Last Time:
All of a sudden, Remus stood up.
"I think I will go for a walk." He said curtly.
With that, he exited the Great Hall leaving his friends in confusion.
Chapter 3-
Confrontations
Remus's POV
I stormed out of the Great Hall.
Sirius is so bloody full of himself.
I can't believe he used Jane of all people!
He had absolutely no interest in her...in fact; he used to go out of his way to make fun of her.
OW! Damn, I just kicked the giant boulder by the lake. My toe hurts. Well, I guess it's out of pure jealousy.
I finally admit it. I am jealous of Sirius Black for the first time. Sure, I could've been jealous many times before. He had the looks and grades and the reputation. But, I've never been jealous until now. Using Jane was the last straw.
I've liked Jane since we met on the platform in first year.
Flashback
A young girl stumbled onto the platform, trunk and owl in tow, her parents following behind her with a girl who could be no older than 6 or 7 hobbling behind clutching the hand of a woman who looked about 20.
It was Jane Meadows and her family including a younger Lauren and Dorcas, her older sister.
She hugged her sister goodbye who was wailing.
Jane bent down and rummaged through her trunk. She finally found a small blanket and handed it to Lauren.
Lauren's face brightened up immediately and hugged Jane tightly. I later found out it had belonged to Jane since she was born and it was the softest blanket she had ever had. Lauren always begged for it and that was why she was so happy when Jane had given it to her.
Jane then moved to her mother who was all teary eyed and hugging Jane until she was practically suffocating. She awkwardly patted her mother on the back until she reluctantly let go, Jane promising to write.
She then hugged her oldest sibling, Dorcas who patted her on the head and smiled, nodding for her to move onto her father.
Finally it was her father. He was a strict looking man but softened when it came to his daughters. He embraced her, slightly lifting her off the ground but then let go and suggested she go find a compartment.
She waved and her family exited through the wall.
Jane walked to where the luggage went, but tripped. I happened to save her.
I caught her before she hit the ground. And she smiled up at me.
"Thank you so much." She said as soon as she regained her balance.
"It's no big deal. I'm just glad you didn't hit the ground. I'm Remus."
"Jane.
It's a pleasure to meet you. Do you know anyone yet?"
"Nope...well you, I suppose."
"Likewise. I know a couple of people from stupid parties my parents throw every year but I never said they were my friends. Bunch of Neanderthals if you ask me."
I snickered and she smiled. I liked her smile. Her long hair was let loose at the time and the light hit it perfectly. Her face was glowing out of pure excitement of going to school. She was very petite and a head shorter than me. Of course, I was a tall gangly kid. She was a fairly average height. I liked her a lot so far.
"Sit with me Remus?" she asked turning towards me.
"Y-yeah. 'Course." I responded, trying to keep my cool.
We boarded the train and came upon a younger James Potter and Sirius Black. They were wrestling.
"Observe the said Neanderthals." She muttered.
I laughed out loud at her accuracy. They looked like cave men fighting over the last piece of meat.
"GO APOLOGIZE!" James fumed.
Sirius just laughed and laughed.
"WHAT IS SO BLOODY FUNNY ABOUT IT? SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!"
"James, she had red hair and green eyes! She's like a human Christmas tree! I had to put decorations on her!"
"GO REMOVE THE BLOODY SPELL!"
"Tut tut, James. Watch your language or I may just have to tell Mama Potter."
"SIRIUS! I DON'T HAVE A CHANCE WITH HER NOW!"
"Well, that was obvious to begin with. She turned you down cold anyways."
"Wonder who they're talking about." Jane whispered to me.
"I haven't the faintest idea. Let's go sit down." I replied.
We almost were able to.
"Aww,
has little Meadows found herself a boyfriend?"
It was Sirius.
"No!" we both said at the same time.
"Who are you?" James said to me.
"Remus Lupin." I said.
"James Potter. That's Sirius 'the git' Black."
"Let me defend myself! Okay, so Jamesie here met a girl over the summer, muggle but he just recently found out she was starting at Hogwarts, and they just reunited on the platform. During the summer, they didn't get along. So, in the middle of their shouting match, I put twinkled lights and some bulbs on her. She really does look like a Christmas tree..."
"SHE DOES NOT!" James said.
"Anyways...sit with us Remus? You don't honestly want to sit with Meadows, do you?" Sirius asked.
"Ha, yeah. She's not a big fan of fun." James said in a mocking sort of way.
"Well, I..." I started
"No, it's okay Remus. You can sit with them."
"But, I..." I tried to start again.
"See, Meadows understands. I think she's finally getting the message that no one likes her."
"GUYS! Maybe Jane can sit with us." I said
Jane's face brightened slightly, but soon fell.
"Nah, they don't want me around. It's alright Remus. I'm not gonna take it personally. Nice meeting you! And to you two...well you're still prats aren't you? So I'm just gonna pretend I never acknowledged you in the first place."
