Heaven Sent
Wicked Little Town
You know, the sun is in your eyes
And hurricanes and rains
And black and cloudy skies.
You're running up and down that hill.
You turn it on and off at will.
There's nothing here to thrill
Or bring you down.
And if you've got no other choice
You know you can follow my voice
Through the dark turns and noise
Of this wicked little town.
Oh Lady, luck has led you here
And they're so twisted up
They'll twist you up. I fear.
The pious, hateful and devout,
You're turning tricks til you're turned out,
The wind so cold it burns,
You're burning out and blowing round.
And if you've got no other choice
You know you can follow my voice
Through the dark turns and noise
Of this wicked little town.
The fates are vicious and they're cruel.
You learn too late you've used two wishes like a fool
And then you're someone you are not,
And Junction City ain't the spot,
Remember Mrs. Lot
And when she turned around.
And if you've got no other choice
You know you can follow my voice
Through the dark turns and noise
Of this wicked little town.
Wicked Little Town- Ben Jelen
-----
"I can not believe you've read Hogwarts: A History," Lydia said, as she pushed open the door of Honeyduke's, stepping inside. Remus followed close behind.
"And why is that?"
"Oh, I don't know."
"And why is that?"
"You just don't seem the type for a book like that…"
"And why is that?"
Lydia moved over to the table full with Honeyduke's infamous chocolate, stacked high in mounds of different shapes and sizes. She picked up a chocolate frog, looking it over, "Well, you're certainly smart, make no mistake. I just didn't think you were a person who goes to text book reading for fun."
"And why is that?"
"I don't know! … Are you trying to make me nervous?"
"And behold my success…" Remus gave a smug grin, receiving a mock scowl from Lydia.
"Cheeky…" she muttered through the smile she was strangling. He laughed, and then sobered.
"You know," he began, "to be perfectly honest, I only read Hogwarts: A History just last week."
"Really?"
"Yep… Morrie suggested it actually…"
"She did? Wait- when did you talk to Morrie? I thought you two didn't really know each other."
"Well, I was the one to approach her. I sort of needed help with something…" He flushed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"With what? Are you even in any classes with her?"
"No, I'm not… but I was seriously worried that we would have nothing to talk about today," he said sheepishly. Lydia stopped fiddling around with the Chocolate Frog in her hand and looked at him.
"You asked her what I was interested in so we would have something to talk about?"
"Yes…"
"And you went out and read Hogwarts: A History because of it?"
"Yeah…" he sighed, "I shouldn't have told you. You're not weirded out or anything, are you?"
Lydia smiled, "No, I'm not weirded out."
"Really?"
"Yes, really… actually, I'm a bit flattered."
He let out a breath of relief and grinned, turning red. Lydia beamed at him. It was nice, having someone think of her like that. No boy had ever liked her before, and she was a bit sore on the subject, but she could definitely get used to it.
"So tell me," Lydia said, "Did you actually like it?"
"What? Hogwarts: A History? Merlin, no!"
She laughed, "I didn't think so."
"And why is that?"
"Oh, stop it!" she blithely pleaded. He chuckled.
"But really, you've got to admit- it was a bit boring. I could barely read it without my mind wandering."
"That's because you have the attention span of a llama."
"What?" he laughed, "A llama?"
Lydia grinned, "Yes, a llama."
"Well, excuse me, you posh chicken."
"So, I'm a chicken now?"
"Yes, you are, you chicken."
"I'm posh too." She reminded him.
"Forgive me, yes, you are, you posh chicken."
Lydia shrugged, "Well, it's better than being an inattentive llama."
He snorted, "Hey, I'm going to get this stuff rung up. Are you getting anything?"
Lydia looked down to see Remus's hand's full with snacks and treats of the worst kind, in sugar that is. She shook her head.
"No, I'm fine. Have a sweet tooth, hmm?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Are you sure? What about that?" he gestured to the chocolate frog in her hand. She looked down at before shaking her head again.
"No, I don't need to."
