Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews! This chapter is long. I'm trying to write longer chapters now. I would usually try for 3,000 words a chapter by I couldn't stop writing for this one. I am working on my grammar so sorry if it's hard to read for some people. If anyone want to be my beta reader, I'm in need of one.
Adhara is still oblivious and we will continue to yell at the screen and wonder why she rather like a goofy redhead (not the good ones, like Fred or George Weasley) instead of our lovable werewolf. I'm going on spring break so it'll be some weeks before the next update. Thank you for the reviews! The more I have, the more motivated I'll be—sorry to use that tactic on ya. I saw an author say that on one of her chapters so she could finally update her story.
Don't change
So people will
Like you.
Be yourself and the
Right people will
Love the real you.
"You are hopeless," Thomas didn't bother hiding his laugh. A rich deep chuckle escaped his lips as soon as one of his team members, Richard Nott, casted a jinx her way and she failed at shielding herself. Nott was warned by Thomas and Sirius not to throw anything harmful her way. Sirius said it in a not so considerate way. "Don't be casting any dark curses her way, you snake," he yelled across the practice room.
Sirius refused to leave when he found out that instead of Thomas dueling with her, it would be another Slytherin. He had to be there just in case Thomas doesn't reprimand Nott if he does decide to throw a nasty curse. Luckily, the usually charismatic fifth year can be intimidating. Sirius witnessed it when Nott decided to use Stupefy on her.
"Maybe it's you-since you are the teacher," Adhara snapped.
"You should at least be good at defensive spells if not offensive," he teased as he made his way beside her.
"The offer is still on the table for me to be your tutor," Sirius yelled out. Adhara decided to ignore him. She was already on edge with having an audience. Thomas tutored her an hour before his duel club. It didn't help when Sirius and his friends were seeing her struggling either. Many months of tutoring and she only gotten a smidge better.
"You are teaching me a difficult spell that not even the seventh years can master," Adhara reminded Thomas.
"So that shows you how brilliant I am in this subject," he winked at her. "I'm trying to help you, love. If you come to class with a spell like this, you should automatically go from Acceptable to Outstanding."
"How bout we try something simple," she asked, giving him her best puppy eyes which she knows would work on Thomas. That was one thing she realized when working with Thomas: how easy it is to persuade him. Who would have thought Thomas Higgs is a pushover (or at least to her of all people).
"Okay, how about—
"—Oi, are you barmy?" Sirius charges toward them with the others in tow. "This is why you can't tutor her. She has you wrapped around her little finger."
"I do not," she lied. "We're just moving to another subject. And protego is difficult. If you can't do it then I know that I can't."
"And you wonder why she is not getting any better. She bats her eyelashes and you back down," Sirius continued.
Thomas shrugged. "I can't say no to my fiancée," he teased as he wraps his arm around her waist. That didn't calm her brother down. Adhara realized that she should have told her brother that he's acting in front of Richard. "She's just so adorable."
"You're brilliant in Charms," Remus interrupted. He schooled his face to not show his reaction to Thomas' flirting. "They also have defensive spells. You can start with that."
"I didn't even think of that," Adhara admitted.
"I know that you must find it difficult to harm someone but you can at least knock them back or immobilize them," Remus informed her. He knew that she was not quick to cast a hex or jinx like her twin unless he is in unescapable danger. That's why she desired to be a healer for magical creatures more than anything. She is the living example of the muggle doctor's vow, 'Primum non nocere." Do no harm.
The only problem is that it is a requirement to pass N.E. in DADAs.
"I—thank you, Remus," she gifted him with a beaming smile. Grateful for his advice. Adhara had no complaints about his advice. With Thomas, it was teasing and smirking and with Sirius…ugh, she can't even handle ten minutes with the prat.
Sirius, of course, voiced his complaint on why she would listen to Remus over himself— her 'big' brother.
Adhara rolled her eyes. "Because he's patient and you both are horrid at teaching," she explained. Thomas chuckled at this. Letting go of her waist and bringing his arm around her shoulder, he pulled her in so that he can talk right into her ear.
