Authors' note: thanks for the reviews! Please tell me your thoughts. i hope you all like this chapter.
"Because of you,
half the time
i don't even know
why I'm
smiling"
Adhara could not fathom why Zuri was being so hesitant. The Hufflepuff mentioned that she is meeting Remus in the library in fifteen minutes to discuss The Great Gatsby. That was when the Ravenclaw mentioned that she read the book a year ago that belonged to a muggle-born student in her third year. Zuri enjoyed the book yet does not understand how it is a classic when it was not a bestseller when it first released.
"Wouldn't I be intruding?" Zuri asked. Adhara invited her thinking the more the merrier. Adhara noticed since last week when first meeting the American that she is not as social as she assumed. Zuri may be a beautiful lady and extremely smart for her age but when it comes to being social, that was a whole other ball field. For some random reason, she is a magnet for new people. Zuri would say cynically that it was her looks because it could not be her personality. Adhara chose to ignore that.
"I'm sure that Remus would not mind," Adhara shrugged. Remus is the welcoming kind. It would also make it less suspicious instead of meeting him alone. She is betrothed so she could not afford to cause questions to arise.
"Maybe he will," Zuri retorted. Adhara may not have noticed but Zuri—being the perceptive person that she is—notices the small details. The Gryffindor gazes at the shorter lady the same way as the 'charming' and 'handsome' Thomas Higgs did two days ago.
"I'm pretty sure the rest of the boys would be there so it's fine if I bring you," Adhara assured her. Zuri shrugged before following the shorter girl.
Zuri found it odd yet intriguing how two children of a purist family would befriend her. Then again, her surname does belong to a powerful Pureblood family in America. Zuri is confident that the twins do not know about her family making it the reason for them to befriend her. She is sure others are. Zuri is no idiot. Any person with a brain would realize the reason why a Slytherin would suddenly introduce themselves to them. A few of them suddenly cornered her in the hall on her way to Divinations.
But the twins.
Being children of the most ancient and noble Pureblood family of Europe, she was hoping for possible snooty and prejudice. Like the horror stories she heard. Sirius is obviously speaking to her because of her looks—the cons of inheriting her mother's traits/lineage. Adhara…
Zuri's not so sure about her.
Remus was not disappointed. The more the merrier, right? He just assumed that he would be alone with Adhara. James helped him out by keeping Sirius and Peter away for a short moment so he can have her to himself. He thought it would be better to be alone with her but as their meeting time came closer and closer. So, did his nervousness that increased exponentially.
So, he should be ecstatic that Adhara brought company, right?
"You don't mind that I brought Zuri?" she asked him when she noticed his smile dimmed. Remus is certain that Zuri noticed, too since she narrowed her eyes and watched him with a peculiar look.
"No," he insisted.
"Good," Zuri said before taking her seat in front of him and putting her leather bag on the chair next to her.
That left the only available seat next to Remus. Should he thank her? Did she do that on purpose and realize his crush on the Hufflepuff. Lily did say how obvious he is when it comes to Adhara.
"So," Zuri waited. She leaned back into the chair and crossed her arms. "Start the discussion."
"Um," Adhara stared at the worn-out faded blue book. It's not as if she dislikes the book. It just caused to many unwanted thoughts.
"What did you think?" Remus asked. "Do I have good taste? Or do I have good taste?" he joked. His smile widened when hearing her laugh.
"You got lucky," she replied. "Not what I expected."
"What did you expect?" Zuri asked. "Romeo and Juliet plot line?"
Adhara nodded sheepishly. "Don't judge me." Her wide grey eyes staring at them.
"I'm not," Remus assured her. "I was sure you would have thought that—
"—so you gave me a depressing book instead," she cuts him off.
"Sorry," he said unapologetically.
"So, Remus," Zuri called out to the werewolf. "Please tell us why this little old book is a classic? I'm embarrassed that I do not know since I am from the very city and country that the book's setting is in."
"Don't worry about it. I asked my mum about it," Remus informed her. The Gryffindor explained what his mother told him. He explained to the witches about the roaring twenties and the party life. He told them of the prohibition of alcohol. He knew that this muggle history was intriguing them both. He knew that Zuri being a Ravenclaw would soak up this information. Adhara being the curious yet sheltered girl that she is would revel in this new knowledge.
"Can we all say how much we loathe Daisy?" Zuri asked as he finished his history lecture. Remus didn't loathe the character but he certainly didn't sympathize with Daisy. But that was before his crush on Adhara intensified. But Remus is older now and as he handed the book to Adhara two days ago, he started to realize how similar Daisy and Adhara's circumstances are besides Adhara.
Remus noticed how Adhara hesitated with her answer. He was not the only one.
"Adhara?"
"I…" she paused. "…guess we're not so different than muggles."
Zuri narrowed her eyebrows at the Hufflepuff. "What's wrong?"
Zuri may be perceptive but she only knew Adhara for a week. Remus knew what this sudden mood chance was about.
"Daisy had expectations," Remus answered for Adhara. She watched him with wide eyes as if she's shocked he comprehended the similarities between them. "Not only that but the way she was raised. Old money and appearances are what she thinks is most important. She couldn't be with Gatsby because of that."
