UNDER THE MOON, Remus Lupin

i.

BURN A BAGEL, LIVE A LITTLE

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For many years, Alice Lafitte had contemplated the fact that she may simply not be the type for romance. It wasn't for a specific reason. An effort had never been made. Then her sixth year came around. Alice began to understand what it meant to love someone who was more than a friend, and less than family. At the time, she hadn't feared much. There was no reason to fear when you were in your prime and drop-dead gorgeous. That's how she ended up dating Fred Weasley, who'd always been so horribly afraid to ask her out on a date.

The poor boy was so nervous that he almost said no when she'd asked him out on a date to a quaint coffee shop in Hogsmeade. Now they were nearly a year into their relationship. Fred was still as head-over-broom in love with her as the first day he met her. And Alice? She was as happy as a cat with catnip.

Well, considering that school was cramming to a start, she could've been a little better. It was her seventh year attending Hogwarts. Her previous years had been just as boring as this one would come to be. Alice never held high expectations for adventure within Hogwarts. The only people fortunate for a life of adventure in school were Fred and George Weasley. They unintentionally and intentionally got themselves into trouble more times than accounted for.

After a certain amount of times, you just stopped counting.

On the very last few hours of summer break, sunlight shot through the gaps of the white, voile curtains. The wind that darted through the open window pushed them to and fro. Alice slowly opened her eyes, attempting to adjust to the sunlight. She failed miserably and turned her body to the other side of the bed.

The front door to the maisonette slammed shut downstairs, rattling the entire place. Alice assumed it was her mother. Everyone else who lived here had the decency to close it quietly whilst being aware of sleeping housemates. Granted, the only other people that lived here besides mother Lafitte were Alice and her sister Aria.

Aria didn't have any friends nearby, so it was unlikely she left. And clearly... Alice was in her bed, despising that she was awake before the designated time. Clearing her throat, she sat up and pushed her chest forward, bending her back until she crash-landed back into her mattress.

Living with all girls, that meant there were little to no boundaries. Alice's sister, Aria, quickly opened the door and shut it behind her. She scoffed at her older sister's refusal to even take a glance toward her. "You had to get up at some point, sleepyhead."

Alice rubbed her left eye with her knuckle. She really hated when her sister talked like that. It reminded her of the better days with their mother. Aria sighed, then said something else to break the morning tension, "Do you think I should wear purple or red? Anthony might like the purple, but I think John will like the red. But John has been so quiet lately. And Anthony is really sweet but distant."

Alice just flopped her arms above her body. They landed against the blue, silk bedding. "Do I look like Doctor Phil to you?"

"A bit."

"Oh, please! If anyone, Oprah," Alice mumbled, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and standing up. The dizziness needn't even imply that she needed to eat something. A crispy, buttered onion bagel sounded delightful. "Make yourself useful and get me a bagel."

Aria rose her eyebrows. "Is that all I am to you? A servant?"

"Sure. Whatever floats your boat." Alice was rummaging through one of her drawers, not paying any attention to a word her sister uttered.