A/N: I know! Two updates in a row! I was suppose to be writing a paper but ended up writing another chapter. Maybe another two weeks for an update.


I don't know what to talk about

but i want to talk

to you


"I have a plan," James announced to Remus. A beaming smile on the Pureblood's face as he made his way to Remus' table in the library. Remus made sure to be alert with his mate. It's only been a day but ever since James found out about Remus fancying Adhara, he's been nonstop unsubtle about it. Remus attempted to avoid being alone with him since he would ask questions about his crush on Adhara or give horrid advice. James is the last person he needs to go for when it comes to love advice. Just look how he's dealing with Lily Evans.

"For what?" Remus asked.

He knew something was amiss when James checked to see if the coast was clear. It was obvious on what this topic was about if he's on the lookout. James leaned in with a grin on his face. "Addie."

"I do not need any help," Remus said once again.

James scoffed. "Yes, you do. You're not going to get her attention if you're just going to be the quiet friend of her brother's. You only talk about class and that's it."

"What else is there to talk about?" Remus defended.

"Books, music, and quidditch," James listed off easily.

"I don't follow quidditch as much as you and Adhara do," Remus reminded him. He may enjoy the game but he's not big enough of a fan to get updates on professional teams.

"Then how about music and books?" James tried. "I know for a fact that she would like your taste in music." Remus rolled his eyes. James was just teasing. It's not like he has eccentric taste in music. All James ever listens to is The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and a few other rock bands. Remus opens his perspective more to other genres. Jazz, the Blues, and, of course, Rock and Roll.

"So how would I bring this up?" he asked James.

"You just say, "Hey, do you listen to Elton John," and she'll be like, 'No, who is that? Can I go up to your room and listen?' And then with the sound of his music in the background, the mood would be set and BAM! She'll snog the daylights out of you."

Remus chose to ignore the heat on his cheeks. He really didn't want to be imagining or talking to James about snogging Adhara. "Adhara is not the type of girl to just snog me because of Elton John. And she's with Fabian. Did you forget that small detail?"

"Exactly, it's a small detail," James said as if Adhara cheating on her boyfriend is nothing.

"Look, thank you for the offer but I would like to save myself the humiliation," Remus told James. "It's not a hard choice when comparing us." That caused Remus to be punched on the shoulder by his best mate.

"If you start self-deprecating on yourself, I will punch you again," James promised. "Is this because of your monthly howls into the moonlight?" They always take his condition lightly as if being a werewolf was just another trait instead of an illness.

"It's not just that," Remus said. "I'm not like Prewitt. I'm…me." Remus the quiet one. Remus the smart one. Remus the tall one who hangs out with James and Sirius. He doesn't stand out from the rest. He blends in that other's must describe him. He blends in so much that people do not pay any mind to the scratches and scars on his face. Or when he's always 'sick' once a month.

"Yeah, you're Remus bloody Lupin," James said. "Smart, funny, and wicked awesome at pranks. You're our counselor which means you listen and solve problems-girls like that."

"Okay, you can stop," Remus covered his face, hiding his blush. Hearing his best friend list off good things about him is not good for the heart.

"Not until you stop putting yourself down," James declared. "We just have to show Addie all the parts she doesn't see often."


Sirius was practically dragging his feet as walked up the stairs to the Astronomy Tower. It's not like the subject is boring but the class is three and half hours long! No class should be longer than forty-five minutes but if he had it his way all class besides DADAs would ben ten minutes long. That was one thing that he didn't have in common with Addie. She loved Astronomy class. Maybe because she's a romantic and looking at the star with the love of her life was her ideal date since she was eight years old.

Sirius was just about to follow James and Sirius until he saw a familiar Ravenclaw standing awkwardly next to two Hufflepuffs (he recall them being Addie's roommates) and Adhara. He sauntered toward her, making sure that he was wearing his charming smile

"Fine night, isn't it?" he asked over his shoulder, lips only an inch from her ear. Sirius then noticed out of all the girls he's been around, Zuri was among the tallest. She is still shorter than Sirius by about two inches but she towers over most females. She didn't flinch at the sound of his voice. She casually turned her head to look at him over her shoulder. Noses barely brushing.

Her eyes—clearly bored after listening to Olivia and Emily drone on about fashion and boys—went to his. Sirius almost faltered at the sight of them. The last time he saw them this close was when they rode the carriage together. But now? It seems as if her eyes are glowing. Zuri's eyes reminded him of the sun as cliché as that sounded. But it was true. Her eyes were an unreal shading of both light and dark. This was more than just brown. A warm amber color that only gets brighter and darker turning into a chestnut red shade.

"Ever heard of personal space?" Sirius broke out of his trance. Zuri didn't seem fazed. More amused than annoyed by his proximity.

"What?" he grinned down at her. "Falling for my charm already?" He made sure to look at the section between her two distracting eyes. He didn't need to be off his game again.