"Yeah," Zuri rolled her eyes. "She's a-a-a what do you call them…oh yeah, a prat. She's a grown woman. She loved money more than Gatsby. She cared too much about what people thought of her. Stringing him along like a toy. And I'm still trying to figure out what Gatsby saw in her."
"You're too cynical," Remus sighed. Zuri was too blunt for his taste. Yeah, James and Sirius are the same but this one is different. She's Adhara's friend and seems like the type to not beat around the bush to spare someone's feelings.
"I'm honest."
Remus glanced at Adhara who sat there in silence. The werewolf knew that his next options could either further his friendship with the Hufflepuff or make it go at a standstill. He could either let her sulk into her own depressing thoughts or be a good friend to her and snap her out of it.
He reached over and plucked the book out of her hand. "You're too easy to read, Adhara." That caught her attention. "You're nothing like Daisy."
"Am I that self-centered? I always bring things back to me, don't I?" she said with a sad smile.
"You're not," he told her. Remus could care less if Zuri figured it out; he just wants to comfort Adhara before her big brother does the job. "Daisy cares too much about money and appearances. You, on the other hand, have no choice. Adhara, you care about your family and don't want to disappoint them or be disowned from it. There is a difference." He knew that this argument is not working. She didn't accept that explanation.
"And I doubt Higgs would cheat on you with a whore," Zuri was not helping.
"Would you tease me if I said I was comparing this to Fabi—
"—yes, I would," Zuri said. Remus had to agree but didn't have the guts to say it easily like the Ravenclaw. "No offense to your mistress but Fabian is no Gatsby."
Adhara took offense in that, of course. Any insult to her boyfriend is practically a personal insult to Adhara. "And why not?"
"If anything, I picture Prewitt as Tom Buchannan," that was the wrong thing to say. Even though Remus was thinking the exact same thing, he is not bold enough to blurt that out to her face. Zuri finally noticed the angry expression on Adhara's face.
"You think of him as a cheater?" she asked Zuri. "You met him once and only briefly."
"I'm a people watcher so I see how he acts around other pretty giggling girls," Zuri said. "He's a flirt if you haven't noticed." She then turns to Remus. Oh, no, he thought. "You see it, too, right?" of course Remus sees it.
Remus had to tread carefully with this. He was not expecting for this turn of events. But he should have known when it comes to Adhara—the hopeless romantic—she'll tie it back to Fabian. He also knew that Adhara would see Gatsby as 'romantic', ignoring his faults, too.
"You do know that this is not a romantic story," Remus said to them both. "Gatsby is the reflection of the American dream. He's the rag-to-riches story. He fell in love with Daisy and not because of her personality—it's not like she showed him the 'real' her anyways—but her grace, beauty, and life of luxury. He changed himself to be with her. Yeah, it's good to change yourself for someone if it better's his character but he was doing it since Daisy would not accept him any other way. She still didn't accept him."
Remus did not mean to make this a lecture. The more he explained the book the more he thought how different Adhara is to Daisy. Similar circumstances but Adhara's better personality-wise. Remus refused to acknowledge himself to be the Gatsby to her Daisy. Merlin, no.
"Looks like we found our book club," music to his ears. He thanked Merlin for James to finally appear.
"Well, if it isn't the Beatles-hater," Sirius said to Zuri, wearing a fake angry expression.
"Not a hater. Just not a fan," she corrects him.
"What are you doing after…this," he waved his hand gesturing to the 'book club' members.
"Nothing," she said. Remus watched the two, intrigued. Zuri must hold some power over Sirius since he still has not noticed that Adhara's mood is down. He usually has a sense on her moods. But his full attention was on the Ravenclaw.
"How 'bout you come over and we can listen to some records," he suggested.
"If it's not only the Beatles," she said.
"Yeah, yeah. And you can bring your records, too and show us how 'good' they are compared to the Beatles," Sirius said.
"Okay, then. I'll go to my room first and meet you at the Gryffindor entrance," she asked them. Her eyes now looking at Remus and Adhara. Zuri noticed that the mood of the room has not gotten any better. She didn't care that others were around so she said, "I'm sorry, Adhara."
"I only met him once and it was not a…good first impression but that doesn't mean he's a bad person," she said before she left to leave the library.
"What was she apologizing for?" Peter asked for the group.
"She…insulted Fabian Prewitt," Remus explained. He gathered his books before they made their way out of the library. Remus was glad to see that Adhara would be joining them. "Are you sure you can hang out with us?" he asked her.
Adhara hesitated. "I think if Sirius is there, it shouldn't be a problem."
That answer was good enough for Remus.
"Did you agree with Zuri?" she finally asked after ten long awkward seconds of silence. Of course, she saw through his sudden subject change when she asked him previously. Remus had to approach this with delicacy.
"I'm not saying he's like Tom and would cheat on you," Remus lied. It's a small lie and he's sparing her feelings. It's the right thing to do, right? "But he certainly doesn't seem like no Jay Gatsby. And you have to admit that Zuri's first impression of Fabian was not the best."