"I'm wounded, love," he joked. The werewolf was elated to see that Adhara was immune to Thomas' charms. While Fabian Prewitt is popular, he's also still a bit goofy looking with his dopey smile and messy red hair. But Thomas was the opposite. Everything on him was neat and perfect. Girls giggled over his dimples, his delightful grin, and hazel green eyes. Thomas was the perfect suitor for any Pureblood family to grab for their daughter.
And speaking of the devil.
Adhara was not quick enough to shove Thomas off her when she realized that Fabian and the rest of this team of the Duel Club strolled into the classroom. His dopey smiled dropped when he witnessed Thomas practically clinging to his girlfriend. His brown eyes glared at the pair before turning to Sirius and Remus.
"Professor Booras wants us to head to the dueling room for the try-outs. You're going to be facing the fresh meat.," he said before turning back around.
Oh, this is going to be fun, Zuri thought when she sees Adhara's boyfriend lead Sirius and the others into the empty classroom. Adhara and Thomas following behind the Gryffindors.
Last week as they listened to various Beatles' albums, Sirius mentioned try-outs for the dueling club. That piqued her interest since she always had an interest in the DADAs since she strives to be an auror. She realized that teams were not usually coordinating by House but it was obvious seeing how Slytherin had their own team while another consisted of mostly Gryffindor with one Ravenclaw member. She was going to choose her own House but seeing her new acquaintances, she changed her mind.
The new DADAs professor, Professor Booras, explained that she must duel a member of the club she wants to join. She had DADA with Gryffindor so she knows that Remus, James, and Sirius are adequate. She knew that her best choice would be to volunteer first and defeat one of those three seeing how they're the only fourth years in that team.
"I will go first," she said confidently before striding to the opposite side of the room. James was ready to run up there before Sirius tugged him back and yelled, "I'll duel her."
The goal and rules were simple. No curses or harmful spells. And who ever knocks over the opponent or disarms them of their wand wins.
"Flipendo," she mutters, yet he easily dodged it.
"You're going to have to do better than that, RiRi," he winked at her. That earned him a raised eyebrow.
"Are we close enough to be giving each other nicknames, Siri?" He responded with a Melofors.
"Well, we did spend a romantic night listening to records," he yelled.
"Redactum Skullus," she casted. Zuri thought it would be a bore if she didn't attempt to cast a few jinxes and hexes at the cocky boy.
"Titillando," he shot back, finally hitting the target. Sirius was graced with the musical sound of her laugh. She tried to hold it in but that made it worse. Her laughs filling the room.
"F-f-furnunc-c-culus," she struggled with her spell. Her incantation recited incorrectly yet it hit Sirius perfectly. She got him with a boil hex. Not as many on his face but enough to notice. Though Ilvermorny did not allow for their students to take their wands home, they had one of the best DADAs and dueling clubs in the world. It was taught by dueling champion of 1953, Rolly Alfwine. By their third year, learning how to cast spells non-verbally has begun. They were required to know it until their fifth year if they wanted to pass their O.W.L.s. Luckily for her, she absorbs information like a sponge.
Silently, she casted the disarming spell at the Sirius.
"Aw, someone's a sore loser," James nudged Sirius who was sulking as he watched Professor Booras praise Zuri's non-verbal use. Booras was not usually quick with handing out compliments since he was not easy to impress. Sirius frowned when Zuri gave him a smug smile. If he would have known she mastered non-verbal then he would have disarmed her as soon as the duel started.
"That's bloody amazing," Remus commented. "We're fourth years and she already knows how to do non-verbals?"
"Maybe I should ask her to tutor me," Adhara pondered. That thought quickly vanished when she realized who she was thinking about being her tutor. They only knew each other for a couple of weeks but Adhara realized how impatient the Ravenclaw is at 'simple' tasks that everyone cannot understand.
"Maybe Remus, here, should tutor you, ya?" James interrupted, splitting between the two. James ignored the glare the werewolf gave him. He gave her a gleaming 'innocent' grin as he waited.
"Aw, you're thinking about leaving me, love?" Remus wishes the floor would swallow this smug bloke—almost as much as he wishes the same for Prewitt. Higgs didn't know boundaries like a certain friend of his—James and Sirius. Remus caught the scowl Prewitt sent to the 'couple'. At least he's not the only one jealous.
