Her Single Rose (Remus Lupin)

Thirty-Six

Like Aries had predicted, Marlene was tucked under Sirius's arm and Lily was being followed by James, who was still trying to get a date.

"I don't get it, you seem to have a gift for these types of things." Remus said as they walked towards charms

Aries unintentionally ignored him, her thoughts clouding on the conversation she was hoping to have with Remus which was cut short. He said 'it doesn't matter' why wouldn't it matter?! Aries had been hoping they would talk about the kiss at some point.

Frustration had begun to fuel her and something inside fused with the intention of mischief. Out of the corner of her eye, Aries spotted a parchment sticking out of Remus's pocket. Immediately her frustration looped into a beautiful plan that would gain her knowledge and reassurance.

She had barely heard what Remus had said, barely listening to the conversation.

"You alright?" Remus asked her, she seemed to snap out of her trance and look back to him.

"I...was lost in a thought, what did you say?" She asked, giving him an apologetic expression.

"I said, you seem to have a gift for this type of thing. Getting people out of trouble, helping people back together. You have a way with words." He repeated.

Aries looked down at her shoes, hiding the smile. Of course she forgot how easy it was to lose track of her thoughts when he said things like that.

"It's not a way with words, it's just using logic." She shrugged, looking back up once she was sure her blush had faded. If he had noticed, he hadn't said anything.

"Well, you're a very logical person." Remus chuckled.

"I'm not that logical, I'm not annoying like that all the-"

"Would you just take the bloody compliment." Remus paused in his step, glancing behind them to make sure Alice and Peter wouldn't bump into them. "And you're not annoying, you just know the rules and know how to use them." He added.

"Well don't you do the same? I mean, you and the boys are so good at pranking and, well, you rarely get detention. That just tells me either you're really good at what you do or you have some kind of secret weapon." Aries droned.

"Is that what this is?" He asked teasingly as he leaned against a wall in the corridor. "Sweet talking me into spilling our secrets?" He grinned.

"Of course not." Aries gasped playfully. "If I wanted to truly know, I would already have figured it out." She shrugged, folding her hands behind her back and swinging slightly.

"And how could you possibly figure out what our secrets were?" Remus rolled his eyes as Aries stepped a bit closer.

"I have good instincts, know my resources." She explained, nodding her head as she took another step closer.

"Like someone on the inside? A Gryffindor student? Maybe Honey, maybe Lily, they've both helped you out before." Remus nodded as he began connecting the dots in his head, ignoring the closeness they had just begun sharing, "especially when you pranked the Gryffindor boys dormitories. Nice trick by the way."

"I'm surprised you found out it was me, my accomplice will remain anonymous." She admitted, looking down at her shoes before looking back up at him. By the time she had done so, he had felt her breath on him, alerting her proximity.

He gulped, his jaw clenching, his breathing hitched as he struggled not to breathe, his eyes shifting quickly to either of hers. A sliver of hope bubbled in his chest at the memory of their last kiss, but he shoved it away.