Brenna's POV
"My little girl is growing up," Sydney mock choked. "Going on her first date."
"Oh shut up," I snapped.
"You look so beautiful," She continued, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye. I looked in the mirror and eyed my reflection. I was wearing a navy blue skirt that reached mid thigh and a tucked in white button up blouse. My long black hair was knotted at the nape of my neck with curls dangling from it in random places. There were also a few curls that framed my pale face.
"I look weird," I groaned. I absolutely despised dresses and skirts with a fiery passion that burned deep in my soul.
"You look amazing!" Sydney beamed.
"I look so… so girly," I shivered.
She tapped the back of my head scoldingly and pouted, "Don't make fun of my hard work."
I rolled my eyes at her and look at the time. "I'm gonna be late so just hug me and get it over with," I braced myself.
"Oh, Brenna!" Sydney squealed and flung her arms around me. I patted her back, holding back a scoff, and waved goodbye as I left the Hufflepuff common room. She had insisted on helping me get ready and wouldn't settle for my common room. I made my way through the winding corridors and shifting staircases until I finally reached the painting of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" She trilled off key.
"Yellow toad toes," I replied. Peter had sent me an owl yesterday with the password so I could get in. When the painting swung open, I smiled lightly to myself. Using a simple password instead of the answer to a riddle for once was refreshing.
"Good evening, Brenna," Sirius smirked at me from his seat by the fire. The common room was bustling, as it was most nights, but Peter was nowhere in sight. Sirius seemed to read my thoughts and grinned even wider.
"It seems your date has," He snorted and composed himself, "caught a cold. He won't be accompanying you tonight."
"I'll just be on my way then," I sighed. No one thought to send me an owl?
"Not so fast," Sirius mused. "You still have a date."
"If you intend to take Peter's place, I'll pass," I glared.
Sirius laughed and tucked a curl behind my ear. "I've got better things to do," He shrugged.
"Leave her alone, Padfoot," Remus said with a roll of his eyes as he appeared behind him.
"No fun," Sirius pouted. He dropped his hand and leaned closer to my ear and whispered, "Have fun on your date."
I glared at his back as he strode past Remus and into the boys dorms.
"Sorry about him," Remus sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "He gets a little cranky when he doesn't have a girl to play with."
"He sounds pleasant," I snorted.
"He's not all bad," He shrugged. "Anyway, Peter's not feeling well so he asked me if I would take you. He went through a lot of trouble to plan tonight."
"Peter's a sweet boy," I smiled and got closer to Remus, "but between you and me, I didn't really want to go on a date with him."
A strange look passed over Remus' face but it quickly disappeared and was replaced with a smiled.
"Anyway, would you accompany me on this date instead?" He asked.
"I suppose it can't hurt," I sighed. He lead me back through the painting and down the corridors, out into the cool night air.
"Where are we going?" I inquired.
"Just follow me," Remus called from a few steps in front of me. I did as he said and kept quiet as I followed his across the grounds. By the edge of the Forbidden Forest, a blanket was spread out. It had a basket placed in the center with flickering candles floating around it.
"This is beautiful," I grinned. "Peter came up with this?"
A moments hesitation, then he replied, "Yeah, he's a real romantic."
I knew he was lying but I let it slide and let him lead me to my spot on the blanket. We sat beside each other, quite awkwardly, and Remus opened up the basket. Inside, there were small sandwiches and desserts.
"Peter doesn't really have a cold, does he?" I asked between bites of the delicious sandwiches.
"Kind of," Remus replied thoughtfully. "He got nervous and it made him sick."
"Poor guy," I frowned. "Even though I don't have any interest in a romantic relationship with him, I would have still liked to go on a picnic with him."
"I'll tell him you said that," He said. "Not the romantic relationship part but the picnic part."
"I hope you don't think I'm saying I'm not glad you're here," I stated abruptly.
Remus smiled at me but he quickly turned his face away and coughed into his elbow.
"You're not getting sick on me to, are you?" I joked.
"Maybe," He coughed. We finished off the basket and watched the sky for a while, pointing out shapes in the clouds like children.
"The moon looks beautiful," I sighed. "It should be full in a week or so."
"Yeah," Remus nodded but his voice shook.
"Not a fan of full moons?" I questioned curiously.
Remus visibly tensed. "Not really."
I could see that the subject bothered him so I put it on my dig-into-it-later file and let it go. We laughed and joked and made awkward conversation until it was time to return to the castle. On our way up, we played a short game of twenty questions.
"Favorite colour?" I asked.
"Yellow," He smiled. "And you?"
"I'd have to say blue but that's a hard question," I smiled.
"You asked it!" He chuckled.
"Your point is?" I stuck my tongue out at his and he elbowed my side gently.
"Favorite spell?" He inquired.
"Piertotum Locomotor," I answered quickly. "There is nothing like having a statue make your bed."
"That does indeed sound very satisfying," Remus laughed. "I'd have to say my favorite is Orchideous."
He twirled his wand and a bouquet of flowers bloomed from it's tip. He handed it to me and I laughed.
"Very smooth, Lupin, I'll give you that," I smirked, "but I hate flowers." I flicked my wand at the flowers and they burst into flames.
"It was worth a shot," He shrugged, grinning down at me. "Well, here we are."
We stood in front of the Ravenclaw common room and Remus stared at me, his eyes glinting. I didn't know what to do with the situation so I just stared back.
"Are you gonna go inside?" He asked me, his eyes twinkling playfully.
"Possibly," I smiled and put my hand on my hip, shifting all my weight to one leg.
"Goodnight," He sighed and turned around, leaving me staring after him. How many times was he gonna leave me sitting here? I sighed and entered the common room to find everyone bustling around, whispering in groups. I braced myself and strode past them, trying my best to ignore their stares.
"She was with Remus Lupin, huh?" One boy smirked.
"I bet he feels sorry for her," his friend replied. I clenched my fists at my sides, changed into pajamas, curled into my bed, and fell asleep with my pillow pressed over my ears.
