Penelope hummed to herself as she trotted down the hallway, her bag bumping against her thigh. It was a Tuesday- best day of the week!- so she had zero classes. That's right; zero! So she was going to her room, the magic room. Well, they were all magic rooms, weren't they? But this was the magic room. The room that in and of itself was magic.
Passing back and forth in front of the room three times, a large door appeared. It was a beautiful door, this door. She almost laughed. Of course it was beautiful; she had thought of it. Penelope pushed the doors open and waltzed inside, imagining all the curtains opening, to which they did. Light streamed into the room as an easel with a fresh canvas appeared next to a table laden with paints, brushes, and pallets. She carefully perused the items, picking out a brush and pallet to her liking before adding different colors to the pallet to start with. She made her way to the easel and stood before it. But her gaze was trained on something hanging on the wall past the easel and past the table. A painting she had done a few weeks ago.
A portrait of Remus Lupin.
A sigh escaped her lips before they pulled into a frown. Ever since she had painted him, it was like she had run dry. She was at a complete creative loss, unable to paint or even sketch a single thing. Other than him, of course. The reclusive sixth year simply filled her every waking thought. Bloody hell, she'd even dreamed of him once or twice. Ok, maybe more than that. It was like she was drunk on amortentia! It was absolutely ridiculous. And since she needed to get the artistic frustration out, she started painting him once more, using her original piece as reference.
Remus scrubbed a hand across his face as he read the morning paper over lunch. He'd opted out of eating breakfast in order to work on a particularly lengthy scroll for transfiguration. It was due in a few days, and of course he had already finished it, but he knew it could be better so he'd worked on the revision paper some more.
But even that couldn't distract him long enough from Penelope.
He couldn't believe it- his mate. How ridiculous. As if it wasn't enough that his life had to be ruined; now he was expected to ruin hers, too? He wouldn't. He couldn't. And yet he couldn't get her out of his head!
"Alright, what's your problem, mate?" James asked, crossing his arms on the table. "You've been more sullen and grumpy lately. Much more sighing going on."
Remus shook his head. "It's nothing. I'm fine."
James cocked a brow. "Uh huh... That's why you've been stomping around and staring off into space, right?"
"Exactly." He frowned and flipped the newspaper page.
"You know, I think she'd be great for you," Sirius pipped up. "A little crazy, obsessed with your looks, young and chipper. You could use a little more liveliness going on."
Remus shot him a dark look. "No."
Sirius groaned. "Come on, mate, I get your hesitations, but you can't live alone your whole life! You can't die a virgin!" He hissed across the table.
"Sirius!" Remus said, looking around to make sure no one was listening. "That's none of your concern."
"Sure it's not. It's obviously not anything you're concerned about. Think of how good she could be in bed? The eccentric ones are always the best f-"
Remus cut him off with a growl that he hadn't even known was coming. "Don't talk about her like that."
Sirius only grinned widely. "So you do like her, then? I knew it!" He laughed and pounded his fist on the table. "Mate, we all know she likes you too! When will you get over your self righteous act and get a good shag in? Or even more than that? She seems like a good long term type."
"Sirius. I said no. That's the end of discussion."
Sirius groaned and rolled his eyes. James looked between his two friends before sheepishly jumping back into the conversation.
"Sirius might be onto something here, Remus. And don't think I haven't caught the way you look at her. I know you don't like it, but maybe you need to get over your aversion to romance."
Not being able to take anymore of his friends' pestering, he grabbed his newspaper and stood up. "I'll see you all in potions."
"-letter home to your parents!"
Remus shared a look with his three friends as they heard Professor Slughorn's voice echo out into the hall. Moments later, in the slue of students leaving they caught sight of Penelope walking out, her head hung.
"Hey, Penny, what's the matter?" Sirius asked as he leaned against the wall. She looked up in surprise, her eyes quickly passing over the four of them.
"Oh, uhm, just another terrible day in potions is all."
"Not one of your many talents?" James teased. She blushed and looked away.
"Definitely not. My parents aren't going to be happy that they're getting another letter from that oaf."
"You know, Remus could tutor you," Sirius suggested slyly.
Her eyes darted to Remus before quickly looking away again. He felt a sting of hurt but reminded himself that this was for the best. "Oh, no, I wouldn't want to be a bother. Besides, my parents have hired some of the best potion tutors from all over Britain and I still can't seem to make a simple potion."
"Well what is it that you want to do? Do you even need potions?"
Her cheeks turned pink once more and she looked off down the hall. "I have to go." With that, she took off after the rest of her classmates, quickly disappearing from sight.
Sirius raised his eyebrows at his companions. "Well, that was odd, no?"