"Potter," Remus looked up from his book, To kill a Mockingbird, to see Lily. James gaped a bit but Lily gave him this 'look' that was a bit suspicious. It was obvious for the werewolf to realize what the pair will be discussing. She nodded at Remus before leading James away to a table across the common room. Remus sighed. The sooner he leaves the better chance that he does not have the endure the humiliation of Lily trying to fix him up with Adhara.
"Don't even think about it," James caught him on time.
"I thought you were speaking to Lily?" he raised an eyebrow at his mate.
"It was a short talk," Lily explained. "Just had to clear some things up."
"We got rid of our original plan on step 3," James tells him.
"And we came up with a better one," she grinned.
Remus hated to admit it but he agreed that this was a brilliant idea. It was not obvious and he was intrigued by the idea. Lily just came back from Potions club—which how did he not hear about this. He's been struggling to keep his potions grade up to an Acceptable—which he really desires an Outstanding. Lily informed him that Adhara has joined the Potions Club. It would be the perfect opportunity to speak with her without the pressure of not appearing obvious in front of Sirius.
That thought dimmed when Remus noticed Snape sitting next to Adhara. Adhara had her hair in a different style than usual. Her hair was balled up on the top of her head into a messy bun with a few strands of hair falling over. The boy frowned when they locked eyes. Adhara, curious as to what her friend was scowling at, turned to see Remus. Much to the werewolf's pleasure, she welcomed him with a bright smile and waved. He sauntered over to their table. Lily did not alert him that Snape was also a member. This could be a problem, he thought.
"Hi, Remus," she greeted him.
"Hello," he nodded at her. "Hello, Snape."
"Lupin," the boy narrowed his eyes at the Gryffindor, trying to figure him out. Remus understood his apprehension towards him. It's not as if he was an astounding peer when he stands around while his three best mates often prank Snape.
"Do you mind if I partner with you both?" he asked politely. He very well could not only ask Adhara. Snape would pick up on his motives easily. "I hear you both are the best at potions and I certainly need the best."
Adhara's eyes widened comically.
"And here I thought you were the 'smart' one," Severus sneered.
"Everyone struggles," Adhara defended Remus. She organized her notebooks and textbook to make room for him. "We will be glad to help you."
Oh, joy.
Professor Slughorn bounced through with his dopey smile. It widened a bit when he recognized a new addition to the Potions Club. "The potions of the day will be," he paused as he whipped out his wand. Beautification Potion was written in the air, glowing bright pink. How fun, Remus thought sarcastically. He loathed this potion and not because of its difficulty but more on who use it. Adhara seemed to pick up on his dislike on his potion and of course, she knew the reason. She smiled timidly at Remus.
"Don't worry, I don't use—well, I don't use it as much," she confessed. Remus did not bother to appear understanding. He frowned but stayed silent. What could he say to her without sounding like a creep?
"I'll…go get the…indgre—
"Sev," Snape was cut off by Lily's chipper voice. She winked at Remus before turning back to her childhood friend. "Would you like to be partners? Mary is partnering with Vincent Gooseberry." Remus watched with amusement, along with Adhara, as Snape's deadpanned expression brightened. Lily hooked her arm with Snape's. "I'm sure Addie won't mind. Right?"
"No, um, I guess I could focus more on Remus—I mean to help him," her cheeks reddened a bit when Lily chuckles. She drags Snape to her table leaving Remus and Adhara to their own devices. "Um, I'll get the ingredients," she quickly said before leaving him alone at the table.
"It's not funny," Adhara shoved him lightly. Remus chuckled again as the Hufflepuff stared at the fairy wings with a pout. For someone who is brilliant in this subject, she could not handle certain steps, for example, grind three fairy wings. They are still on the first step while others are progressing.
"I don't think they hunt fairies down to make a 'beauty' potion," Remus mused. He plucked the stoned mortar and pestle from her clenched hands. "I'll grind the wings while you measure the morning dew," he suggested.
Adhara nodded.
The werewolf could feel Lily's staring and thoughts. She gave him a chance to speak to Adhara alone and he should take advantage of it. But what was there to say?
"So, is Higgs a better tutor than Sirius?" he asked.
"No doubt about it. He's still a tosser but he's a bit more patient with me," she informed him. "But I can tell that he is not meant to be teaching anyone. He's always teasing and making jokes. I could easily talk him out of it and he would easily oblige."