"I guess, you're right," she grumbled. Zuri first saw Fabian on the first day of school when he confronted Adhara about her engagement to Higgs. But the first time the Ravenclaw met the to the fifth-year officially was during the Hogsmeade trip. He was on a pretend 'date' with Claire so it wouldn't seem so obvious for him to not be on a date. As if people would start investigating why Fabian is not hitting on girls. But Fabian's performance was too good and Zuri noticed how heartbroken Adhara was.
Luckily for them, the common room was not as busy as usual on a Monday night. James' gramophone on the table next to stacks of records. Lily joined the group after seeing Zuri and Adhara on the sofa preparing to listen. Being the only muggleborn in the group, she knew her fair share of music.
"So, since I'm a guest, I will choose first," Zuri said as she placed The Animals album on. "We'll listen to their top song first."
After the song was done, Zuri waited for the verdict.
"I liked it," Adhara was the first to comment. "It's…I can tell that he held great meaning besides just being like any ol' catchy song." Remus agreed. The song was not just a record to dance and sing along to. It was deeper than that.
"You like the Beatles?" Adhara asked Lily. All she hears from James and Sirius is how this rock and is the best. Peter of course agreed.
Lily nods with a grin. "I love the Beatles."
"Okay, pick your favorite one," Zuri asked. Sirius was ready to complain. "It shouldn't matter which song by them she picked if they are the best then all their songs are the best, huh?" that shut him up quick.
Lily tapped her chin as she contemplates what song to start with. The redhead knew that Adhara never listened to a single song by the admired band. "Well, let's start with a classic hit." Remus predicted which song she picked. It would be pretty obvious.
Oh yeah I tell you somethin'
I think you'll understand
When I say that somethin'
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
Remus watched with amusement as Sirius and James rolled their eyes at her choice of song. It was the overplayed song that many girls in their House would play. Remus glanced at Adhara, who sat next to him on the sofa, nodded her head along with the beat. Adhara reached for one of The Beatles albums.
"They're handsome," she noted much to Remus' chagrin. Lily grinned.
"Which one do you like better?" she asked the Hufflepuff. The redhead leaned over to name each of the members of The Beatles. "I like John Lennon; he's my favorite."
"All the birds like John Lennon—
"—or Paul McCartney," Sirius adds after cutting off James.
"Well…" Adhara's eyes lingered on them. "This one looks…interesting," she points at Ringo Starr of all people causing James and Sirius to erupt in uncontrollable laughter. "What? What's wrong with him?"
"Ringo?" Lily didn't dare hide her disgust. "He looks goofy."
"Hey, there is nothing wrong with Ringo," Zuri defended the drummer.
Sirius stopped abruptly. "You like Ringo?" Remus did not comprehend why Ringo was the least liked of the group. Remus saw the group a few times on television and he was quiet the character. He was funny and down to earth is what Remus got from the interviews he watched with his parents.
"He has a certain… je ne sais quoi. But I do prefer George Harrison, actually."
"Hm, he's my favorite, too," Sirius said. "We're actually thinking of being The Beatles for Halloween this year," he confessed.
"And who's going to be who?" Adhara asked. Remus and the boys been talking about this ever since last Halloween but could never come to an agreement. Much to Remus' shock James refuses to be John Lennon and Peter refuses to be Ringo. Peter may change his mind when hearing that Adhara and Zuri favor the drummer.
"I'm going to be George—
Sirius was interrupted by Lily's scoff. "Please, you're obviously John—
"—he wishes I would be him," Sirius proclaimed. Sirius did not know much about the Beatles besides what Remus tells him. Remus only knows about the Beatles from interviews in talk shows and magazines and seeing from that John Lennon is far from his favorite. The only other person here who knows an immense amount of information about the band was Lily. Remus had to agree with Lily.
"Wait," Adhara blurted out. "Explain why Sirius should be John?"
"It's the process of elimination," Lily explained. "Potter is a mixture of Ringo and Paul but since I knew he would never be Ringo I will settle for him being Paul. Ringo is the 'funny' one. He's all jokes but is sweet. Paul is the 'cute' one—
-you think I'm cute?"
"—anyways, Paul is more easy-going. John is cynical yet sharp."
"And George?" Adhara asked.
"Remus is obviously George," Lily said. Zuri hummed in agreement. "George is the 'quiet' one. Funny and gifted in guitar."
"Last time I heard Remus does not play an instrument."
"Well, he's a better duelist," Peter spoke up.
Remus watched as Adhara stared at the record cover. "Hm, George is quite handsome," she noted before turning to Remus. She gifted him with a smile. It may have been small compared to her broad grins that makes her eyes squint but this one was just as infectious as the others. "Going on Lily's information, I think she is right."
Lily felt a nudge on her shoulder and turned to see James—Potter—giving her a thumbs up as he pointed with his eyes to Remus and Adhara. Lily gave him a quick thumbs up before looking back at the 'couple'. Remus stared at Adhara like what every girl wants their crush to.
A/N: I'm trying to progress this faster without rushing it too much. and if someone would like to be beta reader, i am really in need of one, please
Next Chapter:
Zuri joins the Dueling Club
Fabian has words with Thomas
Adhara has doubts...
Remus to the rescue!