"Hm, seems like you're falling for mine's," Zuri teased. That caused the Pureblood to step back. He narrowed his eyes at the strange woman. Sirius was confident that she is not a Veela. Most them was fair-skinned, with pale blonde hair, and violet eyes. There are a few exceptions to the rule but every trait on Zuri contradicts it. He knew she had to be something and he wanted to call her out on it. But he had no evidence of what she could be.

"Well, you are quite the exotic one compared to this lot," he said with a shrug.

"I'm exotic?" she mused. Her eyes looked down at her slender hands. "I guess I could be when Hogwarts has only a handful of other races besides white."

"We have more than just a handful," Sirius corrects her.

"Seems more like a couple compared to the majority of white people here," she shrugged, "and don't get offended. I'm only making an observation."

"Does it make you uncomfortable?" both jumped at the sound of a curious voice behind them. Adhara stood there holding her star chart to her chest as she eyed them both warily.

"No," Zuri admitted. "I think it has more to do with more schools in Europe than us only having one in America."

Adhara absorbing the information. "I would love to know more about America."

"I can tell you more about it in class."

"You know each other?" Sirius asked the obvious.

"No, I like speaking to strangers," Adhara replied to Sirius catching Zuri by surprise. "Sometimes Sirius asks the most obvious questions."

"We have a few classes together," Zuri explained to him.

"Aw, Addie's get you all to herself," Sirius flirted. "You know, Addie and I are twins and we have a rule with sharing."

"Oh really?" both asked.

The boy grinned. "What's hers is mine. So I guess we're friends, huh?" he asked as he threw his arm over her shoulder. Adhara could see through his act.

"Adhara, is your brother always this familiar with people he doesn't know well?"

"More or less," she answered.


Remus knew something was up when he saw Lily and James talking to each other. Both keep glancing at him. He saw Lily nod with a determined expression before following James back to Remus.

"I don't want to talk about it," he told them before they could even greet him. "It's now a taboo subject."

"So she's the 'girl-who-shall-not-be-named'?" James joked resulting with him getting slapped on the arm by Lily.

"That's nothing to joke about," she scolded him.

"Are you both going to respect or ignore my wishes?" Remus asked them, already knowing the answer

"Not when it prevents you from being happy," Lily said as if that was the most logical answer. His happiness. "Now, Potter told me the plan. He's kind of right but you can not just start out being outgoing. Sirius and Adhara would know something is up if you storm right up to her and start talking about music and books. Start out small. That's where I come in." Before he could of even reply, Lily grabbed him by the arm and led him towards the front of the crowd where Adhara was. She was talking to Zuri and Sirius.

"Hey, Addie, have you found Lyra yet?" Lily asked holding up her star chart. "We're having trouble finding it." Remus really wanted to laugh at this. Lyra was by far the easiest to find since it was with the Vega constellation which is one of the brightest stars out.

Sirius knew that, too, judging by the confused look on his face. Two students, who are at the top of their class asking for the answer to the easiest question?

"Okay," Adhara didn't seem to question it.

"Okay, you show Remus while Sirius, here shows Lily and me the Aquarius," James said. He pushed Remus towards the smaller girl while the other two pull Sirius away from them leaving Zuri there.

"Um…lead the way," Remus said nervously.


"Is Astronomy your favorite subject?" Remus asked her. He cringed inwardly. He just had to bring up school again. But to be fair, they are in class now.

"Well, Care of Magical Creatures is but I do enjoy star-gazing," she said sheepishly. "I love magical creatures. I really want to meet Newt Scamander one day."

"Do you have a favorite one?"

Adhara nodded enthusiastically. "Don't laugh," she requested.

"I promise."

"Bowtruckles," she confessed.

That was not what he was expecting at all. Remus said just that.

"What did you think I would like?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "A hippogriff or a niffler."

"Nifflers are cute but hard to control when shiny things are involved," she informed him. "Bowtruckles are…"

"Adorable?" he guessed. Adhara nodded with a fond smile.

"When I would visit my Uncle when I was younger, they would be everywhere in his backyard," she recalled. "They never liked Sirius since he was not gentle. He'll grab them harshly." Remus could easily imagine younger Sirius grabbing the small plant creatures while Addie would gently hold her palm out for them to come to her of their own accord.

"But they loved you, of course," Remus said.

"I miss them." Remus figured that this same uncle had to be the one that was disowned from the family if she couldn't see the bowtruckles again. He could tell that mood was dampening so he decided to change the subject back to the original question. He only had a short time before she would be swept away.

"Muggles been up there, ya know," he said.

"Up where?" she followed where Remus was pointing. Her eyes going to the first-quarter moon.

"That's barmy," she said. "How could they without magic." Remus understood where she's coming from. When his mum first told him, he thought she was pulling his leg.

"It's hard to explain," he said. "They explained it a bit in muggle studies. They built this metal contraption that blasts up there. Like fireworks." He can still see how confused she is but also the curiosity was there too. "Muggles don't believe in magic and we don't believe in science."

"Science?"

"That's what they call it," Remus explained. "They use math and science. Making equations before they start building. Science varies to muggles. They can build things or cure diseases."