Remus regretted bringing up Higgs. He did not want to listen to her rant on about her betrothed.
"I see that you're feeling better about your engagement," he mumbled. "Ah, Sirius explained how depressed you were about the engagement," he explained when he noticed her confused expression.
She sighed. "You guys tell each everything?" she asked. "Even other people's business," she mumbled the last part. Remus nudged her lightly with elbow, making her look up at him. He tried to ease the tension with an easy-going smile.
"He just worries about you," he explained. "And he wouldn't say much about it."
"Yeah, he's like a second father," Adhara joked. "And…I haven't told Sirius this yet but," she paused and checked to make sure that no one could hear, "Thomas and I made a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yeah, he knows about Fabian," she whispered. Adhara leaned in closer so much that Remus could smell her sweet scent of chocolate and cinnamon. It had to be the hot chocolate chai tea latte that she's always sipping on during breakfast and dinner. He's glad to know that she loved chocolate almost as much as himself. "So, we put on a show—
"—while dating Fabian secretly," Remus finished. She nodded, her cheeks pink. Adhara couldn't understand why she's was a bit nervous when she told him. Something about bringing up Fabian to Remus made her feel odd. Maybe it had something do with how he berated her for using said beautification potion on her first date with the redhead. It didn't help when Remus furrowed his eyebrows slightly when she told him her arrangement with Higgs. He may have tried not to show his dislike for it but Adhara certainly noticed it. Remus noted that Adhara was not saying much. He looked down to see her studying him with a soft smile.
"Um, like I said…you shouldn't wear the, um, potions as much," Remus said nervously. She blinked a few times but at least her smile didn't waver. Instead it widened.
"Are you complimenting me, Remus?" she asked him, her tone teasing. "Buttering me up?" All Remus could do was gape. Is she flirting, that thought quickly vanished because Adhara was not one to flirt. He may not have been there for her 'moments' with Fabian but he saw enough. She's too self-conscious and thinks too much. Unlike Sirius who flirts with anyone with a pair of knockers and a fit butt.
Then it hit him all at once. He recognized this side of her before with Higgs, James, Merlin, even Severus at times. She's playful with those she's comfortable with. Her mates. She's no blushing and giggling nervous wreck like she is with Fabian. And now she feels comfortable with Remus. The boy didn't if he should be ecstatic or depressed at the thought of only being seen as her friend. I'm officially in the friend-zone, he thought.
"Just stating the truth," he shrugged. "I mean…y-y-your hair looks nice like that, too," Remus really needs his mouth to stop moving. "It's good…to, uh, change it up."
Adhara ignored the warmth in her cheeks and added the morning dew.
"Well, done," Professor Slughorn said to the pair. "Mr. Lupin, I think Miss Black would be the perfect match for you to help you with your Potions' grade." The way he phrases that sentence made Remus look away nervously from the stout man. Slughorn may be a bit dimwitted but he's pretty intuitive on certain things.
"Miss Black, would you mind tutoring him? He's doing decent in class but I would like to see him improve to an Outstanding," Slughorn asked her. He was practically helping with step three without knowing. Ugh, he can see Lily's smug smile already from across the room. Adhara was not put off by the question.
"Sure," she said.
"I'm been meaning to ask you two but it would please me to have you both join the Slug Club," he said. Remus inwardly groaned. He heard about this. Slughorn picks his favorites and all they do is eat fancy dinners together. Then have a few balls over the school year so he can parade the students to network with. Remus would have said no since there was an unlikely chance he would be hired since his file would be sent public in the werewolf registry once he is seventeen years old. And who wants to hire a werewolf and ruin their business?
But that thought quickly went out the window once Adhara agreed to join.
"You joined the Slug Club?" Fabian's face twisted up after she told him what happened during Potions Club. Right after the club meeting was over, she dashed to the Kitchens to see Fabian already waiting for her inside. She sensed the tension and tried to ease it a bit.
"Professor Slughorn has many connections," she explained. It also helped that Lily was in it, too. "He can help me meet many magizoologists and healers."
"Wait, what?" Fabian furrowed his eyebrows. "You want to be both?"
