The Waiting Game▬RL 1

Dramatic Effect

Remus would say that Renee was slowly warming up to him. Although, he had no idea what he did to make her upset. She would be sweet at one point and then cold the next. Remus was right about losing his temper, he just wanted to know why she didn't like him. He didn't have to ask though, he found out during an impromptu meeting with Professor McGonagall.

When the professors told Renee Potter that her fifth year was going to be hard, she thought they were lying. However, as she sat in McGonagall's office with Professor Sprout and a seemingly unaware Remus Lupin, she knew. This was it. Her hardest year. Before this, she maintained a steady grade. Always getting above most of her classmates. But here it was... Remus was going to tutor her. Or else she would lose the title of prefect. And she could not lose that. Renee felt a duty within herself when she wore that badge. Not just James Potter's ickle sister. When she wore that badge, she wasn't quiet, she stood her ground. Safe to say, Ren would do anything to keep it pinned to her robes.

"Well, Potter. You already know my schedule. I'm in the library most days after classes before and after dinner." He stood outside her common room door; they had just finished their prefect rounds. Renee nodded embarrassed. Her curly brown hair bounced with each move of her head. Why couldn't it just work out? Why does there always have to be something? She sighed, frustrated. Remus noticed her mood change. "What's running through that mind of yours?"

"I just thought I could do this. We've been in school for a month now and I can't keep up. You were home for two days and you still seem to be ahead of me. I am just so annoyed with myself." Her arms flew up in the air for dramatic effect and Remus almost poked fun at it. She reminded him of her brother. Though James and Renee were not near the level of 'Drama Queen' that Sirius had reached.

"You'll get it, Renee. Just give it a little time. Our workload has doubled since last year." Renee laughed bitterly at that, running a hand over her face.

"Easy for you to say. You're a whiz at everything. And even my brother is in a better position than I am." Remus didn't want to say that he quite frequently helped James with his essays. He felt like it would just be another thing for her to be upset about.

"James has a lot of free time. Plus, we all help each other in our dorm." Renee thought about what she did with her dorm mates and thought it a bit irresponsible. So, she decided to not mention it to her new teacher.

"Right, well... that was enough emotion for today. I'll see you tomorrow, Teach." She turned on her heel, heading into the entrance to her common room.

Remus Lupin's smile didn't falter until he crashed into James Potter on the way to the moving staircases. The bespeckled boy looked over the previously grinning werewolf, coming to the wrong conclusion. "I told you she couldn't resist you Moony!" The corridor was mostly empty, with only a couple of stragglers. Remus huffed and started walking in the way James had come from.

"This is weird mate, and your sister doesn't like me." James' hand encountered the back of the taller boy.

"Give it time, and why is it weird? Just want you two to be happy." Remus knew James was a hopeless romantic. He just didn't understand why he would want this. He stared at the boy closely. "I just happened to be in the hall this time, I wasn't spying."

"Don't worry, I didn't think you were."

✿

The library was not somewhere Renee was found often. Not for the same reasons as James or Sirius. Because she didn't like the suffocating feeling of it. So many students rushing around, piles and piles of books on tables and the odd kid hyperventilating. It was hard for her to focus in the library, there was always something going on that took her attention away. Especially now that she joined Remus. He had many students sitting around a table with him.

The spot next to him had a bag on it. He had yet to see her. Renee sheepishly stood behind it, tapping the boy on his shoulder. "Is this seat taken?"

"No—of course! Sit." He removed his bag quickly, gesturing to the chair. Renee got herself settled. Feeling a little intimidated. There were quite a few people. Lily Evans was among the crowd. Her head down—scribbling down on her parchment. Red hair like a curtain, Ren didn't know how she could see her writing.

"So, Professor, what are we working on today?" Remus let out a chuckle and glanced at her books. He tapped lightly on one of them.

"Let's start with Ancient Runes, we have a paper due tomorrow. Then we'll do Potions and Transfigurations."
Renee watched Remus as he talked. His facial features changed when he started teaching her; the boy was stricter. After Remus finished his homework, he walked around the table answering questions. She felt her heartbeat accelerate whenever he leaned over her. He checked her work silently. Renee thought she learned a lot from him. And about him. Remus is caring, hard-working, and fascinating. After their first study session, Renee couldn't stop glancing at him. It distracted her immensely.

✿

"Hello! You've been somewhere else Ren." Dorcas dropped her body next to her best friend at the Hufflepuff table. Renee snapped her head towards the girl. The thoughts of Remus' gentle touches left her mind abruptly.

"What's up?"

"You were supposed to meet me at the dorm before dinner." Renny's eyes squinted at her friend, trying to decipher why she had made those plans. Dorcas stared unbelievably confused, her index and thumb pinching together and raising to her mouth. Renee pushed her, laughing when Dorcas lowered her hand and began a fake coughing fit.

"Sorry, I forgot. We can just do it after. And maybe get some snacks from the kitchen as well."

"Well, whatever, I had promised to share with the rest of our dorm too. Safe to say, everyone's upset that Renny let them down."

"You know where it is, why didn't you just give it to them? Instead of throwing me under the towel?"

"That's not the expression Ren."

"Whatever, let's just go."

Remus caught up to the two girls swiftly. His long legs were beneficial. "Potter! Are you heading to the library?" Remus felt weird calling her Potter. Although it seemed weirder to suddenly call her Renee. Dorcas and her shared a look and then she kept walking.

"Um—I don't know. Kind of had plans with my dorm mates..." Students rushed past the two, while they stood awkwardly in the middle of the hall. Ren gripped her robes closer to her figure as she glanced around.

"Oh, you don't have to come. I was just wondering if you wanted to walk together." His stare landed in his shoes; embarrassed.

"I'll join you. Just need to grab my books." Renee's heart quickened as he stepped closer.

"Course, I'll walk with you." His hand instinctively wrapped around his tattered leather bag's handle.

"I could fix that for you." She offered with little thought.
"Fix... what?"

"Your bag."

"Oh, okay. If you think you can." Renee didn't know if she could. But Remus was already helping her so much.