As she said that, she exited, slamming the compartment door on Sirius's fingers.
"OWW!" he yelped.
She waved, giggling and went to find a compartment.
I chuckled. I REALLY liked her now.
End of Flashback
I remember that day. She was sorted into Ravenclaw and me Gryffindor.
Since then, a lot of things have happened. The year Lauren entered Hogwarts, Jane and my 3rd year, Martha Meadows was murdered at an attack in Diagon Alley and her father put in the mental ward at St. Mungo's from being attacked with the Cruciatus curse so much. Dorcas never left her fathers side since then. She had gone into deep depression.
James and Sirius had teased Jane up until then. So, instead of talking to her nicely, they decided to ignore her completely. Only me and Peter really talk to her.
After the whole ordeal with her parents, Jane never let her hair down, showed no skin, and did nothing but study. She took it pretty hard.
Lauren, however, took it pretty well. Sure, she was sad, but she moved on. She was very pretty even though she's fourteen but she's be 15 in a month and she's only a year younger than me, because I'm 16. Anyways, getting off track, she decided to show a wild side. She dyed her jet black hair with multicolored streaks and broke a lot of rules.
One thing from keeping me to ask Jane out is the fact that...well, I guess I can't put it off any more.
Lauren likes me.
She flirts with me constantly and tells everyone she sees.
I can't just ask out her sister and I doubt Jane would say yes knowing Lauren likes me.
There's nothing wrong with Lauren mind you.
She's undoubtedly beautiful and only a year younger than me. In fact, if I didn't like Jane, I'd probably ask her out.
BUT
I like Jane.
I'm still so bloody angry! Oh bugger, here come the guys, minus Peter and plus Lily.
"Hey Moony!" Sirius yelled, making his way down to where I was followed by James and his girlfriend Lily Evans, the girl Sirius had decorated like a Christmas tree on the platform first year. He was half right about her not ever going to go out with him. It took James 6 and half years to get her to accept.
I turned, glaring at him.
"Moony, what was with that a few minutes ago? You don't actually care about Meadows do you?"
I was about to sock him, right then and there.
BUT
I'm a good friend and wouldn't do that. I answered instead with
"Nah, just full moon's in a couple days and I'm stressed." I lied
"Okay, that's good. I think I need to talk to her. I'm really confused."
"Yeah, well she's probably hurt and confused." I retorted coldly. I couldn't help it.
"What is with you man?! It's just a girl, she'll get over it." Sirius said defensively
"No! She's not 'just a girl'! She's the smartest, kindest, and most beautiful girl I have ever met! You just had to take advantage of her! I can't believe you! The only girl you haven't shagged is Lily only because she's dating James!"
"Hey! I would never let him anyways Remus!" Lily stated, offended.
"Sorry Lily, Padfoot just needed to hear that." I said to Lily.
She nodded, grabbed James's hand, and they left us to our shouting match.
"Moony! What is with you today?! This is Jane Meadows we're talking about. She's the nerd we never talk to! What is the big deal?"
"The big deal is that I like her!"
Sirius was silent.
"You what?" he finally said.
"I like her, a lot." I repeated, a little less harsh.
"Oh. Well, I didn't know that!" he said "I'm not a mind reader, stupid!" Sirius whined with a faint smile.
I chuckled. He sounded like he was about 5.
"Are we okay now?"
"Yeah, we're okay." I responded.
"I'm gonna go talk to Meadows and...I'll put in a good word."
I beamed.
Meanwhile...
Jane's POV
As I stepped out of the shower, I heard voices.
"...and did you here that the older Meadows was snogging my Sirius?"
It was Fiona. I really do loathe her with a passion.
I kept my hair down and dried it with a spell. I put on some makeup and tried to cover my hickey.
Damn, it didn't work.
I put on my muggle clothes, tighter jeans (shrunk in the wash, the little buggers) and a Chudley Cannons sweatshirt.
I tried to be as quiet as possible about exiting the bathroom but keep in mind, this is the day sent from hell.
I tripped and fell flat on my arse.
Ow.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Meadows herself? What actually happened this morning Meadows? Did you actually make out with my boyfriend today?" Fiona asked expectantly.
"I'd rather not talk about it Fiona." I replied, trying to get to my trunk.
Fiona blocked the way.
"Please move." I asked.
"What? All I want is to find out if my boyfriend made out with you this morning."
"No." I lied
"Then, like, what's that?" Sara Turner, Fiona's best friend asked in a nasally and high-pitched voice, pointing at my neck.
On instinct, my hand flew up to my neck.
"Yes, do tell Meadows, who was that from?" Fiona asked, her anger rising
"Fiona, it didn't mean anything, really. He didn't cheat on you, I promise. It was an accident."
"Why you little..."
I ran out of the dormitory before I could hear the profanity she was about to speak, right into...
