The One Who Gave Her Flowers || Remus Lupin x OC✓

V

Remus Lupin

"Hide it! Moony, hide it!"
Exclaimed James, an adrenaline-filled smile on both James' and Remus' lips as James pulled down Remus' arm to hide the wand.

Minutes ago, Remus had just made a bouquet of floating Ranunculuses descend into Arabella's arms. Both he and James now eagerly awaited her reaction, looking away each time she or one of her friends searched the crowd.

The two pairs of eyes stayed on the girl, they watched as the group of Ravenclaws sat down by the far end of the long wooden Ravenclaw table. Her two friends kept searching for the crowd, searching for any sign of a suspicious student while Arabella kept her eyes on the bouquet seeming taken aback.

All of a sudden, she looked in the direction of Remus, within seconds Remus looked away, finding the little dent on his fork much more interesting than the girl starring at him. Remus looked to his friends and couldn't help but laugh at their tactics to pretend they hadn't just been watching the girl. Their attention was now on the most peculiar things to focus on like a napkin placed on the table or a small piece of wood that came loose from the table.

Reluctantly, Remus' gaze traveled to Arabella, he heaved a sigh of relief when he noticed she was no longer looking at him but instead at the bouquet in front of her. The long-awaited positive feedback finally arrived in the form of a smile, a smile that Remus couldn't help but mirror when it grew wider once she took in the scent of the flowers.

That's a good thing, right?

"She definitely likes it."
Commented James.

"So when you gonna tell her you gave her the flowers?"
Asked Peter, a piece of bacon going into his mouth after.

"Um.. I don't know. Should I tell her?"
Remus was unsure if he should tell her. He was hesitant with the unknown chance she'd reject him.

"Of course you should!"

"Yes!"

"Yeah, why not."
Answered all his friends at once, including the mumble of the hungover one.

"It could be your confession. "It was me that gave you flowers because I like you Arabella." and all that poetic shit."
He grumbled sourly.

"What happened to our romance poet James Potter?"
Remus teased, one corner of his lips tugging up into a smirk.

"Rejection, heartbreak, criticism, you know, the usual."
Mumbled James apathetically.

"Sirius? How are you holding up?"
He questioned Sirius who was uncharacteristically silent and laying on the table head down. He sent a weak thumbs up with a single hand before going back to being a victim of a hangover.

Deciding to take one last glance at her, he looked back to her and noticed the bouquet now laid on her lap while she was in a conversation with her friends, her laughter unheard of but seen. Just as Remus was about to look away though, she looked in his direction. Immediately he looked at James but he was sure she noticed his stare at her because of the lingering gaze on him and the narrowed eyes.

Maybe I should stop staring, she's starting to catch me red-handed.

••∆••

The library was packed today. Students from all years filled the seats leaving no emty seat for Remus. Remus hoped there was at least one empty seat, he didn't like the idea of carrying heavy books all the way to the Gryffindor tower. Just as he passed a table Remus froze. In thought, Remus took steps back to do a double-take, making sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. Turns out his eyes were correct and he wasn't hallucinating. There, Arabella sat, four books open in front of her with her quill, ink, and scroll out. She seemed frustrated, the crease on her forehead proving it further. Remus guessed she was struggling with the Ancient Runes essay, judging by the contents of her open book.