𝙰 𝚆𝚘𝚕𝚏𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛 𝚈𝚞𝚕𝚎 𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚕

☾ Remus ☽

"Remus!" Lily's voice travels down the hallway.

He spins around, "is Sirius okay?"

Lily's grinning all over and nods excitedly, "he's trying to ask you, Rem!"

"Ask me what?" Remus looks at her confused.

Lily huffs as if it was obvious, "to the ball Rem!"

"He is? Then why can't he do it?"

"You saw him," she pulls him into a quiet corner as the bell rings and the hallway fills up. "He just can't speak when he tries to ask you."

It suddenly dawns on Remus and he just stares at Lily.

Lily giggles and pulls him to class.

✩ ☽

Remus is alone in the common room, a book open in his lap and he stares blankly at the page. Sirius and James are out doing something. Lily is being odd and she vanished with Marlene after transfiguration - which was a very awkward lesson - and she hasn't been seen since.

Remus huffs and closes the book then lifts his legs onto the sofa and leans back. The smaller students don't come within six feet of him, his scars and height make him look menacing. He doesn't care though. It's nice to have some peace.

But peace means that he's left alone with his thoughts and nothing else. They both want the same thing: to go to the ball with one another. Could Remus ask him?

He sighs and closes his eyes. He needs to get dress robes - or maybe he could go in muggle fashion, Sirius always loves that. Still, he needs to get a suit. He groans at the thought of getting ready for a ball. He's never done something so... posh... Sirius has, of course, he'll be used to it. But Remus...

He rubs his eyes and stretches his legs and thinks back to the morning.

Chaos.

Sirius saw him shirtless for the first time. So embarrassing. With all his scars, he must have looked dreadful. Maybe that's why Sirius can't look at him, can't talk. He finds his scars too disgusting.

"Fucking moon," he grumbles under his breath and turns onto his side and stares at the fire. The golden hue calms him and his shoulders relax, melting into the sofa, closing his eyes and slowing his breathing.

✩ ☽

"Moons..." Sirius' soft voice wakes him. "Sorry mate, I didn't want you to miss dinner."

Remus rubs his eyes and looks up at a blushing Sirius.

"Oh... oh no..." he looks around and sits up. "What time is it?"

"Half six," Sirius says and takes a step back, looking at him with those eyes...

Remus nods and slowly gets to his feet. "Where're the others?"

"Eating already."

He nods again and straightens his jumper.

"Thanks for coming to get me."

"Of course Moony," Sirius smiles a little and Remus feels less awkward. "C-can I ask you something?"

Remus looks at him as he opens the portrait hole door. "Yeah, anything."

Sirius nods and walks through, thanking him. "I erm- I..." he turns away and starts walking down the stairs towards the great hall.