A/N: Many apologies if any of the characters were/are a bit OOC in this fic…I've been finding it tricky to keep characters IC since J. K. Rowling never went into great detail about how the Marauders' personalities were like when they were students at Hogwarts (I figure they'd be a bit more carefree than their adult selves)

This chapter is dedicated to hakumo from deviantart! Check out hakumo's awesome Harry Potter fanart sometime! There's a really sexy one of the Marauders ^^

Shining Star

Chapter 3: Be My Valentine

"Hey Prongs, are you planning to attend the Valentine's semi-formal?"

"Yes, with Lily of course. How about you, are you going with anyone, Wormtail?"

"Not yet, but I'm thinking of asking Penny Lorette from Hufflepuff."

Hogwarts was abuzz with talk of the upcoming Valentine's Day semi-formal dance to be held the following month. Everyone was looking forward to a night of dancing and mingling, and perhaps, getting to spend some quality time with their special someone. On the other hand, many saw the event as an opportunity to get closer to their crushes. Remus was no different in this respect. He was not sure if it was a good idea to ask Sirius to go to the dance with him, because while it seemed like a risky move, he did not know how else he might be able to catch his friend's attention. Send him flowers? Or candy perhaps? Maybe even a love letter? Remus's head was spinning. . .he was out of ideas.

Class had ended for the day, so Remus was on his way back to Gryffindor when he encountered a rather large crowd of girls from various houses all chattering excitedly while gathered around. . .something. As he stepped closer, he quickly realized what all the commotion was about. That something that all the girls were crowded around? It was none other than Hogwarts's very own rebellious heartthrob, Sirius Black. Remus chuckled in spite of himself.

'Hah. . .he's so popular,' he thought, a twinge of jealousy pining at his heart. 'He'll probably end up going to the Valentine's semi with one of them.'

"So, Sirius, who are you going to Valentine's semi with?" asked Mary Lynn Hayther from Ravenclaw. She flipped her long, brown hair flirtatiously as all the girls looked on eagerly, awaiting Sirius's answer.

'One of the popular girls, Mary. . .a prefect with good grades and keeper on Ravenclaw's quidditch team,' Remus recounted. 'I bet she has a good chance with him.'

"Well, I uhh. . .haven't really put much thought to that. . . " Sirius began.

"Oohh. . .you're so cool, Sirius!" squealed Brenda Hall from Hufflepuff.

"Sirius, you'll dance with me, won't you?" Ivy Lee of Gryffindor called out eagerly.

'Brenda and Ivy. . .hmmm. . .well, Brenda's pretty cute and I heard she's a good artist, while Ivy looks rather unremarkable but is clever and a great conversationalist. I guess they both have a better chance with him than I ever will.'

As Remus was pondering these things, he caught Sirius's eye at the edge of the crowd. For a moment, Sirius was seemingly oblivious to the girls chattering around him as he smiled at Remus, which caught the copper-haired boy slightly off guard. His heart leapt in joy and he smiled back.

"Hey, it's Remus!" Mary announced to the crowd. "Remus, do you have a date for Valentine's semi yet?" With that, all the girls turned their attention to him while Sirius slipped away quietly.

"No, I don't," Remus began, smiling gently as all the girls looked to him eagerly.

"Really?" Ivy blurted out. "A cutie like you? Going without a date?"

"Well. . .at least not yet, I suppose. . ." Remus blushed as the possibility of going with Sirius crossed his mind.

"Eek! You're so adorable, Remus!" Brenda squealed.

"Ya know, I could set you up with someone if you like," Mary suggested.

"Oh no, I'm fine really, though I thank you for the offer."

The girls continued to question Remus excitedly and he continued to smile and answer as politely as he could. He let out an exasperated sigh. . .it would take a while before he would be able to return to Gryffindor.

An hour later, Sirius came down from the boys' dorms into the Gryffindor common room to find Remus collapsed on one of the sofas. Grinning mischievously, Sirius withdrew his wand and crept up behind him. With a quick flick of his wrist and a brief incantation uttered, he sent a cold blast of air which buffeted the side of Remus's neck.

"Gah! What in the. . ." Remus turned around. "Padfoot?"

"Ahahaha! I swear, you jumped nearly a meter into the air!" Sirius laughed.

"Haha, very funny," Remus responded sarcastically. He rolled his eyes, but he could not help but smile at his friend. A moment later, James and Peter came down into the common room as well.

"Padfoot, Moony," James nodded to each of them.

"So are you two going to the Valentine's semi with anyone?" Peter asked.

"Not me," Sirius replied, sighing. "If I agreed to go with anyone, there'd be a right brawl." James and Peter laughed at this response.

"How about you, Remy?"

"No, I'm afraid not," Remus smiled politely.

"That's surprising," James said, raising his eyebrows. "And I thought our dear Moony was quite popular with the ladies."

"It's not that he's not popular with the ladies," Sirius replied as he brushed a stray strand of hair behind his ear. "He's probably in a similar boat as I." He turned to Remus and winked.

"Yeah, that's it, I suppose."

The Marauders continued talking into the night, with Remus occasionally stealing longing glances towards Sirius, while Sirius smiled back each time he noticed.

'The way things are now. . .we're all happy together, just like this, aren't we?'

End chapter 3

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