The bath is scalding hot, just the way I like it. I slowly lower myself into the tub, letting my body adjust to the hot water. I tied my hair up on top of my head and poured myself a large glass of red wine once my full body was submerged. I picked up a book and settled into the tub, taking a sip from the wine and starting my day of binge reading.

I'd been waiting for the first Hogsmeade trip for months now. Ever since fifth year, after the shops had grown tiresome of visiting time after time, I would stay at Hogwarts and spend the day in the bahttub reading and drinking. I had six books laying beside me and three bottles of wine waiting to be drunk. I leaned over the edge of the table and picked up the first book I had lined up. It was called Something Happened about a man who had it all and then lost it all. It was the first book on Remus's list.

I cracked open the book, the satisfactory feeling of the books bindings giving away as it's opened for the first time. Hours slipped away unnoticed by me as I quickly turn the pages in my book, completely immersed in the story. The only indication that a lot of time had passed was that my book was almost done and the wine supply was running low. The bathroom showed no time, there were no windows surrounding me to indicate it was light or dark outside, the candles were the only thing illuminating the space.

As I finished the last page of my book I began feeling typsy. I had only eaten breakfast today and I was sure it was closer to dinner than it was to lunch. With a satisfying snap I closed my book and set it beside me reflecting on the story. Remus, as always, had excellent taste in books.

I debated on reading another book but my rumbling stomach decided against it. Slowly I pulled myself out of the water, the alcohol and lack of eating sinking in as I wrapped my body in a towel and slightly stumbled as I made my way over to my bed. I cast a drying charm on my body and threw my hair up into a pony tail that I'm sure, considering my slightly drunk state, looked like a werewolf had attacked it. I pulled on shorts and a baggy sweatshirt that belonged to my older brother. I dug in my sock drawer and settled for a red sock and white sock that matched enough to pass. I couldn't find my shoes so decided against them as I made my shaky way downstairs.

I wasn't drunk, I could still control most of my actions and I'm sure my words would make sense when they came out of my mouth, but I was definitley feeling giddy. There were hardly any people in the common room, I looked at the clock and saw it was five. I had been in the bathtub longer than I had thought and everyone who had stayed behind would most likely be at dinner by now.

I hummed to myself as I walked to the Great Hall. Staring at the pictures, endlessly amused by their antics in the frames. Once in the Great Hall I was surprised and happy to see Remus sitting at the table. He was alone, flipping through a book while eating steak. I happily made my way over to him and flopped down next to him on the bench. He looked at me a little startled but then broke out into a smile.

"Hello Ella, I didn't know you stayed behind today." He looked me up and down and surveyed my outfit. "Er-been sleeping all day have you?"

"Nope," I said shaking my head and letting a giggle escape my lips. "I've been in the bath all day reading and drinking."

"Drinking you say? I never would've guessed," he said with a sly smile. I'd missed that smile. It wasn't like the fake one he'd had the past few days, it was the Remus smile. The smile that was slightly mysterious but kind and gentle. Not to mention completely sexy.

"I finished Something Happened." I said as I started to help myself to toast.

"Really?" Remus asked looking slightly impressed. "Just today?"

I nodded my head and bit into my toast, convering my mouth with my hand as I chewed and talked to him. "Yes sir, back to front. I mean, front to back," I said giggling again. I get awfully giggly when I'm drunk, I hope Remus doesn't think it's annoying. "So why aren't you at Hogsmeade?"

Remus shrugged and cut himself a large piece of steak. "I wasn't feeling great today, so I decided to stay behind."

I looked at Remus and noticed that there were bags under his eyes and he looked paler than usual. "You know what's the cure for the common illness and also goes great with steak?"

Remus quirked an eyebrow and looked at me in amusment. "What would that be Ella?"

I liked the way he said my name. When he said the a in my name it was like a breathy whisper. "Wine," I said with a large smile. I couldn't believe how normal I was acting in front of Remus, flirtatious even. Maybe I needed to get drunk before I talked to Remus everytime. Liquid courage in it's purest form.

Remus debated my proposal for a few moments before breaking out into a grin, "sounds great. I'll rally up some of this food and set it up in my room and you grab the wine and we can wine and dine in my room."

I was dazed for a moment, I hadn't expected him to invite me to his room. I thought we would just hang out in the common room or something, in fact I mostly suspected he would reject my proposal as he is a Prefect and drinking on school grounds is strictly prohibited. But I didn't let my sudden anxiousness show and agreed to the deal and practically skipped to my room and retrieved a bottle of wine.

I didn't want to seem too eager and go to his room right away so I walked over and checked out my appearance in the mirror. The events that had just occurred had midly sobered me, along with the bit of toast I had eaten.

I was midly horrified when I looked in the mirror. My hair was half out of the ponytail, half splayed all around my head. My socks were not even close to matching, nor the same height. I looked like a drunken mess. I quickly took down my hair and set it into a side braid. Then I replaced my socks with my black slippers and applied a little mascara.