"Diseases?"

"Like we have potions, muggles have medicine."

"They cannot be teaching you all of this in muggle studies," she said warily.

"My mum is a muggle so I just ask her about everything of her world," he explained. Remus noted how that caught Adhara by surprise.

"I didn't know that."

"How would you?" he reassured her with a small smile. "People assume she's magical when she's married to my father. Not a lot of us wizards marry a regular muggle."

Instead of Adhara withdrawing, much to Remus' pleasure, she became more fascinated. "How did your parents meet?" was not the question he was anticipating.

Infectious, Adhara thought as she watched Remus grin when she asked how his parents met. It must be a fond memory. She couldn't help but smile back at him as he collected his thoughts. She thought it was bad-mannered to ask such a question since they do not know each other well enough but he didn't seem to mind.

"He saved her from a boggart," he admitted. He looked at her as if she was supposed to read between the lines.

He saved her from a boggart, she thought to herself. It hit her all at once. Adhara was grateful that it was dark since he wouldn't be able to see the red tinting her cheeks. The memory of Remus blocking her from her own boggart came to mind. Like the fearless Gryffindor that he is, he saved me, she thought, even if it was slightly cheesy.

"I guess saving damsels from bogarts run in the family?" she teased him.

"I guess so," he said. "Or maybe it was the Gryffindor in us."

"How did she run into one?"

Remus told her the story easily as if he knows it by heart. He didn't just tell her the facts; he set up the scene. He's a good storyteller, she thought as she listened. Her eyes trained on him as he recited the story with a fond look.

"He was her knight in shining armor, she would say," Remus said.

"I don't understand."

"It's a saying muggles use referencing fairytale stories," he explained. "Princesses would be saved by either a prince or a 'knight in shining armor'."

"That was a sweet story," Adhara told him.

"I'm not done," he said. His smile widening as a memory appeared. "Their wedding cake had a boggart-shaped topper on it." He watched with delight as Adhara laughed. A quiet laugh escaped her lips. She covered her smile but at least Remus was gifted with her laugh. He felt smug for being the one making her smile and laugh. A small victory for Remus Lupin.

"That's so cute!" she squealed. "Ugh, I wish my parents had a more…romantic meeting then just being cousins," she whispered the last part.

"I'm sure you and Higgs would have something," he joked. Luckily, it was not too sensitive of a topic anymore since Adhara laughed along with him.

"We'll have a snake eating a badg—

"—Adhara," both stilled at the monotonous voice behind them. Severus watched them both with an unamused expression. Remus watched with a frown at the look that Snape gave Adhara. It was as if they were communicating with staring and eyebrows. Adhara knew the look that Severus was giving her. It was a warning. She sighed. She was enjoying her time with Remus.

"Give me a sec," she requested before turning back to Remus. "I have to go. I'm sorry."

"Why?" Remus never cared for the Slytherin but he was now starting to hate the guy from pulling Adhara away.

"Nothing against you," she assured him. "It's just…he warns me a million times about appearances but of course, I kind of ignore it. I don't think there is much harm in talking to you in public but I guess so…" Remus tried not to appear ecstatic that she is disheartened that she couldn't talk to him any more. "Let's talk again. But less about school and more about…"

"Muggle stuff?" he tried. She stared at him skeptically. "Music…books?" he listed off the topics James gave him.

"Yeah," she accepted. "Nice talking to you, Remus."

Remus didn't get no time to contemplate over his short conversation with Adhara before he was hounded by his 'love gurus'.

"So," they both waited. Remus expected Lily to be more involved in this. He wished that James was not as invested in his love life.

"We talked."

"About?"

"School," James groaned as soon as Remus replied.

"I told you music and books," James reminded him.

"Yeah, but how was I supposed to bring that subject up, huh?" he asked him. "You both were supposed to help us but you just threw me at Adhara and left me with her."

"Don't make it seem like we threw you at a hag," Lily rolled her eyes. "It looked like things was going well between you."

"She told me her favorite magical creatures," Remus continued.

"She laughed at something. What was it?" damn how perceptive they are. Did these two forget all about their classwork?

"I told her the story about how my parents met," Remus responded. Lily asked for the story. Remus held back on the descriptions and story set-up. He only told them the important parts.

"How is that funny?" the joke went over James' head.

"Of course, you wouldn't see it," Lily huffed, clearly disappointed in the bespectacled boy. "his father saved his mother from a boggart." James was still confused. "Do I need to spell it out for you? Last year, Remus saved Addie from one."

"I wouldn't say 'saved'," Remus interjected.

"It's like history repeating itself," Lily squealed. And this is why Remus was reluctant with retelling the story. "Step one is done and now we will go into step two in the next week."

"And that is?"

"We're still working on it," James said. "Creative differences."

"More like Potter's advice is horrid," Lily retorted. "Now my work here is done." Both boys watched the redhead toward Alice and Mary.

"After you snag Addie, you have to help me out with Lily."