Adhara schooled her expression as best as she could. She told Fabian this a few times that she wanted to be a healer for magical creatures. She heard that Newt Scamander had a few rescue centers in Europe and would love to intern for him soon. Was he even listening when she told him?
"Yes, I told you this many times."
"Sorry," he said unapologetically. Adhara's eyes narrowed. She watched him closely. Something was up and she didn't know what it was. He's been rather quiet ever since she met up with him.
"What's wrong?"
"Higgs is what's wrong," Fabian didn't bother hiding his aversion to the bloke. Addie told him that Thomas was in on her secret relationship but that didn't stop the prat from flirting with her in his face. He had no problem telling Adhara this in his own blunt way. "You need to tell him to keep his hands off."
"We're just playing the part," she reassured him.
"Well, he's playing it pretty well with his smug self," he muttered.
"Well," she fidgeted. "You are certainly playing the part well, too."
"What do you mean?"
"Amora Flaxley?" she said the fifth-year Gryffindor's name. Adhara saw how Fabian acted with her over meals and she was pretty sure that he was not 'pretending' for show.
Fabian snorted. "I'm just playing the part." He shrugged. "Like Higgs."
Fabian knew that he was being a prat toward his girlfriend. Girlfriend. Who would have thought he would have one of those? And a secret one at that? What's the point of having one when you can't show her off and stake claim? This whole 'relationship' thing should have ended months ago but there was something about her wide innocent grey eyes that made breaking up with her difficult.
It's not like Addie's the best snogger. But he is her first kiss and Fabian can look past that. But she was not as…forward as the others he snogged. Fabian always had to instigate it majority of the times—not like he was complaining—but when he snogged Claire, Amy and even Amora they didn't dare act shy. Maybe it had something to do with them being Gryffindors? But then again, Addie was raised to be prim and proper by her uppity parents. He does wish that she would loosen up. They are still at the kissing stage. He's bloody fifteen and is filled to the brim with raging hormones. He can't even leave a hickey or cop a feel at her fit bum.
It helped when Addie has the softest plump lips that he could look past those things. And how he is confident that Higgs has a hard on for Addie. She may be oblivious to it but Fabian is not blind. So, Higgs could take her on dates and hold her hand in public but in the end, Fabian is the one that snogs her silly.
"Look what we have here," and speaking of the snake. "I think an ickle Lion cub is lost."
Fabian whipped around with wand in hand, to see Higgs leaning against the brick wall. "Jumpy, aren't we?"
"Can never be so sure," he said. Addie might trust the slimy snake but Fabian will not forget what house he belongs to.
"Just got back from your rendezvous?" Higgs guess with his smug smile. Fabian decided to wipe that look off his arrogant face.
"Yeah," he shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "And Merlin, I missed those lips," he licked his own swollen ones that still tasted like her lip balm. He grinned, sure that his lips were pinker from Addie's balm. He didn't miss the tightness of Higgs smile.
"And here I thought you had enough of being her dirty little secret," Higgs said.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?"
"Oh?" his feigned surprise.
"Yeah," Fabian continued. He took a few steps closer to the Slytherin. "I can see through your 'pretty boy' act. She may see it as an act but I know what's really going on. I advise you of keeping your hands to yourself."
"Or what?" Higgs stepped closer.
"I'll ruin your 'pretty boy' face."
"Tsk, tsk, Prewitt. Calling me pretty and threatening a prefect," Higgs smirked. "I don't know how I should feel. Flattered or reprimanding you."
Having enough of his teasing ways, Fabian turned.
"I have eyes, too, Prewitt," Higgs announced.
"Oh?" he mocked Higgs.
"Yeah, I'll stop…flirting as much when you stop doing the same to that Flaxely wench."
"She's no wench," Fabian growled.
"Oh, considering that she snogged and more with her fair share of blokes-," he stopped when he saw how much he was angering the Gryffindor. "I do apologize. I get on the offensive when it has to do with a dear friend of mine's. So, I do warn you—
"—of what?"
"You break Adhara's heart, I break your nose," Higgs promised with a glint in his eyes and a laidback smile. And with that, he strolled away as if he didn't just promise to do bodily harm.
Like bloody hell he's going to follow some arse's warning. No one tells him what to do.