After having wasted enough time I walked down the stairs and to the boys dormitory. I had never been in their room before, although many girl's had, it's not like it was any secret that they would take their conquests up there. It was rumored that they had a calender on the walls setting aside particular times for each of them to bring up a girl. I didn't believe the rumor but that wouldn't stop me from looking for one.

One I'd reached the seventh year boys door I knocked hesitantly. From the other side I heard Remus call, "come in." And I slowly opened the door. I looked around the room and it wasn't nearly as messy as I thought it would be. Remus was standing off on the far side of the room near the bed by the window. I guessed that it was his bed and as I neared it it became painfully obvious it was his. The ground around his bed was littered with books and parchment. I had always thought Remus would be clean and tidy but he may have been the messiest of the four.

"Sorry it's so dirty, me and organization do not go well together," he said giving me a sheepish grin. "Anyway, dinner is served, sorry if it's a little cold. Girls' always take bloody ages to get anywhere."

Remus gestured towards the bed and I looked at the setup he had created. There were two large steaks on two plates and in the middle sat biscuits, potatoes, and vegetables. He had pulled his nightstand so that is was against the side of the bed with two goblets resting on it. I suddenly felt nervous as I settled onto his bed and Remus sat opposite of me. He looked unaffected by the situation as he poured two glasses of wine. It oddly felt like a date to me. I don't think he even realized what he was doing. I'm sure he was just being nice and was bored having no one else to hang out with all day.

I quickly drank half of the glass of wine, trying to quelm my nerves. "So this is the infamous bedroom of your group." I said glancing around while chewing on a bite of steak.

"Oh yes, quite unimpressive after all the hype."

"Well I half expected the beds to be carved from gold and naked women."

"Yes, well we do try and act like mere mortals here and there."

"The illusion is shattered."

"Try not to tell anyone, I've got to keep up appearences and all."

I sniggered and shoveled a forkfull of potatoe into my mouth as a semi-comfortable silence fell between us. I only say semi because Remus and I really don't know each other that well but fine enough where silence while eating doesn't immediatley lead to awkwardness.

"So," Remus said after a few moments of semi-comfortable silence. "When did you and Sirius become friends?"

I swallowed my food and internally sighed. This was the second time he's brought up Sirius since I've known him, and that one time at the library I think he was trying to set us up. I realized I had to answer him and knew that saying the reason why Sirius came up to me that one fateful day was because he wanted to set us up wasn't an adequate answer.

"I don't know I think he got bored one day and decided to find someone to annoy and was amused enough by me to keep me around."

"Are you sure there's not something more between you two?"

The grip on my utensils tigthened as I tried not to lash out at Remus and scream 'no you daft twat there isn't because I've fancied the pants off of you before I lost all my baby teeth.' But instead I said, "no there isn't. I mean he's a good looking chap and all but not my type."

"Not your type?" Remus said quirking an eyebrow. "Are you saying devishly handsome and hopelessly charming isn't your type?"

"No, but you sound awfully keen on him, why don't you give a go at him."

Remus laughed and shrugged. "I thought you fancied him is all."

"No, I fancy someone else," oh crap, I shouldn't have said that. Now he's going to interrogate me on who I fancy and somehow turn it around to Sirius and how I should fancy Sirius. This really isn't how I imagined my interactions with Remus going when I dreamed about them at night.

"Oh yeah, who?" He asked predictably.

"Like I would tell you, you would probably go around blabbing it to the entire school trying to play match maker."

"Oh give me a hint," Remus pleaded. Honestly, he sounded like a woman right now, this isn't a side of him I find particularly attractive.

"No," I said shaking my head firmly.

"Do I know the bloke?"

"Our school isn't very big so I would hope so."

"Alright, well if you won't tell me who then tell me the type of guy you go for."

I sighed and debated on the question. There were other guys who were similar to Remus and if I was very vague about the description then he may leave me alone long enough where I could create other diversions so that he wouldn't catch on it was him. "I don't like show-offs for one, so that definitley eliminates James and Sirius. But I don't like recluse people either. I want someone whose low key but can also have fun. I like someone with similar interests as me, such as music and books. You know, the usual things girls want from men."

Remus was silent and for a moment I was scared he was going to catch onto who the person was. Instead he shrugged and said, "I can't think of anyone like that."

Honestly, for someone so smart he can sure be clueless.

A/N: Alright so I actually really liked this chapter. Not much happened in terms of plot development but for the first time I could actually see Remus/Ella as a couple, could you? I'm really falling in love with this pairing and I hope I've convinced you guys of it as well. Do you like my depiction of Remus? I wanted to make him a little diferent then how other people do him. He's usually super quiet and introverted, but he was a Marauder and did partake in pranks. So let me know if you hate my version of Remus or love it. Leave a review to let me know :) Oh, and for some reason my spell check decided to crap out on me halfway through writing this chapter so if there's some typos please excuse them.