The Waiting Game▬RL 1

Wanna Join

They trudged down to the basement, neither saying another word. Merlin! Why couldn't she be more charismatic like James? He could make conversation with everybody. Renee thought herself to be awkward, especially around the opposite gender. "Right, um... turn around. I just need to do the password." Remus obeyed. Renee found the barrel; tapping the syllables of Helga Hufflepuff on it. "Let's go."

Remus took in the Hufflepuff common room. He liked the brightness and the room smelled of lavender. Plants took up every crevice, making him feel so at home. That was probably the influence of the beast. Moony always liked running free in the forest.

Renee watched Remus look around. She liked the look of ease on his face. His whole body seemed to relax. "You wanna come up?" Remus looked baffled but hid it quickly.

"Up to the girls' dormitories?" He asked skeptically. Renee just nodded, gesturing towards the stairs. Remus followed her; his face scrunched up when he stepped onto the first step.

"C'mon Lupin, we don't have all day." She laughed as he gingerly took another step, wincing as if something was supposed to happen. Ren waited patiently as he opened his eyes, taking another step.

"The stairs to the girls' dormitories turn into a slide when boys try to climb them." He explained when he saw the look of amusement on her face.

"Weird, Hufflepuffs are known to be dependable so... maybe Gryffindor is just not so trustworthy." Remus sniggered as they journeyed down the hall.

"I mean—have you met Sirius?" They laughed some more. Renee opened the door to her dorm. Only to shut it abruptly. They had found her stash. She smiled widely at Remus after quickly meeting his eye. "What's wrong?" He asked, pushing past her to the door. Remus opened it with ease. To see her dorm mates in a cloud of smoke.

"Hey, Lupin! I didn't know she was inviting you. Wanna join?" Dorcas asked cheerily. Amelia Bones sat up giggling, taking the joint from the girl. The three girls sat in a circle on the floor. Pillows surround them. Renee hid her face in her arms. As if she were hugging her head. Dorcas had started the smoking party as soon as she got there.

"Join, wanna join... joint..." She mumbled out while laughing. The Potter's arms fell to her side as she let out a chortle. Amelia was the most fun high.

"No, we're about to study. Please open a window." Renee answered for him and grabbed her bag, ushering Remus out. She was embarrassed. It seems like she always was around him. And she didn't think it would change anytime soon.

"So, this was your plan after some dinner, you go get high as a kite?" Renee's face lit up. She could feel the heat in her ears. Remus earned a playful shove. Quickly the girl pulled him out of the Hufflepuff common room.

"Don't tell James!" Her movement was interrupted. Remus' hand gripped her forearm. She spun around to meet his eyes. He seemed panicked; eyes widened thinking she would stop spending time with him.

"I'm not going to go running to your brother about anything you do Renee. You don't have to worry." He held eye contact, getting the message across. Ren blinked up at him, unsure of how she was supposed to react.
Even after the message was received, they didn't move. They stood before the stairway out of the basement. Remus' hand holding Renee's arm. His eyes bored into her own. A beautiful hazel colour, one that Renny had never seen before.

"Well, this is a fine sight! 'Ello Remmy, Renny." Sirius Black's voice called out as he descended the stairs. Remus dropped his grip and took a step away. His hand ran through his sandy-colored hair. James and Peter trailed behind closely. "We were told to find you, Rem. Minnie would like to chat."

Renee paled—did she know that Remus was just in Hufflepuff House? Would he get in trouble? Her eyes concentrated on the boy beside her.

"Right... I guess our studying will have to be postponed. Now you can join Meadowes and Bones." The werewolf started up the stairs with Pete and Sirius following.

"Alright?" James called out, not moving from his spot. His glasses slowly inching down the bridge of his nose.

"Course, you?"

James' hand went up to his hair, frustrated. "Got a note from Mum; they'll be on a mission for Christmas. They told me to tell you." Renee wasn't surprised, with the uproar on 'Pureblood Supremacists' the Aurors have been quite busy.

"Right, so we'll be here? Or can we go home?" She looked around them, not at anything in particular. But she didn't like seeing her brother like this.

"We can go but no friends." James' whole demeanour was down, his back hunched, arms drooping. Almost like a dog would react to being told no.

"What's on your mind?"

"Pads is being forced to go back to the Noble House of Black..." He let out a whimper, "got a letter from his birth giver this morning—no exceptions." Without haste Renee grabbed James, pulling him into a hug. James always cared with every fibre of his being. That's just who he is.

"He'll be alright, we'll make sure to leave the floo open just in case." A huff was heard from the boy. He then pulled away, Renee now at arm's length. James was spitting out the hair he inhaled. Getting his saliva on his sister. "Ew! You're disgusting!" Renee's hands flew to wipe her face off. She pushed him in return, uttering out curses.

"Well, you should cut your hair. It's like four feet long."

"And you should brush yours, or at least put some effort into it. No girl would ever want your mop." James sighed, flopping back into his twin's arms.

"I only want one girl, Renny."

"This is a weird conversation to have in the basement hallway, Jamie." She let her arms fall to her sides, not reciprocating his crushing hug.

"Right, well I've said everything I wanted to say so... I'll be leaving now." He took off, tripping on one of the steps. Renee just laughed at his abruptness.

"Hey, Ren! I heard you're having trouble with Astronomy." Renee turned back toward the stairs, seeing Sirius standing at the bottom of them. His hair was tucked in the collar of his jacket.

"I thought you left, but yeah I am. I'm having trouble in all of my courses." She laughed bitterly. Sirius just nodded, thinking of a response.

"Well, if you want to. I was thinking of going up to the Astronomy tower tonight, I could show you what I know?" It didn't take long for the girl to agree. She would accept any help.

✿

"So, there's twelve Zodiac constellations, then there's tons more. If you look over there, you'll be able to make out Ursa Major." Sirius pointed out eighteen stars in the sky that were supposed to make up the Greater Bear constellation. His arm wrapped around Renee's shoulders. She carefully followed his finger.

"So, the big dipper is part of Ursa Major?" Sirius nodded looking down at the girl with a small smile.

"Exactly, that's the easiest way to find it. The big dipper stars are brighter than the other ones in the constellation."

"Which constellation is your star in?" She asked gently, gazing up at the dotted sky above them.

"It's part of Canis Major. You can't see it until December."
   
"Canis Major, the dog constellation?" She questioned innocently.

"Yeah..." He started, not willing to meet her eyes.

"That makes a lot of sense." Sirius laughed pushing her away. They spent three more hours pointing at stars. Talking about the names soon led to talking about his family and their tradition.

"Would you continue with the names?" Sirius thought for a moment, his legs swinging over the edge of the tower.

"I don't think I would. There are so many options, but a lot of them could give a reason for teasing. I think a plain name like Renee works perfectly." The girl laughed, elbowing him without trying.

"I don't think Renee is plain, not like James or Peter. Plus it means peace, how nice is that?"

"More like boring."