Wolf Prints | Remus J. Lupin

1.3 gettin' along

Now that James had made progress with Lily -she had even claimed her was her friend with a red tint covering her cheeks - he had decided that he was forever in Leah Bennet's debt. Remus, of course, wasn't too happy with it, but he grudgingly agreed to her price ("No more pranks on me or any of my friends, got it?").

Secretly, Leah was very happy with the new friendship between Lily and James. It meant the Gryffindor girls and Gryffindor boys hung out a lot more together. Which meant her and Leila had been dragged along to some of their hangouts together- whether it was chatting in the Gryffindor common room or by the Black Lake. Leah got along with everyone present. Apart from one, of course. Remus. No matter how much the girls tried to convince her that he was exceptionally nice- she wasn't having any of it. How could someone nice and good and kind break her best friend's heart like that? Even if Leila had gotten over it, Leah hadn't.

Because she was the one who remembered the look on Leila's face when she had come crashing into their dormitory with tears streaming down her face. She had felt anger at her friend's disappointment. Leah didn't get angry often. Once, she was seven and her brother Thomas accidentally dropped her book into the River Thames. She had been angry then, but it hadn't lasted. Thomas was her brother, and she cared for him. She didn't care for Remus Lupin.

"Sorry girls," she would say, "but I just don't like him."

And that was the end of the conversation.

...

September flew by in a whirl of new timetables and the first years getting settled into Hogwarts. Leah especially thought the small children got cuter and tinier every year and practically melted when one asked where the Transfiguration room was and if the teacher was scary. She had responded with a warm shake of her head and asked for the first year's name. He had responded with a small, "Tyler" and from then on, Leah would see him in the Hufflepuff common rooms or at breakfast and give him a small wave. Each time she did, he would eagerly wave back, and his friends would all ask him how he got to be friends with the 'pretty sixth year'. Tyler just shrugged and smiled- knowing Leah's kind nature towards anyone not called Remus Lupin. And even there, she was not mean with malicious, damaging intent. He did not understand their relationship. Then again, no-one really did.

And, of course, September also bought Quidditch try-outs for Hufflepuff. Leah threw herself into different plays and who to reserve in case of an accident. After a week of no rest, constantly crossing out names and keeping on top of her schoolwork, Leah was finally happy. And exhausted. Utterly exhausted.

But that was all overshadowed with the coming of the famous Halloween feast. Every year, the marauders would go all out in an elaborate prank for the rest of the school to laugh at. Last year's prank had included a mass of slime, glitter and paint being released from the ceiling as soon as everyone had stopped eating.

And Lily couldn't help but ask what this year's prank was going to be. As expected, she got four answers, each as vague as the next.

("It's a surprise!"

"Just watch and see."

"Patience, Lily."

"Not telling, Evans.")

Marlene -who was sprawled in the middle of the group of Gryffindor boys, girls and the two tag-along Hufflepuffs- sighed dramatically and rolled over.

"Why bother asking?"

Leah grinned at the blonde's question, silently agreeing. But before she could even nod in agreement, Sirius had abruptly stood up and yelled into the air, "WATER FIGHT!"

Almost instantly, a flurry of laughter and running feet were headed straight towards the Black Lake. Leah made sure to take off her shoes and jumper -even though it was October, and she was bound to get a cold. Mary was the first to splash a load of water at Leah who quickly retaliated. Mary squealed and jumped out of the way, giving the spray of water a clear path to Remus Lupins head. Remus jerked up as the water drenched him. Quickly taking note of Leah's guilty face, he remembered the exact same look on his face when he had splashed her a month ago. Now, the roles were reversed, and Remus couldn't wait for payback.

Cracking his knuckles, Remus scooped up some water and drenched her already soaking figure. Leah gasped at the shock of cold water, before her face broke out into a grin that even the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland would have been proud of. Just like the night of Leah and Remus' detention, they kept the water fight going, even when everyone else had given up or gotten too cold and left.

By the time the two had finally worn themselves out, it was just them left and the sun was threatening to drop below the horizon. They dragged themselves out of the Black Lake and flopped at the edge, panting heavily.

"I don't think I've laughed so much in my entire life." Remus commented- a smile present on his face.

Leah's insides warmed at his words and her grin spread into a smile- for she felt the same way. "It's a far cry from insults that's for sure." She said.

An uncomfortable stillness hung over her words- almost as if it was wrong to say. Leah and Remus frowned. They shouldn't insult people that they had so much fun with.

All at once the silence was interrupted with a cacophony of speech from Leah and Remus.

"I'm sorry for insulting you all the time- "

"I'm sorry for holding a grudge- "

"I just found someone who didn't like me and- "

"Just wanted to take it out on you- "

"Which is totally unfair on you- "

They both turned to each other and promptly burst out in hysteric laughter. "Can- can we just be friends?" Leah spluttered out through laughter (though it really wasn't that funny).

Remus nodded. "Sure Leah. We can be friends."

Leah looked up at him- surprised. It was the first time he had ever said her name. Although she wasn't exactly complaining. Her name sounded nice coming out of his mouth.

"Then we should probably head inside. It's freezing out."

And with that, two friends turned towards the tall towers of Hogwarts, laughing like... friends.