"I could get it for you, if you want?"
"No, it's all right, but thanks."
"Are you sure?"
She laughed lightly, "Yes, I'm sure. Just go get your things."
"Alright… I'll be back in a minute or so."
Lydia watched as he went up to the counter, greeted as a familiar by the cashier. Lydia guessed he had spent a good deal of time in here over the last few years. He immediately started up a conversation with the witch who was running the register as she rung up his purchases, laughing at something the woman had said.
She rather liked his laugh. It was bright, good natured like his pale blue eyes that seemed to reflect warmth like the plague. And no matter how lame it sounded- she definitely thought he was cute with his content face and his shaggy, light brown hair curling at the ends.
And he seemed to like her, which was a benefit. It wasn't hard to talk to him either, not after the ice had finally been broken. In fact, she found their conversations to be very entertaining. She was beginning to like him more and more by the second.
As soon as the cashier had handed him his bag of goods, he headed back over to Lydia, still smiling, "Do you want to go and get lunch?"
"Yeah, that sounds good to me."
Remus headed to the door and pushed it open, walking through and them passing it off to her, "To the Three Broomsticks, then?"
"Sure."
"So, is there a story behind that llama line?" He asked as they walked down the rough street. It was rather nice outside, a bit overcast, but that perfect autumn temperature surrounded them and that crisp taste of burning leaves and chimneys hung in the air.
Lydia nodded, "My mother used to say it to my father all the time."
"Really? Why?"
"My father's never been a focused reader. He has to read three books at once just to get through one."
"How does that work?"
"He reads a few pages and as soon as he gets bored with that train of reading, he switches books. He reads a bit from that until he gets bored again and then switches once more. He has a whole cycle."
"We're talking about the same person, right? Tall guy, runs a bookshop, rather intimidating, seems to keep his daughter on a tight leash-"
"Stop that," Lydia laughed softly, "My father's a very different person than most people see."
Or at least he had been.
"I wasn't saying anything against him, just that he's a bit overprotective of some things."
"He just does it because he cares."
"Well, that's nice and all, but he scared me right off when I went looking for you the day before we were on the train." Remus muttered jokingly.
Lydia laughed, "What did he do?"
"Practically bit my head off with all sorts of accusatory questions," he replied seriously, "Don't worry, I told him there wasn't anything between us."
Lydia remained silent for a moment, "But there is now?"
When he didn't answer, Lydia's heart raced a little, and turned to look at him. He was looking straight ahead, blatantly avoiding her gaze. His face seemed etched in deep thought. She frowned. Had she said something wrong?
But suddenly she felt something grab her hand, and upon looking down, she saw Remus's hand grasping her own. She smiled, squeezing his hand gently. He returned the pinch, with a content grin donning his features. They continued to Three Broomsticks, hands locked.
-----
Just a small while later, Remus and Lydia could be found sitting side by side at a small table in the back of the Three Broomsticks, sipping butterbeer as they chatted about nonsense from the ridiculous transfiguration homework to the poor condition of books in the library. There was even a comment or two about Hogwarts: A History, which Lydia dared say, had become an inside joke.
They two were perfectly at ease, or at least they were, until the front door of the pub jingled open and in stepped James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew.
"McGonagall's work isn't too bad for me. I've got lots of help from James-" Remus stopped and groaned, "James, Sirius, and Peter… perfect."
Lydia looked up to see the trio headed over to their table, "They're coming over here," she said to Remus, who had cover his face with his hands, trying to be unseen. It obviously failed.
"Moony!" Sirius exclaimed, coming behind Remus and slapping him on the back, "We've been looking for you."
"You weren't trying to hide from us, now were you?" James asked complacently.
"GO- AWAY."
"That's no way to treat us, your dear friends. Isn't horrible Padfoot?"
"That it is. In fact, I'm very hurt. I cry at night about these things, you know?"
"It's true. I've heard him. It's tragic really."