"What's wrong with Adhara?" Remus asked Sirius as they headed into Potions. Double Potions at that. Just two days ago in Potions Club, she was in a grand mood and now she appears as if she's going to cry any moment.
"It's Fabian," Sirius said. "I think he found a new girl to hit on. It's that fit girl who's always snogging someone. Amora Flaxley, I think that's her name."
"I thought…" Remus trailed off. Adhara must not have told him her deal with Fabian and Thomas.
"Maybe you should go over and cheer her up?" Peter suggested.
Sirius groaned. "I tried."
"And ended up getting his head bit off," James explained.
"Well, you are bollocks at comforting," Remus noted resulting in punch in the arm. "What? It's true. Especially when it has to do with Prewitt."
"Then how 'bout you go do it then? If it's so easy," Sirius proposed. Remus thought of it as a joke but James saw this as the perfect opportunity.
"I think that is a grand idea," James clapped them both on the shoulder. "Remus is the shrink among us lot. He can bring her out of that funk mood."
"Be my guess," Sirius shrugged. And before Remus could even fathom what was happening, James hooked his arm with his and dragged him over to Adhara's table. Adhara didn't bother looking up from her notes. Her head rested on her hand as she flipped through the pages.
"What do you want?" Lily asked. She was seated at the table in front of Adhara's.
"Yeah, does Addie have a potions' partner?"
"Usually it's one of the Hufflepuffs."
"She's sick," Adhara droned.
Lily seemed to be catching onto James' plan judging by the grin she directed at Remus. "Addie, aren't you supposed to be tutoring Remus?" the Hufflepuff nodded. "So how bout helping him by being partners?"
"You don't have to," Remus quickly said. "I don't want to drag you down. I don't want to be a bother."
"You're not," she gave him a faint smile. Adhara moved her bag to make room for him. "You'll never be a bother."
"Well, my work here is done," he heard James say.
"You know I hate seeing you like this," Remus admitted.
"Did Sirius complain how much of a prat been acting?" Adhara guessed.
He shrugged. "I noticed how down you've been since breakfast. Sirius guessed that it had to be from Fabian."
"He's not wrong," she mumbled. "But it's not just that..." Remus waited patiently. They were brewing wit-sharpening potion. He watched as the potion went from red to yellow. Even when she's down her potion abilities is stellar.
Adhara couldn't name it but there was something comforting about Remus. He's patient and he counseled her on a few things. She finally realized that when helped her with her boggart. So that's why she ended up revealing what happened two nights ago with Fabian. She omitted the part where he snogged her to distract her. She agreed to cut back on the 'affections' with Higgs so she assumed he would, too with this Flaxely girl. She assumed wrong when he continued the next day.
"And it's not just that," she continued before adding more ginger roots making the potion lime green. "Sirius lost Rigel and didn't tell me about it until the last minute. And here I thought he was keeping him for an extra few days. Then my mum sent me a letter about how I should act more lady like by quitting quidditch this year since I am betrothed. And to top it off, Arty Wiles is benched which makes Puddlemere's chances of winning even thinner.
"I thought you were a Chudley Cannon's fan?" Remus asked.
"I am but Arty Wiles is the best when it comes to seekers," she explained. "It's not his fault that his beaters' can't keep him from being whacked by a bludger."
"Um, how bout I help you find Rigel?"
Remus chuckled at the expression she gave him. After all, she ranted on about that's what he got from it? About her cat?
"He's a sneak," Adhara told him as they stalked through the halls. They had about one hour left until curfew was over. "I hope Peeves didn't do anything to him."
"Why would he?"
She sighed. "I called him a tosser a couple of days ago when I was coming back from Potions Club," she admitted. "I was lucky to have made it to the common room without him pranking me."
"You're brave for doing that," he chuckled. Even James and Sirius are careful when it comes to the poltergeist.
They walked through the empty halls for about five minutes in silence. Though, Rigel is running loose Remus knows that Fabian is weighing on her mind. He's in the friend zone and the last thing he wanted to do is give her boy advice but he liked helping her through her problems.
"Did you tell Prewitt about your…concerns over Flaxley?" Remus finally asked.
"I did but he kind of threw it in my face that Higgs flirts with me. Like that would ever happen," she forced out a laugh. She left out the snogging part. Remus didn't need to hear that.
"You don't think Higgs fancy you?" he questions her earning him to laugh at the prospect of Higgs fancying her. At least he got a smile out of her.
"He's my mate," she rolled her eyes. "We're friends. And he's always teasing me." That's flirting, he thought. Maybe it's not best for him to shed light on Higgs' flirting. "I thought he was taking the mickey out of me but Fabian honestly thinks he flirts with me. Isn't that barmy?"
Remus shrugged.
Adhara peered up at the tall Gryffindor. Remus raised an eyebrow at the short Hufflepuff. "What?"
"Why don't you like Fabian? Is it a code among you blokes? Sirius don't like him so then the rest of you hate him?" she guessed.
"Well…while there is a rule," Remus beings, "I guess it…has to do with, um, you." There it goes. He put it out in the open. And the look that Adhara was giving him was scaring the hell out of him. But Remus should be brave about this. He's a bloody Gryffindor for Merlin's sake.
"Me?"
"Yeah," he said, voice strong and not wavering.
"Is this about the row we had some months ago?" Adhara asked him. They both stopped walking. She had her hands on her hips as she stared up at him. Remus could not get over why he loves how tiny she is—especially compared to how tall he is. He wondered why she there was such a major height difference between Sirius and Adhara.
"Partially," he admitted. There was no point in lying to her. "Well, that's pretty much why I don't like him," he chuckled. Luckily, she didn't give him the 'look' she would usually give to James and Sirius when they gripe on Fabian. Instead, she had an amused expression. "What?"
"Oh, nothing," she giggled. Adhara actually giggled. "Just didn't think the Remus Lupin would not liking someone. It's like saying I loathe cute and cuddly animals."
Remus chuckled. "Didn't think I had a 'the'in front of my name," he wondered. "I don't think I'm that popular to have a 'the' in front of my name. Sirius or James on the other hand…"
"You're just as popular as those blokes," she assured him. "You're the 'quiet' one. Like George Harrison." I like him second even though—
"—yeah, yeah. You prefer Ringo. You do have a thing for goofy blokes," he joked.
She slapped him on the shoulder playfully. Remus noted how she didn't hit as hard as would do with James and Sirius. "Fabian is not goofy. And there is nothing wrong with liking someone with a sense of humor. You really don't like him, huh?"
"If a bloke makes you feel like you should change yourself then—
"—he doesn't make me feel like that," Adhara persisted.
"Look, I don't want to have another row over this," he said as he combed his hair with his fingers. Remus knew he should not be thinking how adorable Adhara looks when she's miffed. Her eyes would narrow, lips pursed, eyebrows furrowed, and cheeks pink. "Adhara, if you feel as if you should change yourself for Prewitt then you s-s-should," he stopped abruptly.
"Should what?" she crossed her arms, waiting.
Remus sighed. His hazel blue eyes staring intensely at the Hufflepuff. It easily turned into him gawking. It's been awhile since Adhara's been in her 'natural' state. Loose dark waves over her shoulder. A plethora of freckles scattered among her cheeks and nose. "You…are beautiful." Adhara blinked and gaped in response. "No, I mean, yeah, you are very pretty and you shouldn't change a thing—inward or outward. Ugh, just…ignore what I just said-well don't but don't read too much into it." Rambling. Remus is rambling and could not shut his mouth. All the werewolf could do was hide his flaming red face behind his hands. After four long seconds, he peeked through his fingers to see Adhara gaping at him. Eyes wide with a flustered expression. Remus' eyes looked away from hers.
"Um…"
"Oi, Remus," thank, Merlin, for interruptions. He turned to see Sirius and Peter jogging toward them. "Addie! Guess who I found," he grinned at his twin. Before Adhara could guess, Sirius brought Rigel from his robes.
"Rigel," Adhara snatched her kneazle from her brother and hugged the creature to her chest.
"Why is your face so red?"
"Um…I just angry about you losing him," she lied before scurrying off.
"Huh? What's her problem?"
A/N: So, yay! A little progress. Remus is finally being abit forward with his feelings. Please tell me your thoughts! I know I said Remus was 'helping' her out but he ended up doing something else. And Sirius will find out about his crush on Addie but it'll be awhile. He's almost as oblivious as Adhara when it comes to obvious crushes.