You guessed it, Sirius Black.
"Ow, Black! Do you like knocking people to the ground?" I hissed
"If it means I get to snog you again, then yes, I do."
My jaw dropped.
"I'm kidding. You're gonna catch flies if you keep doing that, by the way." He said, letting out a bark like laugh.
"Jerk." I said, quickly closing my mouth.
"I came up to apologize..."
"Wait a minute, how did you get in here?!" I demanded
"I scared the password outta some first year." He said simply.
I rolled my eyes. Typical Sirius.
"Yeah well, apology accepted. I felt nothing."
"Me neither. A meaningless kiss." He said
I knew I was lying, I felt something but I couldn't let him know that.
"Right, well. I'd best be going to Hogsmeade." I said.
"Oh! Before I forget. I have a best mate who really likes you."
"Which one?" I asked. He had indeed gained my attention with that.
"I'm not supposed to tell but I'll give you a hint."
I waited.
"Okay...and that hint is?"
"Oh! You want me to tell you the hint..."
"Come on, I'm serious! Tell me."
"Actually, I'm Sirius."
"Oh shut up, just give me the hint."
"His name starts with an R..."
"...and ends with a...?"
"And ends with an –emus."
"R-Remus?"
"Yep. He's got it pretty bad, too. Ya know, 'cos Lauren likes him and all."
"Oh my. Well, this is certainly surprising."
"Yeah."
(A/N: I'm switching POVs retelling this conversation)
Sirius's POV
"Ow, Black! Do you like knocking people to the ground?" she hissed at me.
I'd knocked her to the ground for the second time that day.
"If it means I get to snog you again, then yes, I do."
WHOA! Hold up, I did not just say that! What is wrong with me? Moony likes her, Moony likes her, Moony likes her...I kept having to tell that to my self so I wouldn't say anything else stupid.
Her jaw dropped at that statement.
"I'm kidding. You're gonna catch flies if you keep doing that, by the way." I said, letting out a laugh. Hopefully she didn't notice it was a nervous I-just-said-something-stupid cover up laugh.
"Jerk." she said, closing her mouth.
I suddenly had a flash of that same mouth on mine and...WAIT! I can't be thinking this! This is Moony's girl, not mine! So I shook my head inconspicuously and said
"I came up to apologize..."
"Wait a minute, how did you get in here?!" she demanded
"I scared the password outta some first year." I said simply. How else would I have gotten the password?
She rolled her eyes at me.
"Yeah well, apology accepted. I felt nothing." She said.
I felt something, but I couldn't let her know that. She obviously didn't feel anything. So, I said, kind of nervously
"Me neither. A meaningless kiss."
"Right, well. I'd best be going to Hogsmeade." she said.
"Oh! Before I forget. I have a best mate who really likes you." I said
"Which one?" she asked. Her ears perked up and I grinned. How cute...GAH! No, not cute. Err...ugly! Opposite of cute. It was an ugly thing to do...? That made no sense. Plus, it's okay to think she's cute, I just can't like her.
"I'm not supposed to tell but I'll give you a hint." I said, deciding I was going to make this fun.
She waited.
"Okay...and that hint is?" she asked expectantly
"Oh! You want me to tell you the hint..." I said, playing dumb.
"Come on, I'm serious! Tell me."
Ha, serious Sirius time!
"Actually, I'm Sirius."
"Oh shut up, just give me the hint."
"His name starts with an R..." I said
"...and ends with a...?"
"And ends with an –emus." I finished.
"R-Remus?"
"Yep. He's got it pretty bad, too. Ya know, 'cos Lauren likes him and all."
"Oh my. Well, this is certainly surprising."
"Yeah."
That whole time, I wanted to tell her the exact opposite of Remus liking her.
What if they go out?
What if they get married?
What if they...okay won't think those thoughts...
Wait, I should be happy if those things happen. Happy for Remus.
Then again, maybe she won't care at all and I won't have to be happy for anyone but myself.
I hoped it was the second scenario. I know that sounds like I'm being a really bad friend but Jane...she's so bloody complicated! If I had just waited a while before going to Fiona's dorm, to well, not going to get into details about what I was doing there. I would've never run into Jane and I wouldn't be in this mess.
"Well, I s'pose I should get Fiona." I think she heard the revolted tone in my voice and she giggled.
"Have fun." She said, walking out of the room.
I had to keep telling myself every couple of seconds as my thoughts began to stray:
Moony likes her, she's Moony's girl. Moony likes her, she's Moony's girl. Moony likes her, she's Moony's girl...
Besides, I had Fiona...right, Fiona... As I told myself that, it only made me think of Jane more.
If only Pomfrey had the Pepto Bismol, I wouldn't be fighting with myself right now...
A/N: Please review!! I have too many people to respond to all reviews which I suppose is quite a good thing! Thank you to all reviewers and know that if you review, it's an automatic: THANK YOU:)