Remus scowled, "Can't you see I'm sort of busy?" he hissed. Sirius and James both looked up and towards Lydia.
"Maybe we should-" Peter began to be promptly cut off.
"Well, hello Lydia. May I call you Lydia?" James said.
"Leave us alone, you two."
"Yes, Lydia, how are you?" Sirius cooed.
Lydia frowned. How she loathed Sirius Black. And she was quite sure it was mutual, having much to do with that potions accident in second year.
"I'm well, thank you," she said coldly, taking a sip from her drink.
"It's good to hear. Remus treating you well, I hope?"
"Like a perfect gentleman."
"Now, did you here that, Prongs? Our Moony is a gentleman!"
"Well, he certainly didn't get it from you…" James muttered.
"And where did he get it from, then?"
"Me, of course."
"You wish!"
"I quite gentlemanly, unlike you, you pompous pig!"
"I'm sure Lily Evans sees you in that way too."
Suddenly, Remus grabbed Lydia's hand again; gesturing to stay silent with a finger on his lips, and began to creep away as James and Sirius fought.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night!" Lydia heard Sirius shout just as her and Remus made it too the door, and escaping outside. He started to pull on her hand, breaking into a run. Together, they scurried down the crowded street, laughing at the absurd situation. They darted in and out of alleyways, not even to get away at this point, but just for the sake of it. Finally, out of breath, they stopped right in front of the Shrieking Shack.
When they stopped laughing, Remus smiled softly at her, taking her other hand too, "I'm sorry about that," he said sincerely, "They're a bit obnoxious at times, but they really are good guys. They just get a bit out of hand."
"Don't worry. I know what its like. My friends are the same way."
"I don't want you to think badly of me because of their stupidity, you know?"
"Remus, I would never think any less of you for something stupid like that."
"I know… I'm just paranoid." He muttered.
"Why are you so paranoid?"
"I don't know… it's just- I guess… I'm paranoid about messing this whole thing up…" said Remus, embarrassed. Lydia looked down at her feet.
"What? Like this date?" she said softly.
"Well, yes… I really, really like you, Lydia, and I really, really like hanging out with you."
"I like you too, Remus."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"I guess I just wanted it to be perfect… and those idiots had to come and ruin it."
Lydia smiled, "Remus, it was perfect."
"It was?"
"Yes, I had a wonderful time with you today, and I'd like to do it again, seriously."
"Really?"
Lydia laughed, "Yes, really! You really are paranoid!"
"I know… it's my only fault."
"Only one?"
"Well, I'd like to think that…" he murmured, taking a step closer to that.
"I'm not so sure you have any faults," Lydia whispered, looking up at his pale blue eyes.
"Not all of us are perfect, not like you."
"I'm not perfect."
"I'm not so sure about that statement."
And then his lips were on hers, stealing a kiss, and she returned it. It didn't last long though; it was short and sweet, but enjoyable all the same. As Remus pulled back, he rested his forehead on Lydia's.
"Maybe we should do this again next Hogsmeade weekend," he said lowly.
"Sounds good to me."
-----
A/N- Ugh… I think this is possibly the fluffiest thing I have ever written. Someone shoot me, seeing as I am most defiantly not a LydiaRemus shipper… I had a really hard time writing this chapter.
Have no fear, I'm not tricking you! I swear it's a Snape/OC story, don't worry! And please don't be mad Snape isn't in this. He's coming back next chapter, when questions will be answered.
So, please review and tell me anything you want, like if you hate it or love it or whatever. I love random comments and constructive criticism, so yeah…
By the way, I just put up a new one-shot fic called PERFECT DISGUISES. I'm actually quite proud of it, so maybe people could check it out…
And now, I'd like to thank all my reviewers, and specifically those who reviewed last chapter… or the one person who reviewed last chapter…
Arano Honou- I love that song! Hehe… I'm such a sap. Can I have my skittles?
And that's about it all… um… tell me what you think, so…
GIVE ME SOME NICE LONG RAMBLY REVIEWS!