Only about a week or two into sixth year did things start to change.

I was in the Gryffindor common room with Bridget, Kenna, Adrian, and Ben, squashed on a plush red sofa between Bridget and Adrian. Half of my mind was concentrated on the book held up to my face, and half was elsewhere…

Admiteddly, it was mostly on a certain DADA teacher of mine.

Sometimes I just couldn't keep him out of my head.

I mean, it was certainly normal, right? Remus was intelligent, kind, had a mischievous streak from his days with the Marauders that he told me about.

And, bloody hell, was he attractive.

But it wasn't just that. Some of the little things about him- how he would run his hand through his hair when flustered or nervous, his quirky half-smirk and his full-blown smile, the little winks he would shoot me when I laughed at one of his jokes in class, his off-key whistling as he made tea when I sometimes came to his quarters after the day's classes were through-

those little things drove me absolutely mental.

As I was reeling in my thoughts, a bellow echoed throughought the room.

"Gryffindor beginning-of-the-year party! Everyone's welcome!"

I peeked over the top of my book and was greeted with the sight of Angus standing atop a table, his arms stretched out for emphasis.

"Hey, calm yo tits man," Ben said, as chill as ever, rubbing his ear.

"Yeah, we're the only ones in here," Kenna added from where she was leaning against Ben's bulky shoulder.

"My apologies," Angus said, leaping nimbly off the table and sitting in a chair facing the couch. "I seem to have a thing for theatrics."

"We know," Bridget told him, face void of expression. If she had any feelings for him at all, they were buried deep.

"Where and when is this taking place?" Adrian asked, leaning forward expectantly. Such a party animal, was Adrian. Always had been.

Angus's reply was, "Next Saturday, starts at nightfall, in this very room."

Although I was not an avid party-goer myself, I was probably going. There was really no way to avoid it, anyways.

"Any dress code?" I asked.

A sexy smirk twisted the corner of his lips. "Sexy. Casual. You decide the rest."

With that, he ventured back into the corridors, belting "Gryffindor beginning-of-the-year party!"

"Well girls, looks like we're going to Hogsemeade," Bridget said, "The trips tomorrow."

"Why?" I asked, folding one corner of my page and closing it the book.

"For dresses, of course," she replied.

"Yay! It's been so long since I've actually been shopping with people who aren't my mum," Kenna said, clapping excitedly.

"Alright, I'll go," I consented. "As long as you guys don't parade me around in some slut cloth or some clown suit."

Kenna clapped a hand over her heart in mock surprise. "I'm offended you'd doubt our fashion judgement to that extent."

"I am too, Kens," Bridget said, "You must trust us, Marce."

I smiled at them, shook my head, and turned back to my book. I was probably going to regret this.

"Remus," I began. He had insisted as my friend that I call him by his first name when not in class. "Do you know anything about the House parties that students sometimes host?"

He returned from the kitchen of his living quarters and placed a steaming cup of tea in front of me. I thanked him and took a sip.

"As a matter of fact, I do," he replied, "Technically they're not against the rules, but the Professors are weary of what goes on in them."

He raised one eyebrow a bit and a half smirk of amusement graced his lips. "Why do you ask? Not thinking of hosting one, are you?"

I laughed lightly and shook my head. "But truthfully," I hesitated, wondering if he'd be disappointed in me. "I'm going to one."

"Ah, Gryffindor parties. I remember all too well..." He murmured, trailing off nostalgically for a moment and chuckling at something. "James and Sirius use to drag me to those all the time. They always got pretty... wild."

I cringed a bit. "Are they really that bad?"

"Well, not always. It depends on who's hosting them, I suppose. Who's throwing this one?" He said.

"Angus Aguistin," I admitted.

Remus laughed. "Ah, that young man sometimes reminds me of James and Sirius themselves."

I gulped. "Oh, great. That can't be a good sign of how this party will turn out."

He smiled at me with a trace of sympathy. "Was it specified what kind of party it was?"

"Angus said it was a 'Gryffindor beginning-of-the-year party. Just looking for an excuse to have one, I suppose," I explained, and added, "There was one more thing."

I hesitated before I said, "Sexy/casual."

A small frown twisted his lips. "He said that?"

I nodded, wondering if he was going to chastise me.

But I knew Remus wasn't like that.

He just sighed and lightly gripped my shoulder. I hope he didn't notice me blushing.

"Just be careful, alright?" He murmured.

I nodded again. "Thank you, Remus," I said softly.

He smiled comfortingly and squeezed my shoulder gently before pulling back.

Bloody hell, he drives me mental.