Reading Between The Lines ~ Remus Lupin ~ Book 1

chapter 2

Tuesday, 7 September 1976

It had been nearly a week since Lena and Remus had spoken on the train and she could happily keep it that way. At least, that's what she tried to tell herself. She couldn't face him and, in her opinion, he couldn't face her. She had caught him glancing at her from across the Great Hall during meals. He seemed apologetic. But apologetic looks are not the same as an apology and Lena refused to be the one to reach out. She may have overstepped, but Remus had been the one that was unkind. And if he ever did apologize, she doubted it would be anytime soon. For the past two days, Remus had been perpetually annoyed and angry even with her brother and his friends.

She watched out of the corner of her eyes as Remus rose for the Gryffindor table, leaving Peter, James, and Sirius alone. She made her way over and plopped herself in the seat that Remus previously occupied.

"Hey, Lena," Peter spoke, his mouth full of mashed potatoes.

"Don't talk with your mouth, Peter. It's bad manners," Lena scolded.

"Yes, mum," Peter said sarcastically, swallowing the rest of his food.

"It's been a while since we've seen you Lena. What have you been up to?" James asked jovially.

"You know, the usual. Fighting with centaurs, sneaking out to Hogsmeade, making first years cry," Lena joked.

"Naturally," James said.

"Anyways, Peter, could you help me tomorrow night. Binns assigned us fifty pages of readings and is giving us a pop quiz on Friday. Can you just tell me what's actually relevant to know. You know how he is! Only two pages of what he assigns is actually on his quizzes. And the information isn't even that important in the grand scheme of history! I mean last year he had a question on his exam that asked when did the last surviving goblin of the Goblin Rebellions die! Who does that?" Lena said in exasperation.

James, Peter, and Sirius looked at each other discreetly, and quickly. It didn't go unnoticed by Lena.

"Uh, I can't do it tomorrow night. We're busy. But I can do tonight," Peter offered.

"Yeah, tonight works, too I guess. So why can't you do tomorrow? Do you guys have some secret full moon ceremony?" Lena laughed.

"Yep, we dance naked in the Forbidden Forest and pray for increased strength and wisdom," James joked back.

The slight tension the boys had released when Lena didn't inquire further upon their full moon activities. Insead she asked, "So when and where do you want to meet, Pete?"

"Ha, that rhymed," Sirius interjected.

"We can meet at the library at 6 o'clock," Peter offered.

"The library. What are you going to do at the library? It's not like you to go there," Remus said as he sat beside Lena, having returned from wherever he had gone. He turned to face her and greeted her softly. "Hi, Lena."

"Hi, Remus," she said with a slight smile. She did, after all, miss speaking to him.

"I'm helping her study for Binns. She's got a quiz on Friday"

Remus was prepared to offer an olive branch to Lena, "If you want, I can–"

Remus was cut off by Rajesh Daas, a fifth year Gryffindor, putting his hands on Lena's shoulders. "Lee, we're still on for Friday night, right?"

"Yeah, come around 9, Raj."

"Sick, I'll bring some Firewhiskey," Raj grinned and walked away.

"Oooh, what's happening on Friday night that involves Firewhiskey and a boy?" Sirius teased.