, dropped it into her waiting hands. Seeing as it was written in her father's handwriting, she tore open the letter to be assaulted by utterly horrendous news.
End Flashback
"Oh! I'm ever so sorry, did you say something?" she asked of Remus, startled out of her reverie. He shook his head slowly, while watching her out of the corner of her eye. She felt herself blush and began to feel ridiculous.
"I haven't been very good company have I?" she asked truthfully of him. Not really expecting an answer, nor wanting one, she cleared her throat, "Shall we go back up to the castle?" she was glancing at the impressive structure, so she did not notice the pained expression flint across Remus's face.
"I could try to compensate you for discourtesy I showed you a moment ago." she offered, and looking towards Remus for approval, saw his now- jovial expression which she took as acceptance.
"What do you have in mind?" he asked trying to appear nonchalant and conceal a smile.
"Perhaps a cup of hot chocolate?" she offered, when nothing better came to mind.
Remus
Remus pondered this. He wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect being seen with Mina in such a public place. Not that he was ashamed to be seen with her, it was just that, needless to say, he felt less than exhilarated at the thought that the infamous Hogwarts rumor mill would churn up something about himself and Mina. He always imagined a romantic, more secluded spot than the Great Hall for their first real conversation.
An idea struck him. "Do you trust me?" He inquired softly, a mischievous glint shining in his eyes.
"Yes,...but what's that got to-" her inquiry was cut short when he grabbed her hand and began to run through the snow.
"Remus!" she protested through giggles. "What are you doing?"
He shot her an amused backward glance, "You'll see." he replied cryptically, still running with her through the snow amid her protests and